Changes In The Middle Ages - 1510 Words

The Middle Ages The Middle Ages was a time of prosperity, innovation, and growth of Europe. It lasted between 1000 A.D.E to 1500 A.D.E. Many things were invented that helped revolutionize Europe and some still help us today. It was the time of new agriculture, the revival of trade, the growth of cities, the rise of industry and guilds, papal states, new rulers, new religious orders, new architecture, universities, vernacular literature, and The Black Death. In the Early Middle Ages, Europe had a small population. In the High Middle Ages, the population doubled from 38 million to 74 million people. This made the need for food and farms increase dramatically. Food production increased due to a couple of key factors. One of the factors being†¦show more content†¦They were followed by craftspeople and artisans. In the 1100s and the 1200s, the old Roman cities came alive with new population and growth. Medieval cities were small compared to ancient or modern cities. A large Medieval trading city would hold about 5,000 people. Italian cities tended to be very large, the biggest cities had around 80,000 people. Most towns were closely tied near the land because they depended on the food grown near the surrounding manors. The development of guilds happened. A guild was a group of craftspeople with a certain skill. Guilds played a big role in the economic life of cities. By the 1200s there was a guild for almost every craft and separate guilds for specialized groups of merchants, such as dealers in silk, spices, or wool. Craft guilds directed almost every aspect of the production process. They set the standards for the quality of the articles produced, specific methods of production to be used, and even fixed the price at which the finished goods could be sold. Guilds also determined the number of people who could enter a specific trade and the procedure they must follow to do so. Since the 5th century, the popes of the Catholic Church had claimed supremacy over the affairs of the Church. They had also gained control of territories in central Italy that came to be known as the Papal States. This control kept the popes involved in political matters, often at the expense of their spiritual duties. At theShow MoreRelatedChanges During The Middle Ages982 Words   |  4 PagesChanges in Europe From 1250-1650 This is the period was the height of the middle ages, renaissance, the reformation, and European explorations of the Americas and continuously evolved. During the middle ages, there was a huge economic boom. The Renaissance underwent significant changes such as education and art which transformed the culture. The reformation caused wars between the Catholic and Protestant rulers. The European explorations of the Americas were caused by increased wealth from the RenaissanceRead MoreThe Changes in the Catholic Church during the High Middle Ages972 Words   |  4 Pageschurch was undergoing a cleansing process regarding the different religions that were practiced. Now, women were active participants in the spiritual movements of the age. The amount if women joining religious houses increased rapidly as new orders spread throughout the twelfth century. Mysticism reached new heights in the High Middle Ages. Mysticism gave people the chance to achieve an intuitive and emotional relat ionship with God. People believed in idea that people could be able to touch or attainRead MoreHow Much Did Castles Change in the Middle Ages and Why?1581 Words   |  5 Pagesthat castles were built all over England in major towns. The first castles were built very quickly and were very simple, but during the reign of William and throughout the rest of the Middle Ages (1066-1500) the design of castles changed. In this essay I will talk about how much castles changed during the Middle Ages and the reasons for this. Motte Bailey Castles (1066 – 1078) The first castles to be built in England by the Normans were called Motte Bailey castles. They had: The Keep –Read MoreChanges of Weaponry and Warfare during the Middle Ages Essay example2284 Words   |  10 PagesChanges of Weaponry and Warfare during the Middle Ages During the Middle Ages, or also known as the Medieval Ages, change was a major part of that period. Europe was watching war become much different. In the older times, a few thousands of troops were considered a large army. Nowadays, nobody has ever seen such size of an army with such variety in weapons including guns, munitions, and artillery that were all developed during that period. Besides, it was obvious that the face of warfare was changingRead MoreThe Influence of Renaissance in Art and Architecture947 Words   |  4 PagesThe influences of any era is evident through artwork and architecture. During the Middle Ages the main influence was the church, this is evident through the focus on biblical and religious symbols. During the Renaissance the main focus was the study of people. This is shown through the increase in self portraits and classical antiquity-inspired buildings. The change between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance is best shown through the art and architecture, demonstrated specifically through an emphasisRead MoreThe Middle Age Is Not Defined By Specific Chronological Age1452 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Middle-age is not defined by specific chronological age, different people have different understandings about middle-age. According to Byrd and Breuss (1992), elderly New Zealanders (60 years old above) chose age 57 as the onset of middle-age while young people (mostly in their late 10s and early 20s) thought their middle-age was in their 30s. Such a difference existed as young people were yet fully embarked on the adult psychological developmental process, so they had no experienceRead MoreMiddle Adulthood : The Middle Of Adulthood1356 Words   |  6 PagesMiddle adulthood is considered ages 45 to 65, we all know someone in this age group and often have family in this range that we have observed the changes that happen when you get older. With age your body wears down and your health starts to decline, normally slowly but can be a rapid decline. Not everyone agrees on what ages are middle adulthood is as it is not the middle of adulthood compared to life expectancy. Our cells get r eplaced at a slower rate when we get older causing many problems. Read MoreThe Pardoners Prologue And Tale By Chaucer Essay1425 Words   |  6 Pagesgain, which was relevant in society during the Middle Ages. In Chaucer’s story, the Pardoner uses his influence and tells a tale of three men to convince the people to pay for him to pardon their sins. Chaucer’s tale and story is often used to emphasize the moral values in our society. There are many points in the tale that are based on the theme of greed being the cause of all evil in humanity, and the Middle Ages was a period of great societal change in Europe. â€Å"The Pardoner’s Prologue and Tale†Read MoreDeclining Health for Middle Aged Adults Essay1704 Words   |  7 PagesHealth Changes for the Middle Aged Adult As we age, we experience many changes that can affect us both physically and emotionally. Middle age adults have many health concerns that they need to be aware of and they must be proactive about addressing these concerns before they have adverse effects on their health. Some physical concerns middle age adults should be concerned with include hyperlipidemia, hypertension and stroke. Physical health concerns can often be linked to psychosocial healthRead More Middle Adulthood Essay711 Words   |  3 PagesMiddle adulthood is a complex time period that requires a multidimensional outlook to understand all of the processes and changes that are taking place. The many changes during middle adulthood include physical, cognitive and social differences. Many of these changes create significant stress and it is important to understand ways of coping with the anxiety. Many of these coping mechanisms include mindfulness and cultivating a sense of self-efficacy and mastery (pg. 482). T here are many changes

Industry Structures Free Essays

A rise In global markets will usually generate an increase in return off livestock, this can increase the local prices. Local bodies or lobby groups like National Farmers Federation, Sheep Cooperative Research Centre, Department of Agriculture for Fisheries and Forestry and Meat and Livestock Australia help to maintain a reasonably simple trading system. In this report it was shown that the future has potential and with the support of the producers and industries behind the live trade of lamb things will pick up and move on in favor of the market over time. We will write a custom essay sample on Industry Structures or any similar topic only for you Order Now Introduction The lamb Market is a volatile market with many highs and lows, this is a mature market with a constant and promising future to come. In the report It will cover; the main markets and end use applications for the product, monitoring the market and change of supply and demand patterns over the years. It will identify the future 1 OFF and overseas. The report will also cover how and what the industry agencies do to protect the lamb market for Australia. Main Markets and End Uses There is a growing export demand for both lamb and mutton, with China being the largest export destination for Australia followed by India, Kuwait and Italy (IBIS, 2013) Australia’s sheep flock is the second largest in the world although the flock has been wringing and Australia is the largest exporter of lamb according to IBIS world report. Producers sell prime lamb and mutton to meat processing markets or export markets. A rise in global markets will usually generate an increase in return off livestock due to more numbers being sold and cost increasing for them. In relation to sales of lamb and mutton, the average Australian consumes around 1 1 keg of lamb and mutton every year (IBIS, 2013) BARES estimates and annual increase of 3. 1% for lamb and 6. 1% increase for mutton over the four years through to 2016-17. (IBIS, 2013) Figure 1. Lamb utilization and retail price (ML, 2013) Supply and Demand Patterns Whilst there are large countries Australia’s population is growing, therefore the demand for meat is on the rise and lamb being a popular meat and a substitute for others such as beef and chicken. In 2011-2012 Australia exported 49 percent of all lamb and 97. 5 percent of all mutton produced in Australia, the total value of these lamb exports was 1. 094 million. Around 19,240 Australian broad acre farms are classified as lamb around 19,240 Australian broad acre farms are classified as lamb producers the majority of these farmers are mixed enterprise, a substantial reapportion of their income coming from cropping, beef cattle, sheep and wool, as well as from the sale of lambs. Lamb producers generally sell their lambs to slaughter houses, feedlots or export. Around 9400 slaughter lamb producers earn more than 20 per cent of their total farm receipts from the sale of slaughter lambs and are classified as specialist slaughter lamb producers. With the numbers of lamb sitting steady we can see. Key Competitors Competition for the Australian Lamb Market is continually increasing from overseas buyers and investors, despite remaining one of the largest and most valuable market for lamb. The reasons for this include a challenging domestic consumer market and strong growth in overseas markets, this is due to the decrease in the Australian dollar decreasing. (ML, 2012) New Zealand is one of Australia’s closest competition in the trade market. The sheep flock in the United States has been declining in recent years, to the point that as at the beginning of 2012, it was the lowest in over a century, at 5. 35 million head. With ongoing widespread drought in the US there is currently little prospect of this pattern reversing, although the majority of the US flock is in the less- affected north-western states. Industry Structures and Policy Frameworks There are a couple of barriers to entry this includes capital investment and securing finance as new producers need to purchase land, fencing materials and livestock. The government and the livestock export industry are working cooperatively with trading partners to address post-arrival welfare concerns and to improve the Ongoing involvement in the livestock export trade provides an opportunity to influence animal welfare conditions in importing countries. The Department is Jointly funding a number of projects with the live export industry to improve infrastructure ND training to promote better animal handling and slaughter practices. Australia is the only country that requires specific animal welfare outcomes for livestock exports. Ongoing involvement in this trade provides an opportunity to influence animal welfare conditions in importing countries. This legislation was an important step by the Government to overhaul the livestock export trade. Arrangements to ensure exported animals are well treated during road and sea transportation are an important part of the standards. Ships must comply with strict rules about ventilation, drainage and provision of water and food. Each animal must have access to food and water on demand and enough space to lie down, and there must be special pens for sick animals to receive veterinary care ‘Under the Australian Meat and Live-stock Industry Act 1997, a report on the carriage of livestock on any sea voyage to a port outside of Australia must be tabled in each House of Parliament every 6 months. (ML, 2013) Future Industry Challenges With the recent ban on live trade out of Australia this could be a potential future challenge for the livestock industry. The live trade of livestock is of great importance o both regional and rural Australia and is vital to the red meat industry. (Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry, 2013) Since the mid sass’s the livestock export tr ade has grown significantly to become a vital component of Australia’s agricultural export earnings. Live exports are a legitimate trade providing farmers with a valuable alternative to domestic slaughter. Some people maintain that live trade of Australian livestock should be banned and a preference for frozen or chilled meat to be exported. Chicken being one of the most popular meats means that there is intention for the lamb market, beef also is a competitor for the local lamb markets and export markets as chicken is common in Asian countries. Industry Agencies and Bodies Meat and Livestock Australia – ML delivers marketing and research and development services for Australia’s cattle, sheep and goat producers. ML creates opportunities for livestock supply chains from their combined investments to build demand and productivity. Department of Agriculture for Fisheries and Forestry – Supplying research and development in the agricultural sector, monitoring political and industrial sectors to keep the agricultural sector on top of the game. State Agricultural sectors – supplying information related to research and development that is relevant to the state body and the farmers related National Farmers Federation – ‘The NEFF is the peak body representing farmers, made up of state commodity councils and farm organizations, and is a powerful voice for agriculture politically (National Farmers Federation, 2013) Sheep Cooperative Research Centre (Sheep CRY) – The role of the CRY is to facilitate transformation of the sheep industry through making sheep easier to manage, developing the production and processing of meat and wool to meet increasing consumer How to cite Industry Structures, Essays

Economic Growth of Housing Price

Question: Discuss about the Economic Growth of Housing Price. Answer: Introduction: This article summarizes the various issues that are influencing the long-run growth of housing price in Australia. From the duration of 1980s, inflation of housing prices largely followed the prevailing interest rate of the economy that was comparatively high and unstable. Subsequently, the monetary deregulation of the mid 1980s and deflation in the period of the beginning year of the 1990s led to easier access finance underpinned a secular increase in households debt-to-income ratio that was closely associated with high housing prices from the early 1990 to mid 2000. This article is explores the long-run trends in the housing prices at Australian real estate market. In this, the changes in the prices of houses for long run are explained through the application of primary drivers of housing price growth. This article includes an analysis over the housing price growth in long run through understanding of fundamental drivers. Below are the main messages of this article: Supply and demand Concept: The main focus of this article is to understand the house price growth in long run through applying the law of demand and supply. By applying this law, the growth in prices of house is explained. It is concluded that gap in demand and supply is the key aspect that has played prominent role in making certain changes in the housing prices at Australia. By applying this law, house prices movement in long run is determined significantly. Stock-flow model is considered highly important to study both demand and supply side factors for understanding the long-run trend in the housing prices at Australian real estate market. Demand side factor: There are several factors identified significant in terms of increasing demand and consequently housing prices in long run at Australia. Deregulation of financial sector, low inflation rate and low interest rate have played critical role in increasing access of Australians over the houses that caused rise in prices. Apart from this, population growth is also determined as an important factor, which has caused an increase in the housing prices in Australia. In Australia, natural increase in the population along with an increase in net immigration is a considerable cause of high housing prices. Similarly, cyclical factors mainly monetary policies has played critical role in driving the housing prices in short run. Supply side factors: This article explains supply side factors, which has played critical role in influencing the general price level of the houses in Australia for the long run. The influence of increasing demand over the prices largely depends on the response of supply. If supply also rises with the demand than it is less probability of increasing prices. In short run, it is difficult to improve supply as per the changes in the demand due to the complex nature of developing new dwelling and houses. A considerable time and fund are critical to construct more houses, which is responsible for pumping new supply in the market. An increase construction cost and improvement in the quality of infrastructure development have caused stability in the number of completed dwellings over the past thirty years. This article indicates that supply of house in long run was low than the demand that has caused rise in housing prices in the significant manner. Debt-to-income ratio: This article also examines the relationship between debt-to-income ratio and the rise in housing prices at Australia over the last the three decades. It is identified in this article that low inflation raised the real income and consumer confidence that has made positive impact on the debt-to-income ratio. The growth of housing prices in Australia is closely associated with the rise in debt-to-income ratio. People showed a tendency to offset their less ability to purchase houses by taking high debt than their income, which have played critical role in strengthen the demand and consequently prices of houses in Australia over the last few decades. Thus, the above messages are provided in this article by applying range of economic concepts to understand the factors for driving housing prices in long run within the Australian real estate market. The housing prices in Melbourne are overheated in the recent years like other commodity prices, which are primarily determined by the demand and supply factors. The different factors that are responsible for growing housing prices in Melbourne are discussed as below: Interest Rate: At any level of price, lower interest rates entail with lower mortgage of repayment which attracts the borrowers to borrow more money. This causes the demand of housing has increased and housing prices is going further high. Because the lower interest rate increases the flow money in economy and increases the demand of assets. On the other hand, if the interest goes up than housing demand will ease and the prices will remain stable. In Australia, the interest rates are low, which increases the demand of money for the borrowers to invest in property. This leads to the rise in housing prices in Melbourne. In Australian economy, the interest rates cut down from 1980s through the global economic recession (Yates, 2011). During 1995-96, there was a moderate rise in interest rate and after that it also fell and remained continue lower till recent. Lower interest rate contributed a lot in increasing housing prices over past years in Melbourne. Due to the lower interest rate household debts to GDP in Australia has been increased, which is represented in the below graph: The above graph presents that the household debts to GDP is continuously increasing from 1995s due to lower interest rate. It presents that the demand of houses in Melbourne is increasing because the low interest rate has increased the capacity of buying houses. Investment Demand: Since 1995, investment in housing in Australia has increased, which has become an important driver of increasing house prices. The Reserve Bank of Australia pointed out that since 2001 the investors had increased the continuing price rise in housing market, which is supported by liberal tax benefits. In 2002, the loan approvals for investment grow by 113 percent against 48 percent for the vendor residential (Rahman, 2014). The socio-demographic factors, tax benefits, increasing rental income, institutional development, and broader expansion in economy and capital market have contributed in increasing investment demand for housing. Moreover, the investment in property is preferred as a secure and risk free investment, which has increased the demand and price of houses in Melbourne (Hensher et al, 2012). General Demand and Supply: The increasing need of housing in Melbourne is not based on the provisional factors but substantially based on shifting of population. Melbourne is an industrial and educational hub, which attracts to the immigrants for investment and high education. These immigrants need to houses for living but Melbournes building industry is not capable to construct enough housing units per annum due to lack of qualified people, and building permit process. In Melbourne, the demand is estimated 170,000 housing units per annum but supply is 140,000 housing units per annum (Sweeney, 2016). Furthermore, it is observed that the middle household size is declining due to boost in single person and single parent households that influenced the demand of new houses. Overall, the increased population and lesser households implied an increasing demand of housing, which is known a major determinant of increasing house prices. Due to increased demand and lower supply, the prices of houses are increasing contin ually in Melbourne City. As a result, it is predicted that the prices of houses and apartment will continue to rise over next 3-4 years and more. Economic Growth: There is a positive relation between housing demand and household income. In Melbourne, the household income is increasing rapidly over the time. In 2005-06, the household incomes are 10% higher in comparison of 2003-04 and higher than 34% in comparison of 1994-95. This increasing household income or economic growth increases the wealth of an individual and capability of investment in property (Rahman, 2014). Generally, in every society, Housing is considered as a major store of wealth, which is called wealth effect and leads to an increase in expenditure. As a result, economic growth makes an individual housing affordable that supports housing prices through a self-reinforcing series. Impacts of buyers tax on the equilibrium housing prices, consumer surplus, producer surplus, and total surplus (or social welfare) The effect of tax on the supply-demand equilibrium housing prices is to shift the demand for houses in Melbourne. It is determined by subtracting the before tax demand with the before tax supply (Varian, 2014). The following diagram shows the effects of buyers tax on the equilibrium housing prices: From the above diagram, it can be exhibited that quantity traded before the tax imposed has denoted as qB. But, when the tax is imposed by the government on housing, then the buyer must pay the higher prices due to increase in the cost of housing. And, this amount will be equal to the tax. Moreover, the unique quantity is denoted by qA and the price that buyer pays is denoted as pD. Further, the seller receives that amount is deducted from the taxes and it is shown as pS. Following are another diagram that shows the impact of buyers tax on welfare: Note: C+E depicts the fall in total surplus In addition to this, it is analyzed that buyer taxes on housing prices have a negative impact on the consumer surplus, producer surplus, and social welfare. In this way, it is stated that consumer surplus falls because the prices of housing for the buyers has risen in Melbourne. Further, producer surplus falls due to increasing in the cost of goods and services. Further, the difference is demonstrated by shading and it shows the lost gain from the sale of the unit which is not traded due to buyers tax (McAfee and Lewis, 2015). It is also called deadweight loss because it determines those trades that have not been done due to the tax burden on buyers. It is measured by subtraction of the value of buyers from the cost of the unit to the seller. Moreover, the net loss gains from the sale are depicted by the black point in the diagram. Along with this, buyers tax has a negative impact on the social welfare because the demand for housing is low in the Melbourne economy due to tax burden ( Canto, et al., 2014). Further, due to the tax burden, people do not create interest to buy the houses in Melbourne. As a result, it declines the total surplus in the housing market in Melbourne. An increase in buyers tax will impact on both consumer and producer. If the buyers tax increases than the cost of the product will increase. It will not only decrease the surplus of customer but also the surplus of seller will remain stable (Castellucci et al, 2012). For example, the government increases the buyer tax of $1 on a product than the seller will take it from its customers. In this system, the surplus of the customer will reduce and the increased tax of $1 will be paid to the government. Therefore, the increased buyer tax will not be beneficial for the society. As sales tax, income tax, and corporate tax the buyers tax also raises the revenue of city government. This tax is charged from the customer on its total purchasing. If, the buyers tax on commodities increases than the revenue of the government also increases (Mankiw, 2012). For example, when the government increases $2 as buyer tax from the customer on a particular commodity, than the government revenue will also increase on each purchasing unit of that commodity. The government of UK, USA and Australia are having different housing policies such demand side policies and supply side policies to stabilize the housing market in their economy. These policies are discussed as below: Supply Side Policies: The central or local governments of UK subsidized to private housing builders to build more houses in that area where it is shortage of new houses. This government had also build public housing policies to avail low cost houses in large cities to low paid workers. However, it is a long process and takes many years to locate a territory and undertake the necessary planning for construction but it is an appropriate policy to increase the supply of new houses in the economy. Furthermore, the governments of UK and USA countries are relaxing house building regulations and giving concessions on taxes to builders to decrease the cost of construction and increase the affordable housing plans. These government policies may be helpful in increasing the supply of affordable houses in the country and can stabilize the bubbling prices of houses. The policy of tax concession may encourage the builders to build houses on less regulated territories, which are waiting to develop. Hence, these policie s may boost the investment in new property and improve housing affordability through increase in supply (Hutchens, 2016). Demand Side Policies: The government or monetary authority of an economy may implement a series of policies including the change in deposit requirements, interest rate, affordability of housing, and variable rate of mortgages that can influence the demand of houses in a country (Kulish et al, 2012). At the time of purchasing, the house purchaser could be required a smaller or bigger deposit. In general trend, if the prices is much high than the buyer will require a larger deposit, which will prevent sub-prime buyers from the market who have not sufficient large amount. For instance, all new house purchasers could be forced to put down 25 percent of the total purchase price and remaining 75 percent will take out from mortgage. Further, on average basis the first time purchasers will put down 10 percent deposit and remaining 90 percent will be borrowed. Furthermore, the Bank of England increases or decreases the rate of interest if the prices of houses are contributing in general inflation and deflation. However, the government of UK not focuses directly on housing prices it considers only changes in interest rates if housing prices are going in inflation or deflation to stabilize the housing market. In addition, the borrowers might be switch from the variable mortgage interest rates to fixed interest rate that can impact the housing market of a country. Additionally, the government of Australia providing affordable housing policies to access sustainable and safe housing that contributes in economic and social participation of the country (Australian Government, 2016). From the above discussion, it can be suggested that government of Melbourne should increase interest rate and also increase the supply of new houses through various housing plans. Because, if the interest rate increases than the borrower will take less money from banks and will invest less in property. Moreover, in Melbourne the supply of new houses is less rather than demand therefore the increased supply can manage the gap between demand and supply that may stop the increasing prices of houses. Hence, both the interest rate and supply policies may be beneficial to stabilize the housing market of Melbourne. References: Australian Government (2016) National Affordable Housing Agreement. [Online]. Available at: https://www.dss.gov.au/housing-support/programmes-services/national-affordable-housing-agreement (Accessed: 7 January 2017). Canto, V. A., Joines, D. H., and Laffer, A. B. (2014)Foundations of supply-side economics: Theory and evidence. USA: Academic Press. Castellucci, L., Markandya, A., and Piga, G. (2012) Environmental Taxes and Fiscal Reform. USA: Springer. Hensher, D. A., Truong, T. P., Mulley, C., and Ellison, R. (2012) Assessing the wider economy impacts of transport infrastructure investment with an illustrative application to the North-West Rail Link project in Sydney, Australia.Journal of Transport Geography,24(3), pp. 292-305. Hutchens, G. (2016) Labor's negative gearing changes would help stabilise housing market: McKell Institute. [Online]. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/may/27/labors-negative-gearing-changes-would-help-stabilise-housing-market-mckell-institute (Accessed: 7 January 2017). Kearns J and P Lowe (2011) Australias Prosperous 2000s: Housing and the Mining Boom, The Australian Economy in the 2000s, Proceedings of a Conference, Reserve Bank of Australia, Sydney. 2(2), pp. 73100. Kulish, M., Richards, A., and Gillitzer, C. (2012) Urban structure and housing prices: Some evidence from Australian cities.Economic Record,88(282), pp. 303-322. Mankiw, N. G. (2012) Essentials of Economics. USA: Cengage Learning. McAfee, R. P., and Lewis, T. R. (2015) Introduction to Economic Analysis. [Online]. Available at: https://catalog.flatworldknowledge.com/bookhub/13?e=mcafee-ch05_s01 (Accessed: 7th January 2016). Rahman, M. M. (2014) Australian Housing Market: Causes and Effects of Rising Price. [Online]. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228384641_Australian_housing_market_causes_and_effects_of_rising_price (Accessed: 6 January 2017). Schwab, A. (2016) The property market is completely bonkers and so are you to buy into it. [Online]. Available at: https://www.crikey.com.au/2016/07/29/australias-property-market-in-mother-of-all-bubbles/ (Accessed: 6 January 2017). Sweeney, N. (2016) Why Melbournes Properties Will Keep on Rising. [Online]. Available at: https://www.yourinvestmentpropertymag.com.au/market-analysis/why-melbournes-properties-will-keep-on-rising-79693.aspx (Accessed: 6 January 2017). Varian, H. R. (2014)Intermediate Microeconomics: A Modern Approach: Ninth International Student Edition. USA: WW Norton Company. Yates, J. (2011) Housing in Australia in the 2000s: on the agenda too late?. InThe Australian Economy in the 2000s, Proceedings of a Conference, Reserve Bank of Australia, Sydney, 2(3),pp. 261-296.

Smuckers Co. Case Analysis free essay sample

Mission/Vision Analysis The Smucker mission statement (appendix) is weak from an investment standpoint. It is clearly targeted at the consumer. It vaguely mentions cultural values and a tradition of â€Å"success† not measured financially but by factors such as an impact on society. The vision statement is concise and clearly states Smucker’s objectives of growth, ethics, independence, and quality that will guide all future strategies. Their vision statement gives Smucker’s an opportunity to inform future investors on their intention to grow. External analysis In February 2010, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent letters to more than a dozen food or beverage manufacturers, looking for them to correct or change such label items as health or nutrient claims. In the future, product labeling and advertising will receive additional reviews from the FDA, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and other agencies† (Graves). For Smucker’s this will translate as increased research and development costs as they strive to meet the health and wellness needs of the US consumer. We will write a custom essay sample on Smuckers Co. Case Analysis or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This is an opportunity for Smucker’s to be an industry leader in more healthful processed food choices. It will be costly preemptively taking measures to ensure labels are up to the FDA’s standards will save us money in the future. Currently, the state of the recovering economy is a major threat to Smucker’s market share for processed goods. Consumer confidence is low and commodity prices are on the rise (table 1). Unemployment rose from 9. 3 in 2009 to 9. 6 in 2010, this coupled with weakness in the job, real estate, and stock markets, and a large population approaching retirement, has made US consumers more cautious about spending. Price sensitive buyers are likely to continue buying less expensive private label products. The increased value of personal health in American society is an opportunity for Smuckers. Many manufacturers promote both what their products contain (e. g. , antioxidants) and what they don’t (e. g. , trans fats). Several companies such as Cambell Soup have reformulated their foods to lessen the amount of sugar and salts in them. This trend is an opportunity for Smuckers to develop new product lines with healthier options. The increased inventory and price monitoring capabilities of large retailers poses a threat to Smucker’s in a competitively priced environment. This technology allows retailers to see what consumers are buying and what price differential it took to get them to switch from name brand to private brand products. Technology is also changing the way people shop. Websites and apps allow cost-conscious consumers to create and manage shopping lists, count calories as they shop, and stay on budget. By putting coupons and promotions on the web we will not have to compete for attention at the point of purchase. Developing markets like China, India, and Brazil, offer long-term opportunities for higher sales and profits. Income growth and lifestyle changes such as more women in the work place will increase the appeal of the packaged goods that are popular in more developed markets. Because the retailers in America have so much power and are quickly gaining economies of scale, the opportunity for manufacturers overseas is attractive. The USDA’s low expectation for crop yields in the US in 2010, drought and heat hurting the Russian wheat crop, and higher demand for food in developing markets caused the commodities prices to rise (Graves). Obviously, such fluctuation in the cost of direct materials is threatening to the price structure of Smucker’s. However, entering into a contract with suppliers could be an opportunity for an advantage if prices continue to rise at a steady pace. Industry Analysis The processed foods industry is highly consolidated. There are three factors causing this—rapidly consolidating retail outlets, slowed growth in the food sector, and increased competition between brand name and private label products. 70 percent of industry sales are accounted for by Walmart, Kroger, Safeway, Supervalu/Albertson’s, and Ahold USA. This gives them a large advantage as far as buying power and allows them to demand slotting fees for good shelf space in their isles. The growth rate in the food industry in developed markets hung around 2 percent whereas in developing markets, the growth rate was around 3-4 percent. Developments in inventory monitoring technologies, increased capabilities to match brand name quality, and scale economies shifted power decisively towards retailers and escaladed competition with manufactures. For a list of Smucker’s competitors see table 3. Internal analysis (non-financial) The company operates 4 divisions (see Table 2). Their three part corporate strategy consisted of growing the market share of its existing brands, introducing new products, and making strategic acquisitions such as the 2009 acquisition of Foldgers. Smucker’s spent between $50 million and $77 annually between 2006 and 2009 on advertising. In 2010, they increased this by 70 percent to $131 million, developed 15 new commercials, and utilized digital marketing through search based ads, banner ads, and adds on social media sites. Financial In 2010 gross profit increased by 43 percent from 2009, and improved to 38. 8 percent of net sales from 33. percent over the same period (exhibit 1). Much improvement is due to the Folgers acquisition business and other coffee-related impacts in 2010 compared to 2009, such as low Green Coffee costs and volume-related plant efficiencies. Driven by gross profit improvements, operating income increased 75 percent in 2010 compared to 2009, and improved from 12. 0 percent to 17. 2 percent of net sal es (Annual). Restructuring, merger, integration costs were $43. 5 million lower in 2010 compared to 2009, as integration activities related to Folgers were near completion and restructuring costs had minimal impact. Broad general environment For packaged food manufacturers, higher food commodity prices heighten the prospect of profit margin pressure ahead. Demand has risen but price elasticity remains strong for this reason, it would be unwise to adjust prices to absorb the rising costs of commodities. In the processed foods industry, consolidation will continue for both retailers and manufacturers. Growth will continue to be higher in developing markets than in developed markets. Critical Issues The increased buying power of retail chains presents a threat to Smuckers. As they have an increased ability to charge stocking fees and make quality products for much less than we are able to. Another critical issue is the increasing price of commodities (Table 1). Objectives The strategic objectives are to increase the market share of its existing brands, introduce new products, and make strategic acquisitions. Financially, Smucker’s should increase its gross profit by 50% in 2010 and increase its market value by 2 million in order to overtake Hersey’s Co. (Table 3). Alternatives The first alternative is to invest in the developing market of India. The second alternative is to focus on developed markets and increase advertising. The third alternative is a supply contract with suppliers to lock in commodity prices. Analysis of Alternatives The advantage of expanding into the Indian market would be the increased sales revenue and the long term growth of the processed foods industry in developing markets. The disadvantages would be the increased costs of distribution and research. The risks would be to lose money in more than two consecutive periods after having invested in this or having a competitor enter into the market. The obstacles would be the Indian culture and developing a product that would be widely accepted. The advantage of protecting our market share with advertising is increased gross profits and higher customer retention. The disadvantage would be that if we don’t meet our sales goal, we will have lost a significant amount of money. The risk is that we have already invested a company record in advertising in 2010. The obstacle to this would be that we would not have any room to adjust the price down to compete with private brands as we would have to cover extra marketing costs.

Ouranosaurus - Facts and Figures

Ouranosaurus - Facts and Figures Name: Ouranosaurus (Greek for brave lizard); pronounced ore-ANN-oh-SORE-us Habitat: Plains of northern Africa Historical Period: Middle Cretaceous (115-100 million years ago) Size and Weight: About 23 feet long and four tons Diet: Plants Distinguishing Characteristics: Row of spines jutting out from backbone; horned beak About Ouranosaurus Once considered to be a close relative of Iguanodon, paleontologists have now classified Ouranosaurus as a type of hadrosaur (duck-billed dinosaur)albeit one with a major difference. This plant-eater had rows of spines jutting out vertically from its backbone, which has fueled speculation that it may have sported a sail of skin, like the contemporary Spinosaurus or the much earlier pelycosaur Dimetrodon. However, some paleontologists maintain that Ouranosaurus didnt have a sail at all, but a flattened hump, rather like that of a camel. If Ouranosaurus did in fact possess a sail (or even a hump) the logical question is, why? As with other sailed reptiles, this structure may have evolved as a temperature-regulation device (assuming that Ouranosaurus had a cold-blooded rather than a warm-blooded metabolism), and it may also have been a sexually selected characteristic (that is, Ouranosaurus males with bigger sails had the opportunity to mate with more females). A fatty hump, on the other hand, might have served as a valuable reserve of food and water, the same function as it serves in modern camels. One lesser-known feature of Ouranosaurus is the shape of this dinosaurs head: it was unusually long and flat for a hadrosaur, and lacking any of the ornamentation of later duck-billed dinosaurs (such as the elaborate crests of Parasaurolophus and Corythosaurus) save for a slight ridge over the eyes. Like other hadrosaurs, the four-ton Ouranosaurus may have been capable of running away from predators on its two hind feet, which presumably would have imperiled the lives of any smaller theropods or ornithopods in the immediate vicinity!

Alessandro Volta - Inventor of the Voltaic Pile

Alessandro Volta - Inventor of the Voltaic Pile In 1800, Alessandro Volta of Italy built the voltaic pile and discovered the first practical method of generating electricity. Count Volta also made discoveries in electrostatics, meteorology and pneumatics. His most famous invention, however, is the first battery. Alessandro Volta - Background Alessandro Volta was born in Como, Italy in 1745. In 1774, he was appointed as professor of physics at the Royal School in Como. While at the Royal School, Alessandro Volta designed his first invention the electrophorus in 1774, a device that produced static electricity. For years at Como, he studied and experimented with atmospheric electricity by igniting static sparks. In 1779, Alessandro Volta was appointed professor of physics at the University of Pavia and it was while there that he invented his most famous invention, the voltaic pile. Alessandro Volta - Voltaic Pile Constructed of alternating discs of zinc and copper, with pieces of cardboard soaked in brine between the metals, the voltaic pile produced electrical current. The metallic conducting arc was used to carry the electricity over a greater distance. Alessandro Voltas voltaic pile was the first battery that produced a reliable, steady current of electricity. Alessandro Volta - Luigi Galvani One contemporary of Alessandro Volta was Luigi Galvani, in fact, it was Voltas disagreement with Galvanis theory of galvanic responses (animal tissue contained a form of electricity) that led Volta to build the voltaic pile to prove that electricity did not come from the animal tissue but was generated by the contact of different metals, brass and iron, in a moist environment. Ironically, both scientists were right. Named In Honor of Alessandro Volta Volt - The unit of electromotive force, or difference of potential, which will cause a current of one ampere to flow through a resistance of one ohm. Named for Italian physicist Alessandro Volta.Photovoltaic - Photovoltaic are systems that convert light energy into electricity. The term photo is a stem from the Greek phos, which means light. Volt is named for Alessandro Volta, a pioneer in the study of electricity.

Ted Cruz for President Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Ted Cruz for President - Essay Example The website takes into considerations Christian conservatives. His address littered with the types of rhetoric that appeal to the credulous in America. He stated that God’s blessings had been with America from the beginning and God is not done with America. He drives his support by calling on millions of conservatives who rose to reignite the promise of America. His words and zeal give hope that seems unattainable (TedCruz 1). He tends to give people promises that seem unrealistic. He advocates for change by promising on new ideas. His strategy aligns with an agitation for the rights of the minority, or instance, are the religious conservatives. The conservatives follow the Bible teachings and expect everyone to conform (Cruz for president 1). They create an ideal society of Christianity. His campaigns have the themes of developing tougher immigration laws, the right to bear arms, a more robust foreign policy, and an end to Obamacare. He raps all his motives in the flag of American exceptionalism, divine providence, and naked nationalism (Cruz for president 1). Americans view his ideas and philosophies differently. Most Americans believe that where he wants to take them is where they came from some centuries back. For instance, a society with sexual inequality and with women denied the right over their bodies. In his campaign website, he ludicrously lists the repeal of the Obamacare as the primary thing that Americans need to do to restore the economic opportunity. He is also fighting for the end to ethanol subsidies and an end in the Export-Import Bank. He positions himself as real small government opponent of the called crony capitalism (Cruz for president 1). He, therefore, helps in the fight for a socialist society. Cruz also calls for the fight for traditional marriage. He gives hope to the minority. His ideas seem to vary with other candidates as stands out with an aim of coming up with

Calculation of Values Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Calculation of Values - Essay Example The following data are considered not valid for analysis: results that were reported erroneously (reporting errors) such as data with inappropriate units and "results reported as approximately 10, 100 or 1000 times greater or smaller than the majority of submitted results" (Croucher, 2004); results reported as not detected (n.d.); and results from participants not quoting a percentage recovery. Aside from these non-valid data, each report has the following points to be considered for removal of non-valid data. Results for total fat recorded without any reference to the use of an acid hydrolysis step; and nitrogen results that appeared to be for protein i.e. results approximately a factor of 6 greater than the majority of results (Knaggs, 2004a). Results reported as 0 ug/kg; results from participants not quoting a percentage recovery or stating na, EXCEPT for total AF, where participants submitted results that were the sum of their recovery corrected individual aflatoxins (Walker, 2005). Participants reporting not detected and subsequently assigned a result of 0g/kg; results from participants whose recovery is outside the range 70-110%; and results below the stated LOQ including results with no LOQ stated (Leach, 2005). The value of p estimates the limits ... t of 0g/kg; results from participants whose recovery is outside the range 70-110%; and results below the stated LOQ including results with no LOQ stated (Leach, 2005). ii) Minimizing the influence of outliers by the use of a robust statistical procedure to derive the mean iii) Normality (Kolmogorov - Smirnov test), or otherwise, of the distribution of the results is considered. iv) Assessment of the standard uncertainty () of the robust mean = /n, = the standard deviation of the robust mean n = the number of data points used to calculate the robust mean B. Target Standard Deviation for the Round The value of p estimates the limits of a satisfactory performance in a FAPAS proficiency test (FAPAS, 2002). In cases where the value of p does not reflect best practice for the analyses in question, the predictive models of the appropriate form of the Horwitz equation are valuable indicators of the best practice. This equation predicts a standard deviation from a given concentration (c) and requires c to be expressed as a dimensionless mass ratio (1ppm = 10-6 or % = 10-2) i) For analyte concentrations= (0.22c) / mr ii) For analyte concentrations 120 ppb and 13.8% = (0.2c0.8495) / mr iii) For analyte concentrations > 13.8 % = (0.01c0.5) / mr where, c = concentration (assigned value), expressed as a dimensionless mass ratio mr = dimensionless mass ratio. In all reports, the was calculated according to the equations above. In report 0141 however only the value of for the ash was estimated in this manner. The value of for moisture, total fat, nitrogen and hydroxyproline was derived from collaborative trial data assuming a linear relationship : = (RSDR / 100)c where, RSDR = Relative

Organic vs. Non-organic Food Essay Example for Free

Organic vs. Non-organic Food Essay Bottom line, going green can cultivate envy. The public is constantly bombarded with the idea that organic products are better. Perhaps this is true, but maybe it is brilliant marketing simply selling a status symbol. Envy can come from a neighbor’s luscious, organically grown front yard to the hybrid vehicle a co-worker drives, to the organic foods that consumers in a higher financial echelon seem to be able to only afford. Is this envy justifiable or is the notion of organics and its superiority a tactic of propaganda to boost the already $30-plus billion industry even higher, according to Farm and Dairy’s April, 2012 article â€Å"Organic Food Sales†? Although proponents of organic food insist it is healthier than conventional food, non-organic foods are extremely comparable to its organic counterpart, possibly even more necessary. The United States has evolved into a powerful nation; one that boasts of freedoms, luxuries and an overabundance of practically everything. The United States is also a country which has a population that grows greater and greater each year. Reasons including the number of births outnumbering the number of deaths, as well as the number of immigrants coming to live the â€Å"American Dream. † According to the Census Bureau End-of-2011 estimate, â€Å"the United States will enter 2012 with a population of roughly 312. 8 million people† (Schlesinger, 2011, para, 1). This statistic takes into account one birth approximately every 8 seconds, one death every 12 seconds as well as one new migrant entering the country approximately every 46 seconds. As cited by Schlesinger (2011), this ends up with a population increase of over two million in 2012. This is a staggering number and would only increase over time. In his article â€Å"Point: Industrial Agriculture has Improved Farming for Hundreds of Years,† George Wright (2011) explains how the use of biotechnology and techniques such as caging animals used to increase the profits of agricultural industry is not a contemporary idea. Wright (2011, para. 7) states how â€Å"the use of biotechnology to produce food has been around for over 8000 years. † He gives examples such as enzymes being used to make foods like baked goods and dairy products. Wright also asserts that â€Å"biotechnology is expected to help agriculture by improving quality, nutrition, safety and the processing of raw crops,† (Wright, 2011, para. 7). Biotechnology is not a process that is new to the agriculture industry. Finally, Wright’s article (2011, para. 12) concludes that â€Å"with the world’s population at six billion and heading higher, there is no practical alternative to ‘industrial agriculture’. † He also points out that â€Å"agricultural innovations from industries such as biotechnology are advancing agricultural production,† (Wright, 2011, para. 13). In addition, Avery’s article â€Å"‘Frontline’ Perpetuates Pesticide Myths† (1993), Avert adds that â€Å"it is believed that if the world converts to organic systems of farming, by 2050 this system of farming will not be able to supply enough food for the population and will be responsible for massive amounts of deaths due to starvation. Another organic misnomer claims that organic livestock and plants are free from chemicals and unnecessary medications, unlike their non-organic counterparts. According to Nancy Sprague’s 2011 article, â€Å"Counterpoint: Organic Food is Unnecessary the Current Food Supply is Safe†, there are a myths about organic food that are debunked. She discusses how organic foods are actually prepared and while comparing and contrasting it to the process non-organic foods go through prior to arriving at the grocery shelves. When discussing about the use (or lack thereof) of pesticides, Sprague (2011, para. 4) notes that â€Å"organic farmers can use pesticides from an approved list,† which contradicts the consumer’s belief that organic foods have not come into contact with any pesticides. Sprague goes further to state the toxins that the organic industry supposedly takes pride into avoiding are contaminants that actually cannot be avoided. Nitrates, chemicals and antibiotics are now found naturally within the environment due to â€Å"broad contamination of the earth’s natural resources† (Sprague, 2011, para. 4). The organic industry also asserts that the levels of hormones in non-organic meats are extremely high and in-turn dangerous to the consumers’ health. In fact, in Lester Aldrich’s (2006) article, â€Å"Consumers Eat Up Organic Beef Despite Costs, Unproven Benefits†, he finds quite the opposite conclusion. Aldrich discusses the results of a study by Gary Smith, professor of meat sciences at the Center for Red Meat Safety. This study analyzed and compared the levels of hormones found in two-3 ounce steaks, one each from an organic animal and one from a non-organic animal. The results were shocking. Smith’s compare/contrast analysis showed that there was an almost incomprehensible difference (on a nanogram scale) between the hormone levels from both the organic and non-organic samples,† (Aldrich, 2006, para. 29). Aldrich (2006) then compared these results to the levels of these same hormones to a typical birth control pill that is voluntarily consumed. The results showed â€Å"the average birth-control pill provides 35,000 nanograms of estrogen daily† whereas â€Å"a non-pregnant woman produces about 480,000 nanograms of estrogen, 240,000 nanograms of testosterone and 10. 1 million nanograms of progesterone daily,† (Aldrich, 2006, para. 30). The comparison is astounding and should put any worries about added hormones in our food to rest. Prior to pasteurization of food, people would die young due to food-borne illnesses. Avery (2002) opens his article â€Å"The Hidden Dangers In Organic Food† with â€Å"Products most people think are purer than other foods are making people seriously ill. † Avery’s (2002) article mentions how the invention of the refrigerator as well as simple procedures such as food refrigeration and washing ones hands before eating or making food would eventually keep food-borne illness to a minimum in the United States, although those individuals who were quite ill or weak would die if exposed to food-borne bacteria. Unfortunately, with all the claims of health, organic food is becoming more notorious for being served on a plate with food-borne illnesses such as salmonella, and now more recently, E. coli. Avery (2002, para. 1) cites the U. S. Centers for Disease Control stating â€Å"people who eat organic and natural foods are eight times likely as the rest of the population to be attacked by a deadly new strain of E. coli bacteria,† salmonella or fungus. According to Avery (2002), USDA offered organic famers a method that did not require either pesticides or pasteurization to protect the crops; irradiation. This process used low levels of gamma radiation to kill bacteria while maintaining the freshness of the food. Unfortunately, organic farmers were outraged and more than 200,000 protesters opposed the idea therefore the USDA removed this process from the final organic food standard (Avery, 2002). This has not been beneficial for public safety, as cited in Sprague’s (2011) where she points out that there have been several infections caused by E. coli in the United States during 2009 alone. Organic farming does have one huge positive aspect: it strives for self-sustainability and leaves a small carbon footprint in the environment. With that said, organic farms, regardless of whether or not its food can be proven to be healthier than conventional food, requires a much larger area of land mass to produce the same amount of food than that of a conventional farm. According to Avery (2002), â€Å"agriculture already takes up 36 percent of the world’s land surface. † Avery (2002) translates this to mean that by year 2050, short of a worldwide cataclysm, the world will need 2. 5 times more food output than what is needed today. Wilcox (2011, para. 26) states in her article â€Å"Mythbusting 101: Organic Farming Conventional Agriculture† that until organic farming can contend with the output of conventional farming due to space needed without the ecological costs involved, the need for more space will be severely detrimental to the environment. † Organic farms help the environment on small, local levels. Unfortunately they do not produce the same amount of food that a conventional farm can; between 20%-50% below what a conventional farm of the same size will produce (Wilcox, 2011). Wilcox (2011) also emphasizes that with more advanced technology, organic farming may eventually be able to keep up with conventional food production, however, if more areas of the planet become transformed into organic farmland in the meantime, the planet’s natural habitats will begin to quickly deplete. Conventionally farmed foods and organic foods both have positive and negative aspects to their individual philosophies. Organic farming does not necessarily produce healthier food. Hormone levels in organic and non-organic foods are extremely similar and the lack of pesticides in organic food contributes to a higher frequency of food-borne illnesses. As much as this is true, the organic farm leaves a smaller carbon footprint than a conventional farm, which, in the long run will allow for the environment to sustain itself and be able to continue producing more food. With that being said, when going to the store to buy food, the consumer should make the conscious choice to purchase organic foods when it is affordable, in order to support and promote self-sustainable/organic farming. If the choice is made to buy conventional foods, the consumer should not feel guilty or worried the food is substandard to organic. There should be confidence knowing that USDA regulations are being followed by conventional farms to produce the highest quality food possible. ? References Aldrich, L. (2006, July 12). Consumers eat up organic beef despite costs, unproven benefits. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from htttp://search. proquest. com. proxy. devry. edu/business/docprintview/398944062/abstract/137 Avery, D. T. (1993, Apr 01). Frontline perpetuates pesticide myths. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from http://search. proquest. com. proxy. devry. edu/business/docprintview/398370529/Record/1371 Avery, D. T. (2002, June 25). The hidden dangers in organic food. Retrieved from http://www. cgfi. org/2002/06/the-hidden-dangers-in-organic-food/ Sprague, N. (2011). Counterpoint: Organic food is unnecessary the current food supply is safe. Points Of View: Organic Food, 3. Retrieved from http://search. ebscohost. com/login. aspx? direct=tryedb=pwhAN=43286301site=pov-line Schlesinger, R. (2011, Dec 30). U. S.population 2012: nearly 313 million people. U. S. News and World Report, Retrieved from http://www. usnews. com/opinion/blogs/robert-schlesinger/2011/12/30/us-population-2012-nearly-313-million-people Wilcox, C. (2011, July 18). Mythbusting 101: organic farming conventional agriculture. Scientific American, Retrieved from http://blogs. scientificamerican. com/science-sushi/2011/07/18/mythbusting-101-organic-farming-conventional-agriculture/ Wright, G. (2011). Point: Industrial agriculture has improved farming for hundreds of years. Points Of View: Factory Farming, 2.

Hamlet :: essays research papers

William Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a play full of sorrow and excitement, its full of gore and incest. The play has a large amount of betrayal and the person supplying most of that is Claudius, the king and Hamlets uncle. Claudius is cold-hearted, full of hate, and a coward. He is the king but, the ironic thing about that is he should not be and as Hamlet is the prince, the death of his father should put him at the throne.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The play starts off with a tense setting, as the guards have seen a ghost that looks like the old king or Hamlets father who they believed had died of a snake bite. This is the showing of the first cruel deed Claudius has done, the reader does not know yet but Claudius is the reason that King Hamlet dies. The reader knows that it is Claudius when Hamlet encounters the ghost and the ghost tells Hamlet, “Thus I was sleeping, by a brothers hand, of life, at crown, of queen, at once dispatch’d.';(1) The meaning of the ghost’s quote is that he is telling Hamlet that Claudius killed him when he was asleep and that he took his crown and his queen. This is the first time the reader really knows that Claudius is cold-hearted and ruthless.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After Hamlet heard this, he held a play where the murder of his father is reacted in a scene, that Hamlet himself designed. The purpose of this was to see Claudius’s reaction to the scene to prove if Claudius is the real murderer or not. After Claudius sees the play he storms out of the stage scared and surprised. Claudius then prays to heaven for forgiveness of his sins since he knows that Hamlet has figured out what he has done, he does this so he will not get sent to hell. Claudius says, “My words fly up, my thoughts remain below: Words without thoughts never to heaven go.';(2) He is praying for forgiveness but he is not sorry, he just doesn’t want to get sent to hell and that is what the quote is saying, since he is not sorry his words remain below, or on Earth. This further proves how cold-hearted Claudius is, he has killed his brother, taken his crown, taken his wife, has been discovered, and he still does not feel guilty at all about what he has done.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Claudius now knows that Hamlet has figured him out and what he has done, so Claudius plans to send Hamlet away to England with a note for the king of England to have Hamlet killed.

Alcoholism is a chronic disease Essay

Alcoholism is a progressive and chronic disease that includes controlling drinking, using alcohol even though it causes problems, having physical dependence with alcohol, or having withdrawal symptoms when one tries to cut back or stop consuming alcohol. One can have a problem with alcohol and not have it progressed to alcoholism. That is called problem drinking which means one drinks too much causing repeated problem in their life. According to the Mayo Clinic (2012), binge drinking is a pattern where a male consumes five or more drinks in a row, or a female drinks at least four drinks in a row. Binge drinking can lead to the same health risks associated with alcoholism (Mayo, 2012). Not being able to stop drinking or cut back and denying you have a problem is a few of the things that come with alcoholism Criteria for alcoholism based on the DSM V are an individual meeting any two of the eleven criteria during the same twelve month period. Examples of these criteria include: a persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control alcohol use, craving or strong desire or urge to use alcohol, and important social, occupational or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of alcohol use (NIH, 2013b). As for ICD criteria, an individual must experience certain criteria as well. ICD criteria require an individual to experience three or more of the criteria occurring together for at least 1 month or if less than 1 month, occurring together repeatedly within a 12-month period. Examples of these criteria include: â€Å"Difficulties in controlling drinking in terms of onset, termination, or levels of use; drinking in larger amounts or over a longer period than intended; or a persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to reduce or control drinking, Need for significantly increased amounts of alcohol to achieve intoxication or desired effect; or markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amo unt of alcohol, or Important alternative pleasures or interests given up or reduced because of drinking† (Hasin, 2013). According to the article, Alcohol Consumption and Cancer Risk (2011), there is a dramatic link between alcohol and cancer. â€Å"Heavy alcohol consumption ( ≠¥4 drinks/day) is significantly associated with an increased risk of about 5-fold for oral and pharyngeal cancer and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, 2.5-fold for laryngeal cancer, 50% for colorectal and breast cancers, and 30% for pancreatic cancer† (Pelucchi, Tramacere,  Boffetta, Negri, & Vecchia, 2011). Evidence proves that even one drink per day increases the risk for pharyngeal or oral cancer by 20% and 30% for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Breast cancer has an increased risk of occurrence with three to six drinks a week. When an individual exposes themselves to both alcohol and tobacco, there is a greater increase in oral and pharyngeal cancer risk. Alcohol also causes an increase in head and neck cancer when it is used alone (not used in conjunction with tobacco). â€Å"Restricting alcohol to limits indicated by the European Code Against Cancer would avoid nearly 90% of alcohol-attributable cancers and cancer deaths in men and over 50% of cancers in women† (Pelucchi, Tramacere, Boffetta, Negri, & Vecchia, 2011). This article provides great evidence of excessive alcohol being linked to further health risks for individuals who indulge over the recommended amounts. A person suffering from alcoholism has many outer appearance changes throughout their life. Someone suffering from alcohol withdrawal may experience nausea, sweating, hand tremors, visual hallucinations, or seizures. These are all very common symptoms associated when an alcohol dependent person goes through withdrawal. Not only do these physical symptoms occur, but psychological symptoms also occur. Examples of psychological symptoms include depression, anxiety, irritability, restlessness, or insomnia. Both the physical and psychological symptoms can be visible from an outsider’s perspective. An alcohol dependent person may not experience withdrawal symptoms if they are taking in enough alcohol on a daily basis that meet their required needs to feel well. Though they may not have the withdrawal symptoms, they do have physically visible symptoms from their excessive alcohol intake. Symptoms include facial redness/flushing of the skin, xerosis, dull skin tone, follicular hyperkeratosis, gingivitis, tooth decay, black hairy tongue, and weight gain. The most common though include dehydration of the skin and bloating in the abdomen or face (Drink Aware, 2014). Drinking too much alcohol deprives the skin from important vitamins and nutrients. Over time, losing these nutrients from excessive drinking can cause permanent damage from frequent flushing and redness of the skin. Facial and abdominal bloating occurs when the person experiences dehydration from the excess about of alcohol intake (Drink Aware, 2014). Prevalence of lifetime alcohol  use by age and gender graph was reported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (2013c): males age 18-24- 70% and women 55%, males age 25-34- 82% and women 65%, males age 35-44- 82% and women 63%, males age 45-55- 80% and women 55%, and males age 55 + 71% and women 39% (NIH, 2013c). According to the data from the National Household Survey, most Americans had at least one drink of alcohol by late adolescence. Among men, 70% to 83% reported consuming alcohol on at least one occasion during their lifetime, as compared to 39% to 66% of women. The prevalence rate of lifetime alcohol use among men is highest among those aged 25 to 55 and lowest among the 18 to 24 and 55 or older age groups. Similar findings were found for women, although they reported lower rates than men. The rate of lifetime alcohol was lowest among women ages 55 or older. The largest gender difference was noted among the 55 years or older age group, with males drinkin g more. The smallest gender difference was between 18 to 24 years old (NIH, 2013c). Alcoholism results from the complex interaction of genetic, social, and environmental factors. Alcohol has widespread effects on the brain and can affect nerve cells, brain chemistry, and blood flow within the frontal lobes. Neurotransmitters are affected by long-term use of alcohol. Neurotransmitters are released when alcohol is consumed, which produce euphoria and a sense of well-being. â€Å"Chronic exposure of the brain to alcohol is thought to result in long-term adaptive changes that initially produce increased reinforcement for alcohol use and over time progress to withdrawal and negative affective states, so that regular alcohol use is required to feel normal† (Chung & Pittman, 2013) Being dependent on alcohol is often associated with psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, depression, or PTSD. Genetic factors are believed to play a role in alcohol abuse. The New York Times (2013), believe the amygdala, part in the brain responsible for controlling cravings, has been reported to be smaller in individuals with family history of alcoholism (TNYT, 2013). There are also many social and environmental factors that contribute to the development of alcohol abuse or alcoholism. There are mass marketing of alcohol on television, billboards, and gas stations. Marketing tends to increase the number of alcohol sales and in turn increase chance of alcohol abuse among individuals. Many young individuals are pressured by friends or even family to begin drinking at a young age. Drinking at a young age greatly increases  chances of that individual to suffer from alcoholism in the near future. During the general assessment of a person suffering from alcoholism, the nurse is to first gather accurate data regarding their drinking patterns. The nurse must ask the question, â€Å"Do you sometimes drink beer, wine, or other alcoholic beverages?† If the person states yes, then the nurse asks â€Å"How many times in the past year have you had five or more drinks in a day?† This will help the nurse gather important data regarding excessive alcohol consumption. The next step is to tell the patient to decrease the amount of alcohol that is being consumed since the chance of It is also important to ask about their life style, family, and relationships. The person may be experiencing depression or anxiety if they have lost family support because of their addiction. If this person is experiencing withdrawal symptoms during the assessment, the nurse should plan to provide comfort measures for this patient. The patient may also be very agitated, embarrassed, or not level headed, since alcohol has these effects on an individual. By simply looking at the patients’ appearance, the nurse should be able to determine if the alcohol has caused further damage to the body’s organs. For example, if the liver is failing, the person may experience jaundice. Focusing the assessment around the use of the alcohol and effects it has on his or her life will be of most concern. The patient should have a full lab workup to determine if further damage has occurred to this patient’s health. The nurse can also provide appropriate resources for help, such as AA meetings, rehab, or family counseling, which will be beneficial for the patient. Drinking too much can take a serious toll on one’s health. Alcohol can affect a person brain, heart, liver, pancreas, immune system, and can increase the risk for cancer. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (2013a), alcohol interferes with the brain’s communication pathways. These disruptions can change mood and behavior. These changes can also make it harder to think clearly and move with coordination (NIH, 2013a). The heart can be affected with cardiomyopathy which is stretching and drooping of heart muscle. Arrhythmias, stroke, and high blood pressure can also occur from over using alcohol. Research by the NIH (2013a), alcohol can inflame the liver and cause steatosis or fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, fibrosis, and or cirrhosis. The pancreas produces toxic substances that can eventually lead to pancreatitis (NIH, 2013a). Pancreatitis is inflammation and  swelling of the blood vessels in the pancreas that prevents proper digestion. The immune system is weakened. Chronic drinkers are more likely to contract diseases like pneumonia and tuberculosis than people who don’t drink. Chronic alcohol consumption increases risk for cancers such as mouth, esophagus, throat, liver, and breast Alcohol pharmacokinetics includes absorption, distribution, and metabolism. After oral absorption, alcohol is absorbed from the duodenum by diffusion (Ramchandani, 2009). The rate depends on the volume of alcohol consumed (the less concentrated the slower rate of absorption), rate of drinking (faster you drink the faster the absorption), food, and gastric metabolism. The distribution of alcohol is into total body water. There are also gender differences in body. Women have a lower proportion in total body water compared to men. Metabolism of alcohol occurs primarily in the liver in a two-step process. As researched by Ramchandani (2009), the first step, alcohol is oxidized to acetaldehyde by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase or ADH. In the second step, acetaldehyde is converted to acetate by the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase. Then there is alcohol pharmacodynamics (Ramchandani, 2009). Alcohol is a CNS depressant. Its stimulatory effects result from depression of inhibitory control mechanisms in the brain. Characteristic responses to alcohol include euphoria, impaired thought processes and decreased mechanical efficiency. More than just a doctor is needed for the treatment of alcoholism. Alcoholism counselors, social workers, psychologists, and family therapists are a few others that may be involved. There are three stages in treating alcoholism. The first is to make sure the person is medically stabilized. Next, they must undergo a detoxification process which is then followed by long-term abstinence and rehabilitation. According to Cunha (2012), the most common medication in treating alcoholism is disulfiram (Antabuse). It interferes with alcohol metabolism resulting in a metabolite that makes the person nauseated and very uncomfortable when consuming alcohol (Cunha, 2012). If they stop taking this they can implant a device under the skin so they have to continuously take it without the freedom of being able to stop it. Other medications used are naltrexone (ReVia), acamprosate (Campral) and a class of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) (Cunha, 2012). Alcohol withdrawal is treated by oral or IV hydration along with medications. According to Cunha (2012), the most common  medication groups used in treating alcohol withdrawal symptoms are benzodiazepines, which include lorazepam (Ativan), diazepam (Valium), and chlordizepoxide (Librium) (Cunha, 2012). Any person that is being treated for alcoholism should also receive thiamine (vitamin B1). The thiamine levels ar e usually low and if deficiency occurs it could lead to Wernicke’s encephalopathy. The detoxification stage involves stopping the alcohol consumption. This usually occurs in an inpatient setting and will require extensive support. The medication will be given and then tapered off until no withdrawal symptoms are evident. This process lasts a few days to a week. Rehabilitation can be either a short term or long term residential program. These help those who are more severely dependent and need the help to develop skills not to drink and to work on ways to help them from relapsing. Short term programs are less than four weeks long where long term programs can last for a month to a year or more. There are also several effective individual treatments delivered by professional counselors in outpatient treatment clinics. These treatments include: twelve-step facilitation therapy, motivational enhancement therapy, and cognitive- behavioral coping skills. There are also self-help programs which are: Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), women for sobriety, Rational Recovery, and SMART recovery (Cunha, 2012). These allow alcoholics to stop drinking and remain sober on their own. In conclusion, alcoholism is a very serious condition that sadly many people face in the world. There any many means of helping these patients, but only if the individual wants the assistance. Once the person is so alcohol dependent, they are in a state of denial and think that nothing is wrong with their habit, but the earlier we get them to understand their problems then the easier it is to help them through it. Alcoholism is not only a terrible disease itself, but it also leads to many other deadly diseases and illnesses. The first priority to make a difference in the world is to educate the youth about alcohol, which will hopefully decrease the rates of alcoholism occurrences in the future. The effects of alcoholism which are physical and psychological can cause many problems that affect a person’s life in all aspects. Alcohol alters one’s brain, muscles, digestion process, and other disorders that affect one’s health. It also can cause depression or changes in behavior that result in problems with their family, friends, and with themselves. References Chung, P. & Pittman, J. (2013). Epocrates Online. Alcohol Abuse. Retrieved from https://online.epocrates.com/noFrame/showPage.do?method=diseases&MonographId=19 8&ActiveSectionId=24 Cunha, J. (2012). E Medicine Health. Alcoholism. Retrieved from http://www.emedicinehealth.com/alcoholism/page8_em.htm Drink Aware.(2014).Health Effects of Alcohol. Alcohol Dependence. Retrieved from https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/check-the-facts/health-effects-of-alcohol/mental- health/alcohol-dependence Hasin, D. (2013). National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Classification of Alcohol Use Disorders. Retrieved from http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh27-1/5-17.htm Mayo Clinic Staff. (2012). Alcoholism. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alcoholism/basics/definition/CON-20020866) National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIH). (2013a). Alcohol’s Effects on the `Body. http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/alcohols-effects-body National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (NIH). (2013b). Alcohol Use Disorder. Retrieved from http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/dsmfactsheet/dsmfact.pdf National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIH). (2013c). Epidemiology of Alcohol. Problems in the United States. Module 1. Retrieved from http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Social/Module1Epidemiology/Module1.html Pelucchi, C., Tramacere, I., Boffetta, P., Negri, E., & Vecchia, C. (2011). Alcohol Consumption and Cancer Risk. Nutrition & Cancer, 63(7), 983-990. doi:10.1080/01635581.2011.596642.

Human rights violation against Kurdish minorities in Turkey Essay

Kish had never known how it feels to be happy. As a small boy, his parents were killed when one of the major buildings in the city was bombed. He was very young then and he cannot even recall the faces of his parents. Fortunately he sought refuge with neighbors who were more than willing to take him in. However, after a few months of his stay, events took a new turn. Kish became the house help of the Mirth family. Too tiny to cope up with the difficult chaos, Kish received insults for a small mistake. Sometimes, he was severely whipped. Every member of the large family could turn their anger to the small child. While other children of the house attended their classes, Kish was denied the right for his education. Orphaned and homeless, Kish had no one to turn to or a better place to run away to. He thus remained with the terrible family, enduring pain and suffering. Kish is just a representation of what the Turkish Kurds have gone through in the past. The Kurds as they are widely known have no place they can call home. They are the ancient Middle East people who live in Kurdistan, a mountainous place. The Turkish government has been part and parcel in the oppression and discrimination of the Kurds in the country (English Online, nd). Kurdistan covers different countries namely: Turkey, Syria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iraq and Iran. After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in the Middle East in the early 20th century, independent states like Turkey and Iran were formed with the exception of a Kurdistan state. Many are the times when the Kurds have been promised of an independent state of their own but the countries around refused the creation of independent Kurdistan state. The Kurds have inhabited this particular place for a number of centuries now. They had been like homeless children as they had never had their own country. The countries on which Kurdistan stands have taken advantage of their homelessness and oppressed the Kurds beyond measure (English Online, nd). The suffering tale of the Kurds Turkey can win the Nobel Peace Breaking Award (if such is introduced) for their mistreatments on the minorities. It is nearly two hundred years now and the Turks are still adamant to abandon the malpractices. The only term that can best describe the Turks is, ‘bloody killers. ’ In the early 20th century, they conducted a genocide that left a million and a half Armenians dead. The blood thirsty Turks have turned their heads towards the Kurds who have been fighting for their identity, culture and language. Approximately 30,000 Kurds have been slain by the cruel sword of the Turks (Lobby, nd). The Turks not only killed but also displaced The Kurds. Turkish troops have put 3,000 Kurdish villages ablaze putting the lives of three million Kurds in refugees’ camps (Lobby, nd). In the years1980s and 90s, Kurdish communities were evicted from their homes by the Turkish security forces. The act was aimed at depriving the armed PKK (Worker’s Party of Kurdistan) accessibility to infrastructure and goods. ,500 towns together with villages were blazed under the state of emergency rule. From a research done in the month of December 2006 by the Turkish government, approximately one million Kurds had been displaced out of south east Turkey from 1986 – 2005. The NGOs had a different figure of between one and four million five hundred thousand which is quite a shocking figure of the IDPs (Internally Displaced People). They had to be compensated for the displacement but by the set deadline of May 2008, 313,829 cases had still been filed. According to reports IDPs were to receive lower compensations as compared with state officials. The officials are said to have suffered damages during the conflict. Did they suffer more or less than the Kurdish? Furthermore who started the chaos? In this compensation also there is gender discrimination and senseless documentary evidence requirements. Other damages caused like post – traumatic stress was not compensated (Jaroslawski, 2008). The Progressive Report of the European Commission of 2008 points out that if the situation of the IDPs is not going to be addressed, they will continue suffering socially and economically. The IDPS will have no accessibility to educational, health and social services. This is an indication that the IDPs by nature are discriminated against not by their fate but by being Kurdish (Jaroslawski, 2008). Turkey has carried out ethnic cleansing and displaced the Kurds from their homes for no mature reason. This can only be termed as violation of the human rights (Lobby, nd). The Kurdish people are objects of torture by the Turkish security officers. A report by the Human Rights Watch in 2007 showed that there was an increased police brutality when the daily identity checks were being carried out. The prisoners also carried the same cross as they were maltreated. Fatal shootings of the Kurdish people were common activities; they were not carried out by rogues but were extrajudicial killings. Why was all this brutality so common in the southeast Turkey and to the Kurdish Humanity? The security officer use force wrongly and intimidate the Kurds (Jaroslawski, 2008). Human rights violation against the Kurds continues to be experienced. There are new anti-terror regulations that have been put to infringe on the rights of the Kurds. Examples as Jaroslawski lists them include†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ access to a lawyer for suspected detainees may now be denied for a period of 24 hours, publishing houses can be temporary closed without court decision under accusation of ’ terrorist propaganda’ and conscientious objection (from military service) can now be considered as a terrorist offence† (Jaroslawski, 2008). Why does this only happen to Kurdish- related – issues? Judges can give many interpretations concerning ‘incitement to violence’ and ‘public interest’ as far as the Kurds are concerned. It will lead to freedom of expression violations! (Jaroslawski, 2008). Kurds have been treated unfairly by Turkish government who have coined a name for them; â€Å"mountain Kurds (English Online, nd). In a demonstration, a Kurdish girl, Berivan aged 15 received 8 year imprisonment for throwing stones at the police at a banned PKK rally. Was this young girl judged fairly? It was not a surprise for Bervian’s arrest as Kurdish children get imprisoned for singing Kurdish songs (Kayserian, 2010). What crime is committed by speaking a language that you were born with? The Kurds speak a language close to Persian but the Turkish governments have forbidden them from speaking their own language (English Online, nd). Each and every language group has a culture but the question that is hard to answer is; is there culture superiority? The Kurds were not allowed to express themselves culturally. They were not permitted to wear their own traditional clothes in towns and cities (English – online, nd). The Kurdish culture was presented by the Turkish officials as backwards and violent. This was an aim to eradicate the Kurdish culture and replace it with the more ‘modernized’ values of the Turks (Jaroslawski, 2008). The Kurds have their own identity. For example they claim that the name ‘Kurd’ is onomatopoeic for the sound made by cracking snow as the ‘highlander Turks’ walked along the mountainous place. The Turkish community is working very hard to see that the ethnic identity of the Kurds has been completely eroded. All that the Kurdish community wants from Turkey is their language right. They are claiming the freedom to let them learn and speak their language. However, this is only possible after the Turkish constitution has been amended. This will not come so fast; the freedom to use their language will continue to be denied for a longer time (Jaroslawki, 2008). Though some radio stations have been allowed to broadcast in other languages other than Turkish, educational radio programs to teach Kurdish language are prohibited. Young people are the targeted group; not to learn their language. Kurdish is not taught in the schooling system be it in private or public systems. It is also illegal to use any other language apart from Turkish in the administration sector or in political rallies. The Kurdish has traditional celebrations of Kurdish Newroz Springs in the months of March and May. In the recent years, there has been a clash with security forces. The security forces have been condemned for using their force to ruin the celebrations of the Kurds. This is a clear portrayal that the right to embrace their culture has been severely squeezed from all directions (Jaroslawki, 2008). The Kurds have no freedom of expression. The defenders of their rights have been through trying times in the attempt to express their opinions. Jaroslawki in the article, Human rights of the Kurdish community in Turkey, says that they â€Å"†¦have often been prosecuted under Article 301 of the Turkish penal Law for ‘denigrating Turkishness’ and state institutions† (Jaroslawki, 2008). There are very many prosecutions against the Kurds who peacefully express their opinions (Squidoo, 2010) Income in Turkey is not distributed fairly. Kurds in the East and South – East regions of Turkey are disadvantaged. They are languishing in poverty due to the unbalanced income. Development in the Kurdish lands is needed but the issue regarding Kurds is controlled by political determinants. The Turkish Prime Minister, Tayyip Erdogan declared an investment of 11. 7 billion euros to put up infrastructure in the Kurdish regions. This was perhaps a campaign strategy towards regional elections of 2009 and not a genuine state policy. He visited the province of Diyarbakir in 2008 and before his footsteps faded, there were riots by the Kurds and their clash with the security offices of Turkey. One would be left wondering why the Kurdish went on riots after such an ‘honored’ visit by their Prime Minister (Jaroslawski, 2008). The Kurdish people have failed to be genuinely represented in the Grand National Assembly. The poor representation is blamed on the conflicts while in the real sense it is not the cause. The DTP pro – Kurdish party with its own independent candidates managed 10% national vote requirement and obtained 23 seats of the Grand National Assembly. Currently, the party has a great public support. However, corruption, nepotism and allegation of the party’s linkage with PKK made a big portion of the Kurdish electorate convinced and they voted AKP party; currently the ruling party. The Kurds blame the Kurdish politicians for failure to undertake a legal action (Jaroslawski, 2008). How has the human rights violation been addressed by the government? Turkey is, as it says, has tried to respect the human rights of all its citizens by abolishing the death penalty as from the year 2003 (Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign affairs, nd). The reform process has ensured an admirable progress also in â€Å"inter alia, abolishing death penalty, fight against torture, reforming the prison system, freedom of expression, freedom of association and assembly, freedom of religion, functioning of the judiciary, civil-military relations, economics, social and cultural rights and anti-corruption measures† says the foreign affairs ministry in one of their objectives. Human rights education is currently offered in the school system to increase awareness to the citizens about their human rights. This will be in no exception to the Kurdish community also (Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign affairs, nd). The Turkey government has lifted the ban on use of the Kurdish language. Kurdish broadcasts have been legalized but Kurdish cultural expressions are still to be permitted (Squidoo, 2010). The Turkey government claims to protect human rights. What rights are protected if there is no freedom of association? PKK, Kurdish citizens’ voice was founded in 1980 to help overcome the people’s oppression. The Turkish government called the organization a terrorist group for the group’s fight against violations of the human rights (Kayserian, 2010). Human Rights Policy of Turkey One of the major objectives of the Turkey government is to promote and protect human rights. It is for this reason that there has been reform processes currently. The aims of the reforms are to give strength to democracy and ensuring that the rights and freedoms such as the human rights are respected. What right is respected when Turkey deprive some of its citizens of their human rights? Are these reforms meant to cover a specific group of people and not for all? (Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign affairs, nd). According to the human rights policies, it is the work of the Human Rights Boards to carry out investigations on human rights’ abuses and thereafter report to the relevant authorities for a legal action. There is also a parliamentary Human Rights Inquiry Commission that monitors human rights issues especially in prisons and detention centers (Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign affairs, nd).

Knoxville Campaign in the Civil War

Knoxville Campaign in the Civil War Knoxville Campaign - Conflict Dates: The Knoxville Campaign was fought in November and December 1863, during the American Civil War (1861-1865). Armies Commanders: Union Major General Ambrose BurnsideArmy of the Ohio (3 corps, approximately 20,000 men) Confederate Lieutenant General James Longstreetapprox. 15,000-20,000 men Knoxville Campaign - Background: Having been relieved from command of the Army of the Potomac following his defeat at the Battle of Fredericksburg in December 1862, Major General Ambrose Burnside was transferred west to head the Department of the Ohio in March 1863.  In this new post, he came under pressure from President Abraham Lincoln to push into East Tennessee as the region had long been a stronghold of pro-Union sentiment.  Devising a plan to advance from his base at Cincinnati with IX and XXIII Corps, Burnside was forced to delay when the former received orders to travel southwest to aid Major General Ulysses S. Grants siege of Vicksburg.  Compelled to await IX Corps return before attacking in force, he instead dispatched cavalry under Brigadier General William P. Sanders to raid in the direction of Knoxville. Striking in mid-June, Sanders command succeeded in inflicting damage on the railroads around Knoxville and frustrating Confederate commander Major General Simon B. Buckner.  With the return of IX Corps, Burnside commenced his advance in August.  Unwilling to directly attack the Confederate defenses in the Cumberland Gap, he swung his command to the west and proceeded over mountain roads.  As Union troops moved into the region, Buckner received orders to move south to aid General Braxton Braggs Chickamauga Campaign.  Leaving a single brigade to guard the Cumberland Gap, he departed East Tennessee with remainder of his command.  As a result, Burnside succeeded in occupying Knoxville on September 3 without a fight.  A few days later, his men forced the surrender of those Confederate troops guarding the Cumberland Gap. Knoxville Campaign - The Situation Changes: As Burnside moved to consolidate his position, he sent some reinforcements south to aid Major General William Rosecrans who was pressing into northern Georgia.  In late September, Burnside won a minor victory at Blountville and began moving the bulk of his forces toward Chattanooga.  As Burnside campaigned in East Tennessee, Rosecrans was badly defeated at Chickamauga and pursued back to Chattanooga by Bragg.  Caught with his command strung out between Knoxville and Chattanooga, Burnside concentrated the bulk of his men at Sweetwater and sought instructions on how he could aid Rosecrans Army of the Cumberland which was under siege by Bragg.  During this period, his rear was threatened by Confederate forces in southwestern Virginia.  Backtracking with some of his men, Burnside defeated Brigadier General John S. Williams at Blue Spring on October 10. Ordered to hold his position unless Rosecrans called for aid, Burnside remained in East Tennessee.  Later in the month, Grant arrived with reinforcements and relieved the siege of Chattanooga.  As these events were unfolding, dissent spread through Braggs Army of Tennessee as many of his subordinates were unhappy with his leadership.  To rectify the situation, President Jefferson Davis arrived to meet with the parties involved.  While there, he suggested that Lieutenant General James Longstreets corps, which had arrived from General Robert E. Lees Army of Northern Virginia in time for Chickamauga, be sent against Burnside and Knoxville.  Longstreet protested this order as he felt he possessed insufficient men for the mission and the departure of his corps would weaken the overall Confederate position at Chattanooga.  Overruled, he received orders to move north with support provided by 5,000 cavalry under Major General Joseph Wheeler.  Ã‚   Knoxville Campaign - Pursuit to Knoxville: Alerted to Confederate intentions, Lincoln and Grant were initially concerned about Burnsides exposed position.  Calming their fears, he successfully argued for a plan that would see his men slowly withdraw towards Knoxville and prevent Longstreet from taking part in future fighting around Chattanooga.  Moving out during the first week of November, Longstreet had hoped to use rail transport as far as Sweetwater.  This proved complicated as trains ran late, insufficient fuel was available, and many locomotives lacked the power to climb the steeper grades in the mountains.  As a result, it was not until November 12 that his men were concentrated at their destination.   Crossing the Tennessee River two days later, Longstreet commenced his pursuit of the retreating Burnside.  On November 16, the two sides met at the key crossroads of Campbells Station.  Though the Confederates attempted a double envelopment, Union troops succeeded in holding their position and repulsing Longstreets attacks.  Withdrawing later in the day, Burnside reached the safety of Knoxvilles fortifications the next day.  During his absence, these had been enhanced under the eye of engineer Captain Orlando Poe.  In an effort to gain more time for enhancing the citys defenses, Sanders and his cavalry engaged the Confederates in a delaying action on November 18.  Though successful, Sanders was mortally wounded in the fighting. Knoxville Campaign - Assaulting the City: Arriving outside the city, Longstreet commenced a siege despite lacking heavy guns.  Though he planned to assault Burnsides works on November 20, he elected to delay to await reinforcements led by Brigadier General Bushrod Johnson.  The postponement frustrated his officers as they recognized that every hour that passed allowed Union forces to strengthen their fortifications.  Assessing the citys defenses, Longstreet proposed an assault against Fort Sanders for November 29.  Located northwest of Knoxville, the fort extended out from the main defensive line and was seen a weak point in the Union defenses.  Despite its placement, the fort was situated atop a hill and fronted by wire obstacles and deep ditch.   On the night of November 28/29, Longstreet assembled around 4,000 men below Fort Sanders.  It was his intention to have them surprise the defenders and storm the fort shortly before dawn.  Preceded by a brief artillery bombardment, three Confederate brigades advanced as planned.  Briefly slowed by the wire entanglements, they pressed on towards the forts walls.  Reaching the ditch, the attack broke down as the Confederates, lacking ladders, were unable to scale the forts steep walls.  Though covering fire pinned down some of the Union defenders, Confederate forces in the ditch and surrounding areas quickly sustained heavy losses.  After approximately twenty minutes, Longstreet abandoned the attack having sustained 813 casualties against only 13 for Burnside. Knoxville Campaign - Longstreet Departs: As Longstreet debated his options, word arrived that Bragg had been crushed at the Battle of Chattanooga and forced to retreat south.  With the Army of Tennessee badly wounded, he soon received orders to march south to reinforce Bragg.  Believing these orders to be  impracticable he instead proposed remaining around Knoxville for a long as possible to prevent Burnside from joining Grant for a combined offensive against Bragg.  This proved effective as Grant felt compelled to dispatch Major General William T. Sherman to reinforce Knoxville.  Made aware of this movement, Longstreet abandoned his siege and withdrew northeast to Rogersville with an eye to eventually returning to Virginia. Reinforced at Knoxville, Burnside sent his chief of staff, Major General John Parke, in pursuit of the enemy with around 12,000 men.  On December 14, Parkes cavalry, led by Brigadier General James M. Shackelford was attacked by Longstreet at the Battle of Beans Station.  Mounting a tenacious defense, they held through the day and withdrew only when enemy reinforcements arrived.  Retreating to Blains Cross Roads, Union troops quickly built field fortifications.  Assessing these the next morning, Longstreet elected not to attack and continued withdrawing northeast. Knoxville Campaign - Aftermath: With the end of the standoff at Blains Cross Roads, the Knoxville Campaign came to an end.  Moving into northeast Tennessee, Longstreets men went into winter quarters.  They remained in the region until spring when they rejoined Lee in time for the Battle of the Wilderness.  A defeat for the Confederates, the campaign saw Longstreet fail as an independent commander despite an established track record leading his corps.  Conversely, the campaign helped reestablish Burnsides reputation after the debacle at Fredericksburg.  Brought east in the spring, he led IX Corps during Grants Overland Campaign.  Burnside remained in this position until being relieved in August following the Union defeat at the Battle of the Crater during the Siege of Petersburg.  Ã‚   Selected Sources Knoxville: A Near-Death ExperienceHistory of War: Battle of KnoxvilleCWSAC Battle Summaries: Fort Sanders