Wednesday, July 31, 2019

How does Rees use Language to Make the Reader Empathise with Mary? Essay

In the story, Witch Child, Celia Rees uses many different components of language to make the reader empathise with the main character, Mary. Witch Child is a book, compiled of diary entries, written by a young woman called Mary, who lived in the 17th century. Rees uses empathy to make the book seem more personal, like the reader is the only one reading it. Empathy is also important, because it is when you understand and identify with somebody else’s problems or emotions, and if the reader feels a bond with Mary then they are going to continue reading the book. It keeps the book gripping and stimulating. Celia Rees creates empathy in many ways, using a clever but subtle style. She uses factors such as sentence structure, emotive language and tone to provoke a feeling, similar to the one she has created for Mary. Rees’s style means that without the reader realising it, they become hooked. In this essay, I will be finding out how she uses language to do this and will be including quote from the book. At the beginning, before the story begins we are given a little background information. This information is not true but we are told that the diary entries were found hidden and that they are a true story. Witch Child is in fact entirely fiction but this prologue helps with creating empathy because if the reader believes it is real then their emotions are also more likely to be real. If something is realistic then you are going to believe it where as if you know it is made up, then you will not relate to it. Also the way that it is in diary format helps as well. It makes it seem more personal and make the reader feel valued because they have been allowed to read personal thoughts and feelings. The language Celia Rees uses has a large effect on the way the reader interprets her words. Some of the language is in the style of how it would have been written in the time the book is set. Sometimes the words in the sentence are in a different order to what is familiar today, and sometimes she just uses uncommon words. However, Rees has used a simplified language, to appeal more to her target audience, of teenage and older children. This is sensible because a diary in the 1600’s would have been written in such a way that modern children/teenagers may have struggled to understand the meaning behind her words. Celia Rees intentionally chose this language, and it has helped the book seem more realistic. Mary goes through a lot as she grows from a girl to a woman. At the beginning her grandmother, who was her main guardian and who she was very close to, was killed after being accused of being a witch. This is a key part of the story, and is carried through the story. It makes the reader empathise with Mary because her grandmother is her only family, and the only one that has ever cared for her, so when she is taken away it would have been very upsetting. One quote from the book that I think illustrates this well is ‘The men watched, as the woman did this and my grandmother was forced to stand before their gloating eyes, a naked old lady†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ This quote is from when her grandmother is going through witch tests. The reader empathises with Mary at this point because Mary empathises with her grandmother. The words ‘naked’ and ‘old’ make her grandmother seem vulnerable and helpless. She sounds vulnerable because she is naked and being watched by strangers. The way she is described as ‘old’ makes her seem defenceless, which to some extent was probably true. She had no dignity in front of the men and was probably embarrassed and ashamed. The word ‘forced’ makes it sound like the men have bullied her into it. Rees tells the story so that the men seem higher and superior (but cruel) and her grandmother seems humble and this makes her sound innocent. The men seem quite sick and perverted for wanting to watch an old woman naked. The word ‘gloating’ makes it sound like they are proud of themselves and happy that an old woman is being hurt. The men’s eyes are described which implies that they are watching intently. We feel empathy for Mary because she must have been there, to know the story is such detail, and the reader feels bad because they know there is nothing she can do. Also the reader feels guilty because the way Mary has written ‘my’ makes it sound like she is quite protective of her grandmother. Also you get the impression that, understandably, Mary resents the woman that is hurting her grandmother and as I have already said, the reader automatically thinks the woman and men are cruel and the bad ones, therefore again the reader empathises with Mary. This is also near the first time the witch theme is mentioned. The quote seems so horrific it makes you think that they wouldn’t just do it to anyone. This makes you wonder whether she was actually a witch, and this question is continued to be asked throughout the book. Another quote from the book is, ‘I seized on this, turning the leaves, hoping that here I would find the answers to ease my heart’. The first thing the reader thinks about and pictures is Mary, searching in desperation. This shows she is curious to find out about her past. You get the idea she is so frantic that she has forgotten her surroundings and is lost in her own world. You think of her searching because Rees says ‘find answers’ and ‘turning the leaves’. The whole quote creates a distressed and quite depressing atmosphere. ‘Seized on this’ makes her sound even more fraught because it makes it sound like she really noticed it, and immediately thought it could solve her uncertainties. The way Rees uses the phrase ‘ease my heart’ makes you realise that Mary must have been fretting over it for a long time. ‘Ease my heart’ is also an example of emotive language because it is powerful and provokes a reaction from the reader. Another example of emotive language in the quote is ‘hoping’ and both of these makes you feel empathy with Mary because you feel her longing, and therefore create a stronger bond with her. Emotive language adds to empathy between the reader and Mary because if you feel a bond then you are going to understand her emotions and link it to yourself. Rees also uses quite an old fashioned style of language. She uses the word ‘leaves’ which these days is unlikely to be used, a more familiar word would be pages. This makes it more realistic, which means the reader is more likely to connect with Mary and feel empathy. You feel empathy with Mary because most people have really wanted to know or find something out. The reader also feels empathy with Mary because the quote is quite personal and, I think, quite obviously from a diary. This makes her emotions seem raw and unchanged, and this makes the bond stronger between her and the reader because it sounds like her feelings are truly coming from her heart. The bond strengthens as the quote goes on. This is because with each clause she adds more detail, creating a more intense image and making your emotions more extreme and that therefore increases the level of empathy between Mary and the reader. In this quote you also start to get the impression that Mary is an outsider. This is because she has just boarded the boat she will be travelling on and is sat on her own looking through a case at this point; instead she could be meeting new people or exploring the boat. This is a theme that is carried on throughout the book. Rees carries on portraying Mary as an outcast throughout the book. The reader wonders why this is. It could be because Mary’s grandmother was killed, or it could be to do with the fact that she has to cover up any signs of her supernatural background. The next quote shows the way she has to hide her abilities in order to try and fit in, ‘I have seen his past. I have seen his future. I know how death will come to him and I feel the knowledge like a burden. Grandmother said never to reveal the manner of someone dying.’ This quote continues both the witch and the not fitting in theme. It goes against the common belief that witches don’t exist because it’s saying she has seen an extraordinary thing, and has powers. It makes the reader wonder whether she is actually a witch or whether she was hallucinating. The reader feels sorry for her because she has just seen something very important and she has to keep it to herself. The reader empathises with Mary b ecause she can’t do anything about the powers she was given, she didn’t ask for them, she was just given them, and all she wants to do is live a normal life, and she can’t. She is trying to be good and please everyone, her grandmother wouldn’t have wanted her to tell but she is probably wondering if it would be the best thing or not. The whole quote creates a stressed atmosphere and there is definitely a sense of confusion, while she is trying o work out what to do for the best. The way Rees says ‘like a burden’ makes it sound like Mary really didn’t want to have that vision, and now she has to keep it to herself it’s even worse. It also makes it sound like it strains her, which probably means she has had more than one of these visions. You also get the impression that she has had numerous visions because it says ‘Grandmother said’ which make it sound like her and her grandmother talked about how to deal with them. The fact that she has had several premonitions intensifies the empathy connecting the reader and Mary because she must have been put under a lot of stress. The quote sounds almost like she is keeping something to herself, and that she is not really saying how she feels about the event. She doesn’t say whether she is angry, proud or any emotion. This could be Rees cleverly linking in the time when the book was supposedly written. In the 1600’s, the norm was not to show what you were feeling inside. This would explain why she has not written it. However this explanation has a weakness because the book is composed of diary entries, so why would she hold her feelings back. The quote has quite a few short sentences in it. These make it dramatic and it gets to the point. It can mean a point is emphasised, and in this case it does. It means that there is only one point in the sentence and so the reader’s attention can’t be diverted. Mary never seems to be sure of what she is meant to be doing. She doesn’t really stand up for herself and nearly always does what other people tell her. A good example of this is, ‘I do not know what this place has in store for me. The ship is familiar to me; it has been home to me’. This quote is appropriate because Mary doesn’t want to leave her comfort zone, but will when everybody else goes. She doesn’t really stand up for herself because she has got on a boat and is now in America, with no-one she knows. This quote makes the reader feel empathy connecting themselves and Mary, because most people have been reluctant to do something and to leave their comfort zone which is exactly what Mary is feeling at the moment. Sentence structure plays a key part in how the sentence comes across. Short sentences often sound more dramatic and can add pace to a sentence. Long sentences can be used to add detail and make an image in the readers mind. Witch Child uses both short and long sentences add different effects, including empathy. In this quote short sentences help the reader to understand Mary’s emotion. The short sentences make it sound like she is speaking fast which could be linked to panicking and not wanting to do something you have to. This adds to the empathy because if she is panicking it means it is something she really doesn’t want to do, which makes the reader feel almost guilt. The short sentences add pace and make you realise she can’t go back. You feel guilty because even though it isn’t your fault you feel like your taking the only thing that’s normal away from her. The word ‘familiar’ makes you think the boat is comforting and she is happy on board. The quote also makes you realise that even if she did protest, they had already made the journey and there was nothing she could do about it, she was stuck in America. The reader also questions why Mary doesn’t want to leave the boat, whether it is just that the boat is familiar or whether there is something more to it. The reader could wonder, maybe she doesn’t want to have to make a whole new life, maybe she’s scared of being rejected by the others or maybe she’s scared the new people will find out she’s a witch. Again her emotions are not clearly written about; instead the style in which it is written means you can pick it up from the context. It could be as before, the age problem, nobody then talked about their feelings. Another explanation could be that she doesn’t want to come to terms with her feelings because they will upset her. If that were true then there would be a stronger sense of empathy because the reader would feel sorry for Mary, not being able to display her emotions openly. Rees uses powerful words to get through to the reader. In each of the quotes I have chosen so far I have picked at least one word out, and I probably could in most of the book. ‘My few precious things. All I have to show for my life so far lived’. There are powerful words in this quote that are very important, without them, the quote wouldn’t mean the same thing. The words ‘precious’ and ‘few’ makes the items seem very dear and valuable to her and makes it sound like she’s needy. They are all she’s got, which makes her sound like she’s alone. You also get the impression that she relies on them and this makes her sound vulnerable. The outcast theme is continued here because she is alone and has been rejected by the group. This is a depressing part because she has nothing positive in her life. However she values what she has and is not being a brat by saying that she wants more. The words ‘all I have’ also makes her sound weak. The reader understands Mary’s feelings at this point because she sounds vulnerable and susceptible which makes her sound innocent and the reader is more likely to trust and feel close to her if they think she is innocent. The reader also feels empathy with Mary because she has been rejected by a group, which is what she has always feared, and this makes the outcome even more damaging. The quote again is written in an old fashioned/ unusual style. This time it is not the words used but actually the word order; ‘so far lived’ is an unusual way of arranging the words, the normal way today would be ‘lived so far’ or just simply ‘so far’. Celia Rees uses many effects to get the reader to feel empathy, and they have all worked. She cleverly made choices so the reader was drawn in and made to feel a connection and friendship with Mary. From analysing quotes I have learnt a lot more than at first glance.

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Cash Basis vs. Accrual Basis Accounting Essay

Accrual accounting doesn’t just focus on cash flows, instead, it also reflects other resources that are provided and consumed by business operations during a period. This method measures resources provided by business operations by revenue. The measure of resources used to earn revenues is expenses. The difference between revenues and expenses is net income/loss. Accrual basis net income provides a better measure of performance because it attempts to measure the resource inflows and outflows generated by operations during the reporting period, which may not provide the same amount of cash inflows and outflows. Accruals involve transactions where the cash outflow or inflow takes place in a period after the expense or revenue recognition. â€Å"Selling on credit and projects that provide revenue streams over a long period of time affect the company’s financial condition at the point of the transaction. Therefore, it makes sense that such events should also be reflected on the financial statements during the same reporting period that these transactions occur†. (Investopedia, 2013). While cash basis is the difference between cash receipts and cash disbursements from providing goods and services. For cash basis accounting, a transaction happens only when money is exchanged. â€Å"Revenues are reported on the income statement when cash is received from the customers. Expenses are reported on the income statement when cash is paid out. This is one of the problems with cash basis accounting because adjusting entries help ensure that all revenues earned in a period are recognized in that same period, regardless of when cash is received†. (Averkamp, 2004). For accrual basis accounting, â€Å"revenues are recorded on the income statement when they are earned, which more often than not occurs before cash is received. Expenses are recorded on the income statement in the period when they occur/expire which is often in a different period from when the payment is made. This method of accounting provides a better picture of the company’s profits during an accounting period because the income statement will report all of the revenues actually earned during the period and all of the expenses incurred in order to earn the revenues. This method also helps because it reports all the assets that were earned are reported and all the liabilities that were incurred are reported†. (Averkamp, 2004).

Jane Elliot’s Experiment

A Divided Class From the moment our country was created, one of the main liberties we asked for was the idea of equality, â€Å"that all men will be created equal. † Although this has been a part of the American ideal since 1776, American’s have not fulfilled this liberty. Individuals do not admit it, but many are still prejudice against minorities, particularly African Americans. In the 1960’s, around the time when Martin Luther King Jr. as fighting for civil rights for people of color, a 3rd grade school teacher, Jane Elliot, from Riceville, Iowa was busy at work in an attempt to recreate the negative emotional and physical effects of racism within her classroom. She created an experiment in which she divided her students into unequal groups as a way of creating artificial stereotypes, prejudices, and discrimination. Jane Elliot eventually expanded her experiments into the adult population. She has done these experiments on corrections workers in prisons, as we ll as college students.Through all these experiments, Jane Elliot has made many conclusions and generalizations that can directly relate back to the real world, and hopefully aid in solving the problem of racism. Jane Elliot’s experimentation with stereotypes first began within the walls of her 3rd grade classroom. Before the experiment began she asked the students for their opinions on minority groups. Many of the students answered with statements regarding black people as being dumb and different than whites. They also discussed how African Americans do not have the same opportunities as white people do because of the color of their skin.Jane Elliot continued by effectively dividing the students into unequal groups based on eye color. From the initial division, Jane Elliot treated the students in the brown eyed group as if they were inferior to those in the blue eyed group. She set a vast amount of boundaries limiting what those in the bottom could do, and in contrast expan ding what those in the top could do. This document had a lot of great points that stood out as I viewed the film. The fact that these third grades actually understood this exercises was one point that just touched my heart.If little babies can understand that racism is not the way to go; then adults should be about to let it go as well and treat everyone equal. Another thing that stood out is when Jane Elliot was doing the study with the adults in her and another white lady were going back in forward with one another. That caught my eye since the white lady felt like she could talk to Jane Elliot any kind of way. In the real world a lot of white people do feel that they are above everyone and can say and do as they please. In that incident just goes to show the truth to that.Three social psychology terms I remember from the film â€Å"A Divided Class† were stereotype, prejudice, and discrimination. These three terms stuck with me because they are basically the base terms when it comes to social psychology. Stereotype is the generalization about a group of people in which certain traits are assigned to virtually all members of the group, regardless of actual variation among the members. This goes hand to hand with the film since the kids were made to believe that everyone with brown eyes was less than the kids with blue eyes.That is stereotyping since they did not try to get to know one another for who they really are but for what they were told about them. Prejudice is a hostile or negative attitude toward a distinguishable group of people, based solely on their membership of that group. For example, Jane Elliot told the blue eye kids to be mean and not listen to the brown eye kids. This was done to show the meaning of prejudice. Since the kids gave the brown eye kids a very negative attitude just because they had brown eyes. Discrimination is unjustified negative or harmful action toward a member of a group simply because his or her membership in that group.The kids in class did not allow the brown eye kids to play on the big toy that was an act of discrimination. They were being negative since the kids had brown eyes and not blue. In closing, when I meet people who seem racist or come from families where parents have told them that black does more bad stuff then us white folks, I always ask â€Å"what if we all had the same skin color? Who would be the bad guy? I believe it is the fear, it is always easier to point fingers telling, hey it’s because he is black, hey it’s because he got a mental illness, however people would be in shock soon as someone say he is a normally family guy† then you can’t point fingers. I some time feel victimize, and it’s hard to accept and realized how evil some people can be and how judgmental they are as well. On the other hand, this film has really help open my eyes to the real world. In you should never judge a book by its cover because you don’t know wher e and what it has been through. This experiment should be express through all school, starting at a young age because that will be the back bone on rather or not the student will grow up being prejudice towards others. show more

Monday, July 29, 2019

ELECTROPHORESIS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

ELECTROPHORESIS - Essay Example These are size, voltage, supporting media and buffer (electrolyte). Smaller molecules travel faster than larger molecules while high voltages cause faster migration than lower voltages. However, there is a limit to the voltage that can be used as very high voltages cause the gel to melt and affect resolution. Various solid supports have varying pore sizes and sieving properties thereby affecting the rate of mobility. The lower the strength of the gel the bigger the pore size and vice versa. The buffer, which is a function of pH, also affects mobility and separation. Therefore, the success of the procedure depends on the correct choice of buffer. There are two main forms of electrophoresis namely moving boundary electrophoresis and zonal methods (Holme and Peck 1998, p. 133). The moving boundary method uses a U-tube that contains the analyte in the lower portion of the U while the arms contain the buffer. An electric potential is directed to the buffer and the movement of the boundary with time matches the velocity of migration of the analyte. The most common application of the moving-boundary electrophoresis is during the investigation of the physical traits of molecules as well as in large preparative processes. Conversely, zonal techniques involve the application of the analyte on a large area of supporting medium. They are named according to the supporting medium used and include the various types of gel electrophoresis (agarose gel, SDS-PAGE etc), capillary electrophoresis, affinity electrophoresis, and immunoelectrophoresis (Gault and McClenaghan 2008, p. 169). They are often employed in the separation of proteins cont ained in serum and urine, haemoglobin, isoenzymes, and nucleic acids. Electrophoretic equipment may vary in appearance, but all of them retain a common basic design that includes a tank, supporting media, an electrolyte compartment, electrodes, a stable supply of voltage, and safety gadgets. A cover is often included to minimize

Sunday, July 28, 2019

A Critical Analysis of Hemingway's A Clean, Well-lighted Place Essay

A Critical Analysis of Hemingway's A Clean, Well-lighted Place - Essay Example Ernest Hemingway’s 1954 Nobel Prize winner â€Å"A Clean, Well-lighted Place† effectively illustrates human beings’ different answers of the mostly asked question: â€Å"What is the meaning of life?† From toddlerhood to late adulthood, as people grow mature, their response to this question gets influenced with their life’s experiences whether good or bad. They either turn out to be hopeful amidst life adversities or become cynical of life’s real meaning. In a much closer look, Hemingway’s work undoubtedly reflects his own experiences (Ernest Hemingway). He himself has committed suicide in the year 1961(Redouane, Abouddahab, 2). And as a result, most critical analyses of his works become mostly biographical in nature. Hemingway’s work undoubtedly reflects a considerable amount of his life’s experiences as a soldier, writer, and reporter. It can be also noted that most of the criticism of Hemingway’s works is ideolog ically based and is greatly influenced by the accumulated facts about his life and work. His works usually present male personas whose characters evolve around the themes on â€Å"losing hope and faith† (Ernest Hemingway). This short story â€Å"A Clean, Well-lighted Place† somehow progresses on the same theme: of losing hope and faith to live, and of nursing the moments of despair to finding that something that will push one to continue living. These themes were well illustrated by three characters of different walks of life, three people who see life in different perspectives: the young waiter, the old waiter and the old-drunk man. They have different stories to tell and only in the clean, well-lighted cafe that their mind-sets get exposed to the readers’ critical scrutiny. In Erickson’s Psychosocial Theory, he pointed out that in each stage of a person’s life one experiences psychosocial crisis represented by two opposing dispositions also terme d by Erickson as â€Å"contrary dispositions†. If one can successfully manage each stage, he/she can get through the rest of the stages. On the other hand, If one failed, he may develop â€Å"reduced ability to complete further stages† (Saul McLeod). In relation to this, the young waiter represents those in the young adulthood stage, the sixth stage of Erickson’s Psychosocial Theory of Human Development, who views life with much positivity and idealism while the old-drunk man and the old waiter who sympathizes with the former represent those in the late adulthood stage, the last stage of Erickson’s Psychosocial Theory. They are the ones who are caught between developing ego integrity and wallowing up the feeling of despair. The story, set in a clean, well-lighted cafe somewhere in Spain, opens with an old man drinking brandy and sitting on his favourite spot in the cafe, â€Å"in the shadow of the leaves of the tree made against the electric light† . The two waiters in the cafe were talking about the old-drunk man as he drowns himself with his liquor. Their conversation wound up with the latter’s attempted suicide to the significance of a clean, well-lighted cafe of which young waiter finds no difference with other bars and bodegas. The young waiter who seems oblivious of the old-drunk man’s personal issues finds the attempt ridiculous because for him the latter â€Å"has plenty of money† and that there’s no reason why should the old man try to end his life. On one hand, the old waiter feels what the old man was exactly feeling as he understands what â€Å"it† feels like. He confesses that, he himself needs a clean, well-lighted place once in a while. As the story progresses, the young and old waiter, both representations of two different generations, demonstrate the different worldviews

Saturday, July 27, 2019

Nanotechnology and water purification Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Nanotechnology and water purification - Essay Example It has been proved that contaminated water is the worldwide cause of death and is responsible for different complex diseases to have affected mankind as well as plants and other marine animals. Industries too, are facing major obstacles in the path of advancement, because of this problem. Water is the elixir of life without which any living creature cannot survive. The problem is that since it is so vital to mankind, human beings are unable to stop using water whether it is for drinking or external uses. There is no substitute for water and all countries ranging from the developed Western countries like the UK, USA or Germany to developing nations like India, Brazil, China and under-developed countries like South America and Africa, are facing this major problem of water pollution. Water is the main element for survival for every living being and so, paradoxically, it is also where bacteria and germs thrive and water becomes the breeding ground for new germs which are capable of killing humans and other animals. The Industrial revolution which made things easier for mankind is also responsible for water pollution. Ironically, it is the increased levels of contaminated water which are also creating havoc for these very industries whose existence in the first place gave rise to water pollution. But, no steps are being taken to curb this menace. To safeguard itself from the devastating effects of contaminated water, mankind came up with different ways to purify water so that it could be 100percent pure and germ-free. Human beings began by simply boiling water because the process of boiling water sterilizes it so that it becomes germ-free and fit for human consumption. Then they discovered that chlorine and iodine could also be used for purifying water but it was found to be leaving a strange after-taste. At last, they started purifying water by using the process of osmosis and reverse osmosis. (Meyer,  

Friday, July 26, 2019

Representation of Masculinity in Die Hard 2 Essay

Representation of Masculinity in Die Hard 2 - Essay Example As such, this paper intends to analyze the representation of masculinity in one of the Die Hard films namely Die Hard 2 by drawing on Mulvey and Neale readings as well as discussion by Taster. Hegemonic masculinity associates with social dominance on one end. On the other, it involves physical prowess, sexual virility, and aggression (Rzepka and Horsley 2010: 61). These are potentially bewildering images of action heroes. With that in mind, it is interesting to note that this hegemonic ideal is not only hard to create, but also implausible to keep up with for the contemporary male. Therefore, this figure that depicts powerful masculinity may only exist or embody in legendary heroes, mythical figures, and probably a minute number of males within a society (West and Lay 2003: 27). Die Hard 2 is a story revolving around a cop who cites in New York and on fine day to Christmas, he visits his ‘distanced’ wife who lives in Los Angeles. Upon his arrival, he finds her and the re st of her work mates having a Christmas party at the same building where they work (Gates 2006: 35). Coincidentally, there happens to be some criminals posing as political terrorists who invade the building demanding for petty yet criminalist favors like release of war criminals jailed in one of the penitentiary facilities around America. John McLane works as a New York law enforcement officer. He stays far from his wife and have some unsolved issues which act as part of the reasons as to why they are no longer in goods terms (Rzepka and Horsley 2010: 89). He is a masculine male character with virile physical prowess and social dominance as well as high level of aggression. Post analysis of Hollywood presentation of male genres characterized Die Hard 2 as male driven action movie that the audience understands to be one of the most visually explosive films with a macho that portrays Hollywood genres (Milestone and Meyer 2012: 50). This is because of its spectacular sight and relevanc e of the hard male body set forth by the main character. Indeed, extant studies and research from with the some of the feminist film theories puts across clearly that the body masculinity of an action hero gives the preferential tone for an action narrative (Caroll 2003: 79). Analysis of Die Hard 2 highlights that movie directors construct action heroes like Bruce Willis exclusively via their physicality and the way they display their bodies form a vital ingredient of the visual effects or excess that they offer in the muscular action cinema (Gates 2006: 58). Several suggestions show that American action films strive hard and frequently at the expense of developing the narrative, to contrive situations or instances for displaying the body of an action hero. Ideally, extant literature that examines both the hegemonic male and the action hero routinely expound on issues such as sexuality, race, class, nationality, and above all the body (Bould 2005: 59). Despite his ageing body prowes s, most reviewers, and critics alike, received the Die Hard Series with a lot of zeal and plausible applauds. This is due to his ability to withstand physical assaults with his male hard body irrespective of age at that particular time (Berg 2002: 80). You should note that masculinity change must take place

Thursday, July 25, 2019

Poverty related issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Poverty related issues - Essay Example This scheme allows and asks all the citizens across all the states irrespective of their residence to participate in the charity, because poverty and charity are both indiscriminate disregarding time and space. In this process one may not think that pro rata contribution of a few dollars by him/her is the job done. One may contribute as much as he can comfortably afford. Here comfortable affordability means the amount, which can alleviate a suffering of a poor without causing a suffering for you. And one should never sit back to see what others have contributed. If all of the citizens think like that then the charity may go empty and poor may die. While drawing a thin line between charity and duty one must be very careful. A man who gives regular and enough charity should not consider himself generous. Bread left over from one's meal always belongs to the poor. Here it is never meant that a citizen is required either to give away half of his income into charity, or all that he himself does not need. The beauty of helping others lies in a feeling for those who suffer from poverty. Utilitarian point of view is very clear about this. One should work enough to have enough to give away in charity. Keeping oneself underutilize is not good. And one should never think that since government is responsible for the social spending on poor, he/she is absolved of this responsibility. Other point which may stop a person from charity is that poor are always over populated and they do not follow the population control programs. Coercive application of these programs never works. A conducive environment comes from enough purpose oriented recreational and educational programs. Poverty is also a state... Poverty is the name of a situation and process. This is a situation when an individual, family or a community can not provide for bare minimum needs of food, clothing, shelter and heath. It is the process when this situation causes, hunger, disease, and death. Historically poverty and affluence have coexisted in the human society (Peter singer 1972). The solutions to the poverty always existed in human morality. When the human conscience is rightly jerked, it is hoped that poverty would no more be seen in the human societies. State the general occurrence of poverty in Unite States (the most affluent society) In United States of America only about 32 million people live below the line of poverty. This number is distributed unevenly amongst different socio-economic groups of the states. 25%Afro-American, 22% Hispanics, 10%Asian American, 8% non-Hispanic whites respectively live in the perpetual poverty. Income inequalities and racial discrimination is the worst producer of poverty in the American Society. The worst hit groups in the ethno-racial groups are the poor children, women and disabled. These marginalized people are vulnerable to homelessness, street crimes, malnourishment, neglect in the health care, domestic violence and discriminate educational facilities. What are the social problems emanating from poverty? Different social problems emanate from this marginalized group of American society that directly hit the American society. Poverty is badly impacting the health of women and children. The burden on health facilities and health insurance is increasing many folds in these poverty stricken communities. When the parents cannot afford the children’s feeding costs.

Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Managing Innovation at St. Lukes Medical Center Essay

Managing Innovation at St. Lukes Medical Center - Essay Example Every organization exists to achieve a purpose. In order to attain organizational goals, a set of policies and strategies are defined and developed by management. As averred by Christensen, Andrews, & Bower (3), policy is â€Å"the study of the functions and responsibilities of senior management, the crucial problems that affect success in the total enterprise, and the decisions that determine the direction of the organization and shape its function†. One of the strategic management decisions undertaken by aggressive and competitive organizations is innovation. Most business practitioners have grown accustomed to innovation stemming from new inventions and advancing technology. But suiting policy to changing circumstances includes also the application of a firm’s long-established strengths to unexplored segments of the market via innovations in price, service, distribution, or merchandising. Innovation is the â€Å"process by which an idea or invention is translated into a good or service for which people will pay. In business, innovation results often from the application of a scientific or technical idea in decreasing the gap between the needs or expectations of the customers and the performance of a firm's products.† (Business Dictionary 1) One of the most innovative organizations in Asia is St. Luke’s Medical Center in the Philippines. It is the number one hospital in the Philippines but its vision is to be one of the top five medical institutions in Asia by 2010.

In Which Ways and to What Extent Can GMO Products Harm Health Research Paper

In Which Ways and to What Extent Can GMO Products Harm Health - Research Paper Example On the other hand, researchers have reached a concession that there is more to genetically modified crops other than just the high productivity. In essence, these products have negative health impacts on human beings and this is something to worry about. In Japan, the consumption of wheat has increased right from the period after the Second World War and the country has failed to satisfy this demand. Therefore, the country relies on import of wheat from other nations. The concern for human health in Japan has seen the import of wheat from other countries being stopped as the controversy of genetically modified wheat becomes a reality. Evaluation of a wide range of materials reveals that genetically modified food products have both the good and bad sides of it. The website resource provides the true definition of genetically modified organism and their social economic impacts. Genetically modified organisms (GMO) refers to a wide range of plants and animals that are genetically manipu lated to provide desirable impact in productivity of Agricultural products. The motive of this scientific action is to provide the world with a better sustainable economic environment where every country can sustain its population. In many countries, this culture has helped the agricultural sector to experience a drastic shift in productivity. However, this resource also states in black and white about the negative impacts of this science that has intruded the natural agricultural style. Among the listed effects of this science is that the consumers of these food products will experience a lower nutrient level, antibiotic resistance, more cases of food allergy and poisoning. This is the impact that Japan anticipates as they continues to import wheat from other nations. In reality the resource provides an explanation for the possible reason why Japan declined import of wheat from other countries. The superiority of this resource lies in its deep coverage of the matters surrounding th e controversy of genetically modified products. Karimi (2013), a website updater, presents a rather biased GMO timeline and the historical development of this agricultural technology. The GMO matter started way back in 1935 and a slow and progressive development of the technology has made the topic a sensitive matter today. It provides a broad coverage of the legal aspect of the GMO since its first development and its acceptability in many countries today. Although the website appears to be subjective and over-scores on the negative impacts of the GMO in the society, it provides a ground to understand the proliferation of GMO culture in the world today (Greider, 26 Oct. 2003). This timeline coincides with the import culture of GMO in Japan since the time when the country’s demand for wheat increased. In Japan, the country import culture developed shortly after the Second World War (1945) and has continued to grow. This historical coverage points out to the possible period tha t Japan has suffered from the unlabeled GMO wheat until 2012 when the country became more conscious of the GMO products. The Public press channels have played a great role in asserting the public on the nature of this new technology and garnering public opinions on the matter. Strom (2013) wrote an investigative article to garner public opinions on their take on the proliferation the GMO technology and its impact on

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Critical discussion of paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Critical discussion of paper - Essay Example rmly available legitimate professional identity in massage therapy, efforts to desexualize the profession only serve to promote heteronormativity, discrimination and sexual harassment. In this context, desexualization is in reference to efforts aimed at removing gender and sexual qualities and characteristics of men and women at work. However, it must also be noted that at the workplace, sexuality takes on multiple forms with multiple meanings and consequences. For example, markers such as gender, education and training levels, sexuality, class and race will have different implications of sexuality and affect workers and work differently. Sullivan (2014, p. 360) has given her position on desexualization and its consequences in massage therapy. This paper will critically discuss her arguments and give the writer’s own view on the issue of sexuality at the workplace. This will be done with the consideration that although many organizations have attempted to monitor and control t heir workers’ sexual behavior, workers have also been known to show resistance to the control and tried negotiating the constraints. It cannot be denied that so long as men and women work together, sexual feelings and relations at the workplace will always exist (Erickson 2007, p. 79). However, this is not to mean that when they enjoy sexualized interactions, the possibility of damaging outcomes is eliminated. More specifically, massage therapists need to have legitimate professional identities since female and male therapists manage their marginalized identities differently. However, the efforts to desexualize the workplace and afford massage therapists a legitimate identity maintain heteronormativity, discrimination and sexual harassment (Sullivan 2014, p. 348). Sullivan (2014, p. 348) also correctly points out that organizational sexuality predominantly stem from organizational bureaucracy and feminist communications that support its eradication openly. This opinion is true because the

Monday, July 22, 2019

Air Pollution Essay Example for Free

Air Pollution Essay BEIJING — Outdoor air pollution contributed to 1.2 million premature deaths in China in 2010, nearly 40 percent of the global total, according to a new summary of data from a scientific study on leading causes of death worldwide. Figured another way, the researchers said, China’s toll from pollution was the loss of 25 million healthy years of life from the population. The data on which the analysis is based was first presented in the ambitious 2010 Global Burden of Disease Study, which was published in December in The Lancet, a British medical journal. The authors decided to break out numbers for specific countries and present the findings at international conferences. The China statistics were offered at a forum in Beijing on Sunday. â€Å"We have been rolling out the India- and China-specific numbers, as they speak more directly to national leaders than regional numbers,† said Robert O’Keefe, the vice president of the Health Effects Institute, a research organization that is helping to present the study. The organization is partly financed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the global motor vehicle industry. What the researchers called â€Å"ambient particulate matter pollution† was the fourth-leading risk factor for deaths in China in 2010, behind dietary risks, high blood pressure and smoking. Air pollution ranked seventh on the worldwide list of risk factors, contributing to 3.2 million deaths in 2010. By comparison with China, India, which also has densely populated cities grappling with similar levels of pollution, had 620,000 premature deaths in 2010 because of outdoor air pollution, the study found. That was deemed to be the sixth most common killer in South Asia. The study was led by an institute at the University of Washington and several partner universities and institutions, including the World Health Organization. Calculations of premature deaths because of outdoor air pollution are politically threatening in the eyes of some Chinese officials . According to news reports, Chinese officials cut out sections of a 2007 report called â€Å"Cost of Pollution in China† that discussed premature deaths. The report’s authors had concluded that 350,000 to 400,000 people die prematurely in China each  year because of outdoor air pollution. The study was done by the World Bank in cooperation with the Chinese State Environmental Protection Administration, the precursor to the Ministry of Environmental Protection. There have been other estimates of premature deaths because of air pollution. In 2011, the World Health Organization estimated that there were 1.3 million premature deaths in cities worldwide because of outdoor air pollution. Last month, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, based in Paris, warned that â€Å"urban air pollution is set to become the top environmental cause of mortality worldwide by 2050, ahead of dirty water and lack of sanitation.† It estimated that up to 3.6 million people could end up dying prematurely from air pollution each year, mostly in China and India. There has been growing outrage in Chinese cities over what many say are untenable levels of air pollution. Cities across the north hit record levels in January, and official Chinese newspapers ran front-page articles on the surge — what some foreigners call the â€Å"airpocalypse† — despite earlier limits on such discussion by propaganda officials. In February, the State Council, China’s cabinet, announced a timeline for introducing new fuel standards, but state-owned oil and power companies are known to block or ignore environmental policies to save on costs. A study released on Thursday said the growth rate of disclosure of pollution information in 113 Chinese cities had slowed. The groups doing the study, the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, based in Beijing, and the Natural Resources Defense Council, based in Washington, said that â€Å"faced with the current situation of severe air, water and soil pollution, we must make changes to pollution source information disclosure so that information is no longer patchy, out of date and difficult to o btain.† Chinese officials have made some progress in disclosing crucial air pollution statistics. Official news reports have said 74 cities are now required to release data on levels of particulate matter 2.5 micrometers in diameter or smaller, which penetrate the body’s tissues most deeply. For years, Chinese officials had been collecting the data but refusing to release it, until they came under pressure from Chinese who saw that the United States Embassy in Beijing was measuring the levels hourly and posting the data in a Twitter feed, @BeijingAir. Last week, an official Chinese news report said the cost of environmental degradation in China was about $230 billion in 2010, or 3.5  percent of the gross domestic product. The estimate, said to be partial, came from a research institute under the Ministry of Environmental Protection, and was three times the amount in 2004, in local currency terms. It was unclear to what extent those numbers took into account the costs of health care and premature deaths because of pollution. National Park Service Air Pollution Its Nature, Sources, and Effects http://www.nps.gov/shen/naturescience/airpollution.htm Last Updated: 04/09/2014 Summer View, mountains in the distance from Skyline Drive. John F. Mitchell NPS Volunteer Introduction Air pollution occurs in many forms but can generally be thought of as gaseous and particulate contaminants that are present in the earths atmosphere. Gaseous pollutants include sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO), volatile organic compounds (VOC), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), hydrogen fluoride (HF), and various gaseous forms of metals. These pollutants are emitted from large stationary sources such as fossil fuel fired power plants, smelters, industrial boilers, petroleum refineries, and manufacturing facilities as well as from area and mobile sources. They are corrosive to various materials which causes damage to cultural resources, can cause injury to ecosystems and organisms, aggravate respiratory diseases, and reduce visibility. Particulates come in both large and small or fine solid forms. Large particulates include substances such as dust, asbestos fibers, and lead. Fine particulates include sulfates (SO4) and nitrates (NO3). Important sourc es of particulates are power plants, smelters, mining operations, and automobiles. Asbestos and lead affect organisms, while sulfates and nitrates not only cause health problems, but also contribute to acid rain or acid deposition and a reduction in visibility. Particulate matter, a term sometimes used instead of particulates, refers to the mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air. Toxic air pollutants are a class of chemicals which may  potentially cause health problems in a significant way. The sources of toxic air pollutants include power plants, industries, pesticide application, and contaminated windblown dust. Persistent toxic pollutants, such as mercury, are of particular concern because of their global mobility and ability to accumulate in the food chain. More research is needed to fully understand the fate and effects of mercury and the many other toxic pollutants. Primary pollutants are those that are emitted directly into the air from pollution sources. Secondary pollutants are formed when primary pollutants undergo chemical changes in the atmosphere. Ozone is an example of a secondary pollutant. It is formed when nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are mixed and warmed by sunlight. Ozone (O3) is a major component of what is often referred to as smog. The ozone which is present in the troposphere, or the atmosphere that is close to the ground, should not be confused with beneficial ozone that is located in the stratosphere or upper atmosphere. This beneficial ozone in the stratosphere helps protect the earth from harmful ultraviolet light from the sun. Sources of Air Pollution Stationary and Area Sources A stationary source of air pollution refers to an emission source that does not move, also known as a point source. Stationary sources include factories, power plants, dry cleaners and degreasing operations. The term area source is used to describe many small sources of air pollution located together whose individual emissions may be below thresholds of concern, but whose collective emissions can be significant. Residential wood burners are a good example of a small source, but when combined with many other small sources, they can contribute to local and regional air pollution levels. Area sources can also be thought of as non-point sources, such as construction of housing developments, dry lake beds, and landfills. Mobile Sources A mobile source of air pollution refers to a source that is capable of moving under its own power. In general, mobile sources imply on-road transportation, which includes vehicles such as cars, sport utility vehicles, and buses. In addition, there is also a non-road or off-road  category that includes gas-powered lawn tools and mowers, farm and construction equipment, recreational vehicles, boats, planes, and trains. Agricultural Sources Agricultural operations, those that raise animals and grow crops, can generate emissions of gases and particulate matter. For example, animals confined to a barn or restricted area (rather than field grazing), produce large amounts of manure. Manure emits various gases, particularly ammonia into the air. This ammonia can be emitted from the animal houses, manure storage areas, or from the land after the manure is applied. In crop production, the misapplication of fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides can potentially result in aerial drift of these materials and harm may be caused. Natural Sources Although industrialization and the use of motor vehicles are overwhelmingly the most significant contributors to air pollution, there are important natural sources of pollution as well. Wildland fires, dust storms, and volcanic activity also contribute gases and particulates to our atmosphere. Unlike the above mentioned sources of air pollution, natural air pollution is not caused by people or their activities. An erupting volcano emits particulate matter and gases; forest and prairie fires can emit large quantities of pollutants; plants and trees naturally emit VOCs which are oxidized and form aerosols that can cause a natural blue haze; and dust storms can create large amounts of particulate matter. Wild animals in their natural habitat are also considered natural sources of pollution. The National Park Service recognizes that each of these sources emits gases and particulate matter into the atmosphere but we regard these as constituents resulting from natural processes. Air Pollution at Shenandoah Sources of air pollution that affect Shenandoah National Park are largely outside of the park. These include industrial facilities located throughout the mid-Atlantic region and the Ohio River Valley as well as urban centers in this same region. Because most areas adjacent to the park are rural and agricultural, it is clear that transport of pollutants from distant  locations is an important element upon which park air quality hinges. Even some agricultural activities, such as ammonia from the poultry industry and pesticides that are applied to adjacent fields, may contribute to air pollution in the park. In-park emission sources are relatively small, but do include motor vehicles, maintenance equipment, small boilers and generators. The relative contribution from the in-park sources is very small compared to other sources. In a July 2002 report describing an emissions inventory for Shenandoah National Park, it was determined that less than 1% of emissions were produced from in-par k sources. How does air pollution move? Air transport is the term used to describe the mechanism by which air pollution moves from an emissions source to a receptor. A source is a location (i.e., smokestack, chimney, exhaust pipe) from which the pollutant emanates and a receptor is the place (i.e., soil, vegetation, waterbodies, human lungs) where the pollutant is deposited. The atmosphere itself is the transporter of pollutants from sources to receptors. If the wind carries the plume of pollution high enough in the air, it may travel for hundreds of miles before being brought to earth. This is known as long-range or long-distance transport. Air Pollution Effects The air is an important component of the natural system of a park in its own right. The presence of pollution in the atmosphere results directly in air quality degradation. Air pollution is also a critical factor affecting the quality of other environmental resources as well as the human-made structures and facilities in the area. Polluted air can and has harmed park resources in a variety of ways depending upon the chemistry of the pollutant, weather and environmental conditions, and the nature or sensitivity of park resources. Examples of this harm include vegetative discoloration and growth disruption from ozone, loss of aquatic species from stream acidification, shifts in nutrient availability from acid deposition, and erosion of building surfaces and rock formations. Air pollution impairs visibility and contributes to climate change. Air pollution can also be detrimental to human health. Shchooltoday Your Cool Facts and Tips on Air Pollution What causes air pollution? Air pollution can result from both human and natural actions. Natural events that pollute the air include forest fires, volcanic eruptions, wind erosion, pollen dispersal, evaporation of organic compounds and natural radioactivity. Pollution from natural occurrences are not very often. Human activities that result in air pollution include: 1. Emissions from industries and manufacturing activities Have you seen a manufacturing company before? You will notice that there are long tubes (called chimneys) erected high into the air, with lots of smoke and fumes coming out of it. Waste incinerators, manufacturing industries and power plants emit high levels of carbon monoxide, organic compounds, and chemicals into the air. This happens almost everywhere that people live. Petroleum refineries also release lots of hydrocarbons into the air. 2. Burning Fossil Fuels After the industrial age, transportation has become a key part of our lives. Cars and heavy duty trucks, trains, shipping vessels and airplanes all burn lots of fossil fuels to work. Emissions from automobile engines contain both primary and secondary pollutants. This is a major cause of pollution, and one that is very difficult to manage. This is because humans rely heavily on vehicles and engines for transporting people, good and services. Fumes from car exhauts contain dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, hydrocarbons and particulates. On their own, they cause great harm to people who breath them. Additionally, they react with environmental gases to create further toxic gases. Click here to see the effects 3. Household and Farming Chemicals Crop dusting, fumigating homes, household cleaning products or painting supplies, over the counter insect/pest killers, fertilizer dust emit harmful chemicals into the air and cause pollution. In many case, when we use these chemicals at home or offices with no or little ventilation, we may fall ill if we breathe them. What are the common air pollutants around? Carbon Monoxide (CO) Fuel combustion from vehicles and engines. Reduces the amount of oxygen reaching the body’s organs and tissues; aggravates heart disease, resulting in chest pain and other symptoms. Ground-level Ozone (O3)  Secondary pollutant formed by chemical reaction of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and NOx in the presence of sunlight. Decreases lung function and causes respiratory symptoms, such as coughing and shortness of breath, and also makes asthma and other lung diseases get worse. More on Ground Level Ozone Here Lead (Pb) Smelters (metal refineries) and other metal industries; combustion of leaded gasoline in piston engine aircraft; waste incinerators (waste burners), and battery manufacturing. Damages the developing nervous system, resulting in IQ loss and impacts on learning, memory, and behavior in children. Cardiovascular and renal effects in adults and early effects related to anaemia. Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) Fuel combustion (electric utilities, big industrial boilers, vehicles) and wood burning. Worsens lung diseases leading to respiratory symptoms, increased susceptibility to respiratory infection. Particulate Matter (PM) This is formed through chemical reactions, fuel combustion (e.g., burning coal, wood, diesel), industrial processes, farming (plowing, field burning), and unpaved roads or during road constructions. Short-term exposures can worsen heart or lung diseases and cause respiratory problems. Long-term exposures can cause heart or lung disease and sometimes premature deaths. Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) SO2 come from fuel combustion (especially high-sulfur coal); electric utilities and industrial processes as well as and natural occurances like volcanoes. Aggravates asthma and makes breathing difficult.It also contributes to particle formation with associated health effects. What are the effects of air pollution? Acidification: Chemical reactions involving air pollutants can create acidic compounds which can cause harm to vegetation and buildings. Sometimes, when an air pollutant, such as sulfuric acid combines with the water droplets that make up clouds, the water droplets become acidic, forming acid rain. When acid rain falls over an area, it can kill trees and harm animals, fish, and other wildlife. Acid rain destroys the leaves of plants. When acid rain infiltrates into soils, it changes the chemistry of the soil making it unfit for many living things that rely on soil as a habitat or for nutrition. Acid rain also changes the chemistry of the lakes and streams that the rainwater flows into, harming fish and other aquatic life. Eutrophication: Rain can carry and deposit the Nitrogen in some pollutants on rivers and soils. This will adversely affect the nutrients in the soil and water bodies. This can result in algae growth in lakes and water bodies, and make conditions for other living organism harmful. Ground-level ozone: Chemical reactions involving air pollutants create a poisonous gas ozone (O3). Gas Ozone can affect people’s health and can damage vegetation types and some animal life too. Particulate matter:  Air pollutants can be in the form of particulate matter which can be very harmful to our health. The level of effect usually depends on the length of time of exposure, as well the kind and concentration of chemicals and particles exposed to. Short-term effects include irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, and upper respiratory infections such as bronchitis and  pneumonia. Others include headaches, nausea, and allergic reactions. Short-term air pollution can aggravate the medical conditions of individuals with asthma and emphysema. Long-term health effects can include chronic respiratory disease, lung cancer, heart disease, and even damage to the brain, nerves, liver, or kidneys. Continual exposure to air pollution affects the lungs of growing children and may aggravate or compli cate medical conditions in the elderly. Air pollution prevention, monitoring and solution. Solution efforts on pollution is always a big problem. This is why prevention interventions are always a better way of controlling air pollution. These prevention methods can either come from government (laws) or by individual actions. In many big cities, monitoring equipment have been installed at many points in the city. Authorities read them regularly to check the quality of air. Lets see more below: Government (or community) level prevention Governments throughout the world have already taken action against air pollution by introducing green energy. Some governments are investing in wind energy and solar energy, as well as other renewable energy, to minimize burning of fossil fuels, which cause heavy air pollution. Governments are also forcing companies to be more responsible with their manufacturing activities, so that even though they still cause pollution, they are a lot controlled. Companies are also building more energy efficient cars, which pollute less than before. Individual Level Prevention Encourage your family to use the bus, train or bike when commuting. If we all do this, there will be less cars on road and less fumes. Use energy (light, water, boiler, kettle and fire woods) wisely. This is because lots of fossil fuels are burned to generate electricity, and so if we can cut down the use, we will also cut down the amount of pollution we create. Recycle and re-use things. This will minimize the dependence of producing new things. Remember manufacturing industries create a lot of pollution, so if we can re-use things like shopping plastic bags, clothing, paper and bottles, it can help. Basic Air Pollution Facts Below are some random facts and info on environmental pollution. Air pollutants (dangerous things that make the air unclean)come in the form of gases or particles. In March 2011, a very powerful earthquake in the sea (tsunami) hit the Japan coast. The sea level rose and water came into the land, damaging 4 of the 6 reactors in the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. World Health Organisation (WHO) experts confirm that there is slight increased risk of some cancer types for some people who were exposed to the radiation. These included people living in that area and some workers at the plant. Below is a peice of the information given on BBC website: The biggest lifetime risks were seen in those exposed as infants, compared with children or adults. For girls exposed to radiation from the accident as infants, the report found a 4% increase above the lifetime expected risk of solid tumours and a 6% increase above that expected for breast cancer. Boys exposed as infants are expected to have a 7% increased risk of leukaemia above that expected in the normal population. The biggest risk was seen in thyroid cancer, which for infant girls could be up to 70% higher than expected over their lifetime. BBC Website: /news/health-21614722 It is estimated that you breathe 20,000 liters of air each day. This means the more polluted the air is, the more we breathe into our lungs dangerous chemicals. Air can be polluted both indoors and outdoors. Tobacco and other kinds of smoking are examples of indoor air pollution. Sick Building Syndrome is a health condition related to pesticides, insecticides and chemicals we use at home and offices. In the great Smog Disaster in London in 1952, four thousand people died in a few days due to the high concentrations of pollution. Air pollution affects kids more than adults  because, for their body size, kids breathe more air and spend more time playing outside. More hazardous pollutants are discharged into the air each year than are released to surface water, ground water, and land, combined. Motor vehicles produce more air pollution than any other single human activity. One full commuter bus can mean 40 less cars going through your neighborhood. In America, vehicle exhaust contributes roughly 60% of all carbon monoxide emissions nationwide, and up to 95% in cities. Indoor air pollution and health Around 3 billion people cook and heat their homes using open fires and leaky stoves burning biomass (wood, animal dung and crop waste) and coal. Nearly 2 million people die prematurely from illness attributable to indoor air pollution from household solid fuel use. Nearly 50% of pneumonia deaths among children under five are due to particulate matter inhaled from indoor air pollution. More than 1 million people a year die from chronic obstructive respiratory disease (COPD) that develop due to exposure to such indoor air pollution. Both women and men exposed to heavy indoor smoke are 2-3 times more likely to develop COPD Source: WHO Ozone Depletion: Losing Earth’s Protective Layer National Geographic The ozone layer is a belt of naturally occurring ozone gas that sits 9.3 to 18.6 miles (15 to 30 kilometers) above Earth and serves as a shield from the harmful ultraviolet B radiation emitted by the sun. Ozone is a highly reactive molecule that contains three oxygen atoms. It is constantly being formed and broken down in the high atmosphere, 6.2 to 31 miles (10 to 50 kilometers) above Earth, in the region called the stratosphere. Today, there is widespread concern that the ozone layer is deteriorating due to the release of pollution containing the chemicals chlorine and bromine. Such deterioration allows large amounts of ultraviolet B rays to reach Earth, which can cause skin cancer and cataracts in humans and harm animals as  well. Extra ultraviolet B radiation reaching Earth also inhibits the reproductive cycle of phytoplankton, single-celled organisms such as algae that make up the bottom rung of the food chain. Biologists fear that reductions in phytoplankton populations will in turn lower the populations of other animals. Researchers also have documented changes in the reproductive rates of young fish, shrimp, and crabs as well as frogs and salamanders exposed to excess ultraviolet B. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), chemicals found mainly in spray aerosols heavily used by industrialized nations for much of the past 50 years, are the primary culprits in ozone layer breakdown. When CFCs reach the upper atmosphere, they are exposed to ultraviolet rays, which causes them to break down into substances that include chlorine. The chlorine reacts with the oxygen atoms in ozone and rips apart the ozone molecule. One atom of chlorine can destroy more than a hundred thousand ozone molecules, according to the the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The ozone layer above the Antarctic has been particularly impacted by pollution since the mid-1980s. This region’s low temperatures speed up the conversion of CFCs to chlorine. In the southern spring and summer, when the sun shines for long periods of the day, chlorine reacts with ultraviolet rays, destroying ozone on a massive scale, up to 65 percent. This is what some people erroneously refer to as the ozone hole. In other regions, the ozone layer has deteriorated by about 20 percent. About 90 percent of CFCs currently in the atmosphere were emitted by industrialized countries in the Northern Hemisphere, including the United States and Europe. These countries banned CFCs by 1996, and the amount of chlorine in the atmosphere is falling now. But scientists estimate it will take another 50 years for chlorine levels to return to their natural levels. Clean Air Kids The Earth is wrapped in a blanket of air called the atmosphere, which is made up of several layers. About 19-30 kilometres above the Earth is a layer of gas called ozone, which is a form of oxygen. Ozone is produced naturally in the atmosphere. WHY DO WE HAVE AN OZONE LAYER? The ozone layer is very important because it stops too many of the suns ultra-violet rays (UV rays) getting through to the Earth these are the rays that cause our skin to tan. Too much UV can cause skin cancer and will also harm all plants and animals. Life on Earth could not exist without the protective shield of the ozone layer. WHAT IS THE OZONE HOLE? Every spring, a hole as big as the USA develops in the ozone layer over Antarctica, in the South Pole. A smaller hole develops each year over the Arctic, at the North Pole. And there are signs that the ozone layer is getting thinner all over the planet. Scientists have discovered that the ozone hole over Antarctica started in 1979, and that the ozone layer generally started to get thin in the early 1980s. The loss of the ozone layer occurs when more ozone is being destroyed than nature is creating. WHAT CAUSES THE OZONE HOLE? One group of gases is particularly likely to damage the ozone layer. These gases are called CFCs, Chloro-Fluoro-Carbons. CFCs are used in some spray cans to force the contents out of the can. They are also used in refrigerators, air conditioning systems and some fire extinguishers. They are used because they are not poisonous and do not catch fire. Most countries have now stopped using new CFCs that can be released into the atmosphere, but many scientists believe we must stop using old ones as well. THE OZONE HOLE AND OUR HEALTH The ozone layer is like a sunscreen, and a thinning of it would mean that more ultra-violet rays would be reaching us. Too many UV rays would cause more sunburn, and because sunburn causes skin cancer, this too would increase deaths. These UV rays are also dangerous for our eyes and could cause an increase in people becoming blind. That is why sun cream and sunglasses are very important. THE OZONE HOLE ON ANIMALS AND PLANTS UV rays can go through water and end up killing small water animals or  plants, called plankton which form the base of the food chain in oceans and seas. Whales and other fishes have plankton as their main food, and if plankton die because of these UV rays, whales will start dying too, because they will not have anything to eat. Large amounts of UV rays could damage all green plants. If the ozone layer keeps getting thinner, there could be fewer and fewer plants on Earth, then there would be less food in the whole world. THE TWO-FACED OZONE GAS Ozone found between 19 and 30 kilometres high in the atmosphere is one of the reasons why we are alive on Earth. But when the gas ozone is found lower down where we can breathe it in, it becomes very dangerous for our health. This ozone is caused by a reaction between air pollution and sunlight and can cause modern-day smog. This is different to the smog that formed in the early 20th century from smoke and fog. What can you do: There are many things we can do to help reduce air pollution and global warming. Use buses and trains instead of cars, as they can carry a lot more people in one journey. This cuts down the amount of pollution produced. Walking or cycling whenever you can will be even better, as it does not create any pollution. It will also be good for your body, as regular exercise will keep you fit and healthy. If your parents must use the car, ask them to avoid using it for very short journeys if possible, as this creates unnecessary pollution. Try to encourage them to share their journeys with other people, for example when they go to work or go shopping. Also encourage them to drive more slowly as this produces less pollution and less carbon dioxide. Energy is produced to generate electricity and to keep us warm. Most energy is produced by the burning of fossil fuels, like coal, oil and gas, which release carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. Fuel burnt in our cars also releases carbon dioxide. As an individual, you do not have a lot of control on how your energy is produced. However, you can control the way in which you use that energy. Using less energy means less of it needs to be produced. So less carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere. We can also help prevent pollution from our own homes which may contribute to acid rain and poor air quality, and increases emissions of carbon dioxide in the  atmosphere. Turning off lights when they are not needed and not wasting electricity will reduce the demand for energy. Less electricity will need to be produced and so less coal, oil and gas will have to be burnt in power stations, which means less air pollution and less carbon dioxide! Pollution formed indoors can be reduced by ensuring that all gas appliances are working correctly. Good ventilation will improve indoor air quality by dispersing biological pollutants like dust mite, and other pollutants such as cigarette smoke. Most of the rubbish we throw away can be recycled, such as glass bottles and jars, steel and aluminium cans, plastic bottles and waste paper. Recycling used materials uses less energy than making new ones. Composting fruit and vegetable waste reduces the amount of rubbish buried at rubbish dumps. What are the Governments doing? Governments throughout the world have already taken action for these different environmental problems (i.e. Acid Rain, Air Quality, Ozone Hole, Global Warming). In their plans they hope to reduce the amount of emissions of greenhouse gases produced by man. About half of the greenhouse effect is caused by our use of energy, especially from fossil fuels. Other sources of energy could be used which do not emit carbon dioxide, e.g. wind power, solar (sun power) and wave power. In the home and at school, we must learn to use energy efficiently and not waste it. Rain is very important for life. All living things need water to live, even people. Rain brings us the water we need. But in many places in the world even where you live, rain has become a menace. Because of pollution in the air, acid gases from factories, cars and homes, the rain is becoming dangerous for the life of every living creature. This rain is known as acid rain. WHAT IS ACID RAIN? Acid gases are produced when fossil fuels like coal and oil are burned in power stations, factories and in our own homes. Most of these acid gases are blown into the sky, and when they mix with the clouds it can cause rain or snow, sleet, fog, mist or hail to become more acidic. The opposites of  acid are alkalis; for example, toothpaste and baking powder are both alkalis. Strong alkalis can also be dangerous, such as ammonia and bleach. Lemon juice, vinegar and cola are all acidic. Rain is naturally acidic, but acid gases make it even more acidic, sometimes as acid as lemon! Nature can also produce acid gases, such as volcanoes. When they erupt, the smoke that comes out of the crater is also full of acid gases. HOW DO WE MEASURE ACIDITY? There is a special scale called the pH scale that measures the strength of acids and alkalis. A low pH number means something is acid. A high number means something is alkali. And something in the middle is called neutral. Acidity can be tested using litmus paper. Usually rain is a little acidic, and has pH of about 5.5, if the pH of rainfall is less than 5.5, then the rain is probably polluted by acid gases. Acids turn litmus paper red, and alkalis turn it blue. With a special paper called universal indicator, you can test levels of acidity. WHAT ARE THE MAIN GASES THAT CAUSE ACID RAIN? When we burn fuels, chemicals called sulphur and nitrogen are released into the air. Once in the air, they mix with water in the air rain, snow, etc and are transformed into different chemicals called sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which can be very dangerous for plants, animals and people. Most of the sulphur comes from power stations, which make electricity, and also from volcanoes. Most of the nitrogen oxides come from car and truck exhausts. We call air pollution the bad gases that we produce and release in the air. Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are the most important causes of acid rain. A PROBLEM ALL OVER THE WORLD Air pollution can be carried over long distances. When acid gases are released, they go high up in the sky, and then they are pushed by strong winds towards other countries. The acid rain in Sweden is caused by air pollution in Britain and other countries of Europe. The pollution produced in Britain ends up mostly in Scandinavia countries in northern Europe  including Sweden, Norway and Denmark. In the USA, the winds blow the air pollution to certain areas in Canada. HOW BAD IS ACID RAIN? When rain is acidic, it affects what it falls on: trees, lakes, buildings and farmland. Sometimes rain is not very acidic and does not cause a lot of problems, but when it is acidic, it can be very harmful to the environment. TREES AND PLANTS Acid rain can have terrible effects on a forest. The acid takes away important minerals from the leaves and the soil. Minerals are like vitamins for trees and plants. Without them, trees and plants cannot grow properly. They lose their leaves and become very weak. They are no longer strong enough to fight against illnesses and frost. They become very ill and can even die. Some soils are alkaline, when acid rain falls on them the acid becomes neutral. Plants and trees living on these soils are not in any big danger.. LAKES AND WATER LIFE Acid rain has a terrible effect on water life. Even if the acid rain does not fall straight into the lake, for example, it may enter from rivers and streams. Some of the life in the lake such as fish and plants may end up dying, because they cannot survive in acidic lakes. Thousands of lakes in Scandinavia have no more life in them. They have received so much acid rain for so many years, because of the winds pushing the acid gases, that nothing can survive. You can recognise a lake dead from acid rain by its clean and crystal clear water. But they look clean because there is very little living in them anymore. Tiny plants and animals are mostly unable to survive.. OUR HEALTH Particulates very small particles of debris found in some of the air pollution are one of the main causes of health problems. In towns and cities, these are released mainly by diesel engines from cars and trucks. When we breathe in air pollution, these very fine particulates can easily enter our body, where they can cause breathing problems, and over time even  cause cancer. Water we drink from taps can be contaminated by acid rain, which can damage the brain.. BUILDINGS Acid rain can also ruin buildings because the acid eats into metal and stone. It also damages stained glass and plastics. Some types of building materials are softer than others, and it is the softer ones which are most affected by acid rain. Sandstone and limestone are examples of stone which are fairly soft and are damaged easily. Granite is an example of a harder stone that can resist the effects of acid rain. In many places in the world, ancient and famous buildings and monuments are affected by acid rain. For example, the Statue of Liberty in New York, USA, has had to be restored because of acid rain damage. Buildings are naturally eroded by rain, wind, frost and the sun, but when acidic gases are present, it speeds up the erosion.

Sunday, July 21, 2019

Sustainable Tourism in Developing Countries

Sustainable Tourism in Developing Countries To what extent can tourism be  sustainable in developing countries? Introduction Tourism Sustainability Conclusion References Introduction When one looks at monetary flows, along with the creation of jobs, the tourism sector represents one of the largest industries globally[1]. The preceding aspect is an important one, as tourism provides the opportunity for small and medium sized (5 through 500 employees) businesses to form, along with micro enterprises that typical consist of fewer than six people, and usually represent family operations[2]. These types of enterprises create employment opportunities, and in tourism, particularly in developing countries, the influx of tourist money provides openings for street vendors, cart food services, transport, and other self employment[3]. An example of the importance of micro enterprises and SME’s is provided in an International Finance Corporation report authored by Hallberg[4] that states these types of firms represent the majority of employment. She points out that in Ecuador firms with less than 50 employees represents 99 percent of all enterprises in that country, an d 55 percent of employment[5]. In the case of Bangladesh, enterprises with less than 100 employees represented 99 percent of all companies, employing 58 percent of all workers[6]. The preceding has been brought forth to provide the context for this examination in the extent that tourism can be sustainable in developing countries. The point being made is that the hard currency flows represent an economic benefit that is important not only in tourism monies spent, but also as a basis for foreign investment and the creation of opportunities for foreign businesses to set up operations, with tourism as the entree. The foregoing economic benefits represent a critical facet in approaching and understanding the importance of tourism to developing countries. The preceding importance also holds true for developed countries as well. The importance of tourism in developed countries is brought forth by the Assistant Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization, Geoffrey Lipman, who stated â€Å"Showing the full economic impact of the sector in the Index will enhance travel tourism’s relevance for policy-makers†¦The Index makes clear that, although industrialized states currently dominate, poorer countries have a massive potential to be the leading force in international tourism,[7]. The significance of mentioning this Report in the context of this examination is that it provides an analysis of key drivers regarding competitiveness, which are thirteen pillars, as represented by â€Å"1. policy rules and regulations, 2. environmental regulation, 3. safety and security, 4. health an d hygiene, 5. prioritisation of travel and tourism, 6. air transport infrastructure, 7. ground transport infrastructure, 8. tourism infrastructure, 9. information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, 10. price competitiveness, 11. human capital, 12. national tourism perception, and 13. natural and cultural resources[8]. The benefits to a country and its populace as a result of tourism can have long term implications economically, however, the foundations, as set forth by the foregoing pillars, indicates that attaining such a goal requires commitment and a national plan to achieve. Tourism Sustainability The preceding brought forth the complexities involved in conducting tourism, highlighting that it is not a segment that can be entered into lightly if long term and sustainable results are to be achieved. An example of the Index illustrates the foregoing: Chart 1 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index – Regulatory Framework Segments 1 through 5[9] Pillars 1. Policy 2. Environment 3. Safety 4. Health 5. Priority Rules Sustainability Security Hygiene TT Country Rank Score Rank Score Rank Score Rank Score Rank Score Albania 104 3.69 93 4.08 71 4.93 59 476 104 3.55 Argentina 91 3.95 107 3.94 98 4.45 40 5.62 70 4.23 Austria 22 5.04 53 4.63 21 5.85 37 5.72 32 4.92 Bangladesh 114 3.31 121 3.71 129 2.83 117 2.11 122 2.77 Bolivia 127 2.88 104 3.98 92 4.53 14 6.51 91 3.81 Botswana 74 4.13 68 4.42 50 5.26 97 3.24 82 3.95 U.K. 5 5.54 10 5.56 65 5.01 41 5.58 43 4.69 U.S. 19 5.22 100 4.02 119 3.75 44 5.50 21 5.26 Chart 2 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index – Regulatory Framework Segments 6 through 10[10] Pillars 6. Air 7. Ground 8. Tourism 9. ICT 10 Price Transport Transport Infrastructure Infrastructure Compettive Country Rank Score Rank Score Rank Score Rank Score Rank Score Albania 112 2.20 116 2.55 86 2.53 86 2.16 90 4.33 Argentina 67 2.94 90 3.05 53 3.91 54 3.03 41 4.94 Austria 29 4.25 10 6.03 1 7.00 20 4.88 104 4.17 Bangladesh 116 2.12 69 3.56 122 1.29 122 1.52 10 5.44 Bolivia 108 2.25 114 2.59 99 2.21 106 1.81 14 5.32 Botswana 77 2.72 72 3.50 78 2.80 92 2.05 6 5.49 U.K. 4 5.65 11 5.85 16 6.18 9 5.46 127 3.44 U.S. 2 6.34 19 5.45 6 6.74 13 5.23 105 4.18 Chart 3 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index – Regulatory Framework Segments 11 through 14[11] Pillars 11. Human 12. Affinity 13. Natural 14. Cultural Resources Resources Resources Country Rank Score Rank Score Rank Score Rank Score Albania 58 5.03 6 6.32 130 1.87 75 2.17 Argentina 60 5.01 74 4.69 12 5.01 41 3.29 Austria 19 5.62 23 5.45 37 4.00 11 5.59 Bangladesh 107 4.26 125 3.95 100 2.61 109 1.44 Bolivia 98 4.60 116 4.18 15 4.86 62 2.45 Botswana 124 3.36 58 4.85 31 4.20 113 1.37 U.K. 7 5.87 90 4.54 27 4.35 4 6.28 U.S. 5 5.91 114 4.29 2 6.04 7 5.83 The preceding Charts provide a summary look at the varied areas that a country needs to consider in order to make tourism work in the face of the high rate of competitiveness. It points out the comparative facets inherent in generating tourism as well as a basis for understanding areas of deficiency and potential strengths in crafting a plan for sustainability. In order to increase and build the tourism sector, the country, its business community as well as populace need to be able to contribute as well as participate in the process. Britton[12] helps us to understand that tourism entails â€Å"†¦travel flows; microscale spatial structure and land use of tourist places and facilities; economic, social, cultural, and environmental impacts of tourist activity; impacts of tourism in third world countries; geographic patterns of recreation and leisure pastimes; and the planning implications of all these topics† as vital areas. In order to arrive at the point of sustainability in tourism, third world countries have to have or be in the process of developing the underlying structures that create and generate attraction for potential visits, with the understanding that other locales are engaging in the same objectives[13]. Thus, sustainability means building upon what currently exists via definitive plans to maintain present levels, and of course enhance them in order to compete effectively. Richards and Hall[14] advise that sustainable tourism represents a broad range of issues, which the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index illustrated[15]. It, sustainable tourism, includes cultural facets, social accountability, environmental practices, economic considerations, quality of life, safety and security issues in terms of crime and policing. Universally, there is no agreed upon framework for sustainable tourism as the conditions, circumstances and allied facets for countries differ. However, sustainability in tourism is a real factor, one that demands the coordinated and concerned effort of the government, businesses and populace to work. In understanding the sustainability aspects and why such is important, one needs to be mindful of the economic ramifications that are the foundation for the importan ce attached to tourism by all countries, not just developing ones[16]. Tourism is an economic pursuit, and as such it aids a country, and more specifically city and or region to grow, improve and earn currency from travellers, investment, and new business openings[17]. The importance of tourism as an economic force is evidenced by the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), which developed the first legally binding multilateral agreement that deals with trade in the tourism sector[18]. Its main provision sets forth the elimination of barriers to prevent foreign service providers and investors from participating in market access[19]. In order to make tourism sustainable, governmental policies, standards and practices need to ensure that there are a series of planned steps to enhance the efforts in the tourist sector, which unfortunately is not usually the case in developing countries[20]. Usually, in developing countries, efforts to promote tourism have been initiated and implemented by the private sector as well as in some cases citizen’s groups[21]. The foregoing represents a core issue in that these types of efforts are doomed to be short term actions based upon surges in popularity of an area generated by avant garde travellers that have discovered a quiet, generally unspoiled location, and other disjointed means that does not have an official plan behind it[22]. As shown by the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index[23], competition in the tourism segment is marked by a broad number of underlying foundations that require concerted efforts and involvement on the part of the aforementioned government, private business sector, and community. Obvious facets that require government participation on a defined level represent marketing and promotional activities through an official tourist agency, the long term and consistent development of infrastructure related areas such as airports, transport, roads, and other support factors[24]. The United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development[25] points to the importance of national, regional and local governments in planning for sustainable development as the â€Å"†¦providers of social services, builders of economic infrastructure, regulators of economic activity, and managers of the natural environment, local authorities have many direct instruments at their disposal to influence development†. The U.N. Commission on Sustainable Development[26] adds to the preceding by telling us that planned tourism activities are essential to ensure that the local communities have a level playing field in terms of inclusion and involvement concerning the economic wealth generated by tourist activities, along with planning to minimise environmental impacts, and improvement of the social welfare. Tourism is an industry that competes with like locations on the international stage, with many developing countries organised for this area in a concerned manner. To compete on this level, sustainable tourism must operate like a business. Place or destination marketing is a hallmark in the process, which Gold and Ward[27] advise â€Å"†¦ is defined as a process whereby local activities are related as closely as possible to the demands of the targeted customer †¦ (with the intention) to maximise the efficient social and economic functioning of the area concerned, in accordance with whatever wider goals have been established†. Each locale has to identify its special features and communicate the advantages that it has to prospective travelers through concerted efforts. Products and services offered by companies are geared toward the long term, noted by their comprehensive marketing, promotional and related plans to seek competitive advantages, and induce consumer trial[28]. To be effective over the long term, sustainable, destinations need to treat their locales in the same manner that companies do. Conclusion Sustainable tourism in developing countries represents an important economic aspect that can help to spur foreign investment in a broader sphere of industrial areas outside of tourism if conducted in a concerted manner. The importance of the preceding is that tourism is an important economic tool that can be utilised for broad range of areas that can benefit a developing country if its government has the vision, commitment and foresight to see the real world implications and demonstrated successes that tourism can bring. As pointed out, tourism represents a commitment to infrastructure, marketing, promotion, and the involvement of the private business sector along with the local communities that will be impacted to set the foundation for programs, facilities, business opportunities and commercial realisations that benefit the locale. Tourism is a means to change external opinions and perceptions of an area through internally directed programs such as place marketing. While some destinations may have been discovered by travellers or writers and became trendy ‘in spots’ that position will dwindle for the next ‘in spot’ unless the government takes notice and seizes the opportunity to make the location one that stays on the tourist radar. In other instances, locales can be put into the tourist arena as a result of their special circumstances and conditions, such as weather, beaches, lakes, snow, forests, wild animals, monuments and ancient cities, cultural festivals and the like , Whatever the nuance, the building of travel requires planned infrastructure to enhance the experience. Easy transport access, rent cars, power, Internet lines, police, etc. Sustainable tourism requires sustainable efforts in order to make it work. References Apostolopoulos, Y., Gayle, D. (2002) Island Tourism and Sustainable Development: Caribbean, Pacific, and Mediterranean Experiences. Praeger Publishers. Westport, CT, United States Beirman, D. (2003) Restoring Tourism Destinations in Crisis: A Strategic Marketing Approach. Allen Unwin. Crows Nest, New South Wales Britton, S. (1991) Tourism, capital and place: towards a critical geography of tourism. Vol. 9. No. 4. Environment and Planning Development Bull, A. (1995) The economics of travel and tourism. Longman Press. Melbourne, Australia Coleman, S., Crang, M. (2002) Tourism: Between Place and Performance. Berghahn Books. New York, New York, United States Duffy-Smith, M. (2003) The Ethics of Tourism Development. Routledge. London, United Kingdom Font, X., Bendell, J. (2002) Standards for Sustainable Tourism for the Purpose of Multilateral Trade Negotiations. World Tourism Organisation. Madrid, Spain Gold, J., Ward, S. (1994) Place Promotion: The Use of Publicity and Marketing to Sell Towns and Regions. John H. Wiley Sons. New York, New York, United States Hallberg, K. (2001) A Market-Oriented Strategy for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises- International Finance Corporation. Discussion Paper 40. Washington, D.C., United States Mahdi, A., Osman, M. (2000) An Assessment of the Effectiveness of Small and Micro-Enterprise Finance in Employment Creation. Retrieved on 6 January 2009 from http://www.iceg.org/NE/projects/labor/epicfinal.pdf Mowforth, M., Munt, I. (2003) Tourism Sustainability: Development and Tourism in the Third World. Routledge. London, United Kingdom Richards, G., Hall, D. (2000) Tourism and Sustainable Community Development. Routledge. London, United Kingdom Porter, M. (1980) Competitive Strategy: Techniques of Analysing Industries and Competitors. Free Press. New York, New York, United States The U.N. Commission on Sustainable Development (1999) Tourism and Sustainable Development: The Global Importance of Tourism. The U.N. Commission on Sustainable Development. New York, New York, United States UNCTAD (2002) Growing Micro and Small Enterprises in LDCs. UNCTAD, New York, United States United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (1999) Tourism and Sustainable Development: Sustainable Tourism, A Local Authority Perspective. United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, New York, New York, United States World Economic Forum (2007) The World Economic Forum’s First Ever Travel Tourism Competitiveness Report. 1 March 2007. Retrieved on 6 January 2009 from http://www.weforum.org/en/media/Latest Press Releases/Tourismpressrelease World Travel and Tourism Organisation (1999) The Global Importance of Tourism. Commission on Sustainable Development. World Travel and Tourism Organisation, New York, New York, United States 1 Footnotes [1] World Travel and Tourism Organisation (1999) The Global Importance of Tourism. Commission on Sustainable Development. World Travel and Tourism Organisation, New York, New York, United States [2] UNCTAD (2002) Growing Micro and Small Enterprises in LDCs. UNCTAD, New York, United States [3] Mahdi, A., Osman, M. (2000) An Assessment of the Effectiveness of Small and Micro-Enterprise Finance in Employment Creation. Retrieved on 6 January 2009 from http://www.iceg.org/NE/projects/labor/epicfinal.pdf [4] Hallberg, K. (2001) A Market-Oriented Strategy for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises- International Finance Corporation. Discussion Paper 40. Washington, D.C., United States [5] Ibid [6] Ibid [7] World Economic Forum (2007) The World Economic Forum’s First Ever Travel Tourism Competitiveness Report. 1 March 2007. Retrieved on 6 January 2009 from http://www.weforum.org/en/media/Latest Press Releases/Tourismpressrelease [8] Ibid [9] World Economic Forum (2007) The World Economic Forum’s First Ever Travel Tourism Competitiveness Report. 1 March 2007. Retrieved on 6 January 2009 from http://www.weforum.org/en/media/Latest Press Releases/Tourismpressrelease [10] World Economic Forum (2007) The World Economic Forum’s First Ever Travel Tourism Competitiveness Report. 1 March 2007. Retrieved on 6 January 2009 from http://www.weforum.org/en/media/Latest Press Releases/Tourismpressrelease [11] World Economic Forum (2007) The World Economic Forum’s First Ever Travel Tourism Competitiveness Report. 1 March 2007. Retrieved on 6 January 2009 from http://www.weforum.org/en/media/Latest Press Releases/Tourismpressrelease [12] Britton, S. (1991) Tourism, capital and place: towards a critical geography of tourism. Vol. 9. No. 4. Environment and Planning Development. p. 451 [13] Mowforth, M., Munt, I. (2003) Tourism Sustainability: Development and Tourism in the Third World. Routledge. London, United Kingdom. p. 6 [14] Richards, G., Hall, D. (2000) Tourism and Sustainable Community Development. Routledge. London, United Kingdom. P. 9 [15] World Travel and Tourism Organisation (1999) The Global Importance of Tourism. Commission on Sustainable Development. World Travel and Tourism Organisation, New York, New York, United States [16] Bull, A. (1995) The economics of travel and tourism. Longman Press. Melbourne, Australia. p. 23 [17] Apostolopoulos, Y., Gayle, D. (2002) Island Tourism and Sustainable Development: Caribbean, Pacific, and Mediterranean Experiences. Praeger Publishers. Westport, CT, United States. p. 11 [18] Font, X., Bendell, J. (2002) Standards for Sustainable Tourism for the Purpose of Multilateral Trade Negotiations. World Tourism Organisation. Madrid, Spain [19] Ibid [20] Duffy-Smith, M. (2003) The Ethics of Tourism Development. Routledge. London, United Kingdom. p. 9 [21] Beirman, D. (2003) Restoring Tourism Destinations in Crisis: A Strategic Marketing Approach. Allen Unwin. Crows Nest, New South Wales. p. 222 [22] Ibid [23] World Economic Forum (2007) The World Economic Forum’s First Ever Travel Tourism Competitiveness Report. 1 March 2007. Retrieved on 6 January 2009 from http://www.weforum.org/en/media/Latest Press Releases/Tourismpressrelease [24] Coleman, S., Crang, M. (2002) Tourism: Between Place and Performance. Berghahn Books. New York, New York, United States. p. 53 [25] United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (1999) Tourism and Sustainable Development: Sustainable Tourism, A Local Authority Perspective. United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, New York, New York, United States [26] The U.N. Commission on Sustainable Development (1999) Tourism and Sustainable Development: The Global Importance of Tourism. The U.N. Commission on Sustainable Development. New York, New York, United States [27] Gold, J., Ward, S. (1994) Place Promotion: The Use of Publicity and Marketing to Sell Towns and Regions. John H. Wiley Sons. New York, New York, United States. p. 41 [28] Porter, M. (1980) Competitive Strategy: Techniques of Analysing Industries and Competitors. Free Press. New York, New York, United States. pp. 34-36