Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 207

Essay Example It adopted the military culture and operated under principles reminiscent from the military operation. This culture resulted to decrease of company performance. The principles adopted also resulted to termination of many employees. Shaw (2007) states that, termination of the employee causes low performance of the company because the customers have specific people who should serve them. When a customer finds out that the employees are sucked, they also loose confidence with the company (Sison, 2008). When Frank took over the company changed trend and tried to create or establish a good relationship with employee and customer. In order to attract more customers, it started offering free service of teaching carpentry to children. The company builds up a culture that emphasized on social responsibility. It created different programs that support the customers and environment growth. The company also underestimated the female workers as they were paid low salaries than their male counterparts but after the case was filed in 1997, the issue was resolved. The company provides equal opportunity to all associates, and every body is encouraged to develop and grow professionally (Rezaee, 2008). In respect to the social responsibility principle, Home Depot established programs to minimize their impacts to the environment and also customers effect to the environment. One of the ethical principles is to care and protect the environment and ensure that the company and the customer do not cause harm to the environment. The company has also applied to be certified by the Forest Stewardship in order to access wood at the forest. This is an indication that the company does not want to violate the country’s regulation (Shaw, 2007). Home Depot employees are required to be involved on voluntarily basis in community work and civic activities. Each year the 300 employees are required to take part in the 2 million voluntarily services offered by

Impacts of Rising Production of Biofuels on Economy Essay

Impacts of Rising Production of Biofuels on Economy - Essay Example Agricultural development would make Biofuel’ s production little higher. However, farmers would be in a position to produce higher amount of corps. Biofuel demand would also be increased as it is better oil direct alternative of oil & gasoline. Oil market is direct competitor of Biofuel renewable energy. However, lower oil prices would put significant influence on biofuel price. In other case, if oil prices set at higher level. However, demand for biofuel would definitely get improved. Vehicle fuel consumption is increasing on daily basis. People therefore give importance to cheap energy sources. Today, farmers have been with improved agricultural and conversion productivity. Eventually, higher energy prices in the 2000s combined with subsidies and low food prices made biofuel profitable. Corn price is recently increased. Thereby, it lead to big losses to corn biofuel processors. Task B Consumer behavior has significant orientation with changing fuel preferences and corps pric es. Vehicle technology hasn’t improved yet. However, natural oil is on large scale made base point for fuel consumption in engines. Consumer behavior has significant association with price fundamental concept. Income is inversely proportional to food prices. Whenever, food prices go up then one has to pay off little more for same things. Biofuel consumption would make people uneasy as food prices would be increased in the result of biofuel production. Natural oil is also vital reason besides higher prices. It directly impacts on transportation charges. However, farmers have to pay off big amount of their earnings in taxes. This makes them to charge end user little more amount. Eventually, this particular phenomena leads market trends to settle... This essay investigates the significance of microeconomics fundamental principles, pertaining to biofuel production. This essay also analyzes the price influence of crops on a single person income level. This study discussed the sources of biofuel, which includes vegetable, animal fats, and short chain aliphatic alcohols. Biofuel generation often leads to produce byproduct along original products including soaps, alcohol, glycerin, and trace amount of water. Consumer behavior has significant orientation with changing fuel preferences and corps prices. Vehicle technology hasn’t improved yet. However, natural oil is on large scale made base point for fuel consumption in engines. Consumer behavior has significant association with price fundamental concept. Income is inversely proportional to food prices. Whenever, food prices go up then one has to pay off little more for same things. Biofuel consumption would make people uneasy as food prices would be increased in the result of biofuel production. Natural oil is also vital reason besides higher prices. It directly impacts on transportation charges. However, farmers have to pay off big amount of their earnings in taxes. This makes them to charge end user little more amount. Eventually, this particular phenomena leads market trends to settle equilibrium little away from convenient level. Biofuel is unconditionally helpful for such people, who don’t earn enough to support their daily expenditures. Food prices wouldn’t increase with same proportionate of fuel prices.

Extracurricular Activities And Academic Success

Extracurricular Activities And Academic Success This research proposal is designed to determine if there is a correlation between extracurricular activities and academic success in college. It is hypothesized that there is a very strong positive correlation between involvement in extracurricular activities and academic success. School districts are worried that they are budgeting too much money for programs that do not directly influence academics. This study is important so that school districts will know where to adequately put money within their schools so that all people will benefit to the best of their ability. Activities and Academics 3 Is there a Correlation Between Extracurricular Activities and Academic Success in College? The purpose of this study is to measure the correlation between a college students involvement in extracurricular activities (i.e. sports, band, drama, cheerleading, and so on) and their grades compared to students who are not involved in any extracurricular activities. The main debate this association carries is whether extracurricular activities are actually beneficial or if they just force students to keep their academics up because of eligibility. Rachel Hollrah did a study in which she determined that extracurricular activities help students to receive better grades by teaching them character building lessons, teaching them lifelong skills, saving some at risk students who would possibly drop out of school, and helping students develop social skills. (Hollrah) All of these things are very vital to a human beings life and being able to function in the real world. One must have an education to be able to get a good job and make the money that is needed to support oneself or even a family. But as important as education, one also needs social skills and a very strong sense of character, morals, and ethics. Without these things, one can very quickly and easily lose sense of them and become someone they never were or wanted to be. One main thing that has been associated with success in general is self-esteem. When an individual succeeds, they usually automatically begin to feel Activities and Academics 4 better about their endeavors and about themselves as a person. Diana Grafford from the Department of Psychology at Missouri Western State University feels strongly about self-esteem associated with ones success. Self-esteem is affected by ones performance on the stage, on the football field, or by playing a musical instrument. A persons confidence in their ability to compete, perform, or satisfactorily complete a task can have a positive or negative effect, depending on the interpretation of success. (Grafford) Most individuals will begin to see themselves in a better light when they succeed and their self-esteem will begin to increase. This, then, will start to carry over into more parts of their life and help them to succeed in many other things rather than just one section. Some individuals, in contrast, view success in different ways and may not feel better about themselves but actually begin to feel worse. Some feel like they have to be at the top in everything they do or they are not successful at all. It all just depends on the particular person. Kimiko Fujita conducted a study in which he measured the correlation between academic success and extracurricular activities. Total extracurricular activity participation (TEAP), or participation in extracurricular activities in general, is associated with an improved grade point average, higher educational aspirations, increased college attendance, and reduced absenteeism. (Fujita) He also discovered that participation in some activities improves achievement, Activities and Academics 5 while participation in others diminishes achievement. (Fujita) The reason for the positive or negative change is different with each individual and it all just depends on each persons goals, character, determination, and willing to work as hard as they can to be successful. One important debate is whether colleges look at more than just grades and GPA when considering accepting someone into school. A lot of people think that a students involvement in extracurricular activities should also be considered when accepting students and handing out scholarships. Rank in class (RIC) in a study done by George Mason University (Podhajasky, 1997), was determined to be a strong predictor of success in college, but student environment was found to play a part in the eventual retention to graduation. It was found that students who became involved in extracurricular activities while in college enhanced their college experience and increased their future success. (Neal). Most research that I did had no emphasis on the difference between the involvement and the academic success between black students and white students. One study was done where they tested to see if there was any difference at all. The relationship between participation in extracurricular activities and academic achievement was examined. Black eighth graders and white eighth graders completed achievement tests and described school and nonschool activities. Amount of participation was positively related to academic Activities and Academics 6 achievement. The relationship was stronger for white students overall, and for school-related activities for both groups. (Gerber) One study showed that not only did extracurricular activities help students stay focused on academics but it also helped them to develop time management skills that were very crucial for later on in life. This study showed that the student is learns early how to juggle multiple tasks on a daily basis will be more prepared for adult life. These time management skills that are acquired keep the students organized and more able to get everything done within given time constraints. This ability, to organize time, is also very useful later in life. When students are done with school, they will be expected to juggle a job, a family, and many other things that require successful time management skills. Therefore, being involved with activities not only brings better grades, but it also promotes an easier transition into adult life. (Solinger) In most of the research I conducted, there was a clear consensus that there is a positive correlation between extracurricular activities and academic success. Usually students who stay involved and active have more motivation to hold their academics to a high standard for many reasons. Some of these reasons include eligibility, more time to devote to extracurricular activities, and both high academics and extracurricular activities look good when trying to get a job. There were a couple sources that showed no correlation between extracurricular activities and academic success but none that showed a negative Activities and Academics 7 correlation. The research that I conducted, for the most part, seemed to follow my assumptions. I have always believe that being involved and active definitely does help with academic success and helps students strive to do the best they can do when it comes to academics. Does ones participation in extracurricular activities (i.e. band, athletics, cheerleading, drama, and so on) have any effect on the students academic success? What would happen if a student who had been involved in extracurricular activities all of a sudden were not? Would more time devoted to schoolwork because of no extracurricular activities be a good thing for a students academics? In this study, the independent variable will be ones participation in extracurricular activities. The dependent variable we will name as a students academic success. It is hypothesized that there will be a very strong and positive correlation between extracurricular activities and academic success. Method The researcher plans to measure the correlation between extracurricular activities and academic success by using a questionnaire. The questionnaire will be handed out to an equal number of individuals involved in band, cheerleading, football, baseball, basketball, greek organizations, and drama. The questionnaire will also be given to the same amount of students who are not involved in anything other than classes. Activities and Academics 8 Analysis The researcher will use the correlation equation to analyze the data taken from the questionnaire.

Caught in the Net (the Internet, that is) :: Personal Narrative, essay about myself

"Hello. My name is Kim. I'm an online-aholic." There. I've said it. I guess I've been addicted for quite some time now, but I have just begun to realize it. My first interaction with the "Net" began when I was only 15 years old. My dad was the computer coordinator at our school, so he wanted to try Internet access at home before installing it at school. We became America Online members in 1993. None of my friends had e-mail back then. My relationship with e-mail started like a Romeo/Juliet conspiracy. I experimented with the Net on the sly at night when the rest of my family was sleeping. That's when I first created my own screen name. Although I was too young to drive, the locked doors of adolescence were suddenly flung open before me. I could be social in the evening rather than hang out with my family-the typical family that every adolescent wants to escape from. Hanging out in chat rooms became a nightly ritual. I quickly found friends who would meet me there, give advice for my adolescent problems, and discuss things such as dating, theater, religion, morals, and entertainment. I began to form emotional attachments with these new friends. In fact, I maintained two online relationships for over two years. Raul is a Hispanic teenager living in one of the roughest cities in our nation, Compton, California-the filming location of the 1991 movie Boyz 'N the Hood. I met Raul in a chat room one night. He sent me an instant message in the middle of a discussion about religion and asked what I believed. My subsequent chats with Raul seemed to have an impact on him and helped me to grow in my own faith. I occasionally took Raul's questions to my preacher or Bible teacher when I needed further explanation. For Raul's 18th birthday, I sent him a Bible that I bought with my paper-route earnings. Raul and I wrote each other for two years, and then Raul had to sell his computer. I haven't heard from him since. Brian is a middle-aged high-school theater teacher in Bowie, Maryland. He answered one of my message board posts about an upcoming audition for our school's performance of The Sound of Music. I was 17 years old at the time and greatly desired a part in the musical. Brian had expert advice for how to nail the audition, and as a result I was cast in the role of Maria. Caught in the Net (the Internet, that is) :: Personal Narrative, essay about myself "Hello. My name is Kim. I'm an online-aholic." There. I've said it. I guess I've been addicted for quite some time now, but I have just begun to realize it. My first interaction with the "Net" began when I was only 15 years old. My dad was the computer coordinator at our school, so he wanted to try Internet access at home before installing it at school. We became America Online members in 1993. None of my friends had e-mail back then. My relationship with e-mail started like a Romeo/Juliet conspiracy. I experimented with the Net on the sly at night when the rest of my family was sleeping. That's when I first created my own screen name. Although I was too young to drive, the locked doors of adolescence were suddenly flung open before me. I could be social in the evening rather than hang out with my family-the typical family that every adolescent wants to escape from. Hanging out in chat rooms became a nightly ritual. I quickly found friends who would meet me there, give advice for my adolescent problems, and discuss things such as dating, theater, religion, morals, and entertainment. I began to form emotional attachments with these new friends. In fact, I maintained two online relationships for over two years. Raul is a Hispanic teenager living in one of the roughest cities in our nation, Compton, California-the filming location of the 1991 movie Boyz 'N the Hood. I met Raul in a chat room one night. He sent me an instant message in the middle of a discussion about religion and asked what I believed. My subsequent chats with Raul seemed to have an impact on him and helped me to grow in my own faith. I occasionally took Raul's questions to my preacher or Bible teacher when I needed further explanation. For Raul's 18th birthday, I sent him a Bible that I bought with my paper-route earnings. Raul and I wrote each other for two years, and then Raul had to sell his computer. I haven't heard from him since. Brian is a middle-aged high-school theater teacher in Bowie, Maryland. He answered one of my message board posts about an upcoming audition for our school's performance of The Sound of Music. I was 17 years old at the time and greatly desired a part in the musical. Brian had expert advice for how to nail the audition, and as a result I was cast in the role of Maria.

Effects of Mass Media Essay

Questions: What were the major developments in the evolution of mass media during the 20th century? One of the major developments in the 20th century had to be the revolution of the internet. With having media that would be presented at the time in which it happened, gave the American people more informative information. While many news sources chose what information was given to us, the internet gave us the ability to see firsthand what was happening not only in America but in other Countries. Having the ability to choose what we would want to research, be it; war, history etc. the 20th century made that possible for us. As it was back in the 50’s there were only 4 major news sources, and they all came to agree with what would be seen on the television in regards to news, etc. With the ability of instant messaging, it not only gave us the instant access of what may be happening, it gave us the ability to find it ourselves. Having the ability to watch different media sources on the inter net, gives us the opportunity to uncover things that may not have been given to us through the mass media. There are many documentaries that are available to us, and being able to find more information on a subject that we feel is important is easily at out fingertips. Mass media has forever changed the way in which we learn, develop, and research. We have changed so much that our younger generations only know this way in which to communicate. Having so much information available has given a whole new meaning to what we watch on television to how we communicate to family that is not near. How did each development influence American culture? Answers: With the developments of mass media it has given us many opportunities to find out information on many subjects that we may not have been able to find out so recently. As, it was back in the 50s through the 80’s mass media was what we heard on the evening news or read in the newspapers now it is at our fingertips, and we are able to find out just about anything as it happens.  With the development of mass media, we can now instantly chat with someone that may be on the other side of the world. With the ability to Skype and instant message, we can share information and though it is not as personal; it is the new way to communicate. Today, the news broadcasts have changed, with the major news groups still deciding what will be on a broadcast we have the ability to find out more information on the subject at hand. There are many websites that have more information available to us that we can choose what we watch. Many people feel that they need to share more of the news mediaâ €™s information which in turn gives us the ability to research a subject on our own and find what we may feel is the truth. Mass media has changed so many things, in the last century that knowing where it may end up in another century is the question. Being well informed is something that the mass media has given us, and using it to help with questions or information is now what can be expected.

Ece Developmentally Appropriate Practice

Appropriate Practice When trying to come up with my teaching philosophy, I quickly realized that one size fits all† teaching is not for me. I needed to combine many methods to make my style fit the many personalities and learning styles of my students. With all of the learning styles that students exhibit I do not see how a teacher could simply teach with one philosophy all of the time. If a teacher chooses to lecture all the time, how will the kinesthesia and visual learners, who make up the biggest percentage of the population, understand the material?Due to the low self-esteem of many of the children In today's society I believe that teachers need to be extremely cautious when cringingly a students work. If a student does a poor Job on a paper or assignment I believe that the teacher should use remediation and help the child try to improve their score rather than telling them how poorly they did. Likewise, I believe that if a student does well they should receive praise for what they accomplished. The use of a variety of teaching methods is also crucial to the classroom.A lot of children become bored with the same routine day after day. In order to keep their attention and to keep them interested in the subject matter teachers need to use different methods of teaching such as field trips, debates, and cooperative learning activities. Of the five major philosophies (Perennials, Essentialist, Progressivism, Existentialism and Reconstructions) I relate most to the Existentialism Philosophy. In my opinion this is the most important approach in teaching students in today's society.I believe that students understanding and appreciation of themselves takes precedence over any subject that can be taught in school. No matter how intellectual a student may prove to be, without assurance and belief in themselves they will not accomplish much in life. Every child is different and has unique ways of learning and exceed in some subject areas more than others. A stud ent might not do well In mathematics but may be an excellent artist. This does not mean that they are not as Important as other students Just that they excel more In one area than In another.I feel that education Is not only based on the basics (math, science, reading, and writing), but built on them. To me, creative expression revolves around the basics hat are taught and also around the areas In life that are unseen, or thought. Creamery opens a person's mind, to not Just focus on what has been taught to us, which Is Information stored In the left side of the brain, but also to utilize our own Ideas and Imagination to express ourselves, which utilizes the right side of the brain.By doing creative things that use the imagination, we strengthen both parts of the brain. As children we feed the creative part of the brain, all is growing at once, once formal education is introduced, that vision is narrowed to the point that it becomes lost and often never recovered. A classroom that of fers this type of guidance and the freedom to a pressure-tree environment that allows tort creativity is what I from my class. Sire Another very important factor in a balanced curriculum is conveying emotions because it is an essential form of communication. According to the text (TAP chapter 1 peg 20) children work at their own pace, with their own learning style/ strategies and while learning, TAP engages both emotional and intellectual stimuli. The nice thing about the whole process of learning with this philosophy is that there is no pressure to where it is uncomfortable or not enjoyable. Like I said, each student determines his/her own pace and direction of learning.Without pressure, I feel the students would want to come and learn and to be with fellow students who have common interests and want to learn together, plus get to do what they enjoy doing anyway. Children learn so much better when their affective filter is down. The role of the teacher is to expose the students to the materials and subjects that are available, make them aware of their surroundings, help each one individually through the process, and help them create in an open, free, and stimulating environment.

Arnold Schoenberg essays

Arnold Schoenberg essays The most important Expressionist composer was Arnold Schoenberg. He was born in 1874 in Vienna to a poor Orthodox Jewish family. He took violin lessons when he was younger but had no other musical training. He began composing at about the age of eight. He gradually came to feel that tonality-the centuries-old harmonic basis of music, with its carefully ordered hierarchy of keys and its feeling of a single, central key for each movement or work-had outlived its usefulness. He began to develop a completely new system of musical organization. At first he called this system atonality-meaning that the music uses so many chromatic notes that no tonal center can be heard. Schoenberg wrote many atonal pieces, the most important being, Das Buch der bangenden Garten (The Book of the Hanging Gardens), Five Pieces for Orchestra, and Pierrot Lunaire (Moonstruck Pierrot.) Schoenbergs music was not very popular and for several years he wrote no music at all. Atonality freed music from the straitjacket of tonality, but it had no organizing principle. In order to structure a piece with no keys Schoenberg had either made the pieces very short or held them together by text. A solution to the problem came with his new idea of the twelve-tone system. The twelve-tone system is an outgrowth of atonality, but has a strict unifying principle. The composer uses all the available notes, instead of just some of them (there are twelve notes in an octave, counting all the half steps.) But the notes are used in a strict order (established in advance by the composer), and this order must be followed throughout the piece. When the Nazis came to power in 1933 Schoenberg was summarily dismissed from his teaching job at the Academy of Arts in Berlin along with hundreds of thousands of Jews around Germany who lost their jobs. As a result, Schoenberg embraced Judaism more firmly than ever and many of his works including the orato...

Geo

Geo Assignment #1 Pr ©cis of World Population Beyond Six Billion Throughout this century, the population has grown at a very fast pace. It is predicted that over the next century the population will continue to increase. Majority of the increase in the population will come from less developed regions. As the next century approaches, the population of the world will have different demographic trends. To find out what accounts for these differences, we must discover what causes the population to change. There are many factors linked to population change. These factors include economic growth or decline, public health, education, status of women and family services. The change in one of these factors may cause a change in another. As the population continues to grow there is a major concern about the rapid rate of growth and the large increase in population size.Before 1900 there was a great struggle for human survival.English: World Population by Continent and 10 Most...

Toxic Elements With No Nutritional Value

Toxic Elements With No Nutritional Value Have you ever wondered which elements are toxic? Everything is toxic if the dose is high enough, so Ive compiled a short list of elements that have no nutritional value, even in trace amounts. Some of these elements accumulate in the body, so there is no truly safe exposure limit for those elements (e.g., lead, mercury). Barium and aluminum are examples of elements which can be excreted, at least to a certain extent. Most of these elements are metals. The man-made elements are radioactive and toxic whether they are metals or not. AluminumAntimonyArsenic (metalloid)BariumBerylliumCadmiumHexavalent Chromium Cr6 (Cr3 is necessary in trace amounts for proper nutrition)LeadMercuryOsmiumThalliumVanadiumRadioactive MetalsPolonium (metalloid)ThoriumRadiumUraniumTransuranium elements (e.g., polonium, americium)Radioactive isotopes of metals that might not otherwise be highly toxic (e.g., cobalt-60, strontium-90) Surprises on the List One of the biggest surprises on the list is that aluminum serves no known biological function in humans. Aluminum is the third most abundant element in the Earths crust and the most abundant metal. Another surprise is that you cant use flavor to identify toxic elements. Some poisonous metals taste sweet. Classic examples include beryllium and lead. Lead acetate or sugar of lead was actually used as a sweetener until fairly recently.

Psychology Experiment on learning by doing vs learning by viewing Essay

Psychology Experiment on learning by doing vs learning by viewing - Essay Example study that targets the determination of the learning theories and techniques specifically the comparative analysis of the experiments and empirical data related to the educational psychology of the techniques such as learning by doing and learning by viewing. The results of the studies that had been chosen are then analyzed and reviewed. I. One of the studies that became the focus of the research and review undertaken is the research conducted by Stull and Mayer on the comparative analysis of the two types of learning process through the comparison of the graphic organizers in materials that are studied. The main objective of the study is to be able to determine which of the said methods are more effective in achievement of understanding of the learners (Stull and Mayer 808). The main hypothesis of the study undertaken is determination if the graphic organizers that are established by the students are more effective in retaining studied concept more than the prepared ones. The said hypothesis had been tested by conducting three (3) set-ups for experimentation, thus, the main methodology used is experimental research. The set-ups differed in the number of the author-provided graphic organizers and the items that students are needed to construct graphic organizers for. The first set up can be considered the most complex, and complexity decreases towards the third set-up. The complexity level had been the independent variable which was measured through the number of items provided. The 1st set-up which is of the highest complexity is composed of 27 author-provided organizers and also items that students need to construct their own. On the 2nd and 3rd set-ups 18 and 10 of each type are made respectively. Basically, the variables had been designed and defined on the basis of the cognitive theory of learning. This can be attributed to the fact that the skills that are required in the analysis, understanding and construction of graphic organizers in

Professional Knowledge and Abilities Research Paper

Professional Knowledge and Abilities - Research Paper Example The association promotes professionalism in education through the provision of classroom mini-grants and scholarships designed specifically to help advance continuing education and student achievement. All members are eligible to apply for these grants and scholarships. Through the association newsletter, Education Matters, an easy-to-read and straight-to-the-point letter, members are updated with key issues in the education career. Indeed, featured articles with refreshing perspective in recent editions include â€Å"A Charter School Success Story in the Making†, â€Å"Reinventing Special Education†, Empowering Teachers to do Assessment† and â€Å"The Three Reasons We Must Teach History†. Furthermore, through the Individual Liability Insurance policy, the association guarantees $2,000,000 protection per occurrence, per member. In addition, the association’s Legal Protection benefits ensure that members have access to legal counsel at the onset of wo rkplace issues and Defense costs. The legal coverage takes care of legal action arising from out of duties.

US HISTORY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

US HISTORY - Essay Example The north purchased raw cotton and converted it into finished goods using the cotton grin, leading to disparity between the two. As a result, substantial differences in economic attitudes were realized. Since the period of the revolution, differences emerged between those arguing that the federal government needed to have more control and those arguing for greater states’ rights (Huston 173). The thirteen states formed a rather loose confederation with quite a weak federal government. This weakness enabled the leaders to come together when problems arose and create in secrecy the U.S constitution. Most people felt that this constitution ignored the rights of states to continue being independent. This resulted to the idea of nullification, and when this never worked out they moved towards secession. Growth of the abolition movement was another cause. The northerners become more polarized against slavery in which the southern depended so much on slaves for their cheap labor. Some key events such as the publishing of Harriet Beechers Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin and others held individuals responsible for harboring fugitives even if they were on non-slave states. Following the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860, South Carolina issued its declaration of secession and believed that Lincoln was antislavery and favored the interest of the northern people hence living the southerners out (Huston 181). The fight between slave and the non-slave state proponents took center stage, and this was the main reason for this civil war. This led to wars even in the floor of the senate when antislavery discussions were being

Plant biology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Plant biology - Essay Example HGT is observed mainly between prokaryotes (single-celled organisms) like bacteria but also can be in Eukaryotes (protists, fungi, plants, animals, humans) to a lesser extent. HGT was first described by Ochiai et al. in 1959, in relation to transfer of antibiotic resistance between different bacterial species. Thereafter many scientists have studied and discussed about this phenomenon and now it is accepted that HGT is not a rare event and what is present in the biological world today is not a result of vertical gene transmission alone but also of HGT. Biological kingdom of earth can be categorized into three domains as bacteria, archea and eukaryotes. During vertical gene transmission, genetic information exchange between members of these domains is restricted to closely-related organisms with homologous DNA sequences. Therefore the ancestry of an organism could be traced back by analyzing their DNA and individuals with similar gene sequences can be grouped together to construct the evolutionary pathway. However, as HGT can transfer genes across wide phylogenetic distances, this picture become obscure. The phylogenetic tree of life (Figure 1) which present the relationship among different biological taxa is thus complicated by HGT as numerous interconnecting branches became obvious due to the presence of homologous DNA sequences in distantly-related organisms (Simonson et al.). Transfer of genes between different biological kingdoms, such as between eucaryotes and bacteria, or between bacteria and insects are some extreme cases of gene exchange between wide phylogenetic distances. An example is the presence of bacterial 'rol' genes from Agrobacterium species in tobacco (Nicotiniana) plants (Intrieri and Buiatti). Figure 1. Phylogenetic tree of life as proposed by Carl Woese In vertical gene transmission, genetic variability of a species mainly arises during meiosis by recombination of genes. According to Mendal’s law of inheritance, alleles of different genes assort independently during gamete formation and thereby produce novel gene combinations which in turn generate variability. Mutations, which are the random changes of gene sequence of a DNA strand, are considered as an error in the vertical gene transmission process. It can happen as a point mutation, chromosomal duplication, breaking and rearrangement of chromosomes and addition or deletion of chromosomes. When such mutant is passed down to the next generation, it is not a mutant anymore, but a variant or a novel type. The variants who survive according to Darwin’s theory of â€Å"survival of the fittest†, subsequently pass the novel characters to their offspring by sexual or asexual reproduction. HGT however, is not a mutation and is not involved in gamete formation or sexual reproduction. It moves transposable elements between distantly-related or unrelated genomes and thereby intervenes in the process of evolution by originating different cell types and cre ating variants in its own way. Two hypotheses are presented here as ‘Continual horizontal transfer hypothesis’ and ‘Early massive horizontal transfer hypothesis.’ (Jain, Rivera and Lake). According to the ‘Continual horizontal transfer hypothesis’, HGT is a continuous process during prokaryotic evolution whereas in the ‘Early massive horizontal transfer hypothesis’, a massive exchange of a few operational genes (genes involved in

The United Nations Fuction and Impact in International Politics Essay

The United Nations Fuction and Impact in International Politics - Essay Example This international organization was formed to replace the previously existing organization called League of Nations. The term United Nations was instigated by British politician Winston Churchill and the 32nd President of United States Franklin Roosevelt. United Nation is by nature a liberal organization. As far as world politics is concerned the UN has many roles to play such as peace building, development aid, facility and availability of fresh water, labor issue, and help to the refugees. United Nations is involved in fighting for the elimination of the different stigmas such as poverty and diseases and the fight against the threat to the environment. It basically works for addressing the economic and social problems in the world, particularly in underdeveloped as well as developing countries because these problems are the major source of conflict which later leads to war. The major function of United Nations as mentioned above is to establish and maintain peace and security and to shun the situation of war. If any conflict arises, it is also the major function of the United Nation to settle the conflict without violence. It is the purpose of the UN to encourage peace among all the nations [1] The UN’s first experience of peacemaking activity came in 1949 in the Middle East and in 1950 in Kashmir conflict between India and Pakistan, The second function of UN was the promotion of welfare of mankind and of course the international cooperation. In turn it helps the nations to improve their life style and attain prosperity and thus enhance the standard of the living of their citizens. United Nations gives an opportunity for the countries promote their opinions. The major intimidation for peace is the nuclear proliferation. United Nations has maintained the world peace by preventing Nuclear Non-proliferation. The International Atomic Energy Agency has succeeded in

The Synoptic Gospel Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Synoptic Gospel - Essay Example Jesus also heard the Fathers voice. Luke records that Jesus saw the Holy spirit in the form of a dove, not in a dove-like fashion descending on Him (Luke 3:22).An audible revelation followed the visual one (v.17).Matthew recorded God’s word as a general announcement (cf.17:5).While the other evangelists recorded that God sais, â€Å"You are my beloved Son† (Mark1:11; Luke3:22).Evidently the accounts of Mark and Luke contain actual words of God in this event. The study of all the gospels the synoptic problem is inherent, essentially involving all the difficulties that arise out of the similarities and differences between the gospel accounts. The bible books of Matthew, Mark and Luke are termed as synoptic gospels because they present the life and ministry of Jesus Christ with similarities common in their narrative accounts. Part of the synoptic problem is in determining from what source the Holy Spirit led the evangelists in writing their gospels. This is because there is evidence within the individual gospels themselves that the writers used source materials as they wrote. The best example is the Old Testament passages to which each one of the writers referred to directly of indirectly. Amongst the disciples of Jesus were Matthew and John, who presented many eye-witness accounts of what happened. Likewise, their was a close connection between Mark and Peter, and Luke as well as being an historian was also closely connected with Paul(Luk e 1:1-4).Information that the writers obtained verbally could have been a source and perhaps special revelations from God. In the each for the source of the synoptic gospels, there were scholars who posited that the source was one. But other scholars thought the source of synoptic gospel to be from two sources. Some favored the view that the primary source must have been from Mark since over 90 percent of the material in Mark also appears in Matthew and or Luke. Others posited another primary source which is known as â€Å"Q†

The United Nations Fuction and Impact in International Politics Essay

The United Nations Fuction and Impact in International Politics - Essay Example This international organization was formed to replace the previously existing organization called League of Nations. The term United Nations was instigated by British politician Winston Churchill and the 32nd President of United States Franklin Roosevelt. United Nation is by nature a liberal organization. As far as world politics is concerned the UN has many roles to play such as peace building, development aid, facility and availability of fresh water, labor issue, and help to the refugees. United Nations is involved in fighting for the elimination of the different stigmas such as poverty and diseases and the fight against the threat to the environment. It basically works for addressing the economic and social problems in the world, particularly in underdeveloped as well as developing countries because these problems are the major source of conflict which later leads to war. The major function of United Nations as mentioned above is to establish and maintain peace and security and to shun the situation of war. If any conflict arises, it is also the major function of the United Nation to settle the conflict without violence. It is the purpose of the UN to encourage peace among all the nations [1] The UN’s first experience of peacemaking activity came in 1949 in the Middle East and in 1950 in Kashmir conflict between India and Pakistan, The second function of UN was the promotion of welfare of mankind and of course the international cooperation. In turn it helps the nations to improve their life style and attain prosperity and thus enhance the standard of the living of their citizens. United Nations gives an opportunity for the countries promote their opinions. The major intimidation for peace is the nuclear proliferation. United Nations has maintained the world peace by preventing Nuclear Non-proliferation. The International Atomic Energy Agency has succeeded in

Assignment Essay Example for Free

Assignment Essay Considering customer satisfaction as it applies to a university setting, what are some other areas in addition to those identified for the project that may contribute to students’ satisfaction/dissatisfaction with their education experience? The customer satisfaction survey seems to focus on academic resources only. It’s focusing on the classes, the advisors, the curriculum, and isn’t asking the students how they felt towards the school as a whole. After discussing all of the academic services and programs, they may also want to see if the students are satisfied with the environment and facilities beyond the library or computer lab. The survey should also include an area for the students to make suggestions on what would make them happier while attending this school. This would give the School of Business some suggestions on what changes could be made to make the school better. Does the current questionnaire provide information on students’ overall satisfaction with their undergraduate degree program? Explain. What revisions are necessary to this questionnaire to obtain an overall satisfaction rating? The questionnaire focuses on both undergraduate and graduate programs, but it seems to put more emphasis on graduate students. The questionnaire did provide a lot of information regarding how they felt about their classes and advisors, but it seems to be based on students who have already been attending the school for some time and have had experience with undergraduate advisors and curriculum. The questionnaire should be administered yearly in order to get a better idea of the overall satisfaction rating. They should also offer more open ended questions so that the students can provide feedback instead of just multiple questions. Can the School of Business use the results of this study to target the most important areas for improvement? Explain. Identify changes to the questionnaire that would allow the school to target areas based on importance. The School of Business can definitely use the results of this study to target the most important areas for improvement. As the results show there are several areas that the school could use improvement in. By determining what is most important will allow them to administer specific surveys or questionnaires regarding a certain issue such as the lack of advisors or not being able to register for classes. Changes they could make to the current questionnaire would be to add a space to provide your own suggestions on how to make things better. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using open-ended questions to identify the school’s strengths and weaknesses? Taking the responses in Exhibit 2, what system would you use for coding these responses? There are several advantages to using open-ended questions. Open-ended questions allow the students to share their feelings and the school will have a better idea of what they feel about certain subjects. The disadvantages of having open-ended questions are a lower response rate and it’s harder to compare their answers. It can also take much more time to go over questionnaires that offer open-ended questions instead of just close-ended ones.

Theories on Stages of Sleep

Theories on Stages of Sleep Paul Stolt Jr In our textbook it says that, â€Å"REM sleep makes up the remaining 20 per cent of your sleep time. It is pronounced â€Å"rem† and stands for rapid eye movement sleep because your eyes move rapidly back and forth behind closed lids† (Plotnik Kouyoudmjian, 2014, p. 153). The brain waves that are present in REM sleep are beta waves, which is the same kind that are present when a person is awake. Also, during this stage, the body is alert, but the muscles are paralyzed, thus prohibiting movement during this time. The REM sleep stage is the one that the process of having dreams occurs in. According to our text, a person passes through the REM sleep stage about five or six times a night. The intervals in between these stages are approximately half an hour to an hour and a half long. Most people are in the REM sleep stage for about half an hour to forty-five minutes, before they enter the NREM, or Non REM, sleep stage. An individual’s heart rate and blood pressure a re typically higher in REM, indicating a more alert state in this stage than in the non REM stage. Creative thinking processes are more present during REM sleep, probably due to a lack of activity in the areas of the brain that are responsible for critical thinking. Students need REM sleep in order to transfer the knowledge that they have stored throughout the day in short term memory, into long term memory. This stage helps to promote the encoding process, which is responsible for the transfer. Once the information is encoded during the REM stage, it becomes easier to recall at a later time for tests and exams. There is an indication in the human body of the need for REM sleep, because if someone has not spent enough time in this stage the previous night, the body will compensate by spending more time in REM the following night. The Alpha stage occurs right before people drift off to sleep. During this stage, people start to feel tired and relaxed, often just lying in bed with their eyes closed, and random thoughts, such as activities of the previous day, or the plans that they may have the following day, present in their thoughts. According to the text book, â€Å"Alpha waves have a low amplitude and high frequency, (8 to 12 cycles per second)† (Plotnik Kouyoudmjian, 2014, p. 152). After the alpha stage, Non REM Sleep, or NREM for short, occurs. This stage is where most people spend 80 per cent of their time while sleeping. This type of sleep is divided into four stages, each stage being associated with unique brain wave patterns and biological responses (Plotnik Kouyoudmjian, 2014). In the first stage of Non REM sleep, there is a transition that occurs from being wide awake and alert, to drifting off to sleep. This stage usually lasts from about one to seven minutes long. The text says that this s tage is â€Å"marked by the presence of theta waves, which are lower in amplitude and lower in frequency (4 to 7 cycles per second) than alpha waves† (Plotnik Kouyoudmjian, 2014, p. 152). Next, the person passes through the second stage of sleep. In the second stage, there are rapidly occurring periods of what researchers call sleep spindles. In this stage, physiological processes such as breathing, a person’s body temperature, and their heart rate slowly decrease, and they become harder to wake up. This stage is what most researchers define as a person being asleep. Next, after about half an hour to forty five minutes of falling asleep, the individual enters stages three and four of Non REM sleep. Delta waves are present in stage three, and these are defined as â€Å"large, slow brain waves, meaning they have very high amplitude and very low frequency† (Plotnik Kouyoudmjian, 2014, p. 152). As the person moves on to stage four in Non REM sleep, they experience a significant increase in the presence of Delta waves. During this stage, biological processes such as heart rate, breathing, body temperature, and the flow of blood to the brain are dramatically decreased, and the body secretes a substance called GH, or growth hormone, which is responsible for controlling the metabolic rate in the body, physical growth in the body, and the development of the human brain. After this stage, the individual passes back through the second and third stages of Non REM, and enters into the dreaming, or REM, stage of sleep. The necessity of sleep for a living organism can be explained in two logical ways. The first is that the body repairs and restores itself while it is resting. In one theory, the human brain repairs and restores itself while sleeping. It has also been proven that chemicals that are harmful to our system are flushed out during the sleeping process. Some research has also suggested that the immune system is impaired because of sleep deprivation (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2013). The second way that it can be explained is the Conservation theory. This theory suggests that the need to conserve energy at night for the human race promoted the need for sleep. In other words, since it was dark out, and there was little light to be able to see, that time was better spent resting instead of moving about. It would seem that as an individual goes throughout their lifetime, the need for sleep is greatest during the early years, and less as they get older. When an infant is born, the average time that they spend asleep is about seventeen hours a day, with half of that time spent in REM sleep. Then, when they get a little older, such as approximately around four years old, they sleep about ten hours a day, with about 25 to 30 per cent of that time spent in REM sleep. A little later, around the teenage years, the amount of sleep that is required is about 9 hours per night, with the trend being later bed times, and the teenagers waking up later during the day. A couple years later, at about nineteen to twenty years of age, the amount of sleep required by the adolescents is about seven to eight hours per night, with twenty per cent of that time spent in REM. As an adult reaches the golden years, the amount of sleep required is six and a half hours per night, with approximately twenty per cent being spent in REM sleep. The text defines the circadian rhythm as a â€Å"biological clock that is genetically programmed to regulate physiological responses within a time period of twenty-four hours (Plotnik Kouyoudmjian, 2014, p. 150). The circadian clock is genetically set for about 24 hours 18 minutes. The clock is reset by the retinal cells, which act like sensors that let in sunlight, and send signals to the brain, resetting it by eighteen minutes each day. However, there are quite a few problems associated with the circadian clock by individuals who work midnight shifts or have to fly frequently for their job, thereby getting a condition known as jet lag. First, let’s discuss individuals that work the midnight shift. These individuals go against the natural instinct of their circadian clocks, resulting in decreased performance of their cognitive and motor skills. Also, people who change shifts a lot, such as working swing shift, cause a lot of physical stress in their bodies and psychological stress in their minds. Secondly, people with jet lag often experience problems with feeling tired all the time, difficulty in being able to concentrate on a particular task, and reduced ability in their ability to use logical thinking, reasoning, or remembering. It takes people with jet lag about a day per hour of difference between time zones to recover. However, there is hope. Charles Czeisler developed a new treatment called light therapy in 1994. This treatment uses artificial light to combat fatigue in both people who work the midnight shift, and those with jet lag. Next I would like to talk about the effects that sleep deprivation has on individuals. People with sleep deprivation run the risk of having impaired immune systems, with the potential for increased infections and diseases. They also experience increased stress levels, elevated blood pressure, and an increased build-up of plaque in the arteries, with a severe potential for heart attack or stroke. Other problems they experience include the risk of obesity and diabetes, difficulty in recognizing words, and doing ordinary math problems. They are more susceptible to increased irritability, and increased difficulty in making logical and rational decisions. Terms and Concepts Perceptual Threshold -The perceptual threshold is the smallest thing that can be perceived, or recognized, by the human senses. Sensation A sensation is a relatively meaningless piece of information, that results when the brain processes electrical signals that come from the sense organs. Stimulus A stimulus is any change of energy in the environment, such as light waves, sound waves, mechanical pressure, or chemicals. Structuralists Structuralists are psychologists who believed that we add together thousands of sensations to form a perception. Gestalt Psychologists Gestalt psychologists are psychologists that believe that our brains follow general rules that specify how individual elements are to be organized into a meaningful pattern, or perception. Depth Perception Depth Perception is the ability of the eye and brain to add a third dimension called depth to all visual perceptions, even though the images being projected might only be two dimensional in nature. Consciousness Consciousness describes different levels of awareness of one’s thoughts and feelings. Biological Clock The biological clock is an internal timing device that is genetically set to regulate various physiological responses for different periods of time. Stages of Sleep Stages of sleep refer to the distinctive changes in the electrical activity of the brain, and accompanying physiological responses to the body that occur as someone passes through different phases of sleep. Hypnosis Hypnosis is a procedure in which a researcher, clinician, or hypnotist suggests that a person will experience changes in sensations, perceptions, thoughts, feelings, or behaviors. Stimulants Stimulants are chemical substances such as cocaine, amphetamines, caffeine, and nicotine that increase activity of the central nervous system and result in heightened alertness, arousal, euphoria, and decreased appetite. Opiates Opiates are chemical substances such as opium, morphine, and heroin that produce three predominant effects in the central nervous system: the reduction of pain, opiate euphoria, a pleasurable state between waking and sleeping; and constipation. Hallucinogens Hallucinogens are drugs that affect someone’s mind or behavior and have the ability to produce changes in perception, thought, emotion, and awareness. Classical Conditioning Classical Conditioning is a kind of learning in which a neutral stimulus acquires the ability to produce a response that was originally produced by a different stimulus. Operant Conditioning Operant Conditioning is a kind of learning in which the consequences that follow some behavior increase or decrease the likelihood of that behavior’s occurrence in the future. Cognitive Learning Cognitive Learning is a kind of learning that involves mental processes, such as attention and memory, may be learned through observation or imitation; and may not involve any external rewards or require the person to perform any observable behaviors. Generalization Generalization is the tendency for a stimulus that is similar to the original conditioned stimulus to elicit a response that is similar to the conditioned response. Discrimination Discrimination occurs when an organism learns to make a particular response to some stimuli but not to others. Extinction Extinction is a procedure in which a conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus, and, as a result, the conditioned stimulus no longer elicits the conditioned response Thorndike Thorndike was an American psychologist who lived during the 1800’s and formulated the law of effect, which stated that if some random actions are followed by a pleasurable consequence, such actions are strengthened and will likely occur in the future. Skinner Skinner was a psychologist who developed a theory known as the operant response during the 1930’s, which says that â€Å"An operant response is a response that can be modified by its consequences and is a meaningful unit of ongoing behavior that can be easily measured† (Plotnik Kouyoudmjian, 2014, p. 214). Reinforcers Reinforcers are â€Å"consequences that occur after a desired behavior and increase the chances that the behavior will occur again† (Plotnik Kouyoudmjian, 2014, p. 218). Punishment A punishment is a stimulus that â€Å"stops or decreases the occurrence of a behavior† (Plotnik Kouyoudmjian, 2014, p. 219). Schedules of Reinforcement Schedules of Reinforcement are programs or rules that determine how and when the occurrence of a response will be followed by a reinforcer (Plotnik Kouyoudmjian, 2014, p. 220). Spontaneous Recovery Spontaneous Recovery refers to either a temporary recovery in the rate of responding in operant conditioning, or the temporary occurrence of the conditioned response in the presence of the conditioned stimulus in classical conditioning (Plotnik Kouyoudmjian, 2014, p. 222). Behavior Modification â€Å"is a treatment or therapy that changes or modifies problems or undesirable behaviors by using principles of learning based on operant conditioning, classical conditioning, and social cognitive learning† (Plotnik Kouyoudmjian, 2014, p. 232). References National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (2013, December 5). Brain Basics: Understanding Sleep. Retrieved January 20, 2014, from National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: www.ninds.nih.gov Plotnik, R., Kouyoudmjian, H. (2014). Introduction to Psychology. Belmont, CA, USA: Wadsworth Publishing. Retrieved January 13, 2014

Catcher in the Rye Essay: Holden and the Complexity of Adult Life

Holden and the Complexity of Adult Life What was wrong with Holden, the main character in The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D.Salinger, was his moral revulsion against anything that was ugly, evil, cruel, or what he called "phoney" and his acute responsiveness to beauty and innocence, especially the innocence of the very young, in whom he saw reflected his own lost childhood.   There is something wrong or lacking in the novels of despair and frustration of many writers. The sour note of bitterness and the recurring theme of sadism have become almost a convention, never thoroughly explained by the author's dependence on a psychoanalytical interpretation of a major character. The boys who are spoiled or turned into budding homosexuals by their mothers and a loveless home life are as familiar to us today as stalwart and dependable young heroes such as John Wayne were to an earlier generation. We have accepted this interpretation of the restlessness and bewilderment of our young men and boys because no one had anything better to offer. It is tragic to hear the anguished cry of parents: "What have we done to harm him? Why doesn't he care about anything? He is a bright boy, but why does he fail to pass his examinations? Why won't he talk to us?" A remarkable and absorbing novel, J. D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye," may serve to calm the apprehensions of fathers and mothers about their own responsibilities, though it doesn't attempt to explain why all boys who dismay their elders have failed to pass successfully the barrier between childhood and young manhood. It is profoundly moving and a disturbing book, but it is not hopeless. Holden Caulfield, sixteen years old and six foot two inches in hei... ...Boy, I was shaking like a madman." The Catcher in the Rye is not all horror of this sort. There is a wry humor in this sixteen-year-old's trying to live up to his height, to drink with men, to understand mature sex and why he is still a virgin at his age. His affection for children is spontaneous and delightful. There are few little girls in modern fiction as charming and lovable as his little sister, Phoebe. Altogether this is a book to be read thoughtfully and more than once. It is about an unusually sensitive and intelligent boy; but, then, are not all boys unusual and worthy of understanding? If they are bewildered at the complexity of modern life, unsure of themselves, shocked by the spectacle of perversity and evil around them - are not adults equally shocked by the knowledge that even children cannot escape this contact and awareness?

Racism Essay -- essays research papers

As societies become more complex a complex change came about. The social system elevated entire categories of people above others, providing one segment of the population with a disproportionate share of money, power and schooling. To a considerable degree, the class system in the United States rewards individual talent and effort. But, our class system also retains elements of a caste system; Ascribed status greatly influences what we become later in life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nothing affects social standings in the United States as much as our birth into a particular family, something, which we have no control over. Being born to privilege or poverty sets the stage for our future schooling, occupation and income. Research suggests that at least half of the richest individuals, those with hundreds of millions of dollars in wealth, received their fortunes primarily from inheritance. By the same token, the â€Å"inheritance† of poverty and the lack of opportunity that goes with it just as surely shape the future for those in need.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  People of both sexes are born into families at every social level. Yet, on average, women earn lower income, accumulate less wealth, enjoy lower occupational prestige, and place lower in some areas of educational achievement than men do. Households headed by women are ten times more likely to be poor than those headed by men. Women make $0.75 for every $1.00 that men make.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Race is strongly connected to social position in the United States. Overall, white people have higher occupational standing than African Americans, and they receive more schooling, especially at the college level and beyond. These differences are evident in median income: African American families earned $26,522 in 1998, which is just 59 percent of the $44,756 earned by white families. Higher income is a key reason that 77 percent of white families are more likely to own their own home, than black families, 49 percent. Another reason for the racial disparity involves family patterns. African American families with children are three times more likely than their white counterparts to have only one parent in the home. Single-parenthood is a strong predictor of low family income. Ethnicity, as well as race, shapes social stratification in the United States. Throughout our nation’s history, people... ...n with no husband present, while just seven percent of poor families are headed by single men.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  White people usually in a more privileged position to begin with, have been more upwardly mobile than Africans or Hispanics in recent decades. Women also tend to have less opportunity for upward mobility as well, since the majority of women tended toward clerical or service positions. These positions tend towards little advancements. When a marriage ends in divorce (as roughly as 50% do) women commonly experience a downward movement, with the loss of income and a host of benefits, including health care coverage and insurance benefits.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Social mobility is common in the United States. However there are only small changes from on generation to the next. Without an aristocracy, many people feel that they have a chance at the â€Å"American Dream† since Americans believe in the idea of â€Å"All men are created equal† statistics show, however, that not all men are created equal, but created â€Å"unequal†, especially minorities and women. Despite theses difficulties, there is home to climb the â€Å"social ladder† and be a part of the â€Å"American Dream†

Buddhism in the Himalayas

Organized religions have become a part of one’s historical and cultural background. The need for political leaders and gurus to gather the people into one unit, for the maintenance of stability, has paved the way for the pursuit of knowledge; leading to the development of numerous philosophical undertakings and spiritual enlightenment. The proliferation of religious missionaries to the designated countries of contact have created and divided communities; cultivating a new set of belief systems and codes to abide by.At the onset of the spread of major religions like Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam and Buddhism, spiritual fermentation took place as socio-political activities merged with the religious practices of the various cultures present in a community. Throughout history, these major religions will struggle to outlive each other as they compete to gain a stronghold of followers for the preservation of their cultural beliefs. For this reason, many minority groups in a community are most likely to have been isolated or persecuted by the ruling culture.This was the case with Christianity under the Roman Empire, which accounted for the martyrdom of thousands of Christians who fought for their faith (Tignor et al. , 2008). However, during the rule of Constantine in 312 CE, the tables were turned and Christianity was now the flagship of the new Rome. This pivotal event is the key to the expansion of religions to far-reaching territories, as it conveys universal codes that pertain to the human condition.It is in this sense that the quest for religious ties was crucial to the progress of a community since morality played a big part in the formation of the people’s morale. Religion is said to be the cement that binds people together in any adversity and it is through this viewpoint that cultures grew and developed, as citizens become more aware of their place in the society. The grounds to which religion has shaped a community can be observed in a number of perspectives, particularly in the way artworks are made in a particular area (Tignor et al. , 2008).Wherever Buddhism spread, it seemed to rely on a necessary set of ingredients that encouraged it to prosper. The Silk Road was said to have advanced the spread of Buddhism in Tibet as the reach of most Indian missionaries in the mountainous regions of the Himalayas have contributed greatly to the foundation of Buddhism as one of the major religions in the world. It became a vehicle for Tibet to engage in trade with other neighboring countries like Nepal, China, Kashmir, Mongolia and Bhutan. Trade did not only consist of goods, but also of people, knowledge and religion.As a result, Buddhism was integrated into the livelihood of the Himalayan regions (Kapstein, 2000). The Role of Local Kings in Promoting Buddhism The success of the acculturation of Buddhism in Tibet would not be possible without the welcoming arms of most of the rulers in Tibet, starting with Princess Wench eng and Princess Jincheng. Then King Songsten Gampo established cordial relations with China and Nepal by marrying the Princesses of each country, securing the maintenance of harmony with these neighboring states.Both Princesses introduced the precepts of Buddhism to the King and its followers, which initially helped the expansion of Buddhism in the local communities. It was only under the reign of King Trhi Songdetsen that officially gave the go signal for Buddhism to take root in Tibet as it was legitimized it as the major practicing faith (Kapstein, 2000). The Padhmasambava statue found in the RMA represented the figure that further brought Buddhism to the Himalayas.Padhmasambava was said to be a guru who was summoned by King Detsan to Tibet in order to broaden the reach of Buddhism in the local communities. During this time, the ministers who adhered to the Bon religious sect disliked the direction in which Buddhism was heading for so the King administered the help of Padhmasanb ava to deter the growing power of the ministers. Wherever Buddhist missionaries went, chaos was sure to follow. As a result, civil war broke out between the two religious sects and the spread of Buddhism came to a stand still after the assassination of King Detsan.Under the guidance of the ministers, Lang Dharma took over and a long line of hostilities occurred across the land as persecution of the Buddhist monks and nunneries were carried out, bringing destruction to the initial monasteries built for worship (HAR 65422). Monastaries were a vital component of the Buddhism faith as it not only serves as a refuge for those who practice the faith or are oppressed, it is also the place where important books and records about Buddhism are stored. Destroying such an establishment would disrupt the solemnity of the faith.This is the reason why so many Indian and Chinese missionaries were needed in Tibet as rebuilding the monasteries was necessary for preservation of Buddhism. Under the rei gn of Je Tsongkhapa, the Ganden Monastery was erected amidst the chaos that enveloped the warring local communities. The monastery housed many monks and nuns who had been driven away by the enemies of the Buddhist religion and was described to be one of the grandest monasteries ever built. It also contained an extensive collection of Buddhist teachings and philosophies from famous gurus and translators who have kept the recorded teachings of Buddha (Kapstein, 2000).As years past, Tibetan and translators and pilgrims decide to take a journey to India, China and Nepal in search for gurus and more teachings that they could bring back to their homeland. This has led to the visitations of different Buddhist missionaries in Tibet; most notable are Atisa, the Indian scholar and the great translators Rinchen Zangpo and Milarepa. The presence of these three missionaries supported the rebirth of Buddhism in the local communities, after its devastated state during the reign of Lang Dharma.This was said to be the beginning of the evolvement of the Buddhist tradition (Kapstein, 2000). Emergence of a New Buddhist Tradition The Avalokiteshvara Statue and Painting seen in the RMA depicts the evolution of the images that constitute the image of Buddha to the local communities (HAR 65451 & HAR 40). Both of the artworks show the different adaptations made of the image of Buddha to fit the culture of a particular area. For instance, in China, Avalokiteshavara is referred to as Quan Yin while in Tibet he is known as Chenrayzeg.When Buddhism started its roots in India, it was known as Teravada Buddhism but by the time it has reached East Asia, it had become Mahayana Buddhism which consisted of slightly different set of beliefs yet still rooted in the Indian precept. When this spread into the Himalayas, it became known as Vadrayana Buddhism. From this context, one can see that while the teachings and stories about the Buddha are the same in many different regions, it often takes on the aspects of the local culture (Snelling, 1999).In reference to the Buddha Shakyamuni painting found in the RMA, one can denote that the painting illustrated different sights that foretold stories of Buddha Shakyamuni’s life. A part of the painting features people conversing with each other, while the Buddha is seen with a halo-like appearance as he gives lessons to a group of people (HAR 955). Himalayan art often depicts religious stories of tradition by incorporating Chinese and Western styles. Although the painting was done in Tibet, the stories included in the painting originated from India as that is the main setting of Buddha’s representation in the stories.The solemn presence of nature in the painting such as the mountains, trees, clouds and the wide landscapes demonstrates how Buddhism has interlocked with different cultural systems (Kapstein, 2000). Due to the blending of the Chinese, Indian and Tibetan systems, the results produced three subcategories of Bu ddhism in Tibet which were the Kadampa, Sakyapa and Kagyupa. All three only differed from the school of origin that they belonged to but they collectively teach the same principles that the great Buddha had taught (Snelling, 1999).Based on the research given about the historical context of Himalayan art and its special relation to Buddhism, it can be denoted that the artworks emphasize the importance of spiritual life in the Tibetan community. Most artworks depict a sense of other worldliness as it attempts to illustrate the merging of the earthly realms and the divine. Representations of important figures that facilitated the spread of Buddhism are seen as supernatural, with the appendage of several arms and a crown of miniature skulls over their heads, having serene stature that signifies respect.Most often, the artworks illustrate a unisex type of portrayal with a god-like stance, trampling over evil forces. The same can be said about the representations of Buddha, although eleme nts of earth-bound activities suggests that artists attempt to make Buddha seem more approachable to the people. The integration of Buddhism in Tibet’s culture has greatly influenced the way they view the world around them, and this in turn provides an outlook into the rooted spirituality that are present in the Himalayan regions. References: Avalokiteshvara statue & painting. HAR 65451 & HAR 40. In The Rubin Museum of Art.Buddha Shkayamuni – Life Story. HAR 955. In The Rubin Museum of Art. Kapstein, M. T. (2000). The Tibetan Assimilation of Buddhism: Conversion, Contestation, and Memory. New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 57-58. Padmasambhava. HAR 65422. In The Rubin Museum of Art. Tignor, R. , Adelman, J. , Brown, P. , Elman, B. , Pittmann, H. , & Shaw, B. (2008). Worlds Together Worlds Apart: History of the World. (2nd ed. ). NewYork: W. W. Norton & Company. Snelling, J. (1999). The Buddhist Handbook: A Complete Guide to Buddhist Schools, Teaching, Practice, and History. Rochester, Vermont: Inner Traditions.

Impact of Media and Social media on youth Essay

1 Explore the impact of media and of social media present with today’s youth by providing thoroughly supported detail, and well-documented conclusions. Social media has become an essential part for today’s younger generation. Social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter, My space, Instagram has positive effect on youth but equally it has negative effects as well. Positive Effects The social media websites has effected youth in a way that it is considered to be a great source for professionals. They can be used as a source to start a new business or any profession. For example if a friend is looking to get hired for a job and he posted a status on his profile, so any other friend who know any job related to him, he can send him couple of messages on his profile and that’s how it benefit people. They are many other positive aspects of these social networking websites. It may help in strengthening the relationships between the young generations. There are lots of people who don’t see their friends for so long. These social websites are a way where they can be connected again. They can connect with the friends no matter they are how long away from them. It has reduced distances. Just by one click and there you go. Send friend request, on the other end your friend will accept it and start chatting. Social networking sites has helped people in connect ing people who are too far away and with whom it is impossible to meet personally, and keeping them informed about your life and the events happening in your life (Johnson et al, 2002). Read more:  Positive Aspects of Social Media Negative Effects There are negative impacts of social media on youth as well. One of the negative impacts is cyber bullying, which is very common now a days on internet. This is commonly occurs on the sites of social media. Cyber bulling is basically an electronic base communication to tyrant a person,  most often by sending threatening messages. There are also videos on social networking websites that shows violence, these videos could lead to affect the behavior of teens. By watching violence they became more aggressive, their behavior with their family changes and their minds become assertive, this could ultimately affect their living in the society. Another negative impact of social networking sites on younger generation is that these sites don’t have strict privacy, many of the personal information has been shared publically. Many of the youth don’t know about the privacy policy of any blog and they don’t actually know that this information will be disclosed to the other p ersons like advertisements. While as sharing of the personal information like photos and places, teenagers feels safe to share this stuff on social media site and they don’t worry while sharing this stuff on facebook publically. According to a questionnaire conducted on the privacy of social media websites, 21 percent of the teenagers believed that it is safe to share your personal information like photos on facebook to public. When people who use these websites for taking photos of teenagers and use them for illegal causes without knowing any disclaimers, so personal information of the teenagers seems to be exposed. This is considered to be a very serious matter because of the increasing rates of cyber crimes like theft of identity of a person. Once you have been a victim of this cyber crime, then there is nothing effective you can do. The best possible way for the avoidance of this theft is that never put your personal information publically on social networking websites. This is a very serious issue and many of the teenagers especially girls has been a victim. This has badly affected their image. Social networking websites can be very suspicious to your computer as well through a process used by hackers known as social engineering. What happen is, a hacker hacks one of your friend’s account or may make a fake account using the name of your friend send you a friend request, you accept the request knowing that he is your friend, after that they send you a link in a private chat. When you click on that link you are gone, either your account password has been emailed to that person or you system has been affected by many scams and viruses. Impact of Media In today’s world media has become stronger as ever. Television is the major source for the impact of media. It has positive effect, but on today’s  younger generation, their positive impacts have been minimized as compared to their negative impacts. Positive impacts The positive impact of the media is that it provides information to youth. Television can be act as a teacher for the youth. Watching programs that gives good lessons of kindness, racial harmony and cooperation has affected very positively on youth. Similarly some of the programs aired on television encourage libraries, zoo visits, visit to bookstores, visit to museum and many other refreshing places, and also videos that hold educational purpose can proved to be strong pro-social devices of teachings. Another positive effect is the good advertisements, which can affect the children’s behavior in a positive way. For example, any alcohol company launched their advertisement on television. They spend 10% of their total budget on the damages caused by the usage of alcohol, which includes danger in driving as well. The stage of development of child has played a vital role in effect of advertisements. According to a survey, average child watches almost 20 thousand advertisements per year. Over 60 percent advertisements promote candy, sugared cereals, toys and fatty foods. Programs based on cartoons toy products are very attractive for the children. Negative impacts Watching television can put negative impact on youth. The negative impacts are as follows Violence Nutrition Sexuality Alcohol and Smoking Violence Number of programs that consist of violence has been increased in the recent time. According to an average a child watches round about 12,000 acts of violence in television programs annually, including many cases of extortion, rape and murder. Around 1000 articles based on this study confirm that display of increased doses in the violation of television made aggressive behavior especially in boys. Other studies show that publicity of suicides on newspaper and television has increased the risk of suicide by a huge factor. Nutrition Television is the reason for the lack of play and activities related to exercise which are essential for the growth of a child. Children who waste their time on watching excessive television programs are not fit physically and like to take junk food and snacks that gives high energy. Spending much time on watching television may lead to obesity. Watching advertisement that promotes junk food has affected nutritious died of a person. Advertisements based on healthy food consist of only 4 percent of the total advertisements shown when a child is watching television. Spending number of hours on watching television programs is directly proportional to the increased number of cholesterol in a child. It may also result in eating disorders especially in girls of teenage. Eating while, viewing television programs, may lead to meaningless communication and poor habits of eating. Sexuality The programs on televisions have become a top most educator regarding sex. Between the year 1976 to 1996, the interactions that has been sexual, increased by 270 percent. Television plays a big role in revealing the sexual behaviors in children by exhibiting that they are risk free and ordinary. Sex between the couple who are unmarried has been displayed 24 times greater than it has been shown between the married couples, while the infections caused by sex and the unwanted pregnancy have been mentioned rarely. Alcohol and smoking According to a survey, teenagers view 1000 to 2000 commercials promoting bears and depicting a message that real people drink it. This data shows that number of advertising beer is directly proportional to the increased number of beer consumption. Basically television is not the only way through which a child knows about drinking beer, the main point is that it doesn’t show the consequences it can produced. More than one half of the animated movies shows use of bear and tobacco normally, without showing the consequences it can produced if used excessively (Beresin and Eugene, 2009). 2. Compares and contrasts various ways of preventing a selected risk factor from developing into an issue that would require treatment or intervention, by providing thoroughly supported detail, and well-documented reasoning for conclusions. The risk factor that has been chosen for the analysis is ‘Effect of violence in media on children’. There are two approaches that  lead to the reduction of effects caused by violent media (Murray and John, 2008). Limiting the ways of accessing and use of violent media It has been found by the researchers that by limiting the use of media, which includes watching television and playing video games, can result in the reduction of aggressive behavior in children. As many of the children’s involved in the activities of media at their home, so parents plays a big role by limiting the boundaries of excessive watching television programs and playing of video games by keeping an eye on the watching habits of child and also by monitoring what kind of and up to which extent they consume media. Parents should give lessons to their children at their developing stages that they should not watch violent programs, and any content that ultimately leads to the violence. In the year 1996 an act of telecommunication has been passed, whose focus was to provide assistance to the parents or the caretakers of the child in decreasing the child’s focus onto violent media. There has been the introduction of the rating systems through which parents could rate any specific program. If the rating has not been good that program will ultimately lead to its end. It has also the option of restricting some channel that includes the violent content. So parents were able to filter the specific television channels that exhibit violence and also the filter of abusive language. This could ultimately provide a parental control on child consuming the media. Creating Media knowledge in Youth and Parents The second technique used for the reduction of violent media is the knowledge of media through proper training. Parents and the children should be taught to assess media and create techniques in a way that may result in the reduction of violence. They should be taught a lesson, so they may able to find out the difference between the imaginary and real world. By knowing the outcome of violence shown on media in real life, and appraise the thinking of producers in the creation of a media product, explaining the nonviolent behavior in place of violent behaviors. After getting the training lessons, still many of the people don’t know about the function of blocking channels and content and for those who knows, they don’t bother to use this function. The training of giving knowledge about the media consist of Foundation known  as Just think foundation, which emphasizes on children by conveying programs based on education and that can be adjusted after the school or even bet ween the school timings. The center for the knowledge of media offers training of knowledge related to media for parents, teachers and community through activities and exercising. 3. Evaluates the various system supports that will be involved in preventing the selected risk factor, by providing thoroughly supported detail, and well-documented reasoning for conclusions Youth have been affected badly by the violence on media. The age ranges from 12 to 17 years, there is more probability of them to be a victim of violence as compared to the adults, and three times more chance of getting into the victim of attack. There is another cause that leads to the death of people who have ages between 15 to 24 years. According to a survey the rate of people who have been a rape victim, sexual attack and robbery are below the age of 25 than any of other groups of age (Bushman et al, 2001). Violence has many types which includes emotional, sexual, verbal or physical violence. In each of its form, it has been committed mostly by the person who is a relative of the victim that includes its family member and friends. Following are the support systems for the prevention of violen ce media on youth. Promotion of a helping and safe atmosphere at home By increasing the number of parents or caretakers who have nonviolent children, confirming the restriction of promoting alcohol or any other drug by parents or caretakers. Proper training lessons should be conducted and help desk should be created for the facilitation of families who has been a victim of violence and also about the advantages of different ways that restrict media violation. Work with the training centers that works for the prevention of violence There should be awareness campaign for the prevention of programs that promote violent. Parents should work with the schools and helped with for this cause, in this way they will learn and on the same time teach this education to others as well. Forbid students for watching the violent programs at their early age and tell them the risks that possibly could occur as a result of watching these violent programs. Manage the society in a way that it will minimize risks and maximize protection Technically connect with the programs that work on the development of youth. There should be availability of every opportunity that supports in making  healthy relationships. Proper campaigns should be launched which describes the awareness among the youth about the damages caused the use of alcohol. Manage the best practices systems in order to reduce violence and to address civil condition Introduction of new policies should made that should meet the initial needs of a family like residence, income, nutrition, food and childcare. Training of the individuals so that they may able to find and give response to the violence on media. One thing must be checked that are your surroundings which includes your neighbors are safe. Promotion of an attractive package of the preventive services regarding health for younger generation age ranges from 11 to 21. Provide food and shelter for the people who don’t have their own homes. These are the ways through which violence on media can be prevented. If a person wants society free from this violation, he should follow these steps in order to develop a better society (Robinson et al, 2001). 4. Categorizes the roles of each system in preventing the selected risk factor, by providing thoroughly supported detail, and well-documented conclusions. Roles of each system Promotion of a helping and safe atmosphere at home This system for preventing the risk of violence shown on media helps in guiding the parents about treating their children related to violence that is shown on media and social media. This system encourages the secure atmosphere at homes of children so that they cannot learn bad things from media. Work with the training centers that works for the prevention of violence The role of this system is to tell about the importance of different centers of training through which people can learn about preventing violence. People can learn about the advantage of these training centers related to violence and can prevent this is future. Manage the society in a way that it will minimize risks and maximize protection The main role of this system for preventing violence is to manage the society in a way that can reduce the level of risks and increase the level of protection. Media channels and social media should be given lessons through which they can learn that what to show on media and what to not. Manage the best practices systems in order to reduce violence and to address civil condition The role of this  system is to manage the practices that are best for the system for reducing violence in society and for addressing the condition in civil. References Johnson Jeffrey G., Patricia Cohen, Elizabeth M. Smailes, Stephanie Kasen, and Judith S. Brook. (2002). â€Å"Television viewing and aggressive behavior during adolescence and adulthood.† Science295(5564):2468-2471 Beresin, Eugene V. (2009). â€Å"The Impact of Media Violence on Children and Adolescents: Opportunities for Clinical Interventions.† American Academy of Child Adolescents Psychiatry. [Available Online] http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/developmentor/the_impact_of_media_violence_on_chi ldren_and_adolescents_opportunities_for_clinical_interventions (Retrieved on 29 Oct 2014) Murray, John P. (2008). â€Å"Media Violence: The Effects Are Both Real and Strong.† American Behavioral Scientist 51(8):1212-1230 Bushman, Brad J., and L. Rowell Huesmann. (2001). Effects of Televised Violence on Aggression. In: Singer DG, Singer JL, eds. Handbook of Children and the Media. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications Robinson, Thomas N., Marta L. Wilde, Lisa C. Navracruz, K. Farish Haydel, and Ann Varady. (2001). â€Å"Effects of reducing children’s television and video game use on aggressive behavior: a randomized controlled trial.† Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 155:17-23 Federal Communications Commission. In the matter of violent television programming and its impact on children: statement of Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate. MB docket No. 04-261 [Available online] http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-50A5.pdf [Retrieved on 29 Oct 2014]

Football in Islam Essay

Introduction Football is considered to be the best popular sport in the world and became widespread after the Second World War. This game has gained importance these days all over the world and has come to be a significant phenomenon throughout the world. We see people becoming preoccupied with football matches more than being concerned with the fate of the Muslims throughout the world especially Muslims country in the war such Palestine and Syria. This preoccupation with football has also become the concern of newspapers and magazines, and football matches are aired regularly on TV screens. Whatever news or stories relating to football clubs and players is publicised and all of this attracts people to sport and to players. Furthermore, the people’s emptiness and forgetfulness cause them to forget the main purpose of their creation and the real goal (of their lives) that they have to realise. This doesn`t mean football only shows negative impact at all, but we as a Muslims must beware and not make football as only purpose of life. We should make football as a sport that makes us healthy and strong so that we can be a good Muslim and preparation for jihad. Show support and message to world on Palestine after scoring goal. Brief history of Football and its different types. Football is a game played between two teams which each have eleven players. They use a pumped up ball on a rectangular shaped playing field which has a goal at each end for each team. Each team tries to get the ball pass the goal-keeper of the opposing team in order to gain a point (goal) and in order to gain superiority over the rival by achieving more goals. There are many stories of how and where football originated. Some of these are as follows: a. A football game existed in China as early as 206 B. C. (before century) By 500 C. E(common era), round balls stuffed with hair were being used. b. A game called â€Å"harpaston† was played in ancient Greece where a ball was propelled by any means across the opponents’ goal line, by the 2nd century B. C. it had migrated to Rome. Romans may have taken the game throughout Europe and England. c. There was a football game in 7th century Japan. d. Mob games played in medieval Europe where an inflated animal bladder was kicked, punched or carried. However, the first clear signs that this game was being played was in England immediately after the sudden death of a goal-keeper on 23 February 1585 In the year 1863 the British Football Association (FA) was founded and it was the English who developed it and then it transferred from continent to continent throughout that century. It remained like this for around seventy years until 1930 and the English would always be victorious over smaller inexperienced teams. After this period the Latin America football teams emerged and surpassed the teams in Britain and elsewhere. Today there are over 209 states that are members of FIFA and in most European cities weekly betting over football results take place, such as with the betting agency Toto. FIFA was established in Paris on the 21st May 1904 and under its jurisdiction formed the World Cup Championships in Monte Video, Uruguay. There are also other championships such as the European Championships, which is similar to the World Cup Championships, and was established in 1958 . Both the World Cup and European competitions are played every four years. In addition to the well known variety of football, the harms of which we are about to make clear, there are other regional forms of similar games wherein inflated balls are used and are also known as â€Å"football†. Such games are played in the United States of America, Canada, Australia and Ireland, and they are 1. American football A very violent game indeed, it emerged in Harvard in 1872 and it was derived from the tradition of Rugby and named â€Å"football† whilst what is well known as football around the world is named â€Å"soccer† in America. Each team consists of eleven players and they all use helmets on top of their heads and wear special protective clothing. 2. Australian football This game was founded in 1868 , the pitches that are used are of an oval shape whilst the ball resembles that of a Rugby ball. Each team consists of eighteen players and substitutes and fifteen who play on the actual pitch. Every player has an opponent and as for the other three they act as moving elements. When the ball passes the centre of the goal between an outer and inner post then the team scores a point. If an attacking team is able to put the ball through the two in near posts (of a set of four posts) then they score six points. 3. Canadian football Generally it resembles American football and has the same terminologies along with it yet with some differing rules. Each team consists of 12 players instead of eleven1. Why football become epidemic? As we know, football game has been epidemics in people all over the world including Muslims not only for men but also women. It had been so due to several factors. Firstly, the individual Muslim, living in a non-Muslim country, constantly faces a dilemma with regard to the environment in which he lives. In a country like South Africa where the Muslim community is a minority, it is not surprising that alien ideologies are unfortunately allowed to erode the Islamic code of life. The individual Muslim needs to be firm and strong in belief in order to avoid the various sources of temptation within this un-Islamic environment. Unfortunately, erroneous dictates of foreign cultures have become norms within the Muslim community. For example, perceptions that this world is an end in itself and as such life should be enjoyed by engaging in such activities which provide for maximum satisfaction of the desires. Worldly pleasures have gained priority over the more important abode of the Hereafter (Akhirah). In the sporting context, Muslims have also started believing that peace of mind can only be achieved through football. The Western media is flooded and obsessed with football. Almost every newspaper and many magazines make some sort of reference to football. Television is swamped with football. This widespread coverage of football has revolutionized Muslim homes. The ease of access to football due to television is a major reason why football has reached alarming proportions within Muslim society. Secondly, Muslim parents, teachers and even some Ulama openly encourage sport, without setting any limitations. The interests in football shown by Muslim adults together with a culture of hero worshipping of sportsmen have made children falsely believe that football is totally acceptable under all conditions. The common Muslim is seldom discouraged to become a football fanatic. Thirdly, football has become a norm within Muslim society. The Muslim who shows little interest in football becomes marginalised in public discussions. Muslims believe that football is an acceptable means of public interaction2. Benefits of Football. The benefits and advantages of football in today’s times have been classified in terms of physical, social, economic factors. a. Physical Benefits 1. Health and fitness Playing football is one of the important factors which contribute to good health. Many studies have been carried out in order to determine the effect of football on health. Generally, it has been shown that football, through physical exercise, can improve posture, promote physical fitness and good health. Modern medicine has also shown that playing footballs can prevent certain diseases such as obesity, heart disease and osteoporosis. From an Islamic perspective, physical fitness and physical strength are qualities which need to be developed, as can be seen from the following explanation by Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (Rahmatullah alaih):†Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (Radiallahu anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallahualaihi wasallam) said: â€Å"A strong Believer is better than a weak Believer. † â€Å"This Hadith speaks of physical strength as is clear from the explanation of the hadith by the authorities of Deen. Physical power and strength are abilities which Allah Ta’ala loves in his servants. Physical strength has to be developed by Believers. Since this is desirable, it follows that it is a duty upon one to preserve one’s health and develop one’s strength while at the same time it will be un-Islamic to resort to such practices which are harmful and injurious to one’s health. Excessive eating, excessive sleeping and excessive indulgence in sexual relations are destructive to one’s health. In the same way, excessive reduction in food and sleep produces physical weakness. ‘3 2. Preparation for Jihad The maintenance of good health, the development of power and bodily strength are important in preparing for Jihad. Even some Muslim scholars had a opinion that one may participate in modern footballs if certain conditions are met and the aim is to build the physical and mental strengthens in preparation for Jihad. 3. Relaxation of the body and mind Most of the Ulama agree that relaxing the mind and body is sanctioned in Islam. This relaxation is beneficial for the individual, in that the object of life which is to worship Allah can be performed more earnestly and with greater devotion. b. Social Benefits 1. Development of Social Skills Football is often accredited with developing social skills in the individual. These include such skills as courtesy, fair play, and teamwork. While this assertion may be true, it has to be pointed out that football is not the only means of acquiring such skills. Following the lifestyle of our Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) and living an Islamic life from an early age, can inculcate in a Muslim all the social skills that are required. c. Economic Benefits 1. Employment Football has become a major industry due to the level of interest shown by the public. Hence, there are a significant number of people in the world today, who rely totally on football to make a living. Avenues for earning wealth from purely football sources include the sale of tickets, marketing and sale of footballs equipment and clothing, operation of footballs facilities, researching into sport science, and publishing of specialized footballs magazines and journals. Some may say that the income generated from these avenues is not Halal according to the Shariah because this involves sanctioning of the many harms of football. However, it may be argued that a Muslim who sells a bow and arrow, for example, with the intention that the Muslim community may use it to train for Jihad is surely not transgressing any of the laws of Shariah. Harms of football. 1. Exposure of the aurah (parts of the body which has to be necessarily covered). In football there is a considerable amount of exposing the ‘awrah. If it involves exposing the thighs and the people look at them and people are looking at each others thighs, then this is not permissible as the thighs are from the ‘awrah and covering the ‘awrah is obligatory except from the wives and concubines, in accordance with the statement of the prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam):â€Å"Guard your ‘awrah, except from your wife or what your rights hands possess. †The proofs that the thigh is from the ‘awrah are many, from them: what has been verified from imams Maalik, Ahmad, Aboo Daawood, Turmithee, Ibn Hibbaan and al-Haakim from Jarhad al-Aslamee(radi Allaahu ‘anhu) that the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) passed by him and his thigh was exposed. The prophet (sallallaahualayhi wassallam) said: â€Å"Cover your thigh as it is from the ‘awrah. †4 What has also been verified by Aboo Daawood and others from ‘Alee (radi Allaahu ‘anhu) , the Messenger of Allah said: â€Å"Do not expose your thigh and do not look at the thigh of the living of the dead. †5. If this is known, then looking at other peoples ‘awrah is impermissible yet this is what takes place in football matches today. There is not a match where the thighs are not exposed and the ‘awrah of people are not discussed, this is the case even with female sports! Female can only playing football provided that all the spectator including coach and football stuff are woman. Futhermore, beautiful women appear on the TV screens as advertisements in order to cover the costs of broadcasters or other companies. 2. Foul play. Modern soccer has developed into a war between players. Often, during the course of play, one player purposefully injures another by kicking, tripping and even punching. To prevent a player from a scoring a goal, a defender will use illegal tactics to stop him. This may cause severe physical injury. Can these kinds of barbaric deeds be called sport? 3. Spectator Problems Crowd trouble has become synonymous with football. Within the last 30 years, there have been many cases of crowd violence where scores of spectators have been killed or injured. Soccer hooliganism has become prevalent due to uncivilised behaviour which is closely related to alcohol, music and fanatics. The impulse which stimulates action from a crowd frequently turns a peaceful crowd into a maddened mob where violence, hatred and revenge may prevail. The following examples clearly illustrate the extent of violence and crowd problems associated with football: a. 1964 – More than 300 people were killed and more than 500 were injured in a riot in Lima, Peru after a goal was disallowed in a match between Peru and Argentina. b. 1984 – During the European Cup final between Liverpool and Juventus, 39 people were killed and more than 400 were injured due to crowd violence. This was due to rioting Liverpool fans who were drunk and armed with sticks, iron bars and bottles4. c. 1989 – 94 people were killed and about 150 seriously injured during the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. This occurred as thousands of people, some of whom were drunk, began rushing and pushing into the stadium. As a result of the overcrowding, thousands of supporters were crushed into the perimeter fencing, which had been put there to prevent hooligans from invading the pitch5. Apart from these cases, there have been numerous cases of spectators invading the pitch, attacking players and stewards, looting and generally uncivilised behaviour. 4. Football fanatics. Football had becomes a means to divide the ummah and create enemity and hatred between individuals in it, wherein vile partisanship to different sports teams is common. Thus this person encourages and supports one team and that person encourages and supports another, to the extent that the people of one family split up amongst themselves. This one follows a team and that one follows another team and the matter does not stop at mere support for teams, rather the followers of a winning team begin to make sarcastic comments about the losing team and at the end of it is argumentation and scuffling amongst supporters, which leads to people becoming wounded and fighting resulting in people dying, the victims of  football! The organisers of the world cup final between Brazil and Uruguay on July 16 1950 at the Maracanaa stadium in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, were ompelled to make a hole thirteen meters wide and a meter and a half deep to protect the players from the crowds and vice versa8. 5. Zionist conspiration. Football competitions have become destructive elements that are used by the enemies of Islam, as what they encourage attaches honour to the ummah. As now the ummah, in the name of different sports including football, wastes considerable money and time. Instead of the ummah being occupied with beneficial actions and beneficial manufactures, the ummah has become within the rank of developed countries, from the backward nations and countries. Furthermore, the ummah needs to become occupied with the thought of struggling against its enemies, this issue of which is of great importance. Another thing that emphasises this is what is found in the Protocols of the Elders of Zion9 under protocol thirteen: â€Å"In order to keep the masses in misguidance, not knowing what is going on behind or in front of them, we will increase in averting their minds by way of a variety of amusements, humorous games and different types of sports, along with vain talk to nourish their tastes and desires. Furthermore, we hope to increase in the building of fine palaces and beautified structures. We will also produce publications that call to art competitions and sport. † By observing what the magazines and newspapers spread we find amazing figures regarding the fees spent on transferring players from team to team. 36 These figures even reach their tens of thousands not to mention the amount of money spent on coaches, managers, football pitches and broadcasting, and likewise all of the money that the spectators pay. For example, billionaire from Arabic country buy big club such as Manchester City and used the money for player transaction and advertising the club whilst some Islamic country starve and suffer from war. Conclusion It is not said that football is totally unbeneficial at all. Nowaday, Muslim professional football player are increasing especially in Europe region and become key player of a big club. In any condition, they should place their religion as a priority. Sevilla’s player, Freddie Kanoute has showed a very good example of Muslim footballer and role model to other professional player. He fast and play even during ramadhan and donate large portion of his salary for the Muslim charity in his country, Mali10. We also as a Muslim can get involved in football either participating or just watching provided that we had settled and not neglected other important needs as a Muslim such as salah, respecting our parents and have a good relationship with others. One must weigh between benefits and harm before take any action. Muslim football celebration after scoring a goal. Female Muslims also can play football with hijab. References. 1. Reilly, Thomas; Gilbourne, D.†Science and football: a review of applied research in the football code† published in 2003. Journal of Sports Science 21: 693–705. 2. Mufti Ahmed E. Bemat. , Islam and Games,Tadkeshwar, Surat, Gujrat, India, translated into English from Gujrati by Prof Murtaz Husain F. Quraishi, Navsari, Gujrat, India,(1989). 3. (Hadhrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (Rahmatullah alaih), Hayatul Muslimeen, Prepared by Mujlisul Ulama of South Africa, Port Elizabeth, p. 109 ) . 4. Authenticated by al-Bukhaaree in his saheeh (vol.1, 478) ;Ahmad in al-Musnad (volume. 3,478) ; Aboo Daawood in as-sunan,hadeeth no 4014 ; Tirmidhee in al-Jaami’, hadeeth no. 2798; al-Haakim in al-Mustadrak (vol. 4, 180);Ibn Hibbaan in as-Saheeh, hadeeth no. 1710 – al-Ihsaan. 5. Authenticated by Aboo Daawood in as-Sunan, hadeeth no. 3 l40 and no. 4015; Ahmad in al-Musnad (vol. 1, 146). The hadeeth is saheeh. 6. Nawrat, C. , Hutchings, S. , The Sunday Times Illustrated History of Football, Hamlyn, London, (1994), pp. 125-269 7. Barrett, Norman. , The Daily Telegraph Football Chronicle, Stanley Paul and Company Limited, London, (1994), pp. 226, 232 8. Nawrat, C. , Hutchings, S. , The Sunday Times Illustrated History of Football, Hamlyn, London, (1994), p. 151 9. Daniel Pipes ; Conspiracy: How the Paranoid Style Flourishes and Where It Comes From (The Free Press – Simon & Schuster)(2007) p. 86–87 10. Kanoute balance between football and faith during Ramadhan. www. kickitout. org/952. php (accessed 26 March 2013).