Why Duabi become a successful city in short amount of time compare to Research Paper

Why Duabi become a successful city in short amount of time compare to other cities - Research Paper Example The economy of the city has grown in double digits for the past decade with the GDP per capita growing from â€Å"US $ 19,000 in the year 2000 to US $ 33,500 in 2006† (Matley & Laura 2007, p. 5). In fact, Dubai city has grown in stature to compete with the world’s biggest players in sectors such as port operations, financial services, tourism and construction. This research paper will evaluate the factors that have enabled Dubai to become a successful city in a relatively short period compared to other cities globally. It is evident that oil revenues have played a significant role in the economic development of most Arabic countries. Notably, the boom in oil prices in the 1970s helped the oil producing countries to obtain a cash windfall. Although Dubai had just around five percent of the oil reserves compared to other cities in the United Arab Emirates such as Abu Dhabi, its rulers realized early enough that the oil revenue had to be invested wisely so as guarantee the city economic prosperity even after the oil was exhausted (Matley & Laura 2007). Sheikh Rashid Al Makhtoum laid down the infrastructural foundations that heralded the rapid growth of Dubai as a global metropolis. The political landscape in the Middle East is different from the governance structures in the Western countries. Dubai is a monarchical state that is ruled by a prince. In as much as the political regime may not be necessarily democratic, the political environment in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates is stable (Bagaeen 2007). Thus, the stable political environment has played a critical role in attracting and facilitating investments. It should be noted in the past decades, the government of Dubai has been the leading investor in Dubai. Private investors have played a secondary role in the development of the city and it is the government that has driven the growth in

2010 Mid-term elections Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

2010 Mid- elections - Term Paper Example In this structural context, mid-term elections can also change the dynamics of Congressional support enjoyed by a President for his or her legislative agenda. In 2010, the mid-term elections were a referendum on President Obama’s policies during the first two years of his administration. Standing for re-election on the President’s response to the economic problems of 2008-9, including the â€Å"Wall St. Bailout,† the economic stimulus package, health care reform, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Democrats lost control of the House of Representatives nationally and saw their majority in the Senate eroded by Republican gains. No third-party candidates made an impact in the 2010 mid-term elections; however the election did feature the participation of the â€Å"Tea Party† as symbolic of voter frustration over taxation and corruption in Washington. To summarize the electoral trends in the 2010 mid-term elections, the election can be generalized as representing popular opposition to President Obama’s management of the White House both from the Left and Right. On the Left, generally representing the socially progressive, activist wing of the Democratic party, third-party leaning voters, and independents who organized and voted for Obama in 2008, there was a general sense of disappointment in the first two years of the administration. Many from Obama’s own party developed doubts about his leadership. Many of the objections were related to the policies of Rahm Emanuel, Obama’s Chief of Staff, who largely governed in a manner consistent with the Clinton administration, but which illustrated Emanuel’s own close contacts with the banking sector. Popular association of the Obama administration favoring banking interests over â€Å"real† or â€Å"common† people was established in the Wall St. B ailout response, which essentially gave trillions of dollars from the public treasury to the richest

Using Technology for Sustainable Strategic Advantage

Using Technology for Sustainable Strategic Advantage Author: Stephen Walsh For the purpose of this paper a review of current technology has been carried out in response to the question of technology providing little or no sustainable strategic advantage. In the last twenty years or so the digital revolution has transformed the way business carries out commerce in the developing world, whether on the ground or online, commerce has increased dramatically and technology has unquestionably facilitated that growth. Over ten years ago in 2003 author Nicholas Carr published a widely discussed article in the Harvard Business Review titled (Carr, 2003) IT doesnt matter. In the article Nicholas argued that the opportunities for gaining IT based advantages were receding. Best practices were built into software or otherwise replicated and as for IT encouraged industry transformations most of the ones that were going to happen had already happened or were in the process of happening. Carr argued that IT is like other infrastructure technologies that lost their competiti ve potential once they became accessible and affordable to all. Has technology enabled business decision makers to gain strategic advantage over competitors in light of the developments in technology of the last number of years. The following paragraphs will look at recent trends in technology and whether these trends can provide a sustainable strategic advantage going forward to decision makers. The attainment of strategic sustainable advantage from technology is immensely important to small and medium sized business and large organisations, in 2017 there is a myriad of ways in utilising technology and in particular information systems technology to improve business operations. Organisations can employ information systems to fundamentally shift the cost of doing business (Booth, 2011) or reduce the costs of business processes and or lower the costs of customers or suppliers, i.e. using online business to consumer business to business models and e-procurement systems to reduce operating costs. An example of a business to business model is an Irish start up by the name of Bullet HQ which is aiming to disrupt the accountancy marketplace with its online accounting and payroll software targeted at small and medium enterprises in Ireland. Eighty percent of companies in Ireland are SMEs with four staff or less and this software is tailored to business owners for the purpose of doi ng their books, payroll and all tax returns thus enabling them the time to run other business practices related to their operation and replaces the expense of hiring an accountant. This platform used by Bullet HQ is employing cloud technology which has become a great shift in the way business organisations manage their IT operations. The arrival of Software as a Service (SaaS) applications allow business organisations to run a virtual business in which business functions are outsourced to cloud services. (SaaS) applications have emerged as one of the advanced technologies utilising cloud computing and has great potential for the strategic management of IT technology in dynamic business environments. As the global economy has crept back from recession it has become paramount to organisations to reduce risks and assure safe returns for their investments. Most companies are now trying to find ways of reducing their operation and productions costs and reducing IT costs are part of it. Companies have started to find solutions to operate their information systems on a pay-as-you-go basis instead of investing huge amounts of funding in IT infrastructure and this has b ecome possible with the recent developments in cloud computing. With software-as-a-service models companies only need to pay for what is used and can adjust service agreements as IT requirements increase or fall over time. (Gartner, 2012) Has stated worldwide software-as-a-service revenue was forecast to reach 14.5 billion dollars in 2012. (SaaS) distribution will experience healthy growth through 2017, when worldwide revenue is projected to reach 40 billion dollars. Traditionally implementing business information systems is a major undertaking for business in that it can cost a significant amount of money for organisations small or large. Organisations need to hire IT consultants and IT professionals to deploy solutions with their current systems and data needs. The requirements for the timeframe, budget and human resource for the implementation of these business solutions pose a significant risk for organisations. The on demand model of software-as-a-service removes the typical re quirements related to traditional software delivery models. (SaaS) applications can be accessed anytime from any personal computer or device with an internet connection. Strategic benefits such as high adoption rates, lower initial costs, updates and provider managed upgrades, and seamless integration with existing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems makes software-as-a-service as a major differentiator in the IT services management market. A study by International Business Machines Corporation (IBM, 2014) highlighted that software-as-a-service helps enterprises with the highest level of (SaaS) adoption to have strategic advantages by providing differentiation in enterprise efficiency, deeper collaboration, better decision making and market agility. The Internet of things (IoT) sensors plus actuators connected by networks to computing systems is not a futuristic trend but it is here now and has received enormous attention over the last five years. A report by Mckinsey states that internet of things has a potential economic impact of 3.9 trillion dollars to 11.1 trillion dollars a year by 2025. (IoT) is crafting a new world, a calculable world where people and business can manage assets in a better informed way and make more timely and informed decisions about what they want or need to do. This new connected world will bring massive changes to consumers and society as a whole. For the first time ever the mobile phone will no longer be the most common device used to connect people to the internet it will be cars, home appliances, industries, cities and wearables. It is expected by 2020 that there will be 28 billion connected devices worldwide with more than half being internet of things devices. As all these things are connected n ew opportunities will arise for industries, cities and organisations. Current examples of internet of things technology include connected smart buildings whereby the Ericsson group implemented solutions to assist facility managers in space utilization, space management, the planning of maintenance based on usage, temperature control, air quality and ventilation optimization thus in turn providing optimised funding channels. A large range of new technologies is emerging that enable new value and capabilities for connecting the next new (IoT) device to a new generation of analytics and applications. From a business strategic perspective internet of things represents an opportunity to collect real time information about every physical operation of an organisation. Internet of things sensors can transport information real time and transform raw (IoT) data into business and operational insights using effective data analytics. Assets equipped with sensors give an information system the ca pability to communicate, capture and process data and in turn that will create massive opportunities in distribution, innovation and production efficiency. (Jacques Bughin, n.d.) states that business to business applications will account for almost seventy percent of the value that is estimated will flow from (IoT) in the next ten years. Nearly 5 trillion dollars would be generated almost exclusively in business to business settings i.e. factories, agriculture, healthcare environments, mining, gas and oil, construction and office settings. Here in Ireland there has been many developments in the internet of things sphere, (Kennedy, n.d.) Crossmolina in Co.Mayo will be the first town in Ireland to implement a smart lighting system, the US technology firm Silver Spring whose tech manages over 23 million devices in cities around the world has deployed an internet of things platform for Mayo County Council for smart street illumination and also a residential energy efficient project for the council with the project been part funded by the Sustainable Energy Authority Of Ireland (SEAI). Peter Mcloughlin, executive engineer of Mayo County Council has stated that the technology enhances the councils objective off reducing energy usage, reducing cost and reducing C02 emissions and also increases the capacity of the community to relate with and understand their energy use. Another development is the rollout out nationwide of a Sigfox platform across Ireland by the the Irish startup VT Networks. Sigfox is an internet of things network that uses low power, wide area communications to connect up devices from smart meters, smoke alarms, interactive billboards and robots. VT is targeting Irish business with services that include home solutions, smart metering, smoke alarms, security sensors and security sensors on gates for farmers, machine monitoring devices and recovery and tracking of stolen farm items. The internet of things revolution will have a range of aids for dealing with health related issues, especially prolonged health issues that use up resources in Irish Hospitals. A project currently being tested using internet of things technology is a project by North East Doctor on Call to enable paramedics to see patients and enable remote diagnosis by GPs and consultants along with the use of internet of things sensors in the home. On the research front academic and industrial partnerships led by research groups such as Tyndall, CRANN, Connect, Insight, TSSG and Adapt have put Ireland on the world centre stage for internet of things breakthroughs. The previous paragraphs have given an overview of currently technological trends and it is clear that these trends are here to stay and in terms of providing a sustainable strategic advantage these technologies will provide long-term advantages to business going forward. The principal means of utilising these technologies for business decision makers is to be innovative in their thinking. It is vital for business people to understand the use of information technology and in order to stay ahead of the competition they should work with technical people to achieve this, by working with an IT consultant small business owners across Ireland for example can gain an advantage on competition by implementing streamlined processes to their business resulting in profitability, higher revenue growth and productivity growth. An information technology consultant will provide excellent guidance in helping a business gain an advantage over competitors. One of the ways the consultant would do this is by using (Porter, 1985) Michael Porters five forces model, looking at the rivalry of competitors within the clients industry, by looking at the threat of new entrants within the clients industry, the threat posed by substitute products which might capture market share, the bargaining power of customers and the bargaining power of suppliers. By analysing these five competitive forces and consultant can then implement a strategy to counter these forces, A business must develop and implement strategies to effectively counter the above five competitive forces. (OBrien, 2011) suggest that organisations can follow one of five basic competitive strategies, which are based on Porters three generic strategies of broad cost leadership, broad differentiation, and focused strategy. The five competitive strategies are: cost leadership, differentiation, innovation, growth, and alliance. The following conveys how Information systems could be a critical enabler of these five competitive strategies , 1. Cost Leadership: Organisations can use information systems to fundamentally shift the cost of doing business (Booth, Roberts Sikes 2011) or reduce the costs of business processes or/and to lower the costs of customers or suppliers, i.e., using online business to consumer business to business models, e-procurement systems to reduce operating costs 2. Differentiation: Organisations can use information systems to develop differentiated features or/and to reduce competitors differentiation advantages, i.e., using online live chatting systems and social networks to better understand and serve customers; using technology to create informediariesÂÂ   to offer value-added service and improve customers stickiness to your web site/business(Booth, Roberts, and Sikes 2011); applying advanced and established measures for online operations to offline practices (i.e., more accurate and systematic ways of measuring efficiency and effectiveness of advertising) (Manyika, 2009) 3. Innovation: Organisations can use information systems to identify and create (or assist in creating) new products and services or/and to develop new/niche markets or/and to radically change business processes via automation (i.e., using digital modelling and simulation of product design to reduce the time and cost to the market (Chui, 2011). They also can work on new initiatives of establishing pure online businesses/operations. At the same time, the Internet and telecommunications networks provide better capabilities and opportunities for innovation. Combinational innovation and Open innovation are two good examples. There are a large number of component parts on the networks that are very expensive or extremely different before the establishment of the networks, and organisations could combine or recombine components/parts on the networks to create new innovations (Manyika 2009). Meanwhile everyone is connected via personal computers, laptops and other mobile devices through cab led Internet or wireless networks or mobile networks, there are plenty of opportunities to co-create with customers, external partners and internal people. 4. Growth (including mergers and acquisitions): Organisations can use information systems to expand domestic and international operations or/and to diversify and integrate into other products and services, i.e., establishing global intranet and global operation platform; establishing omni channel strategy to gain growth (omni channel strategy looks at leveraging advantages of both online (or digital) and offline (or non-digital) channels) (Rigby, 2011). 5. Strategic Alliance: Organisations can use information systems to create and enhance relations with partners via applications, such as developing virtual organisations and inter-organisational information systems. To conclude, the potential to use technology for sustainable strategic advantage is evident and by innovative thinking it can be realised with the correct technological tools and strategies. Technology will undoubtedly change the way commerce is carried out and information systems combined with technology will improve business processes and living standards going forward. It is the job of the information systems practitioner to always be aware of developing technologies and make use of them to improve business needs and to find solutions to business problems and also look at the possibility of developing the applications (SaaS) or otherwise needed to solve these issues. Additionally information systems by itself or in conjunction with internet of things could be used strategically to improve not only business processes but human lives by utilising (IoT) technology and information systems to build out platforms for concerns surrounding health and climate change issues. References Booth, A. R. (2011). How strong is your IT strategy? McKinsey on Business Technology. Carr, N. G. (2003, May). https://hbr.org/2003/05/it-doesnt-matter. Retrieved from Harvard Business View. Chui, M. . (2011). Inside P Gs digital revolution. McKinsey Quarterly. Gartner. (2012). Forecast: Software as a Service, All Regions, 2010-2015. IBM. (2014). Champions of Software as a Service: How (SaaS) is fueling. Jacques Bughin, M. C. (n.d.). http://www.mckinsey.com. Kennedy, J. (n.d.). www.siliconrebublic.com. Manyika. (2009). Hal Varian on how the Web challenges managers. OBrien, J. A. (2011). Management Information Systems. McGrawHill,. Porter, M. E. (1985). Competitive advantage : creating and sustaining superior performance. New York : Free Press, . Rigby, D. (2011). The Future of Shopping. Harvard Business Review.

Design, Ecology, and Ethics Essay -- Environment Ecology Essays Papers

Design, Ecology, and Ethics â€Å"We need to design institutions (and cars and homes and toothbrushes, etc.) that make it easy for people to be good.† (Jim Farrell) Right now, if someone in America wants to be good to the earth and good to future generations, it’s hard. It’s expensive to purchase local, organic food. In the suburbs, to get to work and practice and the store and back home again on a schedule without a car is tricky if not impossible. To think about how and where and by whom nearly 100% of products in Target are made is to most certainly become ashamed. It’s disheartening to watch tax dollars go to funding war in far away lands and, as McDonough says, on future generations. And why is it that the majority of restaurants we have to choose from degrade the environment and our bodies? This is all because of poor design. American environmentalists, people who act in ways small and large to reduce their ecological footprint, are in the minority because we are constantly trying to wade upstream against the swift current of institutions shaped by cheap and dirty energy... Design, Ecology, and Ethics Essay -- Environment Ecology Essays Papers Design, Ecology, and Ethics â€Å"We need to design institutions (and cars and homes and toothbrushes, etc.) that make it easy for people to be good.† (Jim Farrell) Right now, if someone in America wants to be good to the earth and good to future generations, it’s hard. It’s expensive to purchase local, organic food. In the suburbs, to get to work and practice and the store and back home again on a schedule without a car is tricky if not impossible. To think about how and where and by whom nearly 100% of products in Target are made is to most certainly become ashamed. It’s disheartening to watch tax dollars go to funding war in far away lands and, as McDonough says, on future generations. And why is it that the majority of restaurants we have to choose from degrade the environment and our bodies? This is all because of poor design. American environmentalists, people who act in ways small and large to reduce their ecological footprint, are in the minority because we are constantly trying to wade upstream against the swift current of institutions shaped by cheap and dirty energy...

According to research done by Warr

A lot of research has been conducted and hypothesis formulated to determine whether delinquent peer associations precede delinquency or vice versa. Another concern is how age influences delinquency and the interactivity or linkage among age, peer association, and delinquency. Consequently, the aim of this paper is to bring to fore, the various researches, theories and hypothesis that invariably throw more light on this issue.According to research done by Warr (1993), delinquency escalates rapidly as individuals enter their teen years and then declines almost as rapidly as they enter their late teens and early twenties. A possible explanation for this in my opinion is that youngsters in their early teens tend to be more adventurous and experimental.They are also easily influenced to try out new habits-good or bad- since often times, they are not experienced enough to know or care about the consequences of their actions. However, as they grow older and of course learn by experience, th ey inadvertently develop a more matured and balanced approach to the everyday choices they make.On another note, the fact that a peer group that you belong to engages in unlawful activities helps to validate its relevance and the feeling that it probably is the cool thing to do. Also, because humans are creatures of habit, once they start a habit, say alcoholism, it doesn’t take long before they become addicted.From another perspective, a criminal activity, say illegal drug use, can form part of general criteria for joining some particular peer groups. This can in no small way influence youths to indulge in these activities just to win the group’s approval or endorsement.A bone of contention among researchers is which comes first between delinquency and delinquent peer association? Research by Gottfredson and Hirschi (1987), support the notion that delinquency   actually comes before delinquent peer association. Similar researches performed by Thornberry (1994), Elli ot and Menard (1996) however, offer opposing views.It is important to examine the role that age actually plays in delinquent acts. Hypothesis by Elliot and Menard (1996), show that both delinquency and delinquent peer association increase with age.A more insightful theory is the interactional theory by Thornberry (1987) that suggests that the influence of delinquent peer associations should increase during mid-adolescence and then decline gradually based on the reasoning that the hold that peer groups have on an individual is more pronounced during early stages of adolescence and less so as they grow older and commit to traditional activities like school, family, church, work etc.Still on the effects that age and delinquent peer association have on delinquency, the constant supervisory roles that teachers/guardians play in schools can douse the negative influences that delinquent peer associations can have on a young individual.However, as they advance in age and schooling, and move on to institutions of higher learning, the teachers or guardians tend to treat individuals as adults capable of making their own decisions. In other words, the supervisory roles that teachers play in the life of students reduce drastically as they advance in age and schooling. This also represents the theories expressed by Jang (1999:675).The interactional theory developed by Thornberry (1987) has been put to test but not without some loopholes. For instance, though the theory suggests that delinquent peer associations vary with age, it doesn’t specifically address the measure or category of offending. Also, a general inference tends to be made based on just one category of offending (e.g. drug offending).

Williams and Utilitarianism

In his critique of Utilitarianism, Williams finds fault in the Utilitarian commitment to maximum utility in that it undermines the integrity of moral agents and denies people the projects and relationships they inherently value. Famously known as his â€Å"Integrity Objection†, this proposition is immediately very enticing in that it appeals to the idea of the invaluable and imperative nature of benevolence and compassion, versus the cold, impartial hand of Utilitarianism. That is not to say, however, that Utilitarians have been dealt a hefty criticism from which they have no defense.While Williams may be correct in claiming that abandoning commitments or devaluing personal relationships may be counterintuitive, a Utilitarian could argue that his construction of â€Å"integrity† is equally counterintuitive in that it would require one to override their intrinsic pursuit of self- preservation. Additionally, if we were to presuppose Williams’ correctness, a Utilita rian could argue that the only plausible implementation of such a theory would mean valuing these emotional engagements above one’s own agency, a scenario even more demanding and sacrificial of one’s identity than the Utilitarian proposal.Williams directs this objection specifically toward Act-Utilitarianism, a branch of Utilitarian thought that deems the morally correct action as the one that produces the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number of people. He claims that such a theory is incompatible with the aspect of human happiness that is found in the commitment to personal projects and relationships: â€Å"Utilitarianism would do well then to acknowledge the evident fact that among the things that make people happy is not only making other people happy, but being taken up or involved in any of a vast range of projects. 1 While Utilitarians actually need lower order projects comprised of relationships and commitments in order to validate their higher order projects, the lower order projects will always serve the concerns of the first order. In turn, Williams asserts that such a compromise of emotional engagements for maximum utility usurps one’s sense of self, consequently marring the distinction between one’s commitment and one’s identity: â€Å"(†¦ ) that criterion would eliminate any desire at all which was not blankly and in the most straightforward sense egoistic.Thus we should be reduced to frankly egoistic first-order projects, and- for all essential purposes- the one second-order utilitarian project of maximally satisfying first-order projects. †2Abandoning certain commitments for the sake of another project can be acceptable, but when forced to relinquish those which a person deeply values, Williams argues they are robbed of â€Å"a sense of one’s moral identity† or what he describes as one’s integrity.Williams offers us two scenarios to further exemplify his theory: â€Å"Jim†, who is told by the edicts of utilitarianism to murder one innocent Amazon Indian in order to prevent twenty more being murdered, and â€Å"George†, a chemist who is (also by the parameters of Utilitarianism) forced to take a job creating weapons of mass destruction, since the balance-sheet of utilities shows that if George refuses, a far younger, more zealous chemist will carry the project along even further and more efficiently than George.While these scenarios may seem like far-fetched constructions meant to reveal Utilitarianism pursuing the wrong choice, Williams conversely (perhaps begrudgingly) admits that these would be the â€Å"right† choices for the given circumstances. The true problem, he argues, is 1? CITATION? 112? 2? CITATION? 113? ? hat the emphasis should not simply be on the â€Å"rightness† of the action but the considerations involved in reaching that conclusion. This is a feature of Utilitarianism Williams claims â€Å" cuts out a consideration which for some others makes a difference to what they feel about such cases†. 3 He continues to explain that excluding such considerations denies our sense of personal accountability for our own actions and in turn â€Å"makes integrity as a value more or less intelligible†. In sum, if we were to reduce William’s entire integrity objection to its most salient points, they would be the following: the emotional commitments that are incompatible with the parameters of Act- Utilitarianism are not only impossible to abandon entirely but are an integral facet of human happiness, therefore creating a dilemma for the Utilitarian in that they must allow for it. The potential defense of a Utilitarian to Williams’ objection begins with the examination of his construction of integrity, which he seems to define as one’s â€Å"sense of self†.Looking simply at this definition alone, it could be said that subjectivity suggested with this variety of integrity incorrectly presupposes that a person’s sense of their identity is always correct. Utilitarianism could make a claim for the value in assessing reality with the sort of impartiality that Williams’ rejects, seeing as if one is not being appraised objectively, their sense of self is entirely contingent on their own conception.More importantly, and the crux of the Utilitarian defense, is that while Williams’ is correct in his claim that abandoning these emotional entanglements is counterintuitive, maintaining such commitments are at odds with the human desire for self-preservation, a 3? CITATION? p99? 4? CITATION? p99? ? conflict that Utilitarianism not only recognizes but Williams does not offer any viable solution for.Based on his examples and criticisms of Utilitarianism, it could be inferred that Williams assumes that we have a moral obligation to help others in a time of crisis, that one has an inherent responsibility to compassion a nd benevolence. This is clearly in conflict with the Utilitarian theory that one’s responsibility is to maximum utility, so even if the Utilitarian were to concede to Williams objection, it would be implausible to imagine a scenario in which the two could be regarded as being of equal value.In turn, the only option available to maintaining this ethos of selflessness would be to regard it as superior to maximum utility. This, a Utilitarian could argue, could prove to be extremely problematic. Firstly, it is extremely unrealistic to assume that people have the capacity to function entirely out of selflessness. Even though benevolence and emotional attachment can provide a certain level of happiness and fulfillment to a person, the expectation to unilaterally value the welfare of others over our own is not only implausible but ultimately self-defeating.Abandoning or betraying commitments in order to further advance a larger more important agenda certainly isn’t an idea pa rticular to Utilitarianism. A quick browse of a history textbook would support that, by and large, humans are inherently self-serving and while one may commit to an act, cause or person, it does not necessarily mean that they themselves aren’t using such relationships for their own agency. Utilitarianism may require that a person abandon a particular commitment for the sake of the reater good, but it can certainly be said that in the absence of utilitarianism, the commitment could be abandoned anyway, except in this case it would be for a self-serving purpose. A Utilitarian could potentially argue that their moral theory simply recognizes and curbs the inwardly focused desires of mankind and attempts to redirect such motivation toward the greater good. One could argue that Williams’ is somewhat disillusioned with mankind as he makes sweeping idealizations of the human psyche.Williams’ examples of â€Å"Jim† and â€Å"George† seem to both be conting ent on the idea that what makes said examples disconcerting is premise that both men would be acting against their conscience, in turn making the assumption that all people have consciences that should be considered. Secondly, if one could clear the hurdle of the first argument, the actual implementation of such a theory is extremely difficult. Williams argues that Utilitarianism is far too demanding to be plausible but in fact, trading this impartiality for benevolence proves to be far more exhausting.Considering the world’s current state of affairs, there are always people in dire need of help, so one calls into question exactly what parameters would be set in place in order to orchestrate such a society. What would be the stipulations of a worthy recipient of another’s benevolence? If Williams was simply talking about people’s obligation to those close to them, valuing those relationships above maximum utility creates a bias that is even more incompatible wit h benevolence than Utilitarianism, which at least works in the interest of the entire population.A Utilitarian could also argue that it simply because they are outweighed by maximum utility does not mean that substantial relationships are not valued in Utilitarianism. While they are indeed lower order projects, a Utilitarian could make an argument that it is through maintaining such relationships that the value of one’s own welfare is realized and are only outweighed by serious interests of first order projects.The analyses above reflect the same conclusion. Williams’ objection brings to light shortcomings in Utilitarianism that are easily felt by those uncomfortable with the impartial and seemingly unfeeling Utilitarian mentality. However, the arguments put forth by Williams regarding the counterintuitive and overly demanding nature of impartiality neglect the similarly inherent and insatiable desire for self-preservation.

Government Intervention and Antitrust Law essays

Government Intervention and Antitrust Law essays Government Intervention in Individual Markets: A Look at Government Intervention and Antitrust Law via the Microsoft Case Growth and Development in the US Economy In light of recent developments, I took a different approach to this paper. The Microsoft Antitrust case has been somewhat of a phenomenon that has become one of the most prominent cases in recent years. Because of this, I decided to look at government intervention into individual markets, along with antitrust law, via that particular case. I am of the opinion that we can learn a great deal by using that particular ongoing litigation. Antitrust law protects the public from companies that attain an undue domination of the marketplace via mergers, tying 1 product to another, vertical integration, and other practices tending to eliminate competition or bar entry into the market to newcomers. In the early 1980s, Microsoft was a much smaller company than it is today. However, it had already established a reputation of being a predator, a greedy predator. They were known to terminate licenses mercilessly once they figured out a way to clone a given technology, regardless of whether it was legal or not. Back then, Microsoft had some enthusiastic competition. The biggest of which were Borland (programming), Ashton-Tate (databases), Visicalc and Lotus (spreadsheets), as well as Wordstar and WordPerfect (word processors). All of these companies have now either merged out of existence or are completely defunct, with the exceptions of Borland and Lotus (which are barely afloat). Microsoft now has the leading product in each sector of the market once occupied by these firms. The company was responsible for ridding itself of these early competitors by either buying them out or simply driving them into the ground. This early disregard set the tone for how Microsoft does bu siness even today. Microsofts advantage comes from their domination of operating systems (...

Analysis of Looking Backward 20001887 essays

Analysis of Looking Backward 20001887 essays Edward Bellamy's Looking Backward: 2000-1887 was an attempt to show Americans who desired the utopian sense of community what it could truly be. Looking Backward addressed the yearnings of a society stricken by economic panics and social collapse by proposing an Eden-like community in which war, hunger, greed and malice were eradicated from society. While the story followed the wonderment of Julian West as he awoke in a Boston of 2000 AD after 113 years of sleep, the text focused on Bellamy's description through the kindly and omniscient character, Dr. Leete of a "post-revolutionary" society which emancipated the individual from the horrors of capitalism. As the story progresses, it becomes obvious that Bellamy is simply trying to suggest ways in which to improve his own society at the time whether it be politics or business practices. The first thing Julian inquires about his the problem of labor strikes, something very prominent in his time due to the newly formed labor unions. The National Labor Union (NLU) hailed the virtues of a simpler America, when workers controlled their workday, earned a decent living, and had time to be good citizens (Davidson, Nation of Nations, 626). Dr. Leete explains that with generous capital, any worker with a decent idea can become his own boss and the need for unions and strikes desisted. This was something that had begun occurring already in Bellamys time, as had monopolies. This was the second step in the eradication of strikes as companies began to aggregate and form large syndicates. Finally, the largest syndicate of all, the government took over all industry. When it was proposed that the nation should assume their functions (corporations), the suggestions implied nothing impractical even to the timid (Bellamy, Looking Backward, 67). With this in mind, Julian asks who the enemies of the government are, whether they are other nations or natural ills. Dr. L ...

Lone Pair - Chemistry Definition

Lone Pair - Chemistry Definition A lone pair is an electron pair in the outermost shell of an atom that is not shared or bonded to another atom. It is also called a non-bonding pair. One way to identify a lone pair is to draw a Lewis structure. The number of lone pair electrons added to the number of bonding electrons equals the number of valence electrons of an atom. The lone pair concept is important to valence shell electron pair repulsion (VSEPR) theory, as it helps to explain the geometry of molecules. Sources Albright, T. A.; Burdett, J. K.; Whangbo, M.-H. (1985). Orbital Interactions in Chemistry. New York: Wiley. p. 102. ISBN 0471873934.Ansyln, E. V.; Dougherty, D. A. (2006). Modern Physical Organic Chemistry. Sausalito, CA: University Science Books. p. 41. ISBN 978-1-891389-31-3.Kumar, Anmol; Gadre, Shridhar R.; Mohan, Neetha; Suresh, Cherumuttathu H. (2014-01-06). Lone Pairs: An Electrostatic Viewpoint. The Journal of Physical Chemistry A. 118 (2): 526–532. doi:10.1021/jp4117003

Peachtree Heathcare Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Peachtree Heathcare Paper - Essay Example Minimal time to implement the system is caused by increased instability of the system, which might affect quality of patient care (Glaser, 2001). The Peachtree HealthCare has two viable options to this challenge. This is either implementing the Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) system or a Monolithic based system. The SOA system is flexible and its implementation takes place in stages in order to reduce the risk of failure. There is a potential deal to this system though new and unpredictable in the industry. The Monolithic system is a full unification of the entire healthcare facilities into a single entity with multiple branches through standardization of the whole business. Four major commentaries exist concerning these two systems. These are George C. Halvorson (CEO), Monte Ford (CIO), Randy Heffner (service-oriented architecture) and John A. Kaster, a professor of medicine(Glaser, 2001). Personal opinion My opinion on overcoming these challenges posed by the IT infrastructure is that a clear assessment of the situation and analysis of an optimal solution should be considered. Importantly, the business model of the hospital system, its strategies and the impact of the system to the organization should be viewed critically. Additionally, reliability, security of a new system, implementation and the process of service delivery should be considered. Evaluation of the available choices to Peachtree HealthCare and focusing on particular issues to its business and IT system may provide the best solution. The main specific issues that face Peachtree include the absence of standardization throughout the various locations and related problems associated with healthcare and standardization. A business model and strategy will therefore dictate the requirements of the IT system. Hence, it’s importantto consider them first.Factors such as flexibility, scalability, cost and efficiency are vital evaluation criteria of choosing the viable IT system(Glaser, 2001). A monolithic system allows the implementation of standard procedures across hospitals with minimal chances of failure. The monolithic approach is not new compared to the SOA system hence its challenges, costs and to some level, its benefits are well known in the setting of a healthcare. A monolithic system reduces the chances of failure by reducing the risk through sticking to its schedule and resisting change. Despite this, a poorly planned system is prone to fail and thus makes even the monolithic system to be risky. Use of a monolithic system reduces risk though it locks doctors into standardized procedures thereby decreasing the quality of care. Therefore, myopinion was that a monolithic system should be implemented to remedy the IT challenges faced by Peachtree. This is because SOA system will be extremely expensive to Peachtree(Glaser, 2001). However, after reading the commentaries of the four professionals,I changed my opinion on various grounds. First, I recognized the main concern to be the resistance by the doctors regarding standardization and a new system as brought forward by John A. Kaster. He claims that the monolithic system will make surgery almost impossible while the SOA system will fail unless well planned.The use of an IT system

A specific time in your life when you felt extremely stressed by the Essay

A specific time in your life when you felt extremely stressed by the pressure to succeed in your studies, perform on your job, and spend time with family and friends - Essay Example My boss had called just as I was walking out the door. And just like that, like she’d done so many times before, Margie threw a wrench in my already overcrowded weekend schedule. She hadn’t even given me a chance to refuse, or to say anything at all. This probably meant that she intended for me to work a double shift since I was already scheduled to relieve Ian. This is the third week in a row. And I hated that job. Or I could turn left, into the open sunshine toward the lake where the rest of my family was gathering for a big picnic. Things had been tense between me and the folks lately. No matter how much I worked or how hectic my school schedule, they always seemed to believe I was trying to avoid them. Every time I turned around, there was my mom with her sad, hurt eyes and my dad with his angry, accusing stare. Just being around them was difficult enough anymore but finding things to talk about with them was becoming impossible. â€Å"All your uncles and aunts will be there and all their kids are coming,† my mother had said. What she didn’t say was that if I managed to skip out on this picnic, I was telling her and everyone else in the family that I didn’t love them anymore. But what I really needed to do was turn right and head over to the library. My books were laying accusingly on the passenger seat next to me and I couldn’t help panicking a little about the English assignment due Monday that I hadn’t even started yet. I had thought I would go to the picnic for a little while but cut out early, go to the library and make a bunch of copies just before I went to work and then hope there would be some down time so I’d have the time I needed to read the notes. If I managed that, I might just manage to get the sleep I needed and still have time to write my paper. After Margie’s call, I didn’t know what to do. It seems my world had been so full of pressure lately I just couldn’t function

Rigid Bodies and Application to Snooker Assignment

Rigid Bodies and Application to Snooker - Assignment Example In this project I made a study of main laws and principles of rigid body dynamics from the practical and theoretical point of view: as solutions to theoretical and practical exercises are provided. It required review and deeper study of vector analysis and analytical geometry. Rigid body in mechanics is a system of material points, which doesn't change in time. So it's an idealized system for which the distance between its particles remains constant in time under any motion. Phenomenological mechanics considers rigid body to be a solid matter, in which particles are subjected to internal forces in the form of normal and tangent tensions. Such tensions are caused by external deformations. In case they're re no deformations, there are no tensions inside rigid body. In many cases deformations are so small that can be neglected. So such model is an idealized rigid body, which is not able to deform and even though internal tensions can take place because of external forces. Rigid body is a mechanical system with six degrees of freedom. In order to define the position of a rigid body it's enough to know the position of at least 3 points: A, B, C, which do not belong to one line. In order to prove that rigid body is described by six degrees of freedom we have to take point D. ... (XA-XB)^2+(YA-YB)^2+(ZA-ZB)^2=AB^2=const (XC-XB)^2+(YC-YB)^2+(ZC-ZB)^2=CB^2=const (XA-XC)^2+(YA-YC)^2+(ZA-ZC)^2=AC^2=const Because the lengths of sides of triangle ABC remain the same. So only six coordinates are left independent - rigid body has 6 degrees of freedom. If the body has fixed points the number of freedoms degrees reduces. If rigid body is fixed in one point - it has 3 degrees of freedom, if rigid body can only rotate around one axis is has one degree of freedom, if a body can slide across axis it has two degrees of freedom. In order to understand how x(t) and R(t) change over time we should remind the following formulas: Resultant is v= V+ [w, R] (using vector properties). Kinetic energy of a rigid body is total kinetic energy of rotation plus total kinetic energy of motion: T=.5 mv^2 + 0.5Iw^2 Where I is moment of inertia of a rigid body (mass analogue for rotational motion) Moment of inertia is defined as I=miRi^2. Moment of inertia is additive so moment of inertia of a rigid body is formed from the sum of inertia moments of its parts. Any body, independently from rotational motion or rest has definite moment of inertia. Mass distribution in the limits of a body can be characterized by density: p=m/V So moment of inertia can be expressed as I=piRi^2Vi, if density is constant: I=pRi^2Vi In limit it can be expressed in the following integral: I=R^2dm=pR^2dV The inertia tensor is a set of nine values (which can be written in the form of 3X3 matrix), which shows the dependence of shape and distribution of mass in the rigid body caused by its rotational motion. It's often explained as a scaling factor between angular momentum and angular velocity.1 Inertia tensor matrix has the following structure and its components are calculated

Lswee9 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Lswee9 - Essay Example Nothing speaks for itself’ (Thorpe and Holt, 2008: p. 184). It can be anticipated that any researcher will have preconceived ideas about the area of study. This preconception will be founded upon the knowledge gained before actually commencing the research when interacting with others concerned. In my case, I am part of the company. The preconceptions held are going, in some way, going to have an influence both upon the way the research is conducted and could perhaps influence the results obtained. This occurs because it is the researcher who interprets the data, whether this be from his observations, the text of interviews, or from documents obtained from participants. When the researcher reflects upon the preconceptions he might have towards the subject of study and the participants involved, he must also reflect upon how his own characteristics will have an effect upon the data he collected. Hertz (1997: p. 8) stated that reflexivity allows the researcher to realise where he is in relation to the research undertaken , and so is able to minimise the effect he, and his personal ideas and knowledge has upon the research undertaken. When undertaking qualitative research it can be difficult for the researcher to operate in a detached way as they are required to interact personally with the respondents. Reflexive research is able to take this involvement of the researcher into account (Thorpe and Holt, 2008: p. 184). The writers are able to discuss this topic within reflexivity which is where methodological, discussing the proximity of the researchers to the matter under discussion. It is shown that the researcher need to be aware of this closeness and so be aware of the need to be professional and keep their distance so that the process of data collection and its outcomes is influenced in the most minimal way possible and not compromised. Johnson and Duberly (2000: p. 191) discuss

Minimalism From Shaker Furniture to Oki Sato Research Paper

Minimalism From Shaker Furniture to Oki Sato - Research Paper Example Minimalism, today, has inspired millions of architects and designers around the world. While many have been exposed to minimalism in one form or another, very few understand and appreciate the underlying thought behind minimalism. Minimalism began as a very disjointed movement. It can be traced back to the time of the Shakers. The Shakers were basically a strong religious communal group of people who believed in simple living. Their belief of simple living extended to their architecture and furniture design which carried traced of minimalistic design. However, Minimalist design did not begin as a proper movement until the twentieth century. Minimalism in design gained momentum as a reaction towards Abstract Expressionism. It follows the principles of achieving more in less. Negative spaces in minimalist design are not feared; rather they appreciated by exposing them to bright white light. Oki Sato is one designer who appreciates the beauty of minimalism. For him, minimalism is beauti ful with its simple design. This paper will discuss the simplicity inherent in minimalistic design by exploring the characteristics of both ancient and modern minimalistic design. The Shakers represent the old minimalistic style while Oki Sato through his design studio, Nendo represent the modern take on minimalism. Because simplicity in design is straightforward, this paper displays the progression of minimalism from Shaker furniture to the more modern Oki Sato designs. The paper will first focus on defining the scope.

Quality Improvement Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Quality Improvement - Assignment Example Quality Improvement lth care services have the ability of bringing about substantive changes in the health status of a particular patient target group. It is based on this perspective that this paper discusses the different aspects attributed to quality improvement and an analysis of quality improvement story covering the seven steps involved in quality improvement. It is a critical aspect that for organizations to achieve a new level of performance, then there are various aspects that would have to change and provide evidence for quality improvement. Despite having different programs in Quality Improvement, substantive evident results in the incorporation of the four basic principles including focus on patients, focus on working as a team, focus on the use of data, and the aspect that Quality Improvement operate through the means of processes and systems. In order to understand Quality Improvement effectively, one has to have a substantive idea on what attributes Quality Improvement story. Quality Improvement story refers to a seven-step process and procedure on the various ways through which business processes can be improved. All the seven steps towards improvement of performances integrate each other, ensuring a collective way of performance towards the realization of a common goal. In the first step, there is the selection of appropriate theme, which should ideally focus on the particular problem that requires solution of a particular opportunity that requires exploitation.

Minimalism From Shaker Furniture to Oki Sato Research Paper

Minimalism From Shaker Furniture to Oki Sato - Research Paper Example Minimalism, today, has inspired millions of architects and designers around the world. While many have been exposed to minimalism in one form or another, very few understand and appreciate the underlying thought behind minimalism. Minimalism began as a very disjointed movement. It can be traced back to the time of the Shakers. The Shakers were basically a strong religious communal group of people who believed in simple living. Their belief of simple living extended to their architecture and furniture design which carried traced of minimalistic design. However, Minimalist design did not begin as a proper movement until the twentieth century. Minimalism in design gained momentum as a reaction towards Abstract Expressionism. It follows the principles of achieving more in less. Negative spaces in minimalist design are not feared; rather they appreciated by exposing them to bright white light. Oki Sato is one designer who appreciates the beauty of minimalism. For him, minimalism is beauti ful with its simple design. This paper will discuss the simplicity inherent in minimalistic design by exploring the characteristics of both ancient and modern minimalistic design. The Shakers represent the old minimalistic style while Oki Sato through his design studio, Nendo represent the modern take on minimalism. Because simplicity in design is straightforward, this paper displays the progression of minimalism from Shaker furniture to the more modern Oki Sato designs. The paper will first focus on defining the scope.

Undocumented Students Essay Example for Free

Undocumented Students Essay There are thousands of undocumented students from different countries that migrate to the United States of America seeking a better way of life; however, the reality of that being possible is unlikely high. According an activist from the Lulac Association, over three million students graduate from U. S. high schools every year. Most get the opportunity to pursue a college degree, strive for their vocational goals, and reach for their American dream. Unfortunately, there are many students that see their dreams go down the drain for not having the right documentation to obtain a job and/or go to school. That is the main reason why undocumented students who are pursuing a higher education must be able to apply for a visa that can allow them to work on their field of study as well as to get financial aid, pay taxes, and become productive citizens who contribute to this country. This country is viewed as a melting pot for their many races, however, the reality is that even though they are many cultures, many believes, and nationalities, there are still some people in congress that do not believe in giving the immigrants the opportunity to growth professionally, and individually in this country even though this should be â€Å"a free country†; a country where people have freedom, a country of opportunities. Undocumented students should be able to obtain a visa to allow them to work for many reasons; one of them is for them to be able to get financial aid and pursue their dreams. There are many undocumented students that are in universities all over this country that are forced to dropped off for not having the money to continue paying for their education. It is a fact that undocumented students are only able to apply for state aid and many of the times the funds are not enough or they aren’t any. According to a financial representative at El Centro College, the maximum amount that a student applying for state aid can get a year is around $1,700. That money is not even enough for books; let me not mention that they are not able to et a job because they do not have the documentation to do so. If the government could at least pass the dream act; a bill that congress is attempting to provide immigration relief for undocumented youths through legislation known as the DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act). The Act has been introduced in each subsequent Congressional session in various forms, for the last 10 years since 2001. Th e latest version passed the House in December 2010, but was defeated in the Senate. According to the PEW Hispanic Center in Washington, D. C, however, approximately 65,000 youths do not get this opportunity because they are smeared with the inherited label of being illegal immigrants. These youths have lived in the United States for most of their lives and want to be recognized as Americans. Yes, it would be great for this undocumented student to have the documentation that could allow them to better themselves and be productive to this country. But how do this students can be productive in this country if they are not allowed to? It is of major importance for this government to do something about this specific situation; there is a great need of open minds that are willing to support the legalization of millions of undocumented students. By giving this students the right to work and better themselves educationally, the economy in this country would get better; thousands of jobs would be created and the people that not report taxes would be able to do so and that would help stabilize the economy. I want to emphasize that in this country there is nothing free! Many republicans complain because according to them illegal people in this country do not pay taxes. It is a fact that even when you go grocery shopping there is a percentage of taxes that must be paid in addition to your purchase, if you own a home weather or not you are legal or not you must pay taxes every year for that property. Opponents should realize that not paying taxes is just an excuse and a migratory reform shouldn’t be an option but must be a law taken into action. I have a dream†, a famous quote from Dr. Martin Luther king Jr. whom devoted his life to stop segregation. If he would be alive is for a fact that he would fight for the rights of undocumented students to achieve a migratory reform. It is inhuman to have many professionals working in construction or and or cutting yards because they cannot work on their field of study. Legalization of undocumented students is a need that this country is no longer going to be ble to ignore. In conclusion, yes, undo cumented who are pursuing a higher education should be able obtain a visa that can allow them to work on their field of study as well as get financial aid because at the end of the day this country is going to rely on next generation’s capacity and education to help this economy get through this bad crisis. This kids/ young people are tomorrow’s future and they deserve an opportunity to prosper, to conquer, and to shine!

Characteristics Of Authentic Literacy Instruction Education Essay

Characteristics Of Authentic Literacy Instruction Education Essay Introduction When children come into the world, they come with the innate desire to explore their surrounding and this is seen in their daily interaction with the environment around them when it involves language development and more. They actively participate in their learning of spoken and written language from their parents and other people interactions (Teale Sulzby, 1986). They see print in the world through signs on shops, along the road and even the supermarket and begin to make associations when they explore printed material (i.e.paper and crayons, and story books). They develop their written experiences by trying out different things, experimenting and inventing their own literacies. As the activities begin to take on more meaning, they increase their knowledge of how written language is formed and how they function in the real world, depending on different situations (Goodman, 1986). As a result, the real world offers these children an entire environment that is literally rich with lan guage experiences that the children can learn and produce in a natural setting. These settings will also involve human relationships that affect how children may or may not use the literacy tools they encounter (Tharp Gallimore, 1988). Unlike the empty slate that some people believe children are born with, they are actually vital members of a dynamic system in which the environment influences (Bronfenbrenner, 1977). The more children use the resources available to them in the environment to expand on their knowledge and skills in relation to constructing more solid understanding of factors in the literary world, they are engaging in solving problems that utilizes cognitive skills and through their interaction with members of their environment. Therefore, childrens learning about literacy is integrally tied with practical action, resulting from their need to control, manipulate, and function in their environment. Without a doubt then, children cannot escape the realities of reading and writing, which are so much a part of their lives as there are so many relationships and contexts that are tied in with these realities (Teale Sulzby, 1986). Through participating in activities that require cognitive and communicative functions, children are drawn into the uses of these functions by their caregivers in ways that may nurture and develop them. Consequently, childrens earliest conceptions of literacy and strategies for reading and writing are likely to be formed through activities that are often socially instigated (Bruner, 1972). Therefore, the case for authenticity in literacy is a natural process. Authenticity refers to the real-life experiences an individual experiences when carrying out specific activities (Ableser, 2008). This involves life experiences that are naturally occurring in the lives of children and individuals. When a child argues with her parent on the merits of getting a dog, the points and arguments provided are a result of a natural and real reason for doing so. This authenticity is carried into the area of literacy in the classroom as the concept seems a logical progression of utilizing the innate curiosity and purpose of carrying out an activity as a part of the process of learning, into the classroom teachers goal of getting her students to learn and do academic related activities. The authentic activities that individuals typically exercise in day-to-day situations are replicated in the classroom. Unfortunately the ordinary practices of the culture-what people do in daily, weekly, and monthly cycles of activity do not seem academically sufficient to meet the educational standards set by the power that be. Such practices, for example, include shopping for the best bargain, figuring out the health hazards of microwaves or examining costs for a planned holiday are not translated adequately and therefore seem to be lacking in some way. Authentic literacy practices then seem to have failed in some way. Authentic Literacy Defined Yet, in spite of setback, the power of authenticity cannot be denied as when schools offer classrooms that are authentic-literacy-directed, its potential in offering learning experiences that are similar to how children learn in real life outside of the classroom is an exciting prospect (Newmann Wehlage, 1993). When students learn through real-life tasks, students are working to create meaning from their experiences and these experiences allow students to make meaningful connections (Snowball, 1992). Authentic literacy environments also require that students use communication in receiving and extending their learning experiences. Without communication, the development of authentic experiences will be hindered . Rhodes and Shanklin, (1993) call for authentic literacy experiences in the classroom, such as reading and writing, to hold the same communicative purposes as when students are outside of the classroom. When Schmoker (2007) defined authentic literacy, he explained that students who learn to read, write and think effectively (p.448) do so when they are given opportunities to engage in in-depth reading through higher-order questions that is later used to argue and support an interpretation from one or more texts (p.490) in their extended writing. The classroom discussions that are generated from both authentic reading and writing experiences are also authentic experiences. Purcell-Gates, Duke and Martineau (2007) added to this by specifically mentioning authentic reading materials such as those that involve written genres like novels, newspaper articles, memos, technical procedures and even greeting cards. Characteristics of Authentic Literacy Instruction What would authentic literacy instruction look like in the classroom? As mentioned previously, the level of authenticity can be influenced by the type of reading and writing materials that the teacher uses such as tradebooks instead of the traditional use of text books, which are heavily written for specific school-related goals. For students to experience authentic literacy encounters, there should be purposeful but also meaningful experiences where the literacy event is not the end goal of the activity but rather integrated into the real-life target purpose. Authentic literacy resources include texts normally found within a childs environment, such as trade books, bus schedules, maps, and diaries. People are also valued resources, as they can offer firsthand accounts and personal knowledge to the process of inquiry. When students have access to multiple resources, activities can become more authentic, students can more clearly communicate their message, and be more fully engaged in authentic literacy events (Wortman, 1993). Rhodes and Shanklin (1993) suggest that a classroom that purports to be authentic should allow students to make choices and have a say in their learning experiences. This choice empowers students in classroom interactions and decision-making actions (Wortman, 1993). Snowball (1992) shares this thought that when students are given a choice to plan, explore and share their ideas, there is more purpose to the activities. In fact, Pachtman and Wilson (2006), in one of his studies highlights student choices in increasing motivation. Pachtman and Wilson (2006) emphasized on authentic reading and investigated students opinions on what they found to be meaningful and engaging reading practices. Students who were offered greater choice and say in their learning experiences were more engaged and took responsibility for their learning due to their vested interest from the decision-making. Students preferred to make their own choice of the books they were going to read and the success of those authentic materials in motivating the students was a clear indication that teachers should take note that choice allows authenticity and teachers can make use of this information to plan their lessons (Pachtman and Wilson, 2006). Aside from books, authentic experiences are defined through the individuals choice to create and share meaningful and purposeful text for a self-selected audience (Wortman, 1993, p. 1). This would mean that in areas such as writing, students instead of carrying out the task of writing a letter to someone, whom the teacher had decided beforehand, students can make decisions on who their letters can be directed to. A classroom that is focused on authentic literacy must be relevant to the lives of the students. As much as choice and the type of materials can help create an authentic literacy environment. Teachers and students have curriculum demands put on them and if any authenticity is involved, it remains superficial. The teacher can meet the needs of the curriculum and remain authentic, even relevant to the students. For example, in a unit on wildlife, the teacher may create an activity where students research on specific leatherback turtles. This activity meets the requirements of the curriculum, however is still irrelevant to the students. To meet relevance in an authentic literacy classroom, the teacher could allow students to research on an animal that the students decide on their own which has relevance to their respective lives. Some students may want to research on penguins they saw at the zoo or the cheetah, someone has compared them with. The students will reference from multiple so urces such as the Internet, magazines, and expert sources. The students will decide what they want to do with the information they have gathered, whether it is to write to someone in the government, produce a presentation to source for funds to fund a specific wildlife preservation fund or even come up with a wildlife newsletter to be shared with their classmates. This activity will meet the requirements of authentic resources, choice and relevance; and still meet curriculum demands. Relevant activities allow students to work on skills in a genuine literacy event and helps students make connections between the curriculum and their lives outside of the curriculum. Students will be able to draw conclusions and extend knowledge through their exploration of authentic activities. Authentic Literacy Instruction vs Explicit Literacy Instruction There is clear indication that as children move up the education system the learning and literacy activities seem more focused on meeting standards and curriculum demands. With the addition of high-stakes testing, teachers seem to be pushed against the wall to ensure that the activities their students do in the classroom are more classroom-related instead of mirroring the social and contextual situations of the real world (Bruner, Olver, Greenfield, 1966). Children begin their literacy journey in the formal world of education with typically learning concepts of print, decoding print and eventually figuring out meaning to aid comprehension of the uncountable texts students will face in their literacy-related classes. These classes, more often than not are conducted explicitly, are directed towards helping students gain literacy skills that will be beneficial to them in their later lives after school. These skills are taught so that students can master them and retrieve them when need ed (Powell and Davidson, 2005). There is no denying the role of explicit instruction in students learning. However, when teachers get caught in a cycle of explicit teaching, followed by continuous and repetitious assigning of worksheets, book reports and essays, students lose out on the richness of an authentic literacy approach. Many teachers due to time constraints prefer to use a classroom literacy curriculum that tries to generally fit the needs of all the students in their respective classrooms. However, in reality we know that literacy classrooms are not made up of only one type of students. Teachers will not be able to meet individual students and, diversity would be considered a disadvantage instead of an advantage. Such classrooms do not reflect real-life needs and goals of the students and does an injustice to these students by not enabling them to bridge between their life goals to academic goals (Eckert Bell, 2004). Scribner and Cole (1973) also concur in their classic article comparing formal and informal instruction, such educational practices can do the opposite as these learning activities are so far removed from real-life learning situations and practices that students face a disconnect. Many researchers like Schmoker (2007) believe that the best way to improve reading scores and improve students literacy skills and strategies is by providing direct literacy instruction using authentic materials. He explained that the instruction should move away from meaningless drill-like activities but instead should be focused in getting students to read a variety of texts available in the real world that provide them fodder to explore their comprehension, hone and revise on their interpretation of text-content, as well as improve their arguments of the subject read (Schmoker, 2007; VanDeWeghe, 2008). This will help students have longer-lasting retention of knowledge learned. In fact, Powell and Davidson (2005) believe that authentic literacy can be equivalent to situated literacy where literacy is embedded within real-world events [and] as a medium for genuine communication (p.249). The classroom that has literacy goals embedded within the classroom lesson plan can be brought ab out when a teacher gets her students to make connections between a particular topic and their own thoughts and beliefs. VanDeWeghe (2008) mention that students here are able to express their opinions, share it with their classmates and explore the various interpretations in a social and personal context. These students are learning in an authentic literacy environment because their learning is directly connected to real-life situations and purposes. However, Purcell-Gates et al. (2007) noticed that there can be no direct cause and effect seen from the use of direct instruction in an authentic environment unless further empirical studies come forth. There are too many unanswered questions of how students best learn language forms, its discourse and the related genres. After all, different students learn language differently. They bring into their learning experiences a host of other social and cultural experiences outside the classroom. In spite of all the explicit instruction to various literacy goals, teacher are generally keen to provide more authentic literacy activities. They are progressively moving away from traditional methods and moving towards more authenticity such as when teachers include inquiry-based learning that allow students to investigate real-life problems. This method of learning allows the bridging of what students need to learn in the classroom and the validity of their real-world tasks. Authentic tasks take the form of projects and activities that allow students to reach outside of the classroom and form ties with the community at large. This is a far cry from the demands of the textbooks. Why is authentic literacy important? Authentic focusses on literacy activities that revolve around real-world tasks, applications and contexts. Therefore, it is able to introduce to students the idea that there is a purpose to learning. This purpose is not related to what the textbooks or what standardized tests say they should learn but is purposeful learning that is relevant to the students real lives. Purcell-Gates et. al (2007) conducted a research project that revealed increased ability to understand comprehension of informational texts and write better when students were allowed to engage in authentic informational texts compared to those that were only offered classroom-based typed of texts and activities. Authentic literacy activities can help students retain more of the information they learn as when students were offered authentic texts and writing tasks, there was more active participation and less frustration as students were able to evaluate and better discuss on material that had meaningful purpose and relevance to themselves. These students took care in getting as accurate the information they could get by going to various resources. There was clearly more meaningful learning taking place (Edelsky and Smith, 1984). When students are given a standard worksheet or task to complete, there is less engagement as students do not see how these activities are relevant to their lives (Rhodes Shanklin, 1993). Furthermore, authentic literacy allows students to develop higher order thinking skills that is sadly lacking as teacher try to meet the needs of struggling learners by simplifying real-life texts which then causes the authenticity to be lost (Allington, 2001). There is an acute need for students to be able to read and write materials that require them to evaluate and synthesize information from various sources. Students will not be able to do that if the materials they encounter in the classroom are not authentic and have been simplified. Schmoker (2006) laments the lack of substantive reading, writing and talking (p.54) which are available from authentic texts. Teachers instead of providing easier texts could instead look into getting students to familiarize themselves with authentic texts that have higher-order language so that they can work towards obtaining the language of the educated and not be penalized for the lack of it. To Silvers, Shorey and Crafton (2010), authentic literacy is important as it takes into account student diversity by providing a safe environment for students to evaluate on their world views, question and find answers to the assumptions and beliefs they bring into the classroom and evolve or reinforce identities. Authentic literacy allows students to become empowered democratic citizens as they engage in real-life literacy and making meaning of their learning (Powell Davidson, 2005). What does Authentic literacy instruction look like? Despite teacher reservations about implementing authentic literacy in the classroom, due to time, score accountability, data driven administrations and a heavily weighed content curriculum, authentic literacy is doable. However, for authentic literacy to take place efficiently, teachers should consider the environment from which authentic literacy is to take place in. Students need to feel a sense of security for them to be able to move beyond their comfort zone especially when they are asked by their teachers to take risks in the way they think and process thoughts and ideas. They must feel safe and know that they will be respected for their sharing and collaborating between them and their teacher, and their peers (Powell, Diamond Burchinal, 2010). Students, especially from diverse backgrounds need to know that their cultural knowledge that they bring into the classroom is a valued asset in an authentic literacy classroom. They are allowed to be active participants in their learning and are expected to have differing opinions and reactions to interpreting content, materials and activities offered in the classroom. They can offer unique perspectives and that the classroom environment supports those differences (Powell Davidson, 2005). There is a strong sense of self-worth when students know that their diversity is accepted and respected in an authentic literacy classroom. In fact Barnitz (1994) explains that students can achieve success when they use authentic talk linked to their home life. When the right classroom environment has been set up, teachers can then begin to include the various authentic elements that reflect an authentic literacy classroom. The teachers is able to get students involved and engaged in activities that are allow students to have control of their learning, just like in the real world. They will feel empowered and competent in carrying out these activities. There are a lot of student-centered activities such as conducting experiments, testing out hypothesis, real-life problem solving task and inquiry-based learning. These types of activities allow students to be motivated and provide ample opportunities for them to think, revisit, revise, build connections and develop their critical thinking skills (Ablesser, 2008; Barnitz, 1994). Literary activities that involve real-life audiences such as putting up plays, poetry slams and an actual book reading of a piece of personal piece of writing offers deeper connections for students and the texts they come into contact with. This according to Purcell-Gates et al (2007) supports an important part of authentic literacy which is the use of curriculum-required materials in a more meaningful manner as students are personally involved with the material used compared to the usual, read-a-text-and-answer-questions approach. When students are exposed to a variety of authentic literature that covers a whole range of popular multicultural content, they are able to make visual and mental connections between the texts and their immediate lives and that of their families and various relationships they have outside of the classroom. Discussions on the similarities and differences of cultures and lifestyles simulate real-life situations, which is an aspect of authentic literacy. Vasquez (2003) believes that the use of multicultural literature promotes respect, empathy and acceptance of each other (p. 88). An authentic literacy classroom includes methods of teaching that involves incidence where students can see real-life reading and writing taking place. The inclusion of writing workshops and dialogue journals are good ways to promote this. Collaborating with peers and making personal connections with the topic of their choice as well as the process of receiving and providing feedback increases relevance and purpose to the writing that students do. The students know that whatever writing piece they are working on will be read and reflected and commented on by real people aka their classmates or teachers. There is genuine interest and discussion, which on their own are authentic elements of an authentic literacy classroom. Of course a big part of an authentic literacy classroom is one that uses real-world texts. This when compared to the text book materials can be highly motivating. Authentic texts do not necessarily have to be limited to print form but can be in the form of newspaper or magazine articles, YouTube videos or even MTV music or parts of popular sitcoms or movie excerpts. Real-life materials can be used on their own or as supporting material to an actual text-book material. Whatever the case, including real-world materials allows students to see that there is more to their learning then the text book or school-related documents. This also reminds students that when people read and write texts outside of the classroom, they have specific purposes, such as wanting to get information or to communicate an idea they may have. Therefore students in an authentic literacy classroom also go through the same reasons when they read and write too. When discussing authentic literacy classrooms, there is no avoiding the role of technology in it. Online materials and websites are transforming the way students are now accessing information and knowledge. They are developing critical thinking by having live discussions with an author of a blog or making meaning from the many related links of a certain website. Students are accessing the Internet to find solutions to the everyday problems they come across and an authentic literacy classroom will also reflect this technological tendency. Wikis, Facebook and Twitter introduces a new element into the world of literacy. It is a genre on its own that is an authentic mode of communication. It would go amiss if in reflecting on what an authentic literacy classroom looks like that assessment is left out. The concept of assessment is to help students improve whatever they have been learning about. Unfortunately, in a traditional classroom, test-taking has been elevated into an art, where focus on grades and how well students perform in standardized tests take precedence over what exactly students are learning and performing in. Assessment in an authentic literacy classroom should again reflect on real-world demands. These assessments should be able to provide students with concise feedback on their abilities and whether they are able to transfer their learning effectively into the real world. The assessments are not the product of learning but serve to further educate students about how they can go about improving on their learning. Newmann and colleagues (2001) showed in their research that authentic performance-based literacy assessments helps students further increase achievement, especially in terms of the quality of responses in writing and mathematics. When students were required to apply what they had learned and come up with original uses for what they have learnt, there was value placed in the assessment. Conclusion There is a clear need for individuals who practice lifelong learning and are able to critically read, think and write to come forth from the academic institutions of today. They must be able to compete and come up with novel ideas that meet the novel dilemmas faced by todays society. The call for authentic literacy in classrooms seems to be a good one. While policy-makers, administrators, parents, teachers and to some extent, students want to improve test scores, there is sound reasoning as to why authentic literacy can help improve scores as well as benefit students in their learning. When student read from authentic materials, have authentic purposes, carry out authentic tasks, discussions and collaboration, seek authentic resources to meet authentic demands, they are able to explore, argue, refine and strengthen their thought and learning processes because all that they use to learn and are learning about makes sense due to their relevance in the students lives. Teachers need to be quick in harnessing the advantages of authentic literacy to meet students learning needs and goals. Each student is an individual that is different from his or her classmate. They have different learning goals and they come from different backgrounds and opinions. As problem solvers, these students can meet their goals more effectively if their learning activities are supported by the teachers authentic literacy instruction. Our end goal as teachers is to support students towards becoming more independent thinkers who are able to utilize what they have learned in the school to meet the challenges they face after school, and as citizens of a global society. Integrating authentic literacy learning can be a strong start towards that end goal (Ablesser, 2008; VanDeWeghe, 2008). Maybe Meier (2002) best sums up what authentic literacy is and why it is important for todays classroom when she writes: Children should be inventors or their own theories, critics of other peoples ideas, analyzers of evidence, and makers of their own personal marks on this most complex world (p. 4)

Alien and Sedition Act :: essays research papers

You are back in the year 1798, the government has just passed a law saying what ever they do and create it will be the standard. You have no say or any comment on it, because frankly they just don’t care. You are now placed back in the year 2001, would it be possible to apply a law of such magnitude to our society today? I don’t think so. Our country is based upon individual rights, we are allowed to say what we feel, and do what we want. It is what has shaped our country into what it is today. The saying rubber makes things perfect is one such example. It is a pliable material and can be formed or molded into whatever shapes you need it be. Just as our nation is today, it is pliable to our society’s needs. The Alien and Sedition Act demolished this moral standard by passing 4 acts that deny the power of people.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The United States at this time was faced with such economic and political problems domestically. Such economic problems as a trade barrier created such turmoil. In the text it is described that Spain, England and France on conditions of trade by saying that â€Å"Immediately following the war, Britain, France, and Spain are all restricted from American trade with the colonial states.† Our nation was also faced with one such problem as debt. The wars and battles our great nation has gone through in the past has created such a debt at this point in time that is almost not comprehendible for any normal human. In order to regain a financial balance the federalist came up with 3 solutions. They created an executive cabinet made up of heads of departments and they created a Judiciary Act of 1789. The Judiciary Act allowed for laws to be declared unconstitutional and put power back at a National level instead of state.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hamilton came up with 3 reports to also help out with the debt our nation was facing. His first report was upon Pubic Credit, it stated that the nation would consolidate the debt at a national and state level, paying off the debt in face value, and would shift the power to the National Government. In Hamilton’s second report, he continued to set apart and distinguish between lower class and the aristocracy of the nation. Hamilton accomplished his separation by instating the First Bank of the United States.

Religion Essay -- essays research papers

The debate over the economic advantages of slavery in the South has raged ever since the first slaves began working in the cotton fields of the Southern States. Initially, the wealth of the New World was in the form of raw materials and agricultural goods such as cotton, sugar, and tobacco. Slavery, without a doubt, had its profitable aspects prior to the Civil War. However, this postulation began to change as abolitionists claimed the land of the Southern Plantations was overworked and the potential income of slaves was lower than that of white people who had a vested interest in the productivity and success of the South. The concept of slavery had been brought over to America by the ideals of British Mercantilism which called for strict regulation of the state and its people for the good of the national economy. In the early 1700’s, Frenchman Colbert stated that, "no commerce in the world produces as many advantages as that of the slave trade"(Williams, 144). The inhumane practice of slavery began in the American colonies in 1619. Although Africans first came to the New World around 1501, the early colonists did not think to use them as slave labor. Instead, they imported poor, white indentured servants from Europe to clear forests and cultivate fields. It was the English colonists that incited the idea of using Black slaves. They could be caught easily because of their color and they could be bought and kept until they died. "Negroes, from a pagan land and without exposure to the ethical ideals of Christianity, could be handled with more rigid methods of discipline and could be morally and spiritually degraded for the sake of stability on the plantation,† wrote historians John Hope Franklin and Alfred A. Moss Jr. in "From Slavery to Freedom" (22). Where America failed in Mercantilism was in not providing enough slaves to generate a sufficient profit margin and by becoming a divided nation over the issue of slavery. Southern slaves were viewed in economic terms of labor to capital. While the ownership of slaves was a source of pride in plantation owners, this interdependence of slave on master and master to slave created a vicious cycle of rashness that caused slave owners to often become irrational. In the south, slaveholdings varied according to size, location, and crops produced. Slavery in cities differed substantially from th... ...er to the problem of slavery. Olmsted asserted that the â€Å"majority of those who sell the cotton crop† were â€Å"poorer than the majority of our day-labourers at the North† (171). His chief complaint with slavery was that the quantity produced by slaves, be it cotton or tobacco or any marketable good, was drastically inferior. Olmsted asserted that it took two times as many slaves as Northern labourers to accomplish a task (172). â€Å"Low-quality labor, poor use of resources, and indifferent management all combined, said Olmsted, to make southern agriculture far less efficient than northern agriculture† (172). Olmsted asserted that psychologically, slaves preformed poorly under conditions of fear of punishment and free men, without this fear, would certainly be more productive in defending their reputation and standing with pride with their employer. The low productivity of slaves could be explained by the conditions in which they were forced to live and work in. Inadequate care, incentives and training left the slaves without proper preparation for their role on the plantation (Genovese, 46). A cyclical effect of malnutrition and disease was apparent on many plantations. Since malnutrition

Global Warming and Drought in The Southwestern U.S. Essay

Pumphrey (2008) rightly observed that until fairly recently, no one would bought the idea that the world’s climate was changing, let alone that it was been influenced by human activities. The first insight into what is today known as global warming was first conceived by the Swedish scientist Arrhenius, who, late in the 19th century, suggested that the activities of the rapidly developing industries could cause the planet to warm up. Such ideas were often ignored, but over the course of the 20th century, opinions about climate change, â€Å"even rapid climate change† were becoming more apparent (Pumphrey, 2008, p. 1). As things stand now, there appears to be a growing pile of irrefutable evidences that point to the fact that human activities are affecting the heat/energy exchange between the earth, the atmosphere and space (Justus and Susan, 2006). The primary cause of global climate change has been attributed to the accumulation of carbon dioxide and other air pollutants in the earth’s atmosphere. These ‘green house gases’, as they are now known, form a blanket over the earth atmosphere, thus trapping the sun’s heat inside the planet and causing it to warm up (National Resources Defense Council, 2007). A substantial population of the world’s scientist have agreed that human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels, have increased atmospheric â€Å"concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) by 36% from pre-industrial levels of 280 parts per million (ppm) to 380 ppm over the past 150 years, leading to an increase in global average temperature of 0. 9oF over the past 100 years†. Consequently, there has been considerable increase in global average temperature and sea levels, decreases of sea ice in the Artic and melting of the planet’s continental ice sheets and mountain glaciers (Justus and Susan, 2006). More frightening, however, is the assertion by scientists that if green house gases continue to accumulate at the present rates, more rapid and devastating consequences could result within a short period of time. While scientists largely agree on the evidences pointing to a warming planet, the severity and ramifications of its consequences is often a subject of controversy, doubts and heated debates. The drought in the Southwestern U. S presents one such example of the controversies and uncertainties surrounding the consequences of global warming. In the history of the Southwestern U. S. , drought has been a relatively periodic occurrence, due to climate variability that characterizes this region. For example, after reviewing the history of climate changes in the region, Thompson and Anderson (2005) concluded that over the long term, the climate of the region is constantly changing and that in the â€Å"18,000 years since the last glacial maximum the southwestern United States has experienced conditions that ranged from much colder to somewhat warmer than today. Moisture conditions have also varied, both through time and across the region† (Thompson and Anderson, 2005). However, despite these assertions, scientists through several studies have pointed out that the present multi-year drought in the region is not another result of climate variability but a consequence of climate change. They assert that the present climate situation might be the new climate of the region and that drier and more sever droughts lies ahead if urgent measures are not taken. The proposed study intends to support and add weight to the contention that climate changes is already impacting the region and that increasing global warming will increase the severity of drought in the Southwestern U. S. Purpose Statement McNab and Karl (2003) observe that drought is a complex phenomenon that can be very difficult to define. They contend that the problem with defining drought derives partially from the fact that the term could be approached from different perspectives. That, notwithstanding, the central theme that underlie any definition of drought is the absent or deficiency of water. However, they point out that to completely define drought, the â€Å"component(s) of the hydrologic cycle affected by the water deficit and the time period associated with the deficit, must be specified†. The Southwestern U. S is a region vulnerable to droughts due to its variable climatology that derives from its peculiar topography. The entire Southwestern states of the United States fall into a climatic region generally known as the ‘subtropics’. These regions are known to be dry and susceptible to drought because the atmosphere moves water ‘out of those regions into higher planes’ (Thompson, 2007). It is argued that the evaporation is higher in subtropics and the moist air from here is transported to temperate regions at higher latitudes. This climatic condition sometimes causes excessive ‘dryness’ (drought) in these regions. The infamous dust bowl conditions of the 1930s and the severe droughts of the 1950s are typical examples. Pointing out the vulnerability of the region, Davis (2007) observe that â€Å"in some years, â€Å"exceptional drought† has engulfed the entire Plains from Canada to Mexico; in other years, crimson conflagrations on weather maps have crept down the Gulf Coast to Louisiana or crossed the Rockies to the interior Northwest† (Davies, 2007). Based on this argument, it is convenient to describe the present drought in the region as a result of such climatic variability. Unfortunately, recent data on global warming indicate otherwise. Scientists have shown that this time, the drought in the region is not just a passing phase in climatic conditions, it is a reality that has come to stay. It is evident that this time, it is the base climate that is changing and dire consequences looms ahead. Supporting the argument that the aridity in the Southwestern U. S is different this time, Davis (2007), point out that â€Å"Lake Powell had fallen by nearly eighty feet in three years, and crucial reservoirs along the Rio Grande were barely more than mud puddles. The Southwestern winter of 2005-06, meanwhile, was one of the driest on record, and Phoenix went 143 days without a single drop of rain†. Noting that some scientists have regarded the present situations as the worst drought in 500 years and with the several scientific evidences showing the link between global warming and severe drought, Davis concluded that the present climate condition is not â€Å"simply episodic drought but the region’s new ‘normal weather'† (Davies, 2007). Statement of the Problem Both global warming and droughts portend grave dangers for both the region and the world at large. Despite the sometimes dissenting voices in the science world, there is unanimous certainty that the planet is warming up. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in its 2007 report stated that it is ‘unequivocal’ that the planet is heating up and that, with utmost certainty, the warming is caused by human activities. It is clearly understood that increased global temperatures will facilitate the propagation of certain deadly bacteria and the spread of diseases. For example, Kolivras and Andrew (2004) carried out a study that revealed that the presence and spread of four diseases; hantavirus, plague, dengue and coccidioidomycosis in the Southwestern U. S could be attributed to the increased in temperature in this region. Again, it is clear that higher global temperatures will lead to increase in the incidence and severity of droughts which will affect agricultural production, causing global food crisis. Also, the melting of continental and Artic ice, due to global warming, will cause flooding and other devastating problems that will affect millions of people globally. Persistent drought, on the other hand, also severely impacts a society. Besides the shortage of food and water that characterizes drought conditions, Davis (2007) also point out that drought rapidly destabilizes the natural ecosystem. Buttressing this fact, he observed that, without sufficient moisture to produce protective sap, â€Å"millions of acres of pinyon and ponderosa pine have been ravaged by plagues of bark beetles; these dead forests, in turn, have helped to kindle the firestorms that have burst into the suburbs of Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix and Denver, as well as destroyed part of Los Alamos† (Davies, 2007). However, despite the frightening consequences of droughts and/or global warming, the real issue here is the misunderstanding of the problem at hand. A clear understanding of the real cause and nature of the drought in the Southwestern United States will greatly help in containing the problem before it get out of hand. In a study for the Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, Richard Seager and other scientists point out that all the models used for the third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicated a general decrease in rainfall in the subtropics during the 21st century and gradual drying up of the region with increasing concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide (Seager et al, 2007). The present drought in the region is therefore, evidently a consequence of a much bigger problem, the realization of this fact is important in shaping public attitudes and opinions required for finding a lasting solution to the problem. Theoretical Framework The states of the Southwestern United States fall in a climatic region known as the subtropics. The climate in these regions is characteristically dry because the atmosphere moves water out of these regions. Moist air from these regions is often transported to temperate regions at higher latitudes. This phenomenon is referred to as the â€Å"Hadley cell† (Thompson, 2007). This flow of moist air away from subtropics induces rising air over the equator and descending air over the subtropics. The descending air over the subtropics suppresses precipitation, which further increase dryness of the regions. With global warming, the blanket of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere heat up the air over the subtropics enabling it to carry and transport more moisture away from the region. Furthermore, with increasing global temperatures, ‘Hadley cell’ (the flow of air out of the subtropics) expands pole ward, bringing the United States Southwestern region under the increasing influence of descending air, further compromising precipitation and further worsening drought. The link between reduced precipitation and drought was established by McNab and Karl (2003) who asserted that â€Å"precipitation can be considered to be the carrier of the drought signal and stream flow and ground-water levels can be considered to be the last indicators of the occurrence of a drought† (McNab and Karl, 2003). It has been argued that whilst past droughts in the region was because La Nina brought ‘cooler ocean temperatures to the equatorial Pacific, which resulted in drier conditions over North America’, the present drought is caused by changing climatic conditions characterized by increasing global temperatures that enable more moisture to be transported out of the region and suppressed precipitation.