The Doom Clock Chapter 2. - 1183 Words

An old, blue Ford truck sped down a mountain trail. Trees of fiery leaves lined the dirt road. Alexander sat in the back seat of the car. In the front sat his mom, dark-haired and green-eyed, and his dad, wearing a faded jacket and a look of desperation. It was Sunday in November. Normally, Alexander would be at the park playing baseball with his friends or at the library. Today was different. A family trip, his mom had told him. But something seemed odd. Maybe it was the way his parents were barely glancing him, the way they seemed to have something to hide. Alexanders mom had said that they would be back at their Albuquerque home before the day finished. They had been driving for [number of] hours. It was evening. The car stopped at an old farm. In the middle lay a rotting barn that had once been light blue. Paint peeled. Rusted tractor parts and equipment were scattered across the lawn. To the right lay deep green woods. Dirt road stretched to the left. The farm looked utterly des erted. Were here, grunted Alexanders father. Alexs mom marched toward the door of the barn. There was a rusted bell, connected to a pulley and a thick rope. Alexs mom pulled it. The bell rang out, loud and strong. The family waited. They must have looked strange, crowded onto the stoop of an old farm house outside of Santa Fe. Alexanders parents often did strange things. They had little money, and always signed up for odd jobs. Alexanders dad worked as a part-time doorman,Show MoreRelatedGeorge Orwell s The Darkness And Futility Of The Dystopian World1757 Words   |  8 Pagesdriving force of the novel. I have always been a fan of Orwell’s work and 1984 is definitely not an exception. We are almost immediately hit with a cascading sense of doom as the story begins. The first character we are introduced to is Winston Smith, a low ranking party member in the super state of Air Strip One. ‘’The clocks are striking thirteen on a cold day in April’’ as Winston enters his apartment on what I presume is a break. He retrieves a small diary from a little nook not visible fromRead MoreCritics of Novel 1984 by George Orwell14914 Words   |  60 Pagesability to simultaneously hold two opposing ideas in ones mind and believe in them both. Winston believes that the human mind must be free, and to remain free, one must be allowed to believe in an objective truth, such as 2 + 2 = 4. OBrien wants Winston to believe that 2 + 2 = 5, but Winston is resistant. Finally, OBrien takes Winston to Room 101, the most dreaded room of all in the Ministry of Love, the place where prisoners meet their greatest fear. Winstons greatest fear is rats. OBrienRead MoreErnest Hemingway Essay6491 Words   |  26 Pagesto the hurts of the world. 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Whetten BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY Read MoreFundamentals of Hrm263904 Words   |  1056 Pagesresources, WileyPLUS gives you everything you need to personalize the teaching and learning experience.  » F i n d o u t h ow t o M A K E I T YO U R S  » www.wileyplus.com ALL THE HELP, RESOURCES, AND PERSONAL SUPPORT YOU AND YOUR STUDENTS NEED! 2-Minute Tutorials and all of the resources you your students need to get started www.wileyplus.com/firstday Student support from an experienced student user Ask your local representative for details! Collaborate with your colleagues, find a mentorRead Moreshakespeare influences16068 Words   |  65 PagesSyeda Samreen Asad, without their kind support, motivation and encouragement, it would be impossible for me to complete this work. SR.NO. CONTENTS PG.NO 1. ABSTRACT 1 2. INTRODUCTION 2-3 3. LITERTURE REVIEW 4-15 4. RESEARCH QUESTION 5. SIGNIFICANCE AND RATIONALE 6. ANALYSIS 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. ABSTRACT This thesis analysis the textualRead MoreCrossing the Chasm76808 Words   |  308 PagesThe original hardcover edition of this book was published in 1991 by HarperBusiness, a division of HarperCollins Publishers. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 To Marie Contents PREFACE TO THE REVISED EDITION FOREWORD ACKNOWLEDGMENTS PART I Discovering the Chasm INTRODUCTION If Bill Gates Can Be a Billionaire 1 High-Tech Marketing Illusion 2 High-Tech Marketing Enlightenment PART II Crossing the Chasm 3 The D-Day Analogy v vi Contents 4 Target the Point of Attack Read MoreTop 1 Cause for Project Failure65023 Words   |  261 Pagesyour experience, what is the TOP #1 cause for Project failure? From experience, the following are the TOP10 causes of Project failure that Mathew can think of (they are not in any kind of order): #1. Lacking Sponsor s Involvement/Ownership #2. Halo Effect (Wrong Man for the Job) #3. Poor HR Management #4. Poor/Inadequate Project Communications #5. 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Eating Disorders are a Mental Illness - 1431 Words

Eating disorders are mental illnesses that involve an obsession with food, extremely unhealthy eating behaviors and a distorted body image. They are complicated, serious disorders. The group that eating disorders affects the most are typically girls through the ages of sixteen and twenty years old. Although teenage eating disorders are typically believed to be caused by depression or genetic factors, social media has worsened the problem by the huge increase in peer pressure girls endure due to the widespread use of sites such as Twitter and Instagram. Eating disorders are real, complex and devastating conditions that can have serious consequences for health, productivity and relationships. The two most common†¦show more content†¦When social media and the internet became a big thing, all different online weight groups began to develop. Some of these groups became known as Pro-Ana, Pro-Mia and Pro-ED, which are short for Pro-Anorexia, Pro-Bulimia and Pro-Eating Disorders (W anchisn 1). These terms are used to describe online websites where eating disorder behaviors and attitudes are encouraged greatly. On these sites, users are encouraged to lose weight to be part of that exclusive online community. Some initially appear friendly and happy. However, they can pose a serious threat to some individuals, not simply because they promote eating disorder behaviors, but because they build a community that is unhealthy and unstable. They persuade young girls that the Pro-Ana community is providing caring and nurturing advice, however it is really creating an unhealthy environment (Wanchisn 3). Now Pro-Ana content appears in more places and in more formats, such as blogs and social networking websites. It’s also increasingly more difficult to detect Pro-Ana sites. Many are disguised as positive websites where people motivate each other lose weight together and the anorexic theme is hidden behind nice comments. 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Individual and society free essay sample

Focuses on the social system as a whole and its functional requirements are normally that of structural sociology’ (Calhoun, C et al 2002) However Marxism a conflict theory of sociology takes exactly this focus when analysing how an individual creates an identity and relationship within society. Marxism as a Macro-theory of sociology focuses on ‘human agents as cogs in the machine of social forces’ (Calhoun, C et al 2002) who have little or no control over the development of their identities, because of the overpowering social superstructure which is dictating a social hierarchy of which they are forced to obey. This large scale view of society as over powering in the formation of one’s identity is not that taken by ‘Micro-sociologist who emphasise the social system as being a human creation, rather than one which is imposed on individuals by the system; thus micro sociologists see social order as being produced from below [†¦] created and maintained by the institutions we actively produce. It is this explanation of micro-sociologists like Mead which give room to theories like his of the symbolic self which belong within the category of action theories; and more closely associated with Symbolic Interactionism. This essay will explore and analysis the theories put forward by both Marx and Mead in their approach to sociology and will more closely concentrate on their beliefs of how individuals form identities and relationships within society. Furthermore these essay will both compare and contrast these theorists in their politics and how these have affected modern day sociology with a final evaluation given to explain; the contemporary situation of each of these theories. Firstly though an introduction to briefly outline the basic principles behind each philosophy. George Herbet Mead; an American Pragmatist and developer of the micro-social approach into the symbolic self through interaction and communication of individuals is critical in the knowledge of sociology and more specifically Symbolic Interactionism. Mead’s fascination with sociality, along with his knowledge that human beings are malleable; gave expansion to his theory that human behaviour is transcendent; thus our abilities to change, control and reflect on our conduct. The notion that â€Å"the individual mind can exist only in relation to other minds† (Mead, 1982) is the fundamental concept to Mead’s theory; that the ‘self’ of an individual is embodied and established through stimuli of social matters like; communication, language and essentially gestures. Mead’s publications of Mind, Self and Society in 1934, highlights the significance of social organisms, and more precisely human ability (which is unlike all other animals) to communicate through both language and gestures of the prehensile hand. Past theories viewed ‘mind’ as separate from the ‘self’ of an individual, but symbolic integrationist’s; like Mead recognise how the mind develops alongside the ‘self’ from social processes of communication; thus acts, whether impulsive or controlled constitute towards how an individual’s relationship with society is started. The micro-social position of Mead within social interactionism varies greatly in both the size and approach of Karl Marx and his inputs to Marxism. Marxism; the father of conflict approaches in sociology is a standpoint which focuses on the move of political ideologies through history which have created the modern capitalist society. Central to this theoretical approach is the economic development of the mode of production from feudalism to the current state of capitalism which has created segregation of the social classes with only one option to change the social assembly; revolution. Karl Marx, partnership in founder of the Marxist approach of Marxism, argues that current capitalism has caused large divides between the social classes; the proletariat; or working class are controlled and alienated by the bourgeoisie; the ruling class who own the means of production. ‘Capitalist class structures’ according to Gouldner (1980) ‘are the catalyst of alienation of workers; dehumanising them from their lives through the loss of control of their work’, further arguing that current capitalism holds the proletariat class Vitim to many differing forms of alienation, and it is this concept which is central to Marx ideas; that although individuals believe they are autonomous; their actions are dictated to them by those in authority (Bourgeosie) therefore suggesting a dictation in the relationships individuals hold with society. Marxism; a macro-theory; depicts individuals within society a only developing because of the social class they belong to; suggesting the superstructure of society creates individuals, whilst moulding the relationship they retain with society. This starting analytical outline of each theorist brings to light the main difference between Mead as a micro-theorist and Marx as a macro-theorist and what they contribute towards our understanding of the relationships between individuals and society. Marx ‘attempted to build a multi-dimension theory of modern society’ (Jones, et al, 2011) which explored how social structure impacted on the development of individuals identities through their socialisation into a society, where they were controlled. Socialisation to Marx was what created and formed how an individual had a relationship with society, he believed that proletariat members were socialised into conditions of obeying authority from an early age, with agents of the superstructure; like education, family and the church also maintaining these socialising norms. This Marxist ideal; that social structure constructed the social relationship between individual and society; through its dictatorship of individuals actions, varied greatly from the symbolic interaction view of Mead that an individual’s identity and moreover their relationship with society was formed through the relationship they had with other members of that same society. Mead; as a theorist of symbolic interactionism gives credit to the need for others in the creation of individual’s identities. Mead, differing from Marx believed that other individuals are the only agency needed to establish a relationship between individual and society and that social structure although plays a role in the different types of individual one would come in contact to, is not the only force behind individual identity. Mead identifies how reflection through others in society is how individuals learn their role and therefore adapt to situations through controlling their impulses. Mead explains how viewing ourselves through other people is how we learn to control our behaviour, and through controlling and changing our behaviour we change the format our biology and neurology, a concept which past theorists believed was not possible; only acknowledging the reversed roles; that our biology was the moulding of our behaviour. One fundamental concept in Mead’s theory of how individuals develop their identity is role exchange; Mead explains that individuals place themselves in the position of others to anticipate their response to gestures; whether it be impulsive or a form of communication, and it is this exchange in roles that allows individuals to create a notion of the self and more importantly self-consciousness through which they are reflexive of their own actions. ‘The generalized other’ is Mead’s basic concept of role exchange and what he argues the driving force of the connection between individuals and society. Mead argues the notion of ‘the generalized other’ as being a concept which argues that individuals are able to role take because of their belief that all individuals within the same social group, have common expectations and will therefore preform similar actions. â€Å"The child must have the attitude of all the others involved in that game† (Mead, 1962) because without this attitude they are unable to be self-critical or reflective on their behaviours; due to their lack of viewing a situation from antonymous positions. Although appearing difficult Mead’s explanation of how an individual develops their relationship society, it is in fact simply based on viewing ourselves from other people’s perspectives, through taking on the roles of these individuals. The micro-approach of Mead and how individuals develop within society based only on the individuals they communication and interact with is a contrasting polarisation to Marx theory that individuals are established within society based solely on the social class they belong to. However there is one similarity to the theories of Marx and Mead; although very distinct. Positivism; a sociological idea which holds its ‘values with control, experiments and observations’ is the epistemological position that Goff (1981) argues both Mead and Marx seek to deter from. Goff argues that although different in their approaches to the development of individual’s identity within society, both theorists ‘bear the imprint of early biological theories of evolution, with the central importance they give to man’s conscious activities in the development of man’s life’ (ibid) and it is this that gives similarity to the theories. Mead’s theory of biological physiognomies and social environment, including human communication; through gestures and language in the creation and embodiment of the self, with Marx contrasting these ideas in his early Humanist writing’s where argues a lack of ontological urgency between thought and reality in their determining of one another. Contemporary applications of both Marx and Mead’s theories are very different, Marx theory of social identity although still highly regarded in modern sociology has little practical applications, with interactionist’s like Mead constantly disregarding it, because of its lack of pragmatism. Marx theories of individual identities and concepts such as alienation are still strong within sociology with many agreeing that these conditions do exist, however disregarding the extent to which Marx explained them. Marx theories are often seen as high deterministic and although are often considered when approaching a subject matter like how an individual develops their relationship with society are quickly marginalised because of their impracticality and furthermore their lack of explanation to the future and how a revolution to a communist society where â€Å"all is fair† which change individuals. Mead’s theories within symbolic interactionism are popular in their developments; his initial ideas came from a strong partnership with John Dewey a fellow American Pragmatist, who agreed with Mead on his concepts on how a society needed to be based on democracy in order to allow individuals to exchange roles, and without this political state individuals would be conditioned into a hierarchal system; like that of what Marx explains and therefore would not be able to efficiently develop any relationship with society. In conclusion Mead’s concentration into ‘social evolution’ and how man is able to change both the social and physical world is one that can be viewed as liberal; in its acknowledgment of freedom and how autonomy of individuals is the driving force behind the creation of their individuality. Mead’s theory often criticised for its ignorance; in the belief that individuals are the only creator of social institutions, lacks acknowledgment of external social forces which could impact on both the development and embodiment of the self. However Marx theories also strong in its hold of sociology; could be argued fails in the same way as Mead; through ignorance. Marx approach to how individuals develop within society it very deterministic with little emphasis given to how small scale forms of communication with other individuals affects one’s identity. This summary therefore both gives and takes strength from each theory, with little predication being formatted on which of these theories is better able to explain how an individual constructs their identity within society.

St. Luke Drawing the Virgin and Other Early Renaissance Essay Example For Students

St. Luke Drawing the Virgin and Other Early Renaissance Essay Fifteenth century Flemish painting in general and this particular piece are characterized by oil painted human figures and objects featured elastically and with meticulous attention to detail. Many Flemish paintings including Van deer Hoydens SST. Luke Drawing the Virgin are based on biblical narratives but happen in a contemporary 15th century Hemi setting. In those paintings, there are many symbols and motives presented intentionally to convey different moral, philosophical and mostly religious messages. Through studying and comparing different 15th century Flemish paintings as well as 14th century Italian paintings, one can really learn about the characteristics, expand their knowledge and therefore enjoy the beauty of paintings of that era and SST. Luke Drawing the Virgin in particular which is among the most important northern European paintings in the United States. SST. Luke Drawing the Virgin is a masterpiece painted With Oil and tempera. Oil painting gained popularity in northern Europe around the 15th century. We will write a custom essay on St. Luke Drawing the Virgin and Other Early Renaissance specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Its advantages over previous painting techniques such as tempera (Which Will be discussed later), made it become the principal medium for creating artworks later on, and also made it possible for artists such as Van deer Wedded to paint with such attention to detail. Oil is translucent, and dries slowly. It lets the artist paint n many different layers, and by varying the ratio of pigment and binder (oil), achieving many different colors. Oil makes it possible to really diversify texture and create such realism so there is no resonance of the artists presence. In SST. Luke Drawing the Virgin there is a distinct difference between textures of materials: the wooden thrown Mary Magdalene is seated on, the marble tiles, the pillow SST. Luke is kneeling on. Theres a great distinction in the different fabrics of Marry robe. One could almost feel the difference between the heavy thick golden parts of her robe and the light white cloth infant Jesus lays in. Van deer Wedded utilizes the oil painting media to really show every pleat of the clothes, every little leaf in the garden, and wrinkles (especially in SST. Lakes face, the reason may be Van deer Hoydens intention to model the Saints features on his own I , while Marry and Jesus are cleaner as a symbol of purity). There are very subtle lines drawn on the tapestry to show it was once folded before being hanged on the wall. The use of lights and shades emphasizes the foreground, or the main narrative of Luke, Mary and Jesus faith dark colors, volume and shades, against the beautiful clear and sunny landscape in the background. One cannot describe Oil painting Without mentioning another great Elements painter, Who is considered by many (including himself) as the inventor of painting with oil media on panel wood, a man by the name Of Jan Van Check. Although it is known that oil painting had been used before, Jan van Check is definitely the first to really understand What Oil could do. Jan Van Check was a big influence on Rosier van deer Wedded. And in fact, Van deer Hoydens SST. Luke drawing the virgin is clearly derived from Van Cocks Madonna of Chancellor Rolling, c. 1435. Madonna of Chancellor Rolling presents Mary, crowned by a flying angle, presenting the infant Jesus to Rolling, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Burgundy whom the piece was commissioned by. Although the two pieces present different narratives, they are similar in setting (two figures -one is Mary holding the infant Jesus- seated facing one another inside a loggia, landscape in the background and two figures outside standing on a balcony), in the magnificent use to oil and the meticulous attention to detail, and in a few other characteristics of Flemish painting which will be explained shortly. .u67618aab03570d23a5e63f278cbcadc1 , .u67618aab03570d23a5e63f278cbcadc1 .postImageUrl , .u67618aab03570d23a5e63f278cbcadc1 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u67618aab03570d23a5e63f278cbcadc1 , .u67618aab03570d23a5e63f278cbcadc1:hover , .u67618aab03570d23a5e63f278cbcadc1:visited , .u67618aab03570d23a5e63f278cbcadc1:active { border:0!important; } .u67618aab03570d23a5e63f278cbcadc1 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u67618aab03570d23a5e63f278cbcadc1 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u67618aab03570d23a5e63f278cbcadc1:active , .u67618aab03570d23a5e63f278cbcadc1:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u67618aab03570d23a5e63f278cbcadc1 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u67618aab03570d23a5e63f278cbcadc1 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u67618aab03570d23a5e63f278cbcadc1 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u67618aab03570d23a5e63f278cbcadc1 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u67618aab03570d23a5e63f278cbcadc1:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u67618aab03570d23a5e63f278cbcadc1 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u67618aab03570d23a5e63f278cbcadc1 .u67618aab03570d23a5e63f278cbcadc1-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u67618aab03570d23a5e63f278cbcadc1:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Renaissance Dance EssayLastly about oil painting: over the years paintings are not preserved fully, and little cracks appear on them, which are noticeable hen one looks closely. Unlike Byzantine or Gothic art inside churches whos message is to show the divinity and mysteriousness of the unknowable Cod, Flemish painting is about making God tangible, setting biblical narratives into contemporary environment and so bringing God closer to men. It is easy to see in Van deer Hoydens SST. Luke Drawing the Virgin that it doesnt take place in biblical times. The viewer can tell by the clothes, the loggia and the landscape that were in fact in 15th century Flanders. Another way of seeing the intention to make the painting more tangible, and earthbound is by the lack Of halos for he holy figures. Presenting biblical narratives into contemporary setting occurs in many paintings Of that era, Including Jan Van Cocks Madonna Of Chancellor Rolling. Another great example is Joss van Cloves Crucifixion, c. 1525. This painting of the famous theme of Christi crucifixion is also a great example of the use of oil painting (brown in the foreground, green in the middle ground, blue in the background . To create three dimensional space) but this piece is brought up here in order to show the similarity to SST. Luke Drawing the Virgin in terms of symbols with religious meaning (in other words, religious iconography). In SST. Luke Drawing the Virgin there are many symbols with religious meaning. The main ones are: Adam, Eve (and the snake with a human head) carved on the armrest of the wooden throne symbolize Jesus and Marry role in redeeming humankind trot original sin. L, Mary sitting on the thrones step and not on the step itself represents her Chastity Alfred Acres * Rosier van deer Hoydens Painted Texts Alfred Acres Artists et Histories Volvo 21, No 41 (2000), up. 5-109 Published by: IRIS s. C. Article Stable GIRL: http://www_strong/eatable/1483636 Suggests that the ox as Lakes symbol being parallel to the ink bottles, and the pen book representing Lakes Gospel being parallel to the drawing of Mary mean they are all bound tightly under the figure of the artist-Evangelist. The two small figures standing On the balcony, even though theyre looking at the horizon and not at Luke and Mary, m ight represent the viewer looking at the painting. Their size, besides being located far from Mary and Luke might emphasize that even if the viewer can see the holy figures as if they were normal people just like himself, he is still smaller and Of less importance. And so, in sass Van Cloves Crucifixion we encounter two of the most popular. Ideal acceptable symbols over the years when one paints the crucifixion: Dams skull at the foot of the cross, and the plaque marked with I. N. R. I, The skull is believed to have been buried in Goliath, where Jesus was crucified. In the painting the skull of the first Adam symbolizes Jesus role as the new Adam in redeeming humankind from original sin a similar meaning to Adam, Eve and the snake carved on the armrest of the wooden throne in SST. Luke Drawing the Virgin. Is a Latin inscription which translates in English to Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. The story is that it was written there in Hebrew, Latin and Greek during the crucifixion. In Crucifixion we see SST. Luke and Mary located at the same spots and wearing the same colors as in SST. Luke Drawing the Virgin. This is one example of presenting certain figures in certain ways over the years (Crucifixion was painted around 90 years after and by a different painter). As written before, Oil painting gained popularity in Northern Europe around the 15th century. In order to see the qualities of oil painting and understand why its become so popular, one must examine how painting was done in previous times. SST. Andrew is an egg tempera painting from the early sasss by Italian painter Simons Martini. This painting medium was used In 14th century Italy. .u57b4c3d0537b653e2dd1138052749cea , .u57b4c3d0537b653e2dd1138052749cea .postImageUrl , .u57b4c3d0537b653e2dd1138052749cea .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u57b4c3d0537b653e2dd1138052749cea , .u57b4c3d0537b653e2dd1138052749cea:hover , .u57b4c3d0537b653e2dd1138052749cea:visited , .u57b4c3d0537b653e2dd1138052749cea:active { border:0!important; } .u57b4c3d0537b653e2dd1138052749cea .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u57b4c3d0537b653e2dd1138052749cea { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u57b4c3d0537b653e2dd1138052749cea:active , .u57b4c3d0537b653e2dd1138052749cea:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u57b4c3d0537b653e2dd1138052749cea .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u57b4c3d0537b653e2dd1138052749cea .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u57b4c3d0537b653e2dd1138052749cea .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u57b4c3d0537b653e2dd1138052749cea .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u57b4c3d0537b653e2dd1138052749cea:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u57b4c3d0537b653e2dd1138052749cea .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u57b4c3d0537b653e2dd1138052749cea .u57b4c3d0537b653e2dd1138052749cea-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u57b4c3d0537b653e2dd1138052749cea:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: 10 Characteristics of Renaissance ArtPainters would cover a wood panel With 3 plaster called geese, mix the pigment With an egg as a binder and apply it on the plaster. The difference from Oil painting is that tempera dries fast and its opaque, difficult for light to pass through. Therefore, one is essentially limited to painting with just a few layers and so cannot diversify textures that much and create a very realistic painting with great attention to detail like Flemish painters using oil. Excluding Martini who had the privilege to work in France and be exposed to the Gothic art, most Italian painters were not very interested in visual details anyway. Martinis knowledge of Gothic art is evident in this piece: The Saints hair, beard and clothes are elegant, ornate, refined; his fingers are elongated. Another technique Martini utilizes to decorate the piece is engraving. This piece is similar to SST. Luke Drawing the Virgin in its attention to detail but also includes 14th Century Italian painting characteristics that will be explained through studying a piece by a contemporary to Martini, Ghetto, Fifteenth century Flemish painting is full of details and realism, and helps make god tangible by setting biblical stories in contemporary environment. Fourteenth Century Italian painters have done the same thing in a different way. One of the most revolutionary Italian artists who is considered as a pioneer of the Renaissance is Ghetto did Bonded_ In his Crucifixion, c. 1304-1306 we witness a total different artwork from Van Cloves piece of the same theme or Van deer Hoydens SST. Luke Drawing the Virgin. We witness similar symbols, only this time Ghetto is not focusing on decoration, but on human psychological complexity. Ghetto makes God tangible to the viewer by presenting a human experience, utilizing a lot of volume, shades, weight and bulk. In opposition to Van Clave or Van deer Wedded, there are indications Of divinity (the saints and angels halos, and Chrisms Cruciform Nimbus), and so Ghetto makes one feel close to god not visually but emotionally. An interesting symbol in this piece is the hovering angels in attempt to catch Chrisms blood, symbolizing the Eucharist. Lastly, this painting is also different in the technique it was painted With, called Fresco. The artist essentially puts a plaster on a wall and while its fresh,the artist applies he pigment mixed with water to the wall. When the plaster dries, it locks the paint in. This is called True or Wet Fresco. The blue pigment which was the most expensive back in those times (and therefore was used for frescos in chapels to show the patrons wealth and dazzle the eyes of the people) cannot be added on wet plaster, so in tact in Crucifixion the blue was added in Dry Fresco, using a different binder, In Conclusion, by studying and comparing just a handful of 15th century Flemish paintings and 14th century Italian paintings, one can actually learn about huge molten to paintings from those times, as the intention of the painters, the themes and symbols and the technique used to paint have repeated themselves over the years.

Laissez-fairre essays

Laissez-fairre essays The principle of laissez faire is that the an unobtrusive government is the best government; that the government necessarily only 'maintain domestic tranquillity, defend the people from invasion, and protect them when travelling.' To leave economic workings of the country to the people and let the 'motives for production' be that of the people not the government. Our government took such a stance in its early decades, but as national debt rose, interstate commerce became indomitable, and the economy lost its strength, the need to patch the economy became very important. The government found that the needed patch was much more important than the laissez faire freedom previously given to monopolistic trusts, who were loosing favor with the majority of the lower class, who shared on 50% of the nation's wealth. As an attempt to end all that ailed the country the government began limiting land grants, instituting interstate commerce laws, and passing anti-trust bills, like The Sherman Ant i-Trust Bill. As the railroads became larger and more powerful, the need to give away land to million dollar companies became ludicrous to many citizens, especially in light of the declining economy. These changing feelings among the people (voters) moved congress to decide that 'no subsidy in money, bonds, public lands, indorsement, or by pledges of public credit' should be given to the railroad or any other private company, when it could be spent on the common good of the public, or kept as capital in the Public Treasury. The idea that no land need be given to the companies anymore was also supported by the growing feeling of being cheated by the railway through rebates, and other discriminations between large and small business. The decision to regulate interstate commerce grew mostly out of the rebate, and long-haul, short-haul discriminations of the railroads. The growing feeling that the business were running their businesses only ...

The Science of Star Trek

The Science of Star Trek Star Trek is one of the most popular science fiction series of all time and loved by people around the world. In its TV shows, movies, novels, comics, and podcasts,  future inhabitants of Earth go on quests to the far reaches of the Milky Way Galaxy. They travel across space using advanced technologies like warp drive propulsion systems and artificial gravity. Along the way, the Star Trek denizens explore strange new worlds. The science and technology in Star Trek are dazzling and lead many fans  to ask: could such propulsion systems and other technological advances exist now or in the future?   The starship Enterprise came into public view with the first Star Trek show in the 1960s. Getty Images/ In a few cases, the science is actually quite sound and we either have the technology now (such as the first rudimentary medical tricorders and communications devices) or someone will be developing it sometime in the near future. Other technologies in the Star Trek universe are sometimes  in agreement with our understanding of physics- such as the warp drive- but are highly improbable to ever exist. For those, we might have to wait until our technology abilities catch up to theory. Still Trek ideas are more in the realm of imagination and dont stand a chance of ever becoming a reality. What Exists Today or Will Sometime in the Near Future Impulse Drive: The impulse drive is not unlike our chemical rockets of today, only more advanced. With advances taking place today, it is not unreasonable to think that we will one day have propulsion systems similar to the impulse drive on the starship Enterprise. Cloaking Devices: The irony here, of course, is that this is a technology that humans have yet to grasp in the early  Star Trek series (although the Klingon Empire has it). Yet this is one of the technologies that is closest to becoming a reality today. There are devices that cloak small objects up to the size of people, but making an entire spaceship disappear is still quite a ways away. Communication Devices: In Star Trek, no one goes anywhere without one. All members of Starfleet carried with them a device that allowed them to communicate with other members of the crew. In reality, many people dont go anywhere without their smartphones, and there are even working comm badges. Tricorder-like Devices: In Star Trek, portable sensors are used in the field for everything from medical diagnoses to rock and atmospheric sampling. Todays spacecraft on Mars and beyond use such sensors, although not quite yet portable. In recent years, teams of inventors have created working medical tricorder-like machines that are already making their way into the market.   The Star Trek-style tricorder medical devised may come to us as part of apps for smartphones, as shown in this cell phone-like device that records health data. Getty Images Possible, but Highly Improbable Time Travel: Time travel into the past or the future is not in strict violation of the laws of physics. However, the amount of energy needed to accomplish such a feat takes the practicality of it out of reach. Wormholes: A wormhole is a theoretical construct of general relativity that, under certain circumstances can be created in places like black holes. The main problem is that passing through (or even approaching) a wormhole created by such objects would be potentially deadly. The alternative is to create a wormhole in a location of your choosing, but this would require the presence of exotic matter that isnt known to exist in large quantities and would require so much energy that it is not likely we could ever achieve it. So while wormholes may very well exist, it seems highly improbable that we would ever be able to travel through one. A science-fiction look at a spacecraft traveling through a wormhole to another galaxy. So far, scientists have not found a way to make such technology possible. NASA Warp Drive: Like wormholes, warp drive does not violate any laws of physics. However, it too would require such immense amounts of energy and exotic matter that it seems improbable that developing such technology will ever be possible. Energy Shields and Tractor Beams: These technologies are linchpins to the Star Trek series. We could someday have technologies that have a similar effect as those used in the films. However, they will likely work in a much different manner. Matter-antimatter Power: The starship Enterprise famously uses a matter-antimatter reaction chamber to create the energy used to power the ship. While the principle behind this power plant is sound, the problem is creating enough antimatter to make it practical. As of today, it is extremely unlikely that we will ever obtain enough antimatter to justify making such a device. Most Likely Impossible Artificial Gravity: Of course, we actually have artificial gravity technology in use today. For these applications, we use rotating centrifuges to produce a similar effect to gravity, and such devices may make their way onto spacecraft of the future. However, this is quite different from what is used in Star Trek. There, an anti-gravitational field is somehow created on board the starship. While this may be possible someday, our current understanding of physics is at a loss as to how this might actually work. This is mostly because we dont actually understand gravity that well. So it is possible that this technology might move up the list as our scientific understanding grows.Instantaneous Matter Transport: Beam me up, Scotty! Its one of the most famous lines in all of science fiction. And while it allows the plot of the Star Trek films to move along at a more rapid pace, the science behind the technology is sketchy at best. It seems highly unlikely that such technology will ever exi st. Edited and updated by Carolyn Collins Petersen.

Australian aboriginal perspectives in the classroom Assignment

Australian aboriginal perspectives in the classroom - Assignment Example Aboriginal people were hunters and gatherers where they hunted and foraged for food in their lands. Australian Aborigines had a shared responsibility where women would go to the field to gather bellies, nuts and other wild foods. Additionally, they were nomadic as they moved from one area to another in search of food due to the changing seasons (Kanu, 2011). British colonization of Australia caused various problems to the Aboriginal people as the first epidemic that faced them was diseases such as Measles, smallpox and tuberculosis that killed people. Additionally, the British settlement appropriated their land and water resources. In that, today a major issue that the aboriginals face is proving land ownership. The Aboriginal people lack of trust of white society as they think of them as oppressors and bad people. This is because they introduced alcohol and poisoned aboriginal people with diseases that they were not immune to as well as, raping their women and killing their children (Broome, 2010). To the Aboriginal people colonization meant genocide and oppression because they were denied the right to live their lives under their rule, customs and policies. For that reason, the Aboriginal people lost trust on the white, however, today they have become accepting as the laws have changed, and their children have been given the right to education, work and freedom of expression among other things. There is cultural diversity in the Aboriginal people, for example, before the arrival of Europeans there were more than 250 languages that were spoken by indigenous. Today there are only 15 languages that are spoken by all age groups. The belief system of the Aboriginal people is not definite although most people are said to be affiliated with the Christian denomination while a few of the Aborigines are affiliated with Islam. Aboriginals believed in

Sales agreement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Sales agreement - Essay Example 15 important points are elaborated, in which it starts with the product limited warranty. Acer emphasizes that no defects in materials will disturbed and provided workmanship during the limited warranty period if reparation is needed due to certain options. Fortunately, buyers can have hardware technical support via on-line, telephone and other methods. Buyers should be careful to use their own software since it might have errors that have no relation to be assisted by Acer. For the on-site service, buyers should understand their locations, because there are regulations of distance and geographical areas from Acer. Point number 5 (five) of â€Å"Limitations and Exclusions† be carefully noticed; in this case, those are things that Acer is not responsible for such as damages caused by personal faulty, damages caused by combination made to the products with other non-Gateway branded products, and mice problem at buyer’s place. Next, buyers should be on time to make registr ation of their warranty within 30 days after the purchase. Assistance from buyers is needed when there are problems to repair, and Acer want them to keep the data on other devices when the reparation is about to be done.

Operations Management Zellers Essay Example for Free

Operations Management Zellers Essay What competitive priority is important for a discount store, such as Zellers? Cost is the most important competitive priority for a discount store, such as Zellers. In order to perform competitively as a discount store, the organization must emphasize low operating costs. With this priority, Zellers can produce at low costs in comparison to competitors and offer products at low prices in order to meet consumer needs and become an order winner. 2. Three generic strategies are low cost, niche market, and product differentiation. What one of these strategies was Zellers using before 1998? After 1998? Prior to 1998, Zellers was using a low cost strategy. The company targeted budget-minded consumers with the slogan Where the Lowest Price is the Law. In the face of fierce rivalry from WalMart entering the competitive landscape and various operational shortcomings, Zellers made several strategic decisions and changes. After 1998, Zellers was using a niche market strategy, by adjusting its mission to become a moms store. Zellers focused on offering fair value to consumers, as opposed to the lowest price. The company moved away from the low cost dynamic of its self-service policy by investing in labour, having several customer service assistants on the floor. It also focused on investing in more famous brands and private label products. To the companys detriment, it appears that Zellers made these strategic changes in order to compete more directly with WalMart, as they moved away from discounts towards offering everyday low prices on 95% of its merchandise.

Celebrities and their Tibet Essay -- Expository Tibet Essays

Celebrities and their Tibet Tibet has long been a mystical land, a place that not many have known about. However this has changed. The celebrities have come out in force in making Tibet the center of attention. Even now, most people don't know more about Tibet than its location, somewhere in Asia. So, while the popular support of the struggle of the Tibetans has become well known due to the involvement of celebrities spreading the word, has it really helped the cause or simply let people know what is going on there? Even more importantly, is the information that the celebrities are passing on always correct? Before any of these questions can be answered though, one must first know the origin of the conflicts between the two regions as well as the history of the Free Tibetan Movement. As said above, Tibet used to be a place that not many people knew about. This made it much easier for the Chinese government to come in and take control of the people and the land without much protest from the outside world. In fact even if other countries, like bordering India, had known, not much would have been done. This is because no nation had ever recognized Tibet as an independent country. Rather, it was the events that followed which caused the uproar. According to defected citizens of Tibet that traveled to India and then dispersed throughout the world, the Chinese started a form of spiritual cleansing. Monks and spiritual leaders that would not follow their ground rules were detained, captured or killed. The lama's of the Tibetan people were either taken as political prisoners or exiled. However, there are also those that said that some of this never happened. "'The first troops had appeared in the city in September, 1951.' The ... ...Collins. 1969. Connolly, Paul. "Tale of Two Cities." The Times. Newspaper Source. 2/23/2002 Dolker, Sonam. "So Far from Home." Time for Kids. Issue 11(1997): page 4. 3/27/02. Ewing, Alice. "How The Tibet Movement Can Backfire on America." --- Chinese American Forum. Issue 2(2001): page 22. 3/28/02. Free Tibet Campaign. 3/31/02. http://www.freetibet.org/menu.htm. Fricke, David. "Lama-palooza." Rolling Stone. Issue 774(1997): page 105. 3/28/02. Kim, Albert. "Lookin' Tibet." Entertainment Weekly. Issue 416(1998): page 15. 3/28/02 McQueen, Dane. "Discos or the Dalai Lama: what does Tibet want?" YPA. 3/31/02. --- http://www.ypa.org/issues/previous/tibet.html. Snellgrove, David, and Hugh Richardson. A Cultural History of Tibet. New York: --- Praeger. 1968. Trebay, Guy. "And Then Tibet." Village Voice. Issue 3(1998): page 26. 3/27/02.

Investigation of Sorrel in Epping Forest

Aim: The purpose of this coursework was to investigate the impact visitors have had on the growth of sorrel on Pillow Mound in Epping Forest and to find out whether soil compression has an effect on the height of the plant sorrel. Hypothesis: There will be a significant difference in the height of sorrel if soil compaction is great. The greater the soil compaction is, the more it restricts sorrel growth. Null Hypothesis: Read this  Respiratory Activity There is no significant correlation between soil compaction and the height of the sorrel plant, any correlation established is due to chance. Scientific knowledge: The soil has fewer spaces that contain air and water needed for plant growth, is less permeable, can store less soil water and is harder for roots to penetrate. In their virgin state, soils can be productive and characterised by excellent physical condition. They allow rapid movement of air and water through the soil, providing an ideal environment for maximum root growth. However, soils are fragile and easily restructured, especially during cropping. Compaction is an example of this restructuring. If compacted badly enough, a soil does not provide adequate space for root growth and soil animal activity, or allow for rapid movement of air and water. In severe cases, roots are unable to penetrate into deeper soil layers, tending to grow along the top of the pan. The best way for water and air to move through the soil is in large pores created by decaying plant roots or soil insects and earthworms this creates a humus layer on the top of the soil which has many nutrients the sorrel can take up. The eventual death and decay of these organisms adds to the humus layer making the soil more favourable to sorrel plant roots allowing the plant to grow and flower. Water plays a major role in plant growth. Plants synthesise carbohydrates from Carbon Dioxide and Water. Water donates + ions to the cell, which are subsequently used in pathways to generate energy in the form of ATP. In non-cyclic phosphorylation water molecules are split to provide reducing power to make carbohydrates. Water is also an important transport medium delivering dissolved minerals that are essential for plant growth to all parts of the plant via the xylem. Water is a product in aerobic respiration. Respiration is the process of metabolizing (burning) sugars to yield energy for growth, reproduction, and other life processes. In a plentiful supply of air glucose and oxygen combine to form water and carbon dioxide and most vitally energy in the form of ATP. Water also maintains the turgor pressure in giving the non-woody plant parts form. Turgidity is important so the plant can remain stiff and upright and gain a competitive advantage when it comes to light. Turgidity is also important for the functioning of the guard cells, which surround the stomata and regulate water loss and carbon dioxide uptake. Turgidity also is the force that pushes roots through the soil. Variables: Independent: Soil compaction tested every 3m for 28 m along 4 line transects to see how soil compaction affects plant growth. Soil compaction tested with use of penetrometer. Dependent: Height of the plant sorrel on each line transect created every 3m up to 28m at the site Pillow Mound in Epping Forest. Sorrel height tested using a ruler and the sorrel closest to the line transect was used. Control Variables: The variables that remain unchanged or held constant to prevent its effects on the outcome and therefore may verify the behaviour of and the relationship between independent and dependent variables. The variables tested for in my investigation must be the same in order for me to establish a reliable correlation between soil compaction and the height of the sorrel plant. Light Intensity Light energy (sunlight) is the primary source of energy in nearly all ecosystems. It is the energy that is used by green plants (which contain chlorophyll) during the process of photosynthesis; a process during which plants manufacture organic substances by combining inorganic substances. Visible light is of the greatest importance to plants because it is necessary for photosynthesis. Factors such as quality of light, intensity of light and the length of the light period (day length) play an important part in an ecosystem. Light directly or indirectly affects the life activities. For the photosynthetic activity of green plants light is essential. Growth, germination, flowering and other functions of plant are controlled by photoperiodism and different light rays. The higher the light intensity, the larger the height of the plant of sorrel. A light meter was used to gather light intensity readings. It gives an accurate lux value. The sensor is placed facing upwards and a value s given . For each line transect light intensity has to be very similar to ensure our variables remain the same so we gather reliable data. I set out each transect away from trees which created shadows and so this ensured that light intensity remained constant throughout each line transect. pH of Soil The pH level of the surrounding soil can have extreme results on the growth rate and overall health of a plant. The pH is technically defined as the negative base ten logarithm of the effective hydrogen ion concentration in gram equivalents per litre. It is measured on a scale of 1-14, with each reading being shown as an acid, base, or a neutral solution. If the measurement is less than 7, it is considered an acid. The plant sorrel grows best in the acidic pH conditions of 5.5 – 6.8. The pH of the soil for each line transect created must be the same for the whole 28 m length tested for each. Variation in my pH results limits the validity of my data as it influences the height of sorrel. pH influences availability of certain nutrients such as phosphate availability which is low on acid soils. Soil samples are taken from each transect at 1m 13m and 28m. Back in the laboratory barium sulphate and indicator solution are added to the samples and ph is worked out. Soil Temperature Soil temperature plays an important role in many processes, which take place in the soil such as chemical reactions and biological interactions. Soil temperature varies in response to exchange processes that take place primarily through the soil surface. These effects are propagated into the soil profile by transport processes and are influenced by such things as the specific heat capacity, thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity. Soil temperature affects water and nutrient uptake. Biological enzymes work best at certain temperatures, if enzyme optimum temperature is exceeded or not reached this could limit the rate to which the enzyme is working limiting the growth and in turn the height of the plant sorrel. Soil temperature has a major effect on the breakdown or decomposition of soil organic matter. This organic component of the soil system is a major reservoir for phosphorus, sulphur, and nitrogen. Approximately 90% of the total amount of sulphur in soil is found in the organic matter. So, if decomposition is slowed, the ready availability of some nutrients necessary for crop growth can be restricted early in the growing season restricting plant growth.† Soil temperature (à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C) readings are to be taken with the use of a soil thermometer and then recorded on a table. Preliminary Investigation A day before my data collection, I visited Plain Mounds and gathered some preliminary data. My preliminary data was carried out to help me find the sites that should be tested and the distance of each line transect. Initially before preliminary data a 37m line transect was chosen, however, once I experienced the site a 28 m distance was most appropriate as there is no significant variation after the 28m in sorrel height; therefore it would be pointless and time consuming to carry it over a larger distance. Preliminary Investigation Method: 1. A line transect created over a distance of 28m. 2. Tape measure placed flat along the ground vertically. Stretch tape to cover 28m in a straight line along site investigated. 3. Data readings for soil temperature, light intensity, soil pH, soil compression and sorrel height at 1m, 13m and 28m. 4. Soil compaction measurements taken using a penetrometer My readings were taken 1cm at a 90à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ angle at each interval to the left of the line transect. The scale was set to 0 by moving the ring to the handle, the spike was then pushed vertically into the ground until the indention is level with the surface of the soil. The handle was released and then the results were read off the scale on the side of the penetrometer. 5. The soil thermometer was placed at a 90à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ angle 2 cm away to the left of the line transect at every interval. 6. Place a 1m long ruler across the line transect at a 90à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ angle this way I can work out which sorrel plant is closest to the line transect. Once this was worked out, a 30cm ruler was used to measure the sorrel height in its natural position. 7. Light meter measures the light intensity. Place the sensor at a 90à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ angle next to line transect where the sorrel plant is growing. Value in lux read off the scale. 8. Use auger to gain 10cmà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ sample at the 3 intervals. Twist auger in a clockwise direction whilst pushing down; the soil sample taken must be then placed into soil bags and taken to the lab for further testing of pH. 9. Record data on pre prepared table. 10. In lab to work out pH of soil: 11. 1cmà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ of each soil sample was placed into separate test tubes. 1cmà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ of distilled water was added to each test tube. After distilled water added, 1cmà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ Barium Sulphate was added to each test tube. Finally indicator was added to each test tube and pH was tested and found out by comparing to a pH scale. A systematic stratified approach was decided as my ideal sampling technique. Systematic sampling is when samples are taken at fixed intervals, usually along a line. This normally involves doing transects, where a sampling line is set up across areas where there are clear environmental gradients. Systematic sampling is my chosen method of sampling for my investigation as I am investigating the changes of plant species as you move along a gradient. Stratified sampling was used as we were comparing 4 different subdivisions within Plain Mounds. Systematic Stratified is the combination of these 2 sampling techniques; it's my preferred sampling technique as it avoids bias and for each sample collected the same approach is followed. this now seemed unnecessary due to little variation after 28m. The start point of the line transect was set to where variation in ground begins. Apparatus: Penetrometer Measures the compaction of the soil. Measures in Kg/cmà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ Simple and easy to use. Data can be gathered very quickly. Light Meter Used to measured light intensity every 3 metres along each line transect for 28 m. Measured in Lux Gives an accurate Lux value, instrument easy to use and data can be gathered easily Auger Barium Sulphate Soil bags Test tube Spatula pH scale Auger used to get 3 soil samples one sample at 1m the others at 13m and 28m. Soil sample needed so pH of soil could be identified once barium sulphate distilled water and indicator were added to each sample. Sample placed in soil bags. Soil sample placed in individual test tube using spatula and barium sulphate and indicator solution added. A soil pH meter would have been convenience wise much easier to achieve the data, however, adding the barium sulphate to the soil samples taken has ensured my data reliability. Primary data as I have gathered my results here without help of an instrument. Tape measure Used to create line transect. Line transect 28m long. 28m length chosen as after the 28m there is no change in variation of sorrel height, therefore anything more than a line transect of over 28m is irrelevant Soil Thermometer Used to measure soil temperature (à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C) Easy and quick. A mercury thermometer effectively. An electronic instrument could be more reliable as human error won't come into it in reading the results 30 cm ruler Used to measure sorrel height Easy and simple to measure plant height 1m ruler Used every 3m to go at a 90à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ angle across every 3m to find the closest sorrel plant to the line transect 30cm in some cases not long enough, however 1m long ruler the right size Method: 1. Create a line transect, open up tape measure up to 28m. 2. Place tape measure flat along the ground vertically. Stretch tape measure to cover 28m in straight line along site that we are investigating. 3. Take data readings for soil temperature, light intensity, soil compression and sorrel height at 1m, 4m, 7m, 10m, 13m, 16m, 19m, 22m, 25m, and 28m. 4. Soil compaction measurements taken using a penetrometer which measures the force needed to push the spike into the ground. My readings were taken 1cm at a 90à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ angle at each interval to the left of the line transect. The scale was set to 0 by moving the ring to the handle, the spike was then pushed vertically into the ground until the indention is level with the surface of the soil. The handle was released and then the results were read off the scale on the side of the penetrometer. 5. The soil thermometer was placed at a 90à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ angle 2 cm away to the left of the line transect at every interval. 6. Along the line transect at each interval a metre long ruler is placed across the line transect at a 90à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ angle this way I can work out which sorrel plant is closest to the line transect. Once this was worked out, a 30cm ruler was used to measure the sorrel height in its natural position. 7. Light meter measures the light intensity. Place the sensor at a 90à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ angle next to line transect where the sorrel plant is growing. Value in lux read off the scale. Move away from sensor so your shadow doesn't affect lux value. 8. Take soil samples at 1m, 13m and 28m to calculate soil pH. Use auger to gain 10cmà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ sample at the 3 intervals. Twist auger in a clockwise direction whilst pushing down; the soil sample taken must be then placed into soil bags and taken to the lab for further testing of pH. 9. Record data on pre prepared table. 10. In lab to work out pH of soil: * 1cmà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ of each soil sample was placed into separate test tubes. 1cmà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ of distilled water was added to each test tube. After distilled water added, 1cmà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ Barium Sulphate was added to each test tube. Finally indicator was added to each test tube and pH was tested and found out by comparing to a pH scale. 3pH readings gained at each of the 4 sites. 11. Repeat the steps for the 4 subdivisions within Pillow Mound. Risk Assessment: Risk is the probability of harm actually taking place. A hazard exists where situation has a built-in ability to cause an adverse effect. At the site Pillow Mound in Epping Forest, a few risks were associated with my investigation. 1. 8 pieces of equipment needed to be carried with me to the site to help with this and limit the risk of me tripping up with all the equipment in my hand, a tray was used to place all the equipment needed for the investigation. 2. The sites surface was very uneven at all the areas that were tested within plain mounds. To control the hazard I had no other option but to take my time with walking across the field. Taking my time and making sure I was looking where I was stepping ensured this hazard was avoided. 3. Slippery surfaces and deep muddy areas were also an issue to avoid this specific hazard wellington boots were worn. Strong boots may prevent twisting of ankle. 4. Gathering pH samples with the auger meant there was a risk of causing injury to my wrists, to help with the turning of the into the ground another auger was placed in the top of the one in the ground making it easier to rotate the auger by creating a handle. 5. When testing soil pH samples, gloves had to be worn to avoid contact with the barium sulphate. Safety goggles and lab coats also used to protect the eyes and the skin. 6. After the soil pH has been tested the remaining soil is then placed into a compost bin. Analysis: The scatter graph shown in figure 1.1 shows how soil compression affected the growth of sorrel. The data inputted into this graph was averages of the data collected for soil compression (Kg) and sorrel height (cm) from the 4 subdivisions investigated and tested at Pillow Mound. The graph shows a clear negative correlation between soil compression and sorrel height. As soil compression increases it is evident that sorrel height decreases. The largest sorrel growth on average was 0.0975 cm and this was with a soil compression of 1.575 kg, my lowest sorrel growth recorded from my results was 0.0011cm with a soil compression of 3.6 kg. As sorrel height isn't constantly decreasing with increasing soil compaction it was appropriate to further my understanding and calculate how strong the relationship between my independent variable, soil compaction and dependent variable sorrel height was. This would also help me establish whether the data was causational or correlational. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient is a non-parametric measure of statistical dependence between two variables. It assesses how well the relationship between two variables can be described. It makes no assumption about data distribution. The value for rs is between +1 and -1, where +1 indicates a strong positive correlation, -1 indicates a strong negative correlation and 0 indicates no correlation at all. The data gathered at all 4 sites indicates a strong negative correlation between soil compression and the height of sorrel. The rs value gathered for my averages was -0.89 and this is greater than the critical value for 10 data sets at the 99% significance level. Therefore we can be 99% sure that soil compression restricts sorrel height and I can subsequently reject my null hypothesis establishing that causational relationship between the 2 variables is present. Conclusion: The purpose of this coursework was to find out about the impact which visitors have had on Epping Forest and how the subsequent soil compaction affects sorrel growth. Epping Forest has recreational, aesthetic and educational values, so is a perfect place for visitors. Considerable damage has probably been caused to the environment due to the large number of visitors. Soil compaction at Pillow Mound was relatively high probably due to human interference. Figure 1.0 showing the averages shows us that at 1m, the mean soil compression was 4.175 Kg whilst at 28m the mean soil compression was 1.575 Kg. Figure 0.9 also shows that at 1m at Site 4 soil compression exceeded 4.5 Kg. Management of the site is being introduced with the building of car parks, an information centre, and even a ditch next to the car park to stop the cars getting onto the grass. Epping Forest is one of a number of open spaces around London owned and managed by the City of London as part of its commitment to sustaining a world class city and for the conservation of wildlife and historic landscape. The investigation of how soil compaction affects the height of the plant Sorrel was gratifying as a correlation between soil compaction and Sorrel growth was determined. A slight flaw which may have had an impact on my results was the fact average light intensity increased slightly with increasing distance along the tape measure. At 1m light intensity was at 1894.25 Lux, at 28m this had increased to 1900.25 Lux with the Lux value fluctuating over the 28m distance. Although the differences in light intensities are little, my results are limited slightly as light intensity affects plant growth. The higher the light intensity the higher the plant growth. Light plays a major role in photosynthesis which is a 2 stage process involving the light dependent stage and light independent stage which could continue in the dark. When a photon of light hits a chlorophyll molecule the energy is transferred to the electrons of that molecule. The electrons are excited and raised to higher energy leve ls. If an electron is raised sufficiently it is picked up by an electron acceptor and results into ATP production via cyclic and non-cyclic phosphorylation. ATP is formed supplying the energy needed for synthesis of carbohydrates and the electron is passed along Electron Transport Chain (ETC). The differences in Lux are relatively minuscule along the line transects and so it is not sufficient enough to make my results invalid. Data collection was carried out in the morning before the sun had fully risen, as time passed and data was collected at each interval the sun carried on rising thus explaining the small differences in light intensity. In hindsight data collection should have happened at each interval at each of the 4 sites simultaneously, however, this was not viable as there were not enough people available to assist with data collection. My hypothesis that the greater the soil compaction, the lower the height of the Sorrel plant, has proved to be correct. This is due to the fact that soil compaction doesn't provide adequate space for the roots of the sorrel plant, which subsequently means that the plant cannot get enough nutrients, water and minerals from the soil which are needed for optimum growth. By using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient this was worked out and we are 99% certain that a negative correlation exists between the 2 variables. 4 different sites were tested at Pillow Mound in Epping Forest, and my Spearman's rank correlations for each site indicated a strong negative correlation. To back up my hypothesis even further my preliminary data indicate a negative correlation between Sorrel height and soil compaction. 10 samples were collected along each transect so we could get an RS value for spearman's rank that was 99% reliable and not down to chance. Evaluation My investigation was highly edifying and although I came to the conclusion that there is a 99% chance that soil compaction affects sorrel height proving my hypothesis correct, in hindsight I would make a few crucial amendments to my method and investigation so next time I carry out the investigation I will have an even higher level of confidence in my results. The 4 subdivisions at Pillow Mound were investigated to gain a general overview of the site. By testing one site, we are limiting our data as our results may only be conclusive for that part of Plain mounds. When collecting data light intensity values varied as the values could not be all taken at the same time. To avoid this more people could help with the fieldwork and we could simultaneously gain figures for light intensity at the same time. To do this more light meters would have to be provided. Time constraints were also a major issue. We were given around 3 hours to collect our fieldwork from 4 different sub divisions within Pillow Mound. Without time constraints there would be less pressure to complete the fieldwork within a specific time leaving us enough time to gather data with each instrument. Ideally a longitudinal study would be most ideal as the patterns established from the data was from only 1 day in the whole calendar year. Throughout the year, sorrel height will vary. The day my data was collected may not depict an average day in Epping Forest and so my data is invalid. A longitudinal study is ideal so we can collect data over the year and see how sorrel height varies. To increase data reliability we could collect data for soil compaction and sorrel height every 3 months at the same 4 subdivisions and see if there is any significant correlation. The weather would also have an effect on sorrel height; if it rains soil will be more compact and soil infiltration would not occur as rapidly. This in turn could affect seed germination as roots cannot penetrate lower soil layers. I expect plant height to be higher in the spring as spring provides optimum temperatures for seed germination, aswell as the fact that it doesn't rain as much during spring as it does winter, so soil will not become drenched allowing the roots to penetrate the soil greater and greater foundations allows a better uptake of minerals and greater sorrel growth. The most helpful modification would be to carry out this investigation on a different site within Epping Forest; this could show a clear contrast to how sorrel height varies with soil compaction. The data gathered in this study could only be relevant for Pillow Mound, so broadening our study to more than 1 site could further enhance data validity and reliability. Further investigations possibly using 2 paths at each subdivision could further validate data. As a pH probe was not available at the field centre, to measure pH of the soil we had to add a spatula full of barium sulphate as well as 1cmà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ of distilled water to 1 cmà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ of each soil sample in separate test tubes. The amount of barium sulphate added or the amount of soil sample added to each test tube would affect pH and so our pH values could vary due to human error and the variable wasn't of constant of using the same formula each time. A pH probe would eliminate human error and the same procedure could have been kept throughout and been kept constant.

Becoming a Family

The family is still considered by sociologists as the nuclear component of any society regardless of cultural norms, traditions and beliefs. In the United States, the average American family has undergone dramatic changes in terms of its function and structures. Of these changes, the most apparent is the fact that most average American families are now what many considered as blended families.Blended families are considered to be extremely complex in terms of its structure and as such, the interpersonal relationship between the members of these blended families becomes complex as well. It is for this reason that numerous research studies have been conducted with regards to the adaptation and interpersonal relationships that occur between family members. This paper would provide a summary of the findings of one particular research study conducted with regards to the relationship among members of blended families.The paper would also provide a critical evaluation on the findings that h ave been presented by the researchers in the article provided by comparing this with four other journal articles on the topic. Summary of Article The journal article selected for the critical evaluation to be conducted in this paper is a study conducted by Braithwaite, Olson, Golish, Soukup and Turman entitled â€Å"Becoming a Family†: Developmental Processes Represented in Blended Family Discourse.In this article, the researchers found the need to investigate and develop a deeper understanding on the different processes that occur within blended families in order to become a solid, nuclear family sociologists have long recognized as the foundation of any society. The need was brought about by statistics showing an increase in the number of blended families now present within modern-day American societies (Braithwaite, Olson, Golish, Soukuip & Turman 2000). The study conducted by the researchers involved a combination of qualitative and quantitative methodologies centering on a process-focus approach.A total of 980 members of blended families were interviewed by the researchers, with the questionnaire based on the findings of previous research studies conducted on the subject matter. Based on the data gathered by the researchers, they had determined that the major issues blended families had to cope with in order to become a strong nuclear family are the management of boundaries between members of the family, solidarity and adaptation to the concept of being a blended family.The researchers determined that although the negotiation processes that occurred among members of blended families differs there remains some common factors which, in turn, help determine whether or not the blended family would be able to adapt or otherwise (Braithwaite et al 2000). According to the analysis of the data gathered by the researchers with regards to the methods of negotiation that occurs within blended families, they determined that those that have experienced what the y considered to be constructive trajectories are more able to adapt to the situation a lot better, regardless of the issues at hand.In the case of overcoming the issue with regards to boundary management, the researchers determined that successful blended families are those that through the proper use of interpersonal communication skills, the members of the blended family are more able to have a smooth transition for the new members of the family to become incorporated in the blended family. On the other hand, the lack of such negotiating skills can result for the addressing of boundary management to become stagnant within the first four years of being a blended family or even cause friction and turmoil to arise.The same holds true with regards to addressing the issues of solidarity and adaptation among blended families. Based on this, the researchers concluded that manner on how interpersonal relationship and communication occurs between members of the blended family is a key fact or in determining the success – or lack thereof – in the solidifying of the blended family (Braithwaite et al 2000). Critical EvaluationIn order to provide an ample critical evaluation with regards to the article summarized, the concept of â€Å"blended families† must first be determined. According to Shalay and Brownlee (2007), blended families are those families that occur as a result of a remarriage made on the part of the parents. In many cases, sociologists define blended families as those separated families that have been united with each other by marriage. In the United States, blended families have now become a common part of society.In a country, where almost half of the marriages end in divorce, it has been estimated that 79% of divorced men and 75% divorced women would remarry, with 60% of this population having children from the previously dissolved marriage (Darden & Zimmerman 1992). While the commonly used terminology in society to refer to the par ent-child relationship and sibling relationship resulting from the remarriage process as step families, sociologists prefer to use the term blended families to recognize the merging of these two families into one solid unit (Shalay & Brownlee 2007).The focus of the article â€Å"Becoming a Family†: Developmental Processes Represented in Blended Family Discourse is centered on the understanding of the different pathways that blended families undergo as they slowly merge and become one solid family unit. During this process, the researchers have determined that the main issues faced by blended families are boundary management, solidarity and adaptation.Through the initial literature review conducted by the researchers for the study, they have determined that stage-based models initially used by sociologists have been extremely limited primarily due to its over-simplification of the stages presented and the assumption that blended families must attain a specific objective in ord er to reach the next level. The complexity of the structure of blended families have led the researchers to adopt a process approach to understand the different patterns and processes that blended families undergo in their quest in becoming a solid family unit (Braithwaite et al 2000).These conclusions were also found by Wood in her book entitled Relational Communication: Continuity and Change in Personal Relationships. In her chapter which looks into the development of intimacy in interpersonal relationships, Wood (2000) stipulated that earlier models depicting stages within interpersonal relationships, such as that experienced in blended families, have been initially misinterpreted as a stage or a state where in fact, the development of intimacy is an ongoing process.By viewing the development of intimacy in interpersonal relationships, one can assume that the moment the stage is completed, those involved in the interpersonal relationship would be able to progress to the next stag e and would no longer experience the conflicts and issues that have already been addressed in the previous stage. In reality, interpersonal relationships is an ongoing process depicted by the solving and resolving conflicts and issues throughout the length of the relationship, making the process approach more applicable in the understanding of blended families.The premise presented by Wood in her book can also be found in the article of Ginther and Pollak entitled Family Structure and Children’s Educational Outcomes: Blended Families, Stylized Facts, and Descriptive Regressions where they looked into the difference between the performance of children coming from â€Å"intact† families and those coming from blended families. Here, Ginther and Pollack (2004) stated that in the understanding of how being a part of a blended family would influence the educational performance of a child.Based on the initial research they conducted, they determined that many of the literatur e that they reviewed approach the study of blended families through what they termed as stylized facts, which are simple correlations between parents and children in terms of the relationships that they foster within a blended family. Ginther and Pollack discovered that those that have utilized the stylized fact approach would often be a result of the inconsistent parenting styles experienced by the children in the presence of both the biological parent and the stepparent.While this may partly be responsible for any form of conflict arising within blended families and thus, making the process of becoming a family unit more difficult, the study that they have conducted have found that this is brought about by the stress continuously experienced within the relationship between parents and children in blended families. As such, they stipulated in their study that a change in the approach to focus more on the relationship between parents and children in blended families are more importa nt in understanding the process undertaken by blended families into becoming solid family units.In the article â€Å"Becoming a Family†: Developmental Processes Represented in Blended Family Discourse, the use of negotiation has been considered extremely vital in the addressing of issues commonly faced by blended families in their quest to become a solid family unit. This premise has been supported in other studies that have been conducted by other researchers. In a study conducted by Darden and Zimmerman (1992), they looked into the various issues faced by blended families in the United States over the last decade from a theoretical, clinical and research perspective.It was their understanding that much of the previous approaches and methods utilized in the understanding of blended families in the United States have been inadequate due to the fact that they were based on previous studies conducted on â€Å"intact† families as well as single-parent families. The resear chers have determined that the primary conflict rising within blended families are rooted from the roles that each member plays. The children still regard their biological, or natural, parents to be the only ones that have authority over their growth and development as individuals.As a result, the stepparents would often find themselves feeling excluded from their role as being a parent to these children since negotiations are commonly made between biological parents instead between the biological parent and the stepparent. The importance of such negotiation between biological parents was comprehensively explained in a study conducted by Kathleen Rodgers and Hilary Rose. In their study, which focused on the understanding factors that contribute further in the psychological and behavioral changes observed among adolescents in blended families.This was done through the use of the risk and resiliency framework. Because of the loss of a recognized parent from the household, the adolesce nt in a blended family may perceive the infrequent presence of the recognized parent to be a loss of parental support. The resiliency framework is used to measure the level of adaptation that the adolescent experiences as a result of a challenging situation, in this case, the shift from an â€Å"intact† family to a blended family.Based on their findings, they had determined that one method for the proper and successful adaptation of the children in blended families is through the constant negotiation between biological parents as well as between the biological parent and stepparent would be able to resolve any feelings of resistance on the part of the children, which would, in turn, lead to the progress of the blended family in terms of addressing the three issues presented by Braithwaite and her colleagues which are boundary management, solidarity and adaptation (Rodgers & Rose 2002).The negotiation process presented in the article â€Å"Becoming a Family†: Developmen tal Processes Represented in Blended Family Discourse has been used as a tool used by many family therapists during counseling sessions, particularly with blended families who are having difficulties in becoming a solid family unit. In the article, much of the conflict arise as a result of the awareness of the fact that the initial expectations that had once been held by members of the blended family are shattered as they realize the reality of the situation that they find themselves in.One method utilized in family counseling sessions is the use of narrative therapy. In their article Narrative Family Therapy with Blended Families, Shalay and Brownlee (2007), determined through the study that they have conducted that through the use of a process approach, the narrative therapy proved to be beneficial in helping blended families become solid family units since through this method, they are able to discuss not just their expectations.The narrative therapy also allows members of the fa mily to relate any form of disappointments that they have experienced as a result of not being able to meet their initial expectations as well as social myths that they have heard with regards to blended families and influences of previous histories in their respective lives. Through this, members of the blended family are then able to reach a comprise resulting from negotiation processes carefully assisted by the therapist in order to ensure that the blended family becomes a solid family unit.Conclusion With more and more families now becoming blended as a result of different social factors, particularly divorce and remarriage, harmony and unity within the family has now become extremely more complicated to achieve. Although this phenomenon is common, this nevertheless brings about new conflicts that have not been observed among traditional nuclear families. This includes the rise of the issues regarding boundary management, adaptation and solidarity.It is for this reason that the use of negotiation skills has become more important among blended families in order to eradicate any fears and inhibitions felt by the members of the blended family in order to achieve harmony and unity, thus exhibiting the same traits found among traditional families. References Baithwaite, D. O. , Olson, L. N. , Golish, T. D. , Soukup, C. & Turman, P. (2002). â€Å"Becoming a family†: developmental processes represented in blended family discourse.In S. A. Friedley (Ed. ), Interpersonal Communication Theory: A Reader (pp. 181-207). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Company. Darden, E. C. & Zimmerman, T. S. (1992). Blended families: a decade review, from 1979 to 1990. Family Therapy, 19(1), 25-30. Ginther, D. K. & Pollak, R. A. (2004). Family structure and children’s educational outcomes: blended families, stylized facts, and descriptive regressions. Demography, 41(4), 671- 96.Rodgers, K. B. & Rose, H. A. (2002). Risk and resiliency factors among adolescents who exper ience marital transitions. Journal of Marriage and Family, 64, 1024-37. Shalay, N. & Brownlee, K. (2007). Narrative family therapy with blended families. Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 18(2), 17-30. Wood, J. T. (2000). Relational Communication: Continuity and Change in Personal Relationships (2nd ed. ). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Company.

AIDS in Ghana The WritePass Journal

The Role of NGOs in the Prevention of HIV/AIDS in Ghana Introduction The Role of NGOs in the Prevention of HIV/AIDS in Ghana Introduction This dissertation will focus on the role of NGO in the prevention of HIV/AIDS in Ghana. The Republic of Ghana is located on the west coast of Africa and is bordered by Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast and Togo. Ghana has an estimated population of 24 million people, with Accra Ghana’s capital city having the estimated highest population of over two million people.[1] The Human Immunodeficiency Deficiency Virus (HIV) and the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) epidemics continue to devastate the lives of individuals globally. HIV/AIDS is proven to be a great developmental challenge for states, with many initiatives to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS proving difficult. With HIV/AIDS mainly affecting adults in their industrious years, the infections are having a detrimental effect on health care systems across the world. The high cost attributed to treatment and prevention programmes have averted resources away from productive investments. Empirical evidence reveals a relationshi p between HIV/AIDS and poverty. Since its discovery, HIV/AIDS has ravaged communities, assisted with the creation of poverty and deepened the opportunities to escape it. HIV/AIDS constitutes as one of the most serious health concerns destructing human development. HIV/AIDS also threatens to reverse the progress in the most severely affected countries for decades.[2] Of the global total of people living with HIV/AIDS, 95% live in developing countries.[3] Since its existence, HIV/AIDS has continued to evolve in communities where poverty facilitates the spread of the viruses. Weak healthcare infrastructures and social inequalities have increased the potential risk of HIV/AIDS, while factors such as migration, drug use and economic instability have also enhanced the spread of transmission. The impact of HIV/AIDS has been severe on the African continent, which has some of the poorest countries in the world, meaning large populations have been affected by the epidemic. Whilst   the   number   of   people   living   with   HIV   remains   high in sub-Saharan Africa, the availability of ACT treatments has been   associated with a momentous decline of HIV/AIDS related deaths. It has been   argued that the rise of HIV/AIDS in Africa is a result of a sexual   culture[4] and that Africanswere conducting hyper-sexualised behaviour.[5] Strong prevention campaigns have also played a key role in the decrease in recent HIV/AIDS prevalence rates. After Ghana’s first case of HIV was reported in 1986[6], the disease spread gradually but stea dily until 2003, when prevalence peaked at 3.1%.[7] In 2011, the estimated adult HIV/AIDS prevalence was 2.1%, with an estimated 225478 people were living with HIV/AIDS in the country.[8] HIV prevalence differs between age, gender, residence and geographical areas. Ghanas’ Aids Commision key strategic priorities are preventing HIV/AIDS in high-risk populations such as female sex workers (FSW), men who have sex with men (MSM), and discordant couples, reducing HIV/AIDS transmission from high-risk individuals to the general population, addressing stigma and discrimination, and providing comprehensive prevention and care and access to treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), their partners, and families. The GAC has developed multiple evidence-based, comprehensive behaviour change support materials for FSW, their clients and partners, MSM, and PLWHA. The growing complexity of HIV/AIDS has led to a number of initiatives involving the skills of NGO’s. With good health care systems a commodity in some countries, NGO’s have developed programmes to assist with the demands on the state. For instance, Charity AID Africa has implemented a community testing and care unit in Kumasi to minimise the risk of future infections. Amid the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS, NGOs were used as a global trend to compensate for the short comings of the state. With HIV/AIDS being in existence for over 30 years, the relevance, efficiency and sustainability of NGO’s are all in question, now more than ever. Similar to states, NGOs face allegations of corruption, mismanagement in addition to funding cuts and state sanctions. NGO’s currently face not only the practical challenge of tackling HIV/AIDS but also the political challenge of influencing policy.   In this respect, the epidemic of HIV/AIDS and the challenge of the political economy are mutually constitutive. While some NGO’s have been successful to some degree in helping to reshape policy agendas, doubts still remain about the potential of NGO’s to reshape society. Dilemmas persist on the effectiveness of NGOS with questions asking whether they are efficient and have the agency to bring about long-term sustainable change.[9] NGO’s, such as Oxfam, have been productive in conducting programmes to tackle poverty and gaining International recognition. By way of comparison the majority of NGO’s haven’t been able to make a significant change to policy due to ideological parameters. The role of the state is important to NGO’s because the state has the power to determine the institutional nature, agenda and political relationship. The potential for NGO’s to bring about substantial change to HIV/AIDS is undiminished while the limitations of NGO practices will be explored with this paper. Despite amplified focus on the HIV/AIDS epidemic, initiatives by the Ghanaian government and NGOs have failed to eradicate the virus. Many businesses, communities, and private and religious organisations have also tried to work towards eradicating HIV/AIDS with varying results. The work carried out by those concerned with HIV/AIDS has provided vital information about the biological, behavioural and environmental factors that influence HIV/AIDS transmission. HIV/AIDS is a serious problem in Ghana and the challenge of implementing effective prevention programmes is a national priority. This study focuses on the potential role of NGOs in the significant reduction of HIV/AIDS in Ghana. The thesis is framed within wider debates concerning the impact of NGOs, with particular attention to the role of NGOs and their efforts to reduce the number of HIV/AIDS infections. This study will seek to examine the power of NGOs preventatives methods in Ghana and contribute to the theoretical framework of the role of NGOs in HIV/AIDS prevention. Specifically the aim of the study is to explore and describe the service’s NGO’s provide and how those services influence the transmission of HIV/AIDS. The study will also review the effect of The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) funded policies and explore the possibility for further NGO involvement in decisio n making. The study is comprised of five chapters; in this introduction I provide a thumbnail overview of my research question and highlight the contribution I seek to make to HIV/AIDS literature. The introduction will also provide a brief account of the general background of the research, both in relation to the HIV/AIDS rates in Ghana and the number of NGO’s fighting the epidemic in the country. Chapter one and two provide a board historical perspective on the subject matter. Critical claims about the roles of NGO’s not only invoke historical views but also functions as a means by which NGO’s construct their programmes to seek political and economic interests. In chapter two I provide an outline of the theoretical outline that informs the research with particular reference to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa. I will also provide an examination of the empirical literature on NGO’s HIV/AIDS prevention programmes. In chapter two, I will also illustrate how various scholars have discussed the role of NGO’s relationship with HIV/AIDS. It also permits an appraisal of the ways in which the history of HIV/AIDS in Africa evolves and transforms states. I argue that NGO’s in some cases have had to serve the interests of their funders and consolidate to capitalist nature. This point becomes apparent when one considers from a historical perspective the obligation put on external funding from the GFATM. This study will also explain NGO’s adapting strategy to shift towards external funding objectives. Chapter three provides an outline of the methodological rationale of the study. I introduce the number of individual interviews that took place and justify why they were the most appropriate approach to pursue my research question. The methodology focuses on the role of NGO’s in the prevention of HIV/AIDS, drawing on primary and secondary sources. Ten organisations have been selected to illustrate the links between NGO’s and the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Ghana, and this study will look at what will distinguish the chosen organisations and what will be their opinions of HIV/AIDS in Ghana. The methodology will be presented in three stages, firstly providing details of the research informant, secondly an exploration into the methods chosen for data collection, finally the analysis of the data will be explained. Chapter four will discuss the results of the research and consider them in relation to the research question. The methodological considerations will also be explored in chapter four, seeking out the strength and limitations of the study. Chapter five will conclude the study with a summary of the main body of the research. The conclusion will also make comparisons with other studies and make suggestions for further research. Finally the implications of the dissertation will be speculated.