How Biblical is the Doctrine of the Trinity Essay

How Biblical is the Doctrine of the Trinity - Essay Example Rev., 2002, pp. 75-82). The debate heightened when theologians came forward to question the "biblicality" of this doctrine and the pagan impression it gives of worshipping three separate gods. One of these theological tracts, God Who Acts as published by George Ernest Wright in 1952, declared that the Hebrew wisdom on theology as reflected in the Trinity doctrine was "deficient." (Coakley, 1993, ch. 3) Maurice Wiles stoked the fire with a series of lectures called God's Action in the World, articles such as Some Reflections on the Origins of the Doctrine of the Trinity and the book The Making of Christian Doctrine published in 1967. In these works, Wiles trained his guns on attempts to defend the doctrine as based on the Christian religious experience. Such justifications, he maintained, are fatally flawed since the nature of this problem is "inherently circular." Miles took issue with the way the doctrine's emphasis swung from the distinctness of Father and Son in the 3rd century to the unity of the two in the 4th century. All these spawned the perception that the Trinity doctrine is an inaccurate and outdated statement of the nature of God because of the changes that have taken place since the dogma was laid down. Such changes involved the word "person," the world's understanding of relationships and the substance of which God is composed. In addition, the theological problems that the doctrine was intended to solve are believed no longer a prime concern (Coakley, 1993, ch. 3) It was suggested that the church hierarchy in those days tried to stifle criticism, an indication that the doctrine stands on shaky ground. Said Wiles: "Once the triadic baptismal formula became fixed quite early in the church's life, it exercised a strongly authoritative - but ultimately arbitrary - clamp on more proper, critical reflection." (Wiles, 1967, ch. 6) For the same reasons, protesting Catholics broke off from the church and set up their own religion based on that action. What is in the Trinity doctrine that the protestants in today's world found so hard to accept as touchstone of their faith The Doctrine Belief in a three-in-one God is as old as Christianity itself. The Trinity appeared as a theological term near the end of the 2nd century, first used as "Trias" by Theophilus, Bishop of Antioch in A.D. 180. (Oomen, J., 2002, pp. 75-82) But from the very start, the Trinity doctrine was formulated without benefit of a biblical imprimatur. The three Cappadocian monks admitted as much when they developed the doctrine in 325 A.D. Basil, one of the monks, instead invoked a "secret unscriptural tradition" while the other monk, Gregory, looked for a new scriptural provision that would accommodate the doctrine. (Hanson, R.P.C., 1985, p. 245) The polytheistic character of the doctrine may be traced to the fact that the early Christians, who were once Judaists and therefore

Faction of a society Essay Example for Free

Faction of a society Essay A particular faction of a society endures a great deal of pressure of the working population; that is, those who are making a living for themselves and their families. Indeed, wellness in the workplace has become a critical concern for organizations. Paid employment is a major determinant of good physical and mental health for men and women. In the United States and other societies where people are socialized into a strong work ethic, satisfying work enhances health, life satisfaction, and well-being. The impact of work is seen in Sigmund Freud’s answer to the question of what normal people should do well. For Freud, it is â€Å"to love and to work. † In other words, good psychological functioning emphasizes both one’s work and one’s family. The ideal is to create an environment where work and family are not opposed to one another, this is the same premise Nick Whitten’s article â€Å"Workplace Truly Family-friendly† encapsulates (Whitten, 2006). Whitten tackles how mothers in Forest Hall Day Nursery are allowed to bring their children with them to work. Indeed, rather than giving them. Indeed, many social scientists are no longer asking whether it is good or bad that mothers work. Instead, they are finding that a more important issue is whether the mother, regardless of employment, is satisfied in their situation (Burns and Scott, 1994). Certainly, serious concern is frequently voiced about the future of the nation’s children as more and more mothers enter the work force. With the entry of women into the labor force, arrangements for childcare are shifting from care in the home to care outside the home. As such, employers shall indeed consider rethinking flexible working schedule as a major scheduling change in today’s clocks. Society has to begin to consent that mothers, like fathers, are capable of taking over the task of being the breadwinner as well as being a parent. Many people may fear that the working mother represents a loss to children in terms of supervision, love, and cognitive enrichment. But like what Forest Hall Day Nursery practices, why not give this arrangement for childcare that is shifting from care in the home to care outside the home a try? References Burns, Ailsa. and Cath Scott. (1994). Mother-Headed Families and Why They Have Increased. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Whitten, Nick. â€Å"Workplace Truly Family-friendly. † Available online: http://findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_6783/is_2006_August_10/ai_n28366056/? tag=content;col1. Accessed 5 May 2009.

Analysis of the core competences of PepsiCo

Analysis of the core competences of PepsiCo PepsiCo is an organization that has been known for its marketing and distribution prowess. This section is dedicated to analyzing the core competences of PepsiCo and evaluating their effect on the strategy adopted by the organization. Tangible Resources In this section, we analyse in detail, the tangible resources of PepsiCo under the following heads: Financial Resources PepsiCo has a strong financial backbone to support its aggressive marketing strategies, promotional campaigns and social activities. It works in collaboration with various governments in the countries that it operates and has operational ties with various civic authorities. Its capacity to generate finances is showcased by the fact that it could raise 31.37 billion rubles from a Ukrainian juice manufacturer, WBD which it acquired last year  [i]   Organisational Resources- PepsiCo recently revamped its organizational structure in an effort to handle the double digit growth prospects. It has three broad units, each of which looks after a sizeable business. The CEO of the company Indra Nooyi is known to be a flamboyant leader. She is known to lead by delegation and empowerment. This increases the loyalty of the employees towards the organization  [ii]  . Physical Resources PepsiCo has state-of-the-art manufacturing plants at three locations in India  [iii]  . In addition to this, it has 37 bottling plants, of which 17 are owned by PepsiCo. These are spread all over India, which help in increasing the reach of its products and ensuring timely delivery. Technological Resources PepsiCo tries to keep itself abreast of the latest technological developments. In a recent step taken, it has added hydrogen injected trucks to its delivery fleet in Canada  [iv]  . This was done as an effort towards increasing the fuel efficiency of its fleet and reducing emissions. Intangible Resources We look at the various intangible resources held by PepsiCo under the following heads: Human Resources PepsiCo attracts some of the best minds in the industry. By providing them enough financial and non-financial motivation and handing them challenging tasks to perform, they keep their employees satisfied and loyal to the organization. Innovation Resources The pace of innovation in functional foods and beverages division in PepsiCo has picked up since 2002. PepsiCo is second, after Kraft in this industry with 101 innovations since then. Some competitors are outspending PepsiCo on RD investments by nearly two to one margin  [1]  . But PepsiCo has been making good use of every dime spent on the RD as is seen from the number of innovations vis-à  -vis its competitors. Reputational Resources In a study conducted , it was seen that Pepsi as a brand enjoys a good reputation with the customers. They like it for its distinct taste. The study also pointed out that the brand name of Pepsi is certainly a force to reckon with. The quality perception of the product is generally high. However most of the customers see it as a drink second to Coke. One area wherein PepsiCo scores over its rivals is the social initiatives like contract farming and positive water balance. Due to this, it has a very strong reputation with its suppliers. Capabilities PepsiCo as an organization, has survived strong competition from its more established rivals like The Coca Cola Company , Nestle among others due to the following capabilities that it has:  [v]   Muscular Global Brands and Consumer Goodwill Over the years, PepsiCo, with its portfolio of global brands, has built platforms for growth. Its highly focused portfolio offers many of the worlds best-known foods and beverages-brands of enduring appeal. The portfolio includes 15 brands that each generate more than $1 billion in annual retail sales. Thats more than any other food and beverage company. Pepsi leads the parade with $15.6 billion in annual sales. The company has been successful in entering into licensing ventures with other well-known names, such as Starbucks and Lipton, and has had huge success with global promotions by linking with globally recognized brands. Robust Technology/Manufacturing Platforms PepsiCos global brands are supported by sophisticated technology and manufacturing platforms. These platforms include the science of nutrition, food and beverages, process and manufacturing, and packaging. Each of PepsiCos divisions contributes to the knowledge and technology platforms, creating an institutional knowledge base that can be shared across divisions. Such sharing of best-practice knowledge creates a competitive advantage, because it allows PepsiCo to differentiate its products from competitors, and promotes innovation in products and processes. It is also a significant growth advantage: cross-fertilization between divisions allows for the creation of new products that can be brought to market. The various process and manufacturing platforms allow PepsiCo not only to improve existing products and packages, but also to create entirely new ones. Equally important, innovation gives retailers a great reason to feature products promin ently Global Footprint PepsiCo employs 137,000 people in 200 countries. Including the bottling system and other partners, it generates some $39 billion in revenues, of which 35% comes from outside North America. The company has nearly 700 manufacturing facilities worldwide, 2,100 distribution centers and 70,000 routes. In addition to its presence in North America, PepsiCo has leadership positions in Mexico, the U.K., and the Middle East. It is investing significantly in creating momentum in the critical emerging markets of China and India. In the Indian subcontinent, Pepsi Beverages International (PBI) has more than 45% market share of carbonated soft drinks (CSD). FLI also has a strong global presence, with sales in 44 countries supported by 71 manufacturing plants outside North America, as well as 62,000 associates and 22,000 routes outside North America. In many countries, it enjoys greater than 30% market share. While 61% of PepsiCos salty snack revenues come from North America, Latin America contributes 18% of revenues, Europe/Africa contributes 17%, and Asia contributes 4% Core Competencies PepsiCo enjoys the stature of the dominant force that it is in various segments of the food and beverage industry due to its famed distribution systems. PepsiCo goes to market through a distribution network of extraordinary strength and flexibility. This is a core competency as it satisfies all the four criteria of sustainable competitive advantage i.e., it is a valuable capability, rare, costly to imitate and non-substitutable. The reason why is it so is explained below. The goal of the distribution channel of PepsiCo is to put its products within easy reach of the consumer. Because practices and customs vary by market, and because retail customers have different needs, PepsiCo has several successful models for service that it uses around the world. Direct store delivery Direct store delivery (DSD) systems are at the heart of this network. Through these systems, PepsiCo takes its products directly to tens of thousands of distribution outlets, from the tiniest convenience stores to the largest warehouse outlets. Pepsi and its bottlers personally take products into stores and set them on the shelves, helping to ensure that products are fresh and that fragile items such as chips are handled with care. It also allows PepsiCo to merchandise its brands for maximum visibility and appeal. PepsiCos systems can move new products into national distribution quickly-sometimes as quickly as a week. And because representatives call on retail customers so frequently, they know very quickly how a new product is selling. At the same time, DSD provides financial benefits to retailers. Since Pepsi handles the products and merchandising, retailers save on labor. And because these products typically are sold and restocked every few days, while retailers pay for them on 30-day cycles, Pepsi adds to a stores cash flow. In fact, PepsiCo contributes more than any other manufacturer to the revenue growth, profit growth and cash flow of the big U.S. retailers. In international markets, PepsiCo is able to adapt its distribution to reap the benefits of traditional DSD-particularly the merchandising capabilities and the reach into many retail outlets-without the costs that would burden a young or subscale business. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Broker-Warehouse Distribution- For some of PepsiCos products, traditional broker warehouse distribution is more economical and just as effective as DSD. According to this system, third-party distributors move PepsiCos products to stores, and store employees stock the shelves. This system works best for non-impulse products such as Gatorade, Quaker Oats, Tropicana Twister, or Capn Crunch cereal, which are neither fragile nor highly perishable. PepsiCos merger with Quaker dramatically expanded the companys broker-warehouse distribution capabilities, adding the large and efficient warehouse system used for Quaker and Gatorade products. To leverage that strength, PepsiCo has combined that system with Tropicanas. Additionally, the Quaker-Gatorade system is used for certain Frito-Lay snacks that are better suited to warehouse distribution. Vending and Foodservice-Every year, consumers buy more snacks and beverages from vending machines and the foodservice companies that serve stadiums, office buildings, colleges, and similar venues. By combining the capabilities of Frito-Lay, Tropicana, and Quaker, it has created one of the biggest vending and foodservice sales forces in North America, a 600-person team that already generates well over $1 billion in annual sales.

The Evolution of High Heels Essay -- Fashion

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Earth from Space

NOVA â€Å"Earth From Space† 1. They describe at least three teleconnections in the film. The movie talks about sandstorms in the Sahara Desert transforming the rainforest across the globe. Also explained are the waterfalls under the sea in Antarctica, leading to a feeding frenzy in the ocean by the equator. Finally, they talked about streaming water off the coast of Africa causing a disastrous weather storm in the United States. This happens because all of the activity in the ocean, sun and atmosphere are bound together.When an action occurs to one of them, a reaction occurs within another. It’s almost like a butterfly effect that occurs between the three. 2. We can learn and visually see all these different parts of the Earth by using satellites. I. Geosphere (Solid Earth) The Geosphere is made up of mostly rock. Beneath the surface of Earth, forces inside are a crucial source for the basic materials that nurture life. Volcanoes and earthquakes are examples of reactio ns to disturbances that initially took place under the Earth’s surface.Although destructive, the natural forces behind these events also provide the materials we and other living organisms need to survive. Through satellites we can see that the Earth’s crust is constantly moving. II. Cryosphere (Ice sheets, glaciers, sea ice) The Cryosphere can be observed from space using satellites. The reason the Cryosphere doesn’t receive much heat from the sun is because the sun strikes these regions at an oblique angle and any heat that does reach the cryosphere is reflected back into space by the sheets of ice covering it.III. Atmosphere (Gases, clouds, weather) As water vapor evaporates from the ocean it works its way up into the atmosphere and eventually creates clouds, who size depends on how much water vapor was evaporated. The heat that water vapors carried before they became clouds is eventually what triggers storms to occur. If there is enough heat influencing the clouds it will cause the clouds to shoot upward and the rotation of the Earth is what makes them spin. If the clouds turn into a vortex, hurricanes are formed. IV. Biosphere (Life on Earth)Life on Earth is affected by all the other parts of the Earth including internally and externally. The catastrophic storms that are caused by the atmosphere effect life on Earth more and more every year. Mother Nature is so unpredictable and it is very hard, even with all of earth-observing technologies humans have created, to prepare for Earth’s catastrophic events. It is even harder for other organisms to survive that do not have the same knowledge about technology as humans do. When hurricanes, tsunamis, and earthquakes do occur, it is instincts that ultimately help different species survive.V. Hydrosphere (Oceans, lakes, rivers) The hydrosphere plays a big part in the water cycle. Energy from the sun causes evaporation from all wet surfaces on the earth. Because the earth is two thirds water, the oceans are important for homeostasis on the planet Earth. The water helps the atmosphere function properly and vice versa. Without one there would be no other. The ocean and lakes are also the homes to millions of organisms. Some believe the ocean is even where the first walks of life were formed. Ocean circulation greatly affects climate and weather. . One NASA’s newest satellites named Polar Orbiting Suomi, after a meteorologist, is an electronic eye in space that measure the impact of the sun’s energy all around the Earth. This satellite can see much more of the electromagnetic spectrum then the human eye can. One of this satellites’ key instruments in called Cloud and Earth’s Radiant Energy System. It helps detect the ultraviolet and infrared parts of the spectrum that we can’t see. This instrument helps detect anything on Earth that gives off heat.Aqua is a satellite that uses another earth- observing technology that monitors the in teraction between heat and water. Aqua uses infrared to analyze the temperature of water. Using the infrared, Aqua can see how much water vapor is evaporating from the ocean into the atmosphere. TRIM is a satellite equipped with a radar and imager that operate in the micro wave range of the electromagnetic spectrum. These radio waves are higher in energy and shorter in wavelength than others. The instruments on this satellite bounce micro waves off raindrops in the clouds allowing scientist to build a three imensional structure of the internal structure of a hurricane. 4. Scale I. The temporal resolution specifies the revisiting frequency of a satellite sensor for a specific location. A low temporal resolution can last greater than 16 days whereas a high temporal resolution will last only up to 3 days. II. Using satellite remote sensing we can view the earth’s surface as frequently as we would like too. As long as the satellites are working efficiently there should be no prob lem. III. The spatial resolution specifies the pixel size of satellite images covering the earth surface.IV. The level of detail does depend on what the satellites are observing. The different spatial, temporal and spectral resolutions are the limiting factor for the utilization of the data they find. Unfortunately, because of technical constraints, satellite systems can only offer the following relationship between spatial and spectral resolution. Ether a high spatial resolution is associated with a low spectral resolution and vice versa. That means that a system with a high spectral resolution can only offer a medium or low spatial resolution.Therefore, it is either necessary to find compromises between the different resolutions according to the individual application or to utilize alternative methods of data acquisition. 5. I found the most striking thing in this movie to be, how easily events like hurricanes, volcanoes, and tsunamis could be created. A little bit too much moistu re in the atmosphere or a little disturbance in the Earth could eventually lead to a disastrous, possibly life threatening event. This movie made me grateful to live in an area that is not as highly affected by natural disasters and sympathetic towards those that do.

Attention Video Games

Attention Video Games Video game playing has consequences on motor and perception skills of gamers. The consequences ultimately alter their visual attention abilities in terms of attention with regard to space, objects, or time compared to non-gamers.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Attention: Video Games specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The article, â€Å"Action video game modifies visual selective attention† by Green and Bavelier demonstrates that perceptual learning results to improvement in given performance. Specifically, the article considers the consequences of action video game playing on visual attention skills. Using a set of four experiments, the authors sought to test the hypothesis that video game playing enhances the visual attention abilities of players. Additionally, in their fifth experiment, non-gamers trained on action video game showed a significant improvement in visual attention abilities (Green, Bavelier, 20 03, p. 534). The first experiment involved a flanker compatibility effects tests that encompassed the use of enumeration tasks. In the experiments, Video game players (VGPs) were able to identify more items than the non-video game players (NVGPs) did. This indicates that VGPs have a higher capacity to attend to more items at once compared to NVGPs. Additionally, in experiment two, the compatibility effects among VGPs was high compared to NVGPs even at high levels of task difficulty, which is an indication of greater visual attention skills among VGPs (p 0.01) (Green, Bavelier, 2003, p. 536). From these results, the authors conclude that habitual video game playing increases visual attention within the scope of video game playing. The VGPs also showed a consistent overall distracter effect at all levels of task difficulty, which indicate the high attention capacity among VGPs compared to NVGPs. The third experiment involved comparing the spatial attention abilities in VGPs with NVGP s with regard to three different locations. Overall, the VGPs performed better in the three different locations compared to the NVGPs. This implies that the VGPs have a higher ability to locate items even in cases of many distracters (Green, Bavelier, 2003, p. 536).Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The results indicate a high spatial attention, even at a high number of distracters, for VGPs. Furthermore, the authors, in their fourth experiment, examined the VGPs attention over time compared to NVGPs. Overall, in all tasks such attention blink tests, the VGPs performed better than the NVGPs. The fifth experiment involved comparing pre and post training performance with regard to visual acuity or field of view, attention-blink and enumeration tasks for all subjects (Green, Bavelier, 2003, p. 537). Overall, improved performance was seen for all subjects after training. From t hese findings, the authors conclude that video game playing, which allows players to juggle multiple tasks, results to improvement in attention resources. In contrast, a related article, ‘Effect of Action Video Games on Spatial Distribution of Visuospatial Attention’, by Green and Bavelier specifically examines the effects of video game playing on spatial attention. The authors attempt to separate central attention from peripheral attention resources using a flanker compatibility effect in VGPs and NVGPs (Green, Bavelier, 2006, p. 1466). The first experiment involved a perpetual load paradigm in order to establish the spatial attention resources for both VGPs and NVGPs. The authors established that distracting items affect VGPs at a higher perpetual load compared to NVGP. This indicates that the VGPs have greater attention resources than NVGPs. The second experiment involved UFOV (Useful Field of View) task paradigm using three different target eccentricities to measur e the distribution of visual attention. The target localization in VGPs was high than NVGPs implying an enhanced spatial attention for both central and peripheral locations among VGPs (Green, Bavelier, 2006, p. 1465). The third experiment involved a training study, whereby VGPs were found to have improved performance on UFOV tasks and improvements in eye-hand coordination after training.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Attention: Video Games specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Thus, video game playing improves visual-motor coordination. From the results of the three experiments, the authors conclude that action video playing results to improvement in visual-spatial attention for VGPs and trained NVGPs (Green, Bavelier, 2006, p. 1476). Significance of the Studies Visual attention involves a combination of mechanisms that allow the selective use of relevant information while at the simultaneously suppressing irrelevant information. This allows an individual to perceive many objects or visual information. The studies indicate that habitual video game players outperform non-video game players with regard to spatial attention and attention over time and involving many objects (Green, Bavelier, 2006, p. 1471). Additionally, the articles have established similar trends following training of NVGPs groups using training studies. This implies that training gives non-gamers experience, which results to improvement in attention. Furthermore, the articles establish that different sets of video games produce contrasting effects on attention. In particular, action-video game playing that involves multiple visual-motor tasks, is fast-paced and involves tasks that divide attention has the greatest effects on attention. Central to action video game-related increased performance in attention is the improvements in coordination of visual-motor activity (Green, Bavelier, 2003, p. 432). The implications of enhance ment in attention have many real-world applications especially in specialty areas that need high attention. In particular, training of the work force to achieve high productivity, improvements in education performance and clinical rehabilitation of patients are some of the applications of attention enhancing video game playing. Social and Cultural Implications of Video game playing Given that the benefits of video game playing are many, the gaming industry is developing game products for educational purposes. The products create a gaming environment that foster reading and attentive skills among high school students (Jonassen, Land, 2000, p. 127).Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Additionally, gaming simulations developed in action video games are useful educational materials for training new soldier recruits such as the American Army. Action video games for this purpose have specially incorporated elements creating a virtual war environment to enhance visual-motor coordination. Video game playing serves as motivational tools for employees at the workplace especially younger employees. Most companies have deployed video games in the workplace to boost performance, reduce absenteeism rates and increase morale among employees. The video games enhance attention, which is essential for successful completion of any assigned task. Video games have also been used to enhance cultural competence (Jonassen, Land, 2000, p. 132). This involves instilling strong language skills, cross-cultural skills such as cultural awareness and sensitivity. 3-D simulations of social and cultural interactions are used to advance the cross-cultural skills among the youth. The simulatio ns rely on artificial intelligence that allows learners to learn or try foreign real-life cultural practices in the expected social and cultural contexts. Additionally, this helps in developing strong business relationships involving partnerships from many cultures globally. Video gaming is also an essential business-training tool to enable business executive to learn valuable leadership skills as well as strategic decision-making skills through simulations (Jonassen, Land, 2000, p. 129). Additionally, the video games give real-life economic indicators for decision making by business executives. In medical areas, video gaming, besides being a source of entertainment, has therapeutic effects for patients, especially hospitalized children. Although visual attention has been adopted in creating gaming environment in training and health settings, I believe that research on visual attention should involve a 3D gaming environment. Previous research involves experiments that use purely 2D objects. The 3D video games incorporate complex 3D objects and characters that interact in a 3D space that is remarkably different from the experiments employed in the previous research. I recommend that 3D experiments be used to future visual attention research and relate the results with the game environment. Reference List Green, S., Bavelier, D. (2003). Action video game modifies visual selective attention.  Nature, 423, 534-537. Green, S., Bavelier, D. (2006). Effect of Action Video Games on the Spatial Distribution of Visuaospatial Attention. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 32(6), 1465-1478. Jonassen, D., Land, S. (2000). The theoretical foundations of learning environment. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.

Biography of Georgy Zhukov, World War II Soviet General

Biography of Georgy Zhukov, World War II Soviet General Marshal Georgy Zhukov (December 1, 1896–June 18, 1974) was the most important and most successful Russian general in World War II. He was responsible for the successful defense of Moscow, Stalingrad, and Leningrad against German forces and eventually pushed them back to Germany. He led the final attack on Berlin, and he was so popular after the war that Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin, feeling threatened, demoted him and moved him to obscure regional commands. Fast Facts: Marshal Georgy Zhukov Rank: MarshalService: Soviet Red ArmyBorn: Dec. 1, 1896 in Strelkovka, RussiaDied: June 18, 1974 in Moscow RussiaParents: Konstantin Artemyevich Zhukov, Ustinina Artemievna ZhukovaSpouse(s): Alexandra Dievna Zuikova, Galina Alexandrovna SemyonovaConflicts: World War IIKnown For: Battle of Moscow, Battle  of Stalingrad, Battle of Berlin Early Life Georgy Zhukov was born on December 1, 1896, in Strelkovka, Russia, to his father, Konstantin Artemyevich Zhukov, a shoemaker, and his mother, Ustinina Artemievna Zhukova, a farmer. He had an elder sister named Maria. After working in the fields as a child, Zhukov was apprenticed to a furrier in Moscow at age 12. Completing his apprenticeship four years later in 1912, Zhukov entered the business. His career proved short-lived because in July 1915, he was drafted into the Russian Army to honorably serve during World War I. Following the October Revolution in 1917, Zhukov became a member of the Bolshevik Party and joined the Red Army. Fighting in the Russian Civil War (1918-1921), Zhukov continued in the cavalry, serving with the famed 1st Cavalry Army. At the wars conclusion, he was awarded the Order of the Red Banner for his role in putting down the 1921 Tambov Rebellion. Steadily rising through the ranks, Zhukov was given command of a cavalry division in 1933 and later was named deputy commander of the Byelorussian Military District. Far East Campaign Evading Russian leader Joseph Stalins Great Purge of the Red Army (1937-1939), Zhukov was selected to command the First Soviet Mongolian Army Group in 1938. Tasked with stopping Japanese aggression along the Mongolian-Manchurian border, Zhukov arrived after the Soviet victory at the Battle of Lake Khasan. In May 1939, fighting resumed between Soviet and Japanese forces. They skirmished through the summer, with neither gaining an advantage. Zhukov launched a major assault on August 20, pinning down the Japanese while armored columns swept around their flanks. After encircling the 23rd Division, Zhukov annihilated it, forcing the few remaining Japanese back to the border. As Stalin was planning the invasion of Poland, the campaign in Mongolia ended and a peace agreement was signed on September 15. For his leadership, Zhukov was made a Hero of the Soviet Union and was promoted to general and chief of general staff of the Red Army in January 1941. On June 22, 1941, the Soviet Union was invaded by Nazi Germany, opening the Eastern Front of World War II. World War II As Soviet forces suffered reverses on all fronts, Zhukov was compelled to sign the Directive of Peoples Commissariat of Defense No. 3, which called for a series of counterattacks. Arguing against the plans in the directive, he was proven correct when they suffered heavy losses. On July 29, Zhukov was sacked as chief of general staff after recommending to Stalin that Kiev be abandoned. Stalin refused, and more than 600,000 men were captured after the city was encircled by the Germans. That October, Zhukov was given command of the Soviet forces defending Moscow, relieving Gen. Semyon Timoshenko. To aid in the citys defense, Zhukov recalled Soviet forces stationed in the Far East, quickly transferring them across the country. Reinforced, Zhukov defended the city before launching a counterattack on December 5, pushing the Germans 60 to 150 miles from the city. Afterward, Zhukov was made deputy commander-in-chief and was sent to the southwestern front to take charge of the defense of Stalingrad. While the forces in the city, led by Gen. Vasily Chuikov, battled the Germans, Zhukov and General Aleksandr Vasilevsky planned Operation Uranus. A massive counterattack, Uranus was designed to envelop and surround the German 6th Army in Stalingrad. Launched on November 19, Soviet forces attacked north and south of the city. On Feb. 2, the encircled German forces finally surrendered. As operations at Stalingrad concluded, Zhukov oversaw Operation Spark, which opened a route into the besieged city of Leningrad in January 1943. Zhukov was named a marshal of the Soviet military, and that summer he consulted for the high command on the plan for the Battle of Kursk. Correctly guessing German intentions, Zhukov advised taking a defensive stance and letting the German forces exhaust themselves. His recommendations were accepted and Kursk became one of the great Soviet victories of the war. Returning to the northern front, Zhukov lifted the siege of Leningrad in January 1944 before planning Operation Bagration. Designed to clear Belarus and eastern Poland, Bagration was launched on June 22, 1944. It was a stunning triumph, Zhukovs forces stopping only when their supply lines became overextended. Then, spearheading the Soviet thrust into Germany, Zhukovs men defeated the Germans at Oder-Neisse and Seelow Heights before encircling Berlin. After battling to take the city, Zhukov oversaw the signing of one of the Instruments of Surrender in Berlin on May 8, 1945. To recognize his wartime achievements, Zhukov was given the honor of inspecting the Victory Parade in Moscow that June. Postwar Activity Following the war, Zhukov was made supreme military commander of the Soviet Occupation Zone in Germany. He remained in this post for less than a year, as Stalin, threatened by Zhukovs popularity, removed him and later assigned him to the unglamorous Odessa Military District. With Stalins death in 1953, Zhukov returned to favor and served as deputy defense minister and later defense minister. Though initially a supporter of Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, Zhukov was removed from his ministry and the Communist Party Central Committee in June 1957 after the two argued over army policy. Though he was liked by Communist Party General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev and Soviet leader Aleksei Kosygin, Zhukov was never given another role in the government. He remained in relative obscurity until Khrushchev fell from power in October 1964. Death Zhukov married late in life, in 1953, to Alexandra Dievna Zuikova, with whom he had two daughters, Era and Ella. Following their divorce, in 1965 he married Galina Alexandrovna Semyonova, a former military officer in the Soviet Medical Corps. They had a daughter, Maria. The World War II hero was hospitalized after suffering a serious stroke in 1967 and died after another stroke on June 18, 1974, in Moscow. Legacy Georgy Zhukov remained a favorite of the Russian people long after the war. He was awarded Hero of the Soviet Union four times in his career- 1939, 1944, 1945, and 1956- and received many other Soviet decorations, including the Order of Victory (twice) and the Order of Lenin. He also received numerous foreign awards, including the Grand Cross of the Legion dHonneur (France, 1945) and the Chief Commander, Legion of Merit (U.S., 1945). He was allowed to publish his autobiography, Marshal of Victory, in 1969.

effect) essays

Anti-Depressants (cause/effect) essays Anti-depressants can be extremely beneficial to patients as well detrimental. Doctors are turning to anti-depressants as a cure all for anybody feeling down or low. All people go through natural high and low points in their lives and most do not need medication to help them. There can be serious physical, mental, and emotional side effects to taking an anti-depressant when prescribed by the doctor both correctly or incorrectly. There are two types of depressions that can occur. The first type is a natural depression caused by happenings in a persons life. This is caused by the everyday events placed on a person by such things as family, friends, school, and work. A natural depression can last from just one day to a couple of months. The second type of depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. In the brain are millions of things called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are chemicals in the brain that carry messages from one cell to another. When there are improper balances in neurotransmitters, various diseases result, including depression. There are several types of chemicals in neurotransmitters; serotonin, neropinephrine, and dopamine. Anti-depressants work by either providing more of said chemicals to the body or by blocking reuptake cells that pick the chemical back up after it has been released to allow the chemical more time to reach its destination. When prescribed correctly, anti-depressants can be very helpful to a patient. After being taken for a couple of weeks the patient will start to return to normal daily activities. Patients will be able to wake up in the morning and do the activities they had stopped because they no longer felt compelled to do them. Patients in a depression usually sleep long hours and stay away from strenuous or cumbersome activities. After taking the anti-depressants they will return to a some what normal sleep schedule and will have the energy t...

Public health and health policy Discuss the health problems and health Essay

Public health and health policy Discuss the health problems and health service issues that are associated with homelessness in L - Essay Example In London, the homeless face the problem of insufficient primary and secondary care, in spite of their critical health situations. National Health Service, the primary provider of public health in the UK, cannot provide such essential services to people without access to fixed address, a common feature in developed nations (Daly, 2013, p.213). In addition, Rogers and Pilgrim (2010, p.60) asserts that the homeless are prone to neglecting their health status, more than the general population, and they only seek such services when their health status have reached advanced stages. Homelessness is a complicated global issue that is caused by several issues while at the same time it does not have a single solution. In recent years, the government and global health organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) have identified the complex health challenges affecting the homeless as the underlying problem apart from the obvious accommodation issues amongst others. In England, ther e are several National Health Services and other privately sponsored charitable services, which provide the necessary healthcare and support to the homeless. The civil society in England, noted that during the global downturn, the National Health Services reduced its spending on the homeless. ... Gramlich (2008, p.70) observes that there is not a single specific definition of the term as variance in temporal dimensions, cognition and lifestyle amongst the homelessness street people. Since homelessness is mirrored in different settings, several situations come into play; this paper posits that the political agenda as well as the prevailing social values have been strongly linked to the definitions. Conventionally, homelessness has a residential dimension and this can often be used to redefine the term in this context. This is because the apparent feature of the classification stems from the lack of conventional housing for those deemed homeless. Levy and Sidel (2013, p.176) applies the United Nations Committee on Human Rights definition of the term and they intone that people who sleep in outdoors such as vehicles and abandoned non intended for human dwelling. Legal and statutory definition of the term have a characteristic contradictory nature and in the United Kingdom alone, there are several acts that define the term both at the national level and in the devolved systems. However, housing authorities in the United Kingdom consider domiciled individuals who have applied for their accommodation as homelessness applicants and therefore categorized. In the strictness of the term, the city of London has often distinctly identified two groups; the homeless and the rough sleepers. The rough sleepers are those who live and sleep on the streets of several English cities, yet in our case we shall be confined to London and Newham in particular. The Department of Communities and Local Government (2013) describes a person as statutorily homeless

Conflicting Reward Systems and Their Impact on Criminal Justice Research Paper - 1

Conflicting Reward Systems and Their Impact on Criminal Justice Administation - Research Paper Example It is also going to analyze why a person ‘A’ should not suffer at the expense of reward of person ‘B’. Conflicting Reward Systems and Their Impact on Criminal Justice Administration Introduction: The role of criminal justice system According to May, (2008), criminal justice is rights respecting treatment that is deserved by virtue of criminal conduct. It is concerned with the responsibility of controlling crime and ensuring the due process is followed. For example, in US justice system, prisons are expected to provide basic human needs in a favorable environment. There is a very great relationship between law enforcement, the judicial system, and the corrections. The law enforcement agents are mandated to ensure there is law and order in the society (May, 2008). The judicial system issues judgments to people found guilty. They send the criminals to correction centers where the criminals obtain various correction programs as they serve their jail term. In thi s case, prisons renounce idleness and offers constructive employment, and recreation activities to the prisoners. Harr, (2008) noted that the criminal justice system addresses the human needs of prisoners with an aim of expressing faith in them. This goes in line with the purpose of prisons other than punishing them, to correct the prisoner. This idea helps the prisoners maintain their humanity and cooperate with the programs designed to rehabilitate them. The aim of inclusion of criminal justice system is to abstract values and not to punish the prisoners. Conflicting Reward Systems and Their Impact on Criminal Justice Administration On the other hand, reward systems encompass rewarding specific persons involved in the criminal justice system (Schmalleger, 2007). For example, judges are re-elected due to their hard sentencing of criminals by sending them to prison. The same case applies to prosecutors who move large number of cases to court alongside quick settlement of the cases. However, such a move can only serve the interest of the rewarded persons while neglecting the interest of others (Schmalleger, 2007). In light to this assertion, it can be argued that hard sentencing of criminals for example drug addicts would not add any value to the criminals. After completion of their jail term, drug addicts can still go back to their usual habit of addiction. In this regard, instead of judges sending such criminals to prison, it would be much better if the drug addicts are referred to drug rehabilitation centers Harr, 2008). This way, they would get necessary treatment and counseling that would see them abandon drugs and start a new life. Although not all criminals can be subjected to alternative correction centers, most of them can actually be subjected to such institutions. Some of the most effective correction institutions that could help criminals deter from committing crimes includes boot camps, which are particularly practiced in military setups, house arr ests, restitution and electronic monitoring (Hodge, 2009). If these programs are more utilised, the criminal justice systems would be seen to be meeting their goals and objectives. In some instances, additional funding for expanding jail facilities is another form of reward for those jails that are seen to be efficient in being harsh on criminals. This reward tends to pay no attention to programs like rehabilitation centers which have facilities like education and various job training which would go a long way in correcting criminals (Solhkhah & Wilens,

Draft Essay Shiloh outline, body & Introduction of paragraph

Draft Shiloh outline, body & Introduction of paragraph - Essay Example To Leroy, he acknowledged that â€Å"the real inner workings of a marriage, like most of history, have escaped him† (Mason 1). To Norma Jean, the visit to this historical place made her realize that there are still a lot of things that she does not appreciate with Leroy’s staying at home. The brief and unexpected blurting of Norma Jean’s intention to leave Leroy made him realize that there are so many things he still does not know about Norma Jean. Historical places stir nostalgia where past events could haunt visitors like disturbed ghosts. In the short story written by Bobbie Ann Mason entitled â€Å"Shiloh†, the author narrated the events that transpired between the main characters, Leroy Moffitt and Norma Jean. When Leroy, a truck driver, met an accident which made him incapacitated to resume his work, Norma Jean was reported to have changed in ways that was observed to be totally new to Leroy. Norma Jean’s mother, Mabel Beasley, who intermittently visits them in their house, had been pleading for them to go to Shiloh, Tennessee to visit the Civil War battleground (Mason). The visit to Shiloh provided the impetus for revelations and realizations in both Leroy and Norma Jean’s life through experiencing nostalgic moments, supposedly instigated by Norma Jean’s mother; and the need to look more closely into their lives as a married

Anthropological linguistics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Anthropological linguistics - Essay Example Phonemes, Morphemes and Grammar Phoneme is considered to be the first building slab of language. These are the most fundamental unit of our speech; an individual sound. Phoneme is the common feature of all languages. English uses around forty phonemes. They can have further distinctive classifications and features like voiced or unvoiced components. Phonemes are so fundamental that they do not convey any meaning until put together. (Kendon, 2000) Morpheme is the second building slab of language. A morpheme, as defined by linguists, is the smallest meaningful unit of language, produced from an arrangement of phonemes. As far as their further classifications are concerned, morphemes are of two types, the first ones are content morphemes and the second ones are function morphemes. The basic meanings of a word are held by content morphemes while prefixes and suffixes work as function morphemes. The main characteristic of function morphemes is this that they add a little additional meanin g to the word. Grammar is considered to be the last and final building slab of language. According to grammarians, grammar is the collection of set rules of language that stipulate how phonemes, morphemes, phrases and words should be arranged and combined to communicate meaningful thoughts. Besides this, grammar also governs how to employ different classes of words and their inflections. Grammar is a combination of two ingredients; syntax and semantics. (Kendon, 2000) Syntax is the set of grammatical rules that state in what order the words and phrases should be arranged in a sentence in order to convey meaning. In human life development, by the time one is proficient to read, his or her syntactical perceptive sense is exceedingly developed. Furthermore, this makes it sound like even sentences that are composed or based on of unfit or apparently odd words make sense because they follows appropriate syntax. Syntax and syntactical rules are different and diverse in every language. (Ke ndon, 2000) For example, English speaking people place adjectives prior to nouns while many other languages place the adjective after the noun. Another important field of linguistics is semantics. Semantics are the meaning itself or study of meaning derived from morphemes, words and sentences. Semantics depend upon a variety of relevant factors such as word choice, context and whether the speaker’s intent is figurative or literal. All these are building slabs of human language and are integral part of all human languages in anthropological linguistics. Without these building slabs humans, speaking any language of the world, would not be able to converse with each other. These are the core rules and units of speech which are all significant components to help convey our opinions, thoughts, ideas, feelings and personal experiences through language. Non Verbal Communication Non-verbal communication is used so often that we actually forget that we are using it. We do not realize how much we rely on non-verbal communication; the reason for this is due to the fact that most non-verbal communication transpires on a level that is below our conscious awareness. (Kendon, 2000) While many aspects of nonverbal communication are culturally specific, some, e.g. facial expressions and gestures, appear to have near universal levels of recognition. Non-verbal messages are also viewed as more authentic because behavior cannot be restricted as effortlessly as spoken words. (Kendon, 2000) Perhaps the most

Speech Perception and Language Processing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Speech Perception and Language Processing - Essay Example In this regard, any intervention that aims at developing the language of children, who have problems in learning language, should concentrate on natural language development through experience. The author uses the term ‘phonological processing’ frequently in the article to refer to the joint processes that enable the access to phonological structure before engaging the structure in further operations of language processing. The capacity to access phonological structure, such as reading, plays an important role in language processing. In order for a person to learn how to develop their language, say by learning to read, they must identify with the phonological units. Alphabetical labels are hooked these phonological units, mostly the phoneme-sized phonetic segments. The attachments of such alphabetical labels come in a series of orthographies. One of the most popular claims about the origin of problems faced by poor readers is that they have a compromised capacity to identify and manipulate phonological structure. Isabelle Liberman has a collection of articles that comprehensively document the language development and speech perception phenomena. According to Nittrouer (2002), phonological processing involves a number of aspects in the sense that competent language users employ three critical strategies regarding phonologic processing to other aspects of language processing. Phoneme-sized phonetic segments consist of the units of language organization that are the simplest. In this respect, phonetic segments have two clear links in the acoustic speech stream. Perhaps the unique fact about the phoneme-sized phonetic segments is that all human beings can access the segments from the time they are born. The author claims that enough scholarly evidence have established that the acoustic signal of speech does not have invariant physical links to phonetic segments. Furthermore, the capacity to identify segmental structure is absent

Tornadoes - Failures of Leadership Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Tornadoes - Failures of Leadership - Case Study Example There were 1000 deaths as a result of weather related calamities and 550 of those were a result of tornadoes (IEMA, 2012). While severe weather cannot be prevented, there is much that can be done with respect to being prepared and taking action to safeguard the public. The tornadoes of June 1, 2011 showed the lack of preparedness and failure of leadership at various levels. There had been many tornadoes which had had devastating effects on more than 6 states including New York, Oklahoma, Alabama and Georgia prior to June 1, 2011. There were gaps and failures witnessed in emergency preparedness systems in the prior tornadoes and still the June 1 tornadoes were no different (Smilowitz, 2011). This case study focuses on the June 1 tornadoes where in most of the communities struggled from miscommunication and chaos. This case study highlights the failure of leadership at numerous levels and lack of preparedness during the June 1 Tornadoes. It also makes various suggestions to overcome th ese failures. There were numerous areas where leadership was found wanting. There were communication issues between emergency responders and government officials and the collective communication system, of emergency responders and government officials, with citizens. The emergency personnel lacked the training and preparedness to handle a catastrophe of such nature and magnitude. The lack of preparedness of the emergency management was best put forward by Monson's Emergency Management Director, Evan Brassard when he said: â€Å"I think that emergency management had been on the back burner because it had been so long since a response of that nature was needed†. (Meiler & Russo, 2012) This statement clearly summarises the state of the emergency management program. The emergency management teams in place were unprepared for such an event. Emergency management teams and personnel need to train for such an event in foresight so that they can respond in the best possible way and no t wait for the need for such a response to arise in order to prepare. The following paragraphs will identify various aspects of emergency management that failed during the June 1 tornadoes. The first and foremost reaction or response to such a disaster is search and rescue. The responders at ground zero who are the most effective and the first to respond to a disaster did not have proper information that defined their capabilities and roles. These local responder teams consisted of numerous specialists who are experts in their own fields but lack the understanding of their role in the search and rescue team. Secondly, there was no proper co-ordination between the different teams. The inspection markings on structures were not consistent with different teams. Each team used its own structural marking systems that indicated the condition of the structure and its habitability. This lead to a lot of confusion as there were numerous agencies and teams working at once and each of them had their own marking system (WRHSAC, 2012). This could have been overcome if the leaders had taken initiative and be prepared for the situation. In future, this can be avoided by ensuring that the team members are briefed prior to the disaster about their capabilities and roles in search and rescue teams. Also a unified marking system must be put in place and ensured that all agencies and teams taking part are familiar with the unified system. Tornadoes of June 1 were not a single region event but a multi-regional and

Anthropological linguistics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Anthropological linguistics - Essay Example Phonemes, Morphemes and Grammar Phoneme is considered to be the first building slab of language. These are the most fundamental unit of our speech; an individual sound. Phoneme is the common feature of all languages. English uses around forty phonemes. They can have further distinctive classifications and features like voiced or unvoiced components. Phonemes are so fundamental that they do not convey any meaning until put together. (Kendon, 2000) Morpheme is the second building slab of language. A morpheme, as defined by linguists, is the smallest meaningful unit of language, produced from an arrangement of phonemes. As far as their further classifications are concerned, morphemes are of two types, the first ones are content morphemes and the second ones are function morphemes. The basic meanings of a word are held by content morphemes while prefixes and suffixes work as function morphemes. The main characteristic of function morphemes is this that they add a little additional meanin g to the word. Grammar is considered to be the last and final building slab of language. According to grammarians, grammar is the collection of set rules of language that stipulate how phonemes, morphemes, phrases and words should be arranged and combined to communicate meaningful thoughts. Besides this, grammar also governs how to employ different classes of words and their inflections. Grammar is a combination of two ingredients; syntax and semantics. (Kendon, 2000) Syntax is the set of grammatical rules that state in what order the words and phrases should be arranged in a sentence in order to convey meaning. In human life development, by the time one is proficient to read, his or her syntactical perceptive sense is exceedingly developed. Furthermore, this makes it sound like even sentences that are composed or based on of unfit or apparently odd words make sense because they follows appropriate syntax. Syntax and syntactical rules are different and diverse in every language. (Ke ndon, 2000) For example, English speaking people place adjectives prior to nouns while many other languages place the adjective after the noun. Another important field of linguistics is semantics. Semantics are the meaning itself or study of meaning derived from morphemes, words and sentences. Semantics depend upon a variety of relevant factors such as word choice, context and whether the speaker’s intent is figurative or literal. All these are building slabs of human language and are integral part of all human languages in anthropological linguistics. Without these building slabs humans, speaking any language of the world, would not be able to converse with each other. These are the core rules and units of speech which are all significant components to help convey our opinions, thoughts, ideas, feelings and personal experiences through language. Non Verbal Communication Non-verbal communication is used so often that we actually forget that we are using it. We do not realize how much we rely on non-verbal communication; the reason for this is due to the fact that most non-verbal communication transpires on a level that is below our conscious awareness. (Kendon, 2000) While many aspects of nonverbal communication are culturally specific, some, e.g. facial expressions and gestures, appear to have near universal levels of recognition. Non-verbal messages are also viewed as more authentic because behavior cannot be restricted as effortlessly as spoken words. (Kendon, 2000) Perhaps the most

Tornadoes - Failures of Leadership Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Tornadoes - Failures of Leadership - Case Study Example There were 1000 deaths as a result of weather related calamities and 550 of those were a result of tornadoes (IEMA, 2012). While severe weather cannot be prevented, there is much that can be done with respect to being prepared and taking action to safeguard the public. The tornadoes of June 1, 2011 showed the lack of preparedness and failure of leadership at various levels. There had been many tornadoes which had had devastating effects on more than 6 states including New York, Oklahoma, Alabama and Georgia prior to June 1, 2011. There were gaps and failures witnessed in emergency preparedness systems in the prior tornadoes and still the June 1 tornadoes were no different (Smilowitz, 2011). This case study focuses on the June 1 tornadoes where in most of the communities struggled from miscommunication and chaos. This case study highlights the failure of leadership at numerous levels and lack of preparedness during the June 1 Tornadoes. It also makes various suggestions to overcome th ese failures. There were numerous areas where leadership was found wanting. There were communication issues between emergency responders and government officials and the collective communication system, of emergency responders and government officials, with citizens. The emergency personnel lacked the training and preparedness to handle a catastrophe of such nature and magnitude. The lack of preparedness of the emergency management was best put forward by Monson's Emergency Management Director, Evan Brassard when he said: â€Å"I think that emergency management had been on the back burner because it had been so long since a response of that nature was needed†. (Meiler & Russo, 2012) This statement clearly summarises the state of the emergency management program. The emergency management teams in place were unprepared for such an event. Emergency management teams and personnel need to train for such an event in foresight so that they can respond in the best possible way and no t wait for the need for such a response to arise in order to prepare. The following paragraphs will identify various aspects of emergency management that failed during the June 1 tornadoes. The first and foremost reaction or response to such a disaster is search and rescue. The responders at ground zero who are the most effective and the first to respond to a disaster did not have proper information that defined their capabilities and roles. These local responder teams consisted of numerous specialists who are experts in their own fields but lack the understanding of their role in the search and rescue team. Secondly, there was no proper co-ordination between the different teams. The inspection markings on structures were not consistent with different teams. Each team used its own structural marking systems that indicated the condition of the structure and its habitability. This lead to a lot of confusion as there were numerous agencies and teams working at once and each of them had their own marking system (WRHSAC, 2012). This could have been overcome if the leaders had taken initiative and be prepared for the situation. In future, this can be avoided by ensuring that the team members are briefed prior to the disaster about their capabilities and roles in search and rescue teams. Also a unified marking system must be put in place and ensured that all agencies and teams taking part are familiar with the unified system. Tornadoes of June 1 were not a single region event but a multi-regional and

Soil conservation Essay Example for Free

Soil conservation Essay Soil conservation is a combination of all methods of management and land use that safeguard the soil against depletion or deterioration by natural or man-induced factors. It most often attempts to ensure that SOIL does not erode and wash into streams and lakes or blow away in the wind, but it also involves the protection of the soil from damage by machinery (compaction) or by detrimental changes to its chemistry (acidification or salinization). Soil conservation comprises of all the procedures and methods that involve protecting the soil from natural as well as manmade destructions. There are many natural ways in which soil could get eroded or blown away. In the same way, soil could also get contaminated or chemically altered owing to acidification or salinization, or destruction from machinery. The saying, ‘change is the only constant’ holds true for everything †¦including nature. Everything in our natural world is in a perpetual state of evolution and change. However, when this change is triggered by unnatural methods, that is when an imbalance occurs in the natural process of the planet and it begins to affect our quality of life. Soil conservation is a very important issue, both in developing nations where a good portion of income is derived from agriculture and in developed nations where mechanized farming and an over-abundant use of chemical fertilizers can sometimes have a detrimental effect on the land. But it is not only for farmers and agriculturists it has a far-reaching effect on the environment and so concerns all of us. There is a growing need to prevent and control soil erosion and soil contamination, and to maintain soil fertility. Implementing various strategies and methods can help in stemming erosion of the soil, in preserving the quality of the soil and in increasing its productive capacity. Good soil conversation leads to enriched lands, better crop yields, good financial returns and a balanced environment. THE AGRICULTURAL SOIL CONSERVATION In order to carry out effective soil conservation, you must first consider several aspects of the land in question. Here are some of the things that must be considered – Is there enough vegetative cover over the land or does it need to be developed? What are the proper erosion control methods that can be utilized and how will you implement them? What is the soil salinity level and how are you going to manage it? What is the soil acidity level and how are you going to control it? What is the soil mineral content and do you need to regularly add mineral supplements? Is the soil contaminated and, if so, what methods are you going to use to remediate it and to prevent future contamination? Are there beneficial soil organisms in the soil and are they allowed to thrive? Once you know what kind of soil conservation is needed, you can consider implementing any or all the following methods – Planting dense rows of trees as wind-breaks along the borders of the land, especially on the sides that are exposed to stiff wind. Their roots stabilize the soil and prevent it from being shifted away by the wind.s Planting crops in rotation. Alternating crops helps avoid depleting the soil nutrients too fast. Planting cover crops. These stabilize the soil and reduce the effects of soil erosion. They also discourage the spread of weeds and help the soil retain its moisture in the summers. Plowing along the contour of the land. Planting crops parallel to the slope of the land. Going for strip cropping. This involves planting grasses or pulses between regular crops like corn. The corn crop is not particularly effective in preventing soil erosion, but the grasses keep erosion in check. Adding much to the soil surface. This prevents erosion by acting as a barrier and catching run-off water. Adding coir logs as barriers. These are very useful in areas where too much erosion has taken place and act as erosion preventing barriers and a support for new developing vegetation. Aside from coir barriers, sand bag and gravel bag barriers are also used. Growing grass on slopes and in waterways. Grassed waterways prevent too much soil from being washed away. Making use of natural as well as man-made fertilizers. Keeping the land fallow in order to rest it. Managing the levels of salinity. In areas where irrigation is in excess or where the saline water tables are low, the salinity levels can go up and make the land unsuitable for agriculture. This problem can be resolved by the use of humic acid. Managing the soil ph. The soil pH is what determines the amount of nutrients that the plants can absorb from the soil. Soil pH levels can be raised or decreased, as needed, by adding certain chemicals for example, agriculture lime for raising pH level and ammonium phosphate for reducing it. Encouraging beneficial soil organisms like earthworms and nitrogen fixing bacteria to thrive in the soil. The presence of such organisms enriches the soil. Using man-made chemical insecticides, pesticides and herbicides in very low amounts. Over use of chemicals can poison the soil and kill of useful organisms, and is generally harmful to the environment. Regularly add minerals to the soil. Minerals provide much-need nutrients to the soil to be absorbed by the plants. To mineralize the soil, add chemical supplements or try adding crushed rock.

Merging Of Old And New Architecture

Merging Of Old And New Architecture Human population growth in our planet has increased in a whirlwind over the past few decades. The on-going increase of the world population nowadays leads to greater demand of providing built environment for the people. On the other hand, although the population is growing, the earth is not. People will have to build more in a land that stay constantly the same. The fast changes of built environment have become one of the results. In Singapore, fast changes of environmental surrounding have now become so common that people might perceive it as a habit and pattern of life. People might live in one area for just couple of months and suddenly their environment is no longer the same. New buildings are added, some are being destroyed and replaced. The main reason is because of the minimum land area they have, that must runs concurrently with the population increase. To meet the demand of peoples need that is constantly changing and increasing, the built environment is adapting in a fast pace also. Living in a condition that is continuously changing has left a certain bad impact of ones life. A lot of Singaporeans, especially the young generations have no glimpse of what happened in the past. They are growing up in this modern environment, with the expectation of an endless changing. Not knowing the past means that we are heading our way to a future without knowing our own history and culture, leaving behind all of what our ancestors had given. While others are able to trace back their root and heritage, we cant. Others are able to learn from their own history, we cant. This is also creating a boredom, to only look forward and waiting for something new. Whereby our surrounding needs to be altered according to peoples need, we also have a call to start learning to know our history and originality. One of the solutions to this problem may be just a simple act that has been forgotten by most architects. We still can have both the originality of the buildings with the combination of new function to be added on, adjusting peoples need that is constantly changing. Fast changes built environment as the result of the increase population and peoples needs have caused individuals not to know their past. By merging the old and new architecture, people will have a glimpse on their history while still having their needs fulfilled. The essay will be studying how the old and contemporary architects have done the merging of the two. II. The Future of The Past The issue of Singaporean Young Generation to grow up without knowing their own culture and heritage. 1. Fast Changes of Built Environment in Singapore Data from the construction sector in Singapore has shown a rapid growth since the past few decades. The development of construction sector in Singapore since 1982 to 1992 is 12.5 percent while since 1992 to 1998 the growth expanded to 15.9 percent. Until the year 1990, there is 6,813,376m2 floor area of new establishments completed. Moreover, up till the year of 2010 the growth has increased from 15.9 percent to 20.3 percent. (Building Construction Authority, 2010) One aspect that is causing this rapid growth of built construction sector is the increase of peoples population. Data from Singapore Statistics (Singapore Statistics, 2010) shows that in 2010 the number of population reaches 5,076,7000 people, while in 1980 the population is only 2,413,900 people. From the data above, it is shown that increase of population runs concurrently with the construction sector. We can analysed that due to the expansion of Singapore population, the necessities of people is growing as well. This issue will then leads to the obligation of government to build more in order to fulfil peoples needs. 2. Fast Changes Built Environment in Singapore Leading Towards The Unknowing of The Past MM Lee Kuan Yew once stated in his speech at the inaugural Future China Global Forum Meeting on Wednesday, July 17th 2010, that Singaporeans are ignorant. (Temasek Review, 2010). One of the biggest issues of ignorance in Singapore is where the young generations not aware of what happened in the past. What if it is not the case that they are intentionally ignoring what had happened in the past? What if it occurs because of no traces left from the past as the result of fast changes in their living environment? B. Lessons from The Past 1. History Value of The Past By recognising our own history, we do not only know what had happened in the past but also learn from it. Peter N. Stearns (Historians, 2008) , once said that history puts human experience in a situation whereby it allows us to understand ourselves as a people and a culture. It gives us a reference to consider the possible future ahead of us. For examples, journals, newspapers and other religious books become more relevant to know what is going on in that time period. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. (Santayana, 2005) on the other hand, with no doubt, knowing the past means also that we are aware of the mistakes done back then. It helps us understand past triumphs and tragedies, and gives us the tools to try and succeed where others have failed. It will be functioned as a guideline to illustrate our future in order to lead a better life in the future where we will not go down to the same hole again. 2. Memories How We Recall The Past Many very different things happen when we remember (Wittgenstein, 1974, pp. 181). Memories are another beauty depicting the past. How we recall and store every scene in the past is by memories. What has gone in the past shall live in our memories forever. We might forget the past without memories, and moreover the things that we cant let go of might stay forever in our mind even though they are actually gone. Memories play a certain roles in recalling the past. C. Architecture in The Past versus New Architecture Characteristics of Old Architecture The study of traditional architecture proved that in general there are recognisable patterns and forms in variety settings and variety purposes. Old buildings are usually designed by classification or by typological approach. Each type had certain characteristic that differentiates from others, and this will often be repeated in the design. For the spaces inside, they are typically designed as a solid body. They are always been rooms and solid spaces as to part one space from another. As for the functional purposes of old architecture How Traditional Architecture Different from Contemporary Architecture 2.1 Development of The Functions Contemporary architecture has developed rapidly, adjusting to human needs that are constantly changing. The main thing that differs traditional and contemporary architecture is the development of the functions. One of the examples is the establishment of department store in 1838. The increase of peoples possession on goods and daily needs is the main reason of the founding of department store, whereby people will be able to buy all kinds of their needs in one area. At the old time, all shops were standing alone; people will have to venture to one shop to another to get all their needs. Le Bon Marchà © Paris, France 1850 2.2 Development of The Forms Moreover, it is the characteristic of old building that is abandoned by new architecture. Repetitive forms are now used in a very little manner, while new forms are being introduced more. (will be explained more in the next semester) Le Bon Marchà © Paris, Shinsegae Centum City Busan, France (1850) South Korea (2010) D. Historical Approach The method of merging old and new architecture in the past The scheme of combining old and new architecture is not a completely new approach, whereby it has been done in the past. 1. John Ruskin 1.1 The Sixth Lamp of Architecture Lamp of Memory John Ruskin was an English art critic and theorist. He wrote an extended essay about principle in architecture, The Seven Lamps of Architecture. At the sixth point of his essay, The Memory, Ruskins clearly stated that there are two duties respecting national architecture; the first is to represent the architecture of the day and the second is to preserve, what is the most precious of inheritances from the past ages. (Ruskin, 1849) What Ruskin means by Memory is that architecture should have some regards to the culture and time where it has developed. Every building has its own beauty regarding its time being. Ruskin (2008, pp. 4-5) believed that every building especially domestic and residential building have some emotional aspect towards owner and space users. There are certain elements inside that cannot be renewed or replaced. 1.2 Restoration as a Form of Lie Even more, according to Ruskin (2008, pp. 15) restoration is a form of lie. We may make the same skeleton of the old building, or even portraying the exact same interior of the old. But still, the old building is destroyed, there will be no more emotional connection with people, whereby what they really connected with has gone, even after being replaced with something that is exactly the same. It will be better to have a robustly built structure that is strong enough to stand for quite sometimes, rather than having a building that is only last for a generation. Moreover, it is the nature of a building to have much longer life span than man. So why should we build one that requires changes after only short times, where actually it can be strongly remained? 2. Eugà ¨ne Viollet- le-Duc 2.1 Restorations of Medieval Buildings Different from Ruskin, Viollet- le-Duc was well known for his restorations projects of medieval buildings. When Ruskin strongly argued that restoration is a lie, Viollet- le-Duc has his own view on restorations projects. Restorations on medieval buildings appeared in France in the early 1830s, whereby there was a concern on medieval buildings that were slowly destructed as time goes by. Viollet- le-Duc was then firstly commissioned to restore Cathedral of Narbonne in 1839. As an architect and theorist, Viollet- le-Duc (Viollet- le-Duc, as cited in Levine, 2009, pp. 152) argued that what was lacking in the restoration field is the truth. A lot of French architects were making imitations objects, whereby the restorations were all look exactly the same with the old building before it destroyed. Viollet- le-Duc, aligned with Ruskins view about restoration as a form of lie, also believed that by imitating what has been there in the old buildings before and just directly made a newer version of it will bring no truth to the whole point of restorations. Restoration will be seen just to renew and renew the buildings whereby actually the originality of the buildings will be keep lacking. Viollet- le-Duc (Levine, 2009, pp. 154) then introduced a method of restoring with achieving something new and valid. He took what is the most important element in the old building; still using it but with the combination of creative modification. He pushed restorations to be beyond the limit and therefore leads to the era of Modernism. 2.2 Theory of Hut (Viollet- le-Duc Theory of Hut about taking the original elements of the old building and convert them into something new will be covered in the next semester) E. The Values of Merging Old and New Architecture 1. Unconventional twist created by merging old and new architecture Having both the originality of spaces with the new function will surely bring new sensation of the interior spaces (Conran, as cited in Niesewand, 1998, pp. 01) Imagine a sitting room with a church high ceiling, a workspace with the sunray glazes on the floor of a seaside house. We can get both the new function without sacrificing the beauty of old. The necessity of people is fulfilled, but now in a different unique ways. This will affect people in various ways: Fulfilment of necessity achieved in old environment, whereby in contradiction it is something new for people. People will perceive the old as a new thing as the function is now changing. Unconsciously, the space users will be in two different periods of time in a same place. This will provide the people some feelings of always being in different places all the time. Somehow, this is actually a benefit for people, especially Singaporean to be able to have two sensations in their spaces. Singaporean with the habit of living in small space due to land constraint will now be able to widen their view, although still being in the small space. 2. Transitional Spaces Between The Old and New Transitional spaces in architecture are commonly known as the connector of interior and exterior of the building. The use of transitional space is as a comfort zone as well as buffer spaces where people are allowed to adjust their selves before going to the different area. According to the definition of transitional spaces (UCL, 2005), it is articulated as a cross point where it connects the two. In the field of merging old and new architecture, these transitional spaces are now functioned not as the connector of outdoor and indoor, but between the old and new. It can be a space between the interior and exterior, between the exteriors or between interiors as long as it is a linkage from the old to the new. (Case studies of transitional spaces in between old and new buildings will be covered next semester) 3. Economically sizeable market With no doubt, reusing an existing building will bring a great economic advantage. Compared to build a new fabric, using an old building will only takes 50% to 70% construction works and therefore is less time consuming as well. (Cramer, 2007, pp.9) Moreover, demolition of old building nowadays is being perceived as an ecological waste. New building means taking more of the natural resources as material sources. Why would we want to take more from earth if we still could do alteration of existing building structure? It is wiser for us to provide more natural resources for the next generation rather than using them to the maximum limit now. Moreover, for the space users themselves, it is another economic advantage to utilise a readymade building than building a new one. The cost will definitely be higher to build a new structure than to reuse the old. 4. Challenging The Creativity of Designers Designers nowadays have been so caught up with the thought that creativity is to be explored to the highest point, whereby to create something in the existing building is a restriction of creativity. (Cramer, 2007, pp.9) On the other hand, in the practice, it is actually a greater chance for designers and architects to explore their potential and creativity in the field of designing with old establishment. While designing the new structure, there is no constraint and rules that will bind the designer. Designers will have to explore and put more thoughts when it comes to old buildings. There are a lot of sources inside the old that designers will have to incorporate with their new design features. This will require more creativity from the designers. F. The ways of merging the old and new 1. Converted Architecture new use for old buildings Lukas Feiress (Feiress, 2009, pp. 03) stated that we have to locate the present between the past and the future. In the present state, we cannot deny what has happened in the past, but still we need to look forward to the future. Converted architecture is a term of changing the use or function of an original building, especially the old and abandoned. Terence Conran, (Conran, as cited in Niesewand, 1988, pp.06) once said, How we use space and particularly how we live in it, requires a complex balancing act between practical limitations, individual requirements and personal preferences. Requirements of individual needs and personal preferences are a key to converted architecture. Some people may choose triple volume height open space for living while others may not. Than maybe an old school or old church is more suitable for them. To convert an old building means that we are maximising the use of what is already there with some adjustments of new functions. We might want to retain the old structure or forms of the existing skin with adding a new function on to it. The essay will gives examples that some of the greatest contemporary architecture projects are actually done with the engagement of existing building structures. There are two approaches of how the old and new come together as a whole: Blend In The new addition of function is blending in with the existing old fabric. They are now look similar and smoothly integrated. Various elements are used to bind the old and new together. It could be in terms of material, colours, or design of new structure that follows the old. Peoples view is being blurred, as they may perceive the new as the old or vice versa. Blend in could be use as the guideline to design the transitional spaces between the two. Neues Museum, Berlin Germany David Chipperfield (Case studies of Neues museum, Berlin by David Chipperfield as to bring the old and new as a whole whereby the new blended in with the old by the use of colour and material will be explored more in the next semester) Contrast The new function is intentionally designed in contrast with the old building. By treating it this way, space users will subconsciously feel as if theyre in two places in the same time. Museum of Sydney Australia 1983 Firstly built for the governors house on 1788, rebuilt for the Museum of Sydney on 1983 (further explained in next semester about how the architect is successful in contrasting the new element but still harmonious with the old) Different types of building conversion to create contrast: Add On Indicating the potentials of adding on a new structure to the existing building. There are no changes at all of the old building. New spaces being laid and extended onto existing fabric. The example shows that existing architecture and new structure form unexpectedly imaginative balance although with two different elements. House at St Kevins Road by Odos Architects Inside-Out Exploring the interior space of the old building. The original appearance of the existing site remains unchanged, but concentrating on the interior spaces. This type of converting is in line with conservation procedure to maintain the exterior of a historic building. Selexyz Dominicanen Bookstore Netherland (former church turned to bookstore) Change Clothes The opposite of Inside-Out, whereby the approach is now to completely change the exterior faà §ade of old building. New shell is now put to replace the existing fabric. This scheme of converting can be done for many old buildings that had gone through massive destruction of the exterior through ages and other for the optimisation of buildings shell. Bunny Lane by Adam Kalkin (former factory turned to a house) (All of the case studies will be furthered explained in the next semester) 2. Types of building to be converted It is not necessarily to be a historical building to be converted, but any old and abandoned structure. The main reason of merging the old and new architecture together is for people, especially young generation, to get to know their own culture and how life back there was like. Ruskin (Ruskin, as cited in Cramer, 2007, pp.15) said that The aesthetic value of something was closely linked to its age, and this aesthetic value should not be impaired by modern intervention. John Ruskin has stated that every building have their own beauty, their own ability to tell story about their own time being. It is not only the historical buildings that are able to tell us what happened in the past, but any other old buildings also. Potential types of buildings to be converted 2.1 Ecclesiastical building A lot of ecclesiastical buildings are vacant nowadays. The most common reason is because of the need to have more spacious assembly space. It leads to create a single larger unit meeting space from combining two or three churches together and left other buildings empty. The value of a churchlike building is that they are spacious and tall enough to accommodate a lot of spaces. They are suitable for living or gathering spaces that require more time inside the space such as cafà © or restaurant. Larger spaces inside the church will allow people to feel more comfortable where they have to stay in quite long time. White Rabbit Restaurant Dempsey Hill Singapore (Former old chapel building) 2.2 Municipal building Municipal buildings are places that are own by government, they have high position in local community such as police station, government hospital or schools. These buildings are usually built near to the main road or access area. They are highly accessible and this also becomes the value of municipal buildings. They are suitable for commercial places such as retail or hospitality, as usually located at the heartland of a city. Fullerton Hotel- Singapore (Former General Post Office building) 2.3 Commercial building Old commercial building, especially in Singapore, such as the old shop houses are more likely to become vacant as the result of changes in working patterns. There are now trends to group all commercial spaces together in business or urban areas, such as the grouping of shopping areas along Orchard Road along the way to Marina. The value of old commercial space is that they are tent not to have much decoration. They are often monotonous; all look the same and therefore allowed more new adjustments to be made. House at No. 12 Kong Seen Road Singapore by Richard Ho (former shop house building) 2.4 Industrial and Offices Industrial and offices are designed to be practical and useful rather than beautiful. Creativity of designers is challenged the most in converting industrial spaces and offices. It is the nature of industrial buildings to be ignored by passers by and it is the designers job to transform them into much more attractive with still retaining some parts of them. The value of this kind of buildings is they are usually very practical in the adjacency of spaces inside. Spaces work perfectly for the benefit of the users. (case study will be explained in the next semester) G. How will the space users cope with the new way of experiencing spaces based on the psychological effects from the above studies? The obstacles that people may face in coping with two elements at once. Will they get used to the changing of spaces inside? The adjustments by the space users and the design as well. (Will be explored in the next semester)

Chinese Entrepreneurs in Singapore: Paths to Success Essay -- Business

Chinese Entrepreneurs in Singapore: Paths to Success Due to the economic hardships and threat of Japanese invasion in China in the first half of the 20th century, many men left their homeland in search of success and opportunities abroad. One of the places that many of them migrated to was Singapore. This new and foreign place was fraught with obstacles; however, some of these Chinese men eventually achieved great success. The success of these Chinese entrepreneurs in Singapore was not only due to their personal determination, but it was also contingent upon their social ties, and the economic and political conditions. In the following essay, the experiences of Ng Teow Yhee and Chew Choo Keng will be referred to extensively to illustrate the various combinations of complex factors that lead to their success. Firstly, I will begin with a discussion on the motivations and reasons why the men chose to depart from their families in China. Secondly, the necessity of initial social ties in Singapore will be discussed as well as their first work experiences, which helped to shape their perspectives and goals. Thirdly, the effects of the Japanese invasion on the development and viability of Chinese businesses in Singapore will be examined. Fourthly, the great business developments made by the Chinese, post-Japanese occupation, will be discussed. Lastly, I will compare Ng Teow Yhee’s and Chew Choo Keng’s management styles, strategies and beliefs in order to illustrate how their personal characteristics contributed to their achievement of success. The early 20th century was a period when China was wrought with wars and economic uncertainty. As a result, migrants were forced to uproot from their homeland to seek fortunes abroad. Thus, their motivation was fundamentally an economic one—that is, to earn money to survive and remit to their poor families in China as support. In other words, â€Å"the motivation for emigration seemed to arisen more from the push factors caused by China’s poverty and absence of opportunity than from the pull factors then existent in Nanyang†¦.† (Chan & Chiang, 40) Two prime examples of men who sought their livelihoods in Singapore due to their dreadful village conditions were: Ng Teow Yhee and Chew Choo Keng. Ng was forced to leave his home in 1938, at the age of 15, due to the impending Japanese invasion. Du... ...ial ties, and the economic and political conditions. This has been chronologically illustrated using the experiences of Ng Teow Yhee and Chew Choo Keng—from the time they decided to leave China, to their first jobs in Singapore, to the Japanese Occupation years, into the post-occupation period. It can be seen that their childhood experiences and the life experiences they gained along the way helped them to succeed by providing them with a strong knowledge base upon which to develop their businesses. Although these were prime examples of those who did succeed, it must be noted that there were many with the same determination that did not. Success is dependant on the combination of a number of complex factors. As such, success could not be guaranteed to all those who were innovative and risk-taking because they are not sufficient preconditions for successful entrepreneurship. (Chan & Chiang, 35) Bibliography Chan Kwok Bun & Claire Chiang. Stepping Out: The Making of Chinese Entrepreneurs. Singapore: Prentice Hall, 1994. Chew, Ernest and Edwin Lee. â€Å"Chapter 6: The Syonan Years, 1942-1945.† A History of Singapore. Singapore: Oxford University Press, 1996.