Euthanasia means good death. Essay Example

Euthanasia means good death. Essay Euthanasia means good death. It is used in situations where death is deliberately chosen, and not when someone is killed by accident (for example, in a car accident or failed medical treatment). Someone will choose to kill themselves or someone close to them because they feel that death is the best option in the situation. This usually happens when someone is suffering from a terminal illness and wishes to die in less pain, and so therefore, wishes to die sooner. There are different types of circumstances when it comes to euthanasia, and there are two different ways of administering it; actively (deliberately enforcing death, for example, by a lethal injection) and passively (simply letting die, for example, by withholding life-prolonging treatment). Although there are moral issues with particular circumstances in which euthanasia is administered, (for example, suicide) the main form of euthanasia that I shall be commenting on is active euthanasia, voluntary and non-voluntary, because I believe it is a factor with more ethical consideration and I personally have strong views on the matter. The simple justifications of euthanasia are as follows; it humanely ends a patients suffering, it shortens the grief of loved ones, and many people argue that one should have a right to decide when they die. If the law were changed, doctors could carry out euthanasia legally. If one could die with dignity, then it could possibly help others face death. It would also help doctors if they knew of their patients intentions. The simple criticisms of euthanasia are as follows; some may argue that patients are incapable of making a rational decision, and may change their mind, but would be unable to tell the doctors this. People have also been known to recover after doctors have diagnosed them of having a terminal illness, and so euthanasia would be wasteful in this case. Some may believe that euthanasia devalues life, as it becomes disposable. It is argued that people would take life too lightly if euthanasia were legalised. We will write a custom essay sample on Euthanasia means good death. specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Euthanasia means good death. specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Euthanasia means good death. specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer A lot of voluntary euthanasia cases tend to involve an elderly patient. There are complications in this situation, as old people may feel they are a nuisance to others, and may opt for euthanasia although their heart wants to continue living. This is a huge moral dilemma for friends and relatives, as they have to choose between their loved one suffering or being deprived of him or her. On the other end of the scale, elderly people who live on their own without any living friends or relatives may request to die through sheer loneliness. There could also be a lot of confusion from the patient involved. With the fast progress in medicine over the past century, there are now a lot more older people than there are younger ones. The elderly may, therefore, become confused and request euthanasia motivated from the fact that they miss their youth. A common question also raised in these cases, What is there to look forward to? The justification of the individual intending their own death is made on the grounds that life brings them no pleasure and death is preferable to the intolerable life that they would continue to live. Therefore, it is based on the expected results of the action. A lot of people would argue that choosing death is avoiding the natural course of ones life, however, this mainly applies to religious views and the idea that it goes against the will of God. Some people may say that the only circumstance where choosing death is in the least bit acceptable is when one chooses to keep his or her dignity, and is put to death because of that. It is the secondary result, but not the intended act of the individual. Pro-euthanasia associations form an argument for euthanasia by writing strict circumstances by which euthanasia should be carried out. This being that at least two doctors should diagnose the patient as having an incurable and terminal illness, and that the individual must give a written request for euthanasia at least thirty days beforehand. The Voluntary-euthanasia society (Exit) aims to bring about a change in law so that: An adult person suffering from a severe illness, for which no relief is known, should be entitled by law to the mercy of the painless death, if and only if, that is their expressed wish. Doctors should be allowed to help incurable patients to die peacefully at their own request. The patient must have signed, at least 30 days previously, a declaration making their request known. The issue of euthanasia creates an ethical division between two different types of moral argument, the natural law argument and the situation ethics argument. The Natural law argument against euthanasia is the idea that one is going against the natural cause of ones life. However, it could also be argued that because we naturally avoid death, do we naturally avoid pain as well? This conflicts with the situation ethics debate, which judges each situation on the unique circumstance. It argues the greatest amount of love for the greatest amount of people. A situationist would therefore carry through whatever love required in the situation; which may involve euthanasia, both voluntary and non-voluntary. It could be that love does not permit pain and suffering, but also that it is not loving to kill a person that family and friends will miss dearly. Friends and relatives may be going through anguish as the patient is dying, and may feel better knowing they had a quick and painless death. If euthanasia is the patients request, it may also be considered to be the greatest love that one could give them. On the other hand, friends and relatives may want the patient to live for as long as possible. They may also consider death to be a morally wrong action under any circumstances. Situation ethics therefore is well named, as the morally right action depends on the situation. The same applies to the principle of utilitarianism, of which situation ethics was adapted from. The principle of Utility states that the morally right action is the one that brings about the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people. In the case of euthanasia, the same debatable ways of seeing it as morally good or bad applies with utilitarianism as with situation ethics. However, utilitarianism is, in itself, divided between act utilitarians and rule utilitarians. Act utilitarians apply utilitarianism to everything, and so in this case the euthanasia debate would agree with the princ iples of situation ethics. Rule utilitarians tend to judge along the same lines as act utilitarians, but they believe that traditional moral rules should always take priority in a situation. They therefore would probably argue that euthanasia is wrong in all situations, as a traditional moral rule is not to take the life of another. As for utilitarianism in general, calculating the pleasure and the pain of euthanasia can prove to be difficult. This is due to the fact that it is not death itself that matters to many people, just the pain along the way. This is the key motive used to request euthanasia. When using the hedonic calculus, are we measuring the patients pain, or the friends and relatives pain? Which one outweighs the other? Can the two types of pain really be compared? Another complication is one of the general criticisms of utilitarianism, and that is that utilitarians have to have an interpretation of what is good and what is bad, which some argue is made by the conscience. The conscience itself may actually cause long-term guilt for family and friends. This would most likely be motivated from the fact that they have taken a life. The conscience may not have spoken out originally if the friends and relatives were wrapped up in the pain and suffering of their dying loved one in the first place. This does, however, entirely depend on the principles that operate within the conscience. The main debate of euthanasia is the different ideas of the value of life. Is quality better than quantity? Does the individual contribute to society? The opinions of questions such as this may shape an individuals ethical view of euthanasia. A religious analysis of euthanasia in general would start with the idea that death plays a highly important part in religious ethics. All faiths assume the idea that the understanding of death is vital in finding meaning to human life. They all offer explanations for death, and have rituals and services surrounding an individual dying. It is not therefore surprising that they all have strong views on euthanasia. Most religions (and branches of religions) oppose euthanasia; the Roman Catholic Church, for example, is one of the most active organisations in opposing euthanasia. This is due to the fact that most faiths have strict commandments involving a rule in which one shouldnt kill. Whether or not circumstances in euthanasia can justify this rule depends on the religion itself, although its followers in most religions will usually condemn the act to be wrong. Western religions tend to believe in one God, and according to religious scriptures, God has commanded that innocent beings should never be killed. This fits in with the idea that most religions believe that human life is sacred, as it was created by God, and is a gift from God. This refers to the Sanctity of Life, which tends to mean something along the lines of, God gave us life and so only God can take it away. Religious followers would therefore hold the idea that life must always be protected and looked after. The sanctity of life could, of course, be interpreted that we should not interfere with the ending of anyones life. This would rule out life-support machines being used to keep a patient alive. Christianity is a perfect example of the idea that life is a gift from God. They uphold the idea that man is made in the form of God, God made man in his own image (Genesis 1: 27). This makes human life appear to be even more sacred as it implies that man has an importance close to the greatness of God. This does not mean that we look like God, but there is a related likeness beyond the form that we appear as. In the case of euthanasia, it means that human life should be valued, and that Christians should live a life of love, as they believe God does, Whoever sheds the blood of man by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man (Genesis 9: 6). Christians also believe that God gave dominion over every living thing (Genesis 1: 28) which implies that Gods gifts, such as life, should be cherished and lived to the full. It also means that Christians have a duty to look after one another until death. Christians believe that it is Gods duty only to take life away: death is a spiritual process and it should not be interfered with. Some may argue that death and suffering is present as a result of the fall of man, and traditional moral rules should still be accounted for even in unbearable pain. Then there are quotes spoken by Jesus, such as the famous love your neighbour as you love yourself. This can be interpreted in many ways under circumstances such as a request to die from a relative. Is the correct care for an individual the care that serves their request? Is it more caring to let the patient die painlessly, with dignity, or more caring to extend life as much as possible? In the case of Christianity, I believe duties towards one another conflict with duties towards God. This is because duties to one another require respect for every living thing. With respect, comes respect of one anothers decisions. Of course, to accept one anothers decisions, theyd have to respect anothers rational decision to have their treatment stopped, or even their request to be actively killed. As I mentioned in the ethical analysis, it is up to the individual Christian to decide which is more important quality or quantity. If Christians generally interpret the idea of quality in life and that one anothers decisions must be respected, then it can conflict with early teachings that life is a gift from God. It could be the other way round; Christians may prefer quantity to quality, and believe strongly that life is a gift from God. If a request for an early death from a relative came about, then Jesus preaching of love your neighbour would probably be neglected. Christians also believe that no one can judge the value of an individuals life: it lies within Gods understanding and it is not for us to decide. Humanists, on the other hand, believe that the value of life lies in oneself. Thus, Christian beliefs need a compromise when it comes to euthanasia. Christians have especially set up hospices for the terminally ill. These are aiming to care for the patients individually, and prepare them for death. This is because in the past, the dying were deprived of the truth, and brave faces were put on by friends and relatives, pretending that everything was all right. Hospices, on the other hand, help everyone in the situation face death and not fear it. Through this, Christian duties to God and one another can be resolved and prevented from conflicting. Roman Catholocism is a branch of Christianity that strictly forbids euthanasia, Euthanasia is a grave violation of the law of God, since it is the deliberate and morally unacceptable killing of a human person (Pope John Paul II: Evangelium Vitae, 1995). They believe that killing in any form is not permitted; and despite the idea that ending suffering could be considered to be a caring action, they believe that life in itself is valuable, even if there is immense pain and suffering. This means that death should be postponed until the last possible minute, and certainly not put to an end intentionally by any human being. Roman Catholics completely dismiss the idea of any person having a right to die. By supporting a right to freedom, they do not believe it goes to the extent of one being able to end their life or anyone elses. However, Roman Catholics do support the right to refuse aggressive medical treatment. This could be because they see passive euthanasia as an acceptance of death, as opposed to deliberately inducing death. As I mentioned earlier, death is considered to be a sacred occasion in all faiths, most of which believe that it is not the end of life. All Christians uphold this idea, including Catholics. Acceptance and awareness of death is therefore, of course, acceptable and even encouraged. True compassion leads to sharing anothers pain; it does not kill the person whose suffering we cannot bear (Pope John Paul II: Evangelium Vitae, 1995). Pope John Paul II states that sufferers should be cared for and we must face through it bravely, and share their pain. Muslims uphold the life is a gift from God argument. They believe that Allah has given us all the great gift of life, and that he only can choose how long each person will live, And no person can ever die except by Allahs leave and at an appointed term (Quran 3.145). They believe that no person has the right to interfere with the length of life, as it suggests that one knows better than Allah. Do not take life, which Allah made sacred, other than in the course of justice (Quran 17.33). The course of justice does not, Muslims argue, apply to euthanasia or suicide, Destroy not yourselves. Surely Allah is ever merciful to you (Quran 4.29). It applies to more complicated circumstances, for example, one person dying so that another can live (e.g. A mother is at risk from her pregnancy and so the foetus may be prematurely expelled). When their time comes they cannot delay it for a single hour nor can they bring it forward by a single hour (Quran 16.61). Quotes such as this complicate a Muslims view of euthanasia. Passive euthanasia, for example, may involve turning off a life-support machine that a friend or relative is attached to. Of course, this quote states that to delay the end of life is also morally wrong. This means that to keep the person alive on the life-support machine was wrong in the first place. This form of euthanasia may, therefore, be acceptable; that is if Muslims allowed their relative to be kept alive in the first place. However, it is argued that almost all of medical practice interferes with nature. (The Moral Maze, by David Cook). Jews have very similar beliefs to Muslims. This is because they believe that people should be grateful for the gift of life, and lives are not to be disposed of as we please. As with Christians, they believe that man is made in Gods image (as it is included in the Old Testament). They uphold the quantity over quality idea, suggesting that even a moment in life is equal in value to many years of human life, The value of human life is infinite and beyond measure, so that any part of life even if only an hour or a second is of precisely the same worth as seventy years of it, just as any fraction of infinity, being indivisible, remains infinite (Lord Jakobovits, former UK Chief Rabbi). They uphold this regardless of the pain and suffering a person might be going through, as they believe that this is not an excuse for killing them, The message of Judaism is that one must struggle until the last breath of life. Until the last moment, one has to live and rejoice and give thanks to the Creator (Dr. Rachamim Melamed-Cohen, Jewsweek, March, 2002). This is a very strict rule in Judaism, for example, if someone is a goses (someone who has started to die, and will d ie within seventy-two hours) it is wrong to do even the slightest thing that would make death come more quickly E.g. To open their eyes, or move a limb. Thus euthanasia is a huge moral violation according to Judaism. There is, however, a limit to the duty of keeping people alive. Jews believe that if someone is in incredible pain and terminally ill, then doctors shouldnt extend their life longer than necessary, Thou shalt not kill; but needst not strive officiously to keep alive, (Poet Arthur Hugh Clough). This is the natural idea. For example, if a life support machine is keeping someone alive it is morally acceptable to turn it off if it is likely that they will not pull through, and let death come naturally. It is also only merely pro-longing death, and not actually curing pain. This is as Muslims believe, but with more emphasis. Jews strictly forbid active euthanasia under any circumstances, even if the patient has requested it. A famous case of euthanasia in the Old Testament of the Bible is in 2 Samuel, when King Saul was seriously wounded after a battle. He ordered a young soldier to kill him, to save him being captured. The young solider did as he requested, and when King David heard of this, he had the man executed. The purpose of this was to show that euthanasia was simply a form of murder, and so the soldier paid the penalty for taking a life. This confirms that one of the Ten Commandments, Thou shalt not kill, rules out euthanasia, making it forbidden in Judaism. Alternatives that a patient could focus on if their request for euthanasia is refused include the hope that the medical cure for their illness is just around the corner. Although this hope is small, it is still hope, and could be enough to change his or her attitude. More care and affection towards patients could also hopefully reduce the amount of pleas for euthanasia. To conclude the religious view of euthanasia in the western faiths, they all value the sanctity of life, and although they feel that quality of life is important, quantity is just as valuable as life itself no matter how unbearable. It is also believed that only God has the power to take the life that he has given away, and that man has no business interfering with such matters. An exception could be seen in Christianity, as certain circumstances involving euthanasia can be seen as loving actions. I do not believe that myself or anyone else would state that euthanasia was morally right under all circumstances. I personally refuse to completely condemn euthanasia as a right or wrong action, and would treat any event in which a request for euthanasia is involved individually. Thus I will bring forth two moral ways of approaching it, through situation ethics, and through my personal conscience. Utilitarianism is also, I feel, a logical moral theory, but I do not think we can judge it through any hedonic calculus because euthanasia is such a delicate issue, and we must account for certain degrees of loving emotion. Putting the fact that euthanasia is illegal aside, I feel that situation ethics and our individual consciences should combine to decide which is the morally right action in the case of a request for euthanasia. General criticisms of these sorts of circumstances could also be eliminated; for example, a rational decision should be ensured from both the patient and his or her friends and relatives. These criticisms aside, providing the action will generate a greater love, and our consciences are speaking out and claiming this action is right, then euthanasia should be carried out. I would now like to bring a political view into the picture. Naturally, the British system as it is will not allocate for factors such as love and other general emotions, this is merely how I would handle an individual situation and how I would advise others to handle it. If euthanasia were to be legalised, strict rules would have be applied to circumstances in which death is actively induced in order to put one out of his or her pain and suffering. For example, in Holland, (where euthanasia is legal) a decision for euthanasia will be responded to thirty days afterwards, when a doctor will induce it. I believe that this system works, and also believe that non-biased professionals should judge the situation and decide whether or not a request for euthanasia should be granted. It would, therefore, still be judged upon the situation. It would then be up to friends and relatives to decide if they feel that it is the best thing to do in the situation. A lot of people do, of course, have objections to the legalisation of euthanasia. Mainly, it is because it is against their personal morals, which includes conflict with their religion. There is obviously no way of compromising all of these principles, other than simply saying that there is of course no obligation for them to go through with euthanasia themselves. I do personally think that they should accept this, but no one can demand them to do so. We must also consider the effects of the legalisation of euthanasia besides others disapproval. Because no one is able to predict the future, we can only guess the consequences of any action. Many people argue that life would be taken too light-heartedly if euthanasia were legalised; I personally do not think that this will happen, providing that the rules for which euthanasia can be carried out are strict. If I may, finally, quote Joseph Fletcher, Christian action should be tailored to fit objective circumstances, the situation. This sums up my argument completely, except that it should apply to everyone, and not just Christians. If the morally right action were judged upon the situation, rather than merely condemning particular actions without any consideration of the individual circumstances of a situation, then perhaps religious and non-religious people, moral and not-so-moral people would agree that euthanasia, under some circumstances, is morally right. On the same scale, people could decide when euthanasia is morally wrong in some situations.

The Link between Fire Research and Process Safety An Evolution from Specific Needs to General Concern by Cadena Munoz

The Link between Fire Research and Process Safety An Evolution from Specific Needs to General Concern by Cadena Munoz Brief Introduction The article â€Å"The Link between Fire Research and Process Safety: An Evolution from Specific Needs to General Concern† identifies the gap between Fire Safety Engineering and Performance-based Risk Analysis (PRA). Risk Analysis is â€Å"a powerful field that makes it easier for engineers to improve their dynamic systems† (Cadena Munoz, 2013, p. 2).Advertising We will write a custom article sample on â€Å"The Link between Fire Research and Process Safety: An Evolution from Specific Needs to General Concern† by Cadena Munoz specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More That being the case, Fire Safety Engineering (FSE) should become a critical input in every Process Safety (PS). Although â€Å"a link exists between these engineering fields, the agreeable fact is that they require more applications in different structures† (Cadena Munoz, 2013, p. 3). According to the authors, such fields will impro ve different Fire Protection Systems (FPSs). The article examines the importance of Risk Analysis in complex buildings and industrial facilities. Engineers should use performance-based and prescriptive approaches in order to prevent industrial fires. Statement of the Research Problem The article analyzes the effectiveness of different engineering processes. A Process Safety (PS) framework â€Å"consists of technical structures, guidelines, and tools that can manage the risks encountered in different organizational operations† (Cadena Munoz, 2013, p. 3). The RA process makes it easier for engineers to understand the nature of different risks. According to Cadena and Munoz (2013, p. 3), â€Å"Fire Safety Engineering (FSE) offers advanced solutions that can deal with different Fire Safety Challenges (FSCs)†. The researchers therefore wanted to understand â€Å"how these functions can produce better Fire Protection Systems† (Cadena Munoz, 2013, p. 3). The authors wanted to â€Å"understand the connection between FSE and PS and their applications in different fire systems† (Cadena Munoz, 2013, p. 4). Description of the Research Procedures The researchers began their article by presenting the required literature review. This procedure identified â€Å"the major practices associated with fire protection in different industrial processes† (Oh, Jiang, Panganiban, 2013, p. 3). This knowledge made it easier for the scholars to identify the existing gap between PS and FSE. The scholars used a Correlation Approach (CA) for the study.Advertising Looking for article on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This approach made it easier for the researchers to understand the challenges affecting different Fire Protection Systems (FPSs). This knowledge encouraged the scholars to identify the existing gaps in different FPSs. The scholars â€Å"analyzed the imp ortance of Fire Safety Engineering and Process Safety† (Cadena Munoz, 2013, p. 4). The researchers applied these concepts in different fire scenarios. The approach made it possible for the scholars to get the best findings. According to the researchers, many industries were not embracing the use of PS and FSE. The CA made it easier for the researchers to achieve their potentials. They also identified the practices that can improve the level of fire prevention in different industrial processes. Flaws in the Procedural Design The above procedural design presented a number of flaws. To begin with, the research method did not present a clear hypothesis. This weakness made it impossible for the researchers to predict their results. The researchers were unable to gather the best evidences during the study. The authors failed to support their arguments using meaningful data and ideas (Oh et al., 2013). The authors did not collect the best data thus affecting the validity of their st udy. A proper research design could have produced better results. Analysis of the Targeted Data The literature review made it easier for the researchers to analyze the issues affecting different companies. According to the article, many engineers were not taking PS and FSE seriously. The agreeable fact is that such engineering fields were critical and applicable in different organizations. The researchers identified the importance of these two engineering practices. The â€Å"joint application of FSE and PS can make it easier for engineers to understand the safety challenges encountered in different facilities† (Gagnon, 2007, p. 85). This approach can make it easier for analysts to examine various fire behaviors and dynamics (Gagnon, 2007).Advertising We will write a custom article sample on â€Å"The Link between Fire Research and Process Safety: An Evolution from Specific Needs to General Concern† by Cadena Munoz specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/pa ge Learn More These two fields can therefore improve the practices undertaken by different industries. The gathered information encouraged the researchers to examine the effectiveness of these engineering fields. This knowledge addresses the problems affecting different organizations. Limited and Justifiable Conclusions The authors concluded their article by highlighting the significance of FSE and PS practices. Engineers â€Å"should use PS and FSE ideas in order to have a clear understanding of different fire safety problems† (Cadena Munoz, 2013, p. 4). This practice can also deal with high complexity problems such as industrial fires. This knowledge is admirable because â€Å"the link between PS and FSE is less common in different industries† (Cadena Munoz, 2013, p. 5). Engineers should strengthen this link in order to achieve the best goals. According to Gagnon (2007, p. 109), new studies â€Å"will ensure every engineer identifies better improve ment opportunities in the field of fire protection†. The article also explains how FSE inputs might offer appropriate solutions to different RA processes. The authors encourage different scholars to invent new FSE ideas and concepts (Gagnon, 2007). Engineers should apply such ideas in different PS problems. This practice will deal with the challenges affecting many industrial processes. More studies and research designs are required in this field. Such studies will present the best ideas and strategies in order to support different industrial processes. Reference List Cadena, J., Munoz, F. (2013). The Link Between Fire Research and Process Safety: An Evolution from Specific Needs to General Concern. Chemical Engineering Transactions, 31(1), 1-6. Gagnon, R. (2007). Design of Special Hazard and Fire Alarm System. Cengage, KY: Cengage Learning.Advertising Looking for article on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Oh, J., Jiang, Z., Panganiban, H. (2013). Development of a Smart Residential Fire Protection System. Advances in Mechanical Engineering, 1(1), 1-6.

Cellular Reproduction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Cellular Reproduction - Essay Example They divide constantly and with rapid pace without exhibiting any contact inhibition. As the data suggests, cancer cells outnumber normal cells at the later stages of cell division, indicating that cancer cells divide at the swift rate and complete their cell division faster than the normal cells. Normal cells follow the regulated time interval for cell division or reproduction with balanced signaling pathways while cancer cells do not reveal any kind of signal transduction. Moreover, cancer cells are capable of angiogenesis enabling capillary formation from a nearby blood vessel so as to feed the growing tumor cells. Normal cells cease their cell division after a certain time while the cancer cells proliferate in any order violating the rules of cell division. Although normal cells taken from different tissues as in the present case display different morphology but the cancer cells taken from different tissues do not flaunt their distinct tissue morphology as there is a loss of spec ialized function. The elevated rate of cellular division ceases them to execute their specialized function (Ginger) 2. Which type of cancer shows the most aggressive growth? Explain.

History of German Films and Cinema Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

History of German Films and Cinema - Essay Example Fassbinder's success in German theatre allowed him leverage when it came to ascending the rungs in mainstream cinema which he considered in greater esteem than theatre. But the German bourgeois always valued the older German theatre more highly than the younger cinema (Barnett p.137). He continued to make an impression in German theatre, and this improved his chances of being recognised and accepted in popular cinema which he did with films on a diverse range of prevalent issues. One such film that explored the issue of individuals resisting traditionalism was Ali: Fear Eats the Soul. A storm outside forces a middle-aged cleaning lady named Emmi into a local German bar. The place is filled with Arabic regulars who gaze at her entrance. This bar is one of the select few public spots where foreigners are openly received. It's owner fills the jukeboxes with Arabic music but when Emmi enters, she is no longer a welcome visitor but is looked on as a stranger. The owner prods a former lover, a Moroccan man named Ali, to engage Emmi in a dance. Soon after, they become close companions, sharing common internal conflicts and emotions, along with feelings of loneliness and isolation. As their union develops, they find that society turns harsher towards them more so now than when they were isolated individuals. Emmi's neighbours chitchat continuously about her companion who is living with her and this provokes the landlord to question their living arrangements. Ali fac es further embarrassment when a local grocer refuses to serve him until he improves his German. When Emmi meets her family and divulges her relationship with the Moroccan, she is met with cynicism and ridicule. The quarrel finally ends up with her TV set being destroyed. Later after Emmi's co-worker visits her at her apartment and finds Ali there, the following day she is spurned by her cleaning squad. She is then left to wallow in her predicament. In this film, Fassbinder explores the experiences of people who do not conform to society's norms. His cinematography uses space and framing of the nonconforming individual to mirror his or her isolation and seclusion from the rest of society. When Emmi and Ali dance on the floor, a long shot of them amplifies their isolation. The confined kitchen also highlights the suffocation she feels about her life. At a bistro, the vacant surrounding tables overstated by the staff's distance from the present visitors also reflects her isolation. Fassbinder, referring to use social commentary rather than melodrama, produces a narrative that reveals the depth of exclusion that the two protagonists are faced with. He shows that although they learn to deal with unwelcome pubic scrutiny, the pressures of society continually eats the soul of both Emmi and Ali. This fractures their delicate relationship and the question begs, will the two survive their union. There are no simple answers in the real w orld. In his 1979 film, The Marriage of Maria Braun, Fassbinder crafts a darkly comic and contemptuous portrayal of the revitalization program undertaken by Germany. The story is of Maria Braun whose wedding happened as a result of a swift two week courtship and a hastily conducted marriage ceremony during the last period of the second world war when

A Semiotic Comparison of Disneyland with Marriotts Great America Essay

A Semiotic Comparison of Disneyland with Marriotts Great America - Essay Example Various themes give rise to different effects on the individuals.   It is almost like that the premise takes control of how visitors should react to the circumstances: offering a variety of choices, hence, conferring a mixture of diverse emotions as well.   â€Å"Disneyland is commonly seen as the prototypical total fantasy park in America, or probably in the world†, (The Sale of Two Cities: A Semiotic Comparison of Disneyland with Marriott’s Great America, p.1).   It is unquestionably exemplary that people from different walks of life, visitors of different age group, find themselves enthralled and at times, powerlessly captivated. Incontestably, Disneyland has the ability to initiate a feeling of awe, generating such wonderful notion to its visitors.   The structure of the park, as well as its different auras, however, allow the people to become barely aware of the divergence and picture between the real world and the world of imagination. Rides represent out of the ordinary experiences, however, not all are just amusing, for some also intends to remind us of the important aspects of life such as greed, fear, and even death. Consequently, Marriott’s fashion is definitely atypical, in contrast to the prototypical picture of Disneyland.   It chose not to make an apparent distinction between the fantasy world and the real one. The journey from reality to fantasy is done subtly; allowing the visitors to experience the flight from the real world while they are still made aware of realism. The plodding switch from true existence to the wonderful world of imagination make Marriott’s an astonishing pursuit to the majority. Palpably, the two theme parks have several contrasting aspects.

Study of Humanitarian Aid Agencies Service Delivery

Study of Humanitarian Aid Agencies Service Delivery CHRISTINA KHOURY Stuck in no mans land:people of nowhere are people of now here A study of humanitarian aid agencies service delivery to residents in Kara Tepe refugee camp in Lesvos. DR Disaster Relief EASO European Asylum Support Office EU European Union FMO Forced Migration Online HA Humanitarian Assistance HSA Humanitarian Support Agency IDPs Internally displaced persons IOM International Organisation for Migration IOs International Organisations IRC International Rescue Committee MSF Mà ©decins Sans Frontiers NGOs Non-Governmental Organisations RCRC International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement ROs Regional Organisations UN United Nations UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees   Ã‚   Since the twentieth century, the migration of refugees has been a significant and constant feature of the world order. There has been several factors causing its occurrence, including international wars, civil wars, the rise of fascism, decolonization, national liberation struggles and the creation of nation states (Bloch, 2002, p.1). During 1914-1918 World War I, millions of people were left homeless, fleeing their homelands to seek refuge, and the international community and governments responded by providing travel documents to those people who were the first refugees of the twentieth century (1951 UN Convention). However the flow of refugees did not stop there, but the numbers drastically increased after World War II (1939-1945), when millions were forced to resettle, be displaced or were deported (Guterres, 2011). While the refugee crisis is a phenomenon that has been around for many years, the ongoing conflicts in Syria, Iraq, Somalia, Afghanistan and other troubled countries have resulted in an unprecedented number of 65.3 million people around the world forcibly displaced from their homes. Among them are 21.3 million registered as refugees under UNHCR and UNWRA mandates, over half of whom are children (under 18 years old) (UNHCR, 2016a). Syrians make up, without a doubt, the largest refugee population in the world. The Syria conflict alone, known to be the biggest humanitarian and refugee crisis of our time (UN High Commissioner for Refugees in UNHCR, 2016b), has spawned 4.8 million refugees in neighbouring countries (predominantly Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan), hundreds of thousands in Europe and 6,6 million displaced inside Syria (Mercy Corps, 2016; UNHCR, March 2016). Figure 1: The increase of registered Syrian Refugees from almost zero in 2012 to 4.8 million in 2016 (source: UNHCR, 2016 Which UNHCR article? You need to specify) According to Amnesty Internationals assessment of October 2016, more than half of the worlds 21 million refugees are hosted in just ten low and middle-income countries in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.[1] Europe, however, hosts a share of 6% of the worlds refugee population (Check percentage of refugees in Europe in 2016, add source). In 2015, over a million refugees and migrants made it to Europe by sea, with a majority arriving via the Aegean Sea from Turkey into Greece (UNHCR, 2015). Responding to the massive influx of refugees, several international humanitarian aid agencies established themselves on the Greek Islands to meet the pressing needs of the novel refugee and migrant population. However, it has been widely debated whether these aid agencies are effective in their service delivery and whether they fulfill the tasks they have set out to do. Despite the allocation of millions of dollars of funds to guarantee a decent living standard for the refugees and migrants in the Greek camps, reports reveal dire conditions, with a lack of the most basic livelihoods, such as edible food, basic sanitation services and education (Strickland, 2016; ?). Deeply moved by the horrifying images of human suffering in these camps, I chose to travel to Greece to volunteer in Kara Tepe Camp in Lesvos in the summer of 2016 to i nvestigate the topic further. It is of great importance to examine the efficiency of these humanitarian aid agencies service delivery on the ground in order to build future humanitarian aid programs which adequately meet the needs of the vulnerable refugees and migrants in Lesvos. 1.1 Question and Motivation of Study This dissertation sets out to answer the following research questions: Primary question: To what extent are humanitarian service providing agencies operating in Kara Tepe camp managing to live up to their stated aims and guidelines? Secondary question: What are the obstacles to effective service delivery? This dissertation is a reflective research based on my time spent volunteering with a humanitarian aid organisation, Humanitarian Support Agency (HSA)[2], in a refugee camp in Lesvos, Greece over the course of summer from June to September 2016. However, the area of research of humanitarian assistance to refugees, sparked my interest already in 2011, when the flow of thousands of Syrian refugees began to Jordan, my home country, following Syrias descent into civil war. Jordan, a small yet strong Kingdom, surrounded by countries undergoing conflict, is a host of over 656,000 Syrian refugees (Amnesty International, 2016). Seeing the difficult suffering faced by the Syrian refugee population in my own region (Middle East) as well as in Europe strongly motivated me to gain a hands on experience of humanitarian aid work with refugees. Following, for my applied field experience[3], I chose to travel to Greece and join HSA as a volunteer in Kara Tepe camp in Lesvos; a refugee camp in the la rgest transit point in the East Mediterranean route, which is the first assistance site for refugees and migrants departing from Turkey to Europe (HSA, 2016). During my time volunteering in Kara Tepe, I had the opportunity to work closely with humanitarian aid agencies operating in the camp, gaining insights into their day-to-day provision of services to the residents. It also allowed me to speak to and get to know several of the camp residents refugees and migrants predominantly from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq who often expressed their concerns and hardships of life in Kara Tepe. In this dissertation, I aim to draw on this experience to investigate the humanitarian aid agencies services to refugees and migrants in Kara Tepe camp. More specifically, by comparing these aid agencies stated aims and guidelines to the real situation of refugees and migrants on the ground, I wish to examine where the agencies are failing at fulfilling their promises in providing adequate assistance to the camp residents. Furthermore, I aim to identify some of the apparent obstacles hindering these agencies effective service delivery. I do not intend to generalise my results regarding humanitarian aid agencies service delivery in refugee camps as it would require a more comprehensive material than what my study is based upon. My ambition is rather to attempt to highlight the humanitarian aid situation in Kara Tepe and voice out the concerns and needs of the residents, drawing on their living situation in the refugee camp. This study will be structured into five chapters. In chapter 2, I will give an overview of the living conditions of refugees and migrants in Greek camps. Here, I will also provide a set of definitions of the key terms adopted in this dissertation. In chapter 3, I will give a review of the existing literature on the humanitarian aid system. In this section, I will outline the theoretical foundations used in this study, including the UNHCR, IRC, Save the Children and HSAs stated aims and guidelines in relation to the factors of water, sanitation, education, food and health care. In chapter 4, I will draw on my first-hand experience in Kara Tepe in order to spot the gaps between the stated aims and guidelines of the aid agencies and the real situation on the ground, based on the stories and interviews with the residents. Furthermore, the analysis will identify some of the apparent obstacles hindering these agencies effective service delivery. Finally, I will conclude by giving a summary of the main findings and their implications, and the possibility of suggesting further research on the topic. 1.2 Methodology Material The choice of method for this dissertation is a mixed study between an autoethnography approach which is a form of qualitative research[4], based on primary qualitative data collection, and a case study using Kara Tepe Camp as the case, in addition to secondary research on academic articles in relation to the humanitarian aid system, UN reports and newspaper articles on the topic. Moreover, I will look at the guidelines, aims and goals of three main agencies operating in camp, namely UNHCR, IRC and Save the Children. The material I have used for my analysis is predominantly based on material gathered through the interviews I have conducted with different refugees from the camp. For their safety and integrity, I have decided to keep their names anonymous and have given them pseudonyms/alias. These interviews that I have conducted are valuable and have provided me with the useful information and insights that are necessary to establish an adequate answer to the question. Moreover, the analysis is also based on my own lived experience through working in Kara Tepe camp. 1.3 Limitations of study When researching the above questions a few limitations had to be considered. First, due to time and space restrains, I had to limit my data collection to the period of my stay in Greece between June and September 2016. The humanitarian assistance keeps developing in camp so there may be new improved services that did not exist back then, which would have been valuable to include in my research. Second, it has to be taken into consideration that the refugees interviewed are in a vulnerable position; hence they may not be able to fully reveal all truths for a public audience, and this is why for some questions, unfortunately, the answers were either very broad or unclearly answered, due to the sensitivity of the matter. Third, there are several possible factors to take into consideration when researching humanitarian assistance provided to refugees living in camps. However, due to space and time restraints, I have chosen to focus on three key humanitarian aid agencies and their service s in Kara Tepe camp, namely UNHCR, IRC and Save the Children. To be called a refugee is the opposite of an insult; it is a badge of strength, courage, and victoryà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (Tennessee Office for Refugees) 2.1 Definitions of keywords In our current era, more than 65 million people worldwide are displaced by force as refugees, asylum seekers, or internally displaced persons. According to the 1951 Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, to be recognized legitimately as a refugee, a person must be fleeing persecution on the basis of religion, race, political opinion, nationalityà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦etc. However, the present factors around displacement are complex and multi-layered which in turn makes the protection based on a strict definition of persecution increasingly problematic and very challenging to implement (Zetter, 2015). Between asylum seekers, refugees and economic migrants there is an overlap and this can cause confusion; therefore, it is very important to distinguish the difference between the terms, and which term applies on the people in the camps in Greece specifically in Kara Tepe Camp. Asylum seeker is: a person who has applied for asylum under the 1951 Refugee Convention on the Status of Refugees on the ground that if he is returned to his country of origin he has a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political belief or membership of a particular social group. He remains an asylum seeker for so long as his application or an appeal against refusal of his application is pending (Mitchell, 2006). Principally, asylum seekers flee in fear of persecution because of the reasons stated in the definition, so they seek refuge in another country looking for safety, and until their asylum process is ongoing they are called asylum seekers, but once it is processed and the approval is given then they are given a refugee status. In the literature on refugees, there have been many definitions of the term, but I found the following by the UNHCR to be the most inclusive. A refugee is someone who: owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that countryà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (Article 1, UN Convention, 1951). They also added that the term refugee can be defined as: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ people fleeing conflict or persecution. They are defined and protected in international law, and must not be expelled or returned to situations where their life and freedom are at risk (UNHCR, 2016). But according to migration watch UK, they define a refugee as an asylum seeker whose application has been successful, i.e. that person fleeing war and conflict as defined by the 1951 Refugee Convention. The difference between asylum seeker and a refugee is very difficult to state as they are very similar. Basically, an asylum seeker is someone who is seeking international protection and is waiting for his refugee status, but a refugee is someone who is recognised under the 1951 Convention relating to the status of refugees to be eligible to be a refugee (Phillips, 2011, p.2). Last but not least, migrant, as defined by the UN Convention on the Rights of Migrants is a : person who is to be engaged, is engaged or has been engaged in a remunerated activity in a State of which he or she is not a national. Article 1.1 (a) states that migrants decision to move to these States is taken freely, because of personal convenience and without any external factor that might affect the decision (UNESCO, 2016).Thus, there has been a gap along the lines with the usage of the terminology, especially between the term refugee and asylum seeker. People who have crossed the Mediterranean by paying organised criminals (smugglers) to get them across the borders are known as irregular migrants, because they have not entered the EU legally (European Commission, 2016). Humanitarian aid system (add definition) Humanitarian aid system or humanitarian assistance is intended to save lives, alleviate suffering and maintain human dignity during and after manmade crises and disasters caused by natural hazards as well as to prevent and strengthen preparedness for when such situations occur (Global Humanitarian Assistance, 2016). Humanitarian assistance should be administered by the four key humanitarian principles which are: humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence; these key principles are the fundamental principles of many NGOs including the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (RCRC) (Global Humanitarian Assistance, 2016). Therefore, in the immediate area of conflict, the main goal is preventing human causalities but at the same time assisting displaced people and making sure they have access to the basic needs of survival which are water, sanitation, food, shelter, and health care (Branczik, 2004). 2.2 International and legal framework/ Humanitarian assistance and relief efforts add more info Humanitarian assistance is and has always been an extremely political activity. It always influenced the political economy of the recipient countries, and is influenced by the political considerations of donor governments (Curtis, 2001, p.3). The effect of conflict on civilians can be directly or indirectly through the so called complex emergencies. The primary aim in any immediate area of conflict is preventing causalities and making sure that everyone has access to the basic rights for surviving, which are water sanitation, food, shelter, and health care. In addition, the priority is usually to assist displaced people and try to prevent the spread of conflict, support relief work and create a space for rehabilitation (Branczik, 2004). Complex humanitarian emergencies are defined by five collective characteristics: first, the deterioration or complete collapse of central government authority; second, ethnic or religious conflict leading to human abuse; third, episodic food insecurity that leads to mass starvation; fourth, macroeconomic collapse that involves unemployment and decrease in GDP per capita; last and the most important focal characteristic is having mass population movements of displaced people and refugees that have escaped a conflict or in search for a better life (Natsios, 1995, p.405). Natsios stated that there are three sets of institutional actors that respond to the above emergencies in a so called complex response system that evolved over the years. These institutional actors are NGOs, UN organisations and the International Red Cross movement (Natsios, 1995, p.406). These sets of actors were reckoned in the 1990s; however in the 20th century, the academics understanding and the literature on the main actors have widened, and have included more detailed actors. For example, according to Branczik (2004), there are four main actors that represent the humanitarian aid sector: International (IOs) and Regional Organisations (ROs); the most important actor in the provision of humanitarian aid is the UN. Unilateral assistance, as well as multilateral, i.e. the countries provide direct aid unilaterally through their own foreign-aid or part of their foreign policy. Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), which play a key role in the provision of humanitarian aid, either directly or as being a UN partner. The Military and its main role is to make sure to create a safe environment where other agencies can operate from, they can also directly provide aid when necessary in cases where the IOs and NGOs are unable to perform or deal with security issues, and it can act as a managing body for the humanitarian relief process. It is important to stress that in order to have a successful humanitarian relief effort, effective leadership and coordination should be present to avoid conflicting activities and duplications of projects and so forth. The UN is the agency that acts as the coordinator in most cases (Branczik, 2004). In addition to the UN, there are other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that also respond to complex humanitarian emergencies and work together with the UN. The humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts (HA/DR) had faced a major challenge in terms of that the diverse information and knowledge are distributed and owned by different organisations, and are not efficiently organised and utilized during HA and DR operations (Zhang et. Al, 2002). Obstacle to the humanitarian aid agencies Moreover, there have been other factors that are defined as great challenges that have affected the performance of the humanitarian aid agencies, and two of those are efficiency and effectiveness. For example and according to Branczik (2004), if the assistance is needed in a conflict zone that is located in a poor area of infrastructure then it would be impossible and dangerous for the humanitarian agencies to deliver aid, this leads to some beneficiaries being neglected due to that (Branczik, 2004). Another important point is the increasing number of agencies operating on the ground, this causes the struggle to obtain accurate intelligence, and when it is difficult to obtain accurate intelligence, the unpredictability of humanitarian crises causes effective management and coordination within the agencies to become difficult, therefore, and in order to solve this difficulty, agencies should improve gathering and sharing the information by improving the management and coordination wit hin them (Branczik, 2004). Furthermore, political dilemmas play an important part in influencing the performance of humanitarian agencies. As Branczik (2004) and Stockton (2006) call it, humanitarian alibi, which refers to the fact that most humanitarian crises are caused by bad governance and the bad performance of the humanitarian agencies is also affected by deliberate acts by governments to frustrate humanitarian access to, and deny the existence of the people that are in need of protection. It is therefore defined as: the misuse of the humanitarian idea and humanitarian workers by governments eager to do as little as possible in economically unpromising regions (Branczik, 2004; Stockton, 2006). 2.3 Aims and guidelines of humanitarian aid agencies in Kara Tepe camp UNHCR Legal Framework The Universal Declaration of Human Rights that was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly was published in 1948 and is still used and relevant today as it was back then. The main reason for issuing it was to declare the rights and freedoms to which every human being is equally and inalienably entitled (UDHR, 1948, p. iii). UDHR is a promise to everyone and not country-specific or for a certain era or social group, it is a promise to all the economic, social, political, cultural and civic rights whatever colour, race, ethnicity they are, gender, whether they are disabled or not, citizens or migrants, and no matter what creed, age or sexual orientation (UDHR, 1948, p. v + vi). Abuse of Human Rights did not diminish when the UDHR was adopted, but at least more people have gained more freedom, and violations were not permitted. According to part 1 of article 14 of UDHR: 1. Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution, onwards the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees was adopted and entered into force on 22 April 1954, and is now called the centrepiece of international refugee protection, and its amendment the 1967 Protocol which removed all geographic limitations to include everyone and make it universal (UN Convention, 1951, p. 2). Refugees are considered part of the most vulnerable people in the world; and for that reason, the UN has issued the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol to help protect them (Guterres, 2011). The UNHCR works under the United Nations General Assembly and its goal is to seek international protection and permanent solutions for refugees. It was established in 1950 with a core mandate to protect the refugees. However, nowadays it is responsible for a slightly larger group that does not only include refugees but also asylum seekers, internally displaced persons (IDPs), stateless persons or migrants (UNHCR, 2014). Although the protection of refugees is the primarily the responsibility of States, however the main partner that works closely with the governments is the UNHCR and has been doing so throughout the past 50+ years (Jastram Achiron, 2001, p.5). UNHCR aims Specify here what these conventions say about humanitarian assistance to refugees. And specify what they should do in Greece/kara tepe (Provide legal advice, information about asylum processes, housing tents, medical care). IRC aims and guidelines in lesvos The IRC is the only international aid organization working on all fronts of the crisis. In Europe: The IRC was one of the first aid organizations to assist the thousands of refugees arriving each day on the Greek island, Lesbos. IRC aid workers continue to work around the clock in Greece and in Serbia to provide essential services, including clean water and sanitation, to families living in terrible conditions. And we are helping new arrivals navigate the confusing transit process and understand their legal rights. https://www.rescue.org/topic/refugee-crisis-europe-middle-east http://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/policy_research/the_truth_about_asylum?gclid=CjwKEAiA4dPCBRCM4dqhlv2R1R8SJABom9pH4MUi49WtBBRwl558uk2TDFLSaBVM4B54KIi7rfFL0xoCr1bw_wcB Education is the most powerful tool for children, their families and communities in order to survive and recover from a crisis or a conflict; it enables people to drive their own health, safety and prosperity (IRC, 2016). According to the IRC goals that they have published, they state that poor access to education can affect peoples chance to improve their lives, which is why they provide children, youth and adults with educational opportunities which therefore keeps them safe and learn the skills they need to survive and succeed (IRC, 2016). Moreover, the IRCs main goals in regards to education are the following: Ensure that children aged 0 to 5 develop cognitive and social-emotional skills Ensure that school-aged children develop literacy, numeracy and social-emotional skills Ensure that youth and adults have high levels of livelihood, literacy, numeracy and social-emotional skills Ensure that children, youth and adults have regular access to safe and functional education services (IRC, 2016). Save the children aims and guidelines Save the childrens main priority in Greece and especially in Lesvos is to protect the children that are in refugee camps, and to ensure that most importantly they are physically safe and have enough food and good shelter. Apart from distributing the basics, they claim to have started providing items such as sanitary pads, soap, shampoo, toilet paper and simple food items such as crackers and tea (save the children, 2015). However, since their priority is protecting children, they have also met with national charities in Greece to identify child protection needs, and have worked on transporting the new arrivals to the island to different registration points, to make sure that families and unaccompanied children to do not have to walk 70km to register (save the children, 2015). Food Asylum Process Language Give me the money to pay a smuggler and Ill go back to Syria right now. There the death is quick. Here we are dying slowly. In this chapter, the theoretical foundations of humanitarian aid discussed above will be applied to the case of aid agencies operating in Kara Tepe camp. First I I will give a brief overview of the situation in Kara Tepe according to my own lived experience and reflection there during summer. Second, I will compare and contrast the agencies stated aims and guidelines to the real situation on the ground in Kara Tepe in order to clarify to what extent they manage to live up to their words. I will then underline some of the key obstacles currently hindering the organisations effective service delivery to the residents. Before arriving to Lesvos, I had no expectations of how the situation would be there. All I had in mind was the image often portrayed to us by the media about the refugee camps, which is one an image of violence and chaos, and I thought our task as volunteers would solely be to only distribute food and clothes as it was mentioned on the organisations website. However, when I arrived to the island, nothing was as I imagined it to be. In fact, Kara Tepe was a well-organised camp, and our job as HSA volunteers with HSA was to distribute food and clothes to families in camp, but it was done through a well thought out system. We had the meals delivered to the resident families door- to-door to their housing units in teams. The residents themselves were also part of the distribution teams, depending on what area they lived in as they were more familiar with the people of the camp than the volunteers residents. Moreover, we also distributed clothes by giving the residents tickets for monthly appointments. This system has indeed created a harmony in the camp, and a sense of belonging to a community. A very important factor that played a huge role for me while in Kara Tepe was the language. Arabic is my mother tongue, so it was easy for me to communicate with most of the refugees which had come to Lesvos from Syria and Iraq. Consequently, I therefore created a special bond with them and they turned to me to translate when misunderstandings or problems occurred in the camp. Being the only staff speaking their language, I felt that it became my duty to voice their feelings and opinions in everyday situations, being the only staff speaking their language, and I believe this was why I allocated a leading role in the team from the outset. My boss saw how the refugees turned to me for help as I could voice their concerns, and assigned me as a team leader shortly after I arrived. As I gained an understanding of the familys needs, my duties did not just involve the clothing distribution part, but also comprised on the task of improving the existing system to avoid stress and queues. This project was successful and it led the UNHCR to ask to publish our standard of procedures to the benefit of other organisations operating in the camp, and we got praised by the camp management for increasing the safety and dignity of the refugees residing in there which are referred to as residents of Kara Tepe. It is important to stress that the refugees living in camps are human beings just like everyone else. Fleeing wars and conflicts, being homeless, does not make them any different from anyone. They had normal lives in their home countries when the war forced them to leave everything and flee, and they are often well educated and skilled. Unfortunately, the way the refugees are forced to live in camps portray them in a very bad way, that everyone including myself had our own assumptions towards them due to the situation. It has been my privilege to have known and live among the refugees that I call my friends and family now for three months in Kara Tepe, and therefore I had to give this background of my time spent in camp as a tribute to

Dandyism and Moralism in Oscar Wildes An Ideal Husband Essay -- essay

Oscar Wilde, An Ideal Husband Oscar Wilde wrote An Ideal Husband in 1895, during the decade known as the "Yellow" or "Naughty Nineties", a movement with its roots in dandyism and decadence, the twilight years of England's Victorian era, reflecting decay and scandal . Some biographers suggest that Wilde might have been inspired by a number of events which occurred in his private life, to write this play , as it is the case for the dandified character of Lord Goring, which one could say is the double of Wilde himself, and who will maybe incarnate the figure of the ideal husband. As the stage notes from Act III indicate, Lord Goring is in "immediate relation" to modern life, making and mastering it. An Ideal Husband emphasizes Lord Goring's modernity by opposing him to his father, Lord Caversham, who is still living the old fashion way, in a number of dialogues, which appear to be comic, when we notice the radical opposition of thinking of the two characters. The meeting of the two produces a clash between the old fashioned and the modern thinking. This is seen in the first part of the third act, in which there is a conversation between Lord Gorging and his father, who came to speak about the importance of getting married, and the fact he can not go one living only for pleasure. LORD CAVERSHAM: [†¦] Want to have a serious conversation with you, sir. LORD GORING: My dear father! At this hour? LORD CAVERSHAM: Well, sir, it is only ten o’clock. What is your objection to the hour? I think the hour is an admirable hour! LORD GORING: Well, the fact is, father, this is not my day for talking seriously. I am very sorry, but it is not my day. LORD CAVERSHAM: What do you mean, sir? LORD GORING: During the season, fath... ...the walls of his room at Oxford in the 1870s, Wilde hung pictures of Cardinal Manning of England and Pope Pius IX, two ardent defenders of Catholic orthodoxy. Wilde regarded both men as heroes. More impressive is a letter Wilde wrote as a young man to his friend W.W. Ward in which his Catholicism seems near to full blossom. He wrote about what he called the "beauty and necessity" of the Incarnation. That central belief of Christianity helped humanity "grasp at the skirts of the Infinite," Wilde declared. "Since [the birth of] Christ the dead world has woken up from sleep. Since him we have lived." There is therefore strong evidence of Christian moralism in Wilde’s texts. However, my reading of â€Å"An ideal husband† gives me a much stronger picture of Lord Goring as a â€Å"Dandy† although, throughout the text, there is this dualism between â€Å"dandyism and moralism†.

Thirteen Days vs. the real Cuban Missile Crisis

The year is 1962 and American surveillance planes discover that the USSR is in the rocess of placing nuclear ballistic missiles in Cuba. The missiles have a said they are capable of reaching the majority of the United States Air Force bomber bases effectively crippling their ability to retaliate. It Is a race to find a means of removing the missiles before they become operational. Thus the problem for the President is to decide whether to use force or diplomatic means to keep the missiles un-operational.Initial diplomatic attempts to come to a peaceful conclusion fail and the Secretary of Defence proposes a naval blockade which they call a â€Å"quarantine† nd if the Soviets ignore the blockade, the Navy will forcibly remove the ships from going to Cuba. This would quickly escalate the situation which Is clearly what the Secretary of Defence wanted but the President with help of his Special Assistant; Kenneth O'Donnell, realized that an invasion of Cuba by Americans would lead to the Soviets invading Berlin effectively causing a World War Ill.In the end through unique communication methods between the US and the Soviets the Soviets agree to remove the mlsslles from Cuba providing the us promises never to Invade Cuba as well as remove missiles from Turkey. One of the most criticized aspects of the movie Is that Kenneth O'Donnell; who was Special Assistant to the President had a very influential and substantial role in the movie. Quite often he is found dissuading President Kennedy from the so called solutions from the Secretary of Defence and his entourage.He is always reminding Kennedy of the repercussions of the actions that Secretary of Defence Robert McNamara proposes. At one point Kenneth said in reference to surveillance flights and the rules of engagement; that if a plan were shot at, the site would be bombed, â€Å"This is a setup. The chiefs want to go in. They need to redeem themselves for the Bay of Pigs. † This seemed quite reasonable a s the Bay of Pigs was an unsuccessful attempt at military invasion of Cuba and those in charge needed redemption.Unfortunately; although Kenneth O'Donnell appeared a great protagonist, he did not have that kind of role In the crlsls In reality. Following the release of the movie the actual former Secretary of Defence; Robert McNamara, said â€Å"For God's sakes, Kenny O'Donnell didn't have any role whatsoever In the missile crisis; he was a political appointment secretary to the President; that's absurd. It may seem as though McNamara could have Just been bitter about the way he was portrayed in the movie but the conclusion he came to was generally what all those involved in the crisis thought about O'Donnell's role. Although McNamara pointed out that the role 1 OF2 O'Donnell played was slmllar to lea Sorenson saying â€Å"It was not Kenny O'Donnell who pulled us all together†it was Ted Sorensen. Ted Sorensen was President Kennedy's Special Counsel ; Adviser and it makes muc h more sense for him to have taken on the role O'Donnell portrayed as President Kennedy once called him his â€Å"intellectual blood bank. † leading one to believe that the President must have had reat faith in Sorenson. President Kennedy asked Sorenson to take part in foreign policy as well as being a member of Excomm (The Executive Committee of the National Security Council) during the Crisis.All of this would lead one to believe Sorenson must have played the role of O'Donnell in reality. So why didn't the producer Just stick with that in the film? It was because the appearance of Kenneth O'Donnell is much more appealing to the average American. He is the perfect protagonist, Just an average middle class American trying to do the right thing. That is why he was given this role and it is understandable why this trade off would be ade for entertainment purposes as Thirteen Days is a movie and not a documentary.

LAJOM, John Froilan C. General Biology 2 Essays - Fish, Free Essays

LAJOM, John Froilan C. General Biology 2 Essays - Fish, Free Essays LAJOM, John Froilan C. General Biology 2 S11-08 Reflection Paper For the biology exhibit, the one that captivates me is the research about the milkfish and tilapia in Taal, Batangas. It captures my attention because it is very timely; we frequently eat tilapia for lunch or dinner, so it made me curious if we should continue to eat tilapia. They researched if parasites were the one responsible for the diseases or death of the tilapia and milkfish and to know the correlation of the psychochemical properties on parasites burden that may affect the growth and quality of milkfish and tilapia. Observation was made among all the samples that they captured, internally and externally. They weren't able to see parasites but able to see cysts, nodules and enlargement of intestines. This alarmed me but they said that it doesn't really give harm to us. It will just affect the quality of the fish. But then again, there will be a possible significant correlation between the fish growth in weight and length to psychochemical analysis of water. This also affects t he quantity of catch of the fishermen that affect their livelihood that is quite alarming. For the exhibit at the Ground Floor, the one that captures my attention is the reversed vending machine. From the name itself, it's quite intriguing. I'm surprised when the exhibitor started to put bottle or aluminium can in the opening 'door' of the machine because it gives off corresponding amount of money. The machine only accept bottles and cans that weigh 11-17g so to attain this, the exhibitor pour in liquid to the bottles and cans. Why it captivates me is that not only we benefit through the money that we are able to get, but also the environment because the bottles and cans that will be collected will be then sent to manufacturing establishments that will recycle them.

Mea Culpa

Mea Culpa Mea Culpa Mea Culpa By Maeve Maddox The Latin expression mea culpa is used as an interjection and as a noun. mea culpa interjection: an exclamation acknowledging one’s guilt or responsibility for an error. For example: MOTHER: The garbage is overflowing! SON: Mea culpa! I’ll take it out right now. As a noun, a mea culpa is the acknowledgement of ones guilt or responsibility for an error and is often used as a synonym for apology. Here are examples of this use: Just before Guillen began his 45-minute mea culpathe Marlins announced he had been suspended for five  games. Anthony Weiners emotional mea culpa: Will it be enough? Does McCain owe mea culpa to POWs MIAs? Hydro owes us a mea culpa. An apology is â€Å"an acknowledgement of an offense with expression of regret for it, by way of reparation.† Mea culpa as a synonym for apology derives from its use in a Latin prayer called â€Å"The Confiteor.† The Latin word confiteor means, â€Å"I confess† or â€Å"I acknowledge.† In praying, the supplicant repeats the phrase mea culpa, â€Å"through my own fault,† numerous times during the recitation of the prayer. An error with mea culpa occurs when a writer doesn’t understand its English meaning. Here are examples of misuse: Annie gritted her teeth and lifted her hands briefly from the wheel in  a mea culpa apology  to the indignant driver of the cleaners van.- Novel published by Random House. Rather than from John Paul Culotta, The Progressive, a mea culpa apology is due from the cretins who faithfully followed our torturer in chief to financial and human disaster.- News item, The Wave (Rockaway, New York). Alpha Chi Omega President Megan Koelln issued a mea culpa apology.- LA Weekly. In each example, the word apology is redundant. The only reason to follow mea culpa with the word apology would be in the context of talking about different kinds of apology. Note: More often than not, the statement being described in the news as a mea culpa is not an apology at all, but an excuse. excuse noun [eks-KYUS] : anything that justifies or extenuates a fault or defect. 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 Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:How to Format a US Business LetterLatin Words and Expressions: All You Need to Know5 Examples of Misplaced Modifiers

What are the best way to educate American children Essay

What are the best way to educate American children - Essay Example It helps an individual to grow as a person, by exposing them to knowledge and resources. First let’s take a look at what critical thinking is from a psychological view point. Our brain first must comprehend information before one can conceptualize or evaluate observations presented to us. In the simplest form critical thinking can be as minute as deciding to put another log on the fire or not because you intend to retire for the evening in the next 10 minutes. One must remember that at all levels out brain is collecting information to use and evaluate for our next actions. The thinking process that is appropriate for critical thinking depends on the information area (e.g. scientific, mathematical, historical, etc.) but some universal measures are: clarity, accuracy, precision, consistency, relevance, sound empirical evidence, good reasons, depth, extent and fairness. All in all, critical thinking is the process some refer to as "thinking outside of the box", which takes practice. Critical thinking is a developed skill in any one person; everyone can lapse into irrational or scattered thoughts. Critical thinking is measured by degree on the level of experience in a given area or pertaining to specific areas of questions. No one is a born critical thinker, but only through training can a person obtain higher degrees of quality in this area whereby he or she are less prone to subjective tendencies, and flawed insights or occasional gaps in experiences. Therefore, the mark of excellence in critical thinking is a lifelong undertaking. A college education helps to provide students with critical thinking skills, which may be said to include analytical, and problem solving skills. Assignments, tests, and class discussions develop critical thinking skills, and virtually every class at college requires some array of written and work participation. Universities and colleges require that students develop and share their own ideas about interesting subjects. These

Pirates and Pointing Fingers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Pirates and Pointing Fingers - Essay Example nto territorial waters were however drafted within the 20th century and must therefore be appreciated as good steps towards containing the global threat of maritime piracy. Back in 2007, Russia rose to become a pace setter in issues of maritime policy when it planted its flag within the Arctic ocean while expressing discontentment and discord in the manner maritime security has been handled over years especially within the high seas. Dodds (2011 63-73) critically analyzes the working of CCLS (Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf) as well as the various strategies that have been undertaken by coastal states towards the OCS (outer continental shelf). The study appreciated the efforts embraced by such states as Russia, Canada and Norway as well as member states to European Union on matters of controlling the maritime activity as favored by their geographic proximity to the high seas. As a discipline, political has risen to command great influence in the modern day studies as a discipline in the contemporary human society especially after the 20th century. Modernism and postmodernism have been distinctive disciplines with diversity of opinions especially in regard to human cultural diversity and the supremacy. Unlike the modernism principle that esteems ‘self’ even in matters pertaining to global effect, the postmodernism is much focused on pluralism and is much skeptical towards fundamental laws as well as the unchanging relations between individuals. Blacksell (2006, 169-171) shows that the oceans have been an integral part in human geography especially from the fact that the oceans occupy about 70% of the earth. Accordingly, he notes that even after human civilization, the better part of 20th century remained devoid of any form of control or political regulation on the oceans despite being greatly esteemed as a mode of transport. This lack of regu latory frameworks exposed sailors to greater risks from the terror groups and pirates who would not