Chinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart Essay - 2168 Words

Things Fall Apart is a novel by Albert Chinualumogu Achebe, a Nigerian author, critic, novelist, professor and writer. He was born in November 16th 1930 and died on March 21st 2013. The novel was set in the 80 s. Things Fall Apart is generally seen as Achebe s way of taking back Africa from Joseph Conrad and Heart of Darkness.More than that, it s Achebe s way of talking back to Conrad about Africa.The novel focuses on the Igbo people in the years leading up to the arrival of the first Christian missionaries and it follows Okonkwo, a respected member of the tribe, as he builds up his reputation; knocks it down again with some unintentional murders; loves, raises, and kills an adoptive son; and is exiled for killing a different boy.Basically, we get to see the ins and outs of pre-colonized Africa and get a hint of what s to come when the missionaries show up.So here s Achebe s quandary: how does he remain a hardcore critic of a colonial regime that imposes its language on a native po pulation when he himself writes (and writes so well) in English—the tongue of the colonizer? These days, most scholars read Achebe s quandary as what it is: a problem that greets most postcolonial writers who have no real choice but to write in the dominant or hegemonic language since that s what they were taught. And, for the most part, postcolonial scholars do get that Achebe tries something different with language in his novel. The way he incorporates the language of the IgboShow MoreRelatedChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1719 Words   |  7 PagesThings fall apart is a classic novel written around the turn of the century, the novel focuses on the protagonist who we can also call a hero, Okonkwo. Okonkwo is a wealthy and respected leader within the Igbo tribe of Umuofia in eastern Nigeria. Strong individual with a passionate belief in all the values and traditions of his people. Chinua Achebe presents Okonkwo as a particular kind of tragic protagonist, a great man who carries the fate of his people. Okonkwo is a man who is inflexible andRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1033 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction Chinua Achebe is a famous Nigerian novelist in worldwide. Things fall apart is Chinua Achebe’s first novel published in 1958, the year after Ghana became the first African nation to gain independence. And this novel is one of the first African novels to gain worldwide recognition. (Phil Mongredien, 2010) This novel presents people a story of an African Igbo tribal hero, Okonkwo, from his growth to death. The fate of Okonkwo also indicates the fate of Africa caused by the colonizationRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart883 Words   |  4 Pagesdehumanize the native population and convince themselves that they are helping. Chinua Achebe’s book Things Fall Apart attempts to correct these misguided views of African societies by portraying a more complex culture that values peace, and the art of conversation. Achebe also tries to portray the idea that not all European people they come in contact with are aggressive, and misconstrued in their view of the African societ ies. Achebe tries to show us the value of his society through repeated views into conversationsRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1410 Words   |  6 PagesTeddy Manfre Ms. Blass ENG 209-001 April 24, 2017 Things Fall Apart In 1958, Chinua Achebe a famous Nigerian author publishes one of his most famous novels Things Fall Apart. The novel takes place in a Nigerian village called Umuofia. During the time that this novel is published Nigeria is being criticized by the Europeans for being uncivilized. In response, Achebe uses his brilliance in this novel to express the valued history of his people to his audience. His focus in the novel is on the pre-colonizedRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1015 Words   |  5 PagesIn his novel Things Fall Apart, author Chinua Achebe utilizes his distinctive writing style in order to accurately capture the culture and customs of the Igbo people despite writing his story in a foreign language. Five aspects of Achebe’s style that make his writing unique is the straightforward diction present in dialogue, the inclusion of native parables convey Igbo life authentically, the inclusion of native Igbo words and phrases, detailed descriptions of nature and the usage of figurative languageRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1702 Words   |  7 PagesTitle: Things Fall Apart Biographical information about the author: Chinua Achebe was born in Nigeria in 1930. He had an early career as a radio host, and later became the Senior Research Fellow at the University of Nigeria. After moving to America, he became an English professor at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Achebe has won numerous awards for his poetry and fiction, including the Man Booker prize and Commonwealth Poetry Price. He currently teaches at Bard College. Author: Chinua AchebeRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart Essay1347 Words   |  6 PagesCulture is an Important Element of Society Chinua Achebe is the author of when Things Fall Apart while Joseph Conrad authored Heart of Darkness. Conrad and Achebe set their individual titles in Africa; Achebe is an African writer whereas Conrad is Polish-British. The authors draw strength from their backgrounds to validity the authenticity of their fictional novels. Conrad writes from his experiences in the British and French navies while Achebe uses his African heritage. The theme of culture isRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1248 Words   |  5 PagesChris Lowndes Ms. Cook A.P.L.C. 21 October 2015 We Are Family: Hardships in One s Family in Things Fall Apart Specific attributes correlate with each other to help create or not create the ideal strong family. However, through those attributes arise conflicts and major disputes. This issue of trying to achieve and create a strong family is of immense importance in one’s life, especially in Chinua Achebe’s, Things Fall Apart, a milestone in African literature. For instance, the father leaves his legacyRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart Essay1682 Words   |  7 Pagescertain degree of the priest class, libation, holidays, creation stories, divine systems of punishments and rewards. In the novel, Things Fall Apart, written by Chinua Achebe, is a story of tragic fall of a protagonist and the Igbo culture. Achebe demonstrates different examples and situations of where an African culture, in the instances of tribal religions, did certain things because of their tradition is and the way they developed into. African cultures pondered life mysteries and articulated theirRead Mo reChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1314 Words   |  6 PagesChinua Achebe masterpiece â€Å"Things Fall Apart† (1959) is the classic story of Okonkwo, a young man who strives to be revered by his village and family but because of his own internal character flaws meets his own demise. In the Igbo culture, family traditions are an important narrative throughout the novel. Okonkwo, the protagonist character of this story, begins with many attributes of what would be concluded as a hero with his cultural society. He is hard working, a material provider, feared and

Pd help Free Essays

Outline TWO indicators of morbidity. Include examples in your answer. Morbidity is the incidence or level of illness, disease or injury in a given population. We will write a custom essay sample on Pd help or any similar topic only for you Order Now Two indicators of morbidity include: Hospital use, by the cause and number of admissions. It provides a measure of the rates of illness and accidents to the community, major reasons for ill health and information on serious diseases. Yet, it is not descriptive of less serious illnesses and ill health. For example, hospitalisation statistics have limitations as an indicator of morbidity because they treat each episode as a new case rather than having re- admissions of the same condition. Disability and handicap, which is lead to by the incidence of disease or injury. An example of handicap could be an individual injured in an accident which has become impaired, resulting in an abnormal function or loss of physical or mental capacities. This could cause disability by disturbing the individual’s normal activity or performance. An example of disability can be loss of ability in verbal communication. . What should consumers consider before choosing complementary and/or alternative health care approaches? (4 Marks) Prior to choosing complementary and/or alternative health care approaches, consumers should investigate the service offered and the credibility of the practitioner. Making informed choices should be completed by gathering information specific to the nature of the alternative medicine, credibility as an effective type of treatment, questioning friends and the community about experiences and recommendations and also the qualifications and experience of practitioners. Alternative medicines have endeavoured the highest quality of treatment by providing courses within the technique. For example, the Bowen Therapy Academy of Australia offers an introductory course followed by a 6 month practitioner course to obtain accreditation. 3. Why is it important to prioritise health issues in Australia? How to cite Pd help, Papers

Battle of Gettysburg Essay Example For Students

Battle of Gettysburg Essay The Battle of GettysburgThe Battle of Gettysburg was the most decisive battle for the North, and it lasted for a total of three days. It began on July 1 and ended on July 3, 1863. The Confederacy was going on the offensive and was beginning to venture into Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Washington D.C. They encountered Union troops as they advanced towards Harrisburg where they planned to cut off Union supply lines and to steal provisions that they needed. The Battle of Gettysburg became the bloodiest multi-day battle ever fought in United States history. At the end of the Battle of Gettysburg, the Union claimed victory, and they would use this psychological advantage throughout the rest of the Civil War. We Know annually celebrate the people who fought for our country.

Toni MorrisonS Essay Recitatif Essays - Recitatif,

Toni Morrison'S Essay ?Recitatif? Mark Sommers Feldman 11/27/99 Recitatif Toni Morrison's essay, ?Recitatif? is about two girls, Twyla and Roberta, who grow up in an orphanage because their mothers could not properly care for them. The underlying theme in ?Recitatif? deals with racism. An interesting twist is the mystery of the girls' race. Leaving clues, but never stating whether Twyla or Roberta was black or white, Morrison makes it clear that the girls come from different ethnic backgrounds. At one point in the essay Twyla comments, ?that we looked like salt and pepper.? Due to the fact that the story is told in the first person, it seems natural for the reader to associate Twyla with himself/herself. ?Recitatif? proves to be a noteworthy experiment, ?toying? with the reader's emotions and effectively noting stereotypical races and their characteristics. Morrison never states the race of the girls for a purpose: to make the reader form his/her own opinion. The story begins with Twyla's mother dropping her off at the orphanage. There she met Roberta, who became her best friend, bonding because they were not real orphans with ?beautiful dead parents in the sky.? Instead of being ?real? orphans, they were just abandoned kids whose mother's did not want them. Although the girls had few friends, their lives did not lack adventure. For example, they enjoyed spying on the big girls who liked to smoke and dance, and sadly got a laugh out of yelling mean things at Maggie, the woman who couldn't defend herself because she was mute. One of the last times the girls saw each other in the orphanage was the day of the picnic. Shortly after the picnic Roberta's mother came to take her home, marking the first small fracture in their friendship. The next time they saw each other was years later in the restaurant that Twyla worked. Roberta acts coldly towards Roberta partly because she was high off of drugs, on her way to see a Jimi Hendrix concert. Twyla was deeply offended that her former best friend would treat her so badly. Twelve years later they meet again at a grocery store. Roberta married a rich man and was now called Mrs. Benson; she was dressed in dimonds and talked much nicer to Twyla. By this time, Twyla has one child and Roberta has four. Strangely, Roberta acts extremely friendly, like she has met her long lost best friend. Twyla can't hold back her emotions and questions Roberta about their last encounter at the restaurant. Roberta shrugs it off, ?Oh, Twyla, you know how it was in those days: black?white. You know how everything was.? A friendly goodbye and the women go their own separate ways again. The third time they meet is at the school where Roberta's kids attend. Roberta and the other mothers were picke ting because they didn't want their kids to be segregated. This led to a fight that would be not resolved until Twyla and Roberta meet for a final time, severing any last chance of friendship for the women. The problem lies inside the hearts of two special women, two childhood friends, and two different races. ?Recitatif? challenges the reader to not be judgmental toward of the either girls and accept their color. Morrison gives clues to encourage the reader to make assumptions about the girls' race. From the beginning the author asserts that one girl is black and one is white, but not which is which. There are many instances that Morrison uses things that are stereotypically ?black? or ?white,? almost begging one to infer the race of each girl. Although there is no answer to the mystery, what one decides for himself/herself says something about his/her own ethnic background. Morrison thrives off the stereotypes people have set for blacks and whites. For example, Twyla's mother told her that ?those? people smelled funny because they didn't wash their hair. This might suggest that Roberta was black because many black people don't wash their hair often. On the other hand she could have been talking about the orphans not bathing properly which could cause them to smell ?funny.? Everything seems to be a gray area. On the night of the picnic when her mother came to visit, Twyla was embarrassed because

Most Popular Articles February 2008

Most Popular Articles February 2008 Most Popular Articles February 2008 Most Popular Articles February 2008 By Daniel Scocco Below you will find the most popular articles of the past month. Check them out if you missed any. Laugh About Writing: Writing doesn’t always have to be a serious business. Though it’s wise to make sure that you write correctly, there’s a lot of fun to be had when playing with words. Poll: Should We Write email or e-mail? I am pretty sure that you already considered if you should be writing the abbreviation of electronic mail as email or e-mail (or as something else yet). The same confusion applies to the abbreviations of electronic commerce, electronic book and so on. Top 5 Tips When Bidding For Freelance Work: One way of obtaining freelance work is by bidding for work through websites like GetAFreelancer.com, Guru.com or Elance.com. This route to contract work is a handy tool for stop-gap work but can be a minefield for the uninitiated. The idea is based on the eBay model, where clients post the type of work they are looking for within a budget range, timescale, and description of the work they need completed. Freelancers then bid on the job, and the client selects the best fit, or sometimes unsurprisingly, the cheapest offer of work. Rite, Write, Right, Wright: Here are four frequently misspelled words that your computer Spell Check won’t catch. What is the Difference Between Metaphor and Simile?: The terms metaphor and simile are slung around as if they meant exactly the same thing. A simile is a metaphor, but not all metaphors are similes. Fun With Words: Palindromes: Palindromes are words, phrases or number sequences that read the same way in both directions. Palindrome derives from the Greek for ‘running back again’. Both the Greeks and Romans are known to have enjoyed palindromes. The Greeks also published palindromic poetry. Warning: Microsoft Did Not Invent Grammar!: Most people who advise on writing tell you to check the spelling and grammar on your work. This is good advice. Top 5 Freelance Mistakes To Avoid: The road of freelance writing is fraught with pot-holes, sharp bends, and hidden horizons, so it pays to know a few of the mistakes in advance to help make the journey go that little bit smoother. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the General category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:4 Types of Gerunds and Gerund PhrasesWhenever vs. When EverCareful with Words Used as Noun and Verb

The Experts Guide to the AP Biology Exam

The Expert's Guide to the AP Biology Exam SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you're taking AP Biology, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with the exam before you get too far into the course. Preparing ahead of time for the AP exam format and fully understanding which concepts are covered on the AP Biology test can go a long way toward earning a high score (and potentially getting college credit!). This article will take you through the structure and scoring of the AP Bio exam and give you some key tips on the best ways to study for AP Biology. How Is the AP Biology Exam Structured? The AP Biology test has a multiple-choice section (that also includes grid-in questions, so it’s not purely multiple choice) and a free-response section. It is three hours long in total. The next AP Biology exam will take place on Monday, May 11, 2020, at 8 am. Multiple-Choice Section The first section on AP Bio consists of multiple-choice questions and a handful of grid-in questions. Here's an overview of what to expect: 63 multiple-choice questions Six grid-in questions 90 minutes long Worth 50% of your score Grid-in questions ask you to integrate math and science skills to make calculations and then enter your answer into a grid on the answer sheet (essentially, these are short-response questions that are similar to grid-in questions on the SAT Math section). Free-Response Section The second section is the free-response section, which looks like this: Six short-response questions Two long-response questions 90 minutes long (including a 10-minute reading period) Worth 50% of your score (25% for the short responses and 25% for the long responses) One of the long-response questions will be lab- or data-based, while all short-response questions require you to write at least a paragraph for your response or argument. Expectations of the AP Biology Exam Here's what both sections on the AP Biology test expect you to know how to do: Understand how graphical and mathematical models can be used to explain biological principles and concepts Make predictions and justify events based on biological principles Implement your knowledge of proper experimental design Interpret data Is this coffee smiling at me? Or am I delirious from lack of sleep? What's Tested on the AP Biology Exam? 4 Big Ideas The AP Biology test doesn't include a set number of questions that deal with each topic area, but you should note that the exam is centered around four major themes (or "Big Ideas," as the College Board calls them). Here's a list of these themes, followed by the topics that fall beneath each of them: Big Idea 1: The Process of Evolution Drives the Diversity and Unity of Life Topics that fall into this category include the following: Natural selection Mathematical modeling of populations Species classification Biodiversity Big Idea 2: Biological Systems Utilize Free Energy and Molecular Building Blocks to Grow, to Reproduce, and to Maintain Dynamic Homeostasis Topics that fall into this category include the following: Molecular biology Cell structure Photosynthesis Cellular respiration Thermodynamics and homeostasis The immune response Big Idea 3: Living Systems Store, Retrieve, Transmit, and Respond to Info That's Essential to Life Processes Here are the main topics in this category: Genetics The cell cycle (mitosis and meiosis) Viruses Communication between cells The endocrine system The nervous system Big Idea 4: Biological Systems Interact, and These Systems and Their Interactions Have Complex Properties The topics that fall into this category include the following: Plant structure Enzymes The circulatory system Digestion The musculoskeletal system Ecology AP Biology Sample Questions Now that you have a basic content outline, here are some examples of the types of questions you'll see on the AP Biology test so that you can get an even better idea of what to expect. Multiple-Choice Here is an example of a multiple-choice AP Biology exam question: This question looks kind of complicated, but let’s break it down. The first sentence is background information that isn’t really necessary for answering the question, besides the fact that it tells us we’re talking about sickle cell anemia. This is helpful if you can remember basic facts about the disease that you can use to contextualize the question. The main part of the question asks what will be affected when you replace a hydrophilic amino acid with a hydrophobic one on a hemoglobin protein. Based on your knowledge of sickle cell anemia and molecular properties, you should be able to eliminate choices B and C, which don’t have much to do with the abnormality described in the question. Choice D can also be eliminated because the internal secondary structure of the protein is not altered by the existence of the hydrophobic group. This would only affect how the molecule interacts externally with other hemoglobin molecules, as in choice A (the correct answer). Grid-In Here’s an example of a grid-in question that you might see on the AP Biology test: This question just asks you to read a graph and perform some basic calculations. We can see from the graph that from day 3 to day 5, the population size grew from 200 to 900 individuals. This means that it increased by 700 individuals in total. If we divide 700 by the time period of two days, that's a mean growth rate of 350 individuals per day. Therefore, you would enter â€Å"350† into the grid for this question. Bacteria gettin' it on. Short Free Response Here’s an example of a short free-response question you might see on the AP Biology test: On this particular question, you could earn a maximum of 4 points (one for each type of data you describe in part a and one for the explanation for each in part b). Here are three types of data and their corresponding explanations you could cite for points: Option 1 Data Description: The ability of the plants to produce viable seeds/offspring in nature Explanation: This is consistent with the definition of a biological species Option 2 Data Description: Comparison of the two plants’ DNA sequences or structures of other conserved molecules. Explanation: Sufficient similarity between the DNA structures would support the existence of a single species Option 3 Data Description: Discovering the existence of fertile hybrid plant populations living between the two other populations of plants Explanation: This is also consistent with the definition of a biological species (again, ability to produce fertile offspring) There must be jobs out there for which you just have to collect plant samples. Start building your experience now by never showering. Long Free Response Here’s an example of a long free-response question you might see on the AP Biology exam: On this question, you could earn up to 10 points in total. Part A is worth 3 points. To earn these points, you have to: Create a graph that is correctly labeled, is correctly scaled, and uses proper units. Make it a bar graph with correctly plotted sample means. Show the standard error (+/- 2) on your graph above and below the means. Part B is worth 2 points. To earn these points, you have to: Identify populations I and III as the most likely to have statistically significant differences in the mean densities. Explain why this is the case (because the margins of error do not overlap for the mean densities of these two populations; 9+2 is less than 14-2). Part C is worth 5 points: You'd earn 2 points for identifying the independent variable (presence of herbivores) and dependent variable (trichome density). You would earn 1 point for identifying a control treatment (absence of herbivores). You would earn 1 point for identifying an appropriate duration of the experiment (more than one generation of plants). The final point would be earned by predicting experimental results that would support the hypothesis (higher trichome density under the experimental conditions as compared to the control conditions). Ugh, gross! This leaf is full of trichomes. How Is the AP Biology Exam Scored? As mentioned, on AP Bio the multiple-choice section (including the grid-ins) makes up 50% of your score, and the free-response section makes up the other 50%. For the multiple-choice section, it’s easy to calculate your raw score: you just get 1 point for each question you answer correctly. There are no point deductions for incorrect or blank answers. This is also true for the grid-in questions. Scoring is a bit more complicated on the free-response section (which is scored by actual graders rather than a computer). Each of the six short response questions has a different point value depending on its complexity. Three are scored out of 3 points, while the other three are scored out of 4 points. Finally, each long free-response question uses a 10-point scale. To figure out your final AP Bio score, you’ll need to do a couple more calculations. This can change from year to year based on the performance of students, but this is the most recent estimate I have regarding the methodology behind it: Multiply the number of points you got on the multiple-choice section by 1.03 Multiply the number of points you got on the two long free-response questions by 1.5 Multiply the number of points you got on the short free-response questions by 1.43 Add all these numbers together to get your raw AP Biology score Here's a conversion chart you can use to see how raw score ranges (generally) translate into final AP scores (on a scale of 1-5). I've also included the percentage of students who earned each score in 2017 to give you an idea of what the score distribution looks like: Raw Score AP Score % of Test Takers Earning Score (2017) 92-120 5 6.4% 72-91 4 21.0% 52-71 3 36.7% 31-51 2 27.5% 0-30 1 8.4% For example, if you got 40 points on the multiple-choice section, 13 points on the long-response questions, and 14 points on the short-response questions, your AP Bio score would be (40*1.03) + (13*1.5) + (14*1.43) = 80.72. This indicates that you'd likely earn a 4 on the AP Biology test. If you want to spice things up a little bit, you can even do the math on a snazzy calculator with red buttons! Isn't this fun?!?!? What’s the Best Way to Prep for the AP Biology Exam? Now that you know all about what's on the AP Biology test, it's time to learn how to ace it. Follow these four tips so you can get a great score! Tip 1: Review Your Labs Labs make up about 25% of the AP Biology course, and for good reason. It’s important to understand how labs are conducted and how the principles behind them relate to the main ideas of the course. This will help in answering both free-response and multiple-choice questions that deal with lab scenarios on the test. Many free-response questions ask you to identify the components of a proposed experiment (dependent and independent variables) or to design a lab to test a certain hypothesis. You might have forgotten about the labs you did toward the beginning of the year, so take extra care to go over them. Make sure that you understand exactly how they were conducted and what the results mean. Tip 2: Learn to Connect Small-Scale Terms With Large-Scale Themes The AP Biology test covers four major themes: Evolution Energy use in biological systems Processing of stimuli in biological systems Interaction of biological systems Under each of these umbrella topics are many terms and ideas you'll need to review. Memorization can be a big part of studying for AP Biology. However, memorizing the definitions of terms will only get you so far. You'll also need to understand how they relate to one another and to the four themes listed above. The exam emphasizes making connections between biological terms, corresponding biological systems, inputs and outputs of these systems, and the overall impact on living organisms and the environment. You should be able to follow a chain of reasoning from the specific to the broad, and vice versa. If this tree is AP Biology, the four big branches are the four themes, and all the smaller offshoots are different terms and concepts. For it to survive, there has to be a lot of communication between the trunk and the rest of the tree! Tip 3: Practice Eliminating Irrelevant Information Both multiple-choice and free-response AP Biology questions include lots of scientific terminology and visual aids, and this kind of format might be intimidating if you’re not used to it. It’s important to practice sorting through this jumble of information so that you can quickly get to the root of the question rather than obsessing over small details you don’t understand. Try underlining important words and phrases in the question to help you stay focused on the main points and avoid misleading distractions. You should also practice responding to free-response questions in a straightforward way without any unnecessary fluff. Remember, this isn’t an English test; the graders are just looking for clear facts and analysis. Make it easy for them to give you points! Tip 4: Learn Good Time Management The AP Bio exam is pretty long (even for an AP test), and many of the questions require quite a bit of thought. You need to ensure that you have a good handle on time management before exam day. The best way to do this is to take at least one AP Biology practice test. There are 69 questions in total on the multiple-choice section, and you have 90 minutes to answer them. This comes out to about one minute and 15 seconds for each question. Based on that fact, you should spend no more than a minute on each multiple-choice question the first time you go through a practice test. If you find yourself spending extra time on a question, skip it and come back to it later. It’s best to give yourself some leeway in case you run into trouble on the grid-in questions. You also have 90 minutes for the free-response section, but you'll spend different amounts of time on the long and short questions. Limit your time on the long questions to 22 minutes each or less (44 minutes total), and your time on the short questions to six minutes each or less. If you can’t work this fast right away, try doing additional practice free-response questions until you feel comfortable with the time constraints. Really get to know the test. Take it on a romantic getaway, and watch the sunset with it. Deep down, the AP Biology exam just wants to be understood. Summary: How to Do Well on the AP Biology Exam The AP Biology exam is three hours long, with two sections that take up an hour and a half each. The multiple-choice section has 69 questions in total, while the free-response section has eight questions in total. The content of the exam spans four major themes, or Big Ideas, that are central to the course. These include the following: Evolution Energy use within biological systems The processing of stimuli within biological systems Interactions that occur between biological systems on a larger scale in nature Questions ask you to connect specific terms and concepts to these central topics. They'll test your ability to interpret data, to make predictions and inferences based on biological evidence, and to analyze different experimental scenarios. Overall, AP Biology is a tough test, but as long as you study hard and know what to expect, you're perfectly capable of getting a great score! What's Next? Review key biology ideas and facts with our subject-focused guides. You'll learn about cell theory and the functions of the cell membrane and endoplasmic reticulum, what the distinction is between homologous and analogous structures, how enzymes work, and when and how to use the photosynthesis equation. If any of your prospective colleges require or recommend Subject Test scores, you might want to take the Biology SAT Subject Test in addition to the AP Biology test. Read this article to learn more about the differences between AP tests and Subject Tests, and which ones matter the most. Still planning out your class schedule? Find out how many AP classes you should take in high school based on your college goals. The difficulty level of different AP classes might play a role in your decision whether or not to take them. Check out these articles for more info on which AP classes are the hardest and which are the easiest. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Policy Recommendation for Bill Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Policy Recommendation for Bill - Term Paper Example As legislative assistant for Representative Jackson, I have put forth my argument ‘against’ the bill. For several years, men have been the target of drug-related acts and a plethora of them have had to face the sentence, for violating rules and for exceeding limitations. However, in the 1980s, the media-generated endemic of ‘crack babies’ has added fuel to the issue of pregnant women taking to drugs, especially cocaine and the eventual health-related problems of the child, leading to poverty and under-growth of the child. The pre-natal growth of the child has led to such a belief and this has bee fuelled by misrepresentation of information by the media and other quarters. It is indeed true that consumption of drugs by pregnant women can be harmful to the fetus, and can led to pre-natal health problems. â€Å"An article in the medical journal Lancet in 1989 found that scientific studies that concluded that exposure to cocaine prenatally had adverse effects on the fetus had a significantly higher chance of being published than more careful research finding no adverse effects.† Studies reveal that it is not only drugs that can lead to causing harm to the fetus, but also alcohol and tobacco. In fact, alcohol can lead to permanent retardation of the fetus and could be far more devastating that drugs like cocaine and marijuana. The fetal tobacco syndrome is one such case, which has led to a high number fo miscarriages and morbidity. The New York Times reported, that â€Å"the problems in many cases were traced not to drug exposure but to some other traumatic event, death in the

Getting a raise from your employer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Getting a raise from your employer - Essay Example If you would like to meet to discuss this, please let me know. I'm grateful for the opportunity to work for you and I enjoy doing so. I hope you'll agree that, in the past years I've worked for you, I've become an integral member of your team and accomplished a great deal. Here are some highlights of how I have helped the department and the company in the past few years: You can consult anyone in my department regarding the truthfulness of the above mentioned claims and then consider recommending my salary raise. As you can see my salary is much below the industry averages which is very devastating considering the work I do for the department. In researching the salary.com website, it notes the median expected salary for a typical Customer Service Rep. in the Atlantic City area is $17,715 which is too high considering the salary I receive in this company(and that too when I do multitasking). I have always been proactive throughout my career and have gone out of my ways to help others in my department thus contributing to the company as a whole. I have literally lived for the company for the past five years and have enjoyed each and every moment working in it.

Postcolonial Novel Essay Example for Free

Postcolonial Novel Essay To fully understand Chinua Achebe’s book Things Fall Apart, one must not fall for the idea that there is one main purpose for the novel. Simply stated the story is much too rich and complex for that. The themes of Okonkwo’s life, and the Ibo culture, are twofold: it is the relation of the conflict between an individual and society, and also the description of the conflict between the larger forces of cultures clashing. Support for this dual thesis is overwhelming. To begin with the text itself demands that interpretation. Things Fall Apart clearly begins with a focus directly aimed upon the main character of Okonkwo. It is going to revolve around his life. However, at the very same time, the protagonist is not mentioned even one time early on without being connected simultaneously with thoughts of both his home village and the larger culture of the Ibo people. This cannot be ignored. One could argue that rather than being a larger purpose book Things Fall Apart is just a novel of the life and growth of one man, but this is rather silly and simple. The title of the book puts one right on the path to refuting this, giving context to a larger meaning. It is clearly encouraging one to look at larger ‘things’ as opposed to a person. This is coupled with the basis for the title itself, quoted on the flyleaf: The Yeats’ poem The Second Coming: Turning and turning in a widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the center cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world. (Quoted in Things Fall Apart). Therefore given the context of a large chaotic world it would be more than naive to assume a different interpretation, that of a more concentrated work based upon an individual. To best prove the ambivalent statement of purpose about Achebe’s novel it is vital to review critical and popular commentary. This book has struck a highly resonant chord with readers in the fifty years since its first publication. It unabashedly describes an African culture in such a way that the power of the society is shown, and the power of the African individual is also demonstrated. Naturally, all minority groups and oppressed people can find inspiration within the pages. As a result, as may be expected, strong opinions have been catalogued as analysis over time. This paper reviews two such supports for each purpose stated in the thesis. The first part deals with the conflict between individuals and society. The primary source naturally is the book itself. Briefly paraphrased Okonkwo is a well known warrior. He is extremely self centered and important at the beginning of the novel. This has as its roots a severe cynicism regarding the life and experiences of his father Unoka. In a world where the society of Ibo is stronger than the individuals, this lack of respect seeps into Okonkwo’s world. The foible is too much and eventually pits him at odds with his society. Charles H. Rowell held a conversation regarding this aspect of Things Fall Apart with the author himself. What resulted was a fine understanding and awareness of this thesis through the words of Achebe. One example of his thought process and the workings of the story of Okonkwo on a personal level is this answer. â€Å"People are expecting from literature serious comment on their lives. They are not expecting frivolity† (250). Or as Rowell comments, the creation of Achebe’s stories such as Okonkwo’s are not made just to entertain. They are to connect with readers about their own experiences and then instruct them from there. Rowell’s interview shows an awareness of the importance of the social story. His questions aim to reveal this oft overlooked aspect of writings such as Things Fall Apart. It is tempting, he relates to merely dismiss (if this is even fair wording) the book as commenting only on the larger theme of Ibo society and what happens when an established social realm is invaded by foreigners. Instead he and Achebe through the discussion point to the power of a narrative surrounding the conflict that one can have on a smaller, more concentrated level: the conflict that occurs when one runs counter to their own society’s expectations. When Okonkwo becomes too heavily involved on a personal level with the sacrifice of the neighboring Mbaino culture, he runs into direct opposition to the world directly around him. That and his character traits create early conflict and show to the world a story based upon that – an important revelation to readers across the spectrum that may find themselves sometimes in this predicament. The biography of Achebe by Ezenwa-Ohaeto reveals this purpose to be true as well. And this comes from a treatment of just where Achebe was in his own personal life and the moods and hopes that he possessed while writing the book. He was working as a controller at the time in Eastern Region when he first began attempting to introduce Things Fall Apart to the publishing world. At this time, he ran into the sort of direct conflict with his own society, ironically, that he would develop in the story of Okonkwo. There was great objection to a book about Africans by Africans at the time. The 1950s were not exactly a compassionate moment for the words of Africans. Independence was on the horizon for many countries, but there was also a great deal of fear. This desire of many to not rock the boat, so to speak, put those who would speak out in a path of intersection with their own society (65). This only encouraged Achebe to produce a vision of that for his protagonist. There must be the strong character trait in one that wishes to change his social culture for the better, he reflects in his novel. The experience of Okonkwo is the experience of an individual in conflict with his society and the results that may come, unexpected or not, from that. The second section concerns itself with the conflict inherent when two cultures clash. This is the broader perspective, necessarily, compared to the experience of the individual. This also is the more basic and popular understanding of the novel. It is very easy to see all of the reasons why. Again, a look at the primary source of the novel is the starting point for any discussion. Commentary on the book will never quite serve the reader as well as the book itself. And what does it indicate? Most of the second section of the story is examining what happened to the Ibo people and their culture when the white culture insidiously worked their way into it. It broke the home culture into pieces. Things did, indeed fall apart. Consider this quote directly from the book: If we fight the stranger we shall hit our brothers and perhaps shed the book of a clansman. But we must do it. Our fathers never dreamed of such a thing, they never killed their brothers. But a white man never came to them. So we must do what our fathers would never have done. (Achebe 203). There is no better analysis of this second theme of Achebe’s work. Two cultures clash. Chaos results. And yet that is only the superficial layer of the problem, as this quote clearly shows. The problem that occurs when cultures come into contact and then conflict with each other is the assimilation effect. There will always be faction that fall prey to the invaders and their attractive ideas. Sometimes that is enough for them to forget the values of their peoples. This conflict then with their own home society can cause open resentment and actual warfare. Then the culture falls into shambles even worse as shared societal values are discarded. In the end there are not only two social cultures left: the home and the invaders. There are three: the home culture, the invaders, and the home culture that is infected by the invaders. None of them are true allies and only further conflict can be expected. Chapter three of John Ball’s book Satire and the Postcolonial Novel (79-114) examines this issue and the breakdown that results from it. He takes the even larger view that is used often as well when looking at the clashing of the Ibo with the whites that have come into their world. He reviews this setting of Things Fall Apart to be a criticism and revelation of the greater issues of colonialism in Africa (and other parts of the world, for that matter) as seen through one African author’s eyes. Rather than look too thoroughly at the early parts of the novel, he focuses rather on the part of the book in which the two cultures come into contact. This is the point of departure for this second theme. It is accurate to say that most of the pages from that spot and onward deal with this cultural clashing issue. I think, too, that it is accurate that this does work as a satire. That is to say that I fully believe that Achebe is trying to achieve this effect. Only too well did he personally understand what happens when two completely variant cultures meet. His hope and the hope of the Africans around him was that if treated peacefully, the foreign culture would come in and only benefit them, but he also saw the harsher side of the realities. This is how Things Fall Apart deals with the situation. Ball is not the only one who could see this expression in the novel and in other works by Achebe. It is a strong defense of the idea that one of the two main themes of the book is that of what happens when two cultures clash. A final proof would use is Isidore Okpewho’s commentary on Achebe in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart: A Casebook. She sees too this problem with assimilation, cultural conflict and resultant expectations. These are all the values and stories of Things Fall Apart. Seen from the outside she has several comments and thoughts about how these topics are addressed by connecting them to the outside world at the time of the writing. She describes the authorship of this book as being a â€Å"succession of forces controlling his [Achebe’s] development as a writer† (5). This is a great assessment. It sets the stage for understanding the direction of his landmark work Things Fall Apart. It is indeed this stage that the book concerns itself with. There is a succession of forces, to use Okpewho’s words, that are acting upon the Ibo culture. These control the development of the world of that African region and create mass conflict between the two cultures. The assimilation effects, she continues, were strongest in the Ibo part of the world. This is accurately reflected, too, in the sinister ways in which the foreigners crept in with their influences. That is the warning cry of Okonkwo with the text. He sees that the policy of indirect rule is only designed to place one group of people into opposition with another group of their own people. This splinters and fragments the strength of the initial cultures. It created enemies where there weren’t any other, as reflected in the quote concerning the killing of brethren, used above. This was the white way. It is no surprise then, that this theme would find its way so strongly into Things Fall Apart. The topic is addressed as a cautionary tale. Achebe had already seen this happen in his own world. He saw the sad results. He knew how destructive the penetration of home cultures could be. All of these can be found in Part Three of the book. â€Å"It is already too late,† said Obierika sadly. â€Å"Our own men and our sons have joined the ranks of the stranger. They have joined his religion and they help to uphold his government† (176). It is the despondent tone of the theme describing the clash of cultures. All of the above commentary from several sources, combined with a close and analytical reading of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart reveals the thesis to be strongly supported. Of the novel’s purpose, two things then are true: it aim to relate an expression of conflict between an individual and society, while concurrently exploring the description of conflicts resulting from the larger forces of cultures clashing. References Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. New York: Anchor Books, 1994. Print. Ball, John C. Satire the Postcolonial Novel: V. S. Naipaul, Chinua Achebe, Salman Rushdie. New York: Routledge, 2003. 79-114. Print. Ohaeto, Ezenwa. Chinua Achebe: A Biography. Oxford: James Currey, 1997. Print. Okpewho, Isidore, Ed. Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart: A Casebook. Oxford: UP, 2003. Print. Rowell, Charles H. â€Å"An Interview with Chinua Achebe. † Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart: A Casebook. Ed. Isidore Okpewho. Oxford: UP, 2003. 249-272. Print. Conversations with Chinua Achebe. Ed. Bernth Lindfors. Jackson, MS: UP, 1997. Print.

Indecision, Hesitation and Delay in Shakespeares Hamlet - Procrastination :: GCSE Coursework Shakespeare Hamlet

Hamlet's Procrastination In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Hamlet’s tragic flaw is his procrastination. From the first time Hamlet was acted until now, critics have fought over the reason for Hamlet’s procrastination. Some say that the cause is due to Sigmund Freud’s theory that Hamlet has an "Oedipal Complex," which is his love for his mother. Others argue that he just never finds the right time to carry out the revenge of his father’s murder. The Oedipal Complex theory in regard to Hamlet’s situation seems more likely because of the amount of times Hamlet has to kill Claudius but always fins a reason not to kill him. If it is not the case, then the cause of the procrastination remains a mystery. There is no reason for Hamlet not to kill Claudius, whom he hates, and was ordered by a higher power to destroy, other than the fact that subconsciously, Hamlet needed Claudius to keep him away from his mother. Hamlet procrastinated only because of his fear of intimacy with his mother, knowing that Claudius was the only person separating he and Gertrude. Although Hamlet has a pious duty to avenge his father’s murder, his desire for his mother is too strong for him to leave an open pathway to her. He tries to find excuses to postpone his killing Claudius. First, he tries to discover whether or not Claudius really did kill King Hamlet, which gives him some time. After he has convinced himself that Claudius is to blame, he attempts to murder him just twice. The first time, he finds Claudius praying, and uses that as a scapegoat so he can again put off his pious duty. Later when he is alone with Gertrude, he thinks that Claudius is behind the curtains, and kills the man there. Unfortunately, Polonius becomes the victim of Hamlet’s dagger. The only time when Hamlet does not hesitate to carry out his pious duty is when he is in the bedroom with Gertrude. Unfortunately by mere coincidence, Polonius is the man behind the bedroom curtain, not Claudius. Hamlet stabs Polonius instinctively because he is where he truly desires to be, with his mother. This is the only time when Hamlet actually has the courage to try to kill Claudius, thus opening the path to Gertrude. All of the other times in the play, Hamlet is either alone or with people who he needs to hide his desire from.

Shortage of Water in Pakistan

Shortage of water in Pakistan As we all know, Pakistan is facing severe shortage of water. There are two main reasons, one due to persistent droughts—which is beyond the control of a man, and the other due to miss-management of water resources. Impact on economy / society * Less water means less agricultural yields, meaning they cannot fulfill the food requirements of the nation, so they need to be dependent on other countries. Due to less production of main crops, which are wheat, cotton, sugar cane and rice, the Industries related to them will suffer adversely * Less agricultural outputs will compel people to head towards urban areas for jobs, which will increase the unemployment further. Water Issue between Pakistan & India * Concern is growing in Pakistan that India is controlling the water flow of rivers that flow from India into Pakistan.Pakistan has raised objections to Indian water projects, but a World Bank-appointed neutral expert rejected most of the Pakistani o bjections. * Pakistani commentators, think that India is controlling the river waters to strangulate Pakistani agriculture, which could affect Pakistani exports and increase its dependency on food imports. WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CRISIS ? * A result of natural factors * Poor water resources management * Increased pollution of surface & ground water * Population explosion * Over exploitation of ground waterHow can they solve this problem? Creating awareness on†¦ * water resources and its conservation & management * A forestation activities * Rain water harvesting * Environmental information & education * Prevention & control of water pollution * Recycle of waste water * Use of modern irrigation techniques * Authorities should take appropriate steps to curb the illegal extraction of water and ensure its equitable distribution. * government should make laws on water conservation, like many western countries.IMPORTANCE OF DAMS FOR PAKISTAN * Irrigation. * Electri cal Energy. * Water Supply for everyone. * Flood Control. Conclusion The problems faced by the water sector in Pakistan are many, acute and serious. Therefore, building more reservoirs/dams and having an effective management strategy are the needs of time. Also implementation of the solutions I gave you will enable the country to meet the challenges ahead, and achieve the objectives to become a nation with no water shortage.

Feature Writing – Concert Review

Review on Marilyn Manson’s Concert: Rock Am Ring Marilyn Manson is a band looked up upon by millions of teens in desperation and discontent across the world, a band that empathizes; it seems, to their avid fans. Pulling off extravagant pyrotechnic performances with a gothic overall outdo in his concert ‘Rock am Ring’, the band consists of Brian Hugh Warner, the lead vocalist, largely known a ‘Marilyn Manson’ on stage performances, with ever changing background guitarists, drummers, bassists and keyboardists.Manson grew up with never ending ordeals in his life. As a kid, he witnessed the sadomasochism sexual fetishes of his grandfather, forming traumatizing images of disturbance and disgust as he grew up. In his elementary Christian school years, he was taunted and constantly brought to the epitome of shame and embarrassment by people he called friends; this episode formed his mindset of the antichrist. Having dwelled in the darkest corners amidst grow ing up, the memories of Mason’s past left him deranged and helpless with fear; something he never grew out of.Set side by side American icons alike that of Marilyn Monroe and Charles Manson- ironically alike characters of life, it is a band that reveals the terrible and crude circumstances of life, and very much so, the pains of growing up and having grown up. Donned in heavy, gothic make up and apparel, Manson’s music genre consists mainly of heavy metal, shock rock, and industrial metal, containing subliminal messages of intoxication, hate, suicide and sexually explicit content like that of sadomasochism and all that alike.Marilyn Manson’s performance took place on 1st June 2012, in Nurburgring; Germany. Along with thousands of other avid fans on scene anxiously waiting at the entrance of the concert, I felt no less nervous on the impending performance that drew closer with each passing second. Marilyn Manson’s appearance, I knew then, would be no less majestic like I have imagined prior to the concert. True enough, it only took mere seconds before the outburst of cheers and roars throughout the crowd with Manson’s appearance n stage. Throwing forward the signature ‘rock and roll’ hand sign- the mass of audience followed suit, in heated ‘worship’ and fervor. The live performance was like no other and the stage display was nothing less than immaculate. On the main vocals was Marilyn Manson himself, having Twiggy Ramirez on the guitar, Fred Sablan on the bass and Jason Sutter on the drums. The first song â€Å"Hey Cruel World† kicked off and I felt the immediate rush of excitement surge through my body.Alike the usual heavy rock concerts, the crowd started head banging to the music as the guitarist introduced the song, moshing in hype of their enjoyment, forming the ‘ring of death’ , a trademark where people run towards each other in an apparent attack through the slamming of bodi es, eventually running in a circle. Crowd surfing was the run-of-the-mill in every concert, and Manson’s concert was no exception.The exhilaration of the atmosphere seeped right through me, and I couldn’t help but to throw my hands up, madly jumping to the beats. Delving in on the second song â€Å"Great Big White World† with his raspy voice, the song spoke of individualism opposing conformity in this chaotic age. As the crowd echoed after the lyrics of the song â€Å"But I’m not attached to your world and nothing heals and nothing grows†, I immediately felt the true connection from the crowd to his music.The props on stage used by the band helped the focus of the theme of the concert and Manson’s artistic visions displayed in the concert pushed the hype to its climax, stretching the limits of onstage music performances having a few songs sung even better than his studio recording. This was a definite media-grabbing show as Manson brought ou t the best in his music, proving his fans right of their loyalty. Personally, growing up was a process like that of torment, the various events and experiences I had gradually landed me in a severe depression – something that I never managed to pull myself out of.His lyrics in songs like ‘Coma White’ and ‘Tourniquet’ are two songs that outwardly describe the feelings I never found words to say. From â€Å"All the drugs in this world, won’t save her from herself† to â€Å"Take your hatred out on me, make your victim my head, you never ever believe in me, I am your tourniquet†, the former being lyrics in ‘Coma White’ and the latter from ‘Tourniquet’. Being one of the many fans of Marilyn Manson, I find correlation in his music to my life.These lyrics depict much of my aloneness and frustration, how my parents never took pride in me- something every child needs from their parents. Growing up for me was like an everyday battle, each day only getting tougher and harsher. Though the explicit content portrayed in Manson’s music can be considered a blasphemy for many religious masses, I believe the lyrics in the music of Manson’s concert are a correlation to the many lives of the 21st century, a melodramatic century where the oxymoron of peace and chaos coexist.Each singer and songwriter is only so in due to their emotions and feelings, their past experiences and their learning lessons in life. I believe that music in any form, are life’s most soulful expressions, one where dreams and life’s stories are penned and sung, where pain and happiness is held on to and let go of. Through this concert, I finally understood the true influence of music and its lyrics, how the lyrics of a song can be the correlation to life’s worst tragedies and most blessed moments.Thus, in weightage of the pros and cons of music and its influence, I end with the consensus, that an y genre of music can bring out the deepest unsaid words and emotions of a person, either helping, defining, or ruining a person, all depending on how the written lyrics speak to each individual and how each individual chooses to bring it forward. This review article is intended for the Metal Hammer magazine, as I feel that it would probably be a good addition into the columns of concert reviews and interviews. (Word Count: 1029)

Free Essays on Grief An Loss

albert ellis and william glasser By: jerry sowles E-mail: kopulso@texas.net Running head: ALBERT ELLIS AND WILLIAM GLASSER Albert Ellis and William Glasser Jerold F. Sowles Webster University - Kelly Air Force Base Abstract Albert Ellis and William Glasser have been in the mainstream of psychological society for over four decades. Both have contributed greatly to modern psychotherapy. The Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) of Albert Ellis and the Reality therapy of William Glasser have endured the trendy world of psychology and in fact as they are based in ancient philosophy (Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius), they also remain the foundation for brief therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and ecclectisism. Their strength is in the flexibility and simplicity inherent in each. They go directly to the problem and focus energy there without lengthy psychotherapy. Both prolific writers and dedicated therapists have expanded their views and adapted with the times. They are true humanists in that through non-profit organizations they have been able to alleviate muc h human suffering by providing sources for personal and professional growth. In 1955, Albert Ellis used the fundamental concept of truth and logic to help people overcome the obstacles in their lives. By using mans' high power of rationality Ellis has allowed us to use our cognitive abilities to overcome environmental or social situations. By 1975 Ellis combined Rational Emotive Therapy (RET) with Rational Behavior Training (RBT) and with the collaboration of many other noted therapists, created Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). Ellis tells us in a new Guide to Rational Living (1975): I (A.E.) originated the system around the early part of 1955 and gave a first paper on it at the 1956 meeting of the American Psychological Association in Chicago Since that time, RET has gone through many minor and some major changes, originated by myself and some of my main collaborato... Free Essays on Grief An Loss Free Essays on Grief An Loss albert ellis and william glasser By: jerry sowles E-mail: kopulso@texas.net Running head: ALBERT ELLIS AND WILLIAM GLASSER Albert Ellis and William Glasser Jerold F. Sowles Webster University - Kelly Air Force Base Abstract Albert Ellis and William Glasser have been in the mainstream of psychological society for over four decades. Both have contributed greatly to modern psychotherapy. The Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) of Albert Ellis and the Reality therapy of William Glasser have endured the trendy world of psychology and in fact as they are based in ancient philosophy (Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius), they also remain the foundation for brief therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and ecclectisism. Their strength is in the flexibility and simplicity inherent in each. They go directly to the problem and focus energy there without lengthy psychotherapy. Both prolific writers and dedicated therapists have expanded their views and adapted with the times. They are true humanists in that through non-profit organizations they have been able to alleviate muc h human suffering by providing sources for personal and professional growth. In 1955, Albert Ellis used the fundamental concept of truth and logic to help people overcome the obstacles in their lives. By using mans' high power of rationality Ellis has allowed us to use our cognitive abilities to overcome environmental or social situations. By 1975 Ellis combined Rational Emotive Therapy (RET) with Rational Behavior Training (RBT) and with the collaboration of many other noted therapists, created Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). Ellis tells us in a new Guide to Rational Living (1975): I (A.E.) originated the system around the early part of 1955 and gave a first paper on it at the 1956 meeting of the American Psychological Association in Chicago Since that time, RET has gone through many minor and some major changes, originated by myself and some of my main collaborato...

Assessing The International Human Resource Management Methods Business Essay

Assessing The International Human Resource Management Methods Business Essay Due to globalization, the economy around the world has been largely integrated. Many corporations are expanding their markets into regions or other countries they have never touched before. These corporations are experiencing an evolutionary stage: internationalization. It is clear that effective human resource management of an organization is the major competitive advantage and may even be the most important determinant of organizational performance. Thus, in order to survive in the crucial global economic market, a multinational corporation (MNC) mainly relies on the capability of its international human resource management (IHRM) during the internationalization process. In other words, it is the IHRM’s responsibility to enable the MNCs to be successful globally. Over the past several decades, practitioners and scholars have devoted great effort to explore the field of IHRM and there have developed thousands of literatures which support the notion that international human r esource management is increasingly an important topic. Most of their focus has been on IHRM issues in MNCs. Further, much of the literature deals specifically with managing expatriates (Napier, 1998).This literature review is divided into five parts. First part provides a brief introduction of the IHRM definition. In the second part, reasons for the increasing importance of IHRM are explained. Then, the author introduces strategic IHRM and an integrative framework of Strategic IHRM in MNCs Definition of International Human Resource Management (IHRM) What is IHRM? Actually, it is not easy to provide a precise definition of international human resource management (IHRM) because the responsibility of an HR manger in a multinational corporation (MNC) varies from one firm to another. Generally speaking, IHRM is the effective utilization of human resources in a corporation in an international environment. Scullion (1995: p352) defined IHRM as â€Å"the HRM issues and problems arising fro m the internationalization of business, and the HRM strategies, policies and practices which firms pursue in response to the internationalization of business†. In most studies, the term IHRM has traditionally focused on expatriation (Brewster and Harris, 1999). However, IHRM covers a far wider spectrum than expatriation management. Four major activities essentially concerned with IHRM were recruitment and selection, training and development, compensation and repatriation of expatriates (Welch, 1994). Iles (1995) also identifies four key areas in IHRM as recruitment and selection, training and development, managing multicultural teams and international diversity and performance management. From the perspective of worldwide people management, Hendry (1994) points out three main issues in IHRM: 1) expatriation management and development; 2) the management internationalization through the whole organization; 3) creating a corporate culture to internationalize the corporation to fu lfill the increasing need of inter-cultural interactions of doing business abroad and in home country. Recent definitions concern IHRM with activities of how MNCs manage their geographically decentralized employees in order to develop their HR resources for competitive advantage, both locally and globally. The role and functions of IHRM, the relationship between subsidiaries and headquarters, and the policies and practices are considered in this more strategic approach. Dowling, Schuler and Welch define IHRM as â€Å"a collection of policies and practices that a multinational enterprise uses to manage local and non-local employees it has in countries other than their home countries (Dowling et al., 1993: p2).†

Strengths and Weaknesses of Napoleon as a Military Leader (research Essay

Strengths and Weaknesses of Napoleon as a Military Leader (research paper) - Essay Example There is a volume of academic material on his military legacies that are studied as examples in military colleges (Abbott 23). The simple argument of Napoleon Bonaparte swirls feelings. He was indeed one of the ‘greatest army minds’ in the record of combat. The activities of his life have motivated the creativeness of researchers, fictional numbers, instructing authorities, filmmakers and learners as well. Both the limitless compliment and highly effective criticisms placed on such a famous determine have provided considerably to the development of the Napoleonic legend. The available historical material touching on the life of Napoleon Bonaparte reveals lack of consensus among historians concerning his qualities as a military leaver. While others commend him for his extraordinary skills as an organizer and a charismatic leader, on the other hand, others have argued that he was not a schemer and strategic thinker. This line of argument has it that Napoleon was over-dependent on the strategies of his predecessors, and only managed to improvise military strategies rather than effectively plan war schemes (Antonmarchi 34). Those who hold this line of thought further suggest that his eventual downfall can be directly attributed to his weakness, although those who disagree argue that it is his characteristics that propelled him to dominating much of Europe. This paper seeks to assess the strengths and characteristics of Napoleon Bonaparte that made him a successful military leader. The paper also draws on his weakness and failures, in order to come up with a balanced analysis of his military legacy. In doing the analysis, evidence from some of his expeditions will be used together with empirical evidence from scholarly materials. Armed with an unending ambition and cunningness, Napoleon came into power in 1799 through a military coup d’Ã ©tat, and in 1804, he crowned himself emperor of France in a ceremony that was

How Raising a Child with High Self-Esteem Leads to Raising Narcissism Essay

How Raising a Child with High Self-Esteem Leads to Raising Narcissism - Essay Example On the hand, narcissism is a feeling of indifference, selfishness, egoism, or elitism to the disadvantage of others. There have been various definitions of the relationship between self-esteem and narcissism. This essay will show how raising a child with high self-esteem leads to raising narcissism. It will also show how high self-esteem leads to a lousy performance and the fact that they cannot combine well. The essay will achieve this by focusing on the article’s effective argument. There is a link between high self-esteem and narcissism. While having self-esteem is very fundamental in the growth of any child, parents know that egoism that closes relates to narcissism is detrimental. It is arguably true that people with high self-esteem are generally narcissist. This is because, most of the people with high self -esteem show it and would like everybody to recognize them. Indeed the issue is always about them, their achievements, character, their well-being, their interests, and such. Actually, raising a child with high self-esteem will always lead them to show their ego, elitism, indifference, and selfless as they believe they are the best and such everybody should praise them. Indeed, high self-esteem promotes narcissism. However, this correlation does not exist explicitly since in countries like Asia issues of self and ego do not surface from childhood. However, in America, where the children feel they are superior to other children in the world, raising high achievers will high achievers will create narcissist. Indeed, a survey from San Diego State University notes that too much self-regard/high-esteem has resulted in college campuses full of narcissists. On the contrary, people with low self-esteem will value themselves less in the society and as such will not have the guts to brag, remain indifferent, or exercise selfless since they would fear critics.  Ã‚  

Crime mapping Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Crime mapping - Essay Example Moreover, different bandwidth values are highlighted by KDE plots in order to determine hotspot distribution. Therefore this paper shall compare the plot types and consider essential differences between the plot types, with particular reference to the potential advantages and disadvantages of both as regards the interrelationship between crime mapping and crime response strategy. The Choropleth plot valuates aggregate data of key regions such as suburban areas. The Choropleth plot further measures the points within the region, which is signified on a 2-dimensional map on a graded colour chart. The colour graduation is characteristically red, increasing and decreasing in strength to highlight crime hotspots. A significant advantage of the Choropleth plot is that it is user friendly and is considered more accurate in representing numerical data pertaining to crime in the highlighted areas. However, a central problem is the structuring of â€Å"areas† under the Choropleth plot as certain areas will inherently be more populated and can create disproportionate data regarding the level of crime in a particular area. Nevertheless, such issues can be remedied by the implementation of fitting denominator with prime examples including area or population. The Choropleth map below demonstrates varying area distributions of robbery and burglary and do not suggest any pattern of crime activity in any particular area. Additionally, the area structuring problems referred to above highlight the point that the colour chart may distort the actual nature of crime issues in the areas covered by the Choropleth plot. There are distinct parallels between Grid Maps and Choropleths however the significant difference is the use of grid spacing to avoid the structural problems referred to above. Indeed, a comparison with the Grid maps highlights the misrepresentation of crime hotspots in the

History of Japan and its Relationship with the World

History of Japan and its Relationship with the World CHAPTER II JAPAN IN ITS SURROUNDING REGION 2.1 Japan in the Post Cold War World When the Berlin wall fell, symbolizing the end of the Cold War, the global balance of power shifted from a tense military stand-off between the worlds two superpowers-the Soviet Union and United States- to one of American dominance. The end of the Cold War, which had gripped the world for nearly a half century, transformed the parameters and dynamics of international security. The end of Cold War did not have the same, immediate impact in Asia than it did in Europe. There was no Soviet Empire in Asia comparable to the vast territories under Moscows control in Europe. While Communist regimes collapsed from Berlin to Moscow, Marxism-Leninism continued to be the ruling orthodoxy in the PRC, North Korea, and Vietnam. In Europe, the fall of the Berlin Wall led to German unification, removing what had been arguably the greatest source of tension in European politics between 1945 and 1989. in Asia, however, disputes over national boundaries remained widespread, from the demilitarized zone between the two Koreas to the Spratley Islands in the South China Sea. Although the collapse of Soviet Union led to a considerable reduction in military tensions in Asia, the potential of conflict, if anything, increased on the Korean peninsula and in the Taiwan Strait. In the bold new world, Japan continued to confront with the strategic dilemma of protecting the vital sea-lanes along with the lifeblood of its economy flowed. Historically rooted fears of Japanese military power eased somewhat, at least in Japan and South East Asia. Nonetheless, the Japanese public remained profoundly uncomfortable with the notion that Japan should assume a larger military role, and in Northeast Asia-especially in China and Korea-historical animosities emerged all the stronger. The 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States has also altered the world significantly. Governments around the world now realize that they are facing a new kind of threat that differs from the traditional ones. These new threat also includes various other kinds of aspects that influenced Japans security environment, such as Human trafficking, drug related crime, cyber crime, money laundering, Piracy, and other cross-border organized crimes. This research applies the Neorealism assumption that structures defines a states behaviour, and implies Kenneth N. Waltzs notion that a state is a rational actor that chooses its security strategy based on an assessment of its security environment. In this sense, the researcher argues that Japans relationship with its closest neighbours and also the emergence of the non traditional threat determines how Japan acts towards its alliance relationship with the United States in accordance with its effort on reaching security. Therefore, in this chapter the researcher will try to explore Japans regional environments, which will be explained through several crucial issues that Japan is facing with its neighbours. But before that, in order to explain Japans position in the region, it is also crucial to understand the basic nature of Japan, including its unique pacifist policies, its dilemma on defining national interest, and also its evolving defence posture. 2.2 Japan as a Pacifist Country Japan, or also known as â€Å"The Land of the Rising Sun†[1] is a moderately small country with a total of 377,835 square kilometres of total area and 374,744 square kilometres of land area.[2]. Japan has a Constitutional Monarchy[3] political system with its Emperor as symbol of state. It also has a Parliamentary form of government, with elected bicameral legislature called National Diet[4], consisting of House of Councillors, and also House of Representatives.[5] The head of the government in Japan is the Prime Minister, who must be a member of the House of Representatives and is usually the leader of the largest party in the House of Representatives. After its defeat in the Second World War, Japan has been positioning itself in the relationship among nations as a pacifist country. The subsequent sub-chapter will explore more of Japans pacifist constitution, which has been a symbol of Japans commitment to peace and more importantly its renunciation of wartime militarism. The following sub-chapter will also mentions several of Japans basic principle on pacifism, which clearly signs its effort in war renunciation, namely those principles are the Three Principles of Arms Exports, the Three Non-Nuclear Principles, and also the Self-Defense Force Law. 2.2.1 Japans Peace Constitution Since its promulgation in 1946, Japans constitution, and in particular its preamble and the article 9 â€Å"peace clause,† have occupied central positions in determining the direction of Japanese security policy. The constitution is the origin of a range of prohibitions and anti-militaristic principles that constrain Japans use of military force for national security ends, limiting the military to defending only the states own territory. It also creates significant barriers to cooperation with the United States and with the wider international community.[6] The constitutions preamble states Japans ideals with regard to security: We, the Japanese people, desire peace for all time and are deeply conscious of the high ideals controlling human relationship, and we have determined to preserve our security and existence, trusting in the justice and faith of the peace-loving peoples of the world. We desire to occupy an honoured place in an international society striving for the preservation of peace, and the banishment of tyranny and slavery, oppression and intolerance for all time from the earth. We recognize that all peoples of the world have the right to live in peace, free from fear and want. [7] Chapter 2 of article 9 of the constitution, â€Å"The Renunciation of War,† reads as follows†: â€Å"Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes. In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.†[8] Article 9 is the cornerstone of Japans pacifism. But Pacifism alone has not keep Japan free and safe, Japans security has been guaranteed by the presence of American military personnel in Japan and the shelter of the US nuclear umbrella. 2.2.2 Japans Self-Defense Force Law Having renounced war, the possession of war potential, the right of belligerency, and the possession of nuclear weaponry, Japan held the view that it should possess only the minimum defense necessary to face external threats. within those limits, the self defense forces law of 1954 provides the basis from which various formulations of SDF missions have been derived. The law states that ground, maritime, and air forces are to preserve the peace and independence of the nation and to maintain national security by conducting operations on land, at sea, and in the air to defend the nation against direct and indirect aggression. [9] 2.2.3 Japans Three Non-Nuclear Principles As the only nation in the world to experience the disastrous effect of the nuclear weapon, the Japanese people strongly put emphasize on the effort to eliminate nuclear weapons. This notion has been firmly translated into the non-nuclear principles that Japan is upholding until now. Articulated by Prime Minister Eisaku Sato in 1967, Japans Three Non-Nuclear principles are:[10] Ø Not to make such (nuclear) weapons Ø Not to possess them Ø Not to bring them into Japan Japan later reaffirmed the principles when ratifying the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1976 and agreed to extend the treaty indefinitely in 1995. After 64 years of its promulgation, in 2009, Japans Prime Minister Taro Aso reaffirms that Japan would still going to adhere to its Three Non-Nuclear Principles.[11] 2.2.4 Japans Three Principles of Arms Exports The Three Principles on Arms Exports prevent Japanese firms from selling military hardware and technology on the international market. Like the Three non-nuclear principles, these export restrictions were established by Prime Minister Sato in 1967.[12] Its actual purpose is for Tokyo to bar shipments to the communists bloc and countries on the UN sanction lists. The ban was extended in 1976 to cover all countries, but then eased in 1983 when the United States sought to buy high tech materials for its Stealth bomber fleet and for other uses.[13] The three principles of arms exports prohibit Japan from conducting arms exports to the following countries or regions: Ø Communist bloc countries Ø Countries subject to arms exports embargo under the United Nations Security Councils Resolution and Ø Countries involved in or likely being involved in international conflicts.[14] Up until today, despite increasing calls for the legislation to be relaxed, Japan has no plans to review a government policy that prohibits the export of all military equipment and technologies. 2.3 Japans National Interest References to national interest constitute a new development in Japanese discourse on security. As an academic leaded term, National interest implies a host of realist assumptions concerning state-to state relations and the international system. The concept of national interests is a crucial factor to detect the policy of a state. The hierarchy of national interests can be classified into[15]: Ø Vital, national interests are conditions that are strictly necessary to safeguard and enhance states survival and well-being in a free and secure nation, Ø Extremely Important, national interests are condition that, if compromised, would severely prejudice but not strictly imperil the ability of the states government to safeguard and enhance the well-being of citizens of state in a free and secure nation. Ø Important, national interests are conditions that, if compromised, would have major negative consequences for the ability of the states government to safeguard and enhance the well-being of citizens of a state in a free and secure nation, and Less Important or Secondary, in which national interests are not unimportant. They are important and desirable conditions, but ones that have little direct impact on the ability of the states government to safeguard and enhance the well-being of citizens of state in a free and secure nation. To achieve and secure its national interest, a state would conduct every possible method. However, the term National interest bears a special meaning in the Japanese context. No common agreement exists among elites as to what Japans national interest entails. In fact, national interest is simultaneously a loaded term and a buzzword. When used by policy-oriented Diet members- often young lawmakers in the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan and Democratic Party of Japan-the term loosely corresponds to the academic definition of national interest. In the case of the LDP, however, the term may also contain nationalist overtones. On the other hand, Japanese politicians also employ national interest as a form of rhetoric. For example, when justifying the SDFs dispatch to southern Iraq, Prime Minister Koizumi told the Japanese press that: Reconstruction and stability of Iraq will be directly related to Japans National Interest.[16] Alternatively, during speeches and interviews, Japanese politicians may refer to national interest out of a desire to appear intellectual. Basically, Japan and the United States share common strategic objectives in the Asia-Pacific region. They seek a politically stable and economically viable, open region. Both would like the US to maintain its strong presence in the region. Both want to play an active role in the field of non-traditional security.[17] Dr Masayuki Yamauchi, the member of the Task Force Foreign Relations chaired by Special Adviser to the Cabinet Secretariat Okamoto, proposed that Japans national interests are almost the same as those of the United States, which shares common values such as freedom, democracy, and free trade with Japan. According to him, Japans national interests are[18]: 2.3.1 Maintenance of the Peace and Security of Japan. Security is the most vital national interest for every nation. To maintain its security, Japan as one of the worlds political leaders should engage itself actively in global security affairs. In this notion, former Prime Minister Koizumi stated in accordance with this matter in a press conference that: â€Å"Considering the fact that the development and prosperity of Japan rests upon the peace and stability of the world, I am convinced that the assistance that Japan currently provides, which realizes the policy of the Japan-US Alliance and international coordination, is in its national interest†[19] In a broader sense, the Japanese government also realizes that creating a secure and prosperous world is vital to Japans national interest, in a regional sense, Japans relation with its neighbours are the crucial point for this matter, this shows as the former Prime Minister Taro Aso stated in one of his speeches: â€Å"I have already met with President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao of China eight times in total. I have also held eight summit meetings with President Lee Myung-Bak of the ROK, including the one on the day before yesterday. I believe that the relations with the leaders of these two countries are the closest they have ever been in the post-World War II era. It is we ourselves who create a world that is secure and prosperous. When Japan takes proactive steps towards the realization of such a world, Japan truly furthers its own national interests†[20] More in this notion, the then Foreign Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso mentions the importance of Japan to enhance its position in the region as a key player is stated in one of his speeches: â€Å"Japan is a country whose own prosperity depends on the stability and peace that exists around the globe as a whole. To bring us back to the metaphor of the chain, Japan has national interests in raising the degree of the chain as a whole, even should the means be indirect.†[21] In order to achieve security and prosperity, Japan realizes that the Japan-United States alliance is a vital element to achieve the perceived interest. Former Prime Minister Taro Aso stated in one of his statement that: â€Å"As this issue clearly demonstrates, Japans security and prosperity cannot be secured through the efforts of Japan alone. First of all, it is indispensable that the effectiveness of the Japan-US alliance be ensured. This alliance is a living arrangement and not something for which it suffices simply to have a piece of treaty document. We must constantly strengthen the Japan-US Security Arrangements through unremitting efforts by both Japan and the US. At the same time, as Japan asserts its national interests and gains the cooperation of relevant countries, it must fulfil its international responsibilities in tangible ways.†[22] â€Å"Stability was guaranteed by the Alliances among the free nations. On a global scale, balance and nuclear parity were achieved between Eastern and Western blocs. In North East Asia, the United States stood to bear the burden of security vis-à  -vis the communist military colossi like the Soviets, Chinese and North Koreans, and maintained stability in the region. We owe the peace and prosperity that has been created largely to the United States. And todays spread of democracy in the region is nothing but the result of tireless and colossi efforts by the United States to be a beacon of democracy world wide. It is only the Americans among the Western powers who shed blood of tens of thousands of nationals for the cause of freedom in the region.†[23] Japans peace and security can be regarded as a vital national interest, as this is stated by Nobukatsu Kanehara, the then Political Minister of Japan in 2005: â€Å"Japans grand strategy and vital interests consists in maintaining todays strategic stability and economic prosperity of the entire region. Japan can not do it alone. Maybe no nation could do it alone. And it is naturally that the Japan-US alliance, the alliance of the two biggest industrial democracies in the Asia-Pacific region, is and will be the best vehicle to achieve this daunting goal.†[24] â€Å"Japan is one of the major powers whose vital interests are entrusted to the stability of the world system. As Japan pursues its three major points of national interest, namely her own survival, stability, and prosperity, what is clear is that for a country of Japans size, no event occurring in the world can be ignored as being of no relation or interests.[25]† 2.3.2 Support for the free trade system. It is evident that the free trade system is important for Japan to enjoy economic prosperity. Accordingly, Japan should strengthen the free trade system by establishing a network of bilateral free trade agreements and support the World Trade Organization. â€Å"To promote democracy, free market and to enhance stability and prosperity in the region is not only Japans and Americans interests. It is the historic mission of the Japan-US alliance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs develops global rules for the world economy and ensures that Japans national interests are reflected within them, a role which is clear and which cannot be carried out by any other domestic entity†[26] In the past, Japan has consistently supported the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) since it became a contracting party to the Agreement[27]. Japan has also believes that the global economy has prospered under the open, multilateral trading system under the GATT. Subsequently after the establishment of the World Trade Organizations after the Uruguay rounds, Japan has always been a contributing supportive member[28]. It could be concluded, then, that the maintenance and strengthening of a free and non-discriminatory multilateral trading system is Japans fundamental policy. 2.3.3 Protection of freedom, democracy and human rights. Freedom and democracy are Japans significant accomplishments since the Meiji Era. It is Japans duty to demonstrate a consistent commitment to the protection of these values in order to maintain regional stability. Taro Aso stated in accordance with Japans foreign policy of the issue of Japans determination towards democracy, peace and human rights: â€Å"Coming as we are from this background with such achievements, when it comes to talk of â€Å"universal values† that are commonly held in the world in general, whether it be talk of democracy, or peace, freedom, or human rights, Japan will no longer hesitate to state its views. This is what I am referring to when I speak of value oriented diplomacy, and my remarks to you here today constitute both a declaration of our qualifications and an expression of our determination.†[29] Democracy, peace, and human rights have a significant portion in the conduct of foreign policy for the government of Japan. In the Charter of Official Development Assistance decided in June 1992, Japan announced that, as the basic principles in implementing its aid, it would pay full attention to efforts toward promoting democratization and market-oriented economies, and to situations of basic human rights and freedom in recipient countries.[30] 2.3.4 Promotion of people to people exchanges and development of human resources through exchanges in the area of culture and education. Japan was the first modern country in the Asia-Pacific region. Japan put emphasis on developing human resources and it is because of the promotion of people-to-people exchange and development of human resources that Japan has flourished. It is important for Japan to continue to increase the number of people who understand Japan well. The 1992 diplomatic blue book of Japan stated in one of its paragraph relevantly this issue: â€Å"Japan has come to occupy an important position in the international community where interdependence among countries is growing. Overseas interest in Japan is being heightened. It is in Japans national interest in the medium and-long term to strengthen efforts to further deepen understanding of foreign countries toward Japan through broad cultural and educational exchanges†[31] The Government of Japan viewed that cultural exchange with other countries is a very important means of deepening understanding of Japan on the part of other countries and promoting international friendship and goodwill. It is the intention of the Japanese government to expand and strengthen various cultural exchange activities, as a major part of its diplomatic efforts[32]. 2.4 Japans Security Environments Japan is located in the Pacific Ocean; it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, Peoples Republic of China, North Korea, South Korea, and Russia. Japans closest neighbours are South Korea, Russia, and China.[33] Based on the definition of North East Asia the researcher found, the North east Asian continent consist of the Republic of China, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, and the Russian Federation.[34] The second part of the chapter will try to explore thoroughly Japans security environments, including Japans neighbours, and also emerging security issues such as terrorism and international organized crime. Before we observe specifically several number of states in Japan surrounding region, the researcher would first take a look at the trend in issue of concern in Japans domestic realm, which is described in the following issued by the Cabinet Office of Japan. The above shows changes in Japans public concerns in terms of Japans peace and security. Respondents could choose three issues from a list about a dozen options. The clearly shows that their choices have changed significantly since the end of the Cold War. In February 1991, when the question was fist asked, it was in the midst of the Gulf War. Naturally, most respondents (56.4%) chose the Middle East Issue, as the one that concerned them with regard to Japans peace and security. The second highest percentage of concern was expressed on US-Soviet relations with 44% choosing that option: the timing was not long after the collapse of the Cold War structure. The remote third concern was arms control and reduction with 18.2%. The Korean Peninsula, despite its geographic proximity, came in as the forth most selected option with 17.3%. However, the results changed significantly in the next poll in 1994. the concern on Middle East issue dropped by two-thirds to 18.2 % and that on US-Soviet relations decreased to 31.2%, while the Korean Peninsula became the strongest concern with 34.2%, reflecting the May 1993 North Korean missile test in the Sea of Japan and the nuclear crisis of 1993-94. Since then, public concern about the peninsula has grown with 46.7% in 1997 and 56.7% in 2000 reflecting the August 1998 Taepodong missile incident and the March 1999 invasion into Japans territorial water by spy vessels. In the year 2003, after the December 2001 sunken spy vessel incident and the September 2002 Koizumi visit to Pyongyang, as many as 74.4% of respondents identified the Korean Peninsula as their primary concern. The results of the opinion polls show a clear decline of concern over the US-Soviet (Russia) relations and rapid increase in concern toward the Korean Peninsula among the Japanese public. The series of North Korean provocations since the 1990s as well as the shocking revelation of the abduction of Japanese nationals after Koizumis visit to Pyongyang attracted public attention. The geographical proximity of the Peninsula may have made Japans public concern over national security more realistic than the Soviet during the Cold War period. It is then clear for us to observe, that regional concern is increased in Japans public attention. Therefore, in the next part of this chapter, the researcher would explain specifically several states within Japans regional environments and also non traditional security concern such as terrorism and international organized crime. 2.4.1 Japans Relationship with its Neighbouring Countries 2.4.1.1 Peoples Republic of China China has the worlds largest population and a vast landmass surrounded by 14 countries. It has long borderlines and a long coastline. China is also a nation with various races, religions, and languages. Most of its ethnic minorities[36] populate the borderlands often with the same ethnic groups living across the borders. China, with a long history, has been shaping and maintaining a distinct culture and civilization, and pride of its unique history and the experiences of semi-colonization after the 19th century is driving a desire for a strong nation as well as fuelling their nationalism. China is state with a socialist regime, and aims at building a modern socialist state under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Part (CCP). History plays an important role in the bilateral Japanese-Chinese relationship and has an enduring impact on the perceptions, policies and future outlook of both sides. Historical experience shapes identities, but it is also instrumentalized for pressure on the other side. Depending on the prevailing political situation at a given time. Japan and China have found reasons for optimism or pessimism about their relationship. There have been many instances where Japan-China relations have soured due to various problems originating in history. Even now, the past still haunts bilateral relations. The problem of Yasukuni Shrine[37], school history books[38], the Nanking incident[39], comfort women[40], and also abandoned chemical weapons-these problems related to national honour and dignity have stirred up the emotions of the people of both countries. The core elements of Chinas strategic policies are rebuilding the economy and modernizing its armed forces in order to protect Chinas territorial integrity, providing peripheral security, and restoring her great power status. Taiwan reunification, the defeat of Uyghur separatist in Xinjiang Province, and the defeat of Tibetan insurgency are the dominant issues under territorial integrity. Despite the growth in Chinas economic and military power over the last decade, China remains paranoid about U.S. â€Å"hegemonic† power. China perceives the United States as attempting to contain China through its bilateral alliance structure. China was extremely critical of the 1996 reaffirmation of the U.S-Japan Security Alliance by President Clinton and Prime Minister Hashimoto. On the other hand, China supports the U.S military presence in Japan to keep the â€Å"cork in the bottle† and prevent Japans return to militarism.[41] Wu Xinbo concluded, in an article in 2000, that most policy and academic elites in China do not embrace the idea that Japan will become militarized and aggressive, but rather that their concern is That the increase in Japans military capabilities will shift the balance of power in Japans favour. A militarily powerful Japan is more likely to invoke its alliance with the US to intervene should a military conflict arise in the Taiwan Straits. [42] Historically speaking, When China tested its first nuclear device in October 1964[43], in public the Japanese government reacted very calmly and played it down, hinting at the protection given by the US nuclear umbrella. Feeling secure under the American conventional and nuclear umbrella, Japan was not overly concerned about China becoming a nuclear power in 1964.[44] When Prime Minister Yoshida travelled to Europe in 1955 he indirectly criticised the USAs confrontational approach to Asian communism by stating in a policy paper that in fighting communism, political and economic strength was as important as military might, if not more so'[45] 2.4.1.1.1 The Military Modernization of the Peoples Republic of China In recent years, Japan has become increasingly concerned about Chinese military modernization and behaviour. In its 2006 defense white paper, the Japan Defense Agency stressed that Chinas defense budget was doubling every five years and that at the current rate, Chinas official reported defense expenditures would surpass Japans defense budget by 2009. It also noted that Chinas actual defense expenditures could be higher because all equipment procurement and research and development costs are not included in the official budget s.[46] In 2007, the Chinese Government announced a staggering increase of almost 17.8% of its military budget[47], resulting in questions asked by the government of its neighbours, including Japan, of its necessity and intentions. Relying mostly in on a naval presence for maintaining its military position, and given the circumstance that China is particularly backward in this arm category, Chinas challenge looks relatively comfortable despite alarmist US media and public opinion polls, and despite Chinas ability to make sustaining US supremacy more costly and/or more difficult in the meantime.[48] The US may consider the Chinese navy still far away from becoming a blue-ocean navy, but for Japanese policy makers Chinas predominantly coastal navy is rather close to Japanese waters, as we have seen in the context of the disputes over the Senkaku Islands and the EEZ.[49] 2.4.1.1.2 Japan-China Territorial Disputes: The Senkaku Islands The Senkaku Islands territorial disputes is one of the most pressing and potentially destabilizing territorial disputes on Japans Horizon, however, involves five small islands and three â€Å"Rocky outcroppings†. The islands, which the Japanese call the Senkaku and the Chinese the Diaoyu, lie roughly 100 miles Northeast of Taiwan and approximately 250 miles west of Japans southernmost prefecture, Okinawa. The largest of these uninhabited islands covers approximately 20 acres, and has the potential to bring the two former combatants into open hostilities once more. The fate of the islands has become a rallying point for Japanese and Chinese nationalists alike. In the summer of 1996, members of the nationalists Japan Youth Association erected aluminium, solar-powered lighthouse that measured about 15 feet tall and petitioned Japans Coast Guard to designate the beacon an official navigational signal and thereby reinforce Japans claims of sovereignty. The Coast Guard has yet to accede to this request. The lighthouse incident led to protests in Taiwan and Hong Kong, some of which involved as many as 10,000 angry Chinese demanding satisfactions for this affront to Chinas sovereignty. The Japanese are quick to point out that China never showed any particular interest in the disposition of the Senkaku Islands until a 1968 United Nations report suggested that there might be large petroleum deposits under the East China Sea in the vicinity of the Senkaku. In fact, the Chinese did not object to Japans 1895 assumption of sovereignty over the islands, nor did it voice any concerns regarding the islands status under Article III of the San Francisco Peace Treaty. As it relates to the Senkaku Islands, Article III says the following: â€Å"Japan will concur in any proposal of the United States to the United Nations to place under the trusteeship system, with the United States as the sole administering authority, Nansei Shoto south of 29 degrees North Latitude (including the Ryukyu Islands and the Daito Islands†.[50] To further bolster their claim, the Japanese aversion that the United States considers the Senkaku Islands to be Japan