Friday, August 28, 2020

African Insurgency Groups: Causes and Responses

African Insurgency Groups: Causes and Responses Daniel Silberstein In light of a spate of rough assaults from the Kenyan money to the coast President Uhuru Kenyatta has announced that they â€Å"will not jump in war against terrorists†, explicitly against the Al-Shabaab aggressor bunch headquartered in Somalia. His freely pronounced situation of a powerful, forceful, and proceeded with reaction against what he alludes to as a, â€Å"extremist caliphate† aim on stating strength in the area, is sure to be met with both solidarity and analysis among Kenyans, Africans, and the worldwide network. Nigeria, home to Africa’s biggest economy (as indicated by an April BBC report) additionally winds up near the precarious edge of a bigger clash. Flanked by aggressor revolt, ascribed for the most part to the Boko Haram, in the north and the new capital of theft on its southern shores. The resonations of these contentions are dubious. In any case, so as to anticipate, and maybe mitigate, the results of this battle, and to confine the annihil ation we are probably going to observe, it is principal that worldwide intercessions adjust and connections be drawn between this rising dispute and contemporary clashes that characterize present day fighting. Right off the bat, this ought not be seen as simply a manifestation of the advocated story of another African torment. This is to state that, truly, animosities were generally constrained in territorial degree. This doesn't make light of the indefensible past clashes in Africa: the repulsions of decimation â€, for example, Rwanda, Darfur, and so forth and dug in delayed fighting â€, for example, Mali, Democratic Republic of Congo, and so on. This is basically, and essentially, to delineate that the implications of fighting in Africa is rapidly turning into a worldwide risk. The mind-boggling commitment to this emergencies up until now? Cash, and truly huge amounts of it. A 2009 WSJ article by Dambisa Moyo evaluated over $1 trillion truth be told. Thus, while the expectations of helping with reducing viciousness and debasement in the locale have existed for a considerable length of time, through outside guide and, military and political associations, it is clear that the structures set up for assistance and the board have neglected to meet desires. The current arrangement of help in Africa has gotten practically ludicrous. General terms of help have come up short, best case scenario and have been effectively hurtful at the very least. A great part of the legislative installations that have developed from the deluge of inadequately appropriated help have really smothered the authentic advancement of their individual voting demographics. Political organizations have engendered generally as center men, profiteering from the progression of help. In 2013, Tra nsparency International put everything except five Sub-Saharan countries on the base portion of its debasement rankings list. Another game-plan is basic to encourage wellbeing and increase monetary development. A talk about the support of affluent countries in insightful mediation and venture is turning out to be increasingly fundamental. That being stated, undaunted by unrest Africa is very nearly another day. Racked between geo-political remnants of colonialism and powerless as possible prey to a standoffish globalized economy, the district has urgently been looking for an a dependable balance of solidness since the finish of WW2. In spite of a gridlock of debasement, partisan viciousness, and compassionate fiascos, this century is ready to see African countries impelled into a raised worldwide status, both strategically and monetarily. Nations like Botswana, Angola, and numerous others are encountering a tremendous development in their working class divisions, which as indicated by â€Å"The Economist† is anticipated to rise to India’s white collar class at some point in 2015. While not what might be compared to the Western standard for working class this, buyer base will exponentially expand the attractiveness and impact of Africa’s monetary offers. The results of expanded monetary congruity i s obvious all through. A sprouting gathering of very rich people spot the landmass, twenty-nine in certainty as indicated by Forbes in March. This is up from twenty just a single year sooner. In truth, many are South African or hail from Northern Africa, nations not ordinarily confined with Sub-Saharan Africa, yet the closeness itself grants striking nature. While utilitarian and gainful enormous organizations create, alongside a steady white collar class, numerous African nations’ governments are starting to politically develop. Indeed, even pockets of accomplishment from progressively prudent guide programs exist, particularly with small scale awards and credits to ground-level African business visionaries, demining activities, and the multiplication of instructive chances. Considering Africa’s recorded disappointments, and a maybe dubious hold upon a flood of quick turn of events, what are the correct responses to best encourage harmony and strength? The need of remote guide intercession despite everything exists. Reexamining the circulation and access of help, and creating reasonable intercession systems to follow quantifiable results is the main trust in these countries to conquer the greatness of difficulty that frequents the landmass. Perpetually, it appears to me, certain rules must be met before a country can would like to prosper: security and solidness, straightforwardness and responsibility, and the improvement of business and foundation. While these rules are in no way, shape or form selective of each other, nor carefully sequential in usage. In any case, some similarity to this request is important, particularly considering the recognizable separation of government arrangements to the populaces they oversee. The relapse of the security circumstance, especially Nigeria and Kenya the rising stars of independence, takes steps to crash these upwardly portable nations by the genuine capability of a contention whose degree can without much of a stretch surpass any in African history. The most critical differentiation of this rising clash are the connections to an all around financed and aspiring universal fear based oppressor culture. Despite the fact that knowledge is characteristically defective while assessing radical gatherings, joins between African rebellion gatherings and associations like Al Qaeda and (if not as of now, absolutely soon) ISIS are everything except guaranteed. Considering developing clashes with borderless fanatic associations, and recently discovered riches, African guard spending plans have taken off 65% since 2004, as indicated by The Economist, more prominent than some other locale in that time period. Nearly as a general rule, since the beginning of the Cold War period, expanding safeguard spending plans are frequently characteristic of approaching emergencies, as far as savagery as well as in the end of common freedoms and worldwide unsteadiness. To improve this the offer of materiel must follow a severe and unfair rule. This is the reason the worldwide network must be durable and conscious, even uneasy, as Kenya and Nigeria set out on their own one of a kind â€Å"War on Terror†. Tragically, the net revenue for assembling in the worthwhile arms showcase is rapidly setting up a spot in Africa. A similar Economist article uncovered that â€Å"four significant European arms producers have set up African auxiliaries this yearâ⠂¬ . These will no uncertainty become monetary aids yet they convey with them the inertness of war. One of McNamara’s exercises gets significant, â€Å"Proportionality ought to be a rule in war†, to be sure both in the way in which it is pursued and in the anticipation of unnecessary animosity. Issues emerge with swelled military spending, the availability of war and the avocation of consumptions forces countries to treat each issue like a nail with the sledges of programmed rifles. This is the frequently ignored analysis of automaton fighting. They are regularly increasingly exact, precise, and less able to mistake than kept an eye on machines. An automaton pilot in Nevada, supervised by crowds of high-positioning authorities and legal counselors, is less helpless against base endurance senses and imprudent choices. Nonetheless, openness brings us into struggle. At the point when the dread of setback checks are not spread on news communicates, a feeling of safety jumbles shrewdness. Notwithstanding a covetous adversary it is reasonable, however unfortunate, that one looks for security behind the procurement of arms and gag flashes. A few steps have been made fully expecting imprudent military activity. The U.N.’s Forward Intervention Brigade and African Union Peacekeepers have had accomplishment in introducing a brought together front; the term alliance ought to be maintained a strategic distance from nowadays to stay away from negative undertones. These associations additionally loan some straightforwardness to one-sided activities and a progressively legitimate evaluation of the consequence of military tasks. Clearly these techniques for taking up arms are in no way, shape or form perfect, it is a positive development. Common policing will be essential in forestalling outrage. Andrew Muzonzini, the lead for Zimbabwe’s outside knowledge organization offers a bright understanding in a Business Insider Article that is in accordance with the suitable methodology, â€Å"Ahead of time, we should try to comprehend (the Islamic State) usual way of doing things on the off chance that we are to foresee and anticipate difficulties ahead†. This end, ideally shared among the milieu of African legislative issues, will (ideally) be characteristic of a vigilant and conscious game-plan to repulse radical conduct. A solid interior guard approach joined with accurately characterized and inflexibly custom-made strategic trips, focusing on just privately validated destinations, ought to be the precepts of this beginning clash. The worldwide network needs to encourage such fair activities. More significant than monetary help, more exact than cutting edge weaponry, we should confer the exercises of an incapable and delayed clash. The way wherein we protect ourselve s ought not be so expansive as to estrange us from the world on the loose. Africa’s Muslim population’s security must be guarantee

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Why Should We Honor Our Veterans Essay Essay Example

For what reason Should We Honor Our Veterans Essay Paper A veteran is somebody who battled in a war as a trooper, mariner, and so on. Be that as it may, this definition isn't near depicting he chivalry of these veterans, who set out their lives for American opportunity. Jeff Miller once stated, move eagerness of Americas veterans to forfeit for our nation has earned them our enduring appreciation. On Veterans Day, we assemble to respect the individuals who have served our nation, regardless of whether it was five years back, or fifty. Regardless of whether they served in the Persian Gulf, or Bosnia, we accumulate to worship them and give them the regard and the thanks that they merit. We say thanks to them for shielding us from the individuals who intend to do us hurt. After all they have accomplished for us, awards appear to be inadequate. All veterans have the right to be perceived for their valiant activities. Veterans, who have served in wars, for example, Vietnam, the Korean Expedition, and most as of late, the war in Iraq, needed to invest a long time at an energy, away from their family, yet additionally in exceptionally risky fight zones. In 2010, Sergeant Salvatore A. Monster ran through overwhelming fire to get his crew head to security in Afghanistan. He terminated at the adversary while running straight through their lines. Like this, they must be eager to bargain their lives so as to spare an individual trooper or blameless non military personnel. We will compose a custom exposition test on Why Should We Honor Our Veterans Essay explicitly for you for just $16.38 $13.9/page Request now We will compose a custom paper test on Why Should We Honor Our Veterans Essay explicitly for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Recruit Writer We will compose a custom paper test on Why Should We Honor Our Veterans Essay explicitly for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Recruit Writer With each war we have battled, a portion of these individuals have passed on, been injured or have been made frantic from mental anguish and are compelled to remember their horrendous encounters. Veterans are genuine saints, and they will consistently be in the hearts and recollections all things considered. Everybody in the United States should utilize this one day not as a day to unwind, however as a day to respect the veterans who have endeavors to progress in the direction of securing our opportunity. Veterans who energetically put their lives in peril to guarantee our opportunity, have the right to be perceived as legends in my eyes, just as every other person.

Friday, August 21, 2020

What I Have Learned in Introduction to Psychology Free Essays

In Introduction to Psychology we contacted quickly on a great deal of the segments of brain science. It is a presentation class, so it doesn't go profoundly into any one classification, rather just skims the vast majority of them. I realized what qualifies brain research as a science, the mind and how it is significant in the study of brain science. We will compose a custom paper test on What I Have Learned in Introduction to Psychology or on the other hand any comparative subject just for you Request Now I found out about sensation and discernment and afterward did a venture on how psychoactive medications modify them. We talked top to bottom about learning, old style molding explicitly, and secured operant molding completely also. Freud was talked about frequently, since he is viewed as the organizer of brain science. The psychodynamic hypotheses on improvement, character, and mental issue just as different speculations are a portion of the subjects I will be going into profundity in this paper. What is Psychology? The course reading portrays brain research as â€Å"the logical investigation of conduct and mental procedures (Ciccarelli White, p. 4, 2009)†. In class, the meaning of brain research we utilized is â€Å"the logical investigation of conduct and mental procedures and how they are influenced by an organism’s physical state, mental state, and outer state (K. Hoecker, class address, 2010)†. The four objectives of brain research are to depict, comprehend, foresee, and change why conduct is going on (Ciccarelli White, p. 5, 2009). Brain research is a sociology, centered around the person, which is identified with human science, humanities, political theory, and financial aspects (K. Hoecker, class address, 2010). What Are the Models of Psychiatry? There are seven models of psychiatry referenced in the reading material: psychodynamic, conduct, humanistic, subjective, sociocultural, biopsychological, and developmental (Ciccarelli White, p. 13-16, 2009). In class we additionally examined the women's activist point of view (K. Hoecker, class address, 2009). The first psychoanalytical hypothesis depended on Freud and he accepted that sex and sexual inspirations were behind a person’s conduct. Present day psychodynamic hypothesis centers around youth encounters and oblivious contemplations in relationship to a person’s conduct (Ciccarelli White, p. 13, 2009). The social point of view is the possibility that people’s activities and practices depend on what they have realized. Watson and Skinner were both notable individuals in the behaviorist field (Ciccarelli White, p. 14, 2009). Humanistic way to deal with brain research is a more up to date approach than the other two and the most acclaimed authors of the methodology are Carl Rogers, and Abraham Maslow. The humanistic methodology stresses unrestrained choice and human potential to change. Gestalt began the intellectual point of view on brain research with his investigations of thought. â€Å"Cognitive point of view with its attention on memory, insight, observation, manners of thinking, critical thinking, language and learning has become a significant power in brain research (Ciccarelli White, p. 15, 2009)†. Sociocultural brain research attempts to clarify the setting of conduct and how it is affected by society (Ciccarelli White, p. 5, 2009). The possibility that conduct is brought about by hereditary qualities, hormones, and body science is biopsychiatry. Biopsychiatry is turning into a critical field, due to the chance presently to discover psychological maladjustments with cerebrum filters. (Ciccarelli White, p. 16, 2009). Darwin is the most celebrated transformative therapist. Transformative psychiatry is the investigation of the developmental premise of human conduct (Ciccarelli White, p. 16, 2009). The last mental hypothesis isn't referenced in the course reading yet it is the women's activist hypothesis. The women's activist hypothesis investigates sexual orientation jobs, and sex inclination (K. Hoecker, class address, 2010). It is critical to think about the alternate points of view on psychiatry since they have various convictions and treatment models. In the event that an individual is anticipating going into the mental field they would need to know the various sorts of psychiatry and which one meets their character and conviction framework. What Does the Brain Have to do With Psychiatry? The mind is the place perspectives occur and has constantly held puzzle. Researchers are finding new things constantly. We currently realize that 10% of the mind is comprised of neurons, and the staying 90% is comprised of glial cells. Glial cells hold things set up, protect the ways for electrical flows, give the neurons supplements and tidy up the dead neurons (K. Hoecker, class address, 2010). Neurons are comprised of various parts. The soma is the body of the cell; dendrites branch off the soma and get messages. Axons are tubes that transmit messages to different cells; the axon is secured by myelin to help protect the axon and accelerate the messages. The synaptic handles, otherwise called the axon terminals, store the synapses that convey the messages (Ciccarelli White, p. 49, 50, 2009). The left half of the mind manages the correct portion of the body, language, math, rationale, investigation and perusing. The correct side of the equator of the cerebrum handles the left 50% of the body, nonverbal correspondence, visual-spatial discernment, music, craftsmanship, feelings, acknowledgment, procedure, example, and facial acknowledgment (Ciccarelli White, p. 78, 2009). The cerebellum is situated in the back lower some portion of the mind. It controls balance, muscle coordination, learned reflexes, and propensities (Ciccarelli White, p. 69, 2009). The Cerebral cortex is the external covering of the cerebrum. It controls complex considerations (Ciccarelli White, p. 68, 2009). There are four flaps to the cerebral cortex. The frontal projection is situated in the front of the mind and controls arranging, character, memory, dynamic, and language. The parietal projections are in the top and back of the mind. The parietal flaps process data from the skin and help to perceive where your body is corresponding to things. The occipital projection is in the back of the mind and distinguishes data from the eyes (Ciccarelli White, p. 73, 2009). In the content, nervous system specialist, Oliver Sachs’ quiet that had a tumor in his occipital projection could see things and depict them, yet couldn't recognize them. Sacks once gave him a rose to take a gander at. The man turned it around and around and started to depict it as a â€Å"red inflorescence† of some kind with a green rounded projection. Just when he held it without him even noticing (invigorating the feeling of smell) did he remember it as a rose† (Sachs, 1990 as refered to in Ciccarelli Wh ite, p. 73, 2009). The transient projections of the cerebral cortex are situated behind the sanctuaries. They contain the sound-related and sound-related affiliation territories (Ciccarelli White, p. 74, 2009). Sensation and Perception Sensation is the enactment of receptors in sense organs; I. . eyes, ears, skin, nose, taste buds (K. Hoecker, class address, 2010). Observation is the manner by which the mind deciphers the data and structures it into legitimate capacities (Ciccarelli White, p. 116, 2009). The way toward changing sensation to recognition is called transduction (Ciccarelli White, p. 92, 2009). I saw habituation and tactile adjustment as intriguing. Habituation is the capacity to block data out from the ears. You despite everything are hearing the clamor, just not focusing on it (Ciccarelli White, p. 94, 2009). Tangible adjustment is shutting out the smell, sight, contact or taste after no evolving improvements. Tactile adjustment is unique in relation to habituation in light of the fact that the faculties themselves become acquainted with the boosts and no longer impart signs to the mind rather than the cerebrum not focusing on the signs (Ciccarelli White, p. 94, 2009). Psychoactive Drugs Psychoactive medications produce changed conditions of cognizance. They adjust sensation, recognition and memory. There are four sorts of psychoactive medications; energizers, depressants, opiates, and psychedelic drugs (Ciccarelli White, p. 158, 2009). Energizers the thoughtful as well as the focal sensory system to increment in their degrees of working (Ciccarelli White, p. 158, 2009). Depressants moderate the focal sensory system down; the most known and utilized depressant is liquor. Opiates are all opium based and stifle the vibe of agony. They tie to endorphins and cause the body to discharge more (Ciccarelli White, p. 164, 2009). Stimulants cause the mind to change the manner in which it understands data, they can make the cerebrum read locates as scents, â€Å"colors have sound, and sounds have smells, etc (Ciccarelli White, p. 65, 2009)†. Old style Conditioning The mind is required so as to learn, act, and live. Old style molding is a kind of discovering that was begun by a Russian physiologist, Ivan Pavlov. Pavlov distinguished components that must be experienced over and again and in a request for old style molding to occur (Ciccarelli White, p. 179, 2009). The normally happening boost is known as the genuine upgra de. The unlearned reaction to the unconditioned boost is the unconditioned reaction. An improvement that has no impact on the unconditioned reaction is known as the unbiased boost. The unbiased upgrade is in the long run transformed into the adapted boost on the off chance that it is introduced frequently and on an exacting example. When the unconditioned reaction starts to happen when the adapted improvement is introduced, it is then the molded reaction (Ciccarelli White, p. 181, 2009). Elimination is the losing and inevitable nonattendance of the molded reaction to the adapted upgrade in the event that it is more than once introduced without the unconditioned boost (Ciccarelli White, p. 82, 2009), Spontaneous recuperation is the return of the adapted reaction for a brief timeframe when the first molded reaction shows up (Ciccarelli White, p. 182, 2009). Higher request molding is getting reaction to other upgrades dependent on the first adapted boosts. In the course reading they guess about what might h

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

The Lost Secret of Editorial Essay Topics

The Lost Secret of Editorial Essay Topics In the instance of any difficulties, you can also count on professional writing and editing support, which will help to come up with and continue the principal idea of your article. Many find writing an editorial tough since you will need to have excellent writing skills that are in a position to capture the readers' attention and permit them clearly recognize the points you're attempting to raise in the editorial. There are a number of ways to describe how to compose an editorial piece. These days, you will realize that a vast majority of people cannot compose a persuasive newspaper editorial piece. The prior paragraphs show the problem, and by now readers should understand what they're handling. To begin with, you have to understand the significance of the term editorial. An argument ought to be sensitive, debatable, and controversial to draw the readers. The Secret to Editorial Essay Topics Such papers mostly discuss the relevant topics along with offering essential facts along with solutions to the present troubles. Not most effective does this assist students broaden writing competencies, but in addition helps them expand their private perspective about the problem accessible. These forms of editorials appreciate organizations or those who have done beneficial and unique deeds. An editorial should describe the issue and give suitable solutions. If You Read Nothing Else Today, Read This Report on Editorial Essay Topics You don't need to acquire super technical with legal argumentative essays, but make certain to do your homework on what the recent laws about your fav orite topic actually say. Write in such a fashion, that you'll be interested to read it. Writing editorials is quite a difficult endeavor. More important is to select an essay topic that you're going to be interested in writing with passion. Researching the topic permits you to find out more about what fascinates you, and should you pick something you really like, writing the essay will be more enjoyable. To compose a strong argumentative essay, students should start by familiarizing themselves with a number of the common, and frequently conflicting, positions on the research topic so they can write an educated paper. There is plenty of essay topics to select from when getting down to writing your educational essay. An education essay can arrive in form of a narrative regarding the experience of a single individual or may be an essay describing one's opinion about the field of education. It is basically a paper, which talks about various aspects of education. Sports betting and its negative effect on the society. A guy or woman writing a guide is likewise predicted to supply you with an opinion primarily dependent on the facts and its evaluation. You may be interested in pointing to negative and positive facets of the exact same matter. Figuring out how to compose an editorial isn't a joke. The best thing about opinion writing is the fact that it can be about literally anything, so long as you bring value to the topic. Advertising and the media are now nearly inseparable from society for a whole. Use transition words to create your text coherent and simple to read. Editorial Essay is about proving a point. At the start of each paragraph there ought to be a topic sentence. After you've gathered all the info you can about your subject, you must pick your side and produce a valid opinion. To choose which subject you're likely to discuss, it's vital to see the complete collection of good persuasive speech topics from the specific area of study. If your topic isn't currently relevant, nobody will read it. For instance, you can select a topic for elementary, middle, or higher school. Editorial Essay Topics Fundamentals Explained Luckily, here are a few crucial methods and extra advice from various writing experts. The practice of creating an editorial should wind up getting the conclusion. Thus, it's crucial to produce essential ideas while in the brainstorming process! Writing down all fantastic ideas after the practice of brainstorming is critical.

Friday, May 15, 2020

Reggae Icons, Jamaican Culture, and Homophobia Essay...

Reggae Icons, Jamaican Culture, and Homophobia The world is in trouble/Anytime Buju Banton come/ Batty boy get up and run/ ah gunshot in ah head man/Tell dem crew†¦ it’s like/ Boom bye bye, in a batty boy head, rude boy nah promote no nasty man, them hafi dead. The average member of the reggae dancehall culture knows the message that this song is sending to its listeners. However, without a translation these lyrics do not mean a thing to someone who is not familiar with this culture and the vocabulary of dancehall artists. Translated the lyrics read: The world is in trouble/When Buju Banton arrives/Faggots have to run/Or get a bullet in the head /Bang-bang, in a faggot’s head/Homeboys don’t condone nasty men/They must die. These†¦show more content†¦Unlike North America where homosexuality has come to be more tolerated, there is no sign that it will be accepted in Jamaica. On July 19, 1992, Buju Banton made headlines when his self-produced single Boom Bye Bye entered the music charts in the no. 15 position. Within weeks of the release, Buju Banton was locked into the biggest controversy of his career thus far. After hearing the lyrics of the song the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and Gay Men of African Descent (GMAD) accused the artist of gay bashing. GLAAD was strongly against Buju Banton’s song because it went against what they stood for as an organization. GLAAD is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate, and inclusive representation of individuals and events in all media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. The GLAAD also organizes the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community to respond to negative and positive portrayals of their community in media, thorough their Monitoring and Mobilization program, in which they focus on studying a nd articulating cultural and media-specific trends, issues and controversies. True to its missions of improving the public’s attitudes toward homosexuality and putting an end to violence and discrimination against lesbians and gay men, GLAAD decided to expose Buju Banton’sShow MoreRelatedEssay on The Mirroring Lives of a Jamaican and a Rastafarian4081 Words   |  17 PagesThe Mirroring Lives of a Jamaican and a Rastafarian Introduction This paper is a series of two interviews that I had over the course of the semester. I used both of the interviews as a series of research. I then used this research and supported it with published work. The first interview occurred when I was in Jamaica. I randomly crossed paths with Peter. He informed my friends and I that he was a Rastafarian. We spoke with him for about two hours on the beach. He informed us about his religion

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

The Black Colleges And Universities Essay - 1464 Words

â€Å"Historically Black Colleges and Universities, or HBCUs, have played an important role in enriching the lives of not just African Americans, but our entire country.†(Keller) What Ric Keller states here is an opinion that outlines a compelling fact about HBCUs that along with several other significant information that may come as a surprise. Essentially, the great debate between the choice of whether an Historically Black College and University or Predominantly White Institution is more beneficial or not can become a pondering interrogation. Each acronym defines itself, Historically Black Colleges and Universities(HBCUs) were established by the means of providing an education for predominantly African American students. Whereas, Predominantly White Intuitions(PWI) serve to instruct and educated the opposite or in other words those of Caucasian descent. HBCUs are institutions that were founded before 1964 where most were developed after the Civil War and are usually located in the former slave states with a small amount of notable exceptions. Today in the United States there are 107 HBCUs this includes public and private institutions, medical and law schools, and public and private institutions. Even thought a PWI does not discriminate other races in admissions what it can provide for an African American versus the African Americans that attend HBCUs is a drastic difference. HBCUs should be considered over PWIs because it allows African Americans to comfortably steerShow MoreRelatedThe Black Colleges And Universities Essay1420 Words   |  6 Pagesmay be able to relate the relevance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) to this theory/ conclusion. At a Historically Black College or University, an individual has the ability to further their education. I decide to attend Virginia Union University to gain a better understanding of my history, to bond with others within the black community, and to profit from the HBCU experience. While attending a Virginia Union University, I am able to further my education while gaining a betterRead MoreAttending A Black College And University1201 Words   |  5 PagesAttending a Historically Black College and University is something I have never imagined, by reason of living in a world where competition is a standard. Growing up during my childlike years I have attended schools where instructors would not take the time to avail you because they are brought under the impression that everyone is on that same level of knowledge. All my life I was stationed in an educational environment where the majority of students were predominantly white. Therefore, making anRead MoreBlack Colleges And Universities ( Hbcus ) Essay1596 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before 1964. As amended by The Higher Education Act of 1965, a part B institution refers to any â€Å"Historically Black college or university that was established prior to 1964, whose principal mission was, and is, the education of Black Americans, and that is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association determined by the SecretaryRead MoreHistorically Black Colleges And Universities Essay1465 Words   |  6 PagesHistorically Black Colleges and Universities, or HBCUs, have played an important role in enriching the lives of not just African Americans, but our entire country.†(Keller) What Ric Keller states here is an opinion that outlines a compelling fact about HBCUs that along with several other significant information that may come as a surprise. Essentially, the great debate between the choice of whether a Histori cally Black College and University or Predominantly White Institution is more beneficial orRead MoreBlack Colleges And Universities ( Hbcus ) Essay1824 Words   |  8 PagesIntroduction and Purpose of the Paper Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) were mostly founded shortly after slavery ended in the United States of America. Christopher Brown II and Trimika Yates (2005) stated HBCUs were â€Å" established as formal education centers to educate freed blacks, these institutions began with curriculum that stressed basic reading and math, as well as agricultural and mechanical training.† From that time until the end of 1890 more that 200 schools arise throughoutRead MoreIntroduction. Historically Black Colleges And Universities1300 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) are experiencing low retention rates with first generation college students. The students are not graduating within a four to six year enrollment period, and or are not returning after their freshmen year. As the American workforce looks to colleges and universities to fulfill the workforce pipeline with educated diverse workers, HBCUs are in the spotlight to produce qualified minority graduates. Moreover, HBCU’s are looking to refineRead MoreThe Black College And University Tour This Year974 Words   |  4 PagesTurn your dreams into reality is the motto that guides me every day in life. It would be an honor to receive the Greater Grand Rapids Jack and Jill College Tour Scholarship award to attend the Historical Black College University tour this year. I believe education is the key that opens up many doors and opportunities. Like my mentor always tell me â€Å"education increases your value in life, because the more yo u know the more you can apply, and the more you apply the more you will obtain.† AttendingRead MoreAre Historical Black Colleges Or University s Still Needed?907 Words   |  4 PagesAre Historical Black Colleges Or University’s Still Needed? Students in high school have a very difficult time depicting the college or university of their choice whether there are going to attend a Historical Black College or University, Predominantly White School? As a future educator, I made a commendable choice to attend an HBCU because they are still needed today for successful individuals. Although some African- Americans forget the journey that our ancestors had to go through so we as African-AmericanRead MoreThe Importance Of Alumni Giving Rates At Private Historically Black Colleges And Universities816 Words   |  4 Pages Alumni giving rates at private historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) lag behind the national averages of all private institutions of higher education (Robinson, n.d.). The average alumni giving rate among private HBCUs is 11% (Robinson, n.d.), while all private colleges and universities yield a 20% rate (Malhere, 2015). A culture of philanthropy among HBCU alumni has not been prevalent, althoug h many of the institutions have been producing graduates since the late 19th century.Read MoreThe Historical And Evolutionary Process That Occurred Essay1387 Words   |  6 PagesTo fully understand the significance of our historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s), we must examine the historical and evolutionary process that occurred in early education. Education during the colonial period included a strong emphasis on the bible. Leaders wanted students to be able to read and apply biblical principles. Education was primarily used for ministerial purposes. Another primary purpose of education during the countries early development was to serve as a means of

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

I Have a Dream Essay Example For Students

I Have a Dream Essay ?I Have a Dream Essay? I have a dream. Now used as common allusions, some people do not realize how much the phrase has changed the way society functions. There are many things in this speech ?I Have a Dream? that makes it stand out, repetition and referring to issues that affected not only African Americans, but also all types of people. Segregation once and still is a problem today; at one time African American?s were not allowed to sit or do anything with the white people. Racial inequality precluded American life. Jim Crowe laws once segregated people by race. People of different races could not use the same restrooms, hotels, restraints, schools, and other accommodations. Then in 1960 blacks took an active role in making changes. This began a youth led movement throughout the south. A recent study showed very little change in segregation. ?My Country Tis of Thee? was a song written in 1831 by Samuel Francis Smith to show freedom in America of all types of races and to help stop segregation. They were segregated, put into separate places and not allowed in certain places. In no way, shape, or form were the Negro in America treated as fairly or as equally as the white man. Today, blacks and whites are supposedly equal, even though statistics show that there is still a huge problem. Statistics such as the number of blacks in prison compared to the number of whites in prison, for the same exact offense. There are still racists and there are still those feelings of superiority. We have come a long way since 1963. We have made a lot of progress, but still even then we still have work to do. When Martin Luther King says, I have a dream that one day down in Alabama-with its vicious racist, with its Governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification-one day right there in Alabama,little black boys and little black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers(King 515). His dream came true. For the most part, people have gotten a lot better. Blacks and whites no are together and for the most part are as he says sisters and brothers. Another thing King said was, I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character (King 515). In this nation in the year 1999, we are okay at not judging a person by their skin color, but by their character. We could be better but we have made a lot of progress. The I Have a Dream speech was very commendable and valuable. I have a lot of respect for this man and for what he did for our nation as a whole. He did a wonderful job and accomplished a lot. As a nation we have come a long way since 1963, but we have a ways to go but as long as we keep making progress I believe that everyone of Martin Luther King Jr. s dreams will become realities. .

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Habermas and the Public Sphere

Introduction In 1962, Harbeneas introduced the concept of public sphere as an ideal and also as an empirical description through his seminal work â€Å"The structural transformation of the public sphere: an inquiry into a category of Bourgeois society†. Through his work, he created the impression that the public sphere was an arena where different people would come together to discuss issues of social interest.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Habermas and the Public Sphere specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In his opinion, every person was an equal participant and had an equal chance to participate in the open discussions (Colhoun 1992). Bennet et al. (2004) adds a contemporary twist to the public sphere definition by stating that it is â€Å"the collection of places and spaces-from neighbourhood cafes to internet chat rooms- where private individuals can speak their minds in public, form opinions and becom e independent agents in governing the state† ( p. 437). In the contemporary society, the media has assumed a major role as an informer, educator and an entertainer to the masses. In capitalist societies, it also takes a mediating role between the social life, the economy and the state. In Kellner (2006) opinion however, the media have been neglecting its mandate as a tool to promote democracy and serve the public interest. As such, the author argues that the media has for decades now forfeited the crucial role of aiding the formation of a democratic society. Drawing similarities between the current day communication media and what Habermas refers to as the â€Å"steering media†, Kellner (2006) argues that the media has a major role to play in the public sphere and especially in regard to promoting democracy, yet is has failed to rise to the occasion allowing a crisis in the public sphere to take place. But does Habermas theorise the functions and nature of present-day c ommunication media? Well, his writings suggest that he perceived the media as a tool for information transmission. To him, the media was not as important as debates and the eventual consensus building that formed the basis of democratic process (Habermas 1992). This explains why he chose to highlight the dissimilarity between â€Å"the communicative generation of legitimate power on hand and the manipulative deployment of media power to procure mass loyalty, consumer demand and compliance with systemic imperatives on the other† (p. 452). Analysing the above quote one gets the impression that Habermas did not consider the media as a tool that could bring about democratic transformation as he perceives it (media) as a tool that can easily be manipulated, and also interested in power and money. This means that Habermas excluded the media from contributing to the democratization process through giving people a platform where they could equally participate in debates and social di scussions (Relic 2005).Advertising Looking for essay on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More According to Kellner (2006), Habermas’ rigid perception of the media is partly explained by the fact that his perception of public sphere was defined at a time when print media was the only prominent form of media. During this time, Kellner (2006) observes that the print media fostered arguments that were rational, objective and agreeable. Being a writer who got his opinions and concepts published in print media, Kellner (2006) believes Habermas had an open bias against other forms of media, which include broadcast (radio and TV) and the internet. This is despite the fact that broadcast media and the internet was presenting the society with new forums where public debate could be held. In Kellner’s observation, the public sphere as stipulated by Habermas would be incomplete in its democratization attempt s without the active participation of the ‘fourth estate’ as the media is commonly known. But why does Kellner reach to this conclusion? Well, in most democracies, governments constitute three arms namely: the executive, the judiciary and the legislature. While these three arms of government are meant to maintain the checks and balances that would prevent abuse of power, the media, usually plays the crucial role of highlighting some of the shortcomings in government that the three arms would naturally keep mum about. In an apt definition of its role, it’s right to say that media in democracies play a watch-dog role in all institutions of government. If one was to define democracy using Abraham Lincoln’s terms, it is â€Å"government by the people, of the people and for the people†. This then means that the governed people have a key role to play in a democracy. Notably however, people cannot play an active role if they are not properly informed. Her e is where the media chips in. According to Kellner (2006), the media balances power by providing the necessary checks and balances to a government. In their additional role, they should serve as informers and cultivators of active citizens who are ready to participate in governance whenever the need arises. Failure by the media to inform and educate the citizens, or failure to check the excesses of government would lead to a crisis in the respective democracies. In Habermas’s theories, one gets the impression that the media is a sounding board through which social problems can be voiced to the political system.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Habermas and the Public Sphere specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Based on his description of the public sphere, this essay holds the opinion that the contemporary media can easily fit into the public sphere. This is because, the media is able to gather information fr om different corners of a society, broadcast the same, and encourage people to react on the same and even raise discussion issues where people can debate and exchange opinions regarding the same. According to Kellner (2006) the democratic theory requires the public sphere to highlight social problems, give them a theme and if possible amplify them in such a manner as to catch the attention of the law makers. Out of the debates that take place in the public sphere, possible solutions can also be given to the law makers or other branches of government. The contemporary media fits this discussion as it provides the public with a discussion forum outside the political confines and as a result, people are free to debate specific social issues and come up with possible solutions that they would like to see implemented by the government. According to Sani (2009), for the contemporary media to fit the public sphere as defined by Habermas, it needs to be free, fair and objective. This means that whenever the media is laying down an agenda for the public to pursue, then it would have no hidden motives. Rather, it would be pursuing the need to promote and preserve democracy and the independent institutions of the government. Further, the media should be accountable as a watchdog. The equal platform offered by media for people to debate and discuss issues conforms to the public sphere definition. According to Sani (2009), the free and fair media should hold the notion that every person has a valuable contribution that he or she can make. This is supported by the idea that â€Å"there is no way of telling where a good idea will come from; valuable contributions come in different forms; a person’s contribution has the capacity to stimulate better ideas in others. It can also be refuted, reformulated or some value added to it† (p.5). In one of its critical roles, the media serves as an information tool that disseminated educative and informative information to the masses, which in turn leads to development in given societies. In democracies, the role of the media is voicing the lowly voices which otherwise would not be heard is crucial to fair representation (Sani 2009).Advertising Looking for essay on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More More to this, the media acts as the public informer on the activities of the government. According to Sani, â€Å"the public has a legal right to know what its government is doing and the press is the representative of the public in finding that out† (p. 12). In a participatory society, the public’s right to information is crucial since it avails the information needed to create social awareness, which is in turn important in bringing out the truth about political controversies. Giving a voice to public opinion The media in democracies is expected to voice public opinion objectively to allow the respective governments understand what the public supports or dissents. However, political reality suggests that the newsmakers have a major effect on the news aired by the media unlike the ordinary citizens. Political observes however note that the news makers are often representative of the public opinion although this is not unanimously agreed (Sani 2009). It is also apparen t that sometimes the media fails to keep in touch with public opinion since it lacks the necessary connection with the public. Sani using the example of the media in the United States notes that while free speech is allowed, the degree of which the media is ready to engage in the same is often questionable. In some cases, the media is very outspoken and often seems to investigate all leads to the story, while other stories are treated more cautiously. The language, the tone and emphasis used by the media when covering stories affect how the public perceive the public event. Accusations of biasness in the media also seem to jeopardise its role in the public sphere. The US media for example reporting about the war in the Middle East seems biased towards Palestine. Most highlights create the impression that Palestine is the perpetrators and attracts the wrath of the Israeli’s. But is this usually the case? Or do the US media deliberately shield most of the atrocities by the Isra elis towards the Palestinians? While journalists may be to blame for this kind of partial reporting, where they gather their news from is the most likely sources of their biases. According to Sani (2009), news sources mainly feature selected institutions, which exclude the general public. More to this, opinions voiced by elite people in the society are given more weight than opinions from the ordinary citizens. Views expressed by ideological dissenters are also ignored. This goes against Habermas concept of equality in the participation of debates held in the public sphere. Sani notes that opinions voiced by the public receive quaint treatment often being ignored or simply published on the back or inner pages of the media. This however changes when electoral politics are concerned. Suddenly, public opinions become important because after all, the public forms the electorate and therefore the power to elect people to governance posts lies with them. The same scenario is repeated in m atters that require public support. Even in such issues, the media needs to play an important role in alerting people that they need to judge the political scene in order to influence politics in their jurisdictions. Public sphere According to Sani (2009), â€Å"the public sphere is the means through which democratic decisions are reached† (p. 20). For media to be seen as a public sphere however, it needs to be accessible to all publics and also needs to be representative of all people. Traditionally, the media provided the link between the government and the governed people. Considering the definition of democracy discussed earlier in this essay, it is clear that the role of the media as an informer and an educator of the masses is almost a clear cut. By providing the public with the right information, the media empowers them to not only make informed decisions regarding the form of leadership that is most appropriate for them, but also enable the public to hold the governme nt accountable. In the liberal theory, the public sphere â€Å"is an arena between the distinct areas of state and civil society that guarantees the protection of an individual† (p. 20). This suggests that the liberals perceive the public sphere as a political domain, while media is associated with the government. Considering that liberals believe that the civil society should have more powers over the government, it is clear that the media in their perspective is expected to meet the information needs presented by the society. Notably however, privatisation and conglomeration which are current trends in the media industry hampers free flow of information, which in turn means that the media does not fully meet its democratic ideals (Sani 2009). In the contemporary society Kellner (2006) argues that the public sphere needs to be redefined in order to include political struggles, discussions, information sharing and contestations that take place in public forums. The new defini tion according to the author also needs to take account of new developments in the media and hence needs to include new discussion platforms such as the cyberspace, face-to-face discussions as well as the wide array of broadcast media. These forms of media are creating public spheres where debate, information sharing, and discussions can take place. The platforms advanced by the new forms of media can be used by intellectuals and activists to engage the masses for purposes of intervening in affairs affecting a specific society. With internet use becoming commonly used among a sizeable fraction of the population, a new public sphere is in the making and it would be foolhardy to ignore the developments occurring therein. Blog sites have now presented people with real time discussion platforms where they are able to voice their opinions regarding a specific issue. As such, Kellner (2006) observes that the web platforms have the capability to revitalize democracy by increasing the distr ibution of progressive and critical ideas to the masses, in addition to creating new possibilities for promoting positions, attaining social control and manipulating the masses. To stress the role that the media plays in the public sphere, Kellner (2006) predicts that political wars in future will be fought not only in the traditional sites like parliament and the streets, but will also penetrate new realms in the computer world as well as other broadcast media. To this end, the author suggests that people interested in the culture and politics of the future should be willing to delve in the new public spheres created by information technologies. The new challenge with information technologies producing a new form of public sphere lies in ensuring that the platforms created are not used as manipulative tools, but are rather used to educate and inform the masses. According to Kellner (2006), this can only be attained if people engaged in the democratic process teach the masses on the right and beneficial way of using the new technologies. Such would include teaching them how top articulate interest and experiences on the new platforms and ways through which people can promote beneficial and objective debates amongst themselves. By doing this, the World Wide Web would create a new platform where new ideas would be shared amongst people and even common issues affecting everyone in the world like climate change would be discussed and solutions proposed. The advantages of the new public sphere are identified by Abrash (2006) as easy access; social networks; and scalability. In regard to easy access, everyone who has access to the internet can participate in the relationships and online debates. The social networks on the other hand are not structured. Rather, people join voluntarily thus meeting the standards set by Habermas that debates would be open to all willing participants. Regarding scalability, Abrash (2006) notes that the social networks where public debat es take place start small and gradually grow to massive numbers. In some cases, participants are able to consolidate resources that promote growth and development in their respective areas. Unlike traditional broadcast media which is regulated by the media code of ethics, and in-house rules that sets the boundaries of what can be published or not, there are concerns regarding the regulation of new technologies (Kellner 2006). More to this, there are also concerns about funding and accountability. No doubt these are challenges that will need to be addressed as the internet progresses to a fully fledged public sphere where democratic principles can be exchanged. There is also no denying that the open participation structure adopted by contemporary media can turn chaotic. This then raises the need for a structure, which not only regulates the debates, but also sets specific rules on how participants can behave (Abrash 2006). This would ensure that the new public spheres are accountable , but does not means that people cannot speak as freely. There is also the challenge of misinformation generated in new public forums as well as polarized discussion that seem to favour one group of the divide. Using the example of popular blog sites in the US, Abrash (2006) notes that white men are the dominant contributors. In such a case therefore, one would expect that the debates would not be inclusive of female opinions as well as opinions from people from other races. In future therefore and in an attempt to promote democratic tendencies in such media, there will be a need to ensure that such media include diverse voices from different sections of the society. Sustainability of the new media is also a key challenge. This is especially the case considering that the internet is a highly competitive environment, which would need a solid foundation and support from the participants in order to survive. Abrash (2006) further notes that sustainability would also call for the public media to engage with the market-driven economy in order to secure sponsorship and funding. There is no ignoring that the web-based media will be subject to policy issues. At present, it seems that the web-based media is yet to receive the protection needed to ensure it survival and longevity in the public sphere. This then means that policies need to be formulated and enforced in order to encourage people to nurture and protect the public sphere created by the internet. Such policies could also encourage citizens to participate in the public spaces created. According to Abrash (2006) however, the media holds opportunities for the public sphere unequalled by any other platforms where people can meet and discuss issues. For example, the media is capable of â€Å"modelling new public behaviours† (p. 8). This assertion is informed by the fact that media has given the public a platform where opinions can be voiced. In an attempt to diffuse polarized opinions, the media uses moder ators who set a coherent discourse of a debate. The ability of the contemporary media to broadcast over long distances sometimes transcending continental boundaries means that the participation and engagement of the public is also wider. The contemporary media also encourages public spheres to be concentrated on shared interests and issues (Abrash 2006). Again, the ability if contemporary media to transcend national and geographical boundaries means that groups with similar interest regionally, nationally or globally can share their ideas and opinions on a common media platform. With the internet gaining a central place in all these, face-to-face discussions are replaced by real-time virtual discussions. But what benefits has this had on the public sphere? Well, according to Relgic (2005) the technological innovations in the media have opened political possibilities that were unattainable in the past. For example, the authoritarian governments that prevented people from accessing in formation are finding it harder to prevent such information from circulating. However, this does not in any way mean that the democratization process is easier to attain with the information age; Rather, how governments and the public use the new forms of media to create awareness is what really matters. Examples Media use in peace times As indicated elsewhere in this essay, climate change is affecting people of all walks of life regardless of where they are in the world. This then is an issue of public importance that is being discussed in numerous forums. While meetings between countries are only occasional, the debate on the climate change and the environmental impact that people are experiencing as a result is an ongoing debate in the media. As Dobson (2008) notes, the environment is a common-pool resources, which is subject to abuse by some self-serving people at the disadvantage who are interested doing their part to maintain it. In a website that publishes articles that cover ecological and sustainability issues in the world, Dobson (2008) offers his opinion about what is jeopardising efforts to conserve the environment. More specifically, he zeros in on ‘free-riders’ who take no active role in conserving environment, yet they benefit from the same environment in equal measures and possibly even more than who take conservation measures do. Dobson (2008) uses the platform availed by the web to pass his arguments to readers that tradable carbon permits, which have been advocated as a solution to the climate change problem and those who continue to abuse the climate is not a solution, but only enhances the problem. He argues that carbon traders set the prices at ridiculously low prices thus jeopardising the entire notion of carbon cap trading. He proposes a different type of solution where the public need to be informed that environment conservation should be a priority not because of the self benefits that people can accrue from the same, but because it benefits each and every individual in equal measure. Yet, Dobson (2008) correctly predicts that such a process would still be dogged by the ‘free-rider’ problem. To this, he notes that the solution to climate change would have to include cultural, economic, political and technological ideals in order to be successful. Most of all, the government would need to expand and protect the public sphere for environment protection to take place. According to Dobson, privatisation of key public sectors is putting the public interests at compromised positions because private properties are protected by law. By privatising key public services, the government is aiding in the corrosion of public sphere as well as the interest of the majority of the people. In his argument, Dobson (2008) believes that privatisation is having a major impact on the public sphere and no wonder pool resources like the environment are being exploited by self-seeking private citizens. In a plat form like the one used by Dobson, one gets the impression that a wide access of by people who have been wondering about government’s approach to environment conservation could have elicited more comments. Presently, only one person has commented on the article meaning that either people have not yet accessed the forum, or do not find Dobson’s argument worth commenting about. This then raises doubts about effectiveness of new media as a debate platform in the public sphere. Hobson (2009) observes that public debates regarding climate change often involve opinions voiced from cultural understandings, personal experiences and also from scientific understanding. When such varied opinions are brought together on a public forum, the participants perceive the debate as highly significant since it relates to policies set by government and practices observed by the public. Such debates are therefore more likely to shape the public collective perceptions about environmental matt ers. The just concluded coverage of the British elections is an example of media coverage in peace times. Though the British media is supposed to give all parties equal coverage in the run-up to the general elections, Labour party and its leader Gordon Brown received 53 percent of the total media coverage, while the Conservative party and its leader David Cameron received 32 percent of the total media coverage. The Liberal Democratic Party and its leader Nick Clegg received the least coverage with only 15 percent coverage (O’Leary analytics, 2010). War time example The media has always been an information tool during war time, not only providing up to date information of the happenings in the battle fields, but also creating a sense of unity among the government, the army and the public (Stevenson 1995). The Falklands war, which occurred in Britain in the 1980s is such one example where the media took an active role in disseminating information and creating forums where peopl e could voice their opinions regarding the war. As one would expect, war times are laden with tension and the public have deep concerns about the welfare of the country. As Stevenson (1995) notes, the Falklands War was no different. The media at the time was not as liberal as the case today and depended much on the directives offered by the Defence minister during their coverage. Lobby systems also affected the news that was aired to the public as well as the judgement held by journalists regarding what the public would like to hear. Stevenson (1995) notes that the media had an open bias during the war. He argues that the media coverage misrepresented women by portraying them in their traditional home making roles despite the fact that they (women) were more actively engaged in economic activities following large numbers of men going to war. Meyer Moors (2006) argues that the media did not attempt to go above the prevailing societal norms that did not perceive women as part of the public. â€Å"From a man’s viewpoint, the female public spheres had to be secret, and were thus invisible and inaccessible to men† (p. 122). Media bias was especially evident in the coverage of the Iraq War by Western media. A statement released by journalism analysts about the state of the news media in 2005 reported that Fox News, which is a major cable Network in the United States, was openly biased in its coverage of the war in Iraq. Fox news was not alone in this. According to Global policy forum (2009), a lot of media in the US fed the public with sensational and one sided stories. According to Relgic’ (2005), the media though undoubtedly presenting the public with a platform where they can communicate and debate issues more promptly and with few inhibitions is being affected negatively by biased reporting and lack of objectivity. The author points out on the declining public trust suffered by the media even as the number of media stations and mass media c hannels continue to increase. Notably however, the media is not on this downward trend alone. Politicians and governments are not as trusted by the public as was the case in the past. Relgic’ (2005) however argues that the over supply of media channels to the public is probably overwhelming them and eroding the trust they had in the media. More so, the infiltration of all types of content into the media means that cultural values are being eroded. To the public, this is a worrying trend that not only threatens the national identity, but also the social coherence and democracy that a more society-centred public sphere would have provided. But is there any evidence to support such allegations? Well, if the negative perceptions radiated by people and the declining participation of people in electoral processes especially in the western democracies are anything to go by, then this might be indeed true (Calhoun 1992). Do the media meet the criteria of public sphere? Contemporary m edia in the world is either open in their news discourse and the ability to encourage public debate or closed where news content is determined by the elite (Bennet Et al., 2004). In different times, especially when countries are embroidered in war, the media is not consistent in it coverage giving away their biases and lack of objectivity to the public. In the 1992 riots that occurred in Los Angeles, the US media was for example very candid in their coverage. The media gave rioters a forum where they could air their grievances to the government (Bennet et al., 2004). However, the exact opposite can be said about the coverage of the 1991 gulf war. While the debate about the war was valid, the media did not give the dissenting voices as much coverage and as a result, their opinions did not grasp the attention of the government and politicians as would have been the case if the media had covered their plight with a more dedicated intensity. In journalistic training, journalists are tau ght about how to distinguish what is newsworthy and what is not. Bennet et al. (2004) observes that conflicts that involve the elite are especially news worth airing. Stories that engage the public interest are also considered newsworthy. For example, presidential declaration, speeches or interventions always attract news coverage as do tragic news that includes deaths. Extraordinary happenings, which typify the clichà © â€Å"man bites dog†, are also considered newsworthy as is the case with scandals, which feed the appetite of sensational journalism. Overall, news is gathered by indexing, strategic communication or coverage of breaking news. In some cases, journalists are able to combine the three to come up with a story. The ultimate test of public involvement however can be measured through gauging if the news has covered diverse voices; identifying and comparing the values in the voices; and the inclusion of opposing views in the story for purposes of upholding objectiv ity. According to Bennet et al. (2004), the more of these measures a news story meets, the greater public sphere does such news give to the public thus allowing more deliberations. The author argues that meeting the three measures allows the consumers of the news to consider the different perspectives highlighted in the story before forming an opinion. Conclusion Today and in line with Stevenson (1995) assertions, the media remains a vital tool in the public sphere for three reasons: Its independence from the state and the economy thus allowing it to occupy an institutional space unmatched by other instruments in the public sphere; public media provides a broad arena where diverse groups can exchange ideas and opinions; and the media is well able of addressing members of the public as individual citizens instead of consumers. However, there is no denying that the media remain weak when compared with the authorities, which dictate the environment through which the media should work i n. While the media succeeds to a large extent in enhancing accountability and transparency in governance, there is no denying that the extent of media coverage is only successful to the extent that the government in power allows it. Often, this happens because the classified government information can not be accessed by the media, unless in situations where someone leaks it to them. Trying to obtain government information through acts that states that the public has a right to information that is in their interest often fails because governments can always use state security as a reason why such information cannot be released to the public. Regardless of the media’s effort to foster discussions or inform the public, this essay holds the opinion that the contemporary media does not come close to the public sphere ideals defined by Habermas, whereby civility, mutual respect and dialogue were defined as the core values of deliberations, while the closure of an issue would involv e recognising other people involved in the deliberations and a final attempt to reach a consensus. Instead, today’s media provides provocative analysis, but the levels through which the public can engage in the discussion or still gain recognition and responses for their contribution is still not as clear cut as the Habermas definition would have it. References Abrash, B. (2006) Digital Media and the Public Sphere. Centre for social media. Web. Bennet, L. Et al. (2004) Managing the Public Sphere: Journalistic construction of the great globalization debate. Journal of Communication, 9(1), 437-454. Calhoun, C. (1992) Habermas and the public sphere. MIT press, Cambridge, MA. Dobson, A. (2008) Climate Change and the public sphere. Web. Global Policy Forum (2009) Media coverage of Iraq. Web. Habermas, J. (1992) Further reflections on the Public Sphere, in Calhoun C (ED) Habermas and the Public Sphere. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA. Hobson, K. (2009) Climate change and the re-invigorati on of the public sphere: issues, methodologies and the way(s) forward. Earth and Environmental Science, 6(1), 1307-1311. Kellner, D. (2006) Habermas, the Public Sphere, and Democracy: A critical Intervention. 1-17. Web. Meyer, B. Moors, A. (2006) Religion, media, and the public sphere. Bloomington, IN, Indiana University Press. O’Leary Analytics (2010). UK General election 2010 online media coverage of the parties and their leaders. Web. Relic, D. (2005) Media, civil society and the quest for transparency and accountability of the security sector. Working paper, FG2 (01), 2-11. Sani, M. A. (2009) The public sphere and media politics in Malaysia. Newcastle, Cambridge scholars. Stevenson, N. (1995) Understanding media cultures. Sage, London. The state of the news media. (2005) An annual report on American journalism: Cable TV. Web. This essay on Habermas and the Public Sphere was written and submitted by user L1v1a to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Thursday, March 12, 2020

FEAR ISLAND Essays - Malandi, Hyatt Regency, Stupid Cat, Ruwi, Namin

FEAR ISLAND Essays - Malandi, Hyatt Regency, Stupid Cat, Ruwi, Namin FEAR ISLAND Chapter One The night was cold, and the wind was blowing hard, you could feel the chill in your bones, and yet the seniors bacth 1998-1999 are on their way to seniors night which will be held at an Island which they call FEAR ISLAND! Lester, while packing his equipments heard a noise from the Garden, he paused for a minute, walk slowly to his window, while looking at the dark view of the Garden the cat suddenly appeared banging on the window, meowing! This frightened Lester that he almost jump at his surprised, then suddenly the phone rangs. Lester: Hello, Goodevening! Caller: Hoy lalake, are you ready? Lester: Cherry, is that you? Cherry: OO no sino pa ba? So will you be on time at the meeting place If you?re not we will leave you! Lester: Don?t worry, I?ll be there just on time, hey cherry I?ve got to go now, someone?s on the door. Then Lester hung up the phone. He went to the living room to open the door, no one was there, but he was quiet sure that someone has knocked while he was talking to Cherry, after a few seconds he closed the door and went to his room to continue packing. Meanwhile, Jenalou alone at her house, with her parents out of town, was crying because she just can?t leave the house since her parents doesn?t want her to come to seniors night after all. Suddenly she feels like walking to their vast hacienda in RUWI, so she was about to leave the house when the phone rangs?.. Jenalou: Hello, good evening, may I know who?s on the line pls? Cherry: Malandi ka ha, hey pack up yer things, susunduin ka namin. Jenalou: Cherry, I told yah, I can?t go with you! Cherry: he, basta bye! Upon hearing this Jenalou rushed to her room and packed up her things, she was packing her things when she heard scratchings inside her cabinet?.. Jenalou: stupid cat, get out of my cabinet! Jenalou opened the door of her cabinet, and to her surprise it wasn?t a cat!!! At the meeting place in HYATT REGENCY, at the lobby, almost all the gang are there except Jenalou: Jayvie: akala ko ba Cherry you will fetch Jenalou. Cherry: We did but no one was opening the door, so we decided to leave na lang, we figured out that Maybe she won?t come na lang! Ronnie: Ganon ba? So maybe we should go na instread of just wasting our time standing here, its almost 11 pm, anong oras na tayo dadating doon noh! Lester: OO nga let?s go na! The gang went to the place where the boat they?re gonna used were, the trip to the Island will only take about 15 minutes in speedboat. While in the boat, the others were listening to their walkmans, and some are eating, some are shouting and laughing, then suddenly a howl was heard from the Island, a howl that can make the dead rise from their graves, everyone panics, that the boat almost stumbled in the wide sea: Carlos: What the heck is that? Cherry: Maybe it?s just a wolf or something?. Mae: you scaredy cat!!! Carlos: No I?m not , its just that?. Lester: shhhhhhhh?..guys be alert, don?t you know about the story in that island

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Processing-structure-property relationships in (TPE-E) nanocomposites Lab Report

Processing-structure-property relationships in (TPE-E) nanocomposites - Lab Report Example This area of research is extremely promising because such systems possess higher dispersion then conventional organolclays do. Also, it is worth mentioning that examples from both literature and experimentaly achieved data point out that alkyl-ammoniums used as organo-modifiers have limited applications for apolar polymers. Scheme 1: Alkyl-ammoniums used as organo-modifiers For such polymers interactions with clay is usually low and further entropic barriers prevent mixing of an inorganic clay with the desired polymer. In other words, alkyl chain-clay interactions are low. To overcome this organo-modifiers are used but, as our studies suggest, low thermostability (Changes in composition start to occur at approx. 2200C) of the produced modified clay will limit the scope of potential applications. 4.1 Modification of Clay As it was previously stated, it was necessary to modify Fluormica (Somasif ME 100) Prestine clay to increase its mixability with the polyester TPE. The employed type of clay is hydrophilic. This factor contributes to poor solubility in hydrophobic polymers. It terms of structure, Fluormica (Somasif ME 100) is made of layers which are held together by electrostatic forces. These layers carry the negative charge, while positively charged cations are shared equally between stacks of layers. This structure is not easy to brake, what is another factor to poor mixability. In order to modify the studied clay ion exchange reactions were used. The chemical formulation is Na0.66Mg2.68(Si3.98Al0.02)O10.02F1.96 [65] and the particle size is about 650 nm. (Cation Exchange Capacity is 100 mequiv/mol). Thus it can be presumed that cations such as Na+ and Mg2+ can be substituted by an alkyl-ammonium (Scheme 1) cations. Alkyl-ammoniums carry different hydrophobic groups consequently, producing various hydrophobicity. Hydrophobic chain makes the modified clay more compatible with the organic matrix. Employing different alkyl-ammoniums it will be possible to mak e the clay compatible with almost any required polymer. Moreover, treatment with described organic modifiers will separate clay plates. This will afford intercalated and exfoliated materials which can be used to produce nanoparticles. To describe the produced modified clay it is necessary to analyse Fourier transform infrared spectrosctrum(FT-IR) then move on to X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) before finally commenting on thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) curves. 4.2 FT-IR The major peak for all the studied samples occurs at 902 cm-1 (Scheme 2). This wavelength can be associated only with carbon-oxygen-carbon symmetric stretch absorbtion. There is only one peak in this region there are no peaks formed by asymmetric carbon-oxygen-carbon absorbtion. The next major peak occurs at 2925 cm-1 but not for all studied entries. ME 100 and ME100 CC do not possess such peak. The formed peak is due to asymmetric stretch of CH2-O group. The described peaks prove the presence of specific bo nds in the molecule. Scheme 2: FT-IR spectrums of the modified clay samples. 4.3 XPS On the Schemes 3 and 4 ME 100 is the unmodified clay and all the entries from 2 to 8 present various modifications. It is seen that not all Na+ and Mg2+ are substituted by N+R4. In ME 75 Etho substitution is the most efficient and ME 100 CC shows only slight reduction on Na+ and Mg2+ quantity. No Sample Code O (%) C

Saturday, February 8, 2020

Legal Issues in Reduction of Workforce Case Study

Legal Issues in Reduction of Workforce - Case Study Example How did you balance the legal risk of terminating individuals from a protected class against the business risk of losing valuable talent Are there are any extenuating regulatory circumstances(e.g exceptions to employment at will, or collective bargaining agreement )that would affect the decision to terminate the above referenced employees Collective bargaining consists of negotiations between an employer and a group of employees so as to determine the conditions of employment. The result of collective bargaining procedures is a collective agreement. Employees are often represented in bargaining by a union or other labor organization. Collective bargaining is governed by federal and state statutory laws, administrative agency regulations, and judicial decisions. In areas where federal and state law overlap, state laws are preempted. See, U.S. Constitution, Art. VI The main body of law governing collective bargaining is the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). It explicitly grants employees the right to collectively bargain and join trade unions. The NLRA was originally enacted by Congress in 1935 under its power to regulate interstate commerce. See, U.S. Constitution Art. I, Section 8. ... The act prohibits employers from interfering with this selection. The NLRA requires the employer to bargain with the appointed representative of its employees. It does not require either side to agree to a proposal or make concessions but does establish procedural guidelines on good faith bargaining. Proposals which would violate the NLRA or other laws may not be subject to collective bargaining. The NLRA also establishes regulations on what tactics (e.g. strikes, lock-outs, picketing) each side may employ to further their bargaining objectives. State laws further regulate collective bargaining and make collective agreements enforceable under state law. They may also provide guidelines for those employers and employees not covered by the NLRA, such as agricultural laborers. Arbitration is a method of dispute resolution used as an alternative to litigation. It is commonly designated in collective agreements between employers and employees as the way to resolve disputes. The parties select a neutral third party (an arbiter) to hold a formal or informal hearing on the disagreement. The arbiter then issues a decision binding on the parties. Both federal and state law governs the practice of arbitration. While the Federal Arbitration Act, by its own terms, is not applicable to employment contracts, federal courts are increasingly applying the law in labor disputes. Fourty-nine states have adopted the Uniform Arbitration Act (1956) as state law. Thus, the arbitration agreement and decision of the arbiter may be enforceable under state and federal law. Employment Discrimination laws seek to prevent discrimination based on race, sex, religion, national origin, physical disability, and age by

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Health Care Spending Essay Example for Free

Health Care Spending Essay In the past seven decades health care spending has been increasing tremendously. The industrial era brought in a new system to help population duel with the cost of medical care. New technology has become a much needed investing in the 21st century which has yield to a great margin between small and big facilities. When looking at all of these factors there is no wonder the nation is spend way too much money on health care, although at times might seem that there is not enough. It seems that the right investment is needed to help aid those that need help the most the elderly and unemployed, with the economy in a fragile state and unemployment rates increasing with the quarters there is no question that decisions about how we are spending on health care needs to change. Even though so many factors are involved in the spending this paper would focus on our current level of expenditures, how and where is the money spent, forecasting what would be coming next. Current level of national healthcare expenditures According to Physicians for a National Health Program (2012), â€Å"National Health Expenditures was $2.8 trillion, and the spending as a percent of GDP was 18% for 2012† (National Health Expenditure Projections: Modest Annual Growth until Coverage Expands and Economic Growth Accelerates). When looking at these facts many would even argue we are spending quite enough when it comes to healthcare or perhaps too much, however is the complete opposite not enough spending is in the right place. These figures does not represent the spent on one area of health care the graph below will provide an idea as to what, when, and where was spent on 2009. Total = $2.3 Trillion Source: Martin A.B. et al., â€Å"Growth In US Health Spending Remained Slow in 2010; Health Share of Gross Domestic Product Was Unchanged from 2009,† Health Affairs, 2012. As shown on the graph 51% of the spending is towards hospital care and physician/clinical services which are great to be invested in, however the rest of the spending in my opinion is not proportionally distribute, yes those areas are extremely important but it would be beneficial if more can be distributed along medication, and other professionals services to include the testing and diagnose of serious illnesses such as cancer. The investment is require to subsidize the needs on these areas, 45 percent of people under age 65 who dont have insurance coverage for prescriptions said they had not filled a prescription in the last year because of the cost. Additionally, 84 percent of working-age people in the U.S. without insurance coverage for prescriptions said they had taken some action such as spending less on groceries or postponing paying other bills in order to pay for their medications, an increase from 71 percent last year (Rowan, 2012). Regarding testing for patients with cancer there should be more funding for the new technology available for test that many patients are not aware, because they cannot afford it or simply because it is not available in their area. Spending: Too much or not enough? In 2010, $2.6 trillion was spent on health care services and products, 61 percent of which purchased hospital care, physician and clinical services, and retail prescription drugs. Private health insurance paid for 33 percent, out-of-pocket sources for 12 percent, and other third party payers and programs for 7 percent. The two largest government health care programs, Medicare and Medicaid, purchased $925.1 billion worth of health care goods and services in 2010, accounting for 36 percent of total health care spending (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 2012). The increase of cost would continue to rise according to economists, health care managers, and advisors forcing for a new reform to change the system. Thus many are not too please with this idea is a phenomenal that cannot be avoid, there is a need to change in policies and methods in which we spent or invest in health care. Suggesting that the investment is too little would be a denial statement, everyday more and more patients are relying on programs such as Medicare and Medicaid to get the attention required at the moment. As the economic recession set in deeper less would be available to afford just the basic needs, medication or any treatment; unemployment rates are on the rise and it does not seem it would stop anytime soon. Although the new reform would try to establish some type of stability, until the insurance companies and policy makers come to an agreement to provide a universal premium for service which can be affordable for all, the same problems would continue to emerge. Many factors also have effect on spending considering for example the demand for new technology in the 21st century; this trend has become to some degree a factor in the rise on health care spending. Much of this new technology is beneficial if it provides a new way to used already establish technology, however many studies have revealed that most of them are only here to replace such technology and at some circumstances increase the cost of service. As a country a deeper consideration of such technology is needed not only to save money, but to invest wisely as to what would help the system cut in spending. Future economic needs of health care For years to come the enduring effects of the economic recession and slow recovery, due mostly because of partial growth in incomes, are expected to continue to limit health spending growth. In 2014 the coverage expansions laid out in the Affordable Care Act for Medicaid and for private health insurance are expected to increase the growth rate for health spending, with notable increases expected in spending on physician services and prescription drugs for newly insured patients. By the end of the year, higher income growth and the continuing shift of baby boomers into Medicare are expected to cause health spending to grow roughly two percentage points faster than overall economic growth, which is about the same differential experienced over the past thirty years. Therefore a necessary reform of a national health care perhaps would provide the change needed, the only issue with this suggestion is the funding. Thus a national health care would help every citizen reach the so needed medical attention required at an affordable price there is no surprise that the funding through Federal programs are thinning, and the cost of private insurance keeps on raising. Therefore a more evaluated reform should be put in place where the cost of care should be regulated, and more affordable options are given to the population; an increase on reimbursement of healthcare for basic health needs is necessary to subsidize the cost for complex health needs in order to keep the cost regulated. According to Centers For Medicare And Medicaid Services (2011), â€Å"In 2014, national health spending is projected to rise to 7.4 percent, or 2.1 percentage-points faster than in the absence of reform, as the major coverage expansions from the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are expected to result in 22 million fewer uninsured people† (National Health Expenditure Projections 2011-2021). Increases in Medicaid spending growth, and private health insurance growth will contribute to the overall acceleration in national health spending in 2014. There is no question that technology would also continue to raise to help the system provide the best and fast way possible services to those in need. Investing more in health care can only benefit the nation; however the right decisions needs to be made in order to keep the spending growth under control. Reference Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Statistics-Trends-and-Reports/NationalHealthExpendData/downloads/dsm-10.pdf Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Statistics-Trends-and -Reports/NationalHealthExpendData/Downloads/Proj2011PDF.pdf Martin A.B. et al., â€Å"Growth In US Health Spending Remained Slow in 2010; Health Share of Gross Domestic Product Was Unchanged from 2009,† Health Affairs, 2012. Physicians for a National Health Program. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.pnhp.org/news/2012/june/2012-health-care-spending-including-administration Rowan, K. (2012). Fox news.com. Retrieved from http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/09/13/why-americans-prescriptions-are-going-unfilled/

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) - Will it Protect Inv

Public Company Accounting Oversight Board; Will it Protect Investors?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) was created by Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. This board was created to oversee the audit of public companies, subject to the securities laws, in order to protect the interests of investors (15 USC 7201, 2002). It was created in wake of the recent financial scandals of Enron, WorldCom, and Global Crossing to name a few. This â€Å"Act† established by Congress is to create an oversight board, so that such scandals will never occur again. Will this oversight board work and will its work restore public confidence and encourage individuals to invest in the stock market again?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The PCAOB is not a tax-payer funded agency. It is supported by over 8800 companies and mutual funds that benefit from independent audits (Epstein). The PCAOB principle duties are; 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Register public accounting firms that prepare audits. 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Establish and/or adopt standards relating to the preparation of audit reports for issuers. 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Conduct inspections of registered public accounting firms. 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Conduct investigations and disciplinary proceedings. 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Promote high professional standards and improve the quality of audit services offered by registered public accounting firms. 6.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Enforce compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley act (15 USC 7201, 2002). Before the establishment of Sarbanes-Oxley and the PCAOB, there was no oversight board. Public accounting firms would perform â€Å"peer reviews† to verify that audits were being performed with due diligence. However, these reviews were not high priority, thus uncovering errors/negligence made by the public accounting firms by peers were rarely discovered. It was only after the massive failures of Enron and WorldCom that this gross negligence by the public accounting firm performing the audit came to light. It was clear that an independent review board was necessary to ensure due diligence is being followed when a public accounting firm audits a corporation.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The PCAOB will examine yearly those public accounting firms with more than 100 publicly-traded audit clients. All others will be examined every three years. Any violations of Sarbanes-Oxley or SEC and the PCAOB may fine or disqualify firms from public accounting audits (Epstein). The power to fine or disqualify a public accounting firm from ... ...g profession.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is still too early to tell if the PCAOB will be effective or not. Only time will tell if the actions of the PCAOB and the public accounting firms will restore investor confidence to invest in the stock market, again. Works Cited â€Å"Accountability in the Era of Global Markets.† The Fletcher School. Feb. 2004: Tufts University. 16 May 2004. Calabro, Lori. â€Å"New Attestation Standards for Internal Controls Put More Power in the Hands of Auditors.† CFO Magazine. May 2004: Economist.com. Lexis-Nexis. Baker University. 16 May 2004 . Epstein, Jonathan. â€Å"Watchdog Says Accounting Firms Have Much to do to Restore Credibility.† Buffalo News. 19 April 2004: Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News. Lexis-Nexis. Baker University. 16 May 2004 . Griggs, Linda L. â€Å"Audits of Internal Control over Financial Reporting: What do they Mean?† Prentice Hall Law & Business Insights. 29 April 2004: Lexis-Nexis. Baker University. 16 May 2004 . Michaels, Adrian. â€Å"Accountants Urged to take Moral Stand.† Financial Times. 19 Dec. 2004: Financial Time Limited. Lexis-Nexis. Baker University. 16 May 2004. Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Pub. L. 107-204. 30 July 2002. Stat. 116.745

Monday, January 13, 2020

Automobile Repair and Mechanics Essay

Automobile repair is not only an interesting field to me, also I feel automobile maintenance is necessary knowledge to have in today’s auto market. Like studying for school or learning the skills of a job; I feel knowing how to repair a vehicle will produce a cost effective lifestyle, and take out all the hassle anyone who owns a vehicle encounters everyday. How many Americans can change their own oil that don’t work as mechanics, or what is the average repair bill for a same day repair are questions that bring concern to how becoming my own handyman makes a productive choice. I decided to explore the topic a little more to get a better understanding of the requirements to become an auto mechanic, for I have decided to become certified in Automotive Technology. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics(definition)- â€Å"an auto mechanic is a technician that inspects, maintains and repairs automobiles and light trucks that run on gasoline, electricity or other alternative fuels; like ethanol†. Auto mechanics play a very important role in maintaining and keeping vehicles running efficiently. The field of auto mechanics reveals a long history, specialized schooling and strong career objectives for anyone that would like to choose this field as a career. There are certain requirements to become an auto mechanic, and a student can get the basics of automobile repair by taking a vocational class in high school. The course is not really considered training, but the class gives a basic knowledge of what mechanics do. To be considered a qualified auto mechanic; completing training at a post- secondary school like Pinellas Technical Education Centers or at a community college are the best choices, but the college aspect is not as much hands on as the secondary school. â€Å"PTEC consists of 2 years of intense training†(brochure), and the community college usually offers an associate degree for this field that also takes 2 years to complete the coursework. With these types of training, getting the most up to date training needed is essential; like using computer systems to detect problems with cars. Another form of training involves working as an apprentice to a master technician so questions are answered from experience . When all the formal training is completed a mechanic is considered certified when receiving a ASE Certification. This stands for Automobile Service Excellence Certification. The Bureau of Labor statistics suggests that individuals who live in large cities should get certified to help them with their search for jobs. An auto mechanics basic job function is performed in some type of repair shop, and working 40 plus hours a work is expected with such high volume of vehicles to work on. Sometimes work can continue into the weekend, along with performing work on the side to help earn some extra money. The working environment for the job involves identifying and fixing problems that deal with the car in a repair shop. Most of the time repairs are done indoors in a large, open garage like facility, including mechanics to get dirty due to all the grease repairs performed daily. These functions are real important that this does not bother someone who might want to do this as a job, for some of the grease and dirt is almost impossible to get completely rid of. Many shops have now included electrical technology as part of their services due to the fact that most cars have specialized computer systems. â€Å"This new service has increased the mechanics skill level greatly† (resource). â€Å"Many repair shops rely on these computerized systems to help in identifying problems related to the car† (Ly). The term auto mechanic is slowly fading away, and many mechanics are now being labeled as service technicians. The change in the name comes from the fact that working on many different parts of the car, and computer systems that require additional and more advanced training. Auto mechanics make a pretty good living. Starting out as a new auto mechanic the annual income will range between $25,000 – $35,000. The next level mechanic could make $35,000- $45,000. After that the pay can be anywhere from $45,000 up to $100,000, for the higher pay range is for a Master Mechanic. It would be best to try and achieve the highest level of pay to make this job worthwhile. This is not exactly a goal that I am going to set forth for myself to achieve because simply auto work is all I’m interested in. Many Master Mechanics work for luxury car manufacturers like Mercedes, BMW, Jaguar and Porsche. The future for service technicians looks very bright. For the next 3 years the auto mechanics field will see an increase close to 10- 20%. This increase is due to many technicians retiring, and due to an increase in cars being purchased. Dealerships and independent car repair shops will be the main employers of service technicians. The outlook continues to look positive for auto mechanics even though economic downfall is predicted to continue. In conclusion, auto mechanics is a very diverse field that requires complete dedication and skill to help become successful. Mechanics involves a long history, specialized schooling and the desire to achieve. Auto mechanics has evolved into a very complex and sometimes challenging field, and the future job outlook for this field is great and it is a very good choice for anyone interested in pursuing this career.