Thursday, December 26, 2019

Rationale Myelodysplastic Syndrome ( Mds ) - 1999 Words

Rationale: Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is not something that is common throughout my family, but since most of our medical conditions were commonalities with the rest of the United States population, I took a particular interest in this unusual condition. My paternal grandfather – a farmer and a military veteran – was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in 1996 at the age of 72, which was his cause of death in 1999. Several years prior to this he was diagnosed with what was once referred to as â€Å"pre-leukemia†, or myelodysplastic syndrome. Being a somewhat uncommon condition, only about 13,000 new cases appear in the United States each year, and this number is growing as the overall age of the population increases (American Cancer Society, 2015). Fortunately, I was young enough to not notice his health slowly deteriorate, as quality of life generally does with cancerous conditions. However, in my lifetime I have had several friends’ family members die of cancer and I have seen its debilitating effects. It is important for me to understand the causes and effects of this condition, and to what extent familial as well as environmental factors have on developing the disease. In order to properly understand this cancerous condition, this question must first be addressed: what is cancer? Generally, cancer is when cells in the body begin growing out of control. Instead of dying when they are supposed to, the cancer cells continue to grow in size as well as produce more

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Fast Food America - 1498 Words

Fast food has become a major phenomenon here in America. According to Eric Schlosser, he writes in the New York Times, on average $301,369,863 is spent a day on fast food. As Schlosser shows, American people are abusing fast food. In accordance with fast food binging, obesity has become a widespread epidemic. According to Joseph Mercola M.D., on a personal website states obesity is, A chronic condition that develops as a result of an interaction between a person s genetic makeup and their environment. Here Dr. Mercola expresses how obesity is directly related to an individual s environment. Today it is not uncommon to find major fast food chains with in a short distance from residential areas. With so many choices for fast food,†¦show more content†¦Besides the fact food preparation is fast, every year thousands of commercials can be seen on TV. According to Spurlock, on average a single person watches about 10,000 different commercials per year, most of them being junk or f ast food products. These influential commercials broadcast smart slogans and offer cheap food to attract customers. In a recent survey, at the Brea Mall Food Court, when asked if they ate on a daily basis, 28 % of males said yes, while 25% of women said they too ate out daily. A surprising portion of people, 30% said they enjoyed the taste and quality, while majority about 46% said there was no time to cook at home because of work or hectic schedules. With so many great food specials and a plethora of commercials, its no wonder Americans turn to fast food for meals. Fast food is practical, quick, and reasonably cheap, though unhealthy many seem to no care. The first signs of concern came in 2003 when legislation was passed by Congress to help to slow obesity among children. The new law banned all junk foods from public schools and enforced new cafeteria food requirements. Robert Colin Carter a medical researcher from the John Hopkins School of Medicine showed that the meals served p rior to changes by school cafeteria s exceeded the newly established limits for total and saturated fats, set by the National School Lunch Program and National School Breakfast Program. Here Carter shows theShow MoreRelatedEssay on Healthy Fast Food in America1865 Words   |  8 Pagesfor their order. It’s the sad truth about fast food. The market is chock-full with hungry consumers on extremely tight schedules with â€Å"instant gratification† mindsets. One variable, the fast food market never could have predicted was a â€Å"healthy American†. Everything is now sorted into increments of one hundred calories conveniently put into separate packages for the new health-conscious men and women of the twenty first century. In the beginning, fast food markets preyed on a booming new market hungryRead MoreObesity in America: Fast Food Restaurants are NOT the Problem918 Words   |  4 PagesWith the continued growth of fast food restaurants, low priced food, and fa st friendly service, these restaurants have become very appealing to the average consumer. With this increase in popularity, there has come many problems for these companies associated with the fast food industry. These stores are being blamed for the rise of obesity and other health issues in America; leading to many wanting a ban or probation on these fast food restaurants. The Government has stepped in on this issue andRead MoreIs America Taking it too Far by Blaming Fast Food for High Obesity Rates?937 Words   |  4 Pagesquestions stands, is America taking it too far by blaming fast food for the obesity rate? After all, It is the individuals choice where, and what to eat, but on another note, fast food restaurants have a very appealing way in getting buyers, and basically tricking society into eating processed junk food that is high in calories and fats. Even though it is the individual’s decision what to eat, fast food is one of the main reasons for obesity. It is che ap, easily accessible, and fast, but it also problemRead MoreFast Food in America1664 Words   |  7 PagesFast Food in America People today have a need for speed. Everything has to be more convenient, and bigger. Humans are the super-sized rulers of the world, and people need it as fast as possible. This lifestyle has consequences; if one does not start taking charge, and fight these big corporations right now these mistakes will be too far reaching and irreversible. Because fast food is convenient, inexpensive, and is a cultural habit, people must stop eating it since it has increased health problemsRead MoreFast Food And Its Effects On America1546 Words   |  7 Pages Fast Food in America We don t walk. We overeat because we ve made it easy to overeat. We have fast-food joints on every corner. By the way, the we is all of us. It s not the government. It s all of us doing this together.†(Mehmet Oz). Fast food has been affecting Americans lives since the 1919’s and 1920’s where the first fast food restaurant originated. They were called AW in 1919 and White Castle in 1921. More than 3 million cases of obesity in America happen a year. Over timeRead MoreDependence on Fast Food in America1091 Words   |  5 PagesThe dependence on fast food by Americans has developed into a major predicament. In 2013 about eighty percent of Americans report eating at fast food restaurants at least once a month; more than half of them (about forty-seven percent of Americans) report that they eat at a fast food restaurant at least once a week (Richmond 2). Compared to the year 2006 the percentage of Americans who ate at least once a month have dropped only one percent from eighty-one percent to eighty percent (Richmond 2).Read MoreFast Food and the Obesity Epidemic in America Essay1772 Words   |  8 PagesObesity is an epidemic in America, greatly impacting youth, the health care system, and economically vulnerable populations. Among all of the high-income countries in the world, obesity rates remain the highest in the US. According to Harvard, US obesity rates have more than doubled since 1980, although they have remained the same since 2003. (Harvard School of Public Health) Approximately 31.9% of children and adolescents from the ages of 2 to 19 are obese or overweight (NPLAN), while roughly 69%Read MoreEssay on The Fast Food Culture is Detroying America4188 Words   |  17 Pages The typical American diet, with its emphasis on fast food and frozen food, is a consumption pattern reflective of, and symptomatic of, our production patterns -- what kind of jobs we find ourselves going to day-in and day-out, and the way these jobs encourage us to see the world we live in. If people are more apt to think of themselves as consumers rather than producers, if gratification is associated with consumption rather than working, doing, and making, we have only to bear in mind that thisRead MoreEssay about Fast Food is Destroying America1477 Words   |  6 PagesWe provide food that customers love, day after day after day. People just want more of it† (Ray Kroc, Founder of McDonald’s). Coronary Artery Disease is a type of heart disease and the most common cause of heart attacks. Plaque from eating unhealthy foods, builds up in the arteries, the arteries harden and begin to become narrow and can cause chest pain and heart attacks. â€Å"Obesity is a medical co ndition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have a negative effect onRead MoreFast Food By Eric Schlosser933 Words   |  4 PagesSpecter uses outside sources such as, Eric Schlosser who wrote Fast-food Nation in 2001. By including outside sources Specter is able to credit his information and make sure that he has accurate and compelling information. To provide even more accuracy, he even includes quotes from other authors such as this quote, â€Å"In 2012, companies produced enough regular soda to supply every single person in America, regardless of age, with nearly thirty gallons,’’ from Marion Nestle who the recently published

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Economic, social and political policies free essay sample

How successful were the economic, social and political policies of the Tsar’s government from 1894-1914? In 1894, Nicholas II ascended to the throne following the death of his father, Alexander III. Woefully unprepared for such a role, Nicholas II has been characterized as a naive and incompetent leader. At a time of enormous social and political change in Russia, Nicholas held fast to the outdated, autocratic policies and opposed reform of any kind. His inept handling of the military matters and insensitivity to the needs of his people helped to fuel the 1914 Russian Revolution. It can be argued that the most successful economic policies were of those, set by Sergei Witte; however, these policies had successes and failures. Sergei Witte, a finance minister from 1892 to 1903, was the architect of Russian industrialisation. Witte believed that, because Russia was so far behind other countries, the state had to play a large role in stimulating industrial growth. We will write a custom essay sample on Economic, social and political policies or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page He launched Russia into an age of Russia into an age of heavy industry, using the railways as a starting point. Some successes of Witte’s policies were that Russia was modernising from a position that was further behind the economies of other countries. The economic modernisation allowed Russia to equip their armed forces with more sophisticated weaponry and compete as a World power. These successes allowed the Tsar to gain support for his regime. To compare, there were many failures of Witte’s policies which could cause a threat to the tsarist regime. The Russian political system did not modernise and educational opportunities remained limited for the minority, this caused there to be an increased political opposition to the Tsarist system of government. Witte increased direct and indirect taxes in Russia, which helped boost the economy by squeezed the peasants causing a widespread anger which lead to strikes becoming more common in Russia cities. Another man who helped the economy was Peter Stolypin. Both Stolypin and Witte had a shared objective – the preservation of the Tsarist system. However, Stolypin was interested in developing the agriculture of Russia, and set out to win over the peasantry who had been the tsarist traditional supporters. He recognised that some of the grievances of the peasants stemmed from their long-standing resentment of the limitations of the emancipation in 1861 and the burden of the redemption payments. A recurring demand during the 1905 Revolution had been for more land and relief from the financial indebtedness. Stolypin aimed to  create a class of prosperous independent smallholding peasants at the expense of the Mir, reduce the power of the Mir, improve the efficiency of agriculture by ending backward methods of farming practised by the Mir and encourage the transfer of land from the inefficient unenterprising peasants to the prosperous peasants who were looking to set themselves up as big farmers. Stolypin’s measures achieved some success as the authority of the Mir was reduced as peasants were free to leave the village, there was a substantial amount of land transfers, redemption payments were ended in 1907 and farming methods were improved. Machinery and artificial fertilisers were introduced. This helped improve the Russian agriculture leading to grain being produced for home consumption and raw cotton, sugar-beet and tobacco were produced for export. It can be argued that both men successfully helped the economic policies as many successes can be shown. However, both Stolypin and Witte had different intentions and ways in improving the economic state of Russia. Although progress was made to modernise Russia and improve its stability, overall it was not stable. This is demonstrated through the unrest in Russia, for example, The Lena Goldfields incident, where industrial worker were shot for causing unrest. This is a factor of little importance but shows that the people of Russia were unhappy with the government. In addition, in 1914 there was a major increase in the number of strikes, this highlights the fact that the Russian people were unhappy so therefore wanted to cause unrest in order to get what they wanted. Nicholas took over from his father and stuck in his father’s reactionary ways and ruled Russia as an autocrat. This meant that he had supreme power over Russia. All political parties were made illegal, this meant that the only way to challenge the Tsar’s authority was to cause disruption, such as strikes. It can be argued that this shows that Russia was politically stable as no-one could challenge the tsarist regime however it shows a lack of political stability as many groups of people became political opposition to the Tsar. To compare, it can be said that Russia was becoming politically stable. The most significant factor to show this is the October Manifesto. Concessions such as freedom of speech, the right to form political parties and a formation of a national parliament were formed during the October Manifesto. As a result of the October Manifesto, the Duma was set up. This is an equally significant factor as it shows that Russia had the possibility  to become a democratic country, as there were now political parties and a freedom of speech. During the third and fourth Duma, many laws were passed including National Insurance. However, some may argue that because four Dumas were formed, Russia did not have a very successful political system, as the national parliament kept changing. Peter Stolypin helped to make the political policies in Russia successful by de-revolutionising the peasants. This banned the redemption payments and appeased the peasants, to persuade them to support the Tsar. This was important as it helped prevent the majority of peasants from revolting. Therefore, it can be said that the political policies between 1894 1914 were successful as the Tsar gained more support but then they were unsuccessful as the revolution occurred in 1905 and again in 1914. Many of the social policies were put in to place to keep the people of Russia quiet and under control. In the second part of the nineteenth century Nicholas carried on and imposed more rigorously, the policy of Russification. This policy involved making non-Russians use the Russian language instead of their own and adopt Russian customs and habits. Russian officials were brought in to run regional governments in Non-Russian parts of the Empire, such as Finland and Poland. This policy was not successful as the national minorities saw Russification as a fundamental attack on their way of life and a monstrously unfair policy that discriminated against them. Arguably the Jews formed a sizeable ethnic group and were forced to live in an area known as the Pale of Settlement. They suffered under a deliberate social policy known as Anti-Semitism which places social, political and economic restrictions upon them. Encouraged by the authorities, ultra-conservative nationalists known as the Black Hundreds, carried out many organised attacks on their homes and businesses. It can be said that all social policies were unsuccessful as they created a large opposition groups towards the Tsar and his regime. Therefore, to conclude, it can be argued that the social, political and economic had successes and failures. However, it can be said that the failures outweigh the successes as there was a Russian Revolution in 1905 and then again in 1914. Also, due to his policies the Tsar gained major opposition groups which acted as a threat to overthrow the Tsarist Regime.

Monday, December 2, 2019

Tao Te Ching Essays (1330 words) - Taoism, Philosophy,

Tao Te Ching Taoism applied to everyday life Practice not-doing and everything will fall into place (Chapter 3). In Taoism this is the concept known as wu wei. Wei wu wei is the practice of doing and not-doing. This concept comes from the theory of the Yin and Yang. The Yang, along with wei, is the practice of doing. The Yin, along with wu wei, is the practice of not-doing. One compliments the other, and each cannot exist alone. The Tao tells people to practice not-doing because it will bring happiness in their life. By not-doing, the Tao means not performing actions, which are unnecessary and uncalled for. People should just take things as they come in life and they will live a life full of happiness and pleasure. If you don't interfere with the Tao and let things take their natural course, everything will work out in your life (Chapter 10). If powerful men and women could remain centered in the Taoall people would be at peace (Chapter 32). If you work against your Tao, you will never find happi ness. The Sage practices wu wei. He teaches without words and performs without actions (Chapter 43). He knows and therefore does not speak (Chapter 56). Many people mistake conceptual knowledge for the map to the territory. The Sage is our map to the Tao. He points his finger to show us the way, but does not really tell us what to do and how to practice Taoism. Lao Tzu's concepts of the Tao can be a guide to rational living. If one follows these beliefs he is guaranteed happiness in his life. However, it is very difficult to follow the Tao, even though the teachings are said to be easily understood and easily put into practice (Chapter 70). The reason the Tao is so difficult to grasp is because you cannot know that you are practicing it. The Tao is beyond all words. If you give it words, it does not exist. It is unnamable. If you concentrate on the Tao, you will never understand it. You cannot think about it, you must just do it. This is very difficult because people always think ab out what they do, but this does not work with the Tao (Chapter 1). You cannot look for the Tao; you cannot listen for the Tao. You must just accept the idea that it is always there, omnipresent, and you can't see it. This is all very important because if one cannot understand these first simple steps in Taoism, they will be lost the rest of the way. In personal life, you should never define yourself. When you define yourself, you are actually putting limits on yourself. If a man defines himself as a doctor, he is limiting himself to science. If a man defines himself as a singer, he is limiting himself to music. By limiting yourself, you are not allowing yourself to experience life fully (Chapter 24). Also, you should never define any object because they will always have an opposite. If you define something as good then its opposite is defined as bad, when in reality it might not be (Chapter 2). When a man is about to buy a car, he will want to buy a company with a good name. He has defined one car as good and the rest are bad. When he realizes he cannot afford the good car he is unhappy. He has to buy a bad car. While driving his bad car, he thinks about what people will say. He worries that they will not approve of his new purchase. If the man had not originally set such high expectations of buying a good car, he would not be upset with his situation. By caring about other people's approval he becomes their prisoner (Chapter 9). If you see things as they are, then you will be happy with whatever you have. If you see things through other's eyes then you will never achieve the high goals you are setting. In family life, be completely present (Chapter 8). All family members should always be there for each other. You should be completely present for the rest of your family, this

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Demographic Information Essays - Educational Psychology, Free Essays

Demographic Information Essays - Educational Psychology, Free Essays Demographic Information Setting Chronicle A look at life today with Down Syndrome. During her 19th week of pregnancy Mary found out her baby had Down syndrome. Lauren found out 12 hours after her baby had been born that she had Down syndrome. Showed Laurens daughter Lucy in her classroom and in her house at age 9. 46 year old John, an advocate at MDSC, also lives in his apartment alone. Melissa, an intern and political junky, is now taking college classes. Christopher May of Newton, member of the council. Students Observed Lucy, John, Christopher, Melissa Disabilities Observed Down syndrome Activities Observed This video is about people with Down syndrome advocating for other people with Down syndrome. From pregnancy to full adulthood, people with Down syndrome are living longer and are living full lives and are involved even in the work force. Reflection Professionals Role I believe the Professionals in this video are not only the parents and teachers of the students with Down syndrome but those with Down syndrome themselves. Being advocates for others with their disabilities and standing up and fighting for themselves for equality makes them not only professionals but heroes in my eyes. These are people you can really look up to and learn from. Insight Gained Insight gained from this video would be people with these disabilities are living longer and fuller lives and some even on their own. Research has shown that we can now detect babies with Down syndrome while they are still in the womb, giving the parents even more time to adjust and prepare for the future of their child. Advocates of people with Down syndrome are pushing for equality and they are pushing for rights for more independence and aid. Demographic Information Setting Denver Academy Students Observed Michael (Aspergers Syndrome), Paul (ADHD), Emmy (ADD), Terrence (ADD) Disabilities Observed Aspergers Syndrome, ADHD, ADD, ADD Activities Observed At the Denver Academy they use a method called: BLIS Body- Natural Intelligence (for the athletes and dancers). Logical- Linguistic and Quantitative (for the mathematicians). Interpersonal- (for the extroverts). Spatial- (for artists, musicians and performers). The teacher also uses a ball to pass to the student that was speaking at the time. Reflection Professionals Role The professionals role as a teacher is to differentiate instruction in a way that benefits all students. This means you are flexible in how you teach. Students have options in how they take in your instruction. Remember learning profiles, establish goals and expectations and tasks, share goals with students, and be creative. Insight Gained The teachers are asking How are you smart? instead of How smart are you? We cant control students traits of: Readiness, Interests, Learning Profile and Affect. By focusing on what we can control is how we can help influence them. Understand a students diagnosis and then rewrite it. Scoring Guide Demographic Information (includes reference to course materials) (10)/10 for section Type of setting (1)1/1 Number of individuals observed (1) Type(s) of disabilities (1)1/1 Type(s) of disabilities observed (includes reference to course materials) (3)3/3 Types of activities observed (5)5/5 Reflection (10) (includes reference to course materials)10/10 for section Perspective about professionals role (includes reference to course materials) (5)5/5 Insight gained (5)5/5 Mechanics (5)5/5 Note: Up to 2 points deducted for each instance of incorrect APA style, grammar, unprofessional language, or improper use of people-first languageDeductions? None TOTAL25/25

Saturday, November 23, 2019

6 Forms of the Subjunctive Mood

6 Forms of the Subjunctive Mood 6 Forms of the Subjunctive Mood 6 Forms of the Subjunctive Mood By Mark Nichol Are you in a subjunctive mood? Then you should frame sentences in one of the six following forms. The subjunctive mood is used in cases in which what is expressed is not necessarily real, as opposed to the indicative case, which is applied to factual statements. The key difference is a change in the form of a given verb: Am or was is supplanted by were, be takes the place of are, or singular active verbs lose their -s or -es endings. In conversation, it is common for speakers to fail to distinguish between the moods, but in careful writing, the distinction must be made. 1. Counterfactual In this subjunctive construction, the writer expresses a notion contrary to fact, such as â€Å"If I were you, I’d return it to the store.† 2. Imperative In this class of the subjunctive mood, commands and demands are expressed: â€Å"I demanded that she walk away.† 3. Necessity This subjunctive form refers to requirement: â€Å"It is necessary that she fill out the form first.† 4. Proposition This category applies to proposals and suggestions: â€Å"We proposed that they reconsider the offer.† 5. Supposition In this form, the writer expresses a possibility: â€Å"If I were to accept the position, I’d have to relocate.† 6. Wish This type of subjunctive form deals with expressions of desire: â€Å"I wish that I were able to go back and do it over again.† The subjunctive case also survives in such idiomatic phrases as â€Å"as it were,† â€Å"be that as it may,† â€Å"be they [one thing or another],† and â€Å"would that it were.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:How to Format a UK Business LetterCapitalization Rules for the Names of GamesThe "Pied" in The Pied Piper

Thursday, November 21, 2019

JFK assassination Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

JFK assassination - Essay Example Kennedy was a charismatic leader whose assassinationhas remained a debatable issue several decades after his death. Many years after his death, it has not been possible for the world to know who gave the official orders to kill him and what their motives were. Those who witnessed the shooting of Kennedy have never come to an agreement on where the shots were from, therefore making the issue more controversial. There have been further disagreements with some people arguing that there was more than one gunman involved in the shooting, while others conclude that it is impossible to know the exact location of the shooters and the number of shots fired. In the theories raised about the murder of Kennedy, arguments revolve around the role Oswald had to play in the killing. Theorists believe that he was not solely responsible for the murder on grounds that he did it on behalf of someone else. Oswald was framed by those who responsible for the murder so that they could cover up their involve ment. Those alleged to have participated in the assassination include the CIA and the American Mafia (Plouty et al, 2011 p 233). A number of circumstances are believed to have caused the assassination of Kennedy. ... This led to a lot of criticism fromthe Mafia, and it was the probable reason as to why they planned to assassinate him (West and Vernon, 2011). Another controversial issue leading to the assassination of Kennedy was the Bay of Pigs invasion in1961. The attempt by the Cuban exiles to overthrow the government of Fidel Castro was not successful. This was because President Kennedy declined to permit American troops and the CIA to attack Cuba. After the failure of the attack, the deputy director of CIA Charles accused Kennedy of being a traitor. As a result, the CIA was unhappy with Kennedy and they had to look for alternatives; they therefore sought the services of the Mafia to kill Castro (Plouty et al, 2011 p 234). After two years of his tenure as the president of the United States, Kennedy faced great opposition from both the democrats and the republicans in the congress. Most of the legislations that he proposed were rejected, and this meant that he had less support in the congress i n his position as the president. More so, his involvement in the affairs of Cuba was threatening his future in the American politics. The Republicans used the Cuban issue to object to the president and planned to assassinate him (Gibson, 2000 p 8). The Vietnam War had a part to play in the assassination of President Kennedy. Kennedy approved the National security memorandum, which declared America’s intention to pull out of the war by withdrawing their troops. Kennedy’s decision to withdraw from Vietnam was objected as it signified that America would cease to support its allies in the Vietnamese war. Kennedy stood as a threat and consequently there was a plot to assassinate him and end his rule so that America would continue taking part in the Vietnam War. The

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Discuss the photograph below with specifics to the assignment given

Discuss the photograph below with specifics to the given - Assignment Example Iconic images such as "Girl with Flag" taken by Ethan Miller for the Las Vegas Sun become iconic because of their ability to blend a sense of reality with a sense of the artistic to fully convey the feelings of the time. In this image, a little blond-haired girl in jeans and a grey T-shirt with what appears to be an American flag printed on it, sits on the shoulders of her father, causing her to rise clearly above the crowd around them, as she solemnly looks up at the unfurled American flag she holds in one hand and has her other hand uplifted and outstretched. The photo was taken on the night after the 9/11 attacks in 2001 when the Las Vegas community held a massive candlelight vigil for those who died that day (Shine, 2011). The darkened sky above the little girl appears to be filled with sparks of light while the area below her is filled with the faces of sad-eyed adults of multiple different races, all grieving together. Through the artistic use of the camera as well as the experience of the human eye, Miller was able to capture a scene that epitomized the sentiments of the country at that time. The photo spoke to the culture in a number of ways at that time. The crowd is very diverse in both age and race, illustrating the concept that this is a united country, especially in times of trouble. As a nation, we value our ability to unite as this crowd has done within a single emotional response to a terrible event. The fact that they are all of adult size with the exception of the little girl really highlights her youth and the concept that we believe in upholding our children as the future of the nation. The effect of the sparks of light occurring above the little girl in the image combined with the fact that she is looking up gives the impression that these sparks may be the lost souls making their departure, but they are actually just pinpoints of light that are out of focus. This technique is called bokeh and is achieved by opening the aperture a

Sunday, November 17, 2019

A Comedy in Two Acts Essay Example for Free

A Comedy in Two Acts Essay A naive yet charming sixteen year old going out on her first date. She is the youngest of three sisters and was raised mainly by her traditional mother. She often finds herself caught between her mothers’ traditional views and her older sisters’ modernity and aggressiveness. She admires her sister Georgia the most for her individuality and sense of freedom. (Definition of Feminine – Gentle (easily handled) by Bernessa Wilson, co-worker; Timid (shy) by Pam Magel, co-worker; Weak (soft) by John Nowicki, co-worker. ) MARTHA – The matron of the house and mother of Olivia, Georgia, and Julia. Her petite frame belies a strong and rugged personality. She is around forty years old and although she shows signs of age and weathering, she wears it with grace and a quiet self-assurance. Her husband passed away early and she has had to raise her daughters by herself on meager savings and odd jobs. Julia is her favorite daughter. (Definition of Feminine – Corsets by Craig Jensen, co-worker; Modest (not bold) by Johannes Laun, boss) TYRA – A close friend of Olivia. She is in her early thirties and although her occupation is not clear to us, it seems evident that she is some kind of model or works in television. She has fashionably short hair and a very slim and long legged body. She has a beguiling charm about her and is not shy to use it on men in order to have her way. She views being feminine as an asset and uses it to her advantage. (Definition of Feminine – Cleavage by Dave Atkins, co-worker; High heels by Matt Tuttle, co-worker; Beauty by Danya Slozerek, co-worker) OLIVIA – The eldest of the three daughters and the most accomplished. She is in her early thirties and works as a senior executive in a bank. She is slim and pretty but has an air of manly seriousness about her and this makes her even sexier. She is the archetypal modern independent woman and views femininity as a liability in her predominantly masculine world. She has learned how to be taken seriously without losing her sense of femininity. (Definition of Feminine Elie Tahari’s shoes designed to let a woman’s true beauty shine through. Made in fine fabrics and leathers, Tahari shoes feature clean lines and tasteful embellishments. His designs are smart, sexy, and feminine) GEORGIA– The middle child in the family and somewhat boyish. She is similarly pretty like her two sisters but is less self-conscious about herself. With strong traces of Audrey Hepburn, she embodies Ralph Lauren’s vision of a modern denim version of the traditional Gregory Peplum Jacket – modern, practical and rugged yet somewhat delicate and fanciful at the same time. (Definition of Feminine: Ralph Lauren describes the Gregory Peplum Jacket as an inspiration, which lends a modern edge to the structured stretch denim jacket, defined by its shape, a feminine flared peplum and puffed sleeves. ) BEN – Julia’s date for the night. A shy and awkward sixteen year-old. ACT ONE: Before us is a modest two-story house. It is around 6pm in the afternoon and the sun is just about to set. The ground floor of the house is divided into a sparsely decorated living room to the right and a dining room and kitchen to the left, separated by a swinging door. The front door opens to the right side of the living room while the back door opens to the left of the kitchen. The living room holds a practical yet smart looking leather couch big enough to seat four and matching wooden chairs around a low glass coffee table with a few magazines. A stairway behind the couch leads upstairs to a woman’s peach-walled bedroom. In the living room, Olivia is seated casually on the couch browsing through a copy of Vogue. She is dressed in a blazer and a skirt and looks as if she has just come home from the office. Georgia is looking through some bills and writing down some notes on a notebook. She is wearing a slim fitted denim Peplum jacket and purple pajama pants. In the kitchen, Martha is quietly preparing food in a plain dress and apron. Upstairs Julia (in a red dress) is seated in front of an ornate ivory colored powder table with a large oval shaped mirror. She is sitting unnaturally straight with her chin up to the mirror looking in mild anxiety as Tyra (dressed in a white tank top and tight dark jeans) puts make up on her. TYRA: There†¦ that’s it! You’re all set baby girl. JULIA: (stands up and twirls around looking at herself in the mirror) TYRA: Damn I wish my ass still looked that good! JULIA: (blushes in embarrassment) What? Don’t you think it’s too much? Maybe I should†¦ TYRA: (interrupts quickly) I’m just kidding dear, you look great and that’s how you’re supposed to look. Besides boys love older looking women. And I know that for a fact (winking at Julia). JULIA: (tentatively) Umm†¦ maybe I should just wear my jeans and pink sweater. I don’t think we’re going anywhere that fancy anyway. TYRA: Hell no! (defiantly) If that boy’s worth anything he’d better be taking you somewhere where they at least serve some Cabernet. And if he’s not planning to well baby we’re sure as hell going to make him. JULIA: (exasperated) But I’m not even allowed to drink! GEORGIA: (calls from downstairs) Hey Julia come on lets see you! JULIA: (calls back) Coming! TYRA: All right, go on now (heading towards the door) Julia goes down the stairs followed by Tyra. Both Georgia and Olivia look up from their business and look admiringly at Julia. Julia walks down the stairs gingerly in new strappy heels and in a slightly skimpy maroon dress. She looks beautiful but awkward as if her clothes are itching her. GEORGIA: (in admiration) Oh Julia! You just look absolutely lovely. OLIVIA: Wow nice work Tyra. Yeah Jules you look fantastic. You’re going to break some hearts tonight. JULIA: (unsure) Do you really think so? Don’t you think it’s a bit too much? Aunt Tyra picked out this dress from some Italian woman’s shop. I think it’s supposed to be for adults. TYRA: Darling please, I’m too young to be your aunt. And I bet there are going to be girls younger than you trying to dress like Paris Hilton with skirts ten times shorter than that. You have to show those boys what you got. MARTHA: (Enters from the kitchen carrying a teapot. She looks at Julia in both shock and awe. ) Julia?! Oh my! Where on earth did you get that dress? Cover your chest young lady! OLIVIA: (guffawing in disbelief) Oh please mother! It’s called cleavage and it seems to be the most highly prized commodity a woman can posses these days. GEORGIA: (in a calm soothing voice) It’s alright mother that’s a very conservative dress by today’s standards. Besides I’m sure Julia here has the best reputation as a lady (smiles warmly at Julia). JULIA: (stuttering) Y†¦yes mother I promise to be at my utmost behavior tonight. MARTHA: (loudly to Georgia) I don’t care what today’s standards are. If I followed today’s standards I’d be dressed in a bikini mowing the lawn. I know what’s right and proper for a lady and that dress does not look proper to me. (turns her attention to Julia and addresses her patiently) Oh my sweet innocent child, I just don’t want boys to get the wrong idea about you Julia, you’re such a sweet sweet girl and I don’t want you turning into a†¦(stops herself as she glances involuntarily at Tyra and Olivia). OLIVIA: (completing her mothers sentence)†¦into a successful empowered woman? (says defiantly) The days of housewives are over mother. These days either a woman fends for herself or she gets stuck with three kids in a tiny one bedroom apartment while her husband elopes with some nineteen year old intern. MARTHA: (looks as if about to shout but then collects herself and says resignedly to Julia who looks at her pleadingly with puppy eyes) Well dear†¦ at least just put a jacket on won’t you? So you don’t catch a cold? TYRA: (enjoying the tirade) Oh don’t worry I took care of that too. She won’t be catching any colds tonight. I already showed her how to put on a jacket. (gives Julia a sly wink) JULIA: (looking puzzled) †¦a jacket? MARTHA: (looks threateningly at Tyra and starts to open her mouth) OLIVIA: (gives Tyra a look of warning) GEORGIA: (stands abruptly) Come mother! I’ll help you dinner. MARTHA: (takes a deep breath) No it’s alright it’s already done, let’s just all sit down and have some tea. TYRA: (smiling apologetically) Let’s! Anyways, so Julia why don’t you tell us a little about this boy toy of yours. What car does he drive? I for one would never go out with a guy who drives anything less than a BMW. MARTHA: (surprised) Driving?! Oh I’m sure he’s too young to drive. And where will you be going anyway? JULIA: Well his dad usually drops him at school everyday so I don’t think he drives yet. But I think we’ll just be walking tonight mother, we’re only going to the plaza down the block for a burger. TYRA: The plaza? For a burger? Baby with you looking like that it ought to be a damn expensive burger. Well the least he can do is bring us home some of apple pie and chocolates. And if he gives you anything less than half a dozen roses†¦ MARTHA: (interrupts Tyra) Well if he does bring a car I don’t want you to spending any time in there you here me? You just finish your dinner and you order him to take you back home you understand? GEORGIA: (laughing) Mother please! Let the young lady enjoy a night out. JULIA: (in eager agreement to Martha) Yes mother, I promise I won’t even hold his hand, we’re only friends that’s all. Besides Ben is a nice boy, all the teachers like him MARTHA: Oh I know all those tricks the boys use these days, they haven’t changed since your father. Sure he may have gotten me at first but I won in the end. OLIVIA: Mother please can we have one day of not mentioning dad? MARTHA: (ignoring Olivia) But men†¦boys these days, you just don’t know what to think of them†¦ OLIVIA: I’ll tell you what to think of them sis, they are absolutely useless. All they’re good for is making babies. All I need is a decent good-looking guy to get me pregnant and I can live peacefully. The doorbell rings and all the women stop and look at the door, then look at each other questioningly. JULIA: (nervously) That must be him! MARTHA: Alright girls behave yourselves. Julia, go upstairs and put on a jacket. JULIA: (looks at Georgia for help) GEORGIA: Just go put a jacket on honey, you can take it off later if it gets warm. JULIA: Ok mother. ACT TWO The setting is in an old-fashioned diner where a few other young people are having burgers and fries. BEN: Boy you sure have one weird family†¦that’s a really nice dress. You look really uh†¦grown up. JULIA: Thanks Ben, my aunt Tyra got it for me. BEN: Well your aunt sure knows how to dress up. JULIA: I know, you sure couldn’t seem to keep you eyes off her. BEN: uhh†¦well (blushes) JULIA: I’m just kidding Ben, (brushes her hand against his hot cheek) BEN: (becomes flustered) JULIA: (enjoying the moment) So have you ever kissed a girl before? BEN: um†¦well (becomes even redder) JULIA: (coyly) Would you like to? BEN: (looks at Julia in disbelief) uhhh†¦ JULIA: But first you have to promise me something Ben. BEN: (quickly) Sure, I mean anything. JULIA: Promise you’ll take me to the movies next week? And we can have dinner in a nice restaurant. Somewhere with ca-ver-nay. (trying to say Cabernet). BEN: (tentatively) Yeah, yeah sure. JULIA: (excitedly) Great! And you can bring me a dozen roses for me to put in my room when you pick me up in a car. BEN: Uh†¦ a car? Yeah sure. JULIA: (suddenly) Oh! And Ben! BEN: (starting to get scared) yes? JULIA: The car that your dad drives†¦ BEN: uh-huh JULIA: It’s a BMW right? Curtain Falls The End

Friday, November 15, 2019

Go Tell It On A Mountain - Sum Essay -- essays research papers

Part One- The Seventh Day: 1. Summary- The story starts by introducing the active role of church in John’s and his family’s life. Various activities occur on Sunday in church, such as school, hymns, and preaching. On the morning of his birthday, he wakes up to lay in bed, pondering on his past birthdays and events. He falls asleep to wake up late and head to breakfast. Roy’s hardheaded personality is introduced here through an argument with his mother. The argument was based on their father, and his abusive behavior. After breakfast, John is assigned to sweep the front room, which is just one of his many labors around the house. He takes a pause to think of what kind of birthday this is, where no one even remembers it. But his mother comes through and gives him some change to get a gift for himself, so he runs out to the city. On his way there, rage fills him and he daydreams about the white folk in the city looking at him with respect. Respect of him because he’ll own the city. Reality strikes him and he realizes that the people don’t even notice him. After using the money for a movie, he arrives back at home finding out that Roy had been in an incident. His father, aunt, and mother have a dispute and then the next day John heads to church early to open up and clean up. Him and Elisha (a brother and preacher of the church) have a talk. John is told to think about being saved, just as Elisha had been saved. Part Two- The Prayers of the Saints: Florence’s Prayers 1. Summary- This next chapter focuses on John’s aunt, Florence. It begins with Florence at church, she is sorry for her sin yet doesn’t remember how to pray. A few nights before, she had received a threatening message repeatedly and even saw death. The story then jumps back to her youth, where she worked as a servant-girl. She lived with her mother and younger brother, Gabriel. Florence had been a child hood friend with John’s mother, Deborah. Gabriel would be the “apple of her [his mother] eyes';; he would be sent to school, fed more, and treated more specially. For this reason, Florence would resent her brother; she wanted to learn far more than her brother ever did. The story jumps back to John and what he sees in church for a brief moment, then goes in to talk about Florence’s husband... ... confusing chapter of the book. From what I read, it seems that John is on the threshing floor with all these emotions and events going through his head. At first he hears voices, but it’s confusing to tell whom it is coming from. The second set of voices came from above that sounds like his family. As John cries for help, his father comes to the rescue. The assistance is rejected because john does not want to be like his father. Then his father attempts to lead him up the road, but John resists. John thinks for a while and found out how the devil is toying with John. Elisha comes to the rescue by talking with John. This talk raised John’s faith and found his place before the Lord. His mother is happy and smiles, but yet John wants to make sure no one forgets. He tells Elisha, that no matter what happens, he was saved. He explains how he went to the valley and was saved. Elisha tells him that God won’t forget him, and leaves him with a kiss on the forehead. The story ends with a picture perfect scene with the sun out and all. But yet, his father does not smile at John when smiled at him, that is one thing I don’t understand about the ending. Go Tell It On A Mountain - Sum Essay -- essays research papers Part One- The Seventh Day: 1. Summary- The story starts by introducing the active role of church in John’s and his family’s life. Various activities occur on Sunday in church, such as school, hymns, and preaching. On the morning of his birthday, he wakes up to lay in bed, pondering on his past birthdays and events. He falls asleep to wake up late and head to breakfast. Roy’s hardheaded personality is introduced here through an argument with his mother. The argument was based on their father, and his abusive behavior. After breakfast, John is assigned to sweep the front room, which is just one of his many labors around the house. He takes a pause to think of what kind of birthday this is, where no one even remembers it. But his mother comes through and gives him some change to get a gift for himself, so he runs out to the city. On his way there, rage fills him and he daydreams about the white folk in the city looking at him with respect. Respect of him because he’ll own the city. Reality strikes him and he realizes that the people don’t even notice him. After using the money for a movie, he arrives back at home finding out that Roy had been in an incident. His father, aunt, and mother have a dispute and then the next day John heads to church early to open up and clean up. Him and Elisha (a brother and preacher of the church) have a talk. John is told to think about being saved, just as Elisha had been saved. Part Two- The Prayers of the Saints: Florence’s Prayers 1. Summary- This next chapter focuses on John’s aunt, Florence. It begins with Florence at church, she is sorry for her sin yet doesn’t remember how to pray. A few nights before, she had received a threatening message repeatedly and even saw death. The story then jumps back to her youth, where she worked as a servant-girl. She lived with her mother and younger brother, Gabriel. Florence had been a child hood friend with John’s mother, Deborah. Gabriel would be the “apple of her [his mother] eyes';; he would be sent to school, fed more, and treated more specially. For this reason, Florence would resent her brother; she wanted to learn far more than her brother ever did. The story jumps back to John and what he sees in church for a brief moment, then goes in to talk about Florence’s husband... ... confusing chapter of the book. From what I read, it seems that John is on the threshing floor with all these emotions and events going through his head. At first he hears voices, but it’s confusing to tell whom it is coming from. The second set of voices came from above that sounds like his family. As John cries for help, his father comes to the rescue. The assistance is rejected because john does not want to be like his father. Then his father attempts to lead him up the road, but John resists. John thinks for a while and found out how the devil is toying with John. Elisha comes to the rescue by talking with John. This talk raised John’s faith and found his place before the Lord. His mother is happy and smiles, but yet John wants to make sure no one forgets. He tells Elisha, that no matter what happens, he was saved. He explains how he went to the valley and was saved. Elisha tells him that God won’t forget him, and leaves him with a kiss on the forehead. The story ends with a picture perfect scene with the sun out and all. But yet, his father does not smile at John when smiled at him, that is one thing I don’t understand about the ending.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Heart disease Essay

Before you start the rehabilitation programme you will have an initial assessment to find out how much exercise you can safely do. A physiotherapist or an exercise physiologist can then carefully work out a programme of exercises for you, tailoring the programme to your individual needs. At the beginning of each session you will do warm-up exercises which involve stretching your muscles. All the exercises will be carefully explained to you. The exercises will be ‘aerobic’ (exercises that help to improve your heart and circulation). You will be encouraged to increase your exercise gradually over the weeks of the rehabilitation programme. It is very important that you work within your limits and follow the advice given to you. At the end of each exercise session you will do ‘cool-down’ exercises to stretch out your muscles and prevent them from aching the next day. It is normal to feel anxious about exercise after a heart attack. However, attending rehabilitation classes can help give you the confidence to become active again. Relaxation You will be able to practice different relaxation techniques and find one that suits you. You will also find out how important relaxation is for people who have had a heart problem. If possible, encourage your partner or a family member or friend to go along with you. This will help lessen their fears as well and give them the chance to ask any questions. This may involve structured but informal sessions within your group. You may cover one or more topics in each session and will have the opportunity to ask any questions. Going back to work. People who have had an uncomplicated heart attack will usually be able to return to work. You can talk to a member of the cardiac rehabilitation team about the type of work you do. They will help to assess how easily you might take up your job again and when you should return to work. Attending cardiac rehabilitation classes gives you the opportunity to ask questions and talk about any worries you may still have.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Emotion and Body Language Essay

A relationship is about being able to share your ideas, thoughts and feelings with the one person that is supposed to love you without judgment. It is that fear of judgment that sometimes keeps us from proper and effective communication in that relationship that are so necessary to keep a relationship going. We become very good at composing our outside persona so that no one really sees our true inner thoughts and feelings. Sometimes we do it so well that not even the other partner in the relationship ever knows that there is anything wrong until it is too late. In the movie The Last Kiss that is what happens. The movie portrays a couple in a long relationship, where the question of marriage has always been on the table, and then they end up pregnant. The female character feels that their new life will start with the baby then end in marriage when work and everything else begins to get easier. This was the start of the conflict. As a couple you need to notice signs in your partner. The male character, you can tell, loves the female character but you can see there is a mound of emotions and doubts weighing on in his mind. He does not make these feelings aware to his partner. Instead he turns to another female he feels he connects with instead of talking to his girlfriend about his doubts and worries about losing his old self. He shares some of his issues with the other female. As a results that mistake in communication escalates into the male character almost losing his pregnant girlfriend. The interpersonal conflict started with a lack of communication in the very beginning of the movie that caused multiple other interpersonal conflicts. This lack of communication was the worries of the male characters thinking his old life will end due to his girlfriend’s pregnancy. Not wanting to share these worries with his girlfriend puts a lack of communication between partners. Although they carried a communication between each other it was lacking self- disclosure, in order to avoid conflict between their relationships. Instead the male character ops for silence and keeps all of his inner feelings and insecurities to himself. If the silence is prolonged, the parties in the relationship may drift apart or seek other people to provide them with emotional support. (Sole, 2011). This is what eventually happened in the movie. The male character turns to another females shoulder to lean on instead of communicating the issues to the person it involves. By this point in the movie I became aware that the communication between the boyfriend and girlfriend was lacking that emotional communication and neither one had great listening skills before the story line even began. I came to that conclusion due to the fact the male character did not feel he could disclose his true feelings and the female was not ever in tuned to his emotions that were obviously displayed in his body language and facial expressions in the beginning when they announce they are pregnant. The most common problems in relationships stem from silence or refusing to communicate, placating the other person, and playing games. These behaviors can sabotage a relationship and prevent honest, open communication. (Sole, 2011). Had the communication been really working between them earlier on the male would have felt secure enough with their relationship to express what was on his mind and she in return would have known something was troubling him without even having to speak. Their lack of communication due to the fact the male character wanted to avoid the conflict of admitting doubts and second thoughts about starting a family ended up escalating in a near loss of everything that he ended up realizing was most important. The movie was a great show of what avoidance and preventing conflict can do to a relationship. I think that if the characters would have been open and honest with each other as well as had the proper self -disclosure along with effective listening skills with one another they would have been able to both make a basic assertion of the problem at hand. Expressing his true emotions may have made him feel vulnerable in the moment but if there was any trust in the relationship it would have been a place to begin analyzing the problem together. The conflict in this movie showed the downward spiral of what happens when morals are questioned and true communication is not involved or avoided. A relationship is being able to come to someone you love with your insecurities and feel like you can both work on a solution. Sometimes that  is easier said than done for some. Trying to keep positive communication with your partner needs to be a priority. Making sure we are aware of issues can be done with effectively listening to everything about your partner from emotion to body language. When your partner discloses his or her thoughts it needs to be without judgment. Have sympathy for them. You can try to better understand the problems if you ask questions to make sure you comprehend everything so that you can both work to find a solution.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Biography of Father Miguel Hidalgo, Mexicos Founder

Biography of Father Miguel Hidalgo, Mexico's Founder Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla (May 8, 1753–July 30, 1811) is today remembered as the father of his country, the great hero of Mexicos War for Independence. His position has become cemented in lore, and there are any number of hagiographic biographies available featuring him as their subject. The truth about Hidalgo is a little more complex. The facts and dates leave no doubt: his was the first serious insurrection on Mexican soil against Spanish authority, and he managed to get quite far with his poorly armed mob. He was a charismatic leader and made a good team with the military man Ignacio Allende despite their mutual hatred. Fast Facts: Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla Known For: Considered Mexicos founding fatherAlso Known As: Miguel Gregorio Antonio Francisco Ignacio Hidalgo-Costilla y Gallaga Mandarte Villaseà ±orBorn: May 8, 1753 in  Pà ©njamo, MexicoParents: Cristà ³bal Hidalgo y Costilla,  Ana Marà ­a GallagaDied: July 30, 1811 in  Chihuahua, MexicoEducation: Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico (degree in philosophy and theology, 1773)Publications: Ordered the publication of a newspaper,  Despertador Americano  (American Wake Up Call)Honors: Dolores Hidalgo, the town where his parish was located, is named in his honor and the state of  Hidalgo  was created in 1869, also in his honor.Notable Quote: Action must be taken at once; there is no time to be lost; we shall yet see the oppressors yoke broken and the fragments scattered on the ground. Early Life Born on May 8, 1753, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla was the second of 11 children fathered by Cristà ³bal Hidalgo, an estate administrator. He and his elder brother attended a school run by the Jesuits, and both decided to join the priesthood. They studied at San Nicols Obispo, a prestigious school in Valladolid (now Morelia). Hidalgo distinguished himself as a student and received top marks in his class. He would go on to become rector of his old school, becoming known as a top theologian. When his elder brother died in 1803, Miguel took over for him as the priest of the town of Dolores. Conspiracy Hidalgo often hosted gatherings at his home where he would talk about whether it was the duty of the people to obey or overthrow an unjust tyrant. Hidalgo believed the Spanish crown was such a tyrant: a royal collection of debt had ruined the finances of the Hidalgo family, and he saw injustice daily in his work with the poor. There was a conspiracy for independence in Querà ©taro at this time: The conspiracy felt that they needed someone with moral authority, a relationship with the lower classes and good connections. Hidalgo was recruited and joined without reservation. El Grito de Dolores/The Cry of Dolores Hidalgo was in Dolores on September 15, 1810, with other leaders of the conspiracy, including military commander Allende, when word came to them that the conspiracy had been found out. Needing to move immediately, Hidalgo rang the church bells on the morning of the sixteenth, calling in all of the locals who happened to be in the market that day. From the pulpit, he announced his intention to strike for independence and exhorted the people of Dolores to join him. Most did: Hidalgo had an army of some 600 men within minutes. This became known as the Cry of Dolores. The Siege of Guanajuato Hidalgo and Allende marched their growing army through the towns of San Miguel and Celaya, where the angry rabble killed all Spaniards they could find and looted their homes. Along the way, they adopted the Virgin of Guadalupe as their symbol. On Sept. 28, 1810, they reached the mining city of Guanajuato, where the Spaniards and royalist forces had barricaded themselves inside the public granary. The battle, which became known as the siege of Guanajuato, was horrific: The rebel horde, which by then numbered some 30,000, overran the fortifications and slaughtered the 500 Spaniards inside. Then the town of Guanajuato was looted: creoles, as well as Spaniards, suffered. Monte de Las Cruces Hidalgo and Allende, their army now some 80,000 strong, continued their march on Mexico City. The Viceroy hastily organized a defense, sending out Spanish general Torcuato Trujillo with 1,000 men, 400 horsemen, and two cannons: all that could be found on such short notice. The two armies clashed on Monte de las Cruces (Mount of the Crosses) on Oct. 30, 1810. The result was predictable: The Royalists fought bravely (a young officer named Agustà ­n de Iturbide distinguished himself) but could not win against such overwhelming odds. When the cannons were captured in combat, the surviving royalists retreated to the city. Retreat Although his army had the advantage and could easily have taken Mexico City, Hidalgo retreated against the counsel of Allende. This retreat when victory was at hand has puzzled historians and biographers ever since. Some feel that Hidalgo feared that the largest Royalist army in Mexico, some 4,000 veterans under the command of General Fà ©lix Calleja, was nearby (it was, but not close enough to save Mexico City had Hidalgo attacked). Others say Hidalgo wanted to spare the citizens of Mexico City the inevitable sacking and plunder. In any event, Hidalgo’s retreat was his greatest tactical error. The Battle of Calderon Bridge The rebels split for a while as Allende went to Guanajuato and Hidalgo to Guadalajara. They reunited, although things were tense between the two men. Spanish General Fà ©lix Calleja and his army caught up with the rebels at Calderà ³n Bridge near the entrance to Guadalajara on Jan. 17, 1811. Although Calleja was vastly outnumbered, he caught a break when a lucky cannonball exploded a rebel munitions wagon. In the ensuing smoke, fire, and chaos, Hidalgos undisciplined soldiers broke. Betrayal and Capture Hidalgo and Allende were forced to head north to the United States in the hope of finding weapons and mercenaries there. Allende was by then sick of Hidalgo and placed him under arrest: he went north as a prisoner. In the north, they were betrayed by local insurrection leader Ignacio Elizondo and captured. In short order, they were given to Spanish authorities and sent to the city of Chihuahua to stand trial. Also captured were insurgent leaders Juan Aldama, Mariano Abasolo, and Mariano Jimà ©nez, men who had been involved in the conspiracy since the start. Death All of the rebel leaders were found guilty and sentenced to death, except for Mariano Abasolo, who was sent to Spain to serve a life sentence. Allende, Jimà ©nez, and Aldama were executed on June 26, 1811, shot in the back as a sign of dishonor. Hidalgo, as a priest, had to undergo a civil trial as well as a visit from the Inquisition. He was eventually stripped of his priesthood, found guilty, and executed on July 30. The heads of Hidalgo, Allende, Aldama, and Jimà ©nez were preserved and hung from the four corners of the granary of Guanajuato as a warning to those who would follow in their footsteps. Legacy After decades of abusing Creoles and poor Mexicans, there was a vast well of resentment and hatred that Hidalgo was able to tap into: even he seemed surprised by the level of anger released on the Spaniards by his mob. He provided the catalyst for Mexicos poor to vent their anger on the hated gachipines or Spaniards, but his army was more like a swarm of locusts, and about as impossible to control. His questionable leadership also contributed to his downfall. Historians can only wonder what might have happened had Hidalgo pushed into Mexico City in November 1810: history certainly would be different. In this, Hidalgo was too proud or stubborn to listen to the sound military advice offered by Allende and others and press his advantage. Finally, Hidalgos approval of the violent sacking and looting by his forces alienated the group most vital to any independence movement: middle-class and wealthy Creoles like himself. Poor peasants and Indians only had the power to burn, pillage, and destroy: They could not create a new identity for Mexico, one that would allow Mexicans to psychologically break from Spain and craft a national conscience for themselves. Still, Hidalgo became a great leader: After his death. His timely martyrdom allowed others to pick up the fallen banner of freedom and independence. His influence on later fighters such as Josà © Marà ­a Morelos, Guadalupe Victoria, and others is considerable. Today, Hidalgos remains lie in a Mexico City monument known as the Angel of Independence along with other Revolutionary heroes. Sources Harvey, Robert. Liberators: Latin Americas Struggle for Independence. 1st Edition, Harry N. Abrams, September 1, 2000.ï » ¿Lynch, John. The Spanish American Revolutions 1808-1826. Revolutions in the modern world, Hardcover, Norton, 1973.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Properties and Functions of Money

Properties and Functions of Money Money is an important feature of virtually every economy. Without money, members of a society must rely on the barter system, or some other exchange program, in order to trade goods and services. Unfortunately, the barter system has an important downside in that it requires a double coincidence of wants. In other words, the two parties engaged in a trade must both want what the other is offering. This feature makes the barter system highly inefficient. For example, a plumber looking to feed his family would have to search out a farmer who needs plumbing work done on his house or farm. If such a farmer were not available, the plumber would have to figure out how to trade his services for something that the farmer wanted so that the farmer would be willing to sell food to the plumber. Luckily, money largely solves this problem. What Is Money? In order to understand much of macroeconomics, its crucial to have a clear definition of what money is. In general, people tend to use the term money as a synonym for wealth (e.g. Warren Buffett has a lot of money), but economists are quick to clarify that the two terms are not, in fact, synonymous. In economics, the term money is used specifically to refer to currency, which is, in most cases, not an individuals only source of wealth or assets. In most economies, this currency is in the form of paper bills and metal coins that the government has created, but technically anything can serve as money as long as it possesses three important properties. The Properties and Functions of Money The item serves as a medium of exchange. In order for an item to be considered money, it must be widely accepted as payment for goods and services. In this way, money creates efficiency because it eliminates uncertainty regarding what is going to be accepted as payment by various businesses.The item serves as a unit of account. In order for an item to be considered money, it must be the unit that prices, bank balances, etc. are reported in. Having a consistent unit of account creates efficiency since it would be pretty confusing to have the price of bread quoted as a number of fish, the price of fish quoted in terms of t-shirts, and so on.The item serves as a store of value. In order for an item to be considered money, it has to (to a reasonable degree) hold its purchasing power over time. This feature of money adds to efficiency because it gives producers and consumers flexibility in the timing of purchases and sales, eliminating the need to immediately trade ones income for goods a nd services. As these properties suggest, money was introduced to societies as a means of making economic transactions simpler and more efficient, and it mostly succeeds in that regard. In some situations, items other than officially designated currency have been used as money in various economies. For example, it used to be somewhat common in countries with unstable governments (and also in prisons) to use cigarettes as money, even though there was no official decree that cigarettes served that function. Instead, they became widely accepted as payment for goods and services and prices began to be quoted in the number of cigarettes rather than in official currency. Because cigarettes have a reasonably long shelf life, they do in fact serve the three functions of money. One important distinction between items that are officially designated as money by a government and items that become money by convention or popular decree is that governments will often pass laws stating what citizens can and cannot do with money. For example, it is illegal in the United States to do anything to money that makes the money unable to be further used as money. In contrast, there are no laws against burning cigarettes, aside from those banning smoking in public places of course.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Implementation and Analysis of The Fiscal Cliff contained in the U.S Essay

Implementation and Analysis of The Fiscal Cliff contained in the U.S. Budget Control Act of 2011 - Essay Example Bush had enacted a string of tax cuts during the period of his administration in the United States. The question that is of concern at present is that which of these tax cuts are to extended and or what period. The provisions of the tax cuts reinforced in the years of 2001 and 2003 had been extended until the end of the year 2012 (Levit, 2011, p. 12). These tax cuts considerably reduced the rates of personal income taxes and eliminated the estate tax. It also had created low rates of tax on dividends. Critics of this tax system, mostly the Democrats, held responsible such reduction in taxes for fuelling the federal budget deficit. It has been found that the increase in â€Å"the top two marginal tax rates† (Huang & Marr, 2012) would not adversely affect many small businesses. If the Bush tax cuts are allowed to be extended then it would keep many affluent individuals’ income out of the taxable income zone. For the small businesses to thrive, they require the boost of hi gher sales. It is not likely that small businesses would expand following a tax cut, thereby creating more employment opportunity by hiring more workers, if they do not find a good market for selling their products. Tax cuts on high income brackets are not effective enough to boost economic growth in the long run. Therefore the argument is strong for the expiry of the Bush Tax cuts. From the extension of these tax cuts, it is estimated that almost $1trillion would get added to the deficits over the ten years from 2013 to 2022. Spending Component of the Act – Across-the-Board spending cuts in the Federal government budget â€Å"The Budget Control Act (BCA) of 2011† (Saturno & Heniff, 2009, p. 17-5) presents the methods in which the across-the-board cuts in spending would be implemented. The across the board cuts on spending would be triggered if the Joint Committee fails to reach the agreement on deficit reduction. The report has two parts. The first part of the report outlines the method to be followed for the FY2013 and the second part caters to the process to be followed in the period of eight years between FY2014 to FY2021. The procedure planned for the span of the next eight years is quite different from that of the year fiscal 2013. The deficit reduction proposal released by President Obama in April 2011 includes the two components; â€Å"spending cuts and tax reform† (Levit, n.d., p. 4). This proposal includes a â€Å"Debt Failsafe† technique. This incorporates a debt-to-GDP ratio which is to be stabilized by the FY2014 and decline after that year. However, if it is not accomplished, â€Å"across the board spending cuts† (Levit, n.d., p. 4) would automatically be triggered and tax expenditures would also be reduced simultaneously. There would be an approximate cut of nine percent annually in non-defense programs as well as another nine percent in defense programs (Kogan, 2011). For FY2013, the funding for each of the di scretionary programs would be reduced proportionally. In this year the president can allow the military personnel funding to be exempted from the sequestration. Depending on this the cuts in spending on other defense programs would increase. In the fiscal years from 2014 to 2021, in each year there would be â€Å"reductions in the statutory cap on total funding for non-defense discretionary programs† (Kogan, 2011). â€Å"Sequestration† – what does it mean? Sequestration is a process in which certain policy goals of the budget are met or enforced through

Friday, November 1, 2019

The Negro Speaks of Rivers by (Langston Hughes) Essay

The Negro Speaks of Rivers by (Langston Hughes) - Essay Example 7) and who "heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln went down to New Orleans," (l. 8) represents all Black people. Their presence and contributions to the development of civilization is ancient and timeless, like the rivers. I found this poem to be powerful and moving, and it made me feel joyous and uplifted, yet humbled by what it portrayed. I felt that Hughes was rightfully proud of his race, that he understood the importance of his ancestors and that for him, history was a testament to the strength of his people. The opening line "I've known rivers", is so simple, but when repeated and added to in the words that follow, gathers and sends a powerful message. Rivers are the lifeblood of the planet, and he links that idea to humanity with "flow of blood in human veins" (l. 3). By joining body and soul: "My soul has grown deep like the rivers" ( l. 5 and 13), he expressed the truth about all of us. We are all body and soul. But he is stating that the Black soul has withstood much and held fast to wisdom and strength. With the repetition of the words "I've known rivers/Ancient, dusky rivers, (l. 11-12) he brings to life the dark skin of his people and there is pride in the depth of his and their souls at the end of the poem.

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

To what extent did Empire affect lives of continental Europeans Essay

To what extent did Empire affect lives of continental Europeans - Essay Example The resulting constitutional conflict was prevailed over by Otto Van Bismarck, the Minister President of Prussia in 1862 (Gooch, 1960, 58). Over the course of the latter part of the nineteenth century Bismarck involved Prussia in three wars, at some stage which the smaller German states were taken away from the presidency of Austria, the German Confederation was disbanded and Prussia developed to form a new and more entirely integrated Germany (ibid). France, on the other hand, became more centralized and liberal society during and after the Empire. The leaders in Paris confronted a few restrictions, and businessman took advantage of the freedom of commerce. Urban labourers and landless peasants, on the contrary, could stage only weak rebellions against their landowners. Even though the nobility had been dispossessed of its privileged and several of its owned land, the social hierarchy persisted; over the next five decades the nobility would unite with the upper bourgeoisie to form a new ruling class, which is known as the notables. The Church had lost its important role in society, yet it lingered on as a powerful force. A British blockade throughout the Revolutionary and Napoleonic periods had weakened the once flourishing Atlantic imperial economy. During these twenty-five years, England had surpassed the French economy in industrialization (ibid). The Empire in Germany symbolized success. Strengthened by the three victorious wars, she had replaced the nation of France as the first military power in continental Europe. The Prussian character was perceived to be equalled by remarkable progress in other directions. In almost all sectors of education and scientific innovations, the German Empire did not stand second to another. In manufacturing, German industry and commerce improved leaps and bounds. This success has been attributed by several of the historians and other scholars to the Prussian genius for organisation,

Monday, October 28, 2019

Matricaria Chamomilla (Chamomile): A Pharmacognosy Review

Matricaria Chamomilla (Chamomile): A Pharmacognosy Review Abstract Matricaria chamomilla is one of the most ancient and renowned medicinal plant from Asteraceae family. Chamomile is a well-heeled plant of natural stuff having pharmacognostic properties. This plant is natural source of blue oil, prepared by various methods such as hydro-distillation, chromatography techniques, etc. Earlier studies on plant compounds classified have nutritional values and more than one biological activity. Chamomile is thus used in cosmetics, perfumery, in food industry and aromatherapy since thousands of years. It has been suggested as alleviate for numerous diseases. This article briefly reviews the details on chemical constituents of essential oil and plant parts as well as their pharmacological properties, accomplished by QSAR and pharmacophore studies which is an in silico approach that increases the activity of plant by modifying its functional groups. This is an attempt to compile and document information on various aspects of chamomile plant and emphasize its need for research and development. Keywords: Matricaria chamomilla, chemical constituents, pharmacognostic, QSAR Introduction The relationship of plant life and human well-being has been renowned for thousands of years.1,2 Herbs have been vital to both traditional and non-traditional forms of medication dated back to at least 5000 years.3-5The enduring popularity of herbal remedies may be enlightened by the propensity of herbs to graft gradually, typically with minimal toxic side effects. Plants are imperative sources of medication since time immemorial. Studies on natural-products are meant to establish therapeutic values of plants by exploration of existing precise scientific knowledge, conventional uses, and invention of potential chemotherapeutic agents.6 The history of herbal medicine is as old as human civilization. With the promising global concern in adopting and studying customary system of medicine and exploring their potential based on different Medicare systems, the estimation of rich heritage of medicinally active plants is primarily carried out on the basis of morphological, phytochemical, pha rmacological and different techniques such as chromatography, distillation, etc.7 One of the most common herbal plant used for curative purposes is chamomile whose homogeneous tea and herbal mines are primed from dried flowers ofMatricariaspecies.8 Taxonomical classification Kingdom: Plantae, Division: Magnoliophyta (Flowering plant), Class: Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledons), Family: Asteraceae, Genus: Matricaria L., Species: Matricaria chamomilla (German chamomile).9 Morphology of plant Matricaria chamomilla commonly known as German chamomile is one of the most ancient annual herbaceous plant of composite family Asteraceae.10 This composite flower is largely favoured aromatic plant having multi-therapeutic values. Chamomile is highly imperative medicinal herb native to southern and eastern Europe. It is most ancient medicinal plant used in herbal remedies for thousands of years known to mankind. Matricaria Chamomilla is a natural resource of blue oil. Various sections of plant such as aerial parts, root and shoot system contains essential oil that has been recommended for variety of healing ailments and diseases.11 Chamomile is a rich source of natural products. There is an immense demand for chamomile plant world-wide because of its influential medicinal values and pharmacological properties. Chamomile plant has a sweet, verdant, and faintly fruity scent. Its florae are daisy-like flowers, with yellow cores and white petals.12 The color of the Blue oil is due to the terpenoid chamazulene, which has been reported for its anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, and antispasmodic properties.13 Chamazulene is biosynthesized from sesquiterpene Matricine, which is reported to have solid antioxidant activity and antimicrobial pharmacological actions.14,15 Ethnobotanical Profile Chamomile being a constituent of various traditional, unani, and homeopathic medicinal provisions, it has been used greatly in flatulence, colic, hysteria, and intermittent fever as a drug.16-18 Many scientists have quoted from writings of several doctors of ancient times that chamomile was also used in cardiac diseases and in functioning of liver.19-22 The diverse range of essential oil isolation techniques and analytical procedures have been smeared for studying the volatile components of chamomile by several groups.23 Numerous essential oils are currently in use as aromatherapy agents to ease anxiety, pressure, and depression. Standard anxiolytic oils include lavender oil, rose oil, orange oil, bergamot oil, lemon oil, sandalwood oil, rose-scented geranium oil and chamomile (German and Roman).24 This aromatherapy is the use of concentrated essential oils extracted from herbs, flowers, and other plant parts to heal several diseases. Aromatherapy is becoming increasingly more popula r; however there are only a few apparent indications for its use.25 Aromatherapy massage exerts optimistic effects on anxiety, self-esteem and also highly reduces stress and stress responses in adolescents by taking aroma treatments.26, 27 The international demand for chamomile oil has been steadily growing. Chamomile is internally used as tisane for stomach pain, slow digestion, diarrhoea and nausea; more rarely and very efficiently for inflammation of the urinary tract and for aching menstruation. Chamomile is used chiefly as an anti-inflammatory and antiseptic, also as antispasmodic and mildly sudorific.28 The chamomile extracts was found to have the most effective anti-leishmanial activity.29 The other uses of Matricaria chamomilla are in cosmetics, perfumes, food additives, while the external use includes the powder form of drug that can be applied for healing, skin eruptions, and infections.10,30 A number of chemical constituents have been identified in chamomile as secondary metabolites, including terpenoids, flavonoids, phenyl propanoids and many other additional compounds with potential pharmacological action. Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Compounds Plants engender primary and secondary metabolites which encompass a wide range of functions. Plants can produce many different types of secondary metabolites that comprise of compounds having multivariate function, exposed by humans for their beneficial role in a varied array of applications.31 Phytochemicals have been the single most fruitful source of leads for the expansion of new drug entities from the dawn of drug discovery. They cover up a wide array of therapeutic indications with a huge assortment of chemical structures.32 The Phytochemicals isolated from Matricaria chamomilla have been classified into different classes of compounds (see table no. 1). The detailed information for each class of compounds can be accessible from supplementary table no. S1-S10. Alkanes Alkanes are acyclic branched or unbranched hydrocarbons having the general formula CnH2n+2 , and therefore comprises completely of hydrogen atoms and saturated carbon atoms.33 Drugs are increasingly being developed from natural products and several alkane compounds such as hexane have already been reported, offering a very promising approach to identify novel anti-angiogenic and anti-cancer agents.34 A considerable number of alkanes derived from chamomile have been identified mostly as antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agents. A list of alkanes along with its structure and biological activity has been documented in a table (see supplementary table no. S1). Flavonoids Flavonoids are low molecular weight bioactive compounds of enormous biological importance. Flavonoids are secondary metabolites outlined by flavan nucleus and its carbon framework refers to C6-C8-C6.35 These compounds can be classified as polyphenols or phenolics. Flavonoids can be further grouped into subclasses such as flavones, flavonols, flavanones, chalcones, aurones, isoflavones, anthocyanins, and proanthocyanidins. Flavonoid displays several biological properties like antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antiobesity, cardio protective, and neuroprotective activities.36 A huge number of flavonoid compounds such as rutin, quercetin hesperidin and many others have been reported as drugs that tend to possess anticancer, antioxidant and even senescence effects.37,38 A list of flavonoids along with its structure and biological activity has been listed in a table (see supplementary table no. S2). Terpenoids Terpenoids, encompasses the most abundant and morphologically diverse group of plant secondary metabolites. Terpenoids are more frequently present in plants and around 23,000 compounds have been isolated in all. Terpenoids being a rich reservoir of candidate compounds have been characterized as monoterpenes, diterpenes, hemiterpenes and sesquiterpenes.39 Terpenoid production from plants has various defensive and protective functions that holds potential therapeutic properties such as anticancer (mostly leukemic), analgesic, antioxidant, antimicrobial and others. The terpenoid, eucalyptol which is a fragrant chemical has been propagated as nutraceutical having analgesic, anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties.40,41 A list of terpenoids along with its structure and biological activity has been revealed in a table (see supplementary table no. S3). Coumarins Coumarin, which was isolated in 1820 for the first time is classified as an element of benzopyrone family of compounds.42 Coumarins are the well-known phytochemicals that are comprehensively used as a natural active compound. The synthesis of coumarins and their derivatives have noteworthy significance from organic and medicinal chemists for several years. They have been generally used in food, perfumes, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and as optical brighteners.43 Several coumarins and their derivatives have been reported for its antimicrobial and anticancer effects, some of which act as drugs. Dicumarol, cyclocoumarol, coumarin and its derivatives are used as an anticoagulants.44 A list of coumarins along with its structure and biological activity has been listed out in a table (see supplementary table no. S4). Phenyl propanoids Phenyl propanoids are the varied family of organic compounds synthesized from amino acid phenyl alanine.45 Phenyl propanoids are the plant polyketides that tend to possess multiple biological functions such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-depressant and anticancer.46 Phenyl alanine which is an essential amino acid is sold as nutritional supplement for its reputed analgesic and antidepressant effects.47,48 Phenyl alanine first gets converted to cinnamic acid by deamination which is than followed by hydroxylation and frequent methylation to produce coumaric acid and others with phenyl propane.49 A list of phenyl propanoids along with its structure and biological activity has been recorded in a table (see supplementary table no. S5). Spiroethers Spiroether isomers isolated from chamomile showed antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory activities.50 A list of spiroethers along with its structure and biological activity has been mentioned in a table (see supplementary table no. S6). Fatty acids Fatty acids are carboxylic acids with a long aliphatic hydrocarbon tail produced by hydrolysis of triglycerides. These are either saturated or unsaturated naturally occurring fatty acids. 51 More interestingly, isoamly acetate released from honey bee’s sting act as pheromone.52 Isoamyl acetate is also found to be isolated from wine.53 Fatty acids possesses anticancer, antioxidant and other pharmacological actions which has been depicted in a table (see supplementary table no. S7). Fatty acid esters Fatty acid esters can be obtained by esterification of fatty acids. They are the product of combination of fatty acid with an alcohol.54 Fatty acids acts against microbes, as an analgesic and also as melanogenesis inhibitor. A list of fatty acid esters along with its structure and above mentioned biological activity with its references has been reported in a table(see supplementary table no. S8). Pthalic acid Phthalic acid is an aromatic dicarboxylic acid which is formed by catalytic oxidation of naphthalene directly to phthalic anhydride.55 The significant pharmacological properties of phthalic acid involves anti-androgenic, antimutagenic and anti-leukemic activity. Phthalic acid along with its structure and biological activity has been depicted in a table (see supplementary table no. S9). Fatty alcohol Fatty alcohols are the aliphatic alcohols which are naturally found as waxes produced by plants, bacteria and animals having various biological properties.56 The metabolism of fatty alcohol compounds in fibroblasts is impaired in several inherited humanperoxisomaldisorders, includingadrenoleukodystrophyandSjogren-Larsson syndrome.57 Fatty alcohol along with its structure and biological activity has been documented in a table (see supplementary table no. S10). Catalogue of Bioinformatics and Cheminformatics repositories The large amount of Chamomile phytochemical information is highly discrete and can be easily procurable by a number of web-accessible bioinformatics and cheminformatics databases like PubChem,58,59 Chemspider,60 Human Metabolome Database(HMDB),61 ChemBank,62 NAPRALERT,63 SuperNatural database,64 NPACT65 and many more. PubChem is an open repository for chemical structures and their biological activities, maintained by NCBI, a division of NLM under NIH. PubChem is becoming a valued reserve for drug development fascinating noteworthy interest from researchers in academe and diligence.66 PubChem includes substance information, compound structures, and BioActivity information from three principal databases, Pcsubstance, Pccompound, and PCBioAssay, respectively. Pcsubstance contains descriptions of small molecules, PcBioassay contains biological screening results of substances provided by depositors and Pccompound database contains the unique chemical structures. The aim of PubChem is to make this information easily available.67 Pcsubstance contains about 93 million records, Pccompound contains nearly 33 million unique structures and PCBioAssay contains more than 621,000 BioAssays.68 ChemSpider is a free chemical structure database providing rapid text search and structure search access to more than 28 million structures from hundreds of data sources.69 ChemSpider is a very valued web-based database that facilitates access to various chemical structures, nomenclature, chemical properties and other systematic information. ChemSpider is integrated with RSC (Royal Society of Chemistry).60 The Human Metabolome Database is an opulently annotated resource that is devoted to provide researchers with most recent and comprehensive coverage of human metabolome.70 The latest version of HMDB release is HMDB 3.0 that contains 40278 metabolite entries. The database is intended to contain three kinds of entries: chemical data, clinical data and molecular biology/biochemistry data.61 ChemBank is a public web-based database cheminformatics database established by Broad Institutes Chemical Biology Programand funded by National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Initiative for Chemical Genetics (ICG). ChemBank, a unique among small molecule database houses all the chemical molecular information such as names and identifier of the compounds, their calculated molecular descriptors as well as human curated biological information.62 NAPRALERT (NAtural PRoduct ALERT), an largest ethnobotanical database on pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, toxicology and phytochemistry of plants. NAPRALERT, a relational database was initiated in 1975 by Norman Fransworth and is housed within the Program for Collaborative Research at College of Pharmacy, UIC. It includes biochemical information of extracts of organism, in vivo, in situ, in vitro in humans and clinical studies.63 SuperNatural database is the first public database containing 3D structures, their conformers, derivatives and analogues. It consists of ~ 50,000 natural compounds from different sources. Natural products compounds are classified based on different classes of compounds.64 NPACT is Naturally Occurring Plant-based Anti-cancer Compound-Activity-Target database. It presently comprises of 1574 compound entries with detailed information on the structure, and activity of compound. This database gathers experimentally validated plant derived natural compounds exhibiting anti-cancerous property, both in vitro and in vivo. It also provides inhibitory values of compounds (IC50, ED50, EC50, GI50), their molecular targets and drug-likeliness.65 Conclusion Chamomile is extensively in use in world market because of its wide and varied appliance in medical science. Moreover, natural substances are preferred more, rather than synthesized one due to its minimal side effects and easy extraction of its compounds. Chamomile is a natural source for plenty of bioactive substances that cure numerous diseases. Cheminformatics, an in silico approach is a way out for ample of problems in field of medicinal chemistry. This avenue can be used in drug discovery processes. In silico has gained a considerable thrust over last few years. Due to increased availability of computational power, in silico simulations have reward over in vitro methods. In silico methods are time and cost effective, tumbling lots of biological confirmations and offers the possibility of replacing some animal tests with suitable insilicomodels. QSAR and Pharmacophore studies can be carried out at primary level to increase the activity of the compounds which further leads to drug discovery processes.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Reforming the Nineteenth Century Police System :: Law Enforcement

Reforming the Nineteenth Century Police System American cities of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries had problems with crime, vice, and disorder. Some urbanites complained about the extent of prostitution, brawling and robbery. Yet few cities felt cities felt impelled to make subsequent changes in the traditional pattern of night watch and unsalaried police officers before the 1830s. There are many reasons for problems getting worse in American cities. One reason for this is that serious crimes, by the standard of subsequent decades at any rate, were infrequent. Another reason was because there was a good deal of corruption in the old system of policing. The geographical growth of the cities and its population was increased. The crime was happening more frequently. There were a lot of problems in the old system of policing. As a result, in major cities like New York, there was a demand for reforming the police system. By the 1830s, larger northern cities found their problems of crime and disorder overpowering the traditional instruments for dealing with them. The old system was not able to maintain order or prevent crimes. This coincided with a tremendous growth of urban population. America was shifting from a farming civilization to a big business society. Also there was mass immigration into the United States and many men and women settled in cities. For example, cities such as New York, Boston, and Philadelphia underwent rapid social and economic change in this time period. Because of the pace of this change, the policing system could not keep maintain order. Maintaining order seemed imperative and the demands for reform increased as well. Immigration jumped substantially after 1830. The total number of arrivals at the port of New York was more than three times greater in the 1830s than it had been the previous decade and there was a great movement on Manhattan Island as well as many other major cities. From time to time New York State officials extended the city’s lamp and watch district, the area in which the municipal corporation was to provided street lighting and watch protection and to collect taxes to pay for these services.[1] Boston had twice as many people in 1840 as twenty years before. This caused problems in the urban cities.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Protection of Children from Sexual Offences: Law and Its Effectiveness

PROTECTION OF CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL OFFENCES: LAW AND ITS EFFECTIVENESS *INTRODUCTION Childhood is considered to be the most crucial phase of human growth and also the most memorable one. It is much more than just the space between birth and the attainment of adulthood. It is a precious time in which children should live free from fear, safe from violence and protected from abuse and exploitation. It’s time for children to be in school and at playground, to grow strong and confident with the love and encouragement of the family and an extended community of caring adults.But what if the childhood becomes a never ending nightmare? A childhood where child refuses to go to school out of an unusual fear? A childhood where he refuses to play outside as he is scared to be surrounded by people? Just imagine a childhood when his own house, the safest place for a child turns out to be an exploitation camp by his own inmates. The entire childhood get raped! We can’t imagine of anyt hing more horrific. The stories of abuse and exploitation of children is all around us. We read about them in the papers, watch them in news and see hundreds of children being exploited as we go about our everyday lives.As per a study conducted by Ministry of women and child department, 53 percent of children in India have suffered some kind of sexual abuse in their childhood and the more shocking fact is that unlike the ordinary notion, 50 percent abusers are known to the child or in a position of trust or responsibility. *CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE DEFINED Child abuse may be emotional, mental, physical or sexual and encompasses a much wider gamut of actions . On the other hand Child sexual abuse is that which targets sexuality and/or sexual organs, involves sexual gestures, words, pictures, actions.It’s the most heinous manifestation of abuse of children as it traumatizes the child for the whole life in all ways, sexually, physically, psychologically and socially, leaving behind a scarred childhood and a disillusioned adulthood caused by the past memories. According WHO, child sexual abuse is the involvement of a child in sexual activity that he or she does not fully comprehend, is unable to give consent to or that violates the laws or social taboos of society. While releasing the Report on Child abuse in India, 2007, Women and child Development minister, Renuka Chaudhary said â€Å"child abuse is shrouded in secrecy and here is a conspiracy of silence around the entire subject†. Both the government and the NGO’S working in this field find it difficult to get the accurate data. *INDIAN CONSTITUTION, INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION AND THE LEGISLATIVE LAWS: RECOGNITION OF THE CHILD RIGHTS AND THEIR PROTECTION Looking into the details of child abuse in India, our legal framework and the relevant legislations, Indian constitution recognising the vulnerable position of children and various crimes against children that are linked to sexual abuse provides fo r their protection from such offences.Article 15 provides for special attention to children through necessary and special laws and policies that safeguard their interest. Article 23 provides protection against human trafficking and forced labour. Article 24 and 39 specifically prohibits children from engaging in hazardous employment and protection from exploitation respectively. Thus Indian constitution has provided for a framework which serves as a direction to the legislature to make child protection laws.India’s commitment to the issue is also emboldened by the fact that India is a signatory nation to the UN Convention on the Rights of Child, 1989. One important regional convention here is the SAARC convention on preventing and combating trafficking in women and children, 2002. Looking at the legislative laws the parliament of India recently passed Protection of children from sexual offences Act, 2012. The act has filled a glaring lacuna in the law. We will get into the de tails of the Act at the later stage of the essay as the law has just come into force and we are yet to see its impact.To appreciate the new act we have understand the history of child sexual abuse laws in India and their effectiveness so far. Before the above mentioned law was passed the cases of child sexual abuse were dealt under the following sections of IPC. Section 375 defines rape; section 376 provides for the punishment of rape which shall not be less than seven years but which may extend to ten years unless the women raped is his own wife and is not under twelve years of age in which case, he shall be imprisoned with a term which may extend to two years or fine or both.When the girl is less than 12 years or where the rapist is a person in authority (in a hospital, children’s home, a police station etc. ), the punishment is greater; section 377 which relates to unnatural offences. This section is generally invoked when boy children are sexually abused; section 354 whic h deals with outraging the modesty of a woman or a girl and section 509, which relates to insulting the modesty of a woman. The ordinary criminal laws are totally inadequate to protect the children from sexual abuse.IPC does not recognize the term â€Å"child sexual abuse†. Firstly section 375 restricts itself to just penile penetration. Secondly it does not treat forced sexual intercourse by a husband against the wife (above 15 years) as an offence. Thirdly there is no statutory definition of modesty. It carries a weak penalty and is a compoundable offence. Moreover it does not address outraging the modesty of a male child. Fourthly sexual offences against men are covered under section 377 which does not cover the offence adequately. The term unnatural offence in not defined.It only applies to victims penetrated by their attacker's sex act, and is not designed to criminalize sexual abuse of children . Lastly and most importantly IPC laws relating to sexual offences are not g ender neutral. This is due to an age long myth that only females are sexually abused and only males are abusers leaving the female abusers out. But the 2007 Report has given a severe blow to this long standing myth which revealed that out of total child victims, 52. 94 percent were boy children. Yes! It’s shocking. Male children are equally vulnerable and a boy being raped does exist!Besides IPC, there are other legislations also. Obscenity and pornography are dealt under the Young persons (harmful publications) Act, 1956. A young person means a person under the age of 20 years. It is an offence to sell, let, hire, distribute or publically exhibit harmful publications. Other than this under section 67 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 publication and transmission of pornography through the internet is an offence. The Juvenile Justice Act, 2000 deals primarily with children in conflict with the law and their rehabilitation.It does not provide adequately for children in n eed or identify offences against child victims * In addition to children other than those who are abused within their family by their relatives or friends or by strangers at any public place, there are three organised form of sexual abuse of children which are globally prevelant and form a major percentage of sexually abused children. And these three forms are trafficking in human, child labour and child marriage. Human Trafficking as defined in the Un is  Ã¢â‚¬Å"the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons by means of the threat or use of force or other forms f coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, force d labour or service, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs. †Quoting from an article written by Havovi wadia â€Å"Among the Naths of Bihar, prostitution is a way of life.When a family doesn’t have a daughter, girls are purchased from other parts of the state and pushed into sex work so that the family can live off their earnings. † Children who work as domestic labour, or help in hotels and restaurants, are susceptible to sexual abuse at the hands of employers and customers. The Immoral Traffic (Prevention)Act protects children below the age of 16 from being used for the purposes of commercial sex. Immoral trafficking of children who generally leads to prostitution is one of the most heinous manifestations of violence against children.The US Department of State trafficking in Person report have placed India in Tier II watch list for a second consecutive year for having failed to combat human trafficking. A number of children go missing every year – some are sold by their families, some are kidnapped, others lured by the promise of a better life both for themselves and their kin. According to CRY (Child Rights and You). * 8,945 children go missing every year. * 500,000 children are estimated to be forced into the sex trade every year * Approximately 2 million child commercial sex workers are between the ages of 5 and 15 years * Approximately 3. million child commercial sex workers are between 15 and 18 years * Children form 40% of the total population of commercial sex workers * 80% of these children are found in the five metros – Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore * 71% of them are illiterate. Child marriage gives the abuser a societal passport to sexually abuse the child. Child marriage is practiced globally but it is especially prevalent in India where more than one third of all child brides live. According to UNICEF, 47% of girls are married by 18 years of age, and 18% are m arried by 15 years of age.A study conducted in  India  by International research centre for women  showed that girls married before 18 years of age are twice as likely to be beaten, slapped, or threatened by their husbands  and three times more likely to experience sexual violence. ]  Young brides often show symptoms of sexual abuse and post traumatic stress. Though the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 makes the practice of marrying girls under the age of 18 and boys under the age  of 21 punishable but its implementation has not been very effective. We can still find minor couple tying the knot on â€Å"Akkha teej†, a summer festival believed to be auspicious for wedding.This is gross violation of law. Many in urban slum areas get their children married young to protect them from sexual abuse. Once a girl attains puberty she begins to be seen as sexually available. For some parents marriage is the only way to ensure that the girl is ‘unavailableâ€⠄¢ to others for abuse. The 2007 Report reveals the percentage of child sexual abuse is highest in work areas, which is 61. 61 percent. The Juvenile Justice Act, 2000 Section 26 (Exploitation of Juvenile or Child Employee) provides for punishment if a person procures a juvenile for hazardous employment.The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation Act) was enacted in 1986, to specifically address the situation of  children in labour. However, this law distinguishes between hazardous and non-hazardous forms of labour, and identifies certain processes and occupations from which children are prohibited from working. It leaves out a large range of activities that children are engaged in and are exploited and abused. The large-scale exploitation and abuse of children employed in domestic work and hotels are cases in point.The other abuse Child trafficking is one of the most heinous manifestations of violence against children. *PROTECTION OF CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL OFFENCES ACT, 2012: ITS E FFECTIVENESS AND A CRITICAL ANALYSIS Now coming to the recent legislation which has addressed the various loop holes in the existing laws to a great extent is the Protection of children from sexual offences Act, 2012 . It’s a historic law . Though India became a signatory to the UN convention on the rights of the child back in 1992 but it took India twenty long years to enact a separate law dealing with the offences against children.The Act is headway stronger than all the earlier child sexual abuse laws. The Act, on the lines of the UN convention defines a child as any person below the age of 18 years and provides protection to all the children from the offences of sexual assault, sexual harassment and pornography. These offences have been clearly defined for the first time in law. Firstly it acknowledges and engages with sexual crimes of all kinds — real/virtual; penetrative/ non- penetrative; homosexual/ heterosexual/ bestial; verbal/ physical.This is a major improv ement on the earlier situation, when child sexual abuse was clubbed with sexual abuse of adults. Secondly it acknowledges that sexual violations can be of various kinds and that in the case of children, the state must take a clear punitive stand on any kind of sexual violation. Thirdly  it is gender inclusive, accepting that the perpetrators as well as the victims may be either male or female. It is otherwise commonly assumed that sexual abuse can only be initiated by a male upon a female.Fourthly it lays down stringent punishments (up to life imprisonment) for a broad range of sexual crimes such as nonpenetrative sexual assault, sexual harassment, and the use of children for pornography. Fifthly the legislation is also marked by the introduction of special procedures to prevent the re-victimisation of children at the hands of an insensitive justice delivery system. These include measures for recording a child's evidence, for protecting his or her identity and for providing childr en with assistance and expertise from professionals in the fields of psychology, social work and so on.Sixthly for speedy trials the Act has provided for the establishment of special courts and the evidence of the child to be recorded within a period of 30 days. Also, the Special Court is to complete the trial within a period of one year, as far as possible. And lastly giving due attention to vulnerability and innocence of children the Act has put the onus of innocence on the accused. The present act is certainly welcoming and addresses the sexual offences against children effectively and efficiently. The bill has taken a comprehensive view and has broadened the sphere of child sexual abuse.That said there is one provision of the Act which has sparked controversy and that is the â€Å"age of consent†. Eighteen has been kept the age of consent and any sexual activity between consenting adolescents would be considered criminal. People from different sections of the society and those working in the field of child rights have shown their disagreement with the view taken. Since this Act criminalises any sexual activity with persons under the age of 18 years (even if it is consensual), is said that the police may misuse it to harass the young ouples or parents may use this law to control olden children sexual behaviour. Additional sessions judge Kamini Lau,of a Delhi court ,while acquitting a youth of the charges of kidnapping and raping a 17-and-a-half-year-old girl, to whom he got married and is now having a child with, called the said provision of the Act of increasing the age of consent from 16 to18 to be â€Å"regressive† and â€Å"draconian†. The remarks were made while referring to the conditions in western countries where there are adequate safeguards for protection against sexual offences. No doubt, there is an urgent need to protect children from sexual offences, harassment and pornography but at the same time it is necessary to ensure a close-in-age reprieve and a lenient view in case of close-in-relationship as adopted by various western countries where there is no exploitative coercive situation including impersonation, fraud, fear, threat and false promises. The need is to correct this behaviour and not punish† she said. Flavia Agnes in Indianexpress said that the age of consent for sexual intercourse has always been contested.In 1860, 10 years was the stipulated minimum age. But the furore caused by the death of an 11-year-old girl at the hands of her 35-year-old husband through forcible penetration led to the raising of the age of consent to 12 years in 1892. Later, during the nationalist movement, when women’s groups entered the political arena, they highlighted the adverse effects of early pregnancy upon women’s health, and demanded that the age of consent to marriage and sexual intercourse be raised to 14 years. Then, the age was raised to 15 years in 1949, and later to 16 years.Conse nsual intercourse with a girl under this age was construed as â€Å"statutory rape†. But the provision made a concession to the husband, who was permitted to have sex with his wife if she was above the age of 15. This dichotomy and confusion persists as the age of marriage under the Hindu Marriage Act and the Prohibition of child marriage act is 18 years and 21 years for a female and a male respectively. The proposed bill aims to resolve this confusion by stipulating a uniform age for marriage as well as sex, and inadvertently contributes to a puritanical notion that marriage and sex are synonymous.Ms Taparia, founder of Mumbai-based organization â€Å"Arpan† which works in the field of child sexual abuse says â€Å"We need to treat the bracket of ages 16 to 18 differently. If a child is raped, then you bring it under the judicial purview, but if it’s consensual sex between two people who are both within the age bracket 16 to 18 years, then it shouldn’t be criminalized. Puberty is coming early†¦So it’s regressive to take the age of legal sex to 18 years†. *RESPONSIBILTY OF CHILD PROTECTION Children are vulnerable sections of the society which needs care and protection for their normal growth.Children are primarily considered to be the responsibility of their family. It’s true that there is no substitute of family’s love and care and their can’t be a better place for a child to live in but what if their own house turns out to be an exploitation camp? For the formation of a protective environment at macro level and for the proper enforcement of child laws it’s the collective responsibility of the family, community, civil society and the state. India has always been on a denial mode when it comes to incest. But the truth is rather shocking!A report from RAHI, a Delhi based NGO working with child sexual abuse titled ‘Voices from the Silent Zone’, suggests that nearly three-quar ters of upper and middle class Indian women are abused by a family member — often an uncle, a cousin or an elder brother. The infamous Incest Mira Road case rocked the whole country. The girl victim said in her statement that â€Å"There were times when I had given up on life completely. When a child is in trouble, he first approaches her parents for help and protection, but who would protect me from my own father who had behaved like a beast? † Who is to look after children in such a situation?Family certainly is a stakeholder but they couldn’t and are not the only protectors. Children are â€Å"national asset† to this country and it’s the collective responsibility of the family, state, NGO’S, community and the civil society to protect them. A child that grows up protected from violence and abuse is more likely to grow up physically and mentally healthy, confident and self-respecting and less likely to abuse or exploit others. By contrast, when children are left unprotected and vulnerable to exploitation and abuse their childhood their rights are fundamentally undermined.It was pointed out in The Essentials of child protection that ensuring a protective environment is the responsibility the governments, international organisation, civil societies, families and individuals. A protected environment is one in which a child is assured of living in safety and with dignity. It is one that ensures that children are in school, laws are in place to punish those who exploit children, governments are truly committed to protection, communities are aware of the risks that children faces, civil society addresses certain â€Å"taboo† issues and monitoring is in place to identify children who are at risk of exploitation.Children will never be free from exploitation until all levels of the society from the family to the international community work together. *PRESENT LEGAL SYSTEM AND THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILDREN: COMMISSIONS, POL ICIES AND PROGRAMMES The UN convention on the rights of the child has provided for four basic rights to every child and these are survival, development, protection and participation. India is a signatory to this convention. To fulfil its commitment we have already mentioned the various legislations that have been enacted to protect the child rights.Other than that to facilitate the laws made, several policies have been enacted. The National policy for children was enacted in 1924. The National charter for children was adopted in 2003. This charter consists of the inherent rights of a child and that the state is duty bound to provide the same. Among other rights it includes protection from economic exploitation and all forms of abuse. Several Ministries and Departments of the Government of India are implementing various schemes and programmes for the benefit of children.Integrated child development service scheme is one such scheme that has taken various other governmental schemes un der its purview. Government of India has also set up the childline India foundation, an organization to provide assistance to children. It has a toll free number on which anybody can seek help in the interest of the child. An important step has been taken by the govt with the establishment of National commission for protection of child rights under the commission of the protection of child rights Act, 2005. t is an important step because the Commission's Mandate is to ensure that all Laws, Policies, Programmes, and Administrative Mechanisms are in consonance with the Child Rights perspective as enshrined in the Constitution of India and also the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. It also provides for the establishment of state commission for the protection of child rights. It mainly aims to decentralize the commission at district and state level so that grass root problems can be addressed effectively. NEEDED REFORMS IN THE LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK, GROUND WORK AND OUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS CHILDREN *Governmental commitment towards child protection: The Government has got a very crucial role to play in the creation of protective environment for children by the formulation of effective policies, strong legal framework and programming and allocation of adequate resources to the programme. An exercise of budgeting conducted by Ministry of Women and child Development, revealed that the share of the union budget for children in 2006-2007 was 4. 91%, of this the share of child protection was 0. 34%. According to 2001 census, children constitute 42% of India’s population which is a huge population to look after. And with number they certainly deserve more space and attention in the annual budget. At the programmatic level, the existing mechanism for child protection in India is primarily based on several small schemes implemented by different ministries and department. The need is to centralize these schemes under a single programme which specifically addresses child protection rights. Setting up laws is not enough. Implementation has always been a problem in India.The concerned ministry must ensure that laws are being followed. *Attitude and Practices: It must be ensured that we are living in a society that does not facilitate exploitation. Such as even after strict prohibition laws we still see and read about child marriage, devdasis still exist in many parts of the country, female genital mutilation for the misunderstood religious beliefs, Myths such as sexual intercourse with children cures sexually transmitted diseases (this is rampant in Africa). society must be freed from such practices to create a child friendly environment. Open discussion including civil society and child participation: There should be open discussion about sexuality and some basic sex education must be added to the curriculum in schools. Very often children do not even realize that they are being abused. The children must be taught to break the silence and this can be done only by confidence building. The National commission for the protection of child rights has provided for state commissions. Till now 15 states have establish the commissions in their states. This should be followed in rest of the sates also.There should be further decentralization at the district and block level. The commission has also stresses on the participation of children. Children are less vulnerable to abuse when they know their rights are not to be exploited and when they know the services available to protect them. In Brazil, the street children have found in the National movement of street boys and girls, a space for participation that has permitted them to become aware of their rights and a platform to fight for their rights. Consulting children can be of immense help to policy makers and planners.In Bangladesh, to develop a national plan of action against sexual abuse and exploitation several children such as those involved in sex work were consulted. Most of the children’s recommendation were included in the National plan of 2002 a ‘child task force’ is also established as a part of monitoring and implementation of the plan. Youth parliaments both at the national and the state level should be established and this should be extended to street children also other than school going children. If not government than this can also be organized by NGO’S. let their voices be heard.It would give them a common platform to discuss their grievances and other issues. Capacity of families and communities:  All those who interact with children—parents, teachers, religious leaders alike – should observe protective child-rearing practices and have the knowledge, skills, motivation and support to recognize and respond to exploitation and abuse. As pointed out in Report 2007 parents do not speak to children about sexuality as well as physical and emotional changes that take place during their growing years. As a result of this, all forms of sexual abuse that a child faces do not get reported to anyone.It was pointed out in the Report 2007 that the girl, whose mother has not spoken to her even about a basic issue like menstruation, is unable to tell her mother about the uncle or neighbour who has made sexual advances towards her. This silence encourages the abuser so that he is emboldened to continue the abuse and to press his advantage to subject the child to more severe forms of sexual abuse. Parents should create friendly relations with their child and tell them about their sexual organs slowly. Children should be told about â€Å"safe and unsafe touch†.Parents should have an â€Å"I believe you† approach and must not blame the children for the abuse. IT’S NOT THEIR FAULT! Schools can play an important role here. Annual workshops on child protection should be conducted in schools. Every school should also have a grievance cell where child counselling can be done. M onitoring, reporting and oversight:  There should be monitoring, transparent reporting and oversight of abuses and exploitation. As per Report 2007, only 3. 4 percent of children were found to have reported to the police. Almost 12 percent told their parents where as 72. 1 percent of children kept quiet.Parents, individuals, friends and neighbour should always report the matter to the police or should at least seek help from any concerned Ngo’s. Any silence will only encourage the abuse. CONCLUSION Children while constituting 40% of our population are â€Å"national asset†. Their development, protection and safety are not only our responsibility but is essential for the country’s growth as a whole. As we said in the beginning of the essay, it’s just not the child but entire childhood gets raped. Most of children get raped even before they get to know that there is something called â€Å"rape†, â€Å"abuse†, or â€Å"sexual assault†. In fact the whole society gets raped. There cannot be anything more heinous than sexually targeting the vulnerable children who are absolutely unaware of the perverted thoughts prevailing around them. All the malpractices associated with the children should be seriously looked upon and we need to be more sensitive towards children. Protecting children is our collective responsibility. Moreover it’s high time we replace the word â€Å"vulnerable† with â€Å"empowered†. Our policies should be based on empowering the children. It’s their right to have a happy and save childhood.Legislature should make strict and effective laws. The present Protection of children from sexual offences Act, 2012 is certainly the strongest and most effective so far. The government must see that the implementation machinery is working effectively. The various NGO’S working for the child rights should keep a check on the implementation process. This is what they can do. Rep orting the matter to the police or to any concerned authority, looking after the child and breaking the wall of â€Å"silence† is our responsibility. Give the children what is theirs. All they are asking for is a happy and a safe childhood! ————————————————————————————————————– Submission by- Name: Swati Ghildiyal Course: LLB, 2nd year College: Campus law centre, Faculty of law, Delhi University. ——————————————– [ 1 ]. wcd. nic. in/childabuse. pdf [ 2 ]. ibid [ 3 ]. The Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989 is the first legally binding international instrument to incorporate the full range of human rights— civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights. It stresses on special care and protection of children worldwide. 4 ]. http://infochangeindia. org/children/analysis/the-sounds-of-silence-child-sexual-abuse-in-india. html [ 5 ]. http://www. state. gov/documents/organization/47255. pdf [ 6 ]. http://america. cry. org/site/know_us/cry_america_and_child_rights/statistics_underprivileged_chi. html [ 7 ]. http://www. theelders. org/docs/child-marriage-factsheet. pdf [ 8 ]. http://www. unicef. org/infobycountry/india_statistics. html [ 9 ]. United States Agency for International Development, 2007, â€Å"New Insights on Preventing Child Marriage: A Global Analysis of Factors and Programs,† pg. 9 [ 10 ]. http://www. icrw. rg/child-marriage-facts-and-figures [ 11 ]. A lawyer and director of â€Å"Majlis†http://www. majlisbombay. org [ 12 ]. http://www. indianexpress. com/news/consent-and-controversy/948277/ [ 13 ]. http://www. arpan. org. in/ [ 14 ]. http://www. rahifoun dation. org/home. html [ 15 ]. http://articles. timesofindia. indiatimes. com/2009-03-21/mumbai/28047758_1_tantrik-hasmukh-rathod-girl [ 16 ]. http://www. childlineindia. org. in/pdf/Essentials-of-child-protection-Oct%2008. pdf [ 17 ]. http://wcd. nic. in/childabuse. pdf [ 18 ]. Child and the Law, by Laxmidhar chouhan, 2008 edition, page no. 48 and 53.