Friday, December 27, 2019

Sociology and Internet - 2020 Words

Background Due to the rapid advancement of the information technology, the World Wide Web (WWW) has now become a multifunctional tool. People can get lots of things done through the Internet, chatting with friends through MSN, shopping on Amarzon.com, settling the credit card bill, making new friends through the Facebook, reading newspaper on appledaily.com, etc. Besides, when we want to search for information, we can simply â€Å"Google† it, and we get what we want. It is no doubt that the Internet has greatly sped up the flow of information. In Hong Kong, the popularization of the Internet leads to the formation of different forums, for example Uwants.com, Discuss.com, forum.hkgolden.com, etc. The forums have provided a platform for people†¦show more content†¦Freedom of Speech VS Personal Privacy Solove (2008) firmly argues that privacy is a fundamental right of citizens, which is a social value, is an essential component in the functioning of democratic societies. As private information is a kind of personal property, we shall ask for permission from the information owner before we assess their privacy on the Internet. Hence, from the society’s perspective, the behaviors performed by the web users would be classified as deviance, that is a social behavior does not follow the guidelines or expectations of society. It is no doubt that adverse effects brought by their pseudo expression of freedom of speech are serious, and such behavior of intruding other’s personal privacy is not the only way to achieve their intention. Therefore, in this case obviously the right of protecting personal privacy overrides the freedom of speech. In order to prevent serious effect brought by the deviant behaviors, measures have to be imposed to combat disclosure of private information. There are many means to achieve the goal, for example the moral education of using the Internet. Our group deems that legislation will be one of the most considerable means against disclosure of privacy on the Internet. According to Ms Susan So (2009), Director-General of Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children, stated that cyberShow MoreRelatedSociology and Internet2036 Words   |  9 PagesPeople can get lots of things done through the Internet, chatting with friends through MSN, shopping on Amarzon.com, settling the credit card bill, making new friends through the Facebook, reading newspaper on appledaily.com, etc. Besides, when we want to search for information, we can simply â€Å"Google† it, and we get what we want. It is no doubt that the Internet has greatly sped up the flow of information. In Hong Kong, the popularization of the Internet leads to the formation of different forums,Read MoreWhat is Sociology? Essays665 Words   |  3 PagesWhat is Sociology? After reviewing the article titles given for this first assignment, I believe they indicate that Sociology, generally speaking, is not only a study of diversity or commonality in traits among people; it is also a science about factors in a person’s life and how these factors culminate responses. Interestingly enough, its topics of concern seem to be directly determined by current and common events of the world. Through the invention and expansion of new ideas, popular trendsRead MoreThe Textbook, Sociology867 Words   |  4 PagesThe textbook â€Å"Sociology† has tons of information at its publisher website, which includes a different variety of resources that can help expand a student’s understanding of the book and review concepts as well. The website not only has information about the textbook, but has other types of reliable information from outside sources to help understand sociology on a different level. The resources that the website provided were use ful, but the resources that I believe that will help me the most is theRead MoreThe Impact Of Social Media On Sociology855 Words   |  4 Pagesconcerning the influence that social media has had on sociology in general. Most of these perspectives have been brought up as people try to find out the level of dependency on technology in sociology. The internet, for instance, whose initial use was for the government and governmental operations, has turned out to be a tool for societal interaction as well as a way of making and finding numerous opportunities. It has been reported that the number of internet users doubles every year which shows an increasedRead MoreAgents Of Socialisation : The Mass Media1120 Words   |  5 PagesIn the present day, the media is incorporated into our daily lives. Every day, through newspapers, radio, television, email, the internet and social media, are we sucked into an electronic world, which changes many of our beliefs and values about how we live our lives. It plays such a large role in almost every person’s life compared to 50 years ago, when the internet did not exist. It effects things such as our political views, tastes in music, views of men, women, gay and coloured people. MediaRead MoreRecent Changes in British Society and Greater Diversity of Family Types1379 Words   |  6 PagesBritish Society and Greater Diversity of Family Types Recent changes in British society have led to a greater diversity of family types, Some writers have argued that traditional family life is disappearing in Britain Moore, 1987, Sociology alive. Most people seem to view the traditional family as a married male and female with dependant children, however family types today may include one parent families, same sex families, unmarried parents who co habit and most popularlyRead More Comparing Functionism, Marxism, and Social Action Theory Essay1538 Words   |  7 Pages Sociology is generally made up of three paradigms: Functionalism, Conflict Theory and Symbolic interactionism. A paradigm is a set of assumptions that shape and underlie explanations of why society is the way it is (Early Stratification Theory, internet 2003). Functional Theory is often traced from Durkheim, Parsons and Merton. Functionalists believe in shared norms and values, which are influenced by the Family, Education, church and employment. It sees Read MoreThe Sociological Imagination Option 1830 Words   |  4 Pages(Essentials of Sociology 8). It has resulted in many jobs shifting from the agricultural sector, to more specialized and complex jobs that we see today. This factor has an enormous influence on my life. For instance, in the past, college was seen as a privilege. In this era, it is almost unthinkable not to go to college. This concept of globalization has had an impact on me because it influences the decisions I have made. Globalization has also given the rise to the internet. One can see theRead MoreThe Gender Marketing Of Toys : Shaping The Way Americans Shop And Play Essay1623 Words   |  7 PagesColor and Type of Toy on the Disney Website† authors Carol Auster and Claire Mansbach examined gender marketing of Disney products on the Internet. The way toys are marketed to the public shapes the perception of whether it is appropriate for a particular child to play with a certain toy. The authors found it important to study Disney toys marketed on the Internet because children spend much of their time surrounded by toys, e-commerce has growth significantly in the past decade, and Disney is dominantRead MoreMy Career As A Sociology1369 Words   |  6 PagesI’m currently a sociology major but I have changed my major multiple times. I feel pretty confident with sociology but that could possibly change. Having a sociology degree is very versatile. I’m so passionate about traveling and learning about different cultures and I felt as though this major was the closest thing relating to that. At first I was worried about salary and the chances of not getting a job but I’m not going to spend 4 years of my life and thousands of dollars devoted to studying

Thursday, December 19, 2019

The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald - 1722 Words

The Beginning of Everything â€Å"Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone...just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had† (Fitzgerald 1). The first line of The Great Gatsby illustrates a heartfelt sentiment of treating others respectfully and not judging a book by its cover. However, as the chapter continues, the narrator Nick Carraway, suggests this propensity of tolerance is better used as leverage to entice more people to trust you and tell you their secrets. Nick is privy to the secret lives and untold truths of many rich and powerful people of New York because he could be trusted, whether he wanted to be or not. This is a constant theme throughout The Great Gatsby -- the internal struggle of F. Scott Fitzgerald, portrayed through his characters, of being a kind, honest person content to live his own life versus a grotesquely rich and selfish person who only cared about himself and living the illusive American D ream. The characters created by F. Scott Fitzgerald in The Great Gatsby strongly reflect influences of people and events in his life, and demonstrate facets of his personality that dictated how he viewed the world, friendship and love. People often compensate for things they don’t have. In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald’s character Gatsby loved Daisy because she was the epitome of everything he wished he had in his youth. She was rich, exciting and full of life. To win her attention, he throws money into parties, carsShow MoreRelatedThe Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald1393 Words   |  6 PagesF. Scott Fitzgerald was the model of the American image in the nineteen twenties. He had wealth, fame, a beautiful wife, and an adorable daughter; all seemed perfect. Beneath the gilded faà §ade, however, was an author who struggled with domestic and physical difficulties that plagued his personal life and career throughout its short span. This author helped to launch the theme that is so prevalent in his work; the human instinct to yearn for more, into the forefront of American literature, where itRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1343 Words   |  6 PagesHonors English 10 Shugart 18 Decemeber 2014 The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald s 1925 novel The Great Gatsby is a tragic love story, a mystery, and a social commentary on American life. The Great Gatsby is about the lives of four wealthy characters observed by the narrator, Nick Carroway. Throughout the novel a mysterious man named Jay Gatsby throws immaculate parties every Saturday night in hope to impress his lost lover, Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby lives in a mansion on West Egg across from DaisyRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1155 Words   |  5 PagesThe Great Gatsby The Jazz Age was an era where everything and anything seemed possible. It started with the beginning of a new age with America coming out of World War I as the most powerful nation in the world (Novel reflections on, 2007). As a result, the nation soon faced a culture-shock of material prosperity during the 1920’s. Also known as the â€Å"roaring twenties†, it was a time where life consisted of prodigality and extravagant parties. Writing based on his personal experiences, author F. ScottRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1166 Words   |  5 Pagesin the Haze F. Scott Fitzgerald lived in a time that was characterized by an unbelievable lack of substance. After the tragedy and horrors of WWI, people were focused on anything that they could that would distract from the emptiness that had swallowed them. Tangible greed tied with extreme materialism left many, by the end of this time period, disenchanted. The usage of the literary theories of both Biographical and Historical lenses provide a unique interpretation of the Great Gatsby centered aroundRead MoreThe Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald845 Words   |  3 PagesIn F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, colors represent a variety of symbols that relate back to the American Dream. The dream of being pure, innocent and perfect is frequently associated with the reality of corruption, violence, and affairs. Gatsby’s desire for achieving the American Dream is sought for through corruption (Schneider). The American Dream in the 1920s was perceived as a desire of w ealth and social standings. Social class is represented through the East Egg, the WestRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald Essay970 Words   |  4 Pagesrespecting and valuing Fitzgerald work in the twenty-first century? Fitzgerald had a hard time to profiting from his writing, but he was not successful after his first novel. There are three major point of this essay are: the background history of Fitzgerald life, the comparisons between Fitzgerald and the Gatsby from his number one book in America The Great Gatsby, and the Fitzgerald got influences of behind the writing and being a writer. From childhood to adulthood, Fitzgerald faced many good andRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald2099 Words   |  9 Pagesauthor to mirror his life in his book. In his previous novels F. Scott Fitzgerald drew from his life experiences. He said that his next novel, The Great Gatsby, would be different. He said, â€Å"In my new novel I’m thrown directly on purely creative work† (F. Scott Fitzgerald). He did not realize or did not want it to appear that he was taking his own story and intertwining it within his new novel. In The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, he imitates his lifestyle through the Buchanan family to demonstrateRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1607 Words   |  7 Pages The Great Gatsby is an American novel written in 1925 by F. Scott Fitzgerald. One of the themes of the book is the American Dream. The American Dream is an idea in which Americans believe through hard work they can achieve success and prosperity in the free world. In F. Scott Fitzgerald s novel, The Great Gatsby, the American Dream leads to popularity, extreme jealousy and false happiness. Jay Gatsby’s recent fortune and wealthiness helped him earn a high social position and become one of the mostRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1592 Words   |  7 PagesMcGowan English 11A, Period 4 9 January 2014 The Great Gatsby Individuals who approach life with an optimistic mindset generally have their goals established as their main priority. Driven by ambition, they are determined to fulfill their desires; without reluctance. These strong-minded individuals refuse to be influenced by negative reinforcements, and rely on hope in order to achieve their dreams. As a man of persistence, the wealthy Jay Gatsby continuously strives to reclaim the love of hisRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1646 Words   |  7 PagesThe 1920s witnessed the death of the American Dream, a message immortalized in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. Initially, the American Dream represented the outcome of American ideals, that everyone has the freedom and opportunity to achieve their dreams provided they perform honest hard work. During the 1920s, the United States experienced massive economic prosperity making the American Dream seem alive and strong. However, in Fitzgerald’s eyes, the new Am erican culture build around that

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Global Financial Crisis in Retrospect †Free Samples to Samples

Question: Discuss about the Global Financial Crisis in Retrospect. Answer: Introduction: Liquidation can be defined as a situation of winding up of business in which assets are sold to pay off the remaining obligations. Liquidation can take place voluntarily or compulsorily as per the conditions of business (Manganelli, Morano, and Tajani, 2014). The present study is focused on the description of events that led up to liquidation of ABC Learning, HIH Insurance and One.Tel Phone Company. The financial stress of cited companies will be supported by the description of ethics and governance. In liquidation, entity winds up, sold its assets and the profits from sales are given to the creditors or entities having claims on the company. The procedure of liquidations is mandatory if the wind up takes place as the consequence of an order of the court (Lessambo, 2014). Other are considered as voluntary when the owners or shareholders engaged in operating the business choose to end operations. The universal reasons of liquidations are legal problems, insufficient desire, and bankruptcy, between the individuals running the business to be maintaining it as operating. In past few years, several liquidations of multinational firms and strengthen business entities have occurred in Australia. In accordance with the viewpoint of Foreman (2014), court rules stated that liquidations differ all over the world, but these measures classically begun by the business itself on behalf of their creditors or shareholders. The party desires to start the proceeding while making a court filing describing the reason for choosing liquidations and if the request is accepted by the judge, then the firm must end their operations and supervisors and are generally agreed by the court to manage their assets sale (Chow, 2017). Liquidation is not primarily due to financial obligations as it is supported by various other reasons such as breach of ethical and legal aspects, frauds and inappropriate business strategies. Liquidation of ABC Learning Companies suffer from failure primarily because of financial dispensaries. In accordance with the ACCC (Australian competition and consumer commission) representative, ABCs collapse was not because of increasing competition, but it has been due to financial misstatements such as high acquisitions and debts. Also, the failure was the result of financial dispensaries offered by the company (Lewis, 2013). ABC lost its loyalty and reputation among customers and public at the time of financial crisis in 2008. The entire world had evidenced the story behind this collapse. The crises of sub prime lead to self-awareness among various countries regarding the malpractices been used by companies in the market. ABCs financial information gave a severe picture entirely. The balance sheet of company assets side represented intangible assets of 72% to 81%. These intangible assets were inclusive of several operating licenses. Further, it was a big concern for government, and they handled this matter to ASIC by setting up a commission. The commission subjected ASIC failure in this concern to efficiently assess companys operating license (Marks, 2015). ABC asserted a big amount of the licenses which were not even worth in the operating sense of the term. It is because; the high value of operating licence was set in order to draw traders in the marketplace. The committee asked ASIC to make consideration of the real value of the operating license and to determine whether they add any value to the business. The consideration is still in progress, but ASIC announces that the licences were not 'material to the company. The revaluation of operating license was legal in accordance with the accounting standards in June 2005 for the year ended and after that the new standards of accounting will be applied. Under the new standard of AASB 138 "Intangible Assets" enables the intangible assets revaluation only in some situations (Gitman, Juchau and Flanagan, 2015). However, these standards are only applicable when the treatment of accounting creates a materialistic impact. ASIC illustrated that at the point of its investigation, the concerns of financial were not material to the company. The main component in the downfall of ABC was the existence of transactions of related parties. Eddy Grooves was involved in the growth and development of the company. The company was successful in a short term. However, it was stated that Mr Grooves failed to manage the company (Lessons to be learnt from ABC Learning's collapse, 2009). The company didnt follow the framework of business governance rules during the supremacy of Mr Grooves there were various related party transactions. In 2006, a broking firm named Austock consisted significant shares by Grooves while entering in transactions with ABC (Marley and Pedersen, 2015). ABC gave an amount of $27 million to Austock as transactional fees. QMS (Queensland Maintenance Services) was underneath the directorship of Frank Zullo, who was relative (brother-in-law) of Mr Grooves. The company had compensated the loss of $74 million in exchange for their work centre of ABC. Grooves owned the team of Brisbane Bullets Basketball team, and i t was sponsored by ABC. ABC declared that the transactions were not material and related to the company and contained no interest also. However, there was the proof of the weak business measure of the company, and this considerably weakens the confidence of companys investors. Liquidation of HIH insurance The failure of HIH Insurance in March 2001 trembled the Australian business community. HIH was worlds second largest employer and at the hindmost part of a major achievement binge that had observed the companys major purchases of insurance in New Zealand, Argentina. In early 2001, the company was suffering from the unstable financial position and later they suffered the biggest corporate failure in the history of Australia, with a loss of more than $5bn (Damiani, Bourne and Foo, 2015). With the firm ongoing to act purely in order to examine old claims without new business taken to abroad, financial regulators of Australia were placed to identify the clear chain of measures that resulted in HIH collapse. There was a proper collapse in the operational area, and the level of the failure was so high that the charges were taken against the companys key members like Rodney Adler, Ray Williams, William Howard and Geoffrey Cohen (Doyle, 2017). Especially, Rodney Adler was charged on the basis of four particular claim which is fraudulence in the liberty of his duties and purposely distribution of fake information and data. Adler was found guilty of deliberately distributing financial data. However, separate calls were made regarding the queries that the corporate governance systems of HIH were unsuccessful because Adler misuses his powers and position. In a separate claim, Adler was blamed for influencing HIH to make an investment of a $2m loan in Business Thinking Systems (BTS). In this transaction, Adler had an interest in the cited company. Another main weak point that resulted in the failure of HIH was the lack to offer future claim in a proper manner, and other problem raised from this single issue. Covering of future claim is considered to the most significant aspect of any insurance company. However, by the end of the survival of HIH was in a situation in which just a negative shift of 1.7%will be sufficient in leading the company into insolvency.Themost importantreason for this collapse wasmisstatements in changing conditions of the market, which extremely enlarged the liabilities of HIH. These aspects were not compensated by viable strategic planning due to which changingconditions of markets lead to serious damage in the insurance companies, but companies are known about these risks, and they do planning in order to reduce the risks. Furthermore, HIH radically coverage itself was the part to be concerned with the extreme expansion of the company. HIH got holding of several companies in their ending year and was building a chief drive for the global expansion. These expansions was a strong move for business, as it brings increased liabilities and HIH acted on the basis of its belief that liabilities will be compensated to the expansion. The Company appear to have primarily misinterpreted the level by which extra provisions were required to be considered as per changing market conditions. This was the primary mistake made by the company, as if it deals with at the same time it could have been resolved. Namely, HIH board went evident while practising this strategy; it demonstrated that there was downfall of corporate governance at HIH, without real omission applicable to check either the strategy implemented was appropriate or financial sustainable With the collapse of HIH insurance, there were significant changes in regulations made by Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) for prevention of similar issues (Kehl, 2001). For this aspect, a new set of corporate governance rules has been designed regarding expansion. The company could prevent liquidation if management were more cautious about liabilities while expansion (Betta, 2016). They were in a position to introduce cost cutting programs and ignoring decision taken by Rodney Adler of securing investment on the basis of false statements. Further, they provided a lesson to have effective market research prior to entering any new market to prevent issues related to mismanagement. Liquidation of One.Tel Phone Company The collapse of One-Tel is considered to significant liquidation case in Australia in 2001 as it was fourth largest telecommunication company with a customer base of two million in eight countries. The collision of the company was due to wrong pricing policy, strategic mistakes and unbridled growth. The primary issue with the company was an inappropriate corporate structure which causes ineffective communication (Adams, 2014). Their centralization strategy of promoting Yes man by humiliating managers who were showcasing problems had increased employee turnover. Management of company was too autocratic, and opinions of employees were ignored which had raised the issue of understaffing and consequently customers satisfaction was affected. These issues had wasted technology and created financial issues for business. By considering financial figures of commendable company growth in sales and customers based can be noticed, but same has not been translated into increased profitability. All financial issues primarily arise due to corporate governance issues such as inappropriate managerial authorities; unclear allocation of responsibilities, ineffective internal control and increasing work issues (Debbage and Dickinson, 2013). In One-Tel there was a major breach of corporate governance such as non-compliance of law related to fiduciary duties of directors. For example, Adler contravened directorial duties sec 181, 182 and 183 as loans were raised without considering the interest of shareholders as it was not in good faith. Mark Silberman fail to supervise business activities and misled the board in terms of actual cash flow (Avison and Wilson, 2002). Liquidation of the company shows that it is not sufficient for companies to attain large scale customers until they made a contribution towards profitability of the firm. Further, implementation of highly competitive price strategy merely to gain market share can cause disastrous consequences, and sales revenues must be supported by cash collection strategies else there will be a liquidity crisis. Conclusion By considering the present study, it can be concluded that primary reason of liquidation is not financial liabilities as it is supported by various other reasons such as breach of ethical and legal aspects, frauds and inappropriate business strategies. It is because, financial obligations are a consequence of inappropriate business strategies, contravention of ethical aspect and laws and ineffective corporate governance. To prevent this, laws of Australia has been stricken to ensure corporate governance and protect the interest of stakeholders. Further, companies have mandatory obligations to comply with developed laws else they have to face severe adverse consequences such as penalties and compulsory liquidation. However, the interest of stakeholders and economy will be cushioned by imposing a penalty on individual who is liable for misconduct. The study also shows that for sustainable growth and success it is essential to have effective corporate governance and internal control sys tem to prevent frauds in business. In addition to this, managerial authorities should focus on long term sustainability instead of having short term profits. References Adams, M.A., 2014. Faulty lines in corporate law: issues for insurance policies.Governance Directions,66(8), p.504. Betta, M., 2016. Three Case Studies: Australian HIH, American Enron, and Global Lehman Brothers. InEthicmentality-Ethics in Capitalist Economy, Business, and Society(pp. 79-97). Springer Netherlands. Chow, J.C., 2017. ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CREDIT RISK USING MACHINE LEARNING. Damiani, C., Bourne, N. and Foo, M., 2015. The HIH claims support scheme.Economic Round-up, (1), p.37. Debbage, S. and Dickinson, S., 2013. The rationale for the prudential regulation and supervision of insurers. Doyle, M., 2017. Market-based indirect causation after HIH.Australian Resources and Energy Law Journal,35(3), p.205. Foreman, R., 2014. Insolvency: It's a wind-up.Law Society Journal: the official journal of the Law Society of New South Wales,52(1), p.71. Gitman, L.J., Juchau, R. and Flanagan, J., 2015.Principles of managerial finance. Pearson Higher Education AU. Lessambo, F.I., 2014. Corporate Governance, Accounting and Auditing Scandals. InThe International Corporate Governance System(pp. 244-263). Palgrave Macmillan UK. Lewis, G., 2013. Australia's regulatory panopticon.AQ-Australian Quarterly,84(4), p.26. Manganelli, B.E.N.E.D.E.T.T.O., Morano, P.I.E.R.L.U.I.G.I. and Tajani, F.R.A.N.C.E.S.C.O., 2014. Companies in liquidation. a model for the assessment of the value of used machinery.WSEAS Trans. Bus. Econ,11, pp.683-691. Marks, R.E., 2015. Learning Lessons: The Global Financial Crisis in Retrospect. Marley, S. and Pedersen, J., 2015.Accounting for Business: An Introduction. Pearson Higher Education AU. Sirtes, G., Lo Surdo, A. and White, R., 2016. Corporations law and class actions: Court recognises indirect or market-based causation in shareholder claims.LSJ: Law Society of NSW Journal, (23), p.80. Online Avison, D. and Wilson, D., 2002. IT FAILURE AND THE COLLAPSE OF ONE.TEL. [PDF]. Available through https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-0-387-35604-4_3.pdf. [Accessed on 29th August 2017]. Kehl, D., 2001. HIH Insurance Group Collapse. [Online]. Available through https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/Publications_Archive/archive/hihinsurance. [Accessed on 29th August 2017]. Lessons to be learnt from ABC Learning's collapse. 2009. [Online]. Available through https://www.smh.com.au/business/lessons-to-be-learnt-from-abc-learnings-collapse-20090101-78f8.html. [Accessed on 29th August 2017].

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Qualitative and Quantitative Research Designs Differences

Introduction Research design is the process through which the research questions are turned into a testing project. The suitability or the effectiveness of a research design depends on the research questions. As a blue print for the study, a research design is concerned with the following issues.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Qualitative and Quantitative Research Designs’ Differences specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More First, it identifies the questions to be studied by the researcher. Second, it helps the researcher to identify the relevant data that needs to be collected. Finally, it is concerned with how data should be analyzed in order to achieve the desired results. Research design can be qualitative or quantitative. A quantitative study involves systematic and empirical investigation of social phenomena with the aid of statistical techniques. Qualitative study on the other hand is â€Å"a me thod of inquiry that facilitates an in-depth understanding of human behavior, and the factors that influence such behavior†. This paper focuses on the differences between qualitative and quantitative research designs. Characteristics of a Qualitative Study Design Strategies A qualitative study uses naturalistic inquiry. This means that real-world situations are studied as they occur without manipulating or controlling them. A qualitative study is based on emergent design flexibility. Thus, it allows the research to adapt to changes in situations, and enables the researcher to adopt new techniques as they emerge. The study also uses purposeful sampling to recruit participants. Selection of the sources of information or the participants is based on the ability of such participants to provide useful information on the subject under study. Data Collection In qualitative studies, qualitative data is collected through observations that give details about the research topic. Other me thods of collecting data include interviews, case studies and document review. Personal experiences and insights of the researcher are an integral aspect of the inquiry. They help in understanding the phenomenon under study. Empathic neutrality, as well as, mindfulness must be maintained during data collection to avoid bias. Change in the phenomenon under study is assumed to be on-going. Thus, attention must be given to system and situation dynamics during data collection.Advertising Looking for research paper on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Analysis Strategies The analysis process is based on unique case orientation. Thus, the first step in analysis is â€Å"being true to, respecting, and capturing details†, of each case being studied. The study uses inductive analysis, as well as, creative synthesis to analyze data. The analysis starts by exploration, and then confirmation is made based on analytical pri nciples instead of rules. A creative synthesis ends the analysis process. A holistic perspective must be developed by understanding the phenomenon as a complex system that is greater than its constituent parts. The analyst focuses on the complex interdependencies, as well as, system dynamics that can not be conceptualized as separate, and linear cause-effect relationships. The analyst aims at being in control of, and reflective about his voice and perspective. A reliable voice expresses authenticity and trustworthiness. This enables the researcher to understand and depict the world authentically â€Å"in all its complexity while being self-analytic and reflexive in consciousness†. Characteristics of Quantitative Study Design Strategies A quantitative study aims at classifying facts, counting facts, and developing statistical or mathematical models in order to explain the phenomenon under study. The researcher normally has a clear understanding of what he is interested in prio r to the study. Consequently, the various aspects of the study are properly designed prior to data collection. However, designing all aspects of the study in advance limits the researcher’s ability to adopt emergent techniques during the study. Besides, it makes it difficult to adapt the study to systems or situation dynamics. Measurement is an integral aspect of quantitative study. Data Collection Quantitative studies use quantitative data in order to facilitate mathematical analysis. Quantitative data are usually in numerical or statistical form. Thus, the first step in data collection is to ensure that the variables considered in the study are measurable. A measurement instrument has to be developed to help the researcher to collect quantitative data. In experimental quantitative studies, the researcher has to control, and manipulate the variables in order to obtain the desired information. The methods used to collect data include surveys and interviews. In most quantitati ve studies, only part of the population (sample) is selected to provide information. However, the sample must be representative of the population in order to improve the credibility of any generalizations made on the population. Consequently, random sampling is used to ensure representativeness. Analysis Strategies In quantitative studies, analysis involves modeling the data by mathematically expressing the relationships between variables. The collected data is then analyzed using statistical techniques in order to provide insights on the phenomenon under study. The results of the statistical analysis are used to test the research’s hypothesis. Quantitative studies can be purely analytical or predictive. However, both cases focus on determining cause and effect relationships.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Qualitative and Quantitative Research Designs’ Differences specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Lear n More In analytical studies, the analyst concentrates in analyzing how various factors (variables) contribute to the situation. In predictive studies, the analyst establishes how the variables influence the phenomenon under study in different situations or circumstances. In this case, the analyst aims at using the results for generalization. The researcher tends to be objective throughout the analysis process in order to avoid bias. Discussion and Comparison of the Differences Both qualitative and quantitative research designs aim at establishing cause and effect relationships. However, the approaches adopted by the two designs are fundamentally different. The two research designs can, thus, be compared as follows. First, the primary aim of a qualitative study is to provide a detailed and sufficient description of the study topic. Quantitative studies on the other hand concentrates on counting and classifying variables, and use statistical models to explain observations. Second, qualitative studies are suitable for initial stages of a research project while quantitative studies are suitable for the later stages. In this regard, quantitative research gives a clearer picture of the entire study compared to qualitative research. Third, the researcher acts as the main instrument for collecting data in qualitative research. The researcher uses methods such as individual in-depth interviews, documentary analysis and focus group discussions. In quantitative studies, tools such as surveys are the main instruments of data collection. Fourth, the data used in qualitative studies are presented in the form of words, images and artifacts. On the other hand, the data used in quantitative studies are presented in terms of statistics and numbers. Finally, qualitative studies tend to be subjective in approach since they aim at understanding â€Å"human behavior and reasons that govern such behavior†. Quantitative research on the other hand is objective in approach si nce it only focuses on precise measurements, and analysis. References Agrawal, N. (2009). Quantitative Research Methods. New Delhi: Prateeksha Publications. McBurney, D., White, T. (2009). Research Methods. New York: Cengage Brain.Advertising Looking for research paper on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Weinbers, N. (2009). Qualitative Reserach Methods. New York: John Wiley and Sons. This research paper on Qualitative and Quantitative Research Designs’ Differences was written and submitted by user Devin P. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

MODEL UNIT IV TEST EC202 MICROECONOMICS Essays - Labour Economics

MODEL UNIT IV TEST EC202: MICROECONOMICS 1. The term "derived demand" refers to the idea that a change in the A. demand for one good, say, tennis racquets, will affect the demand for related goods, say, tennis balls. B. demand for a good is affected by the supply of that good. C. demand for a good will affect the demand for the factors used to produce that good. D. supply of a factor will affect the demand for that factor. E. price of a factor will affect the price of the good produced with that factor. 2. The price of the product multiplied by the marginal physical product of the factor is the definition of the ______________ of that factor. A. value of marginal product B. marginal factor cost C. marginal physical product D. total factor cost E. marginal revenue product 3. The economist says that in order to maximize profits (minimize costs), any firm should hire a factor of production up until the point where: A. VMP = MRP B. MRP = MFC C. W = MFC D. W = VMP E. VMP = MFC 4. If MRP = VMP, we can conclude that the firm in question is A. maximizing profits B. minimizing costs C. a perfect competitor in the factor market D. a perfect competitor in the product market E. all of the above 5. The effect of an increase in the wage rate that causes the amount of labor supplied by the individual worker to decrease is called the _________ effect. A. complement B. substitution C. income D. normal E. inferior 6. If W = MFC, we can conclude that the firm in question is A. maximizing profits B. minimizing costs C. a perfect competitor in the factor market D. a perfect competitor in the product market E. all of the above 7. Which of the following changes would cause a firms demand for labor to increase (the labor demand curve shift to the right)? A. an increase in the price of the product being produced B. a decrease in the wage rate C. an increase in the marginal physical product of labor D. all the above E. A and C but not B 8. Applying the least-cost rule to two factors, a firm will A. maximize profits at the output at which MRP = MFC. B. minimize costs when the MPP of factor A equals the MPP of factor B. C. minimize costs when the MRP of factor A equals the MRP of factor B. D. minimize costs when the MPP of factor A divided by the price of A equals the MPP of factor B divided by the price of B. E. do none of the above. 9. A firms demand for labor will be less elastic under which of the following conditions? A. the more good substitutes there are for labor B. the larger is the ratio of labor costs to total cost C. the less elastic is the demand for the good being produced D. all the above E. none of the above 10. Accountants can either work at accounting firms or they can teach accounting at a university. The supply of labor in the market for accountants who teach at universities would increase (the supply curve would shift to the right) as a result of which of the following changes? A. a decrease in the fringe benefits for accountants working at accounting firms B. an increase in the fringe benefits for accounting professors C. a decrease in the wage rate for accountants working at accounting firms D. all the above E. none of the above 11. If, at a particular wage rate in a competitive market, the quantity supplied of labor exceeds the quantity demanded of labor, then A. the supply curve will shift to the left, the demand curve will shift to the right, and the surplus of labor will be eliminated. B. since wages are so high, the quantity supplied of workers will increase further, and the quantity demanded will decrease further. C. some workers will begin to accept lower wages and, as a result, employers will begin to hire more workers, and the wage will decrease until equilibrium is reached. D. the supply curve will shift to the right, the demand curve will shift to the left, and the shortage of labor will be eliminated. E. none of the above would happen. 12. The marginal productivity theory states that A. as variable inputs are added to a fixed quantity of other inputs eventually the additional output produced by each additional variable input will decrease. B. inputs will be used most efficiently when the additional output gained from

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Ritalin essays

Ritalin essays Ritalin (Methylphenidate) is a mild CNS stimulant. In medicine, Ritalin's primary use is treatment of Attention DeficitHyperactive Disorder (ADHD). The mode of action in humans is not completely understood, but Ritalin presumably activates the arousal system of the brain stem and the cortex to produce its stimulant effect. Recently, the frequency of diagnosis for ADHD has increased dramatically. More children and an increasing number of adults are being diagnosed with ADHD. According to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) (Bailey 1995), prescriptions for Ritalin have increased more than 600% in the past five years. Ritalin has a long history of controversy regarding side effects and potential for abuse, however it greatly Ritalin (Methylphenidate) is manufactured by CIBA-Geigy Corporation. It is supplied in 5 mg., 10 mg., and 20 mg. tablets, and in a sustained release form, Ritalin SR, in 20 mg. tablets. It is readily water soluble and is intended for oral use. It is a Schedule II Controlled Substance under both the Federal and Vermont Controlled Substance Acts. Ritalin is primarily used in the treatment of Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) (Bailey 1995). ADHD is a condition most likely based in an inefficiency and inadequacy of Dopamine and Norepinephrine hormone availability, typically occurring when a person with ADHD tries to concentrate. Ritalin improves the efficiency of the hormones Dopamine and Norepinephrine, increasing the resources for memory, focus, concentration and attention (Clark 1996). Ritalin has been used for more than 30 years to treat ADHD. Nervousness and insomnia are the most common adverse reactions reported, but are usually controlled by reducing dosage or omitting the afternoon or evening dose. Decreased appetite is also common but usually transient (Long 1996). According to Clark (1996), children, adolescents and adults diagnosed with A...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Organizational Promotion Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Organizational Promotion - Assignment Example Selection of staff for promotion is about selecting the right person for a higher job and it's a two-way process of companies to invite knowledgeable and talent applicant to enjoy higher designation within the firm. Before the actual interview process, short-listing is used for filtering for the right candidates to be promoted to higher positions. Then the suitable candidates can be selected through these techniques. Some of the more popular selection techniques are the interviews, tests, and assessment centre. By far interviewing is the most commonly used as a promotional selection tool. There are two structured interview techniques are behavioural and situational interview. During interview, the candidate can demonstrate their ability and present their expertise to the interviewers. The interviewers can make assessment by comparing the performance of each interviewee and promote the suitable candidate for particular position. The selection process at different stages of the enterprise is different; therefore, during the interview, the interviews can setup the assessment criteria to meet their need based on the requirements. Internal promotion process may generate a large number of applicants for vacant higher positions, especially when an open rather than a closed recruitment system is used. Initial assessment methods are used to screen out internal applicants who do not meet the minimum qualifications needed to become a candidate for a position. Types of Initial assessment methods are skills inventory, which uses existing data on employee skills that may be found in organizational files. Peer assessments, which are used to evaluate the promotabilitiy of an internal applicant. Self-assessment is when job incumbents can be asked to evaluate their own skills as the basis for determining promo ability. Managerial sponsorship involves senior management identifying and developing the profiles of those individuals at lower levels in the organization. The last type of initial assessment is informal discussion/recommendations, which is when not all promotion decisions are made on the basis of formal HR policy, and procedures, which can be questioned in terms of their relevance to actual job performance. Substantive Assessments Substantive assessments are used to narrow the internal applicant pool down to finalists. Some types of substantive methods include seniority and experience, which are among the most prevalent methods of internal selection. Job knowledge tests which measure one's mastery of the concepts needed to perform certain work which is usually measured with a paper and pencil test that is based on the job content. Performance appraisals, which capture both ability and motivation, which offers a complete, look at a person's job qualifications. Promotional Rating Promotability Ratings may be done at the same time as performance appraisals are useful for both recruiting and selection activities discussing what is needed to be promoted during performance appraisals can encourage employee development of new skills. Assessment Centres, which is a collection of predictors, used to forecast

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Healthcare Ethics and Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Healthcare Ethics and Law - Essay Example In addition, medical profession has defined its standards of accountability through a formal code of Ethics. Legal challenges and court decisions can seriously affect a medical professional's future. Thus, patient's perceptions of health care, particularly disagreements and researches of various kinds with medical professionals have caught the attention of every one since 1980s in Great Britain. These disagreements have turned often into legal complaints (Ellen Annandale 1998). These disagreements turned legal complaints lead to long medical litigations. In UK, the Court usually award three types of damages for such litigations.1.Compensatory damages - for an injured plaintiff's economic losses, costs of health care and lost wages. 2.Compensatory damages - for non-economic losses including pain, suffering associated to injury and 3.Punitive damages - in cases where a defendant has been found to have acted in a willful fashion, demonstrating negligence with no regard for the patient's well being. Thus, punitive damages aim to punish the defendants and are very damaging to the medical professionals. Medical malpractice law is part of tort, or personal injury law. The standard used to evaluate whether the breach in question rises to the level of negligence is called 'medical custom'. Medical custom is the quality of care expected of a medical professional. This custom is primarily based on the testimony of experts in the medical profession and practice guidelines. There has been a shift in recent years from the custom towards a more independent determination by the court. Unlike health care facilities that are well placed under the risk coverage through insurance, medical professionals are not covered for such litigation risks (Brennan.T 2004). Although, medical malpractice system functions theoretically well, the actual operation of the system is much more complicated. Evolution of Malpractice litigation in UK: Despite a series of medical litigations in the nineteenth century, suing medical professionals was not so easy until the later part of this century. Rights for advance directives, doctrines such as informed consent have created a new approach to medical litigations. The increase in frequency of medical litigations can be attributed to five main factors: 1.Greater public awareness of medical errors; 2.Loss of confidence in health care delivery system: 3.Technological advancement.4.Increased expectations of medical care and 5.Reduced interest of the plaintiff in accepting compensations outside the preview of the jury due to higher compensation chances through jury. (Brennan.T, 2004). The medical practice is liable for six kinds of legal authority, viz, 'The federal or central law', 'The law of the state', The international code of physicians', 'Institutional rules and regulations', 'Standing orders of the chief' and 'Precedent court decisions' (Zwemer, 1995). There are certain areas in medical practice, which have important legal implications called legal hazards. On account of the above-discussed factors, there has been a departure from traditional approach to management of disputes between the medical professionals and patient. The important approaches in medical care today include

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Three Mile Island Essay Example for Free

Three Mile Island Essay INTRODUCTION   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Three Mile Island incident stands not only as a reminder of the potential hazards of nuclear power, but of the potential hazards of an economically driven society and a government infiltrated by corporate interests. The events behind the most dangerous nuclear accident in American history are as straightforward as they are alarming; On Mar. 28, 1979, failure of the cooling system of the No. 2 nuclear reactor led to overheating and partial melting of its uranium core and production of hydrogen gas, which raised fears of an explosion and dispersal of radioactivity and consequently left the citizens of Harrisburg PA and the surrounding areas in a man-made disaster area of which they remained largely oblivious for some time.    An ensuing federal investigation of the accident would fault human, mechanical, and design errors, and recommend changes in reactor licensing and personnel training, as well as in the structure and function of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission,   (Three Mile Island).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   BODY   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Inarguably, failure to prevent the Three Mile Island nuclear accident rests on human shoulders; the accident resulted from mistakes, oversights, and misjudgments and unlike natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, or major fires, left no immediate physical alterations in the surrounding environment; however, the possibility to lay blame for the accident on specific actions or non-actions by specific reasons lured many who were impacted by the accident to search for immediate victims and villains.   (Houts, Cleary, and Hu vii)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One of the primary concerns surrounding the accident was the potential dangers of the radioactive leak which   was especially frightening because it cannot be felt or seen and is not easily understood. It is not possible to tell by ones senses when one is being radiated. Therefore, it was impossible for people living near Three Mile Island to assess the danger directly or to know what protective actions to take though the immediate psychological impact was devastating to nearby residents.   (Houts, Cleary, and Hu xi)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The accident at Three Mile Island grew in its immediate impact on the citizens near the plant due to media-influence. Recent studies of the incident and comprehensive studies of those impacted by the disaster   reveal profound psychological damages as well as physical damages to personal health and well-being. Subsequent lawsuits against the power plant were upheld by federal courts which ruled the accidental release of radioactive gases resulted from a partial meltdown of the reactor core after a combination of mechanical and human failures allowed the core to lose cooling water[] the company is responsible for health problems, such as cancer and birth defects; however, the full impact of the disaster on the population and the environment may not be known for many years to come.  Ã‚   (Murray 3)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   While the media exaggerated threats and claims of possible hazards, the state and federal and corporate spokespeople, at first,   downplayed the event and only later admitted that   findings about the status of the reactor suggested to Met Ed, NRC, and state officials that the accident had caused more damage and presented a greater threat to the citizens of central Pennsylvania than they had previously realized which   ultimately led to a complete dissolution of trust between the impacted citizens and corporate interests. (Walker 102)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The impact on the citizens near the plant took three major forms: psychological, physical, and economic. Detailed studies of those impacted by the disaster showed that Nine months after the crisis, 11% of respondents within five miles of TMI stated that they had visited a physician concerning symptoms they thought were due to the situation at Three Mile Island and that in many cases, these health problems were ultimately found to be of a anxious or psychological origin.   (Houts, Cleary, and Hu 95). Long-term impacts, as mentioned earlier, included cancer, birth-defects, and an undermining of trust in government or in corporate America. Many of the citizens near Three Mile Island relocated and left their homes of many years due to the unknown impacts of the disaster which may still be unmeasured.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   CONCLUSION      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I feel that the Three Mile Island accident severely damaged the relationship between community and corporation not only for those who suffered in the disaster but for anyone who is familiar with its history.   To me, it is appalling that the company realized the power plant was leaking radiation uncontrollably but failed to inform the public or explain the risk, leaving the media to misinform the public in many cases making the situation worse for those who had to endure it. To me, the accident stands as an almost symbolic occurrence which shows the perils of greed and corporate   proliferations and the reality that American citizens are sometimes not provided for by their companies or government but are often put at risk by their actions.(Goldsteen, and Schorr 129)                  Ã‚  SUMMARY      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Though the accident at Three Mile Island can overtly be traced to: A series of mechanical and judgmental errors it can also be traced to deeper roots in the economically driven private sector of American society and also to the superficiality of media and of the failure of government to adequately inform its citizens about the potential risks of an private industrial power-plant operating near their residences. The accident caused a breach in trust between ordinary citizens and government and corporate hierarchies; the full impact of the disaster is till unknown and will only be determined over time. (Houts, Cleary, and Hu ix)   Works Cited    Three Mile Island. The Columbia Encyclopedia. 6th ed. 2004. Goldsteen, Raymond L., and John K. Schorr. Demanding Democracy after Three Mile Island.    Gainesville, FL: University Presses of Florida, 1991. Houts, Peter S., Paul D. Cleary, and Teh-Wei Hu. Psychological, Social, and Economic Impacts   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   on the Surrounding Population Psychological, Social, and Economic Impacts on the   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Surrounding Population. University Park, PA: Pennsylvania State University Press, 1988.    Questia. 11 Oct. 2007 http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=od=99373973. Murray, Frank J. Supreme Court Lets Stand Three Mile Island Lawsuits. The Washington   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Times 6 June 2000: 3. Questia. 11 Oct. 2007 http://www.questia.com/PM.qst? a=od=5001743165. Walker, J. Samuel. Three Mile Island: A Nuclear Crisis in Historical Perspective. Berkeley, CA:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   University of California Press, 2004. Questia. 11 Oct. 2007 http://www.questia. com/PM.qst?a=od=105355260.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Contrastive Analysis And Error Analysis

Contrastive Analysis And Error Analysis Contrastive analysis is a method to distinguish between what are needed and not needed to learn by the second language learner by evaluating languages (M.Gass Selinker, 2008). In addition, contrastive analysis is a technique to identify whether two languages have something in common which assess both similarities and differences in languages, conforming to the belief in language universals. (Johnson, 1999). Both statements indicate that contrastive analysis holds a principle which is important in order to identify what are required by the second learner and what are not. If there is no familiar characteristic in the languages, then it is not necessary to compare the languages. While much could be said about comparing languages, a more important aspect is about influence from L2 in L1. Contrastive analysis stresses the influence of the mother tongue in learning a second language in phonological, morphological, lexical and syntactic levels. It holds that second language would be affec ted by first language (Jie, 2008, p. 36). On the same score, Wardhaugh asserts that first language of second language learners can clarify all errors that are constantly made them. These arguments prove that the common mistakes make by the second language learner are explainable in the first language if there is a relation in both languages. Indeed, this idea is conform to the rule of contrastive analysis which believes in language universal. On the other hand, contrastive analysis is used to identify one language origin and connection between the languages with other languages if it does. In Robert Lados words (1957:p.2): The fundamental assumption is transfer; individuals tend to transfer the forms and meanings, and the distribution of forms and meanings of their native language and culture to the foreign language and culture. I agree with Robert Lado since the second language learner tends to use direct translation to make a complete sentence. However, this might become a problem when the placement of the part of speech is not the same. For example, Malaysian who use Malay language as their first language and English as their second language might have a problem in placing the adjective. This is because in Malay language, adjective is put after the noun, such as; Rumah yang cantik but in English, adjective is placed before noun, for instance A beautiful house (adj) (Noun) This may cause confusion for the second learner but if they make a sentence, it is still understandable. The degree of clarity of the sentence can be a positive transfer of negative transfer. This example is supported by Jie (2008): In the course of language learning, L1 learning habits will be transferred into L2 learning habits. Therefore, in the case of L1 transfer into L2, if structures in the MT have their corresponding structures in the TL and L1 habits can be successfully used in the L2, learners would transfer similar properties successfully and that would result in positive transfer. Contrastingly, in the case of negative transfer or interference, certain elements of the MT have no corresponding counterparts in the TL, L1 habits would cause errors in the L2, and learners would transfer inappropriate properties of L1 It is important to know that L2 learners be likely to apply their L1 grammatical system in L2 grammar (Smith, 1994). They would opt for L2 words those they familiar, blending them using L2 grammar to formulate a sentence. For example; a Malay speaker would say; Saya makan epal semalam (Pronoun) (Verb) (Noun) (Adverb) Or in English; Yesterday, I ate the apple (Adverb) (Pronoun) (Verb) (Determiner) (Noun) If the L2 learners apply Smith argument, they would say; I ate apple yesterday As mentioned earlier, this statement is logical at one point but in other point, it shows that errors and transferred inappropriate properties those made by L2 learners are noticeable and this should apply the rule of contrastive analysis. However, this analysis has disadvantages. In Susan M. Gass and Larry Selinker words, they believe that this analysis is questioned because of the concept of difficulty as the basic theory of the contrastive analysis is concerning the difficultness. If an error is made by a person, this shows that the person has problem in some area, not because of the native language. Thus, we cannot presume that fluency of a L2 learner in L2 is depending on the nature of L1. There are more aspects that related to this matter. There are other factors that may influence the process of acquisition such as innate principle of language, attitude, motivation, aptitude, age, other language knownà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (M.Gass Selinker, 2008). Next, contrastive analysis cannot d etect some difficulties experienced by the L2 learners. For example, Je vois les/elle/la/le . I see them/her/her/him(this phrase is not possible in French) (Choi, 2009). Error analysis is a type of linguistic analysis that focuses on the errors learners make (M.Gass Selinker, 2008). This analysis is almost the same with the weak version of contrastive analysis which is comparing the errors which made by L2 learners. However, error analysis is not evaluating the errors with L2 native language, but it compares with the target language. Error analysis provides a broader range of possible explanations than contrastive analysis for researchers/teachers to use account for errors, as the latter only attributed errors to the native language (M.Gass Selinker, 2008). I do agree with Gass and Selinker because as Corder (1967) says that by producing errors, it shows that the learners are progressing and participating.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Animation Reaction Paper

ANI 206 / P. Trecka Reaction Paper #1 -Submit online (COL) before midnight. Max Points: 5 Screen: Gertie the Dinosaur, Winsor McCay, 1914 (U. S. A. ) The Tantalizing Fly, Max and Dave Fleischer, 1919 (U. S. A. ) Dizzy Dishes, Dir. Dave Fleischer, 1930 (USA) Write: Respond to one of the above films. Focus your analysis on specific examples from the film in question. Use the film terminology you are learning in class and in the assigned readings. Organize your analysis in an informed and spirited way.Literacy: You are responsible for reading, taking notes and writing clear, intelligent essays that reflect an understanding of the themes, terminology and art of animated films. Basic criteria but not limited to: †¢ Thesis, focus, content, ideas, analysis, interpretation †¢ Structure, organization, logic, integration of sources †¢ Use of Evidence, inclusion of relevant, specific historical evidence †¢ Logic, writing clarity and correctness Written in the first person, s ubjective point of view – I †¢ Do not retell the story †¢ Save as yourname_reaction_1. doc (WORD DOC PLEASE) †¢ Spell/grammar check †¢ Approximately 400 words, 5 organized paragraphs. To consider: Framing and composition Themes and motifs Character design Setting Cel animation: Sometimes called traditional animation is hand drawn, frame-by- frame on paper and or celluloid/acetate sheets.Iris-in: A shot that opens from darkness in an expanding circle of light. Iris-out: The opposite of an iris-in. Morph: Short for metamorphosis. The action is continuous and one object or action transforms into another. Reflexivity: reflexivity sometimes referred to as ‘self-reflexivity', describes the process by which an animator or film draws attention to itself, reminding the viewer of the medium.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Effects of Armed Conflicts on Women

Armed conflict has always been an inherent characteristic of the world we live in. The causes of conflict can be multifarious ranging from attempts to gain economic, political or territorial advantage to social factors such as religion and ethnicity. Armed conflicts can also be varied in nature with inter, intra and even non state combatants fighting against each other. The complexity and scale of armed conflicts have increased to a great extent with the emergence of non-state terrorist and mercenary groups that lacks the distinctiveness of traditional state armies fighting against each other. The consequences have been devastating for an increasing number of the population of the world who are affected by such armed conflicts. These include not only the combatants but also civilians who get caught up in the fighting in one way or the other. In fact civilian casualties have been on the rise and climbing â€Å"dramatically from 5 per cent at the turn of the century, to 15 per cent during World War I, to 65 per cent by the end of World War II, to more than 75 per cent in the wars of the 1990s. † (UN Report, 2001) A very stereotypical view regarding armed conflicts is that it is the men who fight the battles while the women support them by taking care of the home front. Men are perceived as the fighters who suffer causalities while women have to play out the traditional roles of wives, mothers and care givers and are therefore comparatively unaffected by war. Byrne (1996) however holds that even though it is largely men who directly fight and die in battles, it is women who constitute an overwhelming majority of the civilian casualties of war. Byrne goes on to add that the concept of women staying safely at home while the men fight the war at the front, and the differentiation between ‘conflict’ and ‘safe’ zones in armed conflict are essentially myths that do not take stock of the practical situation. Moreover, the fact that a growing number of women are also participating in armed conflicts around the world as active combatants and not merely as passive support providers adds a new dimension to the effects of armed conflicts on women. The Independent Experts’ Assessment on the Impact of Armed Conflict on Women and the role of Women in Peace-Building (2001) commissioned by the United Nations Development Funds for Women chose ‘During Armed Conflict Women’s Bodies Become a Battleground’ as the title of the introductory chapter of its report. This exemplifies the extent of violence against women as a result of armed conflicts. Civilians have become the primary targets in new terror tactics that have evolved in armed conflicts. But it is women who suffer most. Men and boys as well as women and girls are the victims of this targeting, but women, much more than men, suffer gender-based violence. Their bodies become a battleground over which opposing forces struggle. † (Rehn & Sirleaf, 2001) The United Nations defines violence against women as â€Å"any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, inc luding threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private. † (Machel, 2000) It is a matter of grave concern that women are actually subjected to every conceivable act of violence and more, that can fall under the purview of the definition. Not only do women face generic violence such as torture, killing, imprisonment and forced labour under conditions of war, but they also suffer gender-specific violence that strike at the very core of their existence. They are abducted and raped, used as sexual slaves, forced to cook, clean, carry water and loads and do other domestic chores; and even used as human shields or put to risky undertakings such clearing minefields. There are numerous examples. Rehn & Sirleaf (2001) reports that â€Å"94% per cent of displaced households surveyed in Sierra Leone had experienced sexual assaults, including rape, torture and sexual slavery†¦ at least 250,000 – perhaps as many as 500,000 – women were raped during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. † This however is only the tip of the iceberg. The sufferings of women in armed conflicts never seem to end. They are forced by the circumstances to sell sex to survive, they are taken advantage of sexually even by people who are supposed to help them, and finally, they have to face censure at the hands of those very near and dear ones for whom they make all the sacrifices. Such is their plight. The Reason Why The roots of the violence that women suffer during the course of armed conflicts are however opined to lie elsewhere. Violence is said to be perpetuated on women not solely because of the conditions of war but because of a direct relation with violence in the life of women even during peace time (Rehn & Sirleaf 2001). The relationship between the genders is determined by the extent of access to or distribution of power. Men are in more control of resources and power than women. Since women do not have control over power and resources they as a gender are usually not the cause behind wars. In spite of that they suffer because of their inherent power and control position vis-a-vis men. Again, the greater emphasis by nations on increasing their military strength results in a deterioration of the rights of women exacerbating the inequalities in gender relations. In a display of unadulterated hypocrisy however, many armed conflicts are justified on the grounds of restoring or maintaining gender equality. This was clearly the case in the American invasion of Afghanistan ion 2001 when liberation of women from the fanatical regime of the Talibans was cited as a reason even though there was hardly any concern for the plight of the same women during the five years prior to the invasion even when local and international NGOs constantly strived to draw attention to their sufferings (Jack, 2003). It is very true that â€Å"although entire communities suffer the consequences of armed conflict and terrorism, women and girls are particularly affected because of their status in society and their sex. † (Beijing Declaration, 1996). The effect of war on women depends to a great extent on their gendered role that defines their constraints and opportunities in society. Women become more vulnerable war atrocities when they are perceived as symbolic bearers of the pride and honour of a community. In such cases women are specifically targeted as a way of denting the very essence of he rival community. In regions where women are deemed to represent the cultural and ethnic identity of communities as the producer of future generations, any assault on their honour becomes an assault on the morale and honour of the entire community. Under such circumstances public rape and torture of women is considered to have serious demoralizing effects on enemy communities. The victors or occupation forces resort to sexual exploitation of women because of such underlying war strategies coupled with inherent sexual urges. Yet the same symbolic role of women can be a cause of threat or attack even from their own community for not conforming to the role in some way or the other in adverse conditions, such as not wearing a veil or venturing into forbidden areas as has been the case in the Islamic world. Armed conflict is therefore like a double edged sword for women. Societal norms also force women to bear atrocities. The comments of a doctor working with Save the Children Fund, in an ICRC/TVE film (2000) illustrate the point: In certain villages bordering conflict young girls have admitted that armed men come in at night – these girls are used as sex workers – they are not allowed to protest – they are not allowed to lock their doors and the whole community tolerates this because these armed men protect the community – so it is a trade off. †¦Ã¢â‚¬  When sexual violence is used as a means of warfare or when women are pressurized to bear children as a means of supply of future soldiers, women become a very vulnerable gender to the violence of armed conflict. In conflict zones such as Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo, sexual violence was used as a means of ‘ethnic cleansing’. The Serbian police and paramilitary forces used rape to punish women belonging to the Kosovo Liberation Army (Human Rights Watch, 2000). Different Wars, Different Stages, Different Roles The different kinds of armed warfare, their different stages and the different roles that women play in these conflicts all have different effects on women. Modern armed conflicts are fought between adversaries that are very different from the conventional state armies. Terrorist groups and non-state players give armed conflicts a new dimension in the modern world. The problem with such combatants is that they do not adhere to international laws governing warfare and have no scruples in indulging in violence and atrocities that would fall in the category of war crimes. The Geneva Conventions and its protocols find no takers in them. They are not regulated by any authority and are guided either by their own perverted consciences or by fanatical ideologies. As a result women become more susceptible all kinds of violence from such elements in armed conflict. Armed conflicts usually pass through different stages viz. the pre-conflict stage or run up to the conflict, the conflict itself, the stage of conflict resolution or the peace process and the post conflict stage of reconstruction and reintegration. Each of these stages hold different horrors for women depending on the different roles that women play in such conflicts. Women act as agents of change when they participate in the prevention, resolution or management of armed conflicts. Their participation is very important because without them the views, needs and interests of half of the population go unrepresented. Conversely, women also act as agents of change when they indirectly support the men to take up arms for any cause which they may believe in. In the case of Rwanda, women were found to have been accomplices to and participants in gross acts of genocide (Lindsey, 2001). This indirect participation of women takes on added significance in their role as the primary influence on children. Women as mothers can influence children in many ways and mould them to serve as soldiers in armed conflicts. The simple act of women telling stories centered on sensitive issues of ethnic or clan conflicts could sensitize the children. Encouraging future generations to fight, may be considered as subtle participation of women in the armed conflicts as agents of change. Acting as agents of change is fraught with dangers because women often have to consciously take sides in their efforts to better the situation or to protect themselves and their families. They put themselves at risk in doing so. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) women of the South Kivu region were buried alive by people of their own villages because they were said to be witches. It was however found that they suffered their fate because the villagers suspected them of providing food and medicines to armed groups which the villagers did not support (Rehn & Sirleaf 2001). Women participate as active combatants in armed conflicts. â€Å"†¦the number of women who participate in fighting forces is increasing in nearly all conflicts. Women have constituted significant proportions of combatants and combat support operations in conflicts in Eritrea, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Uganda, and Rwanda † (USAID, 2007). As active combatants women face the same ravages of war as fighting men do. However, in many cases, women are abducted and forced to participate as combatants. The Revolutionary United Front in Sierra Leone made it a practice to raid villages and abduct children of both sexes to force them to join in the fighting. The abducted children were often raped, starved and drugged and then forced to kill. It has been the same in Uganda, Mozambique, Liberia and other war torn places. Women also get involved in the fighting as ‘followers’ of fighters. In such a role the woman does not carry arms but provide full and active support to the fighters. She acts as cook, domestic servant, sexual partner, guard or porter or all of these together. She may even be used as human shield in the fighting. It is not very difficult to imagine the trauma that she goes through in such roles. Women become victims and spoils of war. It is a very common practice of conquering forces to claim women of the defeated party as spoils of war. In an occupied land, women are also forced to curry sexual favors to the victorious forces for the sake of their own survival and the survival of their families. The fate of women is closely linked to the fate of their men. When men leave their homes to fight or die in the fighting, the women often becomes the primary bread winner of the family and has to take on additional role and responsibilities. This puts the woman in an entirely new social position, one that could even turn out to be advantageous but is more often than not a position that entails untold hardships on her. Left to fend alone for her family and herself, a woman could be driven to any extent and exploited easily under such circumstances. A woman usually finds herself in such a role in the post conflict stage of reconstruction and reintegration. Scars that do not heal Armed conflicts affect women physically, psychologically, economically, socially and even spiritually. They are more susceptible to violence than men because they are women. â€Å"Women are victims of unbelievably horrific atrocities and injustices in conflict situations; this is indisputable. As refugees, internally displaced persons, combatants, heads of household and community leaders, as activists and peace-builders, women and men experience conflict differently. Women rarely have the same resources, political rights, authority or control over their environment and needs that men do. In addition, their caretaking responsibilities limit their mobility and ability to protect themselves. † (Rehn & Sirleaf 2001). Gender Based Violence (GBV) can take many forms. Sexual violence in the form of rape, sexual slavery, forced pregnancy, trafficking, genital mutilation and soliciting of sexual favors, as horrifying as they are, is only one aspect of the affect of war on women. Steep increase in domestic violence due to armed conflicts; the travails of displacement, forced or otherwise; the resultant adverse affects on health and increased exposure to infections and life-threatening diseases such as AIDS/HIV; the burden of additional social and economic responsibilities; and the lingering psychological, physical and social effects even after the end of hostilities are the multidimensional impacts of armed conflicts that are not quite as obvious, but devastating enough to merit closer scrutiny to understand their mechanism of operation. Sexual Violence and Physical Torture The continent of Africa is rife with armed conflicts. Many factors such as bad governance, illiteracy, deplorable economic conditions, political unrest and breakdown of social structures have contributed in fomenting armed struggles on unprecedented scales. Africa is a classic example of a society where the status of women as a subordinate and deprived class has added to their miseries during time so war. The majority of women in Africa is uneducated and live in abject isolation cut off even from all that is happening around them in politics and power play. They are therefore caught completely unawares when armed conflicts erupt. The subordination of women in Africa is accentuated in conflict situations. They are not only used as sexual objects who are to be humiliated and demeaned, but are also tortured and mutilated to deter them from carrying out stereotyped roles that are perceived to go against the interests of the perpetrators. During the documentation that has been carried out in Uganda, Liberia and Sierra Leone, women have testified that rebels cut off their lips, ears and nose giving various reasons for such acts (Ochieng, 2004). The same study also documents an instance in which a father was shot dead by enemy combatants when he refuse do have sexual intercourse with his daughter. The intention in this case was to inflict severe psychological torture on both the father and the daughter as incest is considered a blasphemy in Africa as in the rest of the world at large, and would leave permanent scars on the psyche of individuals and the society. Even when women participate as combatants on their own will, they are expected to submit to the sexual exploitations of their superiors. A United Nations document on the situation in Columbia states that â€Å"the situation of women and girls making part of illegal armed groups continues concerning the Council. Women and girl-combatants were objects of sexual abuse by their superiors in the hierarchy. † (Franco et. al. 2006). Abduction of women during armed conflicts is a practice that has its roots in deep in history. A well-known example is the large group of women who were labeled the ‘comfort women’ in the Far East during the Second World War. Things have not changed much. Only the scale, range and scope have. The sexual violence is not restricted to a particular stage of armed conflict but is widely prevalent in all the stages. If it is exploitation by the same side during the initial stage, the victorious lay their own claim on the womenfolk of the vanquished during the stage of active combat; this is followed by sexual exploitation of displaced women who go from place to place as refugees and are hounded sexually by a host of anti-social elements as well as those who are meant to protect and shelter them. This extends into the peace process and the reconstruction and reintegration stage when women ravaged and left helpless by the experience of war easily succumb to the lure of currying favors in exchange of sex. â€Å"Women are physically and economically forced or left with little choice but to become sex workers or to exchange sex for food, shelter, safe passage or other needs; their bodies become part of a barter system, a form of exchange that buys the necessities of life. † (Rehn & Sirleaf 2001). There have been reports of the situation being attenuated by the arrival of peacekeeping forces when personnel from these forces also indulge in sexually exploiting women in return for food, security, shelter, employment and other favors. The independent study commissioned by the United Nations Development Fund for Women were told by members of the local community in the Kisangani and Goma regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo that peace keepers having sex with local girls and that condoms were lying visibly scattered just outside the UN compounds. It was however the desperate women who took the initiative for such sexual liaisons. Trafficking is another adverse affect that is closely associated with armed conflict. Countries with armed conflict are ideal breeding grounds for trafficking because breakdown in law and order and reduced border controls and policing. Criminal networks of arms and drug dealers that operate in war torn countries easily double up as traffickers in women. The women are taken out to work in illegal factories, as slaves or as prostitutes in brothels in red light areas. Rise in armed conflicts have triggered a simultaneous rise in trafficking throughout the world. Trafficking worldwide grew almost 50 per cent from 1995 to 2000 (Financial Times, March 19, 2001), and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that as many as 2 million women are trafficked across borders annually. A survey conducted in Cambodia in 1995 revealed that about 31 per cent of the prostitutes in Phnom Penh and 11 other provinces were between the ages of 12 and 17, and had been trafficked out of the conflict-stricken countryside (Human Rights Task Force on Cambodia, 1996). Trafficking in women has assumed alarming proportions in Columbia due to the civil war which has dragged on for decades in the country. It is estimated that around 50,000 women are trafficked out of Columbia every year. Bosnia and Herzegovina in south-east Europe also experience very high trafficking in women due to the same basic reason. Traffickers lure women out of these areas on the pretext of giving them jobs. They are then forced into sexual slavery. The traffickers take away the travel documents of the women so that they are not able to escape. Once they are in the trap it is very difficult for these women to return home to their societies even if they are rescued. Though many family in the war torn countries are desperate enough not to question where the money their daughters send home comes from, they will also not accept the women back if they come to know that they had been working as prostitutes or sex slaves. As a result, the girls go through multiple traumas: first they are separated from home, thereafter they are sexually exploited and brutalized and finally they face rejection from their own families. Trafficking is a vicious trap that leads the women who fall prey to it to ultimate destruction unless there is institutional intervention. Since armed conflict and trafficking go hand in hand, women in trouble-torn regions are always vulnerable to trafficking. Forced Displacement Forced Displacement is actually not an inevitable outcome of all armed conflicts, but it is frequently adopted as a strategy of war to destabilize enemy families and communities, to uproot the enemy so that it is scattered and weakened. Forced displacement is however a â€Å"the clearest violation of human, economic, political and social rights and of the failure to comply with international humanitarian laws† (Moser & Clark, 2001). Though displacement during armed conflict is viewed as a temporary process, examples in countries such as Sudan, Sri Lanka and Somalia show that it could extend into a prolonged affair, with succeeding generations having to stay away from the place of origin. Displacements can have multiple effects on women. For women displacement implies increased difficulties in managing household responsibilities as access to resources is cut off or becomes unavailable. Displacement has also been found to lead to a reversal in roles with women assuming the position of the head of the household. This is very evident in Sudan. Ethnic groups such as the Dinka, Nuer and Nuba have been displaced from their place of origin and face severe marginalization. The women of these communities take on added responsibilities of the missing men. Much of this added responsibility is transferred to younger members of the family, especially young girls. Young girls have to not only do domestic chores, but also look after the children, sick and the elderly. They lose out on valuable study and play time which affects their futures negatively. All displaced people face social exclusion, so do women. Staying in an alien environment without the usual support and protection from the male members of the family can be a very terrifying and psychologically scarring experience. In strife-torn Columbia, displacement has become a perennial problem. An estimated 40 million people have been forced to flee from their homes and seek sanctuary elsewhere. A whooping 80% of these displaced people are women and children (Security Council Report, 1999). This brings into sharp focus the high impact of displacement particularly on women. â€Å"The circumstances are unique in each country, but the stories are similar. In places such as Afghanistan, Angola, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Chechnya, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), East Timor, Guinea, Haiti, Indonesia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Somalia and in the occupied Palestinian territories – whose people constitute the longest-standing and largest refugee population – women have been forced from their homes and exposed to indiscriminate violence while searching for a safe haven. † (Rehn & Sirleaf 2001). Displaced people face violence and hardship as they search for a safe haven. Women are especially vulnerable in such a situation. While on the run, and even after they have found refuge, women have to suffer the humiliation of rape and other forms of physical violence. In their constant struggle to provide for their families and themselves, they are forced to sell their bodies in exchange of provisions and favours. Again, displacement can be of two types: the refugee who has left the country of origin and crossed international borders, and the Internally Displaced Person or the IDP who has been forced to leave the place of original residence and has moved to a different part or region within the country. While international laws do provide some amount of protection and security to the refugee, such laws are not applicable in case of the IDP. The IDP therefore faces a plight worse than the refugee and is practically left all alone in the fight for survival. Even in the case of the refugee, a lot depends on the willingness of those in power in the host country to allow international agencies to aid or help the refugees. In many cases, armed opposition groups may refuse to provide access to international agencies fearing that their own human rights violations will be exposed. Forced displacement however has some positive effects too for women. When the displaced women takes over the reins of the household, many of the traditional shackles lose their hold on them and they find new avenues for self development and progress. They gain a sense of liberty that they did not have in their conventional male-dominated societies. Displacement also becomes a boon for women when they find refuse in well-established and properly run care centers which provide them adequate training and education to enable them to stand on their own feet. When this happens, the suppressed woman can break free and find her own moorings. Domestic Violence during Conflict That domestic violence increases proportionately with increase in armed conflict is a fact that had not been known until very recently. Conflict attenuates domestic violence in two ways: by breaking down communities and the natural regulatory functions of communities, and by escalating violence in the context of masculine and militarized conflict situations. Conflict leads to imbalances in power relations which in turn escalates domestic violence. Many things contribute to the increase in domestic violence – the availability of weapons, the violence male family members have experienced or meted out, the lack of jobs, shelter, and basic services (Lindsey, 2002). In a conflict situation, men get used to violence either by suffering violence or meting violence to others. This sort of acclimatizes them and makes them more prone to the use of violence. The experience of war changes some man from within so that they do not hesitate to apply violence in the domestic context. Combatants who return home after spending long years in fighting have been found to find it difficult to adjust to peace time. There have been instances when men returning form war have killed their own wives. Studies in Cambodia in the mid-1990s indicated that many women – as many as 75 per cent in one study – were victims of domestic violence, often at the hands of men who have kept the small arms and light weapons they used during the war (Lutz & Elliston, 2002). In the Middle East too, there have been reports of men returning from fighting and using the same tactics of torture used in war on their wives in glaring cases of domestic violence. Israel responded to the second Intifada by imposing restrictions on the movement of Palestinians. This led to unemployment, frustration and overcrowded living conditions. The release has been noticed in the form of increased domestic violence within families, crimes against women within the family. Women were being raped and tortured by the frustrated men. The problem in the case of domestic violence is that there are very few laws to protect women from domestic. Even where such laws have been framed, they are not imposed, especially during periods of conflict. The United Nations itself has only recently woken up to the situation. War and Women’s health War has a profound negative effect on health. The direct impact is the casualties of war. Men and women die in large number in any armed conflict. In the event of continued armed struggles medical systems and facilities tend to break down. The expert’s independent report by Rehn & Sirleaf (2001) had this to report of the casualties of war: â€Å"In 2000 alone, conflict is estimated to have directly resulted in 310,000 deaths, with more than half taking place in sub-Saharan Africa. If the commonly held ratio is accurate – nine indirect deaths for every direct death caused by conflict – then approximately 2. 8 million people died in 2000 of some conflict-related cause. Arguably the figure is much higher. When the direct fatalities are estimated by age and sex, children and adolescents account for a significant proportion of the deaths. The highest mortality rates are among men aged 15 to 44, but a quarter of direct mortality is among women. The greatest number of deaths of women is among those aged 15 to 29; some 25,000 women in this age group died directly of conflict in 2000. The International Rescue Committee has estimated that between August 1998 and April 2001, there were 2. 5 million excess deaths (i. e. , above the number normally expected) in the five eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where armed groups have been fighting each other as well as attacking civilians. Only 350,000 of these deaths were directly caused by violence; the majority stemmed from disease and malnutrition. One in eight households had experienced at least one violent death; 40 per cent of these deaths were of women and children. There were more deaths than births in many of the areas studied and, in one area, 75 per cent of the children died before they reached the age of two. † The report speaks volume about the direct casualties that women suffer in armed conflicts. The indirect effects of armed conflicts on the health of women are perhaps more horrendous. The large scale rape and other sexual atrocities on women leaves them exposed to all forms of sexual diseases and infections including AIDS and HIV. Many women who manage to overcome the other travails of war have to finally accept defeat when they learn that they have contacted AIDS at the end of it. There have been instances, especially in the Rwandan armed conflicts when one ethnic community has deliberately tried to infect another ethnic community with AIDS. Epidemics break out in refugee camps claiming thousands of lives. Since the refugee camps house a larger number of women, they are affected the most. Women who have been raped or tortured suffer from mental problems. Unwanted pregnancies and adolescence pregnancies pose considerable threats to the health of women. In places such as Bosnia, Kosovar and Sierra Leone, women faced terrible dilemmas. Would they abort their unwanted babies or would they keep them? A majority of these women chose abortion because they feared rejection if they dared to keep the babies. In Sierra Lone, the matter becomes more complicated because abortions are declared illegal and it costs a lot of hard-earned money to have an abortion. All these have to be seen in the context of the conflict scenario when medical and health systems break down and there are acute shortages of medicines and trained medical personnel. Many women die at child birth due to lack of adequate care. Many babies die at birth leaving their mothers heartbroken. Provisions for Protection The Geneva Conventions of 1949 and its protocols remain the best applicable laws for the protection of women. The customary of international humanitarian laws can also be applied for the protection of women in conditions of armed conflicts. In 1993 and 1994 the Security Council established two ad hoc international criminal tribunals; the first to prosecute serious violations of international humanitarian law committed in the former Yugoslavia, and the second to prosecute similar violations as well as genocide in Rwanda. The statute of the International Criminal Code was adopted in July 1998. All laws include many common clauses that can be effectively used for the protection of women in armed conflicts. These include the clause of non discrimination by which the same protection is to be given both to men and women. The law lays down that both men and women are to be â€Å"treated humanely (†¦) without adverse distinction founded on sex †¦Ã¢â‚¬  Moreover specific protection for women are accorded by Article 14 of the Third Geneva Convention which makes it mandatory that â€Å"women †¦ be treated with all the regard due to their sex. † Considerations for the privacy of women are also taken into account by the laws, so are provisions for expectant mothers. The Human Rights and the Refugee Laws too cover other aspects of protection for women in situations of armed conflict. The crux of the matter however is that the laws are as good as the intentions of those who are responsible for implementing them. The international community has to join hands in taking up the cudgel for women caught up in horrifying situations such as armed conflicts, and they have to take enough women with them to provide the healing touch as representatives of those who have suffered the insufferable. Throughout the ages, women have shown remarkable resilience to the vagaries of armed conflict. It is one war they have to win at any cost.