An Existentialism View Toward Batman and Naruto Essay

I. Theory of Existentialism Existentialism is a philosophical movement that posits that individuals create the meaning and essence of their lives, as opposed to deities or authoritites creating it for them. It emerged as a movement in twentieth-century literature and philosophy, though it had forerunners in earlier centuries. Existentialism generally postulates that the absence of a transcendent force (such as God) means that the individual is entirely free, and therefore, ultimately responsible. It is up to humans to create an ethos of personal responsibility outside any branded belief system. In existentialism views, personal articulation of being is the olny way to rise above humanity`s absurd condition of much suffering and inevitable death. Existentialism is a reaction against traditional philosophies, such as rationalism and empiricism, that seek to discover an ultimate order in metaphysical principles or in the structure of the observed world, and thereby seek to discover universal meaning. Existentialism originated with the nineteenth-century philosophers Soren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche. It became prevalent in Continental philosophy, and literary figures such as Fyodor Dostoevsky also contributed to the movement. In the 1940s and 1950s, French existentialism such as Jean-Paul Satre, Albert Camus, and Simone de Beauvoir, wrote scholarly and fictional works that popularized existential themes such as â€Å"dread, boredom, alienation, the absurd, freedom, commitment, and nothingness. † Walter Kaufmann describes existentialism as â€Å"The refusal to belong to any school of thought, the repudiation of the adequacy of any body of beliefs whatever, and especially of systems, and a marked dissatisfaction with traditional phylosophy as superficial, academic, and remote from life. † Existentialism tends to focus on the question of human existence – the feeling that there is no purpose, indeed nothing, at the core of existence. Finding a way to counter this nothingness, by embracing existence, is the fundamental theme of existentialism, and the root of the phylosophy’s name. In existentialism view, they asserts that a human finds oneself already in a world and prior context that the human cannot think away. In other words, the ultimate and unquestionable reality is not consciousness but existence. A central proposition of existentialism is that humans define their own meaning in life. Such a view might be phrased technically by philosophers as existence precedes essence, that is a human’s existence conceptually precedes the essence or meaning that may be ascribed to the life. Satre, in Essays in Extentialism, further highlights this consciousness of being thrown into existence in the following fashion: â€Å"If man, as the existentialist conceives him, is indefinable, it is because at first he is nothing. Only afterward will he be something, and he himself will have made what he will be. † Emphasizing action, freedom, and decision as fundamental, existentialist oppose themselves to rationalism and positivism. That is, they argue against definitions of human beings as primarily rational. Rather, existentialists look at where people find meaning. Existentialism asserts that people actually make decisions based on what has meaning to them rather that what is rational. A further type of existentialism is agnostic existentialists, who make no claim to know whether or not there is a â€Å"greater picture†; rather, they simply assert that the greatest truth is that which the individual chooses to act upon. II. What is Superhero A superhero – sometimes written as super hero – is a fictional character of extraordinary physical ability dedicated to acts in the sake of public interest. Since the debut of the prototypal superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes – ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas – have dominated American comic books and crossed over into other media. A female superhero is sometimes called a superheroine or super heroine. By most definitions, characters need not have actual superhuman powers to be deemed superheroes, not, although sometimes terms such as costumed crimefighters are used to refer to those without such powers who have many other common traits of superheroes. The two-word version of the term is a trademark co-owned by DC Comics and Marvel Comics. There have been successful superheroes in other countries most of whom share the conventions of the American model. Examples include Cybersix from Argentina, Captain Canuck from Canada and the heroes of AK Comics from Egypt. For this Western area, I will take Batman as the representative. Unlike many superheroes, Batman has no superpowers and instead relies on his own scientific knowledge, detective skills, an athletic abilities. Batman is physically at the peak of human ability in dozens of areas, notably martial arts, acrobatics, strenght, and escape artistry. Rather than simply outfighting his opponents, Batman often uses cunning and planning to outwit them. Batman’s costumes incorporates the imagery of a bat in order to frighten criminals. Japan is the only country that nears the US in output of superheroes. The earlier of these wore scarves either in addition to or as a substitute for capes and many wear helmets instead of masks. Moonlight Mask, Ultraman, Kamen Rider, Super Sentai (the basis for Power Rangers), Metal Heroes and Kikaider have become popular in Japanese tokusatsu live-action shows, and Science Ninja Team Gatchaman, Casshan, The Guyver, and Sailor Moon are staples of Japanese anime and manga. However, most Japanese superheroes are shorter-lived. While American entertainment companies update and reinvent superheroes, hoping to keep them popular for decades, Japanese companies retire and introduce superheroes more quickly, usually on an annual basis, in order to shorten merchandise lines. In addition, Japanese manga often targets female readers, unlike U. S. comics, and has created such varieties as â€Å"magical girl† (e. g. Cardcaptor Sakura) for this audience. For this Eastern area, I will take Naruto as the representative. Naruto whose full name is Uzumaki Naruto is a young boy who dreams of becoming the leader of his Hidden Village. It will be difficult though for Naruto, because when he was a baby an evil demon was placed inside him to stop its rampage. As Naruto grew the townspeople saw Naruto himself as the demon, even though he was merely its container. Naruto lives in a world populated by ninja villages. The ninja serve as the armies for the countries that inhabit the world. Most of the countries have their own Hidden Village, which serves to train and manage the ninja of the country. Also the ninja in the series are able to utilize jutsu techniques, which are the secrecy, body and illusion arts of the ninja. These allow the ninja to perform many amazing skills such as the manipulation of the surrounding elements. III. Batman and Naruto: Their Differences and Their Revelance In Existentialism The true feature of Batman as a common people is Bruce Wayne, a millionaire industrialist. He inherited a big corporation, Wayne Corporation, from his father. The ego ‘Batman’ was born because of two accident. The first was the murder of Bruce’s parents. Bruce witnessed his parent killed in a gun-accident. A street-criminal shot them to death. The second was Bruce falling down into a cave in Wayne’s manor. He fell into a dark and humid cave where a hundred of bats lived. Those two accidents led Bruce to learn about martial arts and gadget-operating skill in order to fight the crime in Gotham city. His fear of bat made him wear a bat-costume in doing his operation. Thus, Batman as a superhero who fight a crime has born. This is the very purpose why Batman wants to fight crime: a personal vendetta against criminals. Since Batman does not have any superpowers, he relies on his own scientific knowledge, detective skills, an athletic abilities. Also his wealth enables him to get much modern and sophisticated gadget in order to beat his nemesis. In other hand, Naruto, instead of his lack of intellectual ability in solving a problem, his friend still considers some of his actions brilliant. Naruto does all of his action by intuition, not by a precise step as a ninja should do. What makes Naruto a superhero is that he possesses massive abundant chakra energy inside his body. This chakra is originated from a Nine-Tailed Demon Fox that is sealed inside his body. Together with his friends and mentor, Naruto solve the problem and fight with the evil ninjas. They act in a group of 4 ,3 ninjas and a mentor. They perform a close combat by using martial arts and ninjutsu, and a long-range combat by using flying dagger or shuriken. Once they accomplished a mission, they report to the hokage, which is the leader of the village. Yet, the very important thing that makes they both become a superhero is that there exist some nemesis, villains, that must be eliminated. They both make some struggles to get rid of those system distracted. What differentiate them is the way they make these struggles. Batman eliminates crime in Gotham by his own rule. He does not obey the rules prevailed in that city. He intentionally takes action againts criminal without involving the authorities. It can be concluded that Batman makes his own system to fix the system. However, Batman – intentionally or not – does not kill his enemy. He just sents those criminals to the authorities, to be prisoned or not. Batman’s worst nemesis, The Joker, is still alive until now. Although they often have some ‘fight’, but neither Batman or The Joker is condemned to death. While Naruto’s job is to keep the system in his village to be kept save. He does not violate the system prevailed in his village, instead he is forced to obey that system. His acts are being ruled by Hokage, the highest authority in the village. He is a kind of ‘paid’ superhero that acts upon a mission that is given by that Hokage. Once they accomplished that mission, they have report to that Hokage. Here, Naruto biggest enemy, Kabuto, is remain alive until now. What makes this difference? It is because the different culture that affect the people in West and East. Why Batman have a nerve to make his own system to fix the main system prevailed in his city is due to the Western way of thinking. Western culture tends to emphasize critical thinking. They are learned to break the rules if they think that there are some errors in those rules. Their new ideas are being welcomed, even they are supported to make new inventions. While Eastern country tend to ‘close their eyes’. They have to accept what the older people says. They are not being couraged to make some critics toward the culture. They tend to give high respect (sometimes not in a proper measure) toward conventional ideas. Here it implies in the way Batman and Naruto makes their struggle to fight crimes. Then another point where existentialism takes place also emmerges. Why those superheroes do not kill their enemies? It is because they ‘need’ their nemesis so that they can be a superheroes still. Let’s we go back to the question of what makes those superheroes superhero? What do they pursue? They want to eliminate crimes. Then we come to the question of what causes this crime? Criminals. So superheroes exist because there are some criminals. If there are no criminals, so there are no superheroes. Like what Satre has said, â€Å"If man, as the existentialist conceives him, is indefineable, it is because at first he is nothing. Only afterward will he be something, and he himself will have made what he will be. † Thus, superhero is nothing if there is no criminal to make him defineable. This is the meaning of existence preceding essence. I would like to use the term that coined by Heidegger, â€Å"throwness†, that is human beings are â€Å"thrown† into existence without having chosen it. Whether superhero or the enemy do not have the power to choose what they want to be. First they just exist in the world, then they just do the thing that they believe as a greatest truth. This is that greatest truth that they choose to act upon to find the essences of their existencies. Noviana Indah Tri Wahyuni a paper for Comparative Studies Superhero Theme.

Emergency Operations Plan Essay

Brownsville Texas is located in approximately 30 miles from the Gulf of Mexico and it is vulnerable to a major hurricane like Hurricane Katrina that devastated much of Louisiana in 2005. During Hurricane Katrina many of the things when wrong because emergency leaders were because, emergency managers were not prepared for the after mass of the hurricane. It is important for a city to have a structured Emergency Operations Plan in place in the event of a major hurricane. This will help make emergency operations run smooth and emergency managers make important decisions. Hurricanes are measured in Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. This gives the hurricane a rating of 1 to 5 based on its sustained wind speed (NOAA, 2013). The rating is also based on the amount of damage a hurricane can create once it makes land fall. For example â€Å"any storm that reaches a sustained wind speed of 74-95 miles per hour (mph) is considered a category 1 hurricane† (NOAA, 2013). Any hurricane tha t reaches a sustained wind speed of 111-129 mph is category 3 hurricane and it falls in a major hurricane category. Category 3 hurricanes and higher are considered the most dangerous and have the potential to create the most damage (NOAA, 2013). 1.Purpose of the plan The purpose of this plan is to establish an Emergency Operation Plan (EOP) that will provide guild lines and procedures for emergency managers in the event of a major hurricane in the South Texas area. The Emergency Operations Plan will show the vulnerabilities of the City of Brownsville, major concerns that city managers have, contact information for local hospitals, Fire Department, Police Station and it will also help emergency managers coordinate operations with local, State and Federal Agencies. It will also indicate the location of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and the Unified Command Center. The EOC leader or manager will have complete command and control of all emergency operation, before, during and after the hurricane has made landfall in the city of Brownsville. The EOC will be the primary base of operations throughout the disaster. This means that all emergency operations will be coordinated through the EOC and all emergency managers and team leaders will report to the EOC, as soon as they arrive on scene and before any operations start. The EOP will establish a chain of command that will be followed by all agencies and private organizations  involved in emergency operations. This will include all local, State and Federal agencies assisting or participating in the EOP. The EOP will also indicate the locations of the primary and secondary EOC. The secondary location for the EOC will be used in the event that they primary location of the EOC is damaged during the hurricane and can no longer be safely used to conduct emergency operations. The EOP will also indicate who will participate in the emergency operations and what role they will have throughout emergency operations, before, during and after the hurricane. This will help emergency managers better utilize the resources that will be available to them. This will also help emergency managers plan and execute emergency operations in a safe and protective manner. The goal of the emergency plan is to provide as much information as possible to the community before the hurricane makes land fall. During and after the hurricane mission is to save as many lives as possible. This will be done through conducting emergency operations, providing medical care to the injured and by establishing temporary shelters to people that have had to evacuate their homes. 2.Situation Brownsville, Texas is located in South Texas and is a city that is approximately 30 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. The cities or communities along the Gulf of Mexico coast line are vulnerable to a potential hurricane during hurricane season. Hurricane season normally starts on June 1st and ends on November 30th (Brownsville Herald, 2014). This is the time when tropical storms form out in the Gulf of Mexico. But not all storms that form are considered hurricanes. When a storm becomes a hurricane, they are considered very dangerous storms because they have the potential cause a lot of damage. This EOP is designed to be put into action in the event of a category 3 hurricane or higher threatens the city of Brownsville. A category 3 hurricane can bring rains that can last for a long period of time. This can cause floods in certain parts of the city, the high winds are also a major concern because â€Å"framed homes may incur major damage or removal of roof decking and gable ends (NOAA, 2013). These high winds can also break trees that can cause roads to be blocked for long periods of time. A category 3 or higher hurricane can also affect the electricity and running water in the city. This means that people in many communities  throughout the city can be left without running water or electricity for days. 3.Assumptions Assuming a category 4 hurricane in enroute to the Gulf of Mexico coast and it will directly affect the city of Brownsville, emergency managers have a plan in place to start warning the community of the threat the 4 hurricane poses. This is done by using the media and providing up to date information on the status of the hurricane. At least five days before the hurricane makes land fall emergency managers need to start providing the community with up to date information on the hurricane. This will include strength of the hurricane and the potential damage it will create. Emergency managers should make plans to conduct emergency operations for at least 24 to 48 hours after the hurricane makes land fall. This will include the first responder’s response time and evacuation operations if they are needed. Evacuating people from the local hospitals is a priority. At least five days before the hurricane makes landfall hospitals should need to contact and make arrangements for the hosp itals to be evacuated (DSHS.TX, 2013). 4.Concept of Operations The concept of emergency operations plan is to create a unified response to the threat of a category 4 hurricane. The will be done by creating establishing a chain of command that all agencies and private organizations can follow. The EOP will keep the community informed of any changes or any important information that they will need before, during and after the hurricane. The EOP will also establish a Unified Command Center where different agencies can work together with one common goal. The goal is to save and protect as many people as possible from the threat of hurricane. This can be done by providing early warning of the hurricane and establishing a chain of command. This is will also help emergency managers effectively us all the resources that they have at their disposal. The EOP will also establish a list of agencies and organizations that will be involved in the emergency planning and any operations during the disaster. 5.Organization and Assignment of Responsibilities The Brownsville Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security will be  the lead agency in charge of all emergency operations (OEMHS). OEMHS is responsible for planning and efforts to mitigate the effects of, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies and disasters whether natural or man-made (COB, 2011). The local, State and Federal agencies and private organizations that will be involved in the EOP will be: A.Brownsville Police Department B.Cameron County Sherriff’s Office C.Brownsville Public Works Department D.Texas Department of Public Safety E.Brownsville Fire Department F.United States Border Patrol G.United States Coast Guard H.Texas Army National Guard I.American Red Cross J.Local Hospitals K.Private Businesses These agencies are considered first responders and will play a very important role in the EOP. Each of these agencies will have specific mission and will provide assistance to the community as it is needed. The assistance can be anything from helping people evacuate from their home to assisting in the city evacuation route. Each agency will have a representative at the Unified Command Center. This means that all operations and assignments will be given to the first responders from the Unified Command Center. A.Brownsville Police Department The Brownsville Police Department will maintain a command post at the Brownsville Police Department. Their representative will coordinate any and all operations through the Unified Command Center. The Brownsville Police Department will also assist in closing street or roads that are considered dangerous or that might possibly flood. They will also maintain public order and ensure that the public stays away from areas that are considered dangerous. They will also enforce any curfews that are order by emergency managers. B.Cameron County Sherriff’s Office The Cameron County Sherriff’s Office will assist the Brownsville Police Department in enforcing road closers and any curfews that are set in place. They will also maintain a command post at the Sheriff’s Office. They will also maintain a command center at the Sherriff’s Office. This will help coordinate emergency operations and asses the needs of their officers. They will also assist in the evacuation of any people that are need of assistance. The Sherriff’s Office will also help identify disabled and elderly people that might need to be evacuated before or after the hurricane has made landfall. C.Brownsville Public Works Department Brownsville Public Works Department will in charge of placing closer sign around the city streets that have been identified as flood areas. They will also place signs on the highway that will identify the emergency evacuation routes. The Public Works Department will also be in charge of evaluating the damage to the roads and street in Brownsville after the hurricane has passed (COB, 2001). This will help emergency managers identify the streets that can be used during emergency operations and will also identify the streets that need to be fixed during recovery operations. They are also in charge of clearing the city’s drainage system. Clearing the drainage pipes is very important task, because it will help clear the water from some of the flooded areas. This will also help speed up the recovery operations around the city. They will also maintain an agency representative at the Unified Command Center to help coordinate any emergency operations within their agency. D.Texas Depart ment of Public Safety The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) will in charge of all evacuation routes (TXDOT, 2014). They will coordinate with city managers and establish an evacuation route 72 to 60 hours before the hurricane makes landfall (TXDPS, 2013). DPS will also coordinate with the city’s public works and coordinate the road closers along the highway. This will limit the access to the evacuation route to only controlled entry points. This will help DPS maintain control of the traffic coming in and out of the evacuation route. DPS will also coordinate with other law enforcement agencies in the area and will assign specific duties in regards to the evacuation routes. DPS will set of refueling station for vehicles that need gas along the  evacuation route. DPS will also have a representative at the Unified Command Center. They will also set up a command center at their main office, this will help them coordinate and support their operations. E.Brownsville Fire Department The Brownsville Fire Department (BFD) will play a very important role in any and all emergency operations. The BFD is highly training and equipped to handle any emergency. They have boats and breaching equipment that could be used to get people out of flooded areas. The BFD will also help establish a triage center that will help evaluate any injuries and help prioritize any medical emergencies. The will maintain personal in the Unified Command Center and will help coordinate with emergency operations from their main office. They will also assist as a liaison between the local hospitals in the immediate area. This will help evacuate the injured and facilitate operations in the triage center. F.United States Border Patrol The United States Border Patrol will maintain a show of force during all emergency operations in the Brownsville area. They will assist DPS with any and all evacuation operations and they will help enforce road closers throughout the city. This will establish a base of operations at their local Border Patrol Station and will respond to any emergency that might arise. The Border Patrol will also maintain a law enforcement presence in the city and the surrounding areas. The Border Patrol has the capability to respond to any emergency and can sustain law enforcement and emergency operations before, during and after the hurricane makes landfall. G.United States Coast Guard The United States Coast Guard will assist in the evacuation of people in the immediate and mandatory areas. They will also help supply small boats that the emergency responders can get into flooded areas. The Coast Guard will also maintain a representative at the Unified Command Center. H.Texas Army National Guard In the event that the Texas Army National Guard is needed, the Brownsville Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security will make a formal  request to the Governor’s Office. The Texas Army National Guard will be notified of their activation at least 72 hours before the hurricane makes landfall (TXDPS, 2013). The Texas Army National Guard will assist agencies evacuate people if needed. They will not assist in any enforcement operations as per State law. After the hurricane makes landfall they will assist in rescue operations and they will set up food and water distribution sites. Any medical personal will report to the triage center, they will then help treat and evaluate the injured. The Texas Army National Guard will coordinate with the Fire and Police Departments and will assist them in any rescue operations that they are needed in. The Texas Army National Guard can provide assistance with personal, equipment and air support. I.American Red Cross The American Red Cross and provide assistance in many different ways during a major emergency. In the event of a hurricane or any major disaster American Red Cross will be in charge of establishing shelters around the city of Brownsville. They will also register and keep track of the number of people at a shelter at any given time. They will also be in charge of distributing food, cloth and personal items to the people that need them. They will assist emergency managers set up food distribution locations throughout the city for emergency responders. They will provide assistance to people that been separated from their family members. This will help reunite families that have been separated during rescue or evacuation operations. J.Local Hospitals Brownsville has two main hospitals that will need to be kept informed of the statue of the hurricane. In the event of a category 4 hurricane the hospitals will shut down and will only take in emergency patients. This would be patients that need immediate medical attention or that have life threating injuries that need to be attended too. The two hospitals in the city of Brownsville are: †¢Valley Regional Medical Center is located at 100A E. Alton Gloor Bvd, Brownsville, Texas. †¢Valley Baptist Medical Center Brownsville is located at 1040 West Jefferson Brownsville, Texas K.Private Businesses In the event of a major disaster the Brownsville Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security will make arrangements with local businesses to coordinate supplies and equipment that might be needed during a hurricane. The business will provide food, water and any equipment that might be needed by first responders, for example pumps, generators and shovels. The OEMHS’s finance department will keep track of all the equipment and supplies that are received are ordered and received by private businesses. This will help keep track of what is being used and what supplies are needed. Any special equipment that needs to be ordered or requested will be done by the OEMHS’s finance department. This will help keep track of the money that is being spent. 6.Administration and logistics The Brownsville Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security will coordinate all emergency operations in the City of Brownsville. The Unified Command Center will have a team of representatives of each agency that are involved in emergency operations as well as representatives from the State and Federal government. The will get continuous updates of the situation and will make decisions on any issues. They will also provide logistical support to all emergency operations as it is needed. This means that they as they receive information or requests for any equipment or support the OEMHS will address this situation and take action. 7.Plan development and maintenance The OEMHS is responsible for developing the EOP in coordination with the agencies that will be involved in the plan. This means that the OEMHS will meet with the different agencies that will participate in the plan and address any issues they might have with the EOP. It is the responsibility of the OEMHS to keep the EOC updated. Every year there are changes to roads, hazards and other things that might affect emergency operations. It is the responsibility of the OEMHS to maintain the plan and to ensure that it is up to date. It is the responsibility of the OEMHS to coordinate training with the agencies involved. The OEMHS should also coordinate ensure that the city managers that will in charge of the EOP be certified and maintain their certification through FEMA. 8.Authorities The authorities that will be in charge of all emergency operations will be the Brownsville Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security. The OEMHS is responsible to address any and all jurisdictional issues that an agency might have. This EOC is designed to be used during a major hurricane but it is flexible and can be used for any other kind of disaster. Communications Communications is a very important part of the EOP. In the event of a major hurricane or any other kind of disaster, communications will play a very big part in emergency operations. During emergency operation all agencies involved will use TXLAW 1, as the primary radio frequency. This will ensure that all agency managers and team leader are able to communicate with the EOP. All agency dispatchers and agency managers will monitor TXLAW 1 throughout emergency operations. This will continue until all emergency operations have stopped or the agency in no longer participating in any emergency operations. If an agency does not have radios with the TXLAW1 frequency, the OEMHS will provide radios to the agency command post and team leaders during emergency operations. Radios will be provided to private organizations like the Red Cross that will set up staging areas, establish shelters and coordinate distributions site. Team leaders and managers will remain in contact with the Unified Command Center all times. In conclusion the EOP will establish guideline that emergency managers can follow. This will help them set up a structured chain of command and establish emergency operations in the event of a major disaster or hurricane. This plan is flexible and can be changed or modified as it is required for any disaster. It is very important the OEMHS provides continu es training and maintain the EOP up to date. This will ensure that emergency operations are conducted in a safe and productive manner. References Reagan, M., (2014, April 10) Early hurricane outlook predicts light season. The Brownsville Herald. Retrieved from

Theme of Escape in The Glass Menagerie Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Theme of Escape in The Glass Menagerie - Essay Example I traveled around a great deal †¦ I would have stopped, but I was pursued by something† (VII, 237). That something turns out to be the images and sounds of the sister he left behind. While Tom is now a member of the merchant marine and an accomplished traveler, living out the internal dreams of his youth in a way he had never thought possible, this outward show of personal dream fulfillment is revealed as little more than an illusion of its own. In truth, Tom’s heart remains trapped within the small apartment he shared with his mother and sister. Amanda attempts to live vicariously through her daughter and the future she envisions for her but is constantly disappointed. She indicates girls in her time â€Å"knew how to entertain their gentleman callers. It wasn’t enough for a girl to be possessed of a pretty face and a graceful figure – although I wasn’t slighted in either respect. She also needed to have a nimble wit and a tongue to meet all occasions† (I, 148). She continues to encourage Laura to hold out hopes for a good marriage. This starts with her own recitation of the quality of her suitors, â€Å"My callers were gentlemen – all! Among my callers were some of the most prominent young planters of the Mississippi Delta – planters and sons of planters† (I, 148). Yet this future based on the past will never happen. Laura is the only character permitted to live almost totally removed from the real world through her glass figures and old records. Laura’s habit of escaping backwards into childhood can be traced as she first dropped out of high school because she â€Å"made bad grades on my final examinations† (VII, 219) and then dropped out of business school: â€Å"I couldn’t go back there. I – threw up – on the floor!† (II, 155). She escapes instead into a romanticized world of early childhood. Her options have become

Macroeconomics Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Macroeconomics - Research Paper Example Demand for goods and services are related to the real interest rate which is nominal interest rate minus expected inflation, whereas nominal interest rate is the market rate quoted in the financial pages of the newspaper. In this case, interest rate is almost zero that means nominal interest should be equal to expected inflation and the expected inflation is about 2% per year which is justifiable, it indicates that nominal interest rate showing unacceptable growth, adequate amount of rise in the nominal interest rate can increase the real interest rate to a desirable level. Usually when interest rate falls, borrowing increasing and individual’s purchasing power increases and so does the demand for goods and services, but if unemployment is very high and an economy is facing low GDP growth per year than shows the imbalance in the economy. According to the Philips curve, wages increases rapidly when unemployment is low and wages increases slowly when unemployment is low therefor e the government and the firms should raise wage rate to attract scarce workforce to increase the national production which will eventually increase the demands for produced goods and services. According to Okun’s law, a percentage increase in unemployment causes a 2% fall in real GDP, whereas in this case unemployment is very high, which is one the major reason of GDP downfall (Hall, 2011). Currently inflation is not matching the level of employment and GDP rate, therefore Fed and the government should increase the wage rate and decrease income tax rate to an acceptable level to encourage the spending which might result in increased demands for good and services and will eventually increase the national production, the government should also increase the subsidize the national production and increase import duty so national products will be preferred over international products (Hall, 2011). Conclusion By increasing nominal interest rate with a justifiable amount, by leverag ing wage rates and the local production, and by increasing import duty; the Fed and the government will be able to stabilize the economy and the balance of payment, the economy will grow at justifiable rate, the unemployment will decrease and the national production will increase while maintaining the inflation rate of about 2% which is quite justifiable. Part 2: Introduction Amendments in legislation and regulations were not the only causes of 2008 financial crises, changes in monetary and fiscal policy also contributed to the crises. The Federal Reserve dropped its federal funds rate very quickly to a very low rate, and kept the rate at historic lows for an extended period of time. Secondly the US deficit has increased its borrowing from foreign sources, especially from emerging countries such as China which are enjoying economic surplus. Contribution of monitory and fiscal policy in the causes of financial crises To eliminate the effect of the collapse of the technology equity bu bble and the terrorist attack on Twin Tower on September 11, 2001 on the economy; Fed chairman Greenspan injected low-interest rates below held guidelines which was an attempt to instill huge amount of liquidity in the US monetary system which actually resulted in lowering the interest rate by 2003 to 1%, the decided interest rate by Fed breaks the record of fifty years, that

Fair trade for the developing countries Research Paper

Fair trade for the developing countries - Research Paper Example Fair trade mainly exists in developing countries and it targets specific areas, for instance, the Handicrafts, Coffee Industry, Tea Industry etc, it does so in order to make sure that the workers and the producers are benefitted and their economic stature improves by participating in Fair trade. To understand the concept better, its principles should be well understood and they are as follows:â€Å"Creating opportunities for economically disadvantaged producers, Fair trade is a strategy for poverty alleviation and sustainable development. Its purpose is to create opportunities for producers who have been economically disadvantaged or marginalized by the conventional trading system.† The most important principle of Fair trade is to ensure that there are ample opportunities provided to the producer, the sole aim of Fair trade is to ensure the well being of the workers and the producers and in this process the first is to provide opportunities to the producer because only when th e producer has opportunities, it can be passed on to the workers.â€Å"Transparency and accountability, Fair trade involves transparent management and commercial relations to deal fairly and respectfully with trading partners.† Another important principle of Fair trade is to make sure transparency exists in every activity initiated by it, in the sense that every activity initiated by Fair trade should be without any fusses and problems, fair rules and policies are followed hence ensuring the economic and financial safety of the producer.

American Government Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

American Government - Research Paper Example History of same sex marriages is young. In 1993, the Supreme Court of Hawaii ruled in favor of same sex marriages, as their rights were denied to them on the basis of their sex and not sexual orientation (NYT 2012). Though Hawaii defined by law that marriage is to be between a man and a woman only, conservatives across the country lobbied (NYT 2012). In 1996, Congress passed the Defense of Marriage Act, which denied federal benefits to married people of the same sex and authorized states to neglect gay marriages sanctioned in other states (NYT 2012). Same sex marriage is still illegal at the federal level, though practiced by several states. The Massachusetts Supreme Court in 2004 ruled that the same sex marriage is legal in the State of Massachusetts (NYT 2012). Since then, a few other states followed the suit: New York, Connecticut, Iowa, New Hampshire, Vermont and Washington, D.C. (NYT 2012). It was not until 2012 when Vice President Biden publicly stated that he supported same sex marriages that President Obama decided to push for same sex marriages to be legalized in the USA (NYT 2012). In 2011, President Obama â€Å"directed the Justice Department to  stop defending the Defense of Marriage Act† (NYT 2012).    Though some states legalized same sex marriages, the refusal to acknowledge these marriages is not a violation in other states. According to the Article IV of the US Constitution, the Full Faith and Credit Clause, states must respect each other’s laws (Sachs 1203). However, under the Defense of Marriage Act this is no longer true. This act excuses states from being in compliance with laws of other states with regard to same sex marriages. According to Sachs, states can do so as long as the laws of other states conflict with their own, important national interests (1205). Since Congress did not clearly state under what conditions states must comply with other’s states’ laws, the Full Faith and

Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) - Research Paper Example Most common form of congenital heart diseases is defects in septation, atrial septal defects, ventricular septal defects, stenotic valvular lesions or coronary artery abnormalities (Schoen and Mitchell, 2009). Ventricular septal defects are the most common congenital defects occurring in the human heart.   Ã‚  Defect at the level of ventricle i.e. inter ventricular septum is called ventricular septal defect (VSD). It occurs in 1 of every 500 live births. The main pathology in a septal defect is that left ventricular pressure is higher than the right ventricular pressure resulting in blood flowing from left to right and pulmonary blood flow increases. Clinically ventricular septal defects can be divided into small, medium and large. A small VSD is asymptomatic, a medium VSD presents with fatigue, cardiac enlargement and audible apex beat, whereas, a large VSD presents with pulmonary hypertension (Kumar and Clark, 2009). Hemodynamics  is an important part of the cardiovascular system as it deals with the  forces  that pump the heart. Hemodynamics in an individual with congenital malformation is affected due to the defect. The factors affecting the hemodynamics of a ventricular septal defect are the size of the ventricular defect, pressure changes in right and left ventricular chambers and the pulmonary resistance. A ventricular septal defect may not be evident at the birth of a child because the pressure in the right and left ventricles is equal and there is no shunting. As the pressure between the two ventricles starts to change, shunting also correspond and the ventricular defect becomes clinically evident. These changes do not apply to a patient of Down syndrome in which pulmonary resistance changes do not lead to signs of VSD. In VSD the shunt volume is linked to the size of the defect in the ventricle and the pulmonary vascular resistance. If the ventricular defect is not accompanied by

Inovation 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Inovation 2 - Essay Example In addition to that, the model looks very stylish and conforms to the modernistic standards and trends of furniture. This product was introduced to the market through an entrepreneurship approach, though the product itself was intrapreneurial. The workstation was developed by a student in his research that made part of his Masters program. When he developed the model in the research, it was introduced to the market through his university because the research had become the property of his university when his degree was conferred. This approach had many advantages for both the intrapreneur and the entrepreneur. The approach saved intrapreneur all the cost of launch and advertisement. On the other hand, the gained credit for the model developed by the intrapreneur. However, such organizations as universities do not as such launch a product. Instead, the research makes part of their library and is only consulted when required by the future researchers. When entrepreneurship is used to l aunch an intrapreneurial product: Launching an intrapreneurial product using an entrepreneurship approach is quite advantageous for both the intrapreneur and the entrepreneur in many ways. ... Poor planning becomes the root cause of most product launches that fail to bring the desired results to the entrepreneurs. In order to make a launch successful, the business entrepreneurs need to have certain skills. They have to gain education on methods that have historically proven to be successful. The best source of knowledge is people with past experience. Entrepreneurs need to consult them for launching strategies. Experienced entrepreneurs can offer good advice to reduce the cost of launching. In order to make the launch effective, it is imperative that it is given sufficient time. Rushing the process can make it meaningless. Since the product is intrapreneurial, the intrapreneurs must have conducted sufficient research to develop innovative product because they have to secure their job. If they develop faulty product, their own career is endangered. Therefore, in this approach, there is little to no risk of faulty design, though entrepreneurs are themselves responsible for t he marketing and advertisement of the product which is just as critical and important as the product’s design. The entrepreneurs assume risk of marketing, and also have to invest in it, thus assuming financial risk as well. Organizational assets like logistics are involved and the payment is made by the entrepreneur. When intrapreneurship is used to launch an entrepreneurial product: In many ways, it goes in the favor of entrepreneurs to adopt an intrapreneurial approach to launch their products. Company’s staff is the most concerned about the successful launch of the product because it is not only the matter of the company’s success, but it also plays a decisive role in

The Impact of Socio-economic Status on Student Achievement and Essay

The Impact of Socio-economic Status on Student Achievement and possible Intervention. Focus Australian education - Essay Example One may ask, why focus on early childhood education? It has been proven in numerous studies that the early years of any child’s life have a formative impact on their learning, development, future health as well as well-being. This forms the justification for this paper. It begins by exploring what exactly ECEC is in various contexts. It then goes on to give a background of the issue, highlighting various theories and schools of thought on the subject. Next, it discusses the Early Childhood Education and Care sector in the Australian context. In this section, the paper also highlights the different ECEC service types, particularly LDC, FDC, OSHC, IHC, preschool, Occasional care as well as the non-mainstream ECEC services. Next, it goes on to discuss the problems hindering the provision of quality ECEC services in Kenya. It then goes ahead to explain the role of Government in the provision of high quality education in general, and in ECEC sector in particular, with a focus on ho w Government intervention affects disadvantaged children. Then, the paper goes into highlighting the specific roles of the Australian as well as State and Territory governments in the ECEC sector, and how regulation can ensure the provision of high-quality ECEC services to all children, regardless of their family background. Introduction The level of student success in today’s education context is determined by a wide range of factors. This paper seeks to focus on the socio-economic status as a factor in student achievement, with a focus on the Early Childhood Education and Care sector in Australia. It is proven that the early years of any child’s life have a formative impact on their learning, development, future health as well as well-being. If the child is exposed to positive experiences in their formative years, it will also have positive outcomes in their future (Waldfogel, 2007). Research has revealed that, despite its importance, the level of quality of ECEC ser vices may not be as high as it ought to be. This is mainly caused by disjointed policy approaches and information asymmetry among other factors. These issues have been discussed in more detail further into the paper. However, the government of any nation has a responsibility to ensure that the quality of ECEC services to all the state’s children, regardless of economic background, as the adequate provision of this has bearing on economic development through adequate workforce participation (Smart, Sanson, Baxter, Edwards and Hayes, 2008). Definition of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Waldfogel (2007) reveals that early childhood education can simply be defined as the process of administering formal teaching and care of children by people who are not part of their family, or is outside their respective home setting. Early childhood refers to the age before normal schooling, that is, between birth and five years of age. However, this definition varies between differen t nations: for example, the United States National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) defines early childhood as before the age of eight (Waldfogel, 2007). Background A child’s needs in the early years are very different from those of older children. This is because early childhood sees the greatest growth and development. The stages are such that the brain develops

United States Constitution Essay Example for Free

United States Constitution Essay In May 1787, the oldest federal Constitution was framed by a gathering of the 12 State delegates. The four-month convention was headed by George Washington that eventually resulted to the drafting of the first federal constitution. The said Constitution went into effect on the first Wednesday in March 1789. First Amendment of the United States Constitution â€Å"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. † The First Amendment freedoms are largely in threat when the administration seeks to justify its laws, or control thought for that unacceptable end. The freedom to think is the foundation of freedom, and speech must be guarded from the government since speech is the foundation of thought. In the earlier jurisprudence of Whitney v. California, 274 U. S. 357 (1927), United States Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis wrote in his decision that â€Å"Men feared witches and burnt women. It is the function of speech to free men from the bondage of irrational fears. † The citizens of the country shall not be abridged or divested of their right to speak, right to write, or the right to publish their opinions; and the liberty of the press, as one of the massive barricades of freedom, shall not be violated. More than the constitutional safeguard, the First Amendment is one of the country’s primary cultural and normative symbols. It reflects very important features of the American character and is the foundation of the country’s independence. Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution â€Å"The right of the people to b secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. † The right is maintained sacred and inexpressible in all occurrences where it has not been abridged or taken away by some public law for the good of all. Every incursion of private property, be it ever so slight, is considered a trespass. It is a fundamental rule in our justice system today that no person can set foot upon another person’s ground without the latter’s authorization; otherwise he will be liable to the encroachment though the harm be nothing (U. S. Government Printing Office, n. d. , p. 1287). Individuals who have had their privacy invaded or have been unlawfully arrested will generally have a tort action on hand under common or State statutory law. It is therefore advisable that police officers must, whenever possible, acquire advance judicial authorization of searches and seizures through a procedure of warrant. On the other hand a police officers performing under colour of state law who infringe an individual’s Fourth Amendment rights are subject to a legal complaint for damages and other remedies in federal courts under a civil rights statute. However, police officers have existing accustomed common-law justifications, most significant of which is the allegation of good faith. Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution â€Å"No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation. † All people are extended with the protection of indictment by grand jury except those serving in the armed forces. Regular armed forces personnel are subject to court martial instead of trial by jury or grand jury indictment. A person can be tried only upon the indictment as established by the grand jury, and particularly upon the indictment’s language established in the instrument’s charging part. Primary function of grand juries is their investigative role, which is presented generally through the summons they served the witnesses and requiring the latter the production of evidence and testimony (Find Law, 2008, n. p. ). Conversely the constitutional prohibition against double jeopardy is intended to safeguard a person from being placed to the exposures of trial and potential conviction more than once for an alleged crime. The State with all its power and resources should not be tolerated to make repeated efforts to convict an individual for an alleged offence, thereby exposing him to shame, ordeal and expense and requiring him to live in a continuing condition of insecurity and anxiety as well as increasing the potentiality that even though innocent he may be declared guilty. Self-incrimination is rooted on the maxim â€Å"nemo tenetur seipsum accusare,† or simply means that â€Å"no man is bound to accuse himself† (Find Law, 2008, n. p. ). The privilege was designed to safeguard the innocent and to promote the search for truth. The exclusive concern of the right against self-incrimination is with the risk to a witness compelled to offer testimony leading to the infliction of punishments attached to the criminal acts. Finally, property which is owned privately shall not be taken by the government for a public use without just compensation. It was intended to prevent Government from forcing some people to single-handedly put up with public burdens which, in all justice and fairness, should be borne by the whole public. Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution â€Å"In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence. † This guarantee can be attributed to the upholding of the rights of and prevention of injuries to both society and defendants. The provision is a significant protection to deter oppressive and undue imprisonment previous to trial, to reduce concern and anxiety accompanying public accusation and to minimize the potentiality that long postponement will weaken the capacity of an accused to protect himself. The right of an accused to confront the witnesses against him is to avoid depositions of ex parte affidavits being employed against the accused in lieu of a cross-examination and personal examination of the witness in which the accused has a chance of testing and straining the conscience and recollection of the witness. The confrontation would also oblige the witness to stand in person with the jury in order that the latter may look at the witness, and evaluate the witness’ conduct upon the manner and the stand in which the testimony is offered. The provision which affords the defendant the right to legal process is designed to compel witnesses to appear during the trial. The right to present the statement of witnesses, and to require their attendance, if essential, is in simple terms the right to present a defence, the right to present each of the defendant and prosecution’s side of the facts to the jury so it may make a decision where the truth lies. Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution â€Å"Section. 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. Section. 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State. Section. 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability. Section. 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void. Section. 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article. † Section one prevents the United States Government from expatriating United States citizens against their will. Once citizenship is acquired, it cannot be diluted, cancelled, or shifted at the will of the States, the Federal Government, or any other government unit. However, citizens of the United States within the implication of the provision must be natural persons and not artificial persons as the latter is a corporate body which is not a citizen of the country. Section two creates rules for the allocation of Representatives in Congress to States, necessarily counting all inhabitants for apportionment and decreasing apportionment if a state wrongfully disallows a person his right to vote. Nevertheless, the provision calling for the House representation’s proportional decreases for States that disallowed men 21 and older the right to vote was by no means implemented, notwithstanding the fact that Southern States prevented several Blacks from voting before the passage in 1965 of the Voting Rights Act. Section two was the consequential settlement as it placed Southern States to a choice; that is enfranchise Black voters or lose representation in congress. The said section presents a special remedy of reducing representation in order to alleviate a particular form of electoral exploitation of disenfranchisement of Blacks. Section three avoids the appointment or election to any State or federal office of any person who had assumed any of certain offices and thereafter engaged in treason, insurrection, or rebellion. Nevertheless, a two-thirds vote by Congress can reverse the said restriction. On the other hand Section four validated that neither the United States or any other State would compensate damages for the loss of slaves, or amount outstanding that had been incurred by the Confederacy. Conclusion The United States Constitution has been amended to incorporate a list of rights collectively identified as the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights plays an essential role in American government and law, and remains a central symbol of the culture and freedoms of the nation. Clearly, the United States Constitution is designed to safeguard the country’s administration of justice and every citizen’s fundamental securities. Reference Find Law. (2008). Indictment by Grand Jury. Retrieved September 5, 2008, from http://caselaw. lp. findlaw. com/data/constitution/amendment05/01. html#1 Find Law. (2008). Self-Incrimination. Retrieved September 5, 2008, from http://caselaw. lp. findlaw. com/data/constitution/amendment05/07. html#1 U. S. Government Printing Office. (n. d. ). Fourth Amendment. Retrieved September 5, 2008, from www. gpoaccess. gov/constitution/pdf2002/022. pdf

The Race Relations Act 1976

The Race Relations Act 1976 Introduction A major factor affecting the delivery of the curriculum in Further Education is rooted in the inequalities resultant from perceived racial and ethnic differences. These are very often based on preconceived notions, usually ill informed, about the beliefs and practices of different racial and ethnic groups. Over the past few years there has been a small but sustained increase, year on year in the racial mix of potential learners applying to start engineering courses. My practice involves the delivery of the engineering curriculum to learners at levels one to three; the make-up of all these groups reflects the general trend in the increase in racial mix. Therefore, the primary reason for investigating this topic was to discover the real impact of the increasing diversity and how the legislation is being used to underpin the values described in the Race Relations Act 1976, how they affect College operation (in respect of Oaklands College) and how teaching practice is affected. In this report, the intention is to set out the background to the Act and investigate its effect on the further education sector with particular reference to Oaklands College and then to discuss the implications for the teacher in the classroom or workshop. The Policy The Race Relations Act 1976 (RRA) and the Race Equality document that supports this and how Oaklands College is implementing it. Values behind the Policy The Race Relations Act came into being in 1976, when it was recognised that the existing legislation was weak and had little beneficial effect on the lives of racial minority groups. The underpinning values of the new regulations were, the elimination of racial discrimination, the promotion of equality of opportunity and the promotion of harmonious relations between peoples of different ethnic and racial groups. These are the values, which the majority of British people purportedly avow allegiance; however, they are very much tested by the strength of popular perception which is, as always far more powerful than the truth. A situation not aided by the popular press who take every opportunity to terrify the population by visions of the impending end of the British way of life, overwhelmed by a tsunami of immigrants from all parts of the world. Thus the need to overtly promote the values is even more heavily underscored and even more necessary. To understand how legislation affects operations in Further Education, it is essential to understand some definitions of aspects of discrimination as described in the Act. The 1976Act divides discrimination into four broad areas; direct discrimination, indirect discrimination, harassment and victimisation. Below are some examples and definitions, which illustrate the meaning of each of these categories. An example of direct discrimination would be to set tighter assignment deadlines to black learners only. A good example of indirect discrimination is the enforcement of a no headgear rule; this could be seen to exclude Sikhs, who wear turbans, Jewish men wearing yarmulke or Muslim women wearing the hijaab. In practice, if a class contains one or more learners in these groupings plus learners from a majority group who insist on wearing baseball caps, the law would apply if only the baseball cap wearers were asked to doff their headgear. Harassment on racial grounds is treated the same as direct discrimination because there is a detrimental effect on the victims dignity or it creates an intimidating or hostile environment. Victimisation concerns people whom have made or intend to make a complaint in respect of racial discrimination and includes any person supporting the complaint. The Act forbids any unfavourable treatment of people in either of these circumstances. The Commission for racial Equality (CRE, which in 2007was incorporated into The Equality and Human Rights Commission.) issued a Code Of practice (COP), which placed specific duties on schools, colleges and universities. These duties primarily required colleges to publish a policy statement, which actively promoted racial equality. Guidance from the CRE included a number of points, which the college policy was bound to address: Arrangements to assess the impact of the policy on staff as well as learners. Ongoing monitoring of the effects of the policy in terms of admissions. The progress and success rates from differing ethnic and racial groups. Arrangements to publish the findings of the ongoing monitoring on an annual basis. Implications for Institution and professional practice 1. The Institution In 2004 Oaklands College issued an Equality and Diversity Policy (EDP) in which it corporately â€Å"Welcomes diversity, recognises values, celebrates and respects the many different contributions and needs of our learners, staff and the communities we serve† (i) As required by the Act, the policy sets out a strategy, operational outcomes and responsibilities for implementation and lists supporting policies and procedures. The Race Relations Policy (RRP) is named as one of these supporting policies. Included is a means of ongoing review, which is the work of the Equal Opportunities Committee of the Academic Board. The committee reports to the board on a termly basis and produces a report of its machinations annually. (ii) Data included in the report is produced retrospectively and is usually only available until after a whole year is passed. The broad thrust of the Race Relations Policy is to promote inter-racial awareness, mutual respect and the valuing of the diverse ethnicity of all staff and learners. The policy includes a requirement for all staff to be trained and be made aware of the methods of implementation of the Policy. It was anticipated that initially such training would be provided at induction and thereafter be refreshed at regular intervals. This is, however, not mandatory after the induction training and though training sessions are provided, these are not compulsory and attendance is very much at the whim of the individual. In terms of promotion of the values, much college material is created to take into account the differences in its audience. This is also true in the way that the college advertises to the general public, in a way that hopefully attracts a widely diverse learner body by projecting the image of a multi-cultural establishment in tune with modern, diverse communities. The main page of the College has easily accessible links to an overview of learner support available, including ESOL and the International page also has links leading to information essential to the potential overseas learner as well a guide to the local area. All in English. 2. Professional practice The effects of racial legislation in the classroom or workshop are best examined by illustration using two real scenarios. Firstly, a level one group, fifteen strong, is undertaking a largely practical course in engineering fundamentals. Three learners in this group are of the Muslim faith. Their backgrounds are racially diverse, one black of Ugandan origin, one is Bangladeshi and the third is a Lebanese from Beirut. All three have vastly different characters due partly to the natural diversity of human beings, their common Muslim faith and their national origins. Secondly, a level three group, also fifteen strong is engaged on a level three national Diploma course has a very broad racial and ethnic diversity. The group includes the following. An Israeli, an Afghan refugee, a Ukrainian, a Romanian, four Afro Caribbeans and the remainder white-British. Immediately we see racial differences that have the potential for giving rise to tensions or even conflict. In dealing with the three Muslims in the level one group, their needs are very much governed by their racial and faith backgrounds. The society values of each individual within the group will be quite different. Think of the Ugandan, the Bangladeshi and the Lebanese, all Muslim yet all quite different with different individual needs. Yet the Race Relations Act of 1976 demands that each group or individual within a majority group must be given equality of opportunity. Here also there is a case for differentiation extending beyond that required in terms of learning styles alone. The big danger here is the perception of the majority grouping that another individual or minority group is receiving preferential treatment and is thereby gaining an unfair advantage. (Outside the education world a similar principle is bringing about the rise of the BNP in some working class communities) The majority group could realistically argue that the differentiation applied to the minority group, could be contrary to the principles of the RRA, paradoxically just what the strategy set out to avoid. The level three group is potentially more volatile in terms of possible conflict, although to date no problems of this nature have been encountered. More to the point are the strategies that can be employed to promote good relations and equal opportunities, since these two values do not always sit happily together. With such a diverse group, it could be envisaged that language would be the primary barrier to equality of opportunity. The quietness of the Romanian learner at first gave rise to some doubt, but rapidly dispelled on the production of assessable work. The Ukrainian, although born in that country has spent the majority of his life in this country, the Israeli likewise. The only issue in this regard concerns the Afghani refugee. This learner has fairly fluent spoken English and reasonable command of the written. However, this learner does have some difficulty with certain specialist, technical terminology. Support in this regard is provided upon request and ESOL type support is being provided via the International Office. In general, the College calendar is constructed with the major Christian festival in mind as well as conforming to the traditions of the British academic year. With the annual rise in ethnic diversity, it is now important to recognise the festivals and observances of other religions. A Muslim learner, for instance who is not available for college on a Friday, could be provided with personal support, guidance and of course will have access to any learning materials placed on the VLE. Another possibility is that the date of an assessment could be adjusted in order that Muslim learners are not assessed during Ramadan. An ideal time to promote racial and ethnic harmony is the tutorial session, which the majority of learners have allocated. Unfortunately support materials for the specific purposes of supporting racial equality sessions are limited to two activities only. Conclusion. Oaklands College is bound by law to implement the requirements of the RRA1976. However, the advantages are manifold in real terms. If equality of opportunity is achieved, then it naturally follows that success rates will improve and with it the reputation of the college as an excellent place to learn. None of this can happen without compliance. A foundation block of this is the classroom or workshop, where finely tuned strategies are essential for the promotion of racial harmony. Teaching staff, who are the main point of contact for the student, must therefore be cognisant of the requirements of the Act, which places a very pertinent emphasis on ongoing training. For prospective students especially those from minority ethnic groups, it is essential that their first impression of the College is of a place where they will receive absolute equality of opportunity. Experience has shown that that race relations and observance of the requirements of the RRA1976 is no longer only a question of colour, the recent influx from eastern Europe brings with it further challenges, in respect of language, customs and religious observances. Though many come skilled into the British workplace, retraining to British standards (here we think of electricians) will mean that there will be an increasing number of students for whom language could present a barrier to their opportunity. It can be seen that while Oaklands College implements the letter of the Act in many ways, there remain several areas where the spirit of the legislation is forgotten, or at least relegated to insignificance. In view of investigations, it is recommended that the following points be addressed The college pays more real attention to the requirements of the act in that it makes the RRP more accessible. Currently the RRP is only listed in the EDP and only accessible via the quality folder on the Curriculum drive. Staff training should become more regular and mandatory, that is, positively timetabled for every member of staff. Changing the college calendar in recognition of festivals and observances of religions other than Christian. (Days off for the Sabbaths of all Abrahamic religions?) Making available more, relevant support materials to promote racial equality of opportunity for use in tutorial sessions. References: Oaklands College Equality and diversity policy, Oaklands College, issued 2006 http://intranet.oaklands.ac.uk/docs/CorpPil-EAD%20-%20Equality%20%20Diversity%20Policy.doc 24/10/2007 at 0915 Annual report on Equality and Diversity Oaklands College Curriculum drive, Quality, All Staff only Bibliography 1. The Race Relations Act 1976 http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/legResults.aspx?LegType=All+Legislationtitle=Race+Relations+ActYear=1976searchEnacted=0extentMatchOnly=0confersPower=0blanketAmendment=0TYPE=QSNavFrom=0activeTextDocId=2059995PageNumber=1SortAlpha=0 Accessed 17/11/2007 at 1500 2. The duty to promote race equality A GUIDE FOR FURTHER AND HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS (Non-statutory) http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/Documents/Race/Education/The%20duty%20to%20promote%20race%20equality%20a%20guide%20for%20further%20and%20higher%20education%20institutions.rtf Accessed 25/11/2007 at 0730 3. Statutory CODE OF PRACTICE ON THE DUTY TO PROMOTE RACE EQUALITY http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/Documents/Race/Public%20sector/Race%20equality%20duty/Specific%20duties/Code%20of%20Practice%20on%20the%20Race%20Equality%20Duty.rtf Accessed 18/11/2007 at 2315 4. Race Relations Act 1976 and the Race Relations Amendment Act 2000 http://ljmu.ac.uk/EOU/EOUDocs/summary_Race_Relations_Act_1976_and_the_Race_Relations_Amendment_Act_2000.doc Accessed 18/11/2007 at 2130