Spring Awakening Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Spring Awakening - Essay Example Discussion of sex was taken as something extremely personal and confined to closed door conversations. Parents and elders did not use to discuss issues relating to sex with their children at all. This attitude of the society was giving rise to social dilemmas within adolescents in the communities. Adolescents were experiencing emotions pertaining to sexual desires but they didn’t know the meaning behind those emotions and feelings. The play â€Å"Spring Awakening† addressed such a bold issue and brought this taboo topic to limelight in public to make them understand the changing requirements of changing times (New York Times, 2006). The theme of the play is sex orientation among teens and the arousal of feelings and emotions of youth and the desire to meet the sexual requirements of an adult human body. The play was performed in 1892, as a musical act where various scenes were articulated based on various songs that were played to entertain the audience and also to help them understand the acts being performed in a better manner. Though the play exhibited youngsters, teenagers and adolescents but its meaning and the underlying message was directed towards parents and mentors. The theme of the play demanded a change in the mindset of the audience and the need to understand the needs of maturing minds of growing children, children that are reaching puberty. The parents need to talk to their children and help them get across this very special, beautiful and significant phase of their lives. Without proper counseling and guidance children may astray away from the correct path of life and shall destroy their future forever, under the influence of intense feelings and emotions. The play revolved around the central characters of children that are depicted to be entering the adolescent phase of their lives, becoming adults and developing sexual needs and body features of a grown up. The characters in the play are shown to

Locally Abundant' - Sustainable Food Documentary Essay

Locally Abundant' - Sustainable Food Documentary - Essay Example Agriculture is one current field wich require changing for the purpose of meeting the increase in demand. It is possible to terminate poverty, hunger and sustain food security without damaging the environment. To ensure that such an elaborate level becomes viable, there is need to utilize the water, energy, fertilizers, chemicals and lands (Steel, 2013). Organic farming is increasing and gaining popularity and is practiced in many countries in the world. Farmers who accept to use renewable resources and conserve the soil and water to prevent environmental pollution for the coming generation produce certified organic food. Organic meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products come from an animal, which are given growth hormones and antibiotics (Francis, 2012). These foods are produced without using artificial preservatives, synthetic pesticides, and fertilizers. Removing agrichemicals is not enough to turn conventional farming to organic farming. Organic farming is an active labor-intensive process. For instance, organic farmers use compost manure and practice crop rotation to nourish soil naturally and allow the soil to regenerate. Plants grow well in healthy soil and avoid being contaminated with pesticides (Steel, 2013). Organic farmers are careful about how they store and dispose of their animal waste in order not to pollute water and air. They crops that are suitable to the soil and climate. Organic farming promotes biodiversity since it allows the growth of more than one crop. Therefore preventing soil erosion and conserves energy (Francis, 2012). Moreover, it assists in reducing greenhouse gasses, which leads to global warming. Practicing organic farming is important since it is a humane treatment of animals especially poultry and cattle. They are fed by certified organic diet rather than depending on antibiotics to reduce diseases. They prevent diseases by ensuring the live a healthy lifestyle and

Concepts of Belonging in Urban Development

Concepts of Belonging in Urban Development In this contemporary era where everything changes rapidly, people no longer relate themselves to just one discipline, but are cross-disciplinary. In the process of transition, the exchange of culture as well as information, the experience that one has and the knowledge that one gains is almost an instant experience. Often these instant experience and knowledge that one absorbs are incomplete due to the cutting short of information and over-emphasizing on the main point which subsequently result in a losing gap in between the original information to what we received. One might feel a sense of lost in time, history, memories and the lost in a sense of attachment, consistency, thus question our belonging; where is our home? How do we define belonging then? Can our belonging be fixed? In chapter 1 of the paper, I will discuss home as a metaphor of belonging; an anchor point. However, in this contemporary era, to name a place as the home that we belong can be superficial as the place that we belong are often not fixed. What give us the sense of belonging then? To discuss about belonging, unavoidably we associate it to a space. This Dissertation paper discusses two kinds of space the tangible space and the intangible space. Often, Space as an abstract notion seems boundless; we think of space as just air between one object and the other.[1] Space speaks more than just air molecules. Space with boundaries can be seen as a form or a thing. Space as an idea can be regarding individual perceptions which can be both conceptual and physical. These individual perceptions can be seen as the collective memory through ones experience. How do spaces give us a sense of belonging if our sense of space are often relate to the sense of place which are often unfixed. Despite of the uncertainty of our sense of place, what might give us a sense of continuity is probably the memory that were collected in the space which thus give us a sense of belonging. Memories exists in the past, present and future which thus creating a sense of continuity in a human existence timeline. Moving on from individual home to a nation, Chapter 2 addresses the lost of memory in city due to the urban development in Singapore. It will look into a brief history of Singapore Urban housing and city development, the significant of building as a time-marker that give us the sense of belonging and how the constant construction and destruction of building and places resulted in the lost of fixed identity. Is the lost of memory a lost of our belonging and identity or has it build a unique belonging and identity for Singaporean? As often been said, our belonging and identity are often been cultivate through arts and culture. In that sense, our local museum thus holds an important role in cultivating, preserving and passing on histories and cultural values to the masses. As much as we perceive the knowledge and history in the museum as a fact passing through from generation to generation, can the museum display and exhibition not be political constructed? Hence, even though Singapore government tried to preserve our â€Å"local identity† if we have ever or belonging through the form of arts and culture, the belonging that we perceive is still a constructed identity. Hence, a paradox and it seems like our identity is always in a confusion. Where do we belong? Chapter 1:- Belonging; Memory Belonging has been expounded as a possession, a member of a group such as a family, a school and a nation, ultimately belonging is about the relation of human being. Through the relation with peoples group, spaces and structure, human being thus creates their own identity. The sense of belonging and identity will also suggest a sense of security and stability. Hence, this sense of belonging becomes crucial in human life. Often, the sense of belonging has its relation associated with rooted-ness a sense of attachment towards a space; an attachment to our home. ‘For our house is our corner of the world. As has often been said, it is our first universe, a real cosmos in every sense of the world†¦[2] Author Gaston Bachelard explained in his book The Poetics of Space that the notion of home is a space where one is born and lives permanently. Home has often been idealized as an utopia space where there is a sense of continuity, security and perfection. Permanence is an important element in the idea of home as it suggests rooted-ness and a sense of immortality. In Space and Place the perspective of experience, Yi-Fu Tuan argued that home is the centre of the world; home is the focal point of a cosmic structure[3]. Both author explained home as the centre of ones world and it makes sense to say that our belonging is very much about our attachment to our roots; our home. The word centre will means origin which carries the meaning of beginning which is what Bachelard mentioned as the first universe; the centre of ones world. When and how do one has a sense of home then? Often the notion of home is blurred with the notion of house. ‘Here space is everything, for time ceases to quicken memory Memories are motionless, and the more securely they are fixed in space, the sounder they are.[4] Home as an abstract notion can be boundless. In the quotes above, Bachelard explained that what is being housed in the space (home) is the memories that has been created in the space. Home is a space where we root ourselves at and the most important element that gives us that sense of rooted-ness or attachment to a home is memory. Memory would also mean knowledge, history and memories; memory is an attempt to remember, recall or to record events, objects or even emotion. It is through these collective memories of a space that give us that sense of attachment and a kind of certainty toward oneself. As such, I would draw a boundaries that home is an emotional-mental state of belonging. Memory exists in the past, present and future which create a sense of continuity or immortality. Memory thus gives us a sense of security and certainty. As what Yi-Fu Tuan had mentioned in his writing, the value of a place is the experience that one created in that space. It is through the intimate human relationship and the familiarity of a space that one created a sense of attachment towards a space. Belonging, like memories should be fixed so as to attain a sense of stability. Memory is an abstract notion that requires to be objectified in order to be seen or understand and house plays the role in objectifying these abstract memories, it is a place that helps giving the meaning and value to home. House on the other hand, is a shelter that one goes to when sick, where intimate activities happen; a place or location that helps us to relate our past history and event. House in this case is a physical state of belonging. In a lot of ways, objects can be seen as spaces with boundaries and is malleable.[5] Objects in a house are like footages that give a trace and history of the inhabitant that once presence. The following images are a series of photograph by Singapore photographer, Ho Hui May. This series of artwork entitled Domestic Dystopia, 2007 presents a purview interior of an abandon house. [6] Domestic Dystopia Ho Hui May Photography series, 2007 In this series of photograph, Ho presented abandon objects of the domestic space after the inhabitants had move on. Those abandon objects suggests the lifestyle or characteristic of the inhabitants, almost like a 3-dimentional narrative of the past. For example the forest wall paper at the bottom right side represents 2 layers of nature. One layer of the wall paper can be seen as a natural ongoing process of ageing and decaying due to elements such as sunlight, water, oxygen and other natural substances and is peeling, fading and tearing off from the wall. Another layer of the wall paper presents an image of the forest which can also be read as the owners desire to have a piece of nature while living in a city. Hence, objects such as the wall paper gives clues of the life of the inhabitants. Objects inhabit space, and when attention is directed to an object, it is also directed to the space it occupies.[7] The function of the house thus is also a place to keep and collect object. The se functions can be seen as the collection and re-collection of memories. Objects in our life thus give us a sense of home and belonging. However, objects are originally neutral and meaningless. It is through the experience and relation of objects and people in that space, we insert our emotion and meaning to it and hence creating sentimental values to the object. Therefore, the question now is to what extend are those objects valuable when the meaning of it are constructed? Our house is also an object that is physically constructed and can be politically constructed as well. In that sense, how can we have a true sense of home and belonging if the memory and experience that we perceive are constructed? In Hos series of photograph; objects in the image are discarded. House in this case is also an object that has been discarded. If the objects in life are significant in provoking or capturing memories, why do people still abandon objects? Choosing objects to be abandoned and objects to be brought along are essential in the cities. Chapter 2: Urban development: abandon and constructive memory The city is a place of large settlement; a community of houses and buildings. Walking from one end to the other end, we can easily recognize the features in the cities. There is a sense of familiarity in the city that we lived in. Familiarity is to recognize, to remember or to recall things. It is through that sense of familiarity; the personal memories and the cultural history that we collected in the city that gives us a sense of belonging. The city that we lived in and return to eventually thus is our hometown; the centre of our world. Our hometown is a place where we rooted ourselves in. Unlike home which is built upon the individual experiences and personal memories, the city herself has an image to portray, the city that we lived in is being shape politically and economically so as to achieve economic growth and progression especially that of urban cities. In this chapter, I will like to take Singapore urban development as a case study and local artists responses to the issue of urban development and housing to discuss about the lost of memories and thus the lost of a fixed belonging to the Singaporean. Tracing back from the early days of Singapore Independency till today, she had boosted rapidly into a developed country. In the early days, the fundamental objective of Singapore housing development is to provide a shelter for every citizen. With the problem of housing shortage in the beginning of Singapore Independency, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) was established to provide the citizen with adequate standard of living, the local architect also strike for freedom to promote culture to the mass through national building.[8] With the increase of standard of living and income of the citizen, they no longer just desire for basic amenities but desire for a higher standard of living which result in a constant construction and destruction of buildings in Singapore. Shifting and relocating thus become common. In a lot of ways, our sense of place or location gives us the sense of identity, belonging and pride to the city that we lived in. Building of different time thus stands an important role in marking history of a city; they are almost like artefacts that connect us to our past; a reminder of historical event that once took place, the political and personal experience that once present. Two of the remarkable buildings in Singapore is the City Hall and Old Supreme court. over the years, Singaporean had witnessed many political events such as the japanese surrender, the national day and many more and the building together with the old Supreme court is currently preserved as a Singapore heritage building. Though building is being preserved but the function is not there anymore. (explain)It becomes a trademark of history, an attraction for tourist but no longer function as how it should be. What is the point of preserving when the function is no longer there? Singapore is a country that has been lost and found, found and lost again. (Quoted from Ho Tzu yen film) Many of our local artists have responded to the rapid urban transition with their art. One of our local film/ documentaries maker Tan Pin Pin has responded these issues in her documentaries such as the Invisible City and Moving House. Moving house speaks about the lost of tradition in the midst of Singapore land development. The documentary focuses on the Chews family who went to pay a visit to their parent at their tomb. That visit to the tomb was the last as they would have to dig out the bodies as the government had decided to develop that piece of land. â€Å"We should have a permanent cemetery so that the tradition can continuedtradition had die off.† quoted from Mr Chew. As of a tradition, it is necessary for dead bodies to be buried underground as a respect for the death. Each year during special occasion such as the Qing Ming festival, the Chew family will visit their parents tomb, almost like a picnic as Mr Chew mentioned. The bones of their parent were then cremate. What is lost is not just the lost of tradition but also the joy of gathering that they used to have. Singapore land development can be endless. Reason being that more public housing is required to cover population needs. There is no limit to our desire for space. After development is re-development, moving is re-moving whether or not it is voluntary, is no longer important. Moving house had highlighted our endless desire for space and better standard of living and in the mean time, highlighting our yearns for the past to be continue, a contradicting feeling in the midst of progressing into a world class society. Hence, the transforming of cityscape had also result in a lost of history. It somehow prompts us the question that in order to progress, do we have to discard the past? Are we ready to do that? Is it necessary to abandon/ disregards our past to pursue a ‘better future? How much can we give up actually? Over the years, we slowly identify the issue of urban development through the local artwork. Many lost memories were represented again as a form of art. Not having a fixed memory and belonging had affected artist in many way. Many had approach it in a sentimental manner, sometime in quite a negative way. Many of them chose to have our local HDB flats or construction sites as their subject matter. Interesting, the following photographer that I am going to introduce does not took the usual gigantic boxes as his subject matter instead, ‘junk that he collected as his subject. Chua Chye Tecks wonderland, 2007 is a series of photograph of junk, unwanted, abandon objects that he collected, to date this series consists of 500 pieces of images. Through these images, there are two main opponents that we have to take notes on; the idea of collecting and the idea of abandon in relation to the city. The idea of collecting plays an important part in this work as a way of indicating our social stature, professional affiliation, value system and personal taste. Another thing to consider is the objects being abandon; the ownership of physical object that hints our loftiest longings and deepest anxieties. With each purchase, we throw something away; by existing, we throw; because we move on, we throw. Also to note is that Chua does not keep any of this object as well. With each that he had collect and photograph, he abandoned it as well. Lastly, we consider the methods of presenting it first, objects are placed individually on a clean turquoise background, almost like lifting the value of the junk, giving it a new life. Every object or set of objects, here was no less exquisitely cared for and to read the image as objects existing inside a camera frame almost as preserved memories. As much as we are reluctant to give up on what is valuable to us, we still ought to do so in order to progress†¦ is this voice of the citizen or the voice of government? Chuas work is interesting as it reflects on how much we had abandon in the process of urbanization and to collect it again is to recollect memory, thus memory being lost and found. As compared to Pin Pins film, it reflects how one has to give up in the the process of urbanization despite of ones resistant to change. In the process of change, one long for a sense of permanency, a fixed belonging. What image is Singapore trying to portray at the end of the day when its limited history are slowly faded away over the years? Whether or not Singapore has a rich history and culture are not important as compared to economic growth. This prompt the question of whether the progression and development into a better yet ever-changing rapid lifestyle changes our view of what is to be casted off and what is to be collected in the process? Has Singapore come to realize the lost of memory in the city To question about what has been lost, what do we discard in the process of progression, what we yearn and what we desire to retain goes down to the question of choice and it was clear that we had chosen for economic growth than having the history that give us a fixed belonging. These choices might not be make by the citizen but the government. The government has probably realise the crucial needs to cultivate our national identity; our belonging. As much as our short history had been constantly being buried underneath with the rapid urban development, Singapore in the mean time is trying to construct identity. As often been said, where we belong are often cultivate through the arts and culture that we belong to. Thus, one essential ways to input these lost of history or memory is through local art. What is the role of arts and culture in cultivating our national identity then? Chapter 3: The paradox What is singapore culture? Multi- culture. Mixture of east and west. Rojak. Anything and everything becomes our culture. The Renaissance city plan[9] is a proposal that the government come out every five year and the recent plan will be to go all out to developed the image of an global art city. With this proposal, lots of funding were put into art spaces, schools and institution such as LaSalle college of the Arts, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts(NAFA), the Singapore Arts Museum(SAM), Asian Civilian Museum(ACM), the National history museum as well as the National art gallery that is opening this year. The aims of this proposal is nevertheless to be an global art city, however what is contradicting is that as much as Singapore aims to go global, it still want to retain the sense of local through event such as Singapore art show. So what is Singapore aiming at the end of the day? She wants an image of everything and anything. She is trying to give encouragement for art yet maintaining tight restrictions on arts and culture. Through inclusion of artwork in public spaces and the incorporation of tasteful design and landscaping in the neighbourhood, we can widen peoples exposure to and appreciation of arts and its relevance in everyday life. (esplanade for cultural activities, government funding for art institution BUT still maintaining tight restrictions on art and cultural work) (wanting to go global and in the mean time wanting to stay localwhat is local?) However, can we really perceive the memory that we collected in the museum as our belonging when the exhibition can be politically constructed or frame? In that sense, what we perceive as our belonging; our home is constructed. Hence, how the city is shaped somehow shape that we are as an individual being. Lynn C. Robertson, Space, objects, minds, and brains (New York, N.Y. : Psychology Press, 2004), 1. Gaston Bachelard, The poetics of space, trans. Maria Jolas (Boston, Mass. : Beacon Press, 1994), 4. Yi fu tuan 149 Ibid, 9. Robertson, 3. Domestic Dystopia provides an insight into six interiors of dilapidated houses in Singapore. Each photograph reveals the traces of footsteps and impressions left behind by previous occupants, encapsulating these moments in their personal histories in a snapshot of time. Most of these houses have been abandoned and are left in a state of disrepair. By becoming a translator, Ho takes on the task of translating the deep sense of loss and nostalgia she feels when she is inside these houses onto a series of photographs. Picture credit: Curating lab: 100 remix workshop organised by the National University of Singapore museum partnership with National Art Council of Singapore Robertson, From building dream- tan pin pin explain

Behavior Modification Essay -- essays research papers

Behavior Intervention 1 RUNNING HEAD: Behavior Intervention Behavioral intervention of a schoolboy displaying low on-task behavior in his classroom Behavior Intervention 2 Abstract The on-task behavior of a schoolboy aged 11 named Alan was monitored over an intervention period of 39 days. This period consisted of observation, intervention and follow-up segments. Target behaviors were defined. These behaviors were then isolated during the intervention to extricate the functional association of antecedents and consequences. Previous studies from the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis were referred to for the structure of the intervention model. The theories of reinforcement and punishment were applied to gain desired behavior and clear target behavior. Verbal positive reinforcement and positive punishment was used, maintaining a firm consistency throughout the intervening period. To achieve the best result a tightly controlled environment was created to limit any possible distractions. Results obtained during the follow-up period indicated a substantial success for the intervention program.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Behavior Intervention 3 Behavioral intervention of a schoolboy displaying low on-task behavior in his classroom   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Behavior assessments are important applications for gaining insight into the motivation of individuals. By conducting these assessments, target behaviors can be defined. After defining these behaviors, functional relationships can be identified. This links the target behavior with antecedents and consequences. Once recognized these antecedents and consequences can be manipulated to influence the target behavior (Ebanks & Fisher, 2003). These behavior assessments work as the foundation for behavior modification therapy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Antecedents consist of any events that occur immediately before the target behavior manifests. By manipulating the antecedent it is possible to cause the target behavior to become extinct. Similarly the consequences that occur immediately after the target behavior can also be controlled to eliminate the behavior. The combined manipulation of both func... ...ion. Behavior Intervention 10 References Ebanks, M. E., & Fisher, W. W. (2003) Altering the timing of academic prompts to treat destructive behavior maintained by escape. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 36, 355-359. Fisher, W. W., Adelinis, J. D., Thompson, R. H., Worsdell, A. S., & Zarcone, J. R. (1998).Functional analysis and treatment of destructive behavior maintained be termination of â€Å"don’t† (and symmetrical â€Å"do†) requests. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 31, 339-356. Hapogian, L. P., Toole, L. M., Long, E. S., Bowman E. G., & Lieving, G. A. (2004). A comparison of dense-to-lean fixed lean schedules of alternative reinforcement and extinction. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 37, 323-337. Mueller, M. M., Sterling-Turner, H. E., & Scattone, D. (2001) Functional assessment of hand flapping in a general education classroom. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 34, 233-236. Romaniuk, C., Miltenberger, R., Conyers, C., Jenner, N., Jurgens, M.., & Ringenberg, C. (2002). The influence of activity choice on problem behaviors maintained by escape versus attention. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 35, 349-362.

Is Liberal Autocracy the Optimum Form of Governance for Lesser Developed Countries?

Is Liberal Autocracy the optimum form of governance for Lesser Developed Countries? Andre Lim, Joshua Tjahjadi August 2011 1743 Words Hypothesis: Liberal autocracy is the optimal system of governance for lesser-developed countries (LDCs) Democracy at home, and abroad: In this essay, the authors aim to compare the systems of governance in Indonesia and Singapore, as well as how their differences have led to varied repercussions in both countries; those (repercussions) that will be closely examined here are the growth/development of stable governmental institutions, as well as the just rule of law.These are relatively newly-decolonized states existing side by side, in recent years taking different paths of governance. This resulted in wildly different outcomes. What was it about their different political paths that caused the difference? Is the fault with the democratic process, or with their implementation? Is there a certain developmental threshold within which democracy is just doom ed to failure? Many of these questions traverse along peripheries of political doctrine and liberal ethics. Certainly, democracy is an unpredictable, and often messy process.Only by answering hard questions like these can it be better understood, and refined. This is what the authors hope to achieve. To start off, however several key terms first have to be defined. Liberal autocracy refers to a non-democratically elected government founded on the principles of liberalism, that is a fundamental belief in the importance of liberty and basic fundamental rights. Notably successful examples include Singapore, and in the past Hong Kong, Taiwan as well as Japan. Lesser developed countries are nations exhibiting low levels of socio-economic development.Criterion include- low economic development (GNP of less than 905 USD, per capita) as well as human resource weakness (indicators include Adult literacy, nutrition and education). Liberty vs. Democracy- Rise of illiberal democracies? As Faree d Zakaria once brilliantly put it, ‘there today exists two strands of liberal democracy, both inextricably interwoven into Western political fabric- liberty and democracy. ’ The former is floundering even though the latter is flourishing. What is the significance of this co-relation?Democracy at its purest essentially means the rule of the people, whatever it may entail. Liberty recognizes that every man is born with certain unalienable rights- rights to religion, to life, to own property and be free from unfair prosecution. These are rights that cannot be infringed upon. Thus the crux behind constitutional liberty is the construction of institutions such as an independent Judiciary and Treasury to safeguard these rights. Only with a firmly-established Constitutional Liberty can democracy become a force for good.People frequently understand these concepts in reverse. Without the restrictive tenets of a strong Constitutional Liberty, the democratic process will end up ma nipulated and reinforcing corrupted/tyrannical/incompetent governance, elevating mediocrity and triggering stagnation. This is made apparent with Indonesia’s example. Without the checks and balances provided by libertarian governance, elections more often than not grant victory to illiberal forces. Contrast with Singapore’s single-party rule that gave rise to political stability and little corruption.A lack of liberty turn erodes the egalitarian and majoritarian principles casted by founders of modern constitutional-democracy doctrine- Madison, Locke, Rousseau, Montesquieu. After all, the democratic system obviously has many admirable qualities. It allows a peaceful transfer of power, and renders tyrannical rule impossible. In both Singapore and Indonesia, this conundrum has been made apparent, time and again. 1960s to 2000: Emerging from the upheavals of 1960s, both the LKY and Suharto regime placed utmost emphasis on stability and order.Thus a common tactic was to st ifle political opposition; co-opting whoever they could, and proscecuting the rest. For instance, in the 1980s a group of Indonesian intelligentsia composed of former military men, public intellectuals and officials signed the Petition of 50(Petisi 50), criticizing the regime’s authoritarian tactics and following a 1984 accusation that Suharto was building a one-party state, the group was cracked down upon and many of its leaders were jailed. In Singapore, many prominent opposition leaders such as Chee Soon Juan and Joshua Jeyaretnam were proscecuted and jailed for their political activities.In both nations, the government also played a major role in different sectors of society; be it religion, social or economic. The results were astounding. Between 1960 and 1990, GDP/capita increased four-fold. After the debacle made by the Sukarno regime of economic affairs, Indonesia slowly regained trust of investors, and foreign markets. Hyper inflation was brought under control, and a s slew of measures were implemented to make Indonesia competitive again. By early 1980s Indonesia had achieved self-sufficiency of rice production, as well as basic education for all and successful family planning measures.The Golden Age of Autocrats? In the 1960s-1980s, in midst of the Cold War, amidst the geopolitical turmoil engulfing South Asia then, strong leaders were required maintain unity, as well as stability. In a sense, the turbulence of those years gave legitimacy for autocratic rule. In developing countries where the populace was mostly uneducated and politically illiterate/susceptible to radicalism, the strong hand of an Autocrat was required to provide the stability vital to building the economy, creating strong instutions, pushing forth important reforms. These would in the future be key to building a working Democracy.If there was one thing men like Mahatir, Marcos, Chiang, Lee and Suharto agreed on, it was that in an LDC, the strong, unwavering hand of autocratic rule was necessary to temper populism and keep check radicalism. 2000 onwards: Since the fall of Suharto in 1998, Indonesia evolved into a full-fledged democracy. However, democracy has brought about a whole slew of problems. For instance, the judiciary’s impartiality and reliability have often been questioned. In June 2011, a judge was caught receiving bribes from a lawyer that amounted to Rp250 million in various currencies.In addition to this, the country also faces problems such as crumbling infrastructure, falling tax revenues, environmental degradation, corruption as well as religious tensions. Singapore on the other hand has been powering forward, be it in terms of education levels, or the economy. Its political elite, un-encumbered by electoral demands is able to make long-term decisions that otherwise would have been rendered impossible in a full-fledged democracy. For example, Singapore fiscally is exceptionally disciplined.Its population exists on little subsidies, and through measures like the CPF, whereby people pay for their own compulsory healthcare insurance, it has large surpluses and little deficit. This allows the MAS and GIC to invest in new technologies and facilities vital to Singapore’s long-term growth, such as the Petrochemical facilities on Jurong- Island, or Biopolis biomedical facilities. Contrast this to Indonesia, whereby the electorate is unwilling to give up on fuel and food subsidies they once enjoyed during the boom years, but are nowadays unsustainable and detrimental to Indonesia’s economic growth.What constitutes good Libertarian Governance? Having looked at the preceding case studies, several correlations can be made between democracy, governance and progress. Firstly, it is that democracy can only become a force for progress and stability were it to come hand in hand with strong governance. When left to itself, democracy by no means lead to consensus and effective decision making. Instead, it will end up getting manipulated and corrupted by infighting, vested interests and corruption. Take the Indonesian Parliament. It is an archetypal example of the democratic process getting hijacked by corruption and ideology.Given that Indonesia lacks strong governmental institutions and mature civil society, the democratic process frequently ends up as a medium for parties in power to battle out their vested interests and for racial, ethnic groups to push forward their own agendas. Some may ask, what is the value of strong institutions? The crux behind Constitutional Democracy lies in checks and balances. No single party should have all the power, instead; power and the decision making process should be diffused among the different branches of government.This way, it would render cronyism, patronage politics and in general bad governance less likely. Were this accomplished, decision making rests not so much on who is in power; but rather the institutions that formulate and implement them. T hus the underlying problem with immature democracies like Indonesia. Without a civil society and strong institutions to balance out the powers of the executive, there is nothing preventing irresponsible governance on the part of those who seek to use democratic institutions to push forward their undemocratic agendas.For instance, with the presence of a strong judiciary and treasury to formulate and implement a just tax code, it would be impossible for Indonesian conglomerates and their cronies in Parliament to push for tax breaks and other concessions. This is inherently undemocratic. What Democracy thenceforth would end up doing is aggravating conflicts and instability, as can be seen in places like Lebanon and Iraq, whereby the advent of democratic elections have given rise to an ethnically, politically polarized electorate. Secondly, a certain amount of economic growth has to be achieved before a stable democracy can be established.There exist several reasons for this. On one han d, a government capable of producing sustained economic growth is more likely to be stable and effective, possessing the strong institutions required for this. Their presence increases the chances of a Liberal Democratic regime surviving. Economic prosperity also means that a society is more stable, with an educated, empowered population likely to hold government account to their actions. Paradoxically, as inherently undemocratic the PAP regime may seem today, Singapore 45 years after independence is closer to becoming a successful Liberal democracy than ever before.Having a motivated, uncorrupt elite in more or less total control of public policy means that Singapore had been able to enjoy decades of sustained economic, political and social growth. This has created stability, as well as strong institutions and a flourishing civil society. With its vast ruling majority, the PAP regime has also been able to build legislative and judicial institutions that counterweigh the power of th e ruling body, since it has no need to cope with frequently detrimental populist sentiments or political infighting.The legislative body can then focus solely on advancing national interests. Therein lies the crux behind effective governance. Conclusion: In conclusion, it can be surmised that establishing the pre-requisites required for a strong Democracy is a complicated process. Developing countries lack these pre-requisites, and trying to develop Liberal institutions in these countries under democratic circumstances is arduously tough. When this process fails, as it often does, the Democratic process loses its value as a force for stability.Herein lies the value of a Liberal Autocracy; to build the foundations for a working democracy. Certainly, liberal autocratic rule has its disadvantages. With such a high concentration of power within the ruling government, things only work out if the government is able, uncorrupt and works to build the institutions required for future transit ion to democratic rule. This was the case in Singapore. In Indonesia, the establishment of growth, stability and Liberty came hand in hand with cronyism and patronage politics. This is undemocratic; a possible offshoot of autocratic rule.Like America’s founding fathers, Lee and Suharto were both elitists with a democratic cause; to improve the lot of as many people as possible. They had one consensus- Democracy has to be meticulously built, rigorously defended. Developing countries require autocracy first, were a strong democracy to be conceived. However, with the advent of internet and a new generation of young people eager for rights and freedoms, this formulae may not work in other developing countries today. After all, any system needs to be revised from time to time. No system last forever.This thus, is the dilemma developing countries face today. They face the problem of consolidation, of making a democratic regime successful, because self-government is never easy. Afte r all, democracy can be entrusted to any society, but not everyone can make it work. (1743 words) Bibliography Hard copy sources: 1. â€Å"Future of Freedom- Illiberal Democracy, At home and Abroad† by Fareed Zakaria, W. W. & Norton Company Inc. 2003, ISBN0393047644 2. â€Å"Conversations with Lee Kuan Yew: Citizen Singapore-how to build a nation† by Tom Plate.December 1 2010, Marshall Cavendish Corporation, ISBN-10 9812616764, ISBN-13 978-9812616760 3. â€Å"Lee Kuan Yew-Hard truths to keep Singapore going† by Ignatius Low, Chua Mui Hoong, Han Fook Kwang, Zuraidah Ibrahim, Lydia Lim, Rachel Lin and Robin Chan. February 2011, The Straits Times Press, ISBN 978-981-4266-72-7 Soft copy sources: 1. Is Media Helping or Hurting Push for Democracy Ismira Lutfia, May 9 2011 http://www. thejakartaglobe. com/arts/is-media-helping-or-hurting-push-for-democracy/440043 2. LeeKuanYew-istan Forever Parag Khanna, May 24 2011 3.Indonesian Democracy at Standtill John Macbeth, Str aits Times Indonesia May 10 2011 4. A Replacement for Suharto’s Iron Fist Mohamed Iqbal Ahnaf April 08, 2011 5. Liberalism and Democracy: Cant Have One Without The Other Marc Plattner, 1998 http://www. foreignaffairs. com/articles/53815/marc-f-plattner/liberalism-and-democracy-cant-have-one-without-the-other? page=show 6. The Thinker: Indonesia Unplugged? Mahpud Sujai, May 27 2011 http://www. thejakartaglobe. com/opinion/the-thinker-indonesia-unplugged/443379 ——————————————– 1 ]. Future of Freedom- Illiberal Democracy, At home and Abroad† by Fareed Zakaria, W. W. & Norton Company Inc. 2003, ISBN0393047644 [ 2 ]. http://www. indonesia-digest. net/3300suharto. htm [ 3 ]. ibid [ 4 ]. Jakarta Post, November 5 2009 [ 5 ]. Future of Freedom- Illiberal Democracy, At home and Abroad† by Fareed Zakaria, W. W. & Norton Company Inc. 2003, ISBN0393047644 [ 7 ]. 6 ibid [ 8 ]. 7 ibid [ 10 ]. Conversations With Lee Kuan Yew February 2011, The Straits Times Press, ISBN 978-981-4266-72-7 [ 11 ]. ibid [ 12 ]. ibid [ 13 ]. Foreign Policy, May 2007

Proposal examining accounting fraud

Background to the Study and Overall Research Aim: Deceitful accounting instances have ever been critical and prevalentissues in listed Chinese companies. In recent old ages, some Chinese companies have been embroiled in accounting dirts in Hong Kong stock market. Harmonizing to a Hong Kong Exchange study on 30 November 2013, there were 42 companies ’shares that had been suspended for more than three months. 17 out of 42 are under investigated officially for possible abnormalities. Listed Chinese companies have the possible to be embroiled with deceitful accounting. Fiscal statements reflect a company’s public presentation and it requires a series of cardinal and appropriate fiscal analysis. Due to its high importance, the cogency and truth of fiscal statements must be stressed. Additionally company directors have to describe to the proprietors of organisation and other related users such as Bankss and other loaners about the fiscal facets of their activities. Those trusting on external fiscal studies want to have the information that is qualified or has been audited in the studies to guarantee dependability. The usage of fiscal statements and its high significance thrust forces of originative actions. Nowadays, more and more companies use deceitful accounting to do company’s public presentation more attractive to investors. On the other manus, it provides more troubles for scrutinizing and consequences in impacting audit quality. Companies intentionally use deceitful accounting to misdirect stakeholders and stockholders. It is easy found out that some companies own good economic public presentation on the fiscal places but they go belly-up all of a sudden. If a company goes into bankruptcy, the stock can drop dramatically and frequently consequences in stop trading on the stock market. By and large, investors have to endure investing loss. Research Aims: The aim of this research is built up to reexamine the literature of accounting fraud in the fiscal statements, to analyze methods of accounting fraud. The most of import undertaking for this thesis is to happen out whether any indicatorsor forms of fraudin the fiscal statements of the listing companies. Theories will be compared to the truth in the instance survey of several companies in order to explicate those theories are good plenty to explicate the same groundss in the company. Initial Review of Relevant Literature: The literature reappraisal focuses on following parts:Definition of accounting fraudCauses of accounting fraudOverview of fraud techniquesConsequences of accounting fraudDefinition of accounting fraud Deceitful accounting is an knowing darnel, assorted uses of a company’s assets or its fiscal statement to profit vested involvement holder. It frequently includes complex techniques for misappropriate of assets, fail to describe liabilities, misapplying financess, exaggerating grosss and understating disbursals. In related to deceitful fiscal coverage, which is sometimes called originative accounting, window dressing and income smoothing, etc. However, some corporate deceitful accounting dirts have been argued that it is a series of sensible actions in position of net incomes direction instead than an knowing darnel, assorted embezzlements and uses. The differentiation between deceitful accounting and net incomes direction is the managerial purpose. If directors make alterations on fiscal statement to misdirect stockholders or stakeholders that rely on the statement about economic public presentation of the company to act upon outcomes, it can be judged as deceitful accounting. Causes of accounting fraud The complexness of accounting criterions is one of grounds why assorted deceitful dirts happen. Companies seek chances to take advantage of loopholes in bing accounting criterions although it is more elaborate. For illustration, Enron used complex contracts to film over the truth of company minutess for such a long clip. Fraud is committed by misapplying the accounting criterions that are expected to protect public involvements. Furthermore, wages of senior directors provides a genteelness land to accounting fraud. It is closely related to short-run public presentation of a company such as fillips, stock options and perverse inducements. These wagess create inducements to directors to farther manipulate fiscal statements under the force per unit areas although it is fraud. Overview of fraud techniques The fraud techniques are implemented on fiscal statements. Some major applications of fraud techniques are the followerss.Exaggeration of GrossUnderstatement of ExpensesTamper with TaxationConsequences of accounting fraud Research Methods: Justification and Description: This thesis chiefly collects secondary information which will be conducted to roll up and analyze through an scrutiny of a series of books, diaries, articles, one-year studies and professional organic structures. It is easier to obtain. Since there are many well-known instances about corporate deceitful accounting dirts, there are tonss of information and treatment available on articles and web sites that can be analysed from different positions. Furthermore, one-year studies of naming companies are easier to be obtained. In add-on to secondary informations, primary informations is harder to be found due to the nature of fiction truth by utilizing it. Information to be collected: How information will be collected: This thesis is traveling to follow trying as research method. Sampling method is the survey of selected samples from a population. The topics are easy controlled and more accurate than analyzing the whole population. Interesting correlativities may be found from few topics. Judgment samplingwhich is a nonprobability method and is frequently extension of convenience sampling will be adopted in this thesis. With nonprobability trying schemes, sample is selected based on judgement. The trying scheme should be chosen to choose research companies which are best able to accurately and meaningfully supply information to the study instrument. Therefore, the samples have to be chosen carefully and they are genuinely representative of the whole population when utilizing this method. A list of features of the elements in the sample needs to be determined. These trying standards are indispensable to organize of the sample in order to look at the fraudulent job. These standards include:Companies are listedCompanies have one-year study which can supply fiscal statements for analysisCompanies have groundss of reported fraud, such as published instances by SFC, HKICPA, HKEx, etc.Analysis Technique ( s ) : Correlation refers to the strength of a relationship between two variables. A weak correlativity means that the variables have a weak relationship with each other while a strong correlativity means that the variables are closely related. This correlativity analysis technique assumes that the variables are analyzed and measured by correlativity coefficient which is Thursdayvitamin EPearson’s R which measures as additive relationship. The correlativity coefficient can be calculated by taking the covariance of the two variables. The scope of Correlation coefficients can be represented from -1 to +1. For illustration, +1 represents an utmost positive correlativity while -1represents an utmost negative correlativity. 0 represents that there is no relationship between the variables being tested.

Breaking Up Essays - Social Psychology, Interpersonal Relationships

Breaking Up Essays - Social Psychology, Interpersonal Relationships Breaking Up Some felt they were a modern day Romeo and Juliet. The reality, however, is that they were a heartbreaking example of what can go wrong with adolescents. Christian Dalvia, 14 and Maryling Flores, 13 were sweethearts who were forbidden by Flores? mother to see each other. In early November, 1995, the young couple met one last time. Standing at the edge of a Florida canal, they joined hands and jumped 15 feet into the cold, murky water to their deaths. Their deaths may sound romantic to some love struck teenagers when, in actuality, it?s just plain stupid. There were probably many other reasons for their deaths, but ultimately, the thought of not being together tortured to the point of wanting to take their own lives. This is a very extreme example of what can go wrong with teenage heartbreak. One minute they?re inseperable - sharing their most intimate thoughts and details - the next minute they are faces across a crowded room or polite acquaintances at best. These are the consequences that come along with a breakup. We teens hear about love all around us, in music and movies, on TV, in stories. If you look in the dictionary, they define love as a tender, warm feeling; warm liking; affection; attachment. Love is simply a choice we make when we find someone who makes us happy, and who we trust with our innermost thoughts and feelings. We hear that love will make us happy. We hear that single people are lonely. We are told that if we are not part of a couple, we are not complete. We all want to be part of this thing called ?love?. Okay, we get a boyfriend or girlfriend, now everything should be perfect. But, it?s not perfect, because life never is. It is easy to become disappointed. Feelings can change. One person may decide to say good-bye. When that happens, the one left behind will feel rejected. Rejection means someone choosing between one thing and another. The one who doesn?t get chosen is rejected. This person who feels rejected thinks as if they are not good enough. It hurts. When the person you love decides to leave you, it is even more painful. Does rejection mean failure? No. The end of a relationship means that the boyfriend or girlfriend decided that s/he wanted a change in the path of their lives. The reasons for this are within the ex - not within the rejected person. No one is a less valuable person because their boyfriend or girlfriend?s feelings have changed. What To Expect According to the book, ?The Complete Idiots Guide To Dating?, there are nine stages of rejection that almost all ?dumpees? must go through. The pain may be awful, but each stage is part of the healing process. The stages may not follow in an exact order, but they will all be experienced. The Denial Phase: ?This can?t be happening.? During this stage, people may find themselves waiting for the phone to ring and not believing that the relationship is over. Some people may go through feelings of worthlessness and obsession. These people are ones who lack coping skills. Solution: Acknowledge your feelings about what has happened. Accept, but do not dwell on shame and embarrassment, and all the ?shouldal/woulda/coulda?s?. The Bargaining Phase: Driving yourself crazy, thinking that, ?If I get my hair cut,? or ?If I don?t call her for a week,? s/he will change his/her mind. Solution: Accept that it?s over. The Loneliness Phase: Feeling as if no one understands or cares. Some people will jump at the first person who shows the slightest interest in them, just for the fact of proving that they can still get someone to want them. Solution: Surround yourself with people who do care, and those who openly say so. Remind yourself often that you are loved. The Heartbreak Phase: Feeling like your heart is really breaking. You may even feel pain in your chest, or want to throw up when you think of the person or see the person with someone else. Solution: You can go on. If you?re feeling really bad, snap your fingers to interrupt the thought. The Blame Phase: Pointing the finger at you or at your ex for what each of you did wrong. Solution: Decide that neither of you are at fault and both of you are responsible for the breakup. The Depression Phase: Feeling sad, worthless, and foolish. You have trouble eating and sleeping and you may imagine you?ll never love again. Solution: Allow yourself to feel pain but

Buckaroo Banzai

Buckaroo Banzai is a science fiction movie from the mid-1980. It is considered to be a cult classic, with a large fan base that loves the movies silly, yet strange plot. I personally thought that the movie was average; it had its good moments, but the acting was poor and the plot was odd. Still, though, it was a decent film that portrayed the theme of time travel. The movie is about a man named Buckaroo Banzai, who does many different jobs. Not only is Buckaroo a neurosurgeon and a martial-arts expert, but he is also a rock star and a government officer. He travels into another dimension and brings back a life form that wants to invade the Earth. A group of friendly aliens comes along and zaps Buckaroo to allow him to see the evil aliens that wanted to take over the Earth. The evil aliens are criminals that were imprisoned in the eighth dimension. Dr. Lizardo, a deranged psycho, escapes from a mental institution and joins the evil aliens. Buckaroo and his friends all join together and fight the evil aliens. A young boy helps Buckaroo and his friends fight the evil aliens while armed with a rifle. The evil aliens killed Buckaroos girlfriend, but the friendly aliens brought her back to life. Eventually, Buckaroo and his friends are able to defeat the evil aliens and save the world. Overall, if I had to rate this movie on a scale from one to five, I would give it a 2.5, an average score. While the plot was odd and the acting was poor, the movie did have its moments. Aside from that, the movie was an average time-travel movie. Back to the Future would have been a better choice for a time-travel movie, but Buckaroo Banzai was not so bad.

Non-Toxic Colored Smoke Bombs

Non-Toxic Colored Smoke Bombs You may have read that the YouTube colored smoke bomb video is believed to have been faked, with the video showing a military smoke bomb, masked with duct tape, rather than the smoke bomb made using the recipe. I think that probably is true, but it doesnt invalidate the recipe for the colored smoke bomb (though I have heard recommendations that you avoid adding baking soda Im looking into that). Colored smoke bombs arent new. The other recipes I have listed date back as far as 1936. A colored smoke bomb is a normal smoke bomb, with dispersed dye. The trick is to release the dye into the air, rather than simply burn it.I get a lot of questions about the safety of smoke bombs. Is it safe to use your cookware for food after making a smoke bomb? Is the smoke bomb non-toxic? Is the smoke from the smoke bomb non-toxic?The classic smoke bomb recipe is very safe. The ingredients are sugar and saltpeter. I think we can agree that sugar is non-toxic. If you read the MSDS for saltpeter (potass ium nitrate), youll see eating it will cause you to throw up, and like other nitrates, it can be converted to nitrites, so its not good for kids to eat, but its not a poison. You shouldnt taste the smoke bomb, much less eat it, but if you do, its unlikely you would fall over dead (do call Poison Control). If you wash your cookware after making a smoke bomb, it will be safe for cooking. I should note: you can ruin your pan with this recipe. If youve made candy (badly), you know burnt sugar and pans dont go well together. Smoke particles arent great for your respiratory system. The smoke from the smoke bomb is no more or less safe than smoke from a campfire. Actually, the campfire smoke is worse, but it gives you a sort of safety benchmark.Moving on to the colored smoke bomb... I wouldnt eat the organic dye, nor would I intentionally breathe it. The MSDS of the particular dye you choose will give you details, and you should read the MSDS. Id make something like this in the lab, not my kitchen. The smoke is for show, not for inhalation. Its on par with the safety of most chemistry demonstrations. Its safe if you know what youre doing and use precautions, bu t not something the average person will want to make.

Interpersonal Relationships that Detract from a University Student's Essay

Interpersonal Relationships that Detract from a University Student's - Essay Example Often students may choose to please people in their immediate environment rather than completing assignments. Possible consequences include lower grades, increased stress and overall dissatisfaction with one's own academic achievement. The question arises as to how these interpersonal relationships can compromise a student's scholastic priorities. This paper will detail the effect these pressures have on academic performance and highlight some of the ways students have found to overcome these hurdles. The data supporting these claims was drawn from a set of twenty interviews conducted to ascertain a student's ability to cope to university life. The focus of these conversations was on how students combine academic and non-academic priorities to gain a balance between scholastic demands and non-academic requests for his time. The interview was conducted in a question and answer format with the questions. The questions from each interview contained strong similarities although not exactly alike. The subjects of the interviews were undergraduate students either majoring in or having a strong interest in Sociology or Child and Youth Studies. Many students have an additional minor relative to their proposed career upon graduating but the primary emphasis of students queried fell in one of these two fields. All conclusions reached in this study were arrived at by analyzing each case point by point in an exhaustive examination of files. The files contained quotes from both interviewer and students recorded exactly as spoken. Files scrutinized include students who have adapted well to external social pressures as well as those who haven't. This paper does not assume that the daily life of a student should be all work and no play. Rather, the author believes a student's university experience should also be enjoyable. Satisfaction in a student experience is directly correlated with their ability to balance studying with socializing. For example, as one student said, she wants "to find time to spend time with friends and my boyfriend but school is more important to me than these other responsibilities (Trina, 75). The most obvious diversions students face come from friends. Though well-meaning, friends may exert pressure on the student to neglect assignments. Different course schedules cause a student's deadlines to vary from that of his friends. This naturally results in conflicts between the student's free time and that of his peers. "I mean, everyone's been in that situation where all their friends are leaving to go to the bar and you feel like you're chained to your desk writing an essay" (Elizabeth, 101). Often the student is unable to resist the urge to please their friends. The dilemma faced is described as "going out, that's a big thing so far, and like, I find that I cave in a lot, too, to people" (Marta, 234). Rejecting social invitations too many times can cause a student to be perceived as a loner or asocial. Eventually the student may not be invited anymore. University students for the most part are not that removed from high school. The herd mentality of that age creates a desire to belong that makes them susceptible to placing studies on the back burner. They may not have developed the ability to say no. Socializing

Free Trade during Colonialism vs. Free Trade during Globalization Essay

Free Trade during Colonialism vs. Free Trade during Globalization - Essay Example This paper analyses the major similarities and differences between free trade during colonialism and free trade during globalization. Free trade: Colonialism vs. globalization An unexpected transformation occurred in the aftermath of the economic downturn or depression which began in 1873 in Europe and North America. With barriers to trade rising, production standing still, and new competitors such as Germany and the United States industrializing, the search for new markets and sources of raw materials intensified in the direction of colonial expansion (Saul, n.d.). Colonial powers tried to safeguard their business interests during nineteenth and twentieth centuries rather than thinking too much about the rights of the nations under their control. The concept of free trade was another mechanism for them to exploit the resources of nations under their control. The current free trade which is the concept of globalization promotes neo-colonialism which is sharp in contrast with the prin ciples of free trade implemented by the colonial powers in the past. It should be noted that neo-colonialism is a practice of promoting capitalism, globalization and cultural co-operation between countries. In other words, current free trade has the ability to contribute heavily to the vast sectors of global population whereas the free trade during colonialism was confined within the boundaries of the nations under colonial rule. Current free trade helped â€Å"the globalization of a free market economy, the standardization and homogenization of production and the fixing of world prices in economies which are at unequal stages of economic and technological development† (In Opposition to Free Market Globalization and Neo Colonialism, We Say: No to APEC, 2004) Former Nobel Prize winner and renowned American economist Paul Krugman argued that free trade developed as a result of globalization has brought many opportunities to this world. In his opinion, â€Å"the view that free trade is the best of all possible policies is part of the general case for laissez-faire in a market economy and rests on the proposition that markets are efficient (Krugman, 1987, p.134). On the other hand, trade scenarios during colonialism were entirely different from the current trade scenario. Current market is extremely efficient and heavily competitive compared to the market in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Instead of conflict, co-operation seems to be the principle undertaken by the free trade of modern era. In other words, free trade of globalization is perceived as helpful to all countries irrespective of their socioeconomic conditions. On the other hand, free trade during colonialism suited only to the interests of the colonial powers. Theory of comparative advantage was promoted by free trade of globalization era whereas free trade policies during colonialism were revolved around the interests of the colonial powers. The theory of comparative advantage promotes the view that good of natural environment and industrial abilities of each country should be exported. It also cites that free market is another ideologically based intervention in ways that maintain the economic and political status quo (Gonzalez, 2006, p.65). Free trade evolved out of globalization, helps countries to sell their products in global markets where the

The Value of ACH Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Value of ACH - Essay Example ACH allows analysts to disapprove a hypothesis rather than jumping into mere conclusions.1 ACH is an essential tool to all analysts. It is so because of the various strengths that it displays. Audit trial and overcoming cognitive biases are among the strengths of this tool. In audit trial, by listing of the evidence, weighing its importance and relevance illustrates the importance of ACH. Also by applying it to the available hypothesis in the matrix clearly illustrates the ACH analytic process and this creates a clear and apparent evidence trial. This helps us to explain all our findings to the decision makers and conduct some after- action reviews of our analysis to discover what went wrong or right. In overcoming the cognitive biases, ACH helps us face the alternative hypothesis in a more systematic way. Disapproving hypothesis offers more effective ways of avoiding the established roadblocks and showing how dependent analysts may be on a single piece of available evidence which may eventually lead to ongbad and weak decision making.2 However, it has some unavoidable weaknesses and limitations. ACH tends to be solely dependent on the validity of the evidence available and also it is sometimes time-consuming. On its dependence on the evidence validity, ACH analytic process is only as good as the type of evidence that is incorporated into the process. The most thoughtful process execution can sometimes be undermined in cases of disinformation and unreliable evidence. While this is an issue with all systematic strategies and is, subsequently, a feeble feedback of the strategy, it frequently calls into inquiry the apparently "investigative" after-effects of the ACH technique. Performing ACH manually tends to be arduous and long especially in cases of several hypothesis or a broad source of evidence. Analysts tend to argue that they lack enough time to

Business Ethics Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 6

Business Ethics - Article Example The bank sold the securities to an investor who was unnamed and to the Zuni Indian Tribe. Stuck with $5.5 million in equity that it could not sell, through flashy moves the bank transferred the risk into CDOs marked at 52.7 cents to the dollar. They sold these CDOs to the investor and the Zuni Indian tribe for 95 cents on the dollar. The original property went into default and the purchasers were left with debt. Other fraud allegations were covered in the suit. Also, Wells Fargo had fired a whistle blower who had reported to the SEC in 2009 of these strange dealings at the bank. Is there a moral issue involved? Wells Fargo was fined a small percentage for the billion dollar chaos it helped created.It had probably obtained millions in income before the housing bubble bursted. Is uncontrolled greed a moral issue? Yes, it is. 2. In defense of Wells Fargo & Co., and Goldman Sachs who was mentioned in the article as being fined $550 million last year by the SEC for similar allegations, Mi lton Friedman, a worldly respected economist, in regard to corporate social responsibility is often quoted, "to make as much money as possible while con ­forming to the basic rules of the society, both those embodied in law and those embodied in ethical custom." Another defense would be to define the rules of society during the period of the spiraling housing prices as one that allowed speculation and rewarded it.

Revise essay draft__compare and contrast Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Revise draft__compare and contrast - Essay Example Claudia Wallis in her article, â€Å"The Multitasking Generation,†(2006) and Nicholas Carr’s â€Å"Is Google Making Us Stupid?†(2008) argue against the way people interact and rely upon the technology physically, emotionally, mentally, and socially in certain unpleasant ways. In his personal life Carr describes a lesser ability to concentrate. He focuses upon the intellectual laziness that access to fast internet answers, the mobile phone and other technology can breed mental laziness. He goes back into history to show how the coming of technology can have negative effects upon the human mind, from the 14th century onwards, though the industrial revolution and on into the modern age, with an ever growing negative impact. Wallis focuses instead more on the social and interpersonal communicational perspective when people are persistently interacting and multitasking with technology, and how that these can have a negative effects; both of these authors are absolutely right. She discusses how children are perpetually interacting with technology and that parents think that this multitasking is a product and a credit to the presence of that technology and their minds. Unfortunately, that is little better than an â€Å"old wives tale† that people may tell themselves to justify their children’s excessive technological interactions:- Human beings have always had a capacity to attend to several things at once. Mothers have done it since the hunter-gatherer era--picking berries while suckling an infant, stirring the pot with one eye on the toddler† (Wallis 2006). Many biologists and anthropologists would easily agree that the things that defines humans is their curiosity, the ability to learn and adapt, and the ability to multitask and to process multiple information at once. This did not evolve as a side effect of technological advancement. It is rather the reverse which is true: the technology emerged as a result of

Speed Limits Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Speed Limits - Essay Example The speed limit differs from region to region and highways have higher speed limits than areas with high population example areas near a school, the setting of speed limits depends on the nature of the road, accident records of a section of the road and judgment of engineers and politicians. This paper discusses the importance or the advantages of speed limits. Speed limits are put in place in order to reduce accidents, some roads have had many fatal accidents which are directly related to speed, therefore in order to reduce such accidents there are laws that limit the speed in order to reduce accidents. Roads that pass through residential or highly populated areas have a lower speed limit in order to reduce the accidents these vehicles may cause, from physics kinetic energy rises as the speed rises, therefore the kinetic energy at impact will increase as the speed rises and therefore high speeds will lead to more fatal accidents. The speed limit allows motorist to travel at reasonable speed, some sections of a road may have high number of fatal accidents in the past and in order to reduce these accidents the speed limit is reduced to reduce such accidents. Therefore the speed limits reduce the number of injuries and deaths that may occur due to over speeding motorists. It is also evident that speed limits enable police to apprehend criminals, in most cases the police are able to identify criminals on roads. Criminals will tend to drive at high speeds which helps the police to identify the criminals and as a result this has a negative effect on crime rate, drivers driving under the influence of alcohol also tend to drive at high speeds and therefore the police are also able to identify them, as a result of this we can state that the speed limits reduce crime and other deviant behaviors. The fines imposed on road users because of over speeding is a source of revenue to the government, therefore speed limit laws earn the government some revenue which helps in the provision of public goods, however this revenue is not of much importance than the protection of road users from other careless drivers who do not follow road rules. Environmental protection is also an advantage of setting the speed limit, speeding vehicles consume more fuel and therefore pollutes the environment more, therefore by setting the speed limit fuel consumption is reduced and as a result the environment is protected, therefore speed limits do not only help in reducing accidents and help the police in arresting criminals but also helps in protecting the environment. The other advantage of setting the speed limit is that it is possible to identify wreck less drivers on the road, some road users do not obey traffic rules and therefore may cause accidents which may lead to the loss of lives even to innocent motorists, as a result of this these wreck less drivers are identified and their license suspended or fined in court. The speed limits should be viewed as a law that governs road users to drive reasonably, if the speed limit on the roads were removed then we will definitely be increasing the number of accidents, deaths and injuries on the road, the other problem that would rise is pollution and this is because speeding vehicles consume more fuel and therefore pollutes the environment more. Conclusion: From the above discussion it is evident that speed limits are there to protect lives,

Revise essay draft__compare and contrast Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Revise draft__compare and contrast - Essay Example Claudia Wallis in her article, â€Å"The Multitasking Generation,†(2006) and Nicholas Carr’s â€Å"Is Google Making Us Stupid?†(2008) argue against the way people interact and rely upon the technology physically, emotionally, mentally, and socially in certain unpleasant ways. In his personal life Carr describes a lesser ability to concentrate. He focuses upon the intellectual laziness that access to fast internet answers, the mobile phone and other technology can breed mental laziness. He goes back into history to show how the coming of technology can have negative effects upon the human mind, from the 14th century onwards, though the industrial revolution and on into the modern age, with an ever growing negative impact. Wallis focuses instead more on the social and interpersonal communicational perspective when people are persistently interacting and multitasking with technology, and how that these can have a negative effects; both of these authors are absolutely right. She discusses how children are perpetually interacting with technology and that parents think that this multitasking is a product and a credit to the presence of that technology and their minds. Unfortunately, that is little better than an â€Å"old wives tale† that people may tell themselves to justify their children’s excessive technological interactions:- Human beings have always had a capacity to attend to several things at once. Mothers have done it since the hunter-gatherer era--picking berries while suckling an infant, stirring the pot with one eye on the toddler† (Wallis 2006). Many biologists and anthropologists would easily agree that the things that defines humans is their curiosity, the ability to learn and adapt, and the ability to multitask and to process multiple information at once. This did not evolve as a side effect of technological advancement. It is rather the reverse which is true: the technology emerged as a result of

U.S. Imperialism In 20th Essay Example for Free

U.S. Imperialism In 20th Essay The United States’ first attempt at imperial expansion can be traced back to 1898. Feeling the effects of economic recession and depression up to 1897, many felt the future security of the U. S. capitalist system rested heavily on expansion, not only on the North American continent but even into the Caribbean, Hawaii and Asia. Given the United States’ agenda to expand its territorial boundaries their involvement in Cuba, beginning at the Spanish-Cuban-American war, comes as no surprise. The implications of the United States’ involvement in Cuba, however, have been quite considerable. The argument that the U. S. imperialism was the primary cause of the Cuban Revolution of 1959, therefore, bares some amount of weight. The United States’ presence in Cuba, the de facto power they wielded over that country’s economy and politics, was one of the major forces that drove the Cuban people to rebellion and fuelled the 1959 revolution led by Fidel Castro. Before any further discussions it must be pointed out that, long before the United States began its territorial, economic and political expansion outside its continental borders, the Cuban people were opposing colonialism in all its forms. While it would be useful to determine just how influential the U. S. was on Cuba’s political and economic landscape and to understand what historical events contributed to this state of affair, it must necessarily be understood that imperialism was nothing new to the Cuban society. Beginning in 1894 nationalist sentiments arose in Cuba not only among the elites and colonists, but even among the working class. All desired to see a liberated Cuba, free from the colonial control Spain had long wielded over the island. According to Spalding this struggle â€Å"represented a class war as well as an anti-colonial and anti-imperialist one. † The struggle between the European colonial power and its colony was heated but up to 1898 seemed no where near resolution. Popular sentiments among the United States populace were that U. S. intervention in the struggle between Spain and Cuba was necessary. Simons argues that the United States’ perspective was that â€Å"the Spanish presence in the Western hemisphere was an impediment to economic expansion of the US. † It is with this that the United States entered the struggle. The Cuban people of course may have assumed that U. S. intervention in the war had no strings attached. But the U. S. government saw such intervention as a way of advancing its â€Å"Manifest Destiny. † As Cordero highlights â€Å"†¦ the principle of Manifest Destiny and the pursuit of economic expansion made Cuba a target of opportunity. † Lazo believes that U. S. involvement in other nations’ affairs is inevitable because of â€Å"the great power which it wields by virtue of its prestige, wealth, and strength† . At the time of the Spanish-Cuban war, the U. S. was just rising to super-powerdom and thus successfully defending Cuba against its imperial aggressor was an unavoidable move by the U. S. government. The economic and political power that the United States wielded over the Cuban economy subsequent to the Spanish-Cuban-American war of 1898 is probably the most significant factor that contributed not only to the 1959 revolution, but to the other failed revolutionary attempts prior to 1959. After successfully winning the war for the Cubans, the United States, on paper, promised political freedom to the Cubans. This, however, was not practiced in principle and did not prevent the United States attempting economic expansion on the island. In fact, one of the United States’ first order of business in Cuba was to open up the Cuban economy to U. S. investors. Additionally, even though the U. S. turned over political rule to the locals, they maintained a strong influential hold over the leadership of the country. As a matter of fact, the U. S. ’ political influence was so strong that after their approved candidate lost elections the Platt Amendment was imposed as a condition for independence. Therefore, though the U. S. government was not successful in maintaining direct control of the local government, they were able to control the island’s foreign relations via this new plan. The Platt Amendment gave the U. S. the final say in foreign related issues. This meant that the country could not independently enter into foreign treaties or borrow on the international capital market. Above every other provision of the Platt Amendment was the unilateral right the U. S. took to intervene militarily in Cuba whenever it saw fit. Essentially all these provisions meant that, even though the United States did not exercise direct control of the island in the political arena, in terms of foreign affairs, militarily and economically the U. S. had a tremendous amount of control over the island. Ibarra, in the first chapter entitled â€Å"Finance Capital and Economic Structures of the Republic,† demonstrates how critical U. S. investments became to the Cuban economy. With the boom in the sugar industry in the 1920s a number of U. S. investors were attracted to the Cuban agricultural economy specifically as it relates to sugar production and export. During the period of greatest economic prosperity for the sugar industry a number of U. S. investors offered reasonable prices to Cuban plantation owners. Unwilling to resist these attractive rates, many planters quickly transferred their property to U. S. investors. Overtime U. S. investors controlled a significant portion of the country’s economy. Ibarra mentions the increasing importance of â€Å"U. S. investments in all sectors of the Cuban economy, agricultural exports, transportation, banking, utilities, and industry. † This economic control severely hindered the island’s economic development as, not only were local planters unable to compete with the U. S. investors, but the Cubans at the lower class found themselves to be benefiting very little from the growing sugar industry. When the price of sugar began to fall in the early 1930s because of international shifts in the demand and price of sugar, the country suffered even further. It is therefore not surprising that, with the growing economic downturn in the country, the population became increasingly disgruntled with the status quo. In their struggles for independence against Spain they had cried for a free Cuba ? Cuba Libre! What they got instead was a substitution. They were traded one imperialist power for a next. In the same way that Spain had exploited the country’s prospering sugar industry and reaped the profits without it filtering down to the masses that needed it the most, so the economic presence of the Americans in Cuba did nothing to improve the situation. The American policy of opening up the country’s economy to U. S. investors, and the later disgruntlement with the diminishing returns that were being filtered into the island from these investments contributed significantly to increasing calls for not only political but also economic and military independence.

Idealism Against Realism In International Policy Politics Essay

Idealism Against Realism In International Policy Politics Essay The history of the modern political science is to a great extent the story of continuing struggle between the two paradigms, the two belief systems on the basis of international order and means of stabilizing international relations. Representatives of one of them, the tradition of which dates back to Stoic philosophy and the biblical postulates of the unity of the human race, the views of the medieval theologian F. de Vitoria and outstanding thinker of the 18th century Immanuel Kant, believe that a stable international order can be built and maintained only in the light of universal moral principles and based on these laws (Pijl 3-34). In practice, this political paradigm the paradigm of political idealism finds its fullest expression in the policy developed under the leadership of President Woodrow Wilson, particularly in his program of permanent universal intergovernmental organization the League of Nations, which was to become a guarantor and an instrument of the new internati onal order after the First World War. Further, the paper covers the idea that the political views of Wilson significantly differed for the postulates of realism and need to become more realist in applying them to the contemporary politics. The main ideas of a paradigm of political realism Wilson opposed can already be found in The History of the Peloponnesian War by the ancient Greek historian Thucydides, the views of the Italian political philosopher Machiavelli, English philosopher Thomas Hobbes in his theory of the natural state, his fellow countryman David Hume, who asserted a theory of political equilibrium, German General Carl von Clausewitz and others (Pijl 3-34). Already in 1932, American theologian R. Niebuhr in his book Moral Man and Immoral Society criticized the pacifism of idealists and their short-sightedness in the face of imminent danger of fascism. A relatively independent branch of this area of political thought in the beginning of World War II becomes geopolitics (by Mackinder, Spykman, Mahan, and others) (Keohane and Nye 72-80). The founding father of the theory of political realism is considered to be the University of Chicago professor Hans Morgenthau. Already the first edition of his book Politic s among Nations. The struggle for Power and Peace in 1948 caused wide interest in science and the political environment not only in the U.S. but also in other Western countries (Pijl 3-34). In contrast to political realists, Woodrow Wilson and other representatives of the idealist direction are convinced that the states are not only non-singular, but also not major international actors. They believe that this role is played by international organizations (in this case, intergovernmental). At the same time, among the main problems of the theory and practice of international politics, realists point out the problems of implementation and protection of national interests, rivalry and balance of power in the global arena, strategies for achieving and maintaining state power (not least in its military dimension), conclusion and revision of interstate unions, depending on changes in the geopolitical (geostrategic) situation, etc. Idealists emphasize the existence of universal, human interests, values and ideals, the inalienable rights of human beings, the need for a comprehensive system of collective security in order to preserve and protect them. And while the political real ists insist that the major international processes are conflicts, the idealists are talking about negotiations and cooperation. Finally, according to political realists, the immutability of human nature and the whole experience of international relations show that the hopes for changing their nature and the creation of a new world order based on the rule of law and respect for the individuals interests are no more than a utopia. Idealists, by contrast, believe in achieving world harmony, the deliverance of mankind from the deadly and devastating armed conflict in the creativity of universal morality and international law (Keohane and Nye 113-142; Pijl 3-34; Mead). However, the confidence in the fact that the United States is intended to serve as an engine for spreading of democracy, free markets and individual freedom is the stable foundation for the interaction of the USA with the world. The fact that such bitter rivals as President Woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt equally widely considered American interests in the world, believing that the fate of the United States is inextricably linked to the character and conduct of countries around the world, underlines the prevalence of this ideology. Woodrow Wilson declared that all the nations are engaged in the life of the whole world, whether they like it or not; and thus, anything that affects mankind is inevitably our affair (Kennedy 81-84). Roosevelts idea of the global role of the USA was equally far-reaching; he stated that the country should accept the idea of international morality, and thus, be committed to doing everything possible to achieve fairness and integrity of the humanity as a whole, but should also feel obliged to judge all other nations by their actions in each separate case (Mead). This is, however, a clear evidence that the nature of American foreign policy is determined by serving to ideals, i.e. by incorrigible idealism, which can only be a part of a dynamic and complex process, while American foreign policy must constantly be balanced with sober strategic imperatives. Still, it can be said that sometimes Wilsons idealism was factually combined with the hard realism. For example, regretting over the reports on mistreatment of Armenians by Turks, Wilson resisted loud demands to declare war on the Turks, fearing to endanger the American missionary presence in the Middle East. Indeed, the reluctance of the United States to send American troops to support the nascent Armenian state after World War I contributed to the rapid collapse of Armenia (Mead). The way Wilson conducted the war also ruled out any hint on his starry-eyed idealism, as it was necessary to give effect to the power of the American military machine or the principle of power without limits and without measure proclaimed by Wilson. Thus, in the American involvement in World War I, we can see a strategy built by a hybrid of narrowly defined interests and deep-seated American principles (Kennedy 97-101). But in general, the very name of Woodrow Wilson has become a synonym to American idealism. His intention to make the world safe for democracy stimulated the American community, when the isolationist nation entered World War I. His speeches for self-identification generated deep resonance among nationalists throughout the world, and Wilson himself was considered as practically messianic figure (Kennedy 213-15; Mead). Modern Wilsonians believe that the U.S. should deal with international problems in close cooperation with other states and within the strict framework of international law. U.S. should also promote and disseminate widely the idea of democracy (Fukuyama 55-59). The process of globalization has played in this case the crucial and positive role. Wilsonian ideology is nowadays shared by most congressional Democrats. The modern interpretation of this school (neo-liberalism or transnationalism) is associated with the works of Robert Keohane and Joseph Nye. In neoliberal version, the major attention is focused on the processes of interdependence in the modern world and the growing role of non-state actors in world politics. Finally, we should rethink the question of what place should be taken by the spread of democracy in U.S. foreign policy. Perhaps the most false interpretation of the lessons the war in Iraq would be a complete rejection of neoconservative ideas, coupled with a tendency towards isolationism and realism in its cynical interpretation, because as a result, U.S. allies would consequently be friendly-minded authoritarian regimes (Fukuyama 134-37). Woodrow Wilsons idealistic policy, which builds international relations taking into account how other countries treat their own citizens, should generally be recognized correct, but should also be provided with greater realism, that was still lacking at the beginning of the 21st century.

Teaching Philosophy Statement :: Philosophy of Teaching Teachers Education Essays

Teaching Philosophy Statement It is a constant truth that technology is growing rapidly and it is opening up many opportunities for students as well as teachers. Through the use of the internet information that would take scholars months to acquire out and interpret can be found in less than a minute though a Google search and not only is the information their, but in many cases the information that you wanted is shown in bolded so it can even be found quicker. Through technology even rural schools who cannot afford to pay for magazine subscriptions can buy into online periodical programs like Proquest or Infotrack. This opens up articles written from hundreds of magazines and over several years. All of this information that allows for thousands of facts that students can pull and rewrite; but they loose something in this method. Patents and the ability to pull the facts for themselves. In many cases when online magazines or sites are used students see only and abridged copy of the original text they do not get to decide what is important or have to take the time to read through the book or magazine to see the author’s intent. If you type in gun control online you will be bombarded by thousands of items including the Second Amendment. Yet instead of reading the complete bill of rights they would only see the Second Amendment. Which is fine in many cases; but isn’t better for the students at least scan the entire constitution. If nothing else to scan the Preamble or the 1st Amendments right of the freedom of the speech. If students scan the entire constitution then not only will they find the information they are looking for, but maybe their eyes will be caught by something that interest them, allowing them to think for themselves and ask questions that will provoke thought and hopefully continue to seek knowledge on. But how can this be accomplished? Through the use of the Teacher-Centered Philosophies Essentialism and Perennialists to build off of and Problem based learning Teacher can use Scaffolding to ask the questions that make children want to search for answers that make since to them in a organized and educational fashion. Like many things in Social Science the same information can be seen by two people and get completely different answers. During the Civil War Thomas Jackson received the Nickname Stonewall.

Rip Van Winkle and its Impact on Society :: Rip Van Winkle Essays

Rip Van Winkle and its Impact on Society Events, no matter how small can change a society, a culture, and an outlook in the blink of an eye. Whether it is in a war, a speech, a gesture, or even a novel. Washington Irving made an incredible impact from his short story "Rip Van Winkle", drawing the events surrounding him to form a simple story with deep meaning. To bring to a pinpoint, the story shaped the American culture as the American culture shaped the story. Washington should not be able to take full credit for his story. Rip Van Winkle originated from the Dutch folklores. The story was found in the house of Diedrich Knickerbocker. Although there was some speculation on the accuracy of the tale, historians agree that the story is "now admitted into all Historical collections as a book of unquestionable authority" (Irving, 1353). Knickerbocker claims that he actually talked to Winkle himself and concluded that Rip was in sound mind and that "the story therefore, is beyond the possibility of doubt" (1353). The Catskills are a parallel to the story. Filled with Indian folklores, the Catskills are believed to posses a Manitou or spirit that will take the form of the flesh of human or animal form that would strive to rid the area of bad or mischievous elements or people. Combing the Dutch folklore, the Indian tales, and the idea of using short simple stories to make a point, Washington created a whole new dimension of literature. The British culture concluded that his story had become the new "American" literature. Washington analysis of the relationship between the British and the colonists caused a minor stir among people. First, it was unconventional to even mention the revolution since it was such a touchy subject. Secondly, Washington made quite a statement with his notion that the British rule acted selfishly and oppressive, in turn, portrayed America as the hero. From this folklore, others have grown from it. Some believe that Rip in fact did not fall asleep, but took adventurous journeys in foreign lands with strange people. Art and child-like fantasies have been the median to which the stories have been communicated.

Information management in healthcare systems Essay

There is no doubt that it is very important to manage health information especially in realization that patient information is usually scattered in different locations in the health care system. There is need to centralize health information in order to ease dissemination of health care records thus improving quality of care. On the same note, information management in healthcare systems is a potential means of cutting down health care costs. In spite of its importance, management of health information is challenged complexities of implementing electronic information systems, as well information flow all of which are costly to health care providers. Electronic information systems and health care quality Incomplete patient information has been associated with medical errors that have resulted into avoidable deaths. Valerius (2007) for instance reports that up to 98,000 patients in the U. S. ere said to have died as per the Institute of Medicine 2000 report due to avoidable medical errors with most of them being due to lacking patient information. The poor management of patient records is partly attributable to failure to adopt advanced information systems. Health care systems are reluctant in adopting electronic health records (ERH) yet ERH have the potential to eradicate most of the problems related to missing patient information. It should be noted that while an ERH system is encouraged, it is possible to use an electronic system together with a manual system. Due to the complexity associated with shifting from a manual system to an electronic system, medical practitioners tend to reluctant to implement electronic systems (Harrison & McDowell, 2008). As such, the main focus of such practitioners is to provide medical care to the patient and unfortunately neglect record keeping yet patient information is very vital in health care. Information flow Information management in health care systems is a challenging aspect in terms of sharing information. Lack of a central repository on patient information predisposes the patient to medical risks. Stevens (2005) observes that when health information is not centralized, it leads to delayed medical procedures as time is taken to look for the doctor who may be having the information. This is expensive financially and it is a time wasting experience that predisposes the patient to inappropriate medical procedures or death in some case. Even in cases where there is an information repository, information sharing may be a source of problem. In most health care systems, the patient is mandated to collect information on performed medical procedures and then present the same to a general practitioner or a clinician. This process of information flow is not efficient and reliable since the patient can easily damage or misplace the medical report. Stevens (2005) mentions that the likelihood of the medical information not landing into the hands of the intended clinician is high. This is an issue that can be effectively addressed by centralizing patient information. Confidentiality of patient information Maintaining patient information confidentially is one of the principles guiding health care practitioners and breaking such has legal implications (Dolan & Barrister, 2004). As such, healthcare information management is supposed to adhere to this principle. This is however a difficult task with a centralized system which may to a greater extent allows accessibility of information by unauthorized persons. However, this is can be countered by proper authentication of the users of the healthcare system. In addition, the ensuring that the released information flows to the right persons is a potent way of curbing breach of confidentiality. In conclusion, it is appreciable that healthcare systems experience challenges in maintaining efficient information management systems. Reluctance to adopt electronic health record systems and little emphasis on need to preserve patient information is the main cause. Healthcare systems must realize that efficient information systems will reduce medical errors and costs related to such errors as well as enhance information flow. The possible problem of breached confidentiality should be addressed by allowing authorized access to centralized health information.