Is mass tourism good for Kenya? Essay

Mass tourism is tourism on a large scale, involving large numbers of visitors resulting in great concentrations of hotels and other tourist facilities. Countries which are mass tourist hotspots tend to be in the Development or Consolidation stages of the Butler Life Cycle Model. Kenya has recently become a major tourist destination for a variety of reasons. Kenya is located in mid-eastern Africa, meaning that it has a tropical climate. However, due to its elevation, the temperature tends to be moderate, meaning that the country is very attractive to British tourists. In addition to this, Kenya, being a former British colony, has long-standing ties to Britain, and as a result of this, a large quantity of the Kenyan population can speak English, meaning that Kenya is an even more accessible holiday option for the British people. This, in combination with the Kenya being situated on the Great Rift Valley, resulting in stunning scenery and diverse wildlife makes Kenya an even more attractive tourist destination. Because of this, Tourism is the largest income earner in Kenya, creating many jobs such as for hotel staff, waiters in restaurants and bartenders at bars, airport staff and tour operators, who all make a living off tourism, and in turn, the government can earn more money off taxes from these people, and also, increased business means that the government can earn more from airport tax. This puts in place a positive multiplier effect meaning that the influx of 11% of all paid employment in Kenya is in the tourism sector and 21% of foreign exchange earnings in Kenya are also due to tourism. Furthermore, some of this money gained from tourism, as well as donations from tourists are used to protect endangered wildlife in reserves such as the Masai Mara reserve and is used to fund the building of infrastructure in places such as Bamburi Nature Trail near the tourist hotspot Mombasa and to aid the development of medical facilities and schools in the area. Increased tourism in the area also promotes awareness and understanding of the culture and endangered wildlife in the game reserves. Tourism also brings business to other related economic sectors and is overall beneficial to Kenya’s economy. However, there are also some downsides. Many of the jobs created are poorly paid, unreliable and only get business during popular months. In addition, much of the money from tourism is lost via leakage to the large business hotel operators, package holiday organisers and airlines, and therefore, only 15% of the income actually reaches Kenya. In nature reserves and game parks, there are many negative environmental and social impacts of mass tourism. The vehicles that the tourists travel in often overcrowd the small dirt roads and the tour drivers often drive too close to the animals, causing damage to the grasslands and disturbing the animals’ living patterns. Moreover, to make way for the tourist areas, the Masai tribespeople have been evicted from their ancient homelands and moved to the less fertile, low quality land, which is a direct negative social impact of the Kenyan efforts to promote tourism. As a result of this, the Masai people have had to resort to methods of illegal smuggling and forceful money-grabbing techniques to earn money from the tourists. They have set up fake villages with the people doing fake traditional routines, charging tourists to visit them and even charging them for photos. Because these national parks are such attractive tourist destinations, they also result in overcrowding, as 90% of tourists visit the south and east of Kenya, resulting in an even larger impact and strain on the environment, infrastructure and resources in the area. In popular tourist seaside resorts such as Mombasa, swimsuit-wearing tourists wander about the streets, acting as a direct opposition to the strong Muslim following’s clothing traditions and beliefs. In addition to this, seaside tourists trample over the coral reefs in the area, killing the sensitive coral, and the increasing number of tour boats in the area drop their anchors onto the reef, further damaging it. Overall, I would say that Mass Tourism is not good for Kenya. Although the economic bonus is significant, and undoubtedly beneficial to Kenya, at this stage, despite efforts to make tourism more sustainable and environmentally-friendly, the large numbers of negative environmental and social impacts results in Mass Tourism in Kenya not being good for the country in the long term.

Education for illegal immigrant children Essay

Each year there are uncountable numbers if students who face numerous problems to attain the higher education,as of higher out state fees and negative prospects for employment.north Carolina education authority estimate about fifteen hundred children of illegal immigrants graduate from high school each year. These students have fewer opportunities for higher education and piles pf barriers to attend a college with out in state fees. The urban institute estimate that each year about 65 thousand children of illegal immigrants who live in the U.S for five years or longer graduate high schools. Among them many students are not allowed to attain higher education of being undocumented ans some could not pay fees as not being in state fees applied to them. The dream act will show a path to those illegal immigrants and children of illegal immigrant to make themselves legalize and who are in U.S. Since years or whom are brought young by their parents as well as whom are born here spend their most of the lives here. It will also make provision which limits the way in which state wish to provide in state tuition to undocumented residents, may structure such laws, by requiring them to provide the same benefits to eligible students who do not reside in this state. But, although the Dream Act eliminates the barriers, it does not bind the states to provide in state tuition to any undocumented immigrants. Therefore the each state need to determine either they are providing in state fees to the children of illegal immigrants or not. Maryland state analyst estimated the adverse effects of this legislation will increase in the enrollment and mandatory education funding, but on the other hand , it will cost the state an extra $ 800,000 by fiscal 2012 and $ 3.5 million by fiscal 2014. The students should sign an affidavit stating that they will seek permanent status within 30 days of becoming the law k-12. This service is provided in some states , but in other states universities and colleges are charging almost the double charge for the out of state students. In 1996, Federal law mandates that if in state rates are  given to illegals, those rates to be given to applicants of every states in U.S. Federal law. In 2008 report by the center of policy e ntrepreneurship (CPE), one of the few studies that have been released , many states have not yet analyzed the effects, most statistics do not specifically track data for the unauthorized immigrants. Tuition fees laws has boosted college enrollment rates and many have reduced high school dropout rates which indicates a better work force for U.S in the future. Among all. Texas has the largest increased enrollment since making its tuition benefit law in 2001. According to the Texas higher education co-ordination board , students benefits total in 9062, in 2007-2008 out of 1.1 million students enrolled in Texas public college and universities. CPE reports conclude that there are no negative fiscal impacts in states after implementing the in state tuition benefits. A few states conclude their decision as unknown and some others claim loss because of different between in state and out state. The student who takes advantage of in state tuition is already fell on the group in which government has invested its money , which will come back to government on future as tax . Today’s global economy needs more and more knowledgeable and skill full workers which will be multi-lingual and multi-cultural to be complete set of innovators and intellectual force within the entire world. Universities presidents and education associations and many socia l activists have urged the congress to pass the Dream Act which supports the in state. More than immigrants will get access to higher education which help large number if future tax payers which contribute the country to invest them by providing in state tuition. This could play significant amounts of tax for the strong economy of us. The state and government must fair to the children of illegal immigrant as they must not be punished for their parents deeds. In some cases the students are so intelligent , hard working and goal oriented with high academic grades but they don’t realize that they are in process of applying to institutes , that they will not able to attend. It is not made free but discounted as U.S economy is in the shoulder of youths so, if they are well educated then the country economy will boost automatically. Educated youth attains professional jobs that helps to reduce the burdens of social service budgets and higher earners will pay subsequent amount of tax that contributes overall economy. Providing in state fees to illegal aliens makes legally  applying international students are suckers from not becoming an illegal aliens. College entrance are limited thus each state should provide direct competition within ill egal aliens. The revenue of universities and colleges will be loss if all illegal aliens are given in state tuition fees. So every person and child deserve better education and equal opportunities. They can make their life mush easier and make themselves more competitive. As in this case every individual should get equal education by the Equal Education Act of U.S. It is unfair to those children whom are although being sharp and strong desire to study couldn’t able to fulfill their desire. As in this issues some states are providing in state tuition fees to those students which make them capable to complete in this competitive market but due to lack of documents they aren’t able to attend colleges. This situation seems totally unfair and unethical to the children’s for their parents deeds. Though ,there are controversies and issues but it seems to have clear provision by the federal law of us to get higher education to the children of illegal immigrants which does not cause as loss as people believes . So, we believe that all peoples should must get equal opportunity and education for overall development and to make life much advanced as possible. That’s why government should think and act seriously about the federal act of U.S. Children of illegal immigrant should get in state tuition fee on the college and equal education opportunity and vice versa. WORK CITED PAGE Los Angles times :A path to college , Nov. 17 2010 New York Times : Dreaming of Reform , Estimating the impact of the Dream Act by Steven A. Camarota In state tuition for Md. Illegal immigrant on table by David Hill – the Washington Times Colorado Alliance for immigration reforms National immigrant law centre Federation for american immigrant reform ( taxpayers should not subsidize college for illegal aliens)

Human Resource Essay

The paper would revolve around the discussion done over the concern regarding the rising wages of labor along with the decline in the supply of labor from China, which was previously considered to be the hub of labors from where the labor was supplied to other countries at a cheaper cost. Let’s discuss this issue in detail along with the explanation regarding the measures being taken by the organizations to change their human resource strategies. Answer – 1  Competing on the basis of labor costs can generate both positive and as well as negative outcomes for a company, or country. Talking about the brighter side, companies these days strive to achieve the optimum profitability level in order to stay in the competition. Therefore, what they do is to hire employees on part-time basis where employees would be paid on the basis of work they would do along with the working hours. This usually happens when the companies start a new venture such as, product development, its launching, or promotion. It does save huge costs for the company, but the turnover rate rises drastically. Talking about the negative side of the picture, either it is the company or country; it would result in a high turnover rate that often increases the costs such as, training costs. It is because when employees are hired by the companies, they must be trained about the job description that they are held responsible of. Therefore, investments are made by either sending them abroad or arranging workshops or training sessions. Obviously, when employees don’t get enough pay, they would leave their jobs; moreover, the supply of labor within the country would get minimized because workers might leave their country and go abroad to work for MNCs. Answer – 2 There is absolutely no doubt that many organizations consider their workforce as a main asset since the utilization of resources depend on their skills and abilities. Employees often demand the companies to value them, give them some autonomy, and involve them in the key managerial decisions where they can suggest new ideas. Companies, in order to keep their employees satisfied, introduce certain compensation packages and training sessions so that the employees think of themselves as part of the organization and get motivated. When managers invest over the training sessions and involve their subordinates in the key decisions, it becomes necessary for them to retain them at any cost or else they would leave their jobs. This would result in the loss of intellectual capital and loss of investment that was made to groom them by polishing their skills. As compared to the costs that incur for training the employees, the cost of labor force is much more than that. The reason is that when employees are trained and are retained by the company, it benefits the company not only in the short-run, but also in the long-run. Whereas on the flipside, when those skillful employees leave the company the labor costs take a domino effect because the firm would lose those employees, the investment made on them, and would have to recruit others, and then train them again. Consequently, these companies must focus on retention of employees, and that can be done by offering them attractive compensation packages, further training, giving autonomy, and promotion. Answer – 3 Companies these days are really focusing on reshaping their human resource strategies and forming them in such a way that not only keeps the employees contented, but also benefit the overall organization. There are several ways adopted by the firms these days and are explained below. Organizations these days encourage and support the presence of collectivist attitude. Collectivists define themselves by their group membership, give group goals priority over their personal goals, put more emphasis on harmonious relationships and experience more socially based emotions† (Robbins & Judge, 2007) Moreover, individual rights is are also emphasized, that is to ensure the freedom of movement, physical security, and freedom of speech. Emphases are laid on the presence of health and safety and ensure the condemnation of actions or choices that are not safe for people, actions that violate law and ethical principles. Equal employment opportunities are ensured where they hire individuals based on their intellect, creativity, enthusiasm and the presence of Emotional Intelligence. In working structure, they value team relationship, team work, and team achievements; moreover, their employees value the importance of effective communication and employee involvement while making certain decisions and delegating the tasks. There ratio of discrimination seems to be getting lessened; everyone is given equal opportunities and there is no glass ceiling for females or people from different backgrounds. When it comes to improving and retaining the skills of employees, many organizations rely on the concept of Employability, i. e. – to continuously improve the employee’s working skills by the time to meet the requirements – (Daft, 1997). Answer – 4 Since the competition for workers in China is heating up where high wages are demanded by them and at the same time, companies seek to cut their redundant costs, especially from payrolls; therefore, employers would definitely shape some of the terms and conditions regarding the working conditions, job type, compensation, working hours, and job security. First of all, since the supply of well-educated and skillful workers is less in China, so firms would have to recruit those who are available even if they are demanding high wages. Of Among these workers, many of them come from abroad to find best possible job opportunity. Another change that can be made is in the working hours, where companies can decide the job type, job status, and working hours of a worker before recruiting him or her. In this case, a contract would be signed between the worker and the company in which all the responsibilities and liabilities of both of them would be outlined, along with the penalties that either party would have to pay in case of violating the contract. A very enticing strategy that can be brought on is to introduce the Performance-based compensation play, where the employees whether they are contractual or regular, would be paid on the basis of their performance and productivity level. Moreover, chances of promotion would only be for those who perform well and benefit the organization. This would result in provoking the motivation among the employees to gain more knowledge and skills, perform better, and abide by the rules and regulations. Not only this, the turnover rate that China is currently facing, would decline to a great extent and would attract the best available talent, which would be beneficial for both the employees and the business.

Analyzing and Writing Cases Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Analyzing and Writing Cases - Article Example In general, the selection of strategy consists of a number of approaches. In organizational context, the choice of the approach relies on several factors such as the current situation of the company, the resources of the company, competencies and policies of the organization, risk tolerance potential, internal clashes, extent of external reliance and expected competitive response among others. With due consideration to these factors, the alternative strategies that have been recommended for Edward Jones comprise of a combination of expansion as well as product development strategy. The present day business environment is altering continuously due to the inclusion of new entrants, the development of substitutes and enhanced performance of competitors and so on. As a result, Edward Jones might require discovering ways to mitigate threats from rivals and ascertain that is benefits from its persistent customer loyalty. Some of the organizational strategies to consolidate the business cou ld be enhancing the product or service quality, building better associations with customers so as to understand and meet their needs efficiently resulting in augmented customer loyalty. External Assessment The financial services industry functions on the principle of the trade-off between risk and return. The retail brokerage industry had made it possible for individual investors to invest in various financial securities, for instance stocks and bonds. This industry has evolved over the years and many factors such as increase in the worth of stock market, advent of technology and internet, increasing need of individuals to save for their future as a result of rise in the life expectancy level and rising expenses have contributed towards its rapid growth. Due to the rising competition in the market, diversification of investor needs and the increasing expectations of the customers, the retail brokerage industry primarily focuses on customer service. There exists a high level of conve rgence in the retail brokerage industry, which permits the companies to bundle their products as well as offer discounts. The rationale behind the convergence is that it is more cost-effective to cross-sell products. Moreover, the consolidation of the products results in shared information technology and elevated switching costs and acts as a major opportunity for the industry participants. The retail brokerage industry is highly correlated with the stock exchange market. The increase in the value of stock markets across the world has provided the industry with immense growth opportunity and would continue to do so. With the rise in the number of individual investors looking forward to make investments in various types of financial assets, the industry has huge growth potential. Though the industry has immense growth potential, the risky business practices that are the part of financial services organizations could bring about a stock market slump and adversely affect the retail bro kerage industry. This is a major threat that the retail brokerage industry has to encounter. The instances of focus on short term benefits is more in the financial sector, as the managers of such organizations want to please their stock holders by providing them superior immediate returns. However, in doing so, more often than not the managers ignore the long-term sustainable

Poverty and Social Inequality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Poverty and Social Inequality - Essay Example This essay seeks to examine the social problem of poverty and social inequality in terms of its current situation, how it affects people, the attitudes of people towards poverty. This study will delve in the main topic of poverty and social inequality under three main topics namely, the current poverty situation in America, The impact and influence of poverty on Americans and finally the attitudes towards poverty in America. The current poverty situation in America According to Locke (2012), the current social inequalities in America are manifested in the three main social classes namely the rich, the middle class and the poor citizens. The rich people have access to most of the country’s resources while the poor and the middle class have limited access to resources. There is a huge gap between the rich and the poor in the American society. The current economic situation is characterized with unemployment and high costs of living especially for the middle and lower classes (Lo cke, 2012). Huge increases in taxes for the middle and poor class citizens have only contributed to the unequal state of affairs. Locke (2012) claims that the current economic situation maintains social classes in the society by locking the poor people in the country from accessing quality education and decent jobs thus maintaining a vicious circle of poverty for most poor and middle class individuals. Yglesias (2012) on the other hand argues that the current poverty situation in the US emerged as a result of historical unequal distribution of resources and accumulation of wealth in the hands of a few individuals. The disparities in the social classes and the height of social inequalities became very clear during the economic recession (Yglesias, 2012). Despite these challenges, both the rich and the poor continue to work hard to reach their American dream which is to become all they ever wanted to be (Yglesias, 2012). One’s social class or poverty does not restrict them from working hard to achieve their dreams. Success in the American society is considered to be in terms of material possessions. According to Yglesias (2012), the current social class inequalities and poverty in the US are not stumbling blocks for most people, since they always find their own other ways of overcoming their class differences in order to achieve their desired goals. Anonymous. (2012) seems to agree with the opinion that Social class differences in the current economic situation in the US does not affect the mentality of the majority of the people in reaching their potential despite their class. It is the hard work that people put in whatever they do that makes the difference and not one’s current social class or poverty situation. The impact and influence of poverty on Americans Yglesias (2012), points out that poverty has had a huge impact on most citizens in the middle and poor class families. With the huge tax burden on the little income earned by the poor, they cannot access the best resources such as education, and health. Most of the poor citizens drop out of school at an early age (Yglesias, 2012). Poor American women get married earlier and bear children at a much younger age as

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

NKT cells - Research Paper Example Immunologists have been striving to unearth the connection between NKT cells and the inflammatory characteristics of asthma, in a bid to design new intervention strategies. This paper will review the biology of Natural Killer T cells and the prevention strategies of asthma and allergic diseases. Biology of NKT Cells Natural Killer T cells form a subset of lymphocytes as scientists have described. Depending on the T-cell receptor repertoires, NKT cells fall into three categories. The first type of NKT cells is the classical NKT cells that exhibit conserved T-cell receptors (Akbariet al 2006). Immunologists have been described type 1 NKT cells in mice and humans, with those in humans named invariant NKT cells. Type 2 is also available in both mice and humans but have a diverse range of T-cell receptors. However, type 2 faces a restriction from CD1d. The third type forms the independent category of NKT cells characterized as expressing either Ly49 or NK1.1 (CD161 in humans). Moreover, i t proved quite difficult to isolate this type of NKT cells. Immunologists have succeeded in isolating type 1 and associating it with the development of asthma. NKT cells present numerous similarities to Th2 Cells, which trigger the processes that cause the development of asthma. ... However, the two types of cells exhibit different activation processes (Wohlleben&Erb, 2006). Processes Leading to the Development of Asthma and related Atopic Diseases Experts seeking to understand the immunologic processes that lead to the development of asthma, have described the process in detail. Asthma results from the Th2 responses taking place in the lungs. The production of Th2 responses result from the action of allergen specific CD4+. The basis of asthma development is that there must be activation of transcription factors from the downstream factors resulting to the production of Th2 effector cells. The effect of these processes is the production of cytokines such as interleukins IL-4, IL-5, IL-9, and IL-13. Moreover, these processes trigger the recruitment of eosinophils and allergen specific immunoglobulin E by beta cells (Mallevaey et al, 2006). Granulation of eosinophils and mast cells occurs with as they indulge in a cross-linking with immunoglobulin E (igE). This ca uses the production of mucous and airway hyper-reactivity and a chronic inflammation of the airway. These are the central attributes of asthma.Processes that trigger Th2 responses often lead to airway hyper-reactivity and inflammation. Immunologists have highlighted that Th1 responses do not trigger this hyper-reactivity and inflammation defining asthma and other atopic diseases. There is evidence suggesting that children contacting bacterial infections that trigger Th1 responses in their earlier years have a less likelihood of developing asthma. NKT Cells and Asthma There is evidence that NKT cells have the potential to trigger Th2 responses that often lead to development of asthma and other atopic diseases. This is because of their ability to recognize glycolipid

Gramsci's Philosophy Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Gramsci's Philosophy - Assignment Example This is because any slight manifestation of intellectual activityin any language contains varied conceptions of the world. The diverse conceptions are necessitated by the fact that everyone is unique in his or her way. Thereafter, an individual may be compelled to move to the next level of conceptualization, which entails criticism and awareness. In other words, spontaneous philosophy gives people insights on how their world is; thus, they are presented with the opportunity to take part in everything that occurs in it. Spontaneous philosophy consists of three elements namely;common sense and good sense, language and religion. First, the language in spontaneous philosophy should not have baseless words, but concepts and notions that have content. Common sense as an element of spontaneous philosophy refers to the illogical set of held beliefs and assumptions common to any society; whereas good sense refers to the concrete realistic, common sense in the English meaning of the term. Gram sci’s intention in conceptualizing spontaneous philosophy aims at giving individuals an opportunity to criticize their own conceptions of the world. This in turn, makes the world comprehensible and raises it to a level that can only be reached by the utmost advanced opinions in the whole world. In addition to that, acquiring one’s own conception of the world puts an individual within the same social framework with other individuals who are likely to share the same philosophy. 2. Discuss in detail the passage from spontaneous philosophy to philosophy of Praxis. Engage the moment of critical awareness, which serves as a transition. What, then, is philosophy of Praxis and what sets it apart from spontaneous philosophy? Spontaneous philosophy begins with individuals viewing themselves as philosophers. This is magnified by the fact that everyone is unique in his or her own way; thus, they view the world differently. The varied conceptualization of the world makes one belong to a particular group where common thoughts are shared. In these groups, thoughts and conceptualizations of individuals are tailored to make them be at par with the world’s most advanced thoughts. This forms the starting point of one’s critical elaboration since he gets the opportunity to have knowledge of himself. After comprehension of oneself, individuals are supposed to have a better understanding of the philosophical history as well as the history of culture. Knowledge of one’s history of culture and philosophy puts one in a better place to have a clear and critical conception of the world. Understanding one’s language is also central in conceptualizing the world since it lessens the intricacy in comprehending things. Language understanding also enables the translation of one culture to the other; thus, producing a new culture with an extraordinary element of intellectualorder and harmonizationis made easier. The philosophy of Praxis denotes the soc io-practical activity whereby actions and thoughts are mutually determined. It cannot present itself at the beginning in a critical and polemical appearance, but as superseding the prevailing perceptible thoughts and the existing modes of thinking. First, it must be criticize the commonsense notion, basing its arguments that everyone is a philosopher in his or her own way. Then, it must criticize the philosophy of intellectuals, from which the history of philosophy developed. Having understood these criticisms, one may conclude that philosophy of Praxis leads to a higher life conception and does not leave simple details in their nascent philosophy of common sense. 3. Discuss the differences between the two great (in Gramsci’

College Writing II Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

College Writing II - Coursework Example In some countries, nearly ninety percent or more than women are working women while in some countries, the ratio of working women is very negligible. The research on this topic will be a great help for people who deny the importance of women. Moreover, this topic will also facilitate towards knowing about the real part that working women play in the lives of their family. Some people regard working women as neglecting their children and family for their own interest while others regard the working women as supportive and helpful for their family. The research will inform in detail about the role of working women, the problems that they face in performing their role and how men look towards the role of working women in a society. The target audiences of this paper are my class fellows, teachers and other people who want to know about the real role of women in any society. Women have to face many problems in their workplaces but they cope up with the difficulties they face in order to support their family. Also, if the male member of the family is unable to earn on the basis of some problem like physically disability or unemployment, the working woman is always there to let its family fulfill their basic needs. The paper will start with an introduction in which, working women and their role will be introduced in terms of different professions in which, women can be found. The introduction will also introduce my basic theme that I want to discuss in my research paper that is the beneficent role of working women. The introduction will give an overview of the whole topic. After introduction, a literature review will be added to the research paper that will contain an argument by means of authorial writings of writers who have written on the topic of working women. The literature review will be the major part of the research as with the help of

Discusses the current state-of-the-art in an area of electrical Research Paper

Discusses the current state-of-the-art in an area of electrical engineering and computer science that you are interested - Research Paper Example nd mobile software, however, every mobile application has specific mobile software that defines its characteristics and requirements depending on the data processing need at hand. Generally, with the availability of the Internet, intranet or any other respective communication links, mobile devices enable a user to take a computer and all crucial files, folders, and software out into the field and to work as if he/she were in the office (Masco et al, 17). Mobile computing relies on the principle of mobile voice communication whose technology has been recently extended to include the ability for one to send and receive data across cellular networks. A number of hardware that support mobile computing are available and include mobile devices and device components like Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), Smartphone, tablet computers, ultra-mobile PCs, and wearable computers to name but a few (Mascolo et al, 19). With these devices, there is efficiency in communication and for business people who are constantly on the move, the concept of mobile computing serves to solve the problem of mobility through the transmission of data from remote locations. The dominant technology in the mobile data communication market today that enables mobile computing is the Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD), though; a number of alternative technologies are available such as the Circuit Switched Cellular, Specialized Mobile Radio, and Wireless Data Networks. The basic principle of the CDPD technology is the usage of idle time that is available in between existing signals sent across the cellular networks. This technology usually comes with the advantage of low cost of data transmission since the idle time is not chargeable. Fixed users are provided with a fixed physical link to the CDPD network allowing them to connect to the network while mobile users connect to the network using a packet-switched system. In case the CDPD facilities do not exist, this technology utilizes the concept of

Polar Bear Essay Example for Free

Polar Bear Essay The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is a bear native largely within the Arctic circle encompassing the Arctic Ocean, its surrounding seas and surrounding land masses. It is the worlds largest land carnivore and also the largest bear, together with the omnivorous Kodiak bear, which is approximately the same size. [3] An adult male weighs around 350-680 kg (770-1 ,500 while an adult female is about half that size. Although it is closely related to the brown bear, it has evolved to occupy a narrow ecological niche, with many body characteristics adapted for cold emperatures, for moving across snow, ice, and open water, and for hunting the seals which make up most of its diet. [5] Although most polar bears are born on land, they spend most of their time at sea (hence their scientific name meaning maritime bear) and can hunt consistently only from sea ice, so spend much of the year on the frozen sea. The polar bear is classified as a vulnerable species, with 8 of the 19 polar bear subpopulations in decline. 6] For decades, unrestricted hunting[clarification eeded] raised international concern for the future of the species; populations have rebounded after controls and quotas began to take effect. [citation needed] For thousands of years, the polar bear has been a key fgure in the material, spiritual, and cultural life of Arctic indigenous peoples, and the hunting of polar bears remains important in their cultures. The IIJCN now lists global warming as the most significant threat to the polar bear, primarily because the melting of its sea ice habitat reduces its ability to find sufficient food. The II-JCN states, If climatic trends continue polar bears may become extirpated from most of their range within 100 years. [7] The polar bear was listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act by the United States Department of the Interior in 2008. Habitat The polar bear is often regarded as a marine mammal because it spends many months of the year at sea. [28] Its preferred habitat is the annual sea ice covering the waters over the continental shelf and the Arctic inter-island archipelagos. These areas, known as the Arctic ring of life, have high biological productivity in comparison to the deep waters of the high The polar bear tends to frequent areas where sea ice meets water, such as polynyas and leads (temporary stretches of open water in Arctic ice), to hunt the seals that make up most of its diet. [30] Polar bears are therefore found primarily along the perimeter of the polar ice pack, rather than in the Polar Basin close to the North Pole where the density of seals is low. 1] Annual ice contains areas of water that appear and disappear throughout the year as the weather changes. Seals migrate in response to these changes, and polar bears must follow their prey. [29] In Hudson Bay, James Bay, and some other areas, the ice melts completely each summer (an event often referred to as ice-floe breakup), forcing polar bears to go onto land and wait through the months until the next freeze-up. [29] In the Chukchi and Beaufort seas, polar bears retreat each summer to the ice further north that remains frozen year-round.

Slavery in Ile de France

Slavery in Ile de France Slavery in Ile de France If we go back into history, we can note that slavery had existed on the island since the sixteenth century by the Dutch settlement. Slavery had become firmly embedded in the economy and society of Mauritius. Mauritius, previously known as ‘Ile de France’ was colonised by the Dutch (1638-1710), the French (1715-1810) and later by the British (1810-1835) which paved the way towards the abolition of slavery in 1835. It was only when Guillaume Dufresne d’Arsel landed in 1715 that the island came to be known as a French colony. He named it ‘Ile de France’. It was only in 1721 that the French began to occupy the island. From 1598 to 1710, the Dutch were the first one to take possession of the island. However, we cannot deny that before the Dutch stay in Mauritius, in 1510, a Portuguese sailor, Don Pedro Mascarenhas was the main founder of the island but he was not interested. Whether during the Dutch, French or British stay in Mauritius, they faced a lot of problems. So, slaves had to be brought from other countries. As we already know, since centuries, under the colonial era, the one having more territories was considered to be more powerful. But who will work on those territories? Since there were not enough workers to work on the land, it was necessary to bring slaves on the island through slave trade. Slavery had played an important role in the historiography of the island. Whether in early eighteenth or nineteenth century, while European settlers were on the island, we can examine the condition of the slaves with their masters. Slavery in Mauritius is still considered to be less harsh than others like West Indian slavery. Slaves were mainly brought from countries like Goa-India, Madagascar, Mozambique and other regions of Africa but Reunion was the first island from which slaves were first introduced in Ile de France. But what was the aim behind this? They were brought to work for the development and betterment of Ile de France. This was seen to be advantageous for slave owners since slaves’ labour was being exploited at cheaper price. The slaves were divided into different ethnic categories such as Creole, Indian, Malagasy and Mozambican. Each ethnic group were portrayed as having specific attributes; for example. Mozambican slaves were characterised as being hardworking on plantation fields which indicates that they were physically strong but less intelligent. Contrary to this, Indian slaves were weak to work on plantations fields. According to Milbert, the African slaves were less in numbers. Furthermore, Prentout adds that these slaves were seen as the best hardworking labourers but more intelligent than the Mozambican slaves;  « Parmi eux, les yolofs, plus grands et plus forts sont regardà ©s comme les meilleurs reprà ©sentants de la race nà ¨gre, ils sont plus intelligents que ceux qui viennent de la cote de Mozambique ou de la cote adjacente  ». Different names were picturised to slaves who came from Africa or Mozambique; ‘Macoas’, ‘Mondjavocas’, ‘Sennas’, ‘Moursenas’, ‘Yabanes’, ‘Mouquidos’, ‘Mavairs’, ‘Macondes’ and ‘Miamoeses’. These slaves were physically portrayed as having thick lips, flat nose, oily skin and woolly hair. Another category of slaves coming from Madagascar were known to be ‘Hovas’, ‘Betsilà ©es’, ‘Antatoimes’, and ‘Sakalavas’. Those who came from India were classified as ‘Talingas’, ‘Malabars’ and ‘Bengalis’. In addition, people had their own perception about the relationship between slaves and their owners. Likewise, Charles Telfair noticed that there was a relationship of kindness which prevailed between slaves and their masters; â€Å"dans la plus haute classe, les rapports des maitres avec les esclaves à ©taient empreints de bienveillance†. Thus, the master was far from being a cruel and oppressive ruler. Prentout further adds that;  «il n’y avait pas à   l’ile de France, la mà ªme haine des esclaves qu’aux Antilles ». Slaves were nevertheless known to be a source of property for their masters. Reynolds Michel, a priest of Catholic Diocese argues that â€Å"Slavery, an institution as old as the history of human society is based on the exploitation of man’s labour. Certainly the history of slavery is a history of blood and tears lived by millions of men and women, a memory of people torn from their land of origin, of bodies thrown at the bottom of the holds of ships, corpses thrown overboard, removal and prohibition to bear one’s surname, forced labour and humiliation n the plantations. But it is also the story of a permanent resistance from beginning to end. And it is this strength in resistance in its many forms which abolished slavery†. Therefore, slaves did not lead a comfortable and simple life. They were none other than a source of income for their masters. They were just treated like an object which could be bought or sold anytime without restriction. They had no right to neither misbehave nor demand anything. Even the children of slaves were denied the right to education and were perceived as slaves just like their parents. Power was solely concentrated in the hands of the masters, that is, whenever they wanted they could use and throw away the slaves. For example, women slaves were brought at their master’s place, just for the sake of sexual pleasures. They did not have the right to voice out. In short they did not enjoy any form of human rights and they were completely deprived of their freedom. Thus, â€Å"the history of slavery must be remembered because memory undertakes not to repeat it†. However, we cannot deny the fact that slavery had a great significance in the economic development of th e colony. Dutch period (1638-1710) The Dutch occupation in Ile de France lasted from 1638 to 1710. The Dutch presence in Mauritius became noticeable through their introduction of domestic animals and plants like sugarcane. The Dutch East India Company also known as the ‘Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie’ (VOC) was an institution where the rich and poor were treated equally in trade affairs. This had included the support of Governor Van der Stel who imported slaves as labour was required in abundance for the better functioning of the company. Mauritius was seen as a country which would derive economic benefits for the VOC. During the Dutch period, slaves were brought mainly from Madagascar to work on the fields. However, many slaves, also known as maroon slaves ran away into the forests and often caused havoc for the settlers. They destroyed houses, burn farms or other properties so as to avoid being dominated and exploited. They knew if they were captured by their masters, they had to face severe consequences but still they tried to escape. The Dutch settlement lasted for about 20 years and they finally left the island for the French in 1710. French period (1715-1810) In 1715, the French took control of the island on behalf of the King and renamed it ‘Ile de France’. The island was managed under the direction of the French East India Company and it retained its existence until 1767. From 1767 until 1810, the French government chose officials and appointed them in Ile de France but this lasted only for a short period until the French revolution. Besides, amidst the Napoleonic wars, the French used Ile de France as a base where French corsairs were successful in launching surprise attacks on British ships. Until 1810, the French attacks and efforts in holding up the colony were effective until the British landed, but this time in great numbers and thus took possession of the island while the French capitulated. While surrendering, the British assured that the practice of the French traditions, customs, language and religion would be respected and maintained. Among the French settlers, the Code Noir was established and subsequently seen as the rules that slaves had to follow. It was published between 1685 and 1783 and declared by Louis X1V in 1723. Bernardin de Saint- Pierre was somehow in favour about the regime of the ‘Code-Noir’ but he claimed that the laws established for the slaves were not really granted to them. He adds that â€Å" il y a une loi faite en faveur des esclaves appelà ©e le Code Noir. Cette loi favorable ordonne qu’à   chaque punition ils ne recevront pas plus de trente coups, qu’ils ne travailleront point le dimanche, qu’on leur donnera de la viande toutes les semaines, des chemises tous les ans; quand ils sont vieux, on les envoie chercher leur vie comme ils peuvent. Un jour j’en vis un qui n’avoit que la peau et les os, dà ©couper la chair d’un cheval mort pour la manger. C’à ©tait un squelette qui en dà ©vorait un autre†. Slaves were forced to respect the laws even if they had to undergo tyrannical treatments. Nagapen argues, â€Å"les maitres s’arrogeaient le droit de vie et de mort sur leurs esclaves†. The slaves were granted the right to be baptised by the Articles I and II of the Code-Noir. Besides, they were not allowed to join into matrimony without the permission of their masters. Yet, the ‘Code-Noir’ was somehow useful for the slaves as it provided support for them both physically and morally. The owners were restrained from ill-treating and torturing the slaves. Slaves did not work on Sundays and public holidays. Additionally, they had the right to lodge complains against their owners and that to be done to the ‘procureur- gà ©nà ©ral’ namely Virieux. When he settled on the island, â€Å"he noticed that in no other colony had slaves been treated so well and the reasons for this were that the ‘ruler’ passed ‘wise and enlightened measures’, that whites were nicer towards their slaves than free black slave- owners†. In his study, Karl Noel mentions that slaves did not complain about any laws imposed upon them. In fact, they had no right but only to be obedient towards the law. The type of punishment the slave had to face was decided by the owners. Maroon slaves had to bear harsh consequences than them like their ears being cut or they even faced death. In short, governors like Souillac and Pierre Poivre blamed the unpleasant and dreadful foundation of slavery. Slaves were also in constant struggle towards the laws imposed upon them. Those who could no more tolerate these brutal conditions landed up committing theft, suicide, abortion or even escaping from there. In 1735, the French Governor Labourdonnais started developing Ile de France. Whether under the Dutch rule or French settlement, Ile de France became victim of several threats like starvation. Hence, Labourdonnais introduced staple food like manioc and maize for the slaves. Karl Noel assumed that under the French governance there were less agricultural works but they rather focussed on commerce, industry and warfare.

Scubadiving in India

Scubadiving in India Lifes biggest adventure is to explore the unknown and discover the undiscovered destination on this planet. Adventure lovers set out into the wild and face the challenges as they come. More than half of the earth is covered in water and the life underneath the sea is still undiscovered and unexplored. The adventure seekers that love water also adore the sport of scuba diving. The pleasures of floating in the deep blue seas or the thrill of diving under the ocean are unparallel joys. Scuba Diving is a start of discovering a whole new world of the underwater. Even in the history there have been cases where man has shown curiosity about the life existing in the sea. A very famous Indian epic Ramayan has a mention of the same. There are several imaginary creatures which are inspired by the creatures residing inside the sea. Scuba diving for that matter comes from Europeans who basically were taken in by the long coastline of India and the white sandy beaches. Snorkelling too is a great sport which is another discovery of the whites. The Indians too have started discovering the thrill associated with these water sports.   The Indian coastlines spread over more than a thousand kilometres. The Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal all surround India from three different directions. Hence it is not surprising to know that the country is made up of some of the most beautiful beaches of the world. The other more alluring things about the Indian coastlines and beaches is the mangroves, backwater, cliff peninsulas, Cluster of islands and the highlight- the marine life. There are several diving sites open to the tourists and several still remain unexplored.   The waves hitting the rocks and the splashing of the same on the coral reefs is one of the most stunning and exciting experience. The waters in the lagoons wash away the white sands with the water splashing on the shores and are dotted with palm trees. This is purely a sight of untouched nature and the one which should not be missed. The underwater is very different than what one view on land. Everything filters through the blue colour of the sea. It is colourful and vibrant. It is untamed and variously structured forming patterns which are interesting to observe. Corals in the ocean are the most attractive part of an underwater dive. They are of many varieties, colours and shapes. There are thousands of them living right under the sea! They range from small hydroids to tall sea fans, from languidly waving sea anemones to jellyfish. India has gained popularity as a scuba-diving and snorkelling destination of the world. Certain spots in the Indian subcontinent are worth visiting if one is a fan of scuba diving and other sports activities.   Havelock In Andaman and Nicobar islands is one of the most popular water sports adventure hotspot. This is one of the very few inhabited islands of this union territory. The place is scarcely populated and hence it still has the natural charm. The white sandy beaches tucked with palm groves along the shore and dotted with coral reefs, this place is one of the more popular destinations. Tourists throng this place during vacations, mainly foreigners who love doing their own thing. Although prior permission is needed to come here, they go through ordeal to experience the richness of the ocean. Havelock is basically inhabited by Bengalis who settled here ages ago. It is spread in an area of 100 sq km and lies 54 km away from Port Blair which can be accessible through road, sea and even air. Havelock has many other water related activities going on like there is Radha Nagar beach on Havelock which has been voted as the best beach in Asia by Time Magazine. Havelock island is also a place where one can indulge in hiking, fishing, kayaking and sailing. Lakshwadeep The other most popular scuba diving destination in India is Lakshadweep. It is not as popular with tourists but it has slowly started becoming known for its pristine beauty and untamed nature. Scuba diving is a great experience here when the colourful corals, the tropical fishes, the bluish-greenish sea bed and the crystal clear water everywhere.   Netrani islands Netrani Islands are located off coast of Karnataka. It is located near the Arabian Sea Precisely situated 10 nauticle miles from the temple town of Murudeshwara.This place is yet another favourite for scuba diving and snorkelling. The waters are crystal clear and so are ideal for diving. The visibility range here is between 15-20 metres. Here one can find a variety of sea life like schools of Barracuda, Snappers, Jacks, Indian Banner fish, Red tooth trigger fish, large shark- like Cobia, Honeycomb Moray Eels, Groupers, Puffer fish, Napoleon Wrasse. Goa Goa also has several beaches but for scuba diving it is not so muc preferred. It is more known for its water sport activities.

The Small-Scale Study of an Open-Air Market in a Culturally Foreign Setting :: Essays Papers

The Small-Scale Study of an Open-Air Market in a Culturally Foreign Setting The task of learning about the broad patterns within a culture can be a daunting one, and attempting to uncover specific details about a foreign cultural setting is often a frustrating and difficult endeavor. The concept of cross-cultural understanding, however, is not one that can be approached with timidity. By nature, cultural study requires a degree of immersion, a willingness to get one's hands dirty and assault the senses with unfamiliar sights, sounds, smells, and tastes. Only through this experiential learning process can cultural understanding be truly achieved, one small step at a time. Four the past five months, I have undertaken this very assignment: to seek and uncover various cultural trends in a foreign setting through careful study of one aspect of society in that culture. Through this method I have been successful in leaning about both general aspects of culture and some particularities of the cultures I have encountered. The basic goal of the project is simple, to learn the workings of a small-scale market in a culturally foreign setting. Though this, I may be able to explore and discern cultural aspects of the marketplace. This includes both cultural trends influencing the market, and vice versa. Several questions are of particular interest. How does the market function? The economic side of the inquiry includes what sources of goods and materials are available and used, how is a shop rented or owned, and how the labor force is composed. Things like inputs, transactions, prices, demographics, regulation, and the development of the market are all considered. Next, what is the market's function in the city? Whose needs are served, which needs are served, and what is the market's place in the economy of the city or region? Also, what is the direct cultural significance of the market? Are there visible dependence relationships between the market and those who act within it? I will also consider the hist orical context. How and why was the market formed? Finally, what is the future of the market? Will it switch from a local to a tourist market? As you can see, many issues have been raised which may lead to conclusions about the culture of a given setting. In short, what can we learn about how people live by examining how they buy and sell in a market setting?

Exile And Pain In Three Elegiac Poems Essay -- essays research papers

There is a great similarity between the three elegiac poems, The Wanderer, The Wife of Lament, and The Seafarer. This similarity is the theme of exile. Exile means separation, or banishment from ones native country, region, or home. During the Anglo Saxon period, exile caused a great amount of pain and grief. The theme is shown to have put great sadness into literature of this time period. The majority of the world's literature from the past contains the theme of exile. The Wife of Lament is another perfect example of literature with exile, and was written by an unknown author. The most striking example of exile in this poem can be seen in the passage when she says, "A song I sing of sorrow unceasing, the tale of my trouble, the weight of my woe, woe of the present, and woe of the past, woe never-ending of exile, and grief, but never since girlhood greater then now." The woman's husband left her in a life of exile, after he left. She is constantly looking for him, and finds a life that is quite similar to being locked away in prison. She is locked up in a cave under a tree. Her joy comes from thinking that her husband is as miserable as her. In the first passage from the poem, The Wanderer, it speaks of exile by saying, "To the wanderer, weary of exile cometh Gods pity, compassionate love, though woefully toiling on wintry seas with churning oar in the icy wave, homeless and helpless he fled from fate." It can be easily seen...

Orphanages in America

Issue: Whether the United States’ policy shift away from institutional care is warranted given the benefits it provides. Description: The stigma associated with orphanages has lead policymakers in the United States to discourage the use of these institutional care facilities. The Social Security Act of 1935 authorized the first federal grants for child welfare services. Since then, the federal government has continued to encourage states to adopt Foster Care as their main child welfare system.The policies encouraging Foster Care are in large part due to the government’s recognition that the nuclear family is a superior model for child development. This, coupled with the traditionally negative view of children being raised in group homes, has lead to many myths about institutional care and encouraged the public’s negative stereotype of these facilities. The government’s adverse position to institutional care must be disabused. It limits a form of childcare that is proven to be effective and beneficial. The reasons and history behind the government’s biased view of these facilities is still unclear.Orphanages offer many disadvantaged children distinct advantages over foster care, some of which are structure, stability, and a sense of permanence. Children’s homes permit siblings to stay together, afford children a chance to develop moral and religious values, encourage a sense of responsibility and work ethic, as well as much needed education and job-related skills. There is great potential for orphanages to meet the needs of the many children who currently languish for years in the modern foster care system.It is time for policymakers to recognize the distinct advantages institutional care can provide. Sources: Barth, R. P. (2002). Institutions vs. Foster Homes: The Empirical Base for the Second Century of Debate. Chapel Hill, NC: UNC, School of Social Work, Jordan Institute for Families Carp, E. Wayne, Orphanages: The St rength and Weakness of a Macroscopic View Second Home: Orphan Asylums and Poor Families in America by Timothy A. Hacsi. Reviews in American History, Vol. 27, No. 1 (Mar. , 1999), pp. 105-111. The Johns Hopkins University Press) Article Stable URL: http://0www. jstor. org. aquinas. avemarialaw. edu/stable/30031010 Dozier, M. , Zeanah, C. H. , Wallin, A. R. and Shauffer, C. (2012), Institutional Care for Young Children: Review of Literature and Policy Implications. Social Issues and Policy Review, 6:Â  1–25. doi:Â  10. 1111/j. 1751-2409. 2011. 01033. x Levesque, Roger J. R. , The Failures of Foster Care Reform: Revolutionizing the Most Radical Blueprint, 6 Md. J. Contemp. Legal Issues 1, 35 (1995)Nurith Zmora, Orphanages Reconsidered: Child Care Institutions in Progressive Era Baltimore (Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1994) McKenzie, R. B. (Ed. ) (1999). Rethinking orphanages for the 21st century. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Whetten, K. , Ostermann, J. , Whetten, R. A. , Pence, B. W. , O’Donnell, K. , Messer, L. C. , . . . & The Positive Outcomes for Orphans Research Team (2009). A comparison of the wellbeing of orphans and abandoned children ages 6–12 in institutional and community-based care settings? in 5 less wealthy nations. PLoS ONE, 4, e8169. doi: 10. 1371/journal. pone. 0008169.

Review of the Book: Evangelical Theology Essay

Held in high esteem by many critics as one of the most original Christian thinkers of the modern era, Karl Barth was a Swiss theologian who primarily emphasized on the sovereignty of God. In this regard, his perspectives can be considered as external. This secularism in the study of gods and religion was very inventive in terms of genuineness. Barth’s famous book Evangelical Theology: An Introduction is based on continuity and unity, and looks into the constructs of faith, existence and reason. This essay is going to deal with few of the core ideas Barth introduced in his book. The concepts will be critically analyzed with regards to citations from the original text. According to Barth, the term ‘Theology’ is concerned with a very special domain of science that attempts to understand god. Evangelical Theory of Theology: An Introduction gives a basic idea of Barth’s outlooks on theology. Theology as described by the author is the Word of god. ‘Theo’ popularly alludes to gift of god and ‘logy’ relates to language, logic or Word. According to the author, the word of god is the ultimate soul of theology and it stands and fails with it. â€Å"Theology itself is a word, a human response; yet what makes it theology is not its own word but the word which it hears and which it responds to† [Evangelical Theory of Theology: An Introduction, page 15]. To rephrase it, theology asserts not itself but the word of god and places it above everything. When it comes to the word of god, we need not bear in mind one faulty premise, i. e. , there is only one god. The study of religion has proved it time and again that each person has its own god or gods as ‘the object of his highest desire and trust, or as the basis of his deepest loyalty and commitment. ’ (Barth et al. 3) So Barth discusses theology and divine matters from the perspective of religion and philosophy. His secular approaches in interpreting theology become apparent when he states, â€Å"There is no philosophy that is not to some extent also theology. Not only does this fact apply to philosophers who desire to affirm – or who, at least, are ready to admit – that divinity, in a positive sense, is the essence of truth and power of some kind of highest principle;† (Barth et al. 3) The author alludes into the history of Israel to affirm the concept of community as connected with the history of Jesus Christ. The gospel of god can be interpreted from a humanistic perspective when Christ is realized as a true god and true man. He elucidates the idea of man’s oneness with god by stating, â€Å"The community is confronted and created by the Word of God† (Barth 38) – â€Å"†¦ the God who descends to community with man, gracious in his freedom, and of man who is exalted to community with him, thankful in his freedom†. (Barth 22) The analytical mind of the author makes him ask question about truth in terms of existence of god. The presuppositions of modern theology are questioned and doubted repeatedly as Barth raises some pertinent issues related to the truthfulness of god’s existence, man’s connection with god, the validity of the ‘chosen’ status of Israel, myths surrounding Christ’s death and so on. The acceptance of the Word of god as truth by community is another contentious issue according to the author. It is one thing accepting something as final, and it is another thing understanding what is accepted with a sincere and rational mindset. So it is important for the community to clarify the conceptualizations regarding the Word of god. (Barth 39) Though Barth had been associated with a church as a pastor in his early career, he was not as dogmatic as his peers. He believed that God’s decree was not to prefer Christians over Jews (or any other non Christian) but to be with the people and bear their sufferings. This is why he professed Jesus Christ as the â€Å"medium of divine election†. He believed that theology is a language for the spirit but it does not preach self ascertainment. ‘Service’ is also an important facet of Evangelical Theology. It does not glorify oneself but the person whom it serves. Theology can be interpreted as the servitude towards divinity. From a more practical point of view it may reflect man’s involvement in the service of the society as well as in the service of god. Modesty, as claimed in the book, is considering theology as a selfless service. The realization of our own inner power and capacity to reach our goals is exemplified through the theological concept of remaining faithful to divine knowledge and wisdom. He states, â€Å"Theology will be faithful to its object only and precisely when it allows itself to be tempted by it. † (Barth 160) The believer must leave his salvation to god’s judgment even if he harbors any doubt or solitude. Many other important aspects of theology such as Faith, Prayer and Love have been discussed thoroughly. It not only portrays Theology as a natural science but it also tries to loosen up the orthodox bindings on itself. Karl Barth in his book had tried to uplift theology from its confines in the church to a subject that requires immense academic research and idiosyncratic perspectives. Work Cited Barth, Karl, and Grover Foley. Evangelical Theology: An Introduction. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1979.

Multinational Enterprise Practice

Multinational enterprise practice between Australia and Indonesia using national culture comparison. Today’s business environment is consisting on high level of turmoil that comes from globalisation, news technologies, and great transparency (Reeves & Deimler, 2009); that demand organisation’s responsiveness for levels of dramatic, and often tumultuous, organisational change and development in order to achieve its organisational goals and objectives (Darling & Heller, 2009).Because of these revolutionary changes in the business environment (Stewart, 1993); the scope of organizations has expanded into a various sizes and types which lead to the important need for cross-cultural awareness and understanding of the daily operations of international businesses (De Cieri, Fenwick, Hutchings, 2005). Therefore, the purpose of this essay is to analyse the international human resource management’s challenges and opportunities when multinational enterprise operates in two different national cultures simultaneously.This essay uses Australia as the host nation, and Indonesia as the host nation subcontractor as the basis of comparison. The concept of external environment refers to a specific and general environment outside the organisation that can affect its performance (Robbins, Bergman, Stagg & Coulter, 2008). These changes that create a revolution movement in the business world are mainly globalisation and information technology (Stewart, 1993). Particular changes in the external environment can affect their position in the market, dismantling traditional chain of command in the organisation, and restructuring organisation (Stewart, 1993).Thus, it is important to know a few factors that increase the practice of IHRM in multinational enterprises. In this essay the external environmental factors that are analysed are technology and globalisation. One of the factors that has a significant influence in the business environment is technology ( Stewart, 1993). The advent of new media and innovation in technology gives company choices in how to conduct their recruitment practices, such as online recruitment, which is quick, effective and cost efficient (Searle, 2006). This leads to he changes in the majority of work that have transformed from manual work to a more knowledge-based work, due to the increase in globalisation, competition, and technological development (Borland, Hirschberg & Lye, 2004). Technology is used as a tool that can eliminates physical borders; which then accelerated the pace of globalisation (Mendenhell et al. , 2003). * The second factor that has accelerated changes in business environment is Globalisation. It can be seen from a number of organisations that compete in the global market, that have increased substantially due to the increased development in technology (Mendenhell et al. 2003). Taking advantage of the growing worldwide competition is not limited to technology only; organisations also have to compete in their totality and human resources globally (Harpaz & Meshoulan, 2010). Globalisation has removed the geographical borders that make cultural and distance barriers obsolete when markets fuse together; and has shifted traditional rules, and transforms it to new rules that bring vague, unstable, counterintuitive, and full expectations (Mendenhell et al. , 2003).Thus, understanding cultural, political, legal and economic differences among countries and its communities can be significant challenges (Dessler, 2008). In addition, globalisation creates feelings of insecurity for employees in relation to the prospects of keeping their job, while the intensification of manual, and also of intellectual work, constituting a fertile ground for the creation of mental disorders, such as stress and depression, especially at a time when mental health is extremely important and vital for society and MNEs’ growth (Antonopoulou & Derivisi, 2009).That is why the proce ss of developing and implementing SIHRM strategy and practice in two or more countries is more difficult than developing and implementing SHRM strategy in one country. In the past 3 decades the practice of IHRM in organisations have increase because of a vast growth in the international trade, rapid advances in information technology and communication, distribution, and manufacturing technology (Hutchings & Ratnasari, 2006). International human resource management (IHRM) is the study and application of all human esource management activities as they impact the processes of managing human resource enterprises in the global environment (Briscoe, Schuler & Tarique, 2012). The purpose of IHRM is to enable MNE to be competitive throughout the world; efficient; locally responsive; flexible and adaptable within the shortest time periods; and capable of transferring knowledge and learning across their globally dispersed units (Schuler, Budhawar, & Florkowski, 2002).The practice of international human resource management in an organisation includes staffing and expatriates procurement, compensation, training and development, international labour relations, as well as performance evaluations and contribution (Wong, 2000). However, the best way in performing all the activities in an integrative manner still remains as a challenging task for HR managers (Schuler, Budhawar, & Florkowski, 2002). To fully understand the importance of integrated culture in MNE, we must understand the concept of national culture.An individual’s values in life are influenced by immediate family, societal and cultural norms, values and beliefs (Hofstede, 2001). Thus, national culture can be defined as ‘the collective programming of the mind that distinguishes the members of one group or category of people from another’ (Hofstede, 2001). Thus, many cross-cultural management research ? ndings stated that national culture will have a signi? cant in? uence an indi vidual’s intrinsic and extrinsic work values (Gahan & Abeysekera, 2009). Hofstede also divided national culture into four dimensions, which are power distance, collectivist vs. ndividualist, femininity vs. masculinity, and uncertain avoidance (Hofstede, 1997). These four dimensions will affect the degree to which the parent company is willing and able to adapt its strategy and practices to suit the conditions in the subsidiary country; the degree to which it maybe necessary to adapt parent company strategy and practices to suit the conditions in the subsidiary country; and the degree to which the parent company strategy will be effective in subsidiary country (Dessler, 2008). That is why, human resource management researchers suggested that Hofstede’s four dimensions in work values need to be re? cted in HRM practice; in relation to understand employee goal-setting, designs job enrichment, and the design and use of performance-based pay of the target workforce (Gah an & Abeysekera, 2009). By using the cultural focus approach, MNE’s HR managers can have a better understanding of differences in social values and customs between its host nation culture and its subsidiaries’ nation (Lertxundi & Landeta, 2009). Furthermore, a comparison of multiple national cultures will provide greater insight for MNE before the organisation starts its operation in another country (Sims, 2006).It will also increase the awareness on several specific others business culture practice in the manners of etiquette or simple dos or don’t (Pruetipibultham, 2012). Therefore it is imperative for Australian MNEs that operates in Indonesia to understand the cultural characteristics of Indonesia’s society, in order for its operations to succeed. The comparisons between Indonesia and Australia are based on the work values and the concept of social status; and utilises Hofstede’s work on national cultures as a theoretical basis for comp aring the countries.Indonesia’s concept of social status is highly patriarchal and hierarchical, with what appears to be great power distances between levels of the social structure. Showing proper respect, in speech and behaviour, is an essential aspect of the culture (Pruetipibultham, 2012). Indonesia society is highly inclusive; everyone has a place, from the highest to the lowliest and hierarchy ensures that all individuals in society know both their place and their obligations within the social structure (Pruetipibultham, 2012).In addition to hierarchy, gender and age are important determinants of social status such as the younger person treat the older person with respect, in language and in attitude (Pruetipibultham, 2012). It often happens that when MNE send their young expatriate to work or negotiate in Indonesian company, the Indonesians may immediately feel a little insulted that somebody without proper authority was sent to deal with them (Pruetipibultham, 2012). The concept of life values has become a central in studies of individual level motivations and behaviour, particularly in HRM and organisational behavior (Gahan & Abeysekera, 2009).Among the various types of life values, work values (or goals) are often viewed as a central determinant of a wide range of an individual's work-related attitudes and behaviours (Noesjirwan, 1978). In organisational behaviour and human resource management (HRM) research domains, a number of researchers has suggested that these differences in work values need to be re? ected in HRM practice; notably employee goal-setting, job enrichment, the design and use of performance-based pay are dependent on the national culture differences of the target workforce (Gahan ;amp; Abeysekera, 2009).In Indonesia, most of the common perspective on what corporate priorities should be is respect, understanding and trust when dealing in day-to-day business relationships (Pruetipibultham, 2012). However, the interpretation s of how to demonstrate understanding, to show respect, and to develop trust where the Indonesian cultural value systems come into play (Pruetipibultham, 2012). To most Indonesian managers understanding means that business activity should be be combined with the traditions and ingrained attitudes in the Indonesian business culture (Pruetipibultham, 2012).In addition, some studies found that expatriates in Indonesia can gain respect by listening to and valuing the local manager’s opinions or making an e? ort to explain why they cannot take the manager’s advice and what can be done di? erently in the future, and giving credit to their Indonesian colleagues with measure of experience and merit (Pruetipibultham, 2012). Even though good relations are accomplished by MNE; however, when Indonesian managers encounter di? culties in their projects, it is likely that they will not provide a timely noti? cation and rational explanation of the di? culties.This show that failure to shame is negatively high in feasibility in Indonesia similar to the rest of East Asia (Begley ;amp; Tan, 2001). Whereas, in the past, the self-identity of Australians have been analysed as being a complex mix of equalitarianism and mateship (Ashkanasy, 2007). In addition, egalitarianism concept consists of sameness and equality (Thompson, 1994). This concept related to mateship that was born when the settlers had to live in the outback and dealt with the difficult environment without much of a family life (Feather, 1986). The sameness falls upon the in-group collectivism but only applied to other who is in the same in-group’ that share similar uniqueness with them (Perkerti ;amp; Sendjaya, 2010). Thus, the concept of sameness can be considered as a based of prejudice and discrimination actions toward Aboriginal tribes (Ashkanasy, 2007). However, the concept that is used by most Australians today is the concept of equalitarianism (Perkerti ;amp; Sendjaya, 2010). Especially, w hen equal right are protected and enforce by the Australian legislation and government; and if a person fail to abide this means that the person is liable for lawsuit (Campton, Nankervis ;amp; Morrisey, 2009).In 2008, more than 200 unions leaders developed ‘a new framework for future campaigns’ with six key priorities: a voice for working Australians and their families; improving wages and working conditions; creating a fairer society; growing union membership; organizing workplaces, industries and sectors; and connecting with communities and regions (Brigden, 2008). Thus, because of multicultural factor in Australia and the law also protect people from discrimination, it concept of social status is not as high compare to Indonesia.Nowadays, most of Australian (especially since generation x), values the concept of work life balance based on the balance between works and outside work commitment (Allan, 2011). Family is a crucial part of the life part in work-life balance concept for workers (Allan, 2011). Thus most Australian companies used the concept of â€Å"family friendly† as an attempted to support work-personal life balance and reduce labour turn over (Burke, Oberklaid ;amp; Burgees, 2003).Especially towards attracting and attaining women in the workforce, thus there is an increasing number of women in the workforce thus moving further away from the concept of traditional role of women (Burke, Oberklaid ;amp; Burgees, 2003). Thus, by using Hofstede’s four dimensions on Indonesia and Australia national cultures, HR researchers found that Indonesians score very high in power distance, very high on collectivism, moderately high in ‘‘femininity’’, and moderately high in ‘‘uncertainty avoidance’’ (Stening ;amp; Ngan, 1997).Whereas, Australian in the â€Å"Anglo† group scored low in power distance, very high in individualism, moderately high in masculinity, moderaly low in un certainty avoidance, and very low in long term orientation (Ashkanasy, 2007). After understanding the basic concept of subsidiaries nation culture, and compare it to host nation’s culture; MNEs need to assess the impacts of work values on behaviours and interactions in the workplace, particularly where these values might diverge among work team members and between superiors and subordinates (Piers, Stanton ;amp; Ostenfeld, 2006).Multinational enterprises (MNEs) recognize that human resources play an important role in developing and sustaining a competitive advantage in today's highly competitive global business environment (Briscoe and Schuler. 2004). Staffing of foreign subsidiaries continues to an important strategic human resource practice that MNEs use to develop and sustain a competitive advantage in the international marketplace (Tarique, Schuler & Gong, 2006).MNEs can staff their foreign subsidiaries with parent country nationals (PCNs), host country nationals (HCN s) and third country nationals (TCNs) or any combination of the three (Tarique, Schuler & Gong, 2006. ) One of the ways to reduce the labour turn over in international expatriate is by merging organisational cultures and personal interest in order to build a common value and relationship (Harpaz & Meshoulan, 2010).However, the challenges are the information sharing and integrating business conduct with foreign culture (Tarique, Schuler & Gong, 2006). The reliable information will become harde to interpret when cultural and physical distance increase, information asymmetry becomes more serious, complete and accurate information about subsidiary employee actions and performance becomes more difficult and expensive to obtain, and subsidiary actions become harder to interpret (Tarique, Schuler & Gong, 2006).These complicate both behavioural and outcome controls (Tarique, Schuler & Gong, 2006). Moreover, information sharing will not be efficient when expatriate is exp eriencing culture shock that set in when coping with the new environment on a daily basis becomes necessary (Piers, Stanton & Ostenfeld, 2006). Thus, expatriates in culture shock display a variety of ‘‘obvious symptoms’’, including excessive concern about minor issues, preoccupation with cleanliness of drinking water, food nd surroundings, fear of being cheated, robbed or injured, depression, feelings of helplessness, anger over delays and other minor frustrations, reluctance to learn the host language, dependence on long- term residents of their own nationality and lack of awareness about behaving dysfunctional (Piers, Stanton & Ostenfeld, 2006). While there may be some commonly shared ethical attitudes across nations, even those countries that share similar national cultures may find quite conflicting ethical expectations (Sims, 2006). It is unreasonable to assume that one’s own ethical views are always superior (Sims, 2006).Yet, for cross- cultural businesses to be successful, a reasonable knowledge of the ethical attitudes of the residents of those countries in which we conduct business is a necessity (Sims, 2006) Thus, in order to maintain survival or/and competitive advantage, organisations should ? nd ways to assure that employees do not easily leave their positions to work for the competition; because their skills cannot easily be bought nor imitated (Harpaz & Meshoulan, 2010). This can be achieved with effective training programs before transferring to the subsidiary country and choosing prospective candidate that is the ‘best fit’ for the assignment.As organizations change and adapt to pressures in the external and internal environment, managers and employees are required to learn new competencies and skills by training programs (Pruetipibultham, 2012). Even though training program is costly, but it will most likely to benefit the company in the long run (Murray, 2011). Technical training and c urrent cross-cultural training programs, together with facilitation of expatriate networks, do not appear to adequately address expatriate failure (Piers, Stanton & Ostenfeld, 2006).When the destination of the expatriate is a culturally diverse country, training that addresses the ethnic networks and other socializing resources within the host country by retaining links with the home country; this should facilitate expatriate and family adjustment, leading to lower costs from a lower incidence of cultural shock and thus more effective assignments (Piers, Stanton & Ostenfeld, 2006). Organizations wishing to use expatriates in their inter national ventures might, during the planning stage for overseas start-ups, seek advice from Government and other bodies, uch as industry groups, on the presence, characteristics, and contacts of ethnic population groups in overseas locations (Piers, Stanton & Ostenfeld, 2006). Such information needs to be integrated into the expatriate tr aining process (Piers, Stanton & Ostenfeld, 2006). Ethnic group lifestyle is also likely to reflect changes in the home country that have been imported with each new arrival (Piers, Stanton & Ostenfeld, 2006). This means that expatriate arrivals may help reduce the cultural distance of the ethnic minority group to their home country (Piers, Stanton & Ostenfeld, 2006).Hence, reverse cultural shock, associated with the expatriate’s retur n home on assignment completion, may also be improved upon (Piers, Stanton & Ostenfeld, 2006). Ethical conflicts that may emerge due to basic differences in the ethical attitudes of people who were raised in cultures quite different from our own (Sims, 2006). However, flexibility in adapting to changes can be achieved by merging organisational cultures and personal interest by building share values and gaining trust; and when workers in the organisation have the same share values they will more likely to have stronger commitment with each other (Barbash, J. amp; Barbash, K. , 1989). The transcultural value is de? ned as those values that have been shared among a variety of cultures throughout history or are crucial for daily functioning (Wieland, 2009). The transcultural value system is meant to guide corporations toward a somewhat uniform and universally accepted standard of ethical behavior (Hemphill & Lillevik, 2011). The commitment of individuals on how they behave and team spirit are a key factor to quality work rather than on their acquired technical skills and passive execution of orders receive (Barbash, J. amp; Barbash, K. , 1989). Thus, an improved understanding of corporate culture can be seen as a one step towards more successful negotiation strategies and the development of desirable outcomes (Moore, 1997). In conclusion, there are several difficult challenges to the practice of international human resource management (IHRM) arises from the different encounters in various countries and mul tinational enterprise (MNE) cultures (Briscoe, Schuler & Tarique, 2012). The adaptation erspective discussed in this article recognises that cultural distances exist and proposes country-specific cultural training incorporating technical competencies, expatriate networks, ethnic group social networks and resources, and ICT to bridge such distances (Piers, Stanton & Ostenfeld, 2006). Thus, the success of integrating cultural aspects in IHRM practice can have significant effects on the overall MNEs overseas operation; that will define the future performance of the organisation and the employees’ quality of life (Darling & Heller, 2009). Reference: Ashkanasy, N. M. 2007). ’The Australian Enigma,’ in culture and leadership across the world: A GLOBE report of in-depth studies of the cultures of 25 countries. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Allan, J. (2011). Mining’s relocation culture: The experiences of family members in the context of fre quent relocation. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 31 (5/6), 272-286. Barbash, J. & Barbash, K. (1989). Theories and Concepts in Industrial Relations. SC: University of South Carolina Press, 114-116. Bennington, L. & Habir, A. D. (2003). Human resource management in Indonesia.Human Resource Management Review, 13(3), 373. Brigden, C. (2009). Unions and collective bargaining in 2008. Journal of Industrial Relations. Retrieved from http://jir. sagepub. com/content/51/3/365 Briscoe, D. , Schuler, R. , Tarique, I. (2012). International human resource management: policies and practices for multinational enterprises (4th ed. ). New York: Routledge. Brewster, C. & Bennett, C. V. (November, 2010). Perceptions of business cultures in eastern Europe and their implications for international HRM. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 21(14), 2568-2588.Burke, R. J, Oberklaid, F. , Burgees, Z. (2003). Organisational values, work experiences, and s atisfactions among Australian psychologist. International Journal of Organisational Analysis, 11(2), 123-135. Darling, J. R. & Heller, V. (2009). Organization Development in an Era of Socioeconomic Change: A Focus on The Key to Successful Management Leadership. Organization Development Journal, 27 (2), 9-26. De Cieri, H. , Fenwick, M. & Hutchings, K. (April, 2005). The challenge of international human resource management: balancing the duality of strategy and practice.International Journal of Human Resource Management, 16(4), 584-598. Dessler, G. (2008). Human resource management (11th ed). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. Dowling, P. J. & Welch, D. E. (1988). International human resource management: an Australian perspective. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 6(1), 39-65. Gahan, P. & Abeysekera, L. (January, 2009). What shapes an individual’s work values? An integrated model of the relationship between work values, national culture and self co nstrual. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 20(1), 126-147.Harpaz, I. & Meshoulam, I. (2010). The meaning of work, employment relations, and strategic human resources management in Israeli. Human Resource Management Reviews, 20, 212-223. Hemphill, T. & Lillevik, W. (2011). The global economic ethic manifesto: implementing moral values foundation in the multinational enterprise. Journal of Business Ethics, 101(2), 213-230. Hofstede, G. (1997). Culture and organizations: software of the mind. New York: McGraw-Hill. Hutchings, K. & Ratnasari, S. W. (2006). Cross cultural non-work transition stresses: domestic transferees in Indonesia.Cross Cultural Management: An International Journal, 13(2), 114-131. Lertxundi, A. & Landeta, J. (November, 2011). The moderating effect of cultural context in the relation between HPWS and performance: an exploratory study in Spanish multinational companies. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 22(18), 3 949-3967. Nankervis, A. , Campton, R. & Morrisey, B. (2009). Effective Recruitment and Selection Practices (5th ed. ). NSW: CCH Australian Limited. Noesjirwan, J. (1978). A rule based analysis of cultural differences in social behavior: Indonesia and Australia.International Journal of Psychology, 13(4), 305-316. Mendenhall, M. E. , Jensen, R. J. , Black, J. S. & Gregersen, H. B. (2003). Seeing the elephant: human resource management challenges in the age of globalisation. Organizational Dynamics, 32(3), 261-274 Murray, C. (2011, September 12). Quarry Australia has no people. The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved from http://www. smh. com. au/business/quarry-australia-has-no-people-20110912-1k5c2. html Pekerti, A. A. & Sendjaya, S. (2010). Exploring servant leadership across cultures: comparative study in Australia and Indonesia.International Journal of Human Resource Management, 21(5), 754-780. Pires, G. , Stanton, J. , Ostenfeld, S. (2006). Improving expatriate adjustmen t and effectiveness in ethnically diverse countries: marketing insights. Cross Cultural Management: An International Journal, Vol. 13 Iss: 2 pp. 156 – 170. Pruetipibultham, O. J. (2012, March 21). Developing human resource development interventions to aid expatriates’ cultural adaptation: insight of Javanese culture. Human Resource Development International, 15(1), 109-117. Reeves, M. amp; Deimler, M. (2011). Adaptability: The New Competitive Advantage. Harvard Business Review,. 89(7/8), 134-141. Schuler, R. S. , Budhwar, P. S. & Florkowski, P. W. (March, 2002). International human resource management: review and critique. International Journal of Management Reviews, 4(1), 41-70. Sims, R. L. (2006). Comparing ethical attitudes across cultures. Cross Cultural Management: An International Journal, 13(2), 101 – 113. Schuler, R. S. , Tarique, I. (2007). International human resource management: a North American perspective.International Journal of Human Resource Management, 18(5), 717-744. Stewart, T. A. (1993). Welcome to the revolution. Fortune, 128(15), 66-80. Thompson, E. (1994). Fair enough : Egalitarianism in Australia. 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Ancient Chinese Inventions and Contributions

Ancient Chinese Inventions and Contributions Humanities 111 Professor Abstract The following paper will show the contributions from ancient Chinese culture is amazing. There are many inventions and contributions that trace back to ancient Chinese culture. The top ten inventions and contributions continue to keep giving in today’s society. Ancient Chinese has contributed to helping jobs to exist, fight wars, and contribute to the overall public lives with their inventions and contributions.We as people living life and going about our business never really take the time to think about where and who has invented the joys we experience on a daily basis. One example is our very own boy scouts, go on a big jamboree every year. They normally go camping and hiking. A compass is used during this time frame. If you were to ask the average boy scout, who invented the compass? Many could not tell who or when was the compass invented. Ancient Chinese four most useful contributions or inven tions created were gun powder, the compass, paper making, and printing.These four inventions are very unique in their own way. I will explain why these four are the most useful inventions created by ancient Chinese. One of the few destructive inventions of ancient Chinese civilization was that of gunpowder. The discovery of gunpowder led to the invention of firearms and revolutionized battlefields in the Asian Continent. Chinese alchemists, whom were searching for an elixir of life, accidentally discovered the explosive property of gunpowder sometime around 9th century AD. By the end of the 10th century, Asian powers had introduced grenades, crude bombs and firearms onto battlefields.Use of cannons and bigger fire arms also became prevalent. (Yinke Deng, 2005) The compass was one of the most important technological developments in ancient China due to the fact that it promoted and aided exploration that was initiated by Chinese rulers. The development of the compass made China the f irst imperial power in the world. The Chinese empire was indeed termed as an imperial power until the end of monarchy in China and the royal place was also known as the Imperial Palace. The exact era or dynasty during which the Chinese invented the technology of paper manufacturing is uncertain.It is certain that the technology led to many more advancements as it facilitated scholars, philosophers and writers of Chinese civilization. Paper that was invented in ancient China was not only used as a medium of writing, but creative Chinese innovators also used it as a raw material for manufacturing bags as well as paper currency. Paper making can be traced down to the Han dynasty, which ruled from 202 BC to 220 AD, when court official Cai Lun set out to the task of making paper. He deployed mulberry, bast fibers, and waste material such as old rags and hemp waste. Yinke Deng, 2005) Lun also made use of fishing nets to bind the materials together. Some archaeological findings however, su ggest that paper in ancient China may have been invented during the 8th century BC. The invention of printing is regarded as one of the most important inventions, due to the fact that it made books cheaper. Cheaper books ensured an educated society. Many dynasties of courtiers and scholars from ancient China contributed to the development of the printing press. Printing technology started evolving sometime around 868 BC, with the printing of the first printed book titled The Diamond Sutra.The book was printed with the help of the wood block printing. It had become a very advanced technology by the end of the Song dynasty. Writer Shen Kuo, who was also a courtier of Songs, promoted the use of printing for the spread of knowledge. Bi Sheng, who was an artisan, invented the movable ceramic printing. Inventors like Hua Sui also attempted to invent the metal castings and rollers for movable printing. There are eight to ten useful inventions and contributions from the ancient Chinese that are still in use today.The ten ancient Chinese useful inventions or contributions are paper currency, row crops, deep drilling for gas, fireworks, gun powder, the flame thrower, the parachute, the wheel barrow, rudder, and the compass. Chinese inventions have contributed to mankind in many ways. Many of their discoveries start out in one form and can branch out to three or more end products. The four inventions or contributions from the ancient Chinese that have had the most impact on many countries and even changed the course of history to a certain extent were paper currency, gun powder, the parachute, and deep drilling for gas.I believe them to be the most ingenious and innovative of inventions. Paper currency changed the ways of handling money. The times of having to carry gold coins and precious metals to purchase goods and services were over. Before paper currency lugging gold and precious metals around was risky and hard to conceal. Paper currency is lightweight, discrete, a nd still exists in society today. As well as currency, the ways that gun powder has changed society are many. Gun powder has contributed to the gun, fireworks, and explosives of many types.The usage is wide ranged and without the use gun powder wars would have been a lot harder to win and a lot more primitive in style. It is hard to imagine the civil war without the use of musket guns and cannons. The invention of the parachute have also helped in many ways. Parachutes have saved many pilots’ lives. When an air plane fails in the sky or during a war when a plane is shot down, pilots can parachute to safety. Parachutes have facilitated the United States troops with fighting wars on enemy territories. Deep drilling for gas has helped many countries to better utilize their own resources.Deep drilling for gas has helped the United States in the fight to go green and help the environment. The deep drilling for gas technique has given many Americans jobs in the past and present, an d it is responsible for a considerable amount of America’s income. The ancient Chinese have invented and contributed to the discovery of many things used in society today. The one invention I cannot live without is paper currency. Money is what makes the world go round. I use money every day for many different reasons. On a daily basis, I use money (paper currency) to purchase gas, lunch, and beverages.On a weekly basis I use paper currency to rent DVDs, go to the movies, take my wife out to dinner, and get my haircut. It has changed and facilitate the world drastically. Paper currency is in circulation from many different countries and all vary in value and designs. References Yinke Deng. (October 2005). Ancient Chinese Inventions. China. China Intercontinental press Suzanne Morgan Williams. (January 1997). Made in China: Ideas and Inventions from Ancient China. Berkley, California. Pacific Press. (2008). Invention of Paper. Retrieved from http://www. culture-4-travel. com/i nvention-of-paper. html.