Sexually Transmitted Diseases Essay Example

Sexually Transmitted Diseases Essay Sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs, are grabbing increasing attention given that the category includes AIDS, often labelled as the plague of our century. However, there are other important STDs that affect a large number of individuals and lead to disastrous consequences. These include Gonorrhea, Syphillis, Chlamydia, Herpes type II, Human Papilloma Virus (Warts), Hepatitis B, Trichimonis, Pubic Lice (CRABS). Different in origin, symptoms, treatment and outcomes, all these diseases share the way of transmission, where sexual intercourse is the primary vehicle.1. Prevalence of   STDs.The list of most important STDs has changed over time. Thus, syphilis was non-existent in pre-Columbian Europe. After Columbus’ trip to America, syphilis emerged as a devastating disease that used to plunder towns and villages, which gave scientists reasons to believe that it was brought over from the New World (Crosby, 1973, p. 124-126). In the 1960s the five most important STDs included gon orrhea, syphilis, granuloma inguinale, chancroid, and lymphogranuloma venereum (STDs: Yesterday and Today, 2004).According to the statistics publicised by the American Social Health Association, â€Å"more than half of all people will have an STD at some point in their lifetime† (ASHA, 2005). The same association estimates that one in two sexually active Americans gets infected with an STD by the age of 25, and one out of four teenagers per year will contract an STD. The compilation of reliable statistics is difficult since only a few sexually transmittd diseases including gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, hepatitis A and B have to be reported to the health authorities when diagnosed. However, these numbers show the prevalence of SDTs in contemporary society and demonstrate that this is a serious health issue that has to be addressed with adequate measures on prevention and cure.STDs are typically caused by bacteria, parasites, and viruses. Physicians use antibiotics to treat S TDs cause by bacteria, but the problem is that the bacterium can develop a resistance to the medication, complicating treatment. Parasitic STDs are for the most part curable. The greatest challenge for humanity at this point is the viral STDs, including HIV/AIDS, as the virus tends to stay in the body for prolonged time periods without exhibiting any symptoms. Besides, â€Å"there are no known cures for viruses† (STDs: Yesterday and Today, 2004).2. Primary STDs.HIV/ AIDS (Acquired immune deficiency syndrome) usually tops the list of concerns related to sexually transmitted diseases to the uniformly lethal outcome and unavailability of the cure. A person develops AIDS after contracting HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) that decreases the potential of the immune system to respond to infections and cancers. As a result, the host dies of a certain infection or cancer, although HIV can reside in the body for years without developing into AIDS.Gonorrhea is a curable bacterial infe ction and one of the oldest sexually transmitted diseases. The disease is found in both men and women, although in women it is more likely to reside without causing symptoms. The bacterium affects many organs, including vagina, cervix, urethra, throat, and rectum.Syphilis, formerly known as the French disease, results from the contraction of â€Å"a bacterial spirochete that bores into the mucous membranes of the mouth or genitals† (STDs: Yesterday and Today, 2004). Syphilis develops in several stages, and it can take years before the disease reaches a stage in which it become incurable and leads to the death of the patient. In the initial stages it is treatable (NIAID, 2004). Syphilis begins with the appearance of a chancre, an ulcer that can appear both inside and outside of the body and thus often passes unnoticed by the patient, in particular due to its painless character. The secondary stage is characterised by the appearance of a highly infectious rash on the body. Afte r this the disease can transform into a latent process that will continue for years without causing any symptoms. Alternatively, syphilis can enter the tertiary stage which triggers â€Å"mental illness, blindness, other neurologic problems, heart disease, and death† (NIAID, 2004).Chlamydia is caused by bacterium that affects cervix, urethra, throat, and rectum. First reported in 1984, it â€Å"affects an estimated 35 million women annually† (STDs: Yesterday and Today, 2004). Chlamydia has a serious effect on fallopian tubes and can lead to infertility if not cured quickly. After treatment, Chlamydia can reside in the body for long periods of time.Herpes virus (Type II) is transmitted through sexual intercourse when the virus gets into the mucous on the genitals. As with most viruses, this one is incurable and can remain in the body for a lifetime without demonstrating symptoms (STDs: Yesterday and Today, 2004). According to the American Social Health Association, 90% of those infected with herpes do not know about their infection (ASHA, 2005). Alternatively, it can break into a rash or ulcer on the skin. Herpes virus is believed to pose little danger to the body and mostly leads to discomfort; however, contracting genital herpes simplifies HIV infection, and so couples in which one partner has this disease usually choose to use condoms to protect the other partner from risk.Human Papillomavirus (HSV) is another viral infection that can reside with the host without triggering symptoms. The most common symptom is warts, in particular genital warts. Recently, scientists established the connection between HSV and cervical and anal cancer, so contracting HSV raises the risk of cervical cancer in women. Among 80 and 100 strains of the virus, there are differing degrees of risk of causing cancer.Hepatitis B, like other varieties of hepatitis (Types A, C, D) leads to the inflammation of the liver, but differs from other types since it is contracted thro ugh sexual intercourse in 30% of the cases (STDs: Yesterday and Today, 2004). A person can recover from hepatitis without serious damage to health, although in many cases the disease can change into a chronic form or lead to a fatal outcome due to liver failure.3. STDs: Impact on Health.Many STDs, although not leading to fatal outcomes on their own, can lead to complications that will result in either death of the patient or permanent depression of a certain bodily function such as reproduction. Thus, untreated gonorrhoea in women can result in a PID, pelvic infectious disease, especially if left untreated for many years. PID results in the formation of scars in the fallopian tubes that can block the passage of the fertilized egg into the uterus. The consequence can be a tubal (ectopic) pregnancy in which the embryo implants in the tube, occasionally causing a miscarriage or even resulting in a fatal outcome. In men, gonorrhoea results in epididymitis, affecting the testicles, and/o r inflammation of the prostate gland.Similar effects appear in both men and women as a result of other STDs. PID is a common condition emerging in consequence of STD and can often lead to infertility. Untreated, the infection leads to the blockage of the fallopian tubes precluding the fertilization of the egg. Half of PID cases are attributed to Chlamydia (NIAID, 2004). Often this process is not accompanied with any symptoms or inconvenience, and thus the condition progresses unnoticed.Any other STD increases the risk of contracting HIV. For this reason, prevention and treatment of other STDs is important part of the efforts to reduce the spread of AIDS. Besides, measures that are part of the prevention campaigns against HIV, such as mutual monogamy (â€Å"having sex with only one, uninfected partner who only has sex with you†), condom use and regular check-ups are helpful against HIV as well as against other sexually transmitted diseases.4. Diagnosing and Prevention of STDs. Diagnosing and prevention of these dangerous diseases is an important issue in contemporary American society where high cost of medical services can isolate the uninsured portion of the population from regular check-ups necessary in order to prevent the development of the disease. The low level of concern among medical professionals is another problem. A national survey of US doctors indicated that less than one-third of physicians regularly checked patients for STDs (St Lawrence J.S. et al., 2002, p.1784). Screening for Chlamydia, a disease that can cause lasting damage to a woman’s reproductive system leading to infertility, is at a disappointingly low level, since â€Å"in 2003 only 30% of women 25 and under with commercial health care plans and 45% in Medicaid plans were screened for Chlamydia† (ASHA, 2005). Since early detection of the disease is often a decisive factor that determines the success of treatment, any program aiming to increase the effectiveness of a n anti-STD campaign has to concentrate on stepping up measures for early diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases. As stated before, regular check-ups can, for example, exclude deaths from syphilis that is treatable in early stages.Another part of efforts in combating STDs is to embark on an extensive prevention program. A study conducted by Alexander McKay in Canada in 2000 focused on the research of effective interventions methods aimed at prevention of HIV and other STDs. His research indicates favourable outcomes of behavioral interventions with â€Å"adolescents, street youth, STI clinic patients, women, heterosexually active men, men who have sex with men, and communities† (McKay, 2000, p. 95). The study aims at the development of a cost-effective method of STD prevention that will generate results in a cost-efficient manner. A successful prevention strategy, according to McKay has to take into consideration cultural factors and be conducted in a culturally appropriat e fashion. Activists are encouraged to draw on the involvement of peer educators and community opinion leaders, putting sizeable effort into the promotion of condoms and safe sex. Campaigning has to evolve on both communal and individual planes, targeting broad masses of people as well as creating individual sexual health plans.Another important area of fight against STDs is the research directed at the invention of new medications against these infections, as well as vaccines and diagnosis methods. Thus, a projected supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) targets the development of new diagnosis methods that will allow doctors to pinpoint with greater precision the stage of the disease (NIAID, 2004). Molecular biologists are investigating various parts of the spirochete bacterium in order to prepare a vaccine that will provide for more efficient prevetion of this STD. Researchers are also trying to replace the current common diagnostic test fo r syphilis that requires a blood sample with one that will examine saliva or urine.   The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases’ research on gonorrhoea focuses on several important issues, namely, â€Å"how this bacterium attaches to host cells†, â€Å"how it gets inside cells†, â€Å"gonococcal surface structures and how they can change†, and â€Å"human response to infection by gonococci† (NIAID, 2004). Dramatic improvements in treatment and diagnosis of STDs will be instrumental in stemming the spread of these diseases.ConclusionSTDs are a pervasive phenomenon in modern-day society that has come to the fore of public attention primarily due to HIV/AIDS. Although AIDS is by far the deadliest STD at this point, the impact of other infections should not be overshadowed by the AIDS epidemic, since STDs affect a large proportion of population and carry permanent long-term risks due to their frequently latent character. These infecti ons, caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites, can lead to infertility, ectopic pregnancies and lethal outcomes. That is why efforts aimed at the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of STDs acquire increasing importance.

Social vs. Societal

Social vs. Societal Social vs. Societal Social vs. Societal By Mark Nichol What’s the difference between social and societal? Not much, but enough that you may become the victim of social stigma if you ignore subtle societal signals. Societal is the pedantic alternative to social. They both mean â€Å"pertaining to society,† but as the latter word, first attested in the Middle Ages, was increasingly used in the modern era to refer to interpersonal contact rather than in the context of complex forces within human populations, societal appeared in the latter part of the nineteenth century as a more serious, scholarly alternative. It is mostly seen in such usage and is otherwise considered pretentious. Even now, social is more likely to appear in phrases referring to individuals, not groups, such as â€Å"social disposition,† â€Å"social engagement,† and â€Å"social life.† Societal, on the other hand, is employed in contexts like â€Å"societal pressure to conform,† though social still has the same import in usage such as â€Å"social institutions,† which refers to widespread traditions, not venues where people hang out. Standing phrases that include social also include â€Å"social climber,† referring to a person who tries to rise above his or her station in life; â€Å"social disease,† a euphemism for â€Å"venereal disease† (one spread through sexual contact), or any disease whose distribution is related to socioeconomic factors; and â€Å"social drinker,† which denotes a regular imbiber of alcoholic beverages whose indulgence is not considered excessive. The most ubiquitous such phrase of the last decade or so, however, is â€Å"social network(ing),† a case of an unfortunate usurpation of a useful term for a diluted sense: In most contexts, a social network is a virtual web of friends, acquaintances, and colleagues or professional contacts, enabled by recent technological innovations, that is widely seen as contributing to a more expansive yet much more superficial outlook on interpersonal communication and interaction than was prevalent in the past. (Yet the telephone, the telegram, and other once innovative devices were in their day similarly derided for weakening the social contract.) More provocative phrases are â€Å"social Darwinism,† the name for the theory that some social groups are biologically superior to others, and â€Å"social engineering,† which has two senses: large-scale manipulation or influencing of society, or deceptive collection of confidential personal information. The ancestor of both words is socius, Latin for â€Å"accomplice,† â€Å"ally,† or â€Å"companion.† Other terms that stem from this parentage include sociology, which primarily means â€Å"the study of aspects of large groups of people† the more far-reaching equivalent of psychology, which focuses on the behavior of individuals and socialite, a mildly pejorative term for a person with prominent status in society, usually as a result of abundant wealth. Antisocial, meanwhile, denotes behavior averse or hostile to society, and asocial refers to someone who avoids engaging in society. Socialism is a term coined in the mid-nineteenth century to apply to sometimes competing ideas of governance, often similar to and often confused with those of communism, in which the state controls production and distribution of goods and services. A related term is association, referring to networks of relationships. Interestingly, this term is the origin of a word for the globally popular sport known in most of the world as football (or a transliteration such as fussball or futbol) but in the United States called soccer: Originally, this game, to distinguish it from rugby football (now usually called simply rugby), was termed â€Å"association football.† Slang usage shortened this term to assoc and later soccer. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:100 Whimsical WordsProved vs. ProvenMankind vs. Humankind

Crusade

Crusade Crusade Crusade By Maeve Maddox The word crusade, used as both noun and verb, derives from a Latin verb meaning â€Å"to mark with a cross.† Middle English adopted the Old French form, croisee. When the OF spelling shifted to croisade, English speakers started spelling it that way too. Finally, in the 18th century, the spelling was Anglicized to crusade. The Crusades were European-led wars that began in the 11th century with the intention of recapturing Jerusalem and other places in the Holy Land that had been conquered by Muslims in the 7th century, seven years after the death of Muhammad. The last attempt by a European king to recover the Christian sites was in 1272. The earliest OED citation for croisade in reference to these wars is dated 1557. In the 18th century, crusade acquired a figurative meaning separate from the idea of a religious war. The noun came to mean â€Å"an aggressive movement against something perceived as a public evil.† The first documentation of this use occurs in 1786 in the writings of Thomas Jefferson: â€Å"Preach, my dear Sir, a crusade against ignorance.† For more than 200 years, crusade has served English speakers as a useful word to signify any kind of zealous support or opposition carried on in the name of the public good, for example: Rep. Claude Pepper, who crusaded for Franklin D. Roosevelts New Deal in the 1930s and was still championing the rights of the elderly a half-century later, died today at 88.   For years, I’ve been on a crusade to help people boost their productivity by strengthening their writing so they can avoid the problems that come with sending unclear messages. Klonsky is talking about the zealots, backed by multimillionaires, who are crusading against teachers unions as they claim to fight for the reform of public education. Kentucky has now, by reason of this legislation, decided to become educated - and we have embarked on a crusade for that purpose. Public School Crusaders Stake Out Rival Camps in Austin Sunday Express launches crusade for better mental health In the present political climate, the figurative use of crusade seems to be coming to an end as it joins others on the list of politically incorrect words: Campus Crusade Changes Name to Cru Ministry leaders worry that the word â€Å"crusade† has too many negative associations. President Bushs reference to a crusade against terrorism, which passed almost unnoticed by Americans, rang alarm bells in Europe.    Crusade is already coming in for criticism in some writing guides. This is from a UK university writing guide: Example 1: Crusade against crime Example 2: Campaign against crime The word ‘crusade’ has connotations of a battle and is more aggressive in tone than the word ‘campaign’. ‘Campaign’ implies a more considered approach. A style manual for Christian writers offers this advice: The terms  crusade  and crusades  are legitimate  words  in most contexts, although they should be  avoided  when used figuratively for Christian evangelism, modern military campaigns, or any effort to promote beliefs or values cross-culturally. As Western government spokesmen and journalists take care to avoid the English word crusade, the Arabic borrowing jihad comes to mind. Like crusade in English, jihad has two meanings in its language of origin: â€Å"a holy war against unbelievers† and â€Å"a struggle or effort to do good.† Here are some alternatives for politically correct writers who wish to phase out crusade in the figurative sense: crusade (noun): campaign drive push movement effort struggle offensive crusade (verb): work strive struggle fight agitate lobby champion promote Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:When to Capitalize Animal and Plant Names8 Writing Tips for BeginnersEmpathic or Empathetic?

Drought and water supply Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Drought and water supply - Research Paper Example Although drought has several causes and is associated with numerous negative consequences, it can be properly managed using various strategies. Drought has a long history that can be traced as far back as the biblical times of Joseph. It is one of the earliest climatic events that are documented. Presently it is associated with the Epic of Gilgamesh and later the exodus of Israelites from Egypt. It has been there since the times of early man, in Africa and the rest of the world. In the modern society, it is possible for people to mitigate the impacts of drought through crop rotation and irrigation. If people fail to develop and implement mitigation strategies, drought and bad water supply they will incur grave costs. The worst droughts that have been experienced in the world are the droughts of 1980s and 1990s. The most severe and historical drought was experienced in the basin of river Simeto. Climate is what determines water supply. Temperatures of the air determine the level of water demand, while precipitation is the only source of renewing water. If people can clearly understand past climatic conditions, they can predict future conditions and hence adapt and limit the level of hardship faced during drought. It is evident that drought comes in a certain pattern that repeats itself seasonally, annually and inter-annually. Estimates by the United Nations indicate that one third of the world’s population is affected by water shortages (United Nations, 23). The UN states that about 1.1 billion people lack safe water for drinking and those without enough water for sanitation stand at 2.6 billion (United Nations, 23). Consequently, deaths and diseases have increased due to the use of contaminated water. Children from developing countries are the most affected with 3,900 of them dying everyday from diarrhea and insufficient or bad water related

Natural Resources and Environmental Economics Essay - 2

Natural Resources and Environmental Economics - Essay Example This essay has been aimed at showing the possibility for the economic instruments to work effectively for the minimization of the pesticide water pollution on the local level. While the legal threshold of pesticide residues is equal to 0.1 ÃŽ ¼g/l, 5 to 10% of waters in Belgium, Denmark, the UK and France are found to be contaminated with the levels of pesticides exceeding these limits. As 65% of Europeans use ground waters for drinking, the seriousness of the problem increases and needs expensive treatment. The major impact that is mentioned in the essay is made on the local communities which mostly rely on groundwater supplies. Though there have been shown the disadvantages in the previous policies, the general direction in which the authorities work is correct. There have been shown the possible strategies and recommendations to make this work even more effective. It is suggested by the researcher of the essay that the future work in the area of pesticide pollution is concentrated on the development of the new economic instruments in combination with ecological knowledge. It will also be useful to account the international experience, though any policy should first of all be implemented at the local level. The advantage of the local addressing the issue is in the fact that local authorities are more able to control each polluter separately, which ultimately makes the whole work in the sphere of environment protection at the state level more effective and produces better results.

Parliamentary Sovereignty Essay Example for Free

Parliamentary Sovereignty Essay With reference to relevant domestic case law outline the â€Å"mechanisms† adopted by the British Courts to maintain the Doctrine of Parliamentary Sovereignty in the context of applying European Law. Particular reference should be made to the cases of Bulmer v Bollinger and Factortame. Parliamentary sovereignty is a fundamental principle in the constitution of the United Kingdom. It is where the Parliament is the supreme legal authority, which has the power to create or end any law. Generally, the courts cannot overrule its legislation and no Parliament can pass a law that a future Parliament cannot change. In the British constitution, a statute is generally regarded as the highest form of the law, therefore Parliament is seen as the sovereign law maker. However the doctrine of Parliamentary sovereignty has been altered and limited by the UK decision to become a member of the European Community in 1973 when the European Communities Act 1972 came into force. Parliament must now legislate consistently with European Community Law. The terms of the European treaties as interpreted by the European Court of Justice require member states to limit their sovereignty, by Parliament giving direct effect and primacy to EU Law. The European Court of Justice states that European Community Law should be enforceable in the courts of member states and that EU law prevails domestic law of member state, which includes the United Kingdom. The ECJ, as the judicial institution of the Community, is the backbone of that system of safeguards. It is responsible for interpreting questions of EC law and provision is made in the Treaty for references to the ECJ by national courts. Decisions of the ECJ, upon a reference, are reached by majority vote and are binding on all domestic courts of all Member States. Under Article 234 the ECJ has achieved the principle of supremacy and its uniform application in all Member States when Community law may be in conflict with domestic legislation. The ECH, as the guardian of legality and instrument of cohesion within the Community, has from the start been in a strong position to define the status of Community law and to gibe it precedence when in conflict with the national legal systems of the various Member states. The first case where the Court made a statement on the nature of European law is the famous case of Van Gend en Loos dealing with the principle of direct effect of EC Treaty provisions and the degree to which individuals can rely on such terms to hallenge measures of national law. It was in a second important case, two years later, however, that the ECJ expanded on its constitutional theory of the Community, declaring again that the states had created a sovereign Community by limiting their own sovereign rights. The case was Costa v Enel, the Court basically decided that community law had supremacy over national law. To this day the judgement is the bedrock of the importance of Community law in all Member States of the European Union. Without this decision Community law would have remained merely international law. Not until the doctrine of supremacy did Community law become truly ‘supranational’ as intended in the European treaties. It was in Bulmer v Bollinger that Lord Denning stated: â€Å"The Treaty of Rome is like an incoming tide. It flows into the estuaries and up the rivers. It cannot be held back. † The early generous and realistic approach was seen in the case of Macarthys v Smith (1981) where Lord Denning discussed the feature between mere inconsistencies and deliberate derogation. Where the incompatibility is inadvertent, he suggested that English Courts should apply EC law, on the assumption that Parliament anticipated to perform its treaty obligations. On the other hand, where the incompatibility was deliberate, he was of the belief that English law should triumph. In this case Lord Denning asserted that â€Å"it has priority. It is not supplanting English law. It is part of our law which overrides any other part which is inconsistent with it. † However, it was not until the Factortame litigation that the true implication on parliamentary sovereignty became noticeable. The cases of R v Secretary of State for Transport Ex Parte Factortame (1989), changed Lord Dennings principle. In this case the UK courts applied for an Article 177 reference. Due to the extensive time it take to respond to reference, the UK applied for an additional ruling asking if they could in the meantime still apply the Act as it conflicted with Articles 52 and 221 of the Treaty of Rome. The ECJ ordered the UK to temporarily suspend the 1988 Act, which the UK parliament had not done before. Therefore, this relentlessly undermined the supremacy of the doctrine of parliamentary sovereignty.

The Diver :: essays research papers

â€Å"The Diver† Robert Currie’s â€Å"The Diver†, on the surface, recounts a diver’s descent and ascent into a river as onlookers eagerly anticipate his fate. Beneath the surface, this poem is actually very spiritual. The diver’s descent into the water, and his arising from the water, can be compared to the crucifixion of Jesus. Through the masterful use of imagery and Biblical comparisons, Currie depicts the message that rebirth and hope can captivate and revitalize our spirits. An essential key to the theme of â€Å"The Diver† is through the subtle yet prevailing use of Biblical references. From the very beginning of Currie’s poem, a simile is used when describing the â€Å"bridge like a Roman fort†. This helps to set the tone that something important is about to happen and also provides a Biblical base to the structure of the poem. Lines four to six describe the man’s journey up towards the bridge. This journey can be compared to Jesus’ struggle towards the top of the hill where he was crucified. Perhaps this man was also carrying a â€Å"load on his shoulders†, so to speak. The poem becomes even more Biblical as â€Å"others bet upon his chance†, much like Jesus’ own fate. As the diver prepares for the inevitable, his situation has Biblical meaning. â€Å"At the summit of the span he rose/ his arms outstretched/ flung a cross against the sun†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢, are perhaps three of the most powerful lin es in the poem. These lines are followed by much anticipation from the crowd below. The dive symbolizes the end of something, which is also supported when â€Å"The river circling away/ grew silent as held breath/ still as death†. These lines make is seem as though everything, and everyone, even the river, are â€Å"holding their breath† in anticipation of the outcome of the dive. Then, starting at line twenty-one, the rebirth begins, as, â€Å"from unknown depths/ his head broke the water/ shook out a crown of sunlit spray. There is a strong Biblical presence in the comparisons used in this poem, which help to support the theme of hope and rebirth, while providing powerful imagery. A vital element of Currie’s â€Å"The Diver† is the strong presence of imagery, which helps to sustain the theme of captivating hope. The image of â€Å"the solitary figure† provokes a strong sense of despair, followed by his painful struggle â€Å"up the arch†. The images give the impression that the events are unfolding in a captivating slow-motion means.

Global Media and Cultural Homogenisation Essay

In the 21st century, economic globalization has finally become an irresistible reality. Information, technology, goods, people, especially monetary capital are frequently exchanging worldwide unprecedentedly. The development and expansion of markets have effectively broken through the national, ethnic, cultural customs and ideological boundaries (Fairweather & Rogerson 2003). From multinationals, satellite TV, Internet to McDonald’s, Mercedes-Benz cars, cartoons, various cultures are now crossing huge distance and national borders, more densely implanted in different countries, and finally resulting in the phenomenon of cultural homogenisation. This essay is going to discuss whether globalisation implies cultural homogenisation, which will mainly focus on the role that global media has played in causing this phenomenon. To better understanding whether globalisation could lead to cultural homogenisation, this essay is about to define globalisation first. More specifically, globalisation is a terminology in economics, and scholars have three main kinds of explanation for globalisation: the first is that globalisation is Westernisation or Americanisation (Appadurai 2001), the second is that globalisation is the worldwide optimising allocation of economic and technical resources (McChesney 2001); and the third is that globalisation is to solve global problems such as environmental pollution, population explosion, drugs proliferation and transnational crimes, etc. (Mehlika 2013). In this essay, the meaning of globalisation is referred to the second explanation. When it comes to the effects of globalisation, it could be seen in various aspects, and living space of people has been associated with the world as a whole. For instance, London’s stock market or the European Football League is not a regional event, shockwave of these events quickly spread to every corner of the globe (Mehlika 2013). â€Å"Global village† is a more realistic word to describe the current world (Appadurai 2001). No matter international relations, political interests, social wealth distribution, cultural homogenisation or everyday life, globalisation has shown their significant role in those fields, and has contributed to profound consequences. Cultural homogenisation, which could be expressed as one of the significant impacts  of cultural globalization, that is local unique cultures all over the local culture will tend to become a single global culture, contributing to different lifestyles, values and beliefs of differing ethnics and communities are becoming increasingly similar (Mihailidis & Moeller 2010,). According to the view of Marxist (Mehlika 2013), the economic base determines the superstructure; economic and cultural globalization inextricably has linked and influenced each other. With the impact of the trend of globalisation, previously diversified culture has been influenced by the stronger culture and fashionable trend which are normally propagated by global commercial media system (McChesney 2001). In addition, McChesney (2001) holds the view that economic and cultural globalization arguably would be impossible without a global commercial media system to promote global markets and to encourage consumer values. Therefore, this essay believe that global media has played a crucial role in the development of globalisation and cultural homogenisation, and the following part of this article will mainly focus on the how global media has impacts on cultural homogenisation. At present, when reading newspapers or magazines, or turning on the TV, a confusing phenomenon could be the hom ogenisation of media culture, and sometimes similar entertaining programs could be seen in dozens of TV channels. Homogenization of media culture is very fast, often like a plague epidemic (Jan 2009). For example, a popular talent show called American Idol in the U.S. had a new name in China called Chinese Idol, which completely copied the main contents of American Idol. In addition, the successfulness of open copy experience has immediately provoked a chain reaction, almost all the local TV stations are following this trend, for a time, from national TV station (CCTV) to the local ones, and more than ten similar talent shows hurriedly came out. Another example is the Quiz Millionaire, this TV show has numerous versions in China, such as Happy Dictionary, Lucky 52, and so on. And there are various other TV programs in China are just Chinese version of famous TV programs around the world. In terms of the homogenisation of media culture, what most people may consider first is to criticize the lack of creativity of TV people or media workers. However, to explore further, more problems will involve in this problem. That is the globalisation of commercial media will unavoidably lead to the homogenisation of different cultures (McChesney 2001). A problem that may  be ignored is the convergent environment of media. More specifically, people tend to accept the fact of the homogenization of economic life; however, it is difficult to accept the homogenization of culture. The majority people still hold the view that different cultures should own their unique national, ethnic, and local characteristics (Fairweather, & Rogerson 2003). In other words, individuals could drive multinational or foreign designed automobiles, wear foreign produced perfume, but should remain vigilant when enjoy foreign films and television programs or other cultural products (Dumas, et al. 2010). However, little do these people know that the production mode of the media culture determines the globalisation of it, especially since the mid-twentieth century , new media and new media culture comes along with it, are emerging and developing in the international environment with relatively frequent exchanges (Appadurai 2000). That is to say, what we call the media culture of today is not entirely follow the traditional method that brought to the global market after its completion in certain developed countries, but gradually generated in the broader context of international exchanges which are contributed by the modern commercial media system (McChesney 2001). Taking the Hollywood films as an example, it is totally different form what it was half a century ago. Today’s Hollywood has a broader global context; its creators and performers are white, black or yellow from Europe, Asia or Oceania and other regions around the world. Additionally, technical means or electronic producing technologies of Hollywood films are also the most advanced, regardless of the technology are coming from the United States or from other countries. Another example could be the footboard culture, before the Western football culture was introduced to China, China does not have similar local cultural phenomenon about football. Because there is no similar local media environment of football in China, the popularity of football media culture in China is not resulting from the public choosing the Western media culture in the competition with local media culture (just like choose the team which that is liked best), but the decision has been make before individuals have the right to choose, or that the decision is made by the convergent media environment (Jan 2009). For the football culture in china, it is either existing or not existing; and once it exists, it would be derived from western culture. Here, the most difficult to imagine is the development of  China’s own local football culture. The development of culture cannot be delimited and designated by people in a relatively closed space (Bredin 2009). In other words, culture is not static, but dynamic, and acquiring development in the exchanges and communication with other cultures. Ethnic and local cultural could be regarded as closed culture in certain degree, but only with respect to the degree of globalisation and internationalisation (Bredin 2009). In fact any so-called ethnically local culture cannot grow in a completely closed environment, just like running water is never stale, any viable culture must obtain nutrients and support in the exchanges and communications with other cultures (Bredin 2009). For example, Chinese culture, which originated in the Yellow River Basin, but in the long years later, it is in contact with the south Chu culture and western culture it becomes vibrant. People may be sceptical for the single origin of Chinese culture, but they will not deny that the development and prosperity of Chinese culture is owing to the time after time collision and exchanges with other cultures. Cultural homogenisation may emerge during the exchanges and collision, which contains various types of convergence of this case (Fairweather, B & Rogerson, S 2003). For instance, some cultures could be complementing each other’s advantages. Additionally, there are weak cultures naturalised by the dominant culture, as well as the repression of strong cultural to weak culture. Besides, there are also new cultures created in the collision and interaction of differing cultures. All these situations discussed above exist in the development of today’s media culture; however, the convergence of media culture is obvious more than ever of any age. Here, admirations should be given to McLuhan’s prophecy of â€Å"earth village†, his conclusion was drawn from â€Å"media is the message†, rather than deduced from the globalisation of capital and markets (Jan 2009). Moreover, perhaps another deduction could be made that the globalisation of capital and markets are also a result caused by the modern media system in some degree. Besides, as what has been discussed above, global media will also contribute to cultural homogenisation. In fact, media culture reflect the conformity or group psychology of individu als, it could absorb essence and advantages from other cultures, and then turn into a form of global media culture. Therefore, from what has been discussed above, in order to find out whether the globalisation implies cultural homogenisation,  this essay has made the following discussions. On the one hand, the globalisation is an economic term which is promoted by global commercial media system. On the other hand, various studies has found out that it is the global media commercial media system that promoted the convergence of the media culture, and influence the national, ethnic and local culture through media values. Nowadays, individuals are deeply influenced by the wide broadcasted media systems, thus, more and more people have the tendency to pursue the latest fashionable elements, or other items to keep up with the time. Moreover, According to Appadurai (2001), the globalisation of culture is no the same as its homogenisation, however, globalisation involves the use of a variety of instruments of homogenisation. This also indicates that it is not the globalisation that completely leads to the cultural homogenisation. Cultural homogenisation is more likely to be regarded as a coexistence with the globalisation, which are caused by the increasingly homogeneous comm ercial media system. In conclusion, in order to investigate the relationship between globalisation and cultural homogenisation, and get a better understanding of both these items. This essay has defined the meaning globalisation and cultural homogenisation based on the previous studies. Moreover, this article has discussed the emergency and development of cultural homogenisation, and then finds out that the global commercial media system has played a vital role in causing this phenomenon. The following parts of the essay discussed the how the global media culture is formed and its impacts on the result of cultural homogenisation. Finally, this essay hold the view that, the fact of globalisation does not completely imply the emergency of cultural homogenisation, however, it is the increasingly homogeneous global commercial media system that plays a more important role in both causing the globalisation and cultural homogenisation. Reference list Appadurai, A 2000, ‘Disjuncture and Difference in the Global Cultural Economy’, in Frank Lecchner and John Boli (eds), The Globalization Reader, Blackwell, Oxford, pp. 322-330. Dobewall, H & Strack, M 2011, ‘Cultural Value Differences, Value Stereotypes, and Diverging Identities in Intergroup Conflicts: The Estonian Example’, International Journal of Conflict and Violence, vol.5, no.1, pp. 212-223. Dumas, G, Madel, J, Soussignan, R, Martinerie, J & Garnero, L 2010, ‘Inter-brain synchronization during social interaction’, Plos one, vol. 5, no.8, e12166 Mihailidis, P & Moeller, S 2010, ‘New Frontiers in Global Media Education’, Communication Today, vol. 2, pp.6-13. Fairweather, B & Rogerson, S 2003,‘The problems of global cultural homogenisation in a technologically dependant world’, Journal of Information, Communication & Ethics in Society, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 7-12, viewed 27 April 2014, < http://search.proq uest.com.ezproxy.utas.edu.au/docview/1011920977/C47C3B1C2CD642E3PQ/4?accountid=14245>. Bredin, M 2009, ‘Global Indigenous Media: Cultures, Poetics, Politics’, Canadian Journal of Communication, vol. 34, no. 4, pp. 765-767. Jan, M 2009, ‘Globalization of media: Key issues and dimensions’, European Journal of scientific research, vol. 29, no.1, pp. 66-75. McChesney, RW 2001, â⠂¬ËœGlobal Media, Neoliberalism, and Imperialism’, Monthly Review, vol. 52, no.10, pp.1-19. Mehlika, F 2013, ‘Globalization and its social-cultural-political and economic impacts’, viewed 26 April 2014, .

Asian century

Asian countries rather than America or Europe that the world looks to for business, politics and culture. For people that live in Asian countries life is changing fast. People in areas that used to be poor are starting to earn good incomes. They're spending more money and the economies of some massive countries are booming. Its change on a scale that the world's never seen before and it could have a big effect on other countries, including Australia. . Many say we're at the start of the Asian Century. 4. Asian Century means that in the future we will stop looking to America and Europe or the latest music, movies or fashionable clothes and start looking at Asia. We will most certainly pay more attention to Asian politics and we'll do a lot more business with people in Asia. 5. Australian politicians would like all school kids to learn an Asian language in school. 6.The four Asian languages that the government is focusing on are :- Indonesian Chinese Japanese and Hindi 7. Some of the d ifficulties that schools may face in getting kids to learn an Asian language are that no-one's actually said how the government's going to pay for all his learning and there are questions about where schools are going to find enough language teachers and how they're going to encourage kids to keep learning. 8.Yes I think it is important for school kids to learn an Asian language at school because if we are coming into an Asian Century then it would give them an advantage to be able to keep up with the latest form Asia and help them in the future to be able to relate to Asian countries. 9. I would say I am connected to Asia but not in a huge way. I do eat Asian foods occasionally and I like to eat fried rice, boiled rice, and stay chicken. Many products re made in Asia, such as clothes, electrical appliances and some of the food we eat.Asian culture does not really influence my life, except at the moment I am enjoying the Korean song Kananga Style. An Asian celebration that is held i n Australia particularly across Sydney Chinatown is Chinese New Year. This is important due to its large multicultural – and especially Chinese – population. It is celebrated through traditional parades featuring Chinese lanterns, music, acrobatics demonstrations, and fireworks. Similarities and Differences Between Asia and Australia SIMILARITIES PREFERENCES Ingà ©nue ultra population.

48 Writing Prompts for Middle School Kids

48 Writing Prompts for Middle School Kids 48 Writing Prompts for Middle School Kids 48 Writing Prompts for Middle School Kids By Ali Hale Are you stuck for something to write about? Or are you looking for prompts to use in the classroom? These prompts are aimed at middle school students (roughly age 11 – 14) – but younger or older writers might enjoy trying them as well. I’ve split them into different types of prompts – imaginative prompts, non-fiction/essay prompts, short story prompts and journaling prompts – but feel free to use them in any way you like. For instance, you might choose one of the imaginative prompts and use it as the basis for a story. A few of these prompts are taken from other people’s lists of writing ideas; for each of those, I’ve given you a link to the original source so you can check out the whole list if you want even more prompts. Twelve Imaginative Prompts If you found a treasure chest buried in your garden, what would you most like to discover inside? Invent an imaginary sport. What are the rules? How does the scoring work? Who typically plays it? If you had three wishes, what would you use them for and what might go wrong? Imagine that you woke up tomorrow as a member of the opposite sex. What would be different about your life? Where would you go, if you could go anywhere in the world? Who would you want to go there with? Imagine inventing a new holiday or celebration. What would you call it? When would it be celebrated? (Would it be the same date every year, like Christmas and Valentines Day, or would it move, like Thanksgiving and Easter?) What would people do during that holiday? If you were invisible for a day, where would you go and what would you do? Think of someone you dislike, or someone whose views and values are very different from your own. Now write a diary entry from their perspective, exploring why they see things this way. â€Å"  Imagine a future in which we each have a personalized robot servant. What would yours be like? What would it do? What features would it have?†(from smallworldathome.blogspot.com) â€Å"If you could live inside any video game, which would you choose?   Why?† (from journalbuddies.com) â€Å"If a wizard could tell you anything about your future, what would you most like to know?† (from edutopia.org) If you could meet any character from any book (or TV show or film), who would it be? What would you say to them, and what would they say to you? (based on a prompt from daringtolivefully.com) Twelve Non-Fiction or Essay Prompts What do you see as the biggest problem facing people your age today? Write about the most recent book you read. What was good about it (and what wasnt)? Who would you recommend it to? Who do you admire most in history and why? Whats more important: being healthy or having lots of money? Explain why you think so. How should cyber-bullying be tackled? If you ran your school, how would you change things? Does being fair mean treating everyone exactly the same? (Explain why / why not.) What do you think the world will be like in 50 years time? What will have changed for the better? What will be worse? Do you think humans will ever live on other planets? If yes, how would our society change? If no, how will we deal with problems like over-population and climate change on our own planet? Which scientific discovery or invention has changed the world the most, in your opinion? Explain why. â€Å"Many parents give children a weekly or monthly allowance regardless of their behavior because they believe an allowance teaches children to be financially responsible. Other parents only give children an allowance as a reward for completing chores or when they have behaved properly. Explain what you think parents should do and why.† (from education.depaul.edu)   Should school children wear uniforms? Why – or why not? (based on a prompt from dailyteachingtools.com) Twelve Short Story Prompts A child from the year 2300 travels back to our time. How and why? What do they find surprising (or even horrifying) about our daily lives? Start a story with this line of dialog: I wont do it, and you cant make me! Two friends send secret messages to one another through a hiding place that only they know about. One day, a message in someone elses handwriting appears in the hideout. What does it say? How do the friends react? An argument breaks out at a restaurant, where one person is clearly in the wrong. Do they back down or do they keep arguing? What happens next? A small child loses their favorite toy while on a trip to a park a long way from their home. What is the toy? Do they get it back again – if so, how? Scientists invent a medicine that makes the people who take it immune to colds and the flu but it has a side effect that no-one knows about for twenty years. What is the side effect? What happens as a result? Four young teenagers go wild camping without any adults. Their cell phones cant get a signal. Then one of them gets sick. What do they do? Someone has to face their worst fear in order to prevent something terrible from happening. What are they so afraid of? Why do they have to face it? Two enemies meet in an isolated place, by chance. One of them – who normally comes out best in any conflict – is badly hurt. How does the other person respond? â€Å"What happens when a normal girl  discovers a teleportation device in the park across from her house that only she knows how to use?† (from thejohnfox.com) â€Å"A poor young  boy or girl  comes into an unexpected fortune.  Not all fortunes are good. Sometimes discovering a fortune will destroy your life.  Ã¢â‚¬Å" (from thewritepractice.com) â€Å"Its your characters first day at a new school. He or she wants to get a fresh start, develop a new identity. But in his or her homeroom, your character encounters a kid he or she knows from summer camp† (from creative-writing-now.com) Twelve Journaling Prompts What is the best thing you’ve done this year? Why? Write about a typical (even boring!) weekday. It might seem dull now – but in 20 or 30 years, you might be fascinated to read about the little details of your life. What job or career do you want when you grow up? Why? How does your family celebrate Christmas (or any other holiday of your choice)? Write down the details and your family traditions. What one thing would make your life easier? Is it something you can go about achieving, or do you need to accept you can’t have or do it right now? How could you help someone else this week? Write a list of all your ideas. What would you do if you had a whole weekend free of any other responsibilities (chores, homework, etc)? Write a list – and if you can, choose one or two of these things to do this Write about the people in your family. What are their hopes and ambitions? What are their hobbies and interests? What’s your bedroom like? Big, small, tidy, messy? Describe it in detail. Which season of the year do you like best? Why? â€Å"Write about your favorite childhood toy.† (from dailyteachingtools.com) â€Å"Write about something that you wish you could say to someone else.  Ã‚  What is it, and whom would you like to say it to?  Ã‚  Is there anything stopping you from saying it?† (from journalbuddies.com) I hope these prompts have given you lots of ideas to write about! You might want to pick a regular time each week to tackle a writing prompt (e.g. Sunday afternoons). If you’ve got any prompts of your own to share, why not add them in the comments below? Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Fiction Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:70 Idioms with HeartComma Before ButTrooper or Trouper?

Madison is in US News World Report’s Top 10 Best Places to Launch a Second Career

Madison is in US News World Report’s Top 10 Best Places to Launch a Second Career On September 16, 2010, the US News and World Report published a list of the Top 10 Best Places to Launch a Second Career.   I was thrilled to see Madison on the list, as  it has been my experience that this city is indeed a great place to start over. I came to Madison in October 2008 knowing one person and having only a part time job (law school admissions consultant for Kaplan Test Prep Admissions) to keep me afloat.   I obtained some additional part time jobs along the way, and two years later, I have what is starting to be a thriving business.   I have met an incredible community of business owners here at regular and diverse networking events.   I have made friends both through social circles and business circles.   I even worked part time for over a year at the University of Wisconsin Law School, where I  got a job in the midst of a hiring freeze. Plus this city is beautiful.   Where else could I walk down the street for any of the following:   a swim in the lake, a yoga class, a Thai dinner, a household item from the hardware store, and fresh local produce from the food coop or farmers market? I agree wholeheartedly that Madison Wisconsin is a great place to launch a career.   I can see why people dont want to leave I plan to stay put for a long time! Category:UncategorizedBy Brenda BernsteinSeptember 30, 2010 6 Comments Diane Kern says: October 1, 2010 at 2:36 am I love Mad Town. I spent many summers there at music camp. Feeling its time for a visit after reading this. Thanks Log in to Reply The Essay Expert says: October 1, 2010 at 10:06 pm Do come and visit Diane! Log in to Reply Michael says: October 3, 2010 at 3:14 pm I remember visiting Madison many times in the mid-80s when I was dating someone long distance. What a beautiful city it was and I am sure it is even more so now. Loved all the diversity and the accepting feeling there too! The people were really nice and the whole city had a great charm about it, yet was very metropolitan. Just saw that the unemployment is in the 5s, so even better!! Thanks for sharing! Michael Log in to Reply Laine D says: October 3, 2010 at 5:22 pm Sounds like a place I need to put on my list, definitely has more seasons than Arizona. Can you recommend the best time of year to visit. Laine D. https://www.ThoughtsfromABroad.net Log in to Reply The Essay Expert says: October 3, 2010 at 6:02 pm Hi Laine, yes we have a lot more variety season-wise than Arizona! I personally love the fall with all the colors and the crisp air. Summertime is probably the most popular time since we have lakes and bike paths and hiking trails (with attendant mosquitoes unfortunately). There are also many music festivals in town throughout the summer. Springtime brings blooming trees, and of course if you like the cold and snow or are a skiier maybe youd like the winter! What are your favorite things to do? The best time to visit would be determined by that! Log in to Reply Paul Novak says: October 7, 2010 at 3:33 am Congratulations on having made a good hometown choice for yourself. Ive lived all up and down the East Coast and as yet have not been happy with my location. Im currently living in Fla and cannot wait to pack up and head out. This time however I have done some research and visiting first and have settled on N.C. I can only hope I end up as happy with my choice. Log in to Reply

History and Evolution of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corp Research Paper

History and Evolution of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corp - Research Paper Example Nevertheless, they worked so hard that they were seen to be more hardworking and determined than men and had proved to be more organized than them as well. Following is the account of how their journey began and came to an end. History and Evolution of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corp In the year 1942, around 800 females had joined the WAAC ad began their elementary training in Iowa where they were properly equipped with arms and ammunition, given uniforms to wear and were assigned proper duties to be performed during the war. For the purpose of defining their goals and objectives, a manual was established which identified what they were supposed to achieve in clear words (Permeswaran & Yashila, 2008). The manual said that they had to replace men and be with them on equal terms. In those times however, it was a very critical move because women were not encouraged to come to terms with men on an equality basis, and men felt devalued seeing females standing with them involved in a furio us physical activity like war. Moreover, women had not participated in war previously on ground level. The only females to participate in war before this were nurses. Even though there was a lot of criticism on the women for being part of WAAC, there was a necessity arising in this regard due to the number of men decreasing because of the War. There were around 150,000 women who took part in the world war. They were also believed to be better than men in terms of being more organized, well-disciplined and hardworking. Even in an appalling situation where women were not given overseas pay or any other benefits like life insurance or medical coverage, their passion was enough of an evidence to prove their worth which they successfully did even after facing difficulties of initially getting the bill passed for females to participate in the World War as part of WAAC. It had become very difficult for people to accept women in this new role because most people believed that it was not the kind of job women were supposed to do. Opposing parties questioned that if women started to serve in the army then who would be responsible for the house work and that females were not smart enough to be part of the army, they were likely to make mistakes and have the tendency to act carelessly. The day the bill was passed officially, Oveta Culp Hobby was chosen as the Director of WAAC.She proved to be a very determined and hardworking lady and had proved all assumptions about WAAC wrong. According to her, women were there in the army to assist them in winning war and their roles would not exactly switch or become different from what they are in civilian life. She just believed it would help men in achieving success. In the year 1917, it was decided that women will play a role in the British Army as for being sent to France and Haig who was the then commander in chief wrote to the war office that women will be permitted to fight in the war in France and their services will be utili zed wherever appropriate. However, the kind of work they were supposed to do at that time was much more related to household than to anything else because physical labor was not what they ought to do after all. Selection in WAAC required two references and interview