Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Why we should go to war with Iraq!

Why we should go to war with Iraq! To those who believe President Bush is a warmonger, singling-out North Korea and Iraq for his own self-serving political agenda; to those who believe that we should "give peace a chance"; I have but one thing to say: "WAKE UP!"What did you expect the United States to do after the twin towers and Pentagon were attacked? Write up a treaty for the Taliban? Beg bin Laden for mercy? The fact is that terrorists and the countries that support them, will not abide by political documents.When al-Qaeda murdered our citizens with no remorse, it was a reminder that diplomacy only works for countries... countries that are willing to change.Terrorists have no regard for our lives (or theirs). If you think that our government doesn't consider the ramifications of the use of force, you don't realize what we're truly fighting for. It's freedom, not oil.Listen for a second.English: Hamid Mir interviewing Osama bin Laden fo...What do you hear? Explosions? No. When was the last time your city was bombed ? When was the last time that you had to fear for your life? The U.S. projects its political power through force to protect you here at home, so your life isn't full of tragedy.Fighting fire with fire suppressing killing with more killing may seem immoral, but those who have compromised our lives obviously are not moral beings. Besides, what's immoral about protecting ourselves?To say that war does no good is to negate the very reason that thousands have died in the past. Those who fought for this country's freedoms had so much faith in this nation; they put you and your family and the future of America before their own lives.You may think that the solution is simple, that we can keep peace by being a global recluse. But...

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Export promotion agency and the key programs offered to exporters

Export promotion agency and the key programs offered to exporters Introduction International marketing presents great challenge to most small businesses within specific countries. Such a challenge is attributed to improvement in technology which involves global use of digital mobile devices.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Export promotion agency and the key programs offered to exporters specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Looking for new markets and customers within those markets makes most businesses face some challenges. However, for the purposes of encouraging exports, various governments have extended their assistance to such small businesses in order to improve export sales of available products. The process is referred to as export promotion and undertaken by Trade Promotion Organization (Delaney, 2012, p. 1). The following are some of the most helpful programs to firms within the Unites States of America. Bilateral and multilateral program on Small Micro-enterprises (SMEs) Thi s program offers SMEs such benefits as reduced tariff rates, protection of intellectual property, business transparency and improved access to information amongst trading partners. The new online capability built by the Department of Commerce’s ITA (International Trade Agreement) is essential in helping SMEs, stakeholders and the general public in taking an advantage of the new available export opportunities (National Export Initiative, 2011). The launch of the â€Å"FTA tariff Tool† provides good opportunities for the small businesses and enables them to benefit from the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) markets.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The use of the tool enables the businesses to perform fast, search for industrial products and also play an essential role in revealing individual product tariff rates for subsequent years. This is important to small manufacturers since they are able to plan ahead of time concerning entry into new export markets. Accessing market and sector reports has also been improved enabling a better identification of export opportunities (National Export Initiative, 2011). Provision of trade finance counselling Trade finance agencies have enabled easy access to credit by the small businesses through the expansion of the export credit programs. The new Express Insurance offered by the Ex-Im Bank has simplified the process of application. Additionally, Supply Chain Finance program has ensured convenient access to attractively priced credit. The counselling programs offered through TPCC agencies are crucial since they provide small businesses with appropriate knowledge on better management of working capital. Provision of timely information concerning trade finance gives the needed support and assurance to businesses, hence enabling them to structure their transactions in such a way, so they are capable of g ranting immediate sales (Kharas, 2010, pp. 10-35). Development and improvement of the supply chain infrastructure Means of transportation within the United States provides the very starting point of a very long global logistics chain. Participation in the global economy demands that products manufactured within a country come in the international market at affordable cost.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Export promotion agency and the key programs offered to exporters specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Currently, there is a deep consensus amongst exporters that the country’s transportation system has, to a greater extent, affected the ability of the businesses to access the global markets. Additionally, the presence of reliable and resilient supply chain infrastructure is critical to the promotion of sustained economic growth. This is since infrastructural development ensures improvement on speed and movement of export goods throughout the country and most importantly within the global marketplace (Istrate et al, 2010). Conclusion Export promotion and development are important aspects of the government due to its capability in reinforcing economic development goals for the countries involved (Delaney, 2012, p 1). The United States uses the aspect to offset market fluctuations, create jobs and at the same time use it as source of supporting national exports. The small businesses may find it difficult to connect with potential customers and companies worldwide. This provides opportunity for the government through various promotion agencies to assist in finding solutions and enhancement for their global competitiveness. References Delaney, L. (2012). Export Promotion and Development. Web.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Istrate, E. Rothwell, J. Katz, B. (2010). Export Nation: How U.S. Metros Lead National Export Growth and Boost Competitiveness. NY; Brookings Institution Kharas, H. (2010). The emerging Middle Class in Developing Countries. OECD Development Centre Working Papers, 285, 10-35 National Export Initiative. (2011).2011 National Export Strategy. Retrieved from https://www.export.gov/welcome

Thursday, November 21, 2019

The Art of Islamic Book--Research Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

The Art of Islamic Book--Research Paper - Essay Example In his analysis on Bihzad’s art, he has elaborated on several approaches in solving the authenticity issue in the process. Where an artist might be understood to subsist in the painting, examining whether or not the concept of authorship established post-Renaissance European painting – derived from Vasari’s concept of mamera (hand), and still very much present in the methods used to study Persianate paintings – does indeed obtain to the Persianate painting tradition. Moreover, by exposing the tensions that exist between modern and pre-modern conceptions of authorship, is it possible to come closer to a mid-sixteenth century notion of the painter’s agency? (121) We underscore the importance to identify Bihzad and his contribution to Persianate artistic history. This will enlighten us on the structure of Roxburgh’s arguments as well as his analyses. As it is, there is a fair number of literature written about him and his work. Roxburgh, himself, talked about this stressing that â€Å"contemporary and later writers are unanimous in their praise of Bihzad, the Mughal ruler Babor’s slight and curiously specific criticism being by far the exception rather than the rule. Bihzad, in Armenian Sakisian’s words, â€Å"a rhetorical figure of comparison†¦ Because Bihzad has garnered copious encomia, his contribution to the Persianate art tradition recognized again and again, the artist’s life and work seem tantalizingly within reach, unlike so many artists who were only given passing notice.† (Roxburgh, 119) Bihzad is important in the history of Persianate art because scholars place him to be at par with the European masters. As Roxburgh commented, â€Å"comparisons between Bihzad and European artists were positively de rigueur. Some scholars who wrote extensively about Bihzad in relation to the European masters such as Memling, Holbein and Raphael include F.R. Martin, Ali Ahmad Naimi, among

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Cultural Competency Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Cultural Competency - Essay Example Consequently, the changing cultural dynamics in the schools and society as a whole do call for a new approach to coming up with a culturally sensitive learning environment where each school going student feels welcome and significant. As a result, the changing cultural dynamics do require setting up of culturally competent schools where all students feel welcome in aiding them to participate fully in the learning environment and in promoting cohesiveness among students in these schools. Cultural competency in schools has emerged as one of the best ways through which to eliminate racial and ethnic differences in health care settings (Klotz, 2006). As the country becomes a diverse nation made of various cultures, clinicians, and other healthcare providers have to meet clients with broad perspectives on health, which are usually determined by the cultural and social inclinations of individuals. As such, clinicians have to meet patients who present their symptoms differently from what is illustrated in books. Moreover, these patients could have poor English proficiency, different expectations on care and some of whom do not adhere to recommendations as provided by the health provider. In such settings, a clinician has to be well trained on the best approaches to interact and offer quality care to such patients despite the different perspectives they hold. Considering that provider-patient communication is usually hinged on patient satisfaction, the possibility to adher e to instructions and the final outcomes (Betancourt et al., 2006), it would be expected that when there exist social-cultural differences between the patient and the clinician, the health outcome could be poor. Poor coordination in the clinician-patient relationship would lead to poor healthcare delivery to the population. As such, cultural competency in health related disciplines could help in improving care

Sunday, November 17, 2019

The direction Germanys Foreign Policy took between 1871 and 1890 Essay Example for Free

The direction Germanys Foreign Policy took between 1871 and 1890 Essay To what extent was Bismarck in control of the direction Germanys Foreign Policy took between 1871 and 1890? To this very day Otto Von Bismarck remains one of the most significant political figureheads of modern Germany. This stature derives from his contribution to the creation and shaping of the modern German state as Prussian minister president and imperial chancellor from 1862 to 1890. Until his resignation in 1890, Bismarck had a relatively freehand in conducting foreign policy. After three successful wars, he saw his task as promoting peace and gaining time so that the powerful German Empire would come to be accepted as natural. Bismarcks two areas of concern were the Balkans, where the disintegration of the Turkish empire could easily lead to conflict between the Habsburg monarchy and Russia, and France, where the desire to avenge the defeat at Sedan was strong. In each area a general European conflagration could flare up and involve Germany. In the following I am going to investigate the extent of which Bismarck was in control of Germanys Foreign Policy between 1871 and 1890. In the two decades proceeding the unification of Germany Bismarck was the dominant statesman of Europe, controlling the policy of Germany, settling disputes between other countries, and entangling all of Europe into a complex web of alliances and understandings, all of which were intended to preserve peace in Europe. If Germany made a foolish decision, this could ensue the disintegration of the whole system. In order to understand how the system created by Bismarck was dependant on Germany it is necessary to examine the predicament each power was in. The powers can be divided into two different classes: the satiated powers, Germany and Britain who were happy with the status quo; and the malcontent powers, France, Russia and Austria-Hungary, which still had interest in European expansion In my opinion, one man cannot control the course of one nations history, although there can be no disputing that Bismarck was a wonderfully skilled and talented politician, I feel he acted to situations as they arose, rather than orchestrating events. Therefore I perceive Bismarck as an interventionist rather than an intentionalist. It is possible to conclude that if a European conflict were to develop, it would occur in one of two places. The first possibility was a conflict between France and Germany over the annexation of Alsace-Lorraine on the Rhine; the second would be a conflict involving either Austria or Britain against Russia in the Balkans. One argument to imply that Bismarck was in full control of the direction of German Foreign Policy between 1871 and 1890 was his radical change of policy. In the decade preceding the Unification, Germany was involved in three wars, which Bismarck had instigated, in order to achieve the United Germany. For the rest of Bismarcks career Germany remained at peace (Lee, Stephen one of the leading historians of European history, he presents both arguments on my debate, therefore he is a reliable historian to quote). Bismarck wanted to focus on maintaining the unified Germany as it was. This is very clear and accurate as for twenty years, following the Unification; Germany was never at war. One possibility where a European Conflict could occur was between France and Germany on the Rhine. It could be argued that Bismarck was fully in control of this situation and that the isolation of France was due to Bismarcks careful planning. It may be suggested that Bismarck premeditated that France would eventually seek revenge for their defeat in the Franco-Prussian War. Bismarck was not afraid of France alone, but he wanted to ensure that France would not align herself with Russia or Austria; therefore he set about isolating France through a series of complex and intricate treaties. The first of Bismarcks complex web of alliance was the Dreikaiserbund (1872), also known as the League of the Three Emperors (1872). Bismarcks aim for forming this League was to isolate France by expanding relations with Austria and Russia. The partners were Kaiser William I of Germany, Tsar Alexander II of Russia and Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria. These three rulers agreed to maintain the existin g territorial arrangements in Europe; to resist the spread of revolutionary (e.g. socialist) movements; and to consult one another if any international difficulties arose. France was deviously being diplomatically isolated. This understanding, strengthened Germanys position in Europe and helped to maintain the Status Quo. A further strategy of Bismarcks in the isolation of France was how Bismarck had tactfully encouraged France to expand overseas in the hope of diverting her attention away from Alsace-Lorraine. French annexation of Tunis in northern Africa in 1881 alienated Italy. Italy was thus driven into Bismarcks camp in anger. Therefore Italy joined The Triple Alliance of 1882. The terms of the alliance if Italy or Germany were attacked by France, each would aid the other; if Austria was attacked by Russia, Italy would remain neutral, although Austria would aid Italy if she was attacked by France; if one of the parties was attacked by two or more powers, the other signatories were to come to her aid; and at Italys request, both Austria and Germany agreed that in no case would the Treaty operate against Britain. Consequently, by this time, a powerful bloc had been formed in central Europe. Germany was now guaranteed against Russia by Austria, and against France by Italy. Bismarck had successfully kept the friendship of Russia, Austria and Italy and kept France completely isolated. He was indeed a skilful diplomat who was able to handle the European powers for Germanys advantage. Moreover, following these alliances, Bismarck formed the Reinsurance Treaty (1887) with Russia. This Treaty on its face did not do much. Both Russia and Germany promised to remain neutral in case the other was involved in a war with a great power, except for a Russian attack on Austria, or a German one on France. Since there were the only two possible conflicts, it seems the treaty might be useless. This, however, is not true. As Bismarck explained, Our relations with Russia depend exclusively on the personal feeling of the Tsar Alexander III, and such a treaty brought Germany up a notch in the Tsars eyes. Thus the Treaty led to better Russo-German understanding, and at least temporarily lowered the chance of a Russo-French alliance. The complicated set of treaties and alliances show Bismarck to be in control and carefully planning for all eventualities. James Joll supports this view; Bismarck needed to ensure that France remained isolated and thus unable to think in terms of revenge for 1870 and of war for the recovery of Alsace Lorraine. On the other hand, a case can be constructed to argue that Bismarck was not in full control, that he was a revisionist, reacting to events as they arose, this is obvious in the instance of Bismarcks policy of French isolation. According to D. Richards, Bismarck was willing to run the risk of alienating French feeling because, Firstly. France would take many years to recover from the Franco-Prussian war. Secondly. he could use the bogey of a French war of revenge to make the Reichstag maintain a high level of German armaments. And. Thirdly. his diplomatic genius could keep France isolated. But the first of these assumptions was grossly misplaced, showing Bismarcks naivety. The French recovery was faster that Bismarck had anticipated. The indemnity was paid off by 1873 and they rebuilt their army. The popular French press began to demand the return of Alsace Lorraine. During 1874 and 1875 the French increased their regiment sizes by approximately thirty-five per cent and ordered an extension of the cavalry and armaments division. Bismarck made a further blunder, believing that the French establishing an overtly democratic Republic would frighten off Russia and Britain, Bismarck demanded an increase in the army budget from the Reichstag. This led to the German press commenting on a war in sight crisis. Moreover, Britain and Russia pledged their allegiance to France if Germany declared war. From this it appears as if Bismarck lived in the moment and responded to its challenge (Taylor, again Taylor is another leading historian on this topic and is a reliable source). He reacted to problems as they manifested rather than avoiding them. Also, from this it seems as though, Bismarck caused many of the problems. Perhaps the most important argument supporting the intentionalist viewpoint is Bismarcks role as the honest broker at the Congress of Berlin in 1878, he was more interested in European peace than German Empire building. Bismarck can clearly been seen as one of the strongest proponents of peace in the Eastern Crisis of 1877, this is apparent, even before the crisis. Bismarck understood that there was a European Conflict, just waiting to happen in the Balkans. He saw that Russia, occupying the majority of Europes eastern flank, her interests lay in the expansion of her power in the Balkans, with her ultimate goal being the straits and Tsarograd. Bismarck construed that Austria-Hungary was the opposition to Russian expansion, as it had been expanding in that direction since 1866. Russia was the more powerful state, and Austria would need Germanys backing to defeat it. However, Russia feared a recreation of the Crimean Alliance, if she was to move to close to the Straits. To control the problem, in 1876, Bismarck proposed a solution, he suggested that Britain take Egypt and the Suez, Austria take Bosnia, while the Russians take Bulgaria, which left a much weakened Turkey to occupy the Straits, removing one of the sore spots of Europe off the map (Langer). Bismarck saw that the Balkans was the most likely place for a major conflict to occur and had reduced the chances of this. Despite, Bismarcks earlier attempts a crisis in the east developed when Russia was quick to react to the plight of the Slavs when Turkey attempted to quench an uprising in Bulgaria. Britain was not as antagonistic to Russian expansion as it had been previously. British public opinion moved to the Turkish side, after the tiny fortress of Plevna held out against Russian assaults for five months. Moreover the Treaty of San Stefano lay counter to 1877 accords signed with Austria, and was also highly offensive to Britain, since it gave Bulgaria, and via Bulgaria to Russia access to the Mediterranean. The decision of the powers was that the eastern question was to be decided at a Congress of Berlin, with the German chancellor acting as honest broker. Under the Congress, and Bismarcks advising the newly created Bulgaria was split into three parts: Bulgaria, Rumelia and Macedonia. Macedonia stayed under Turkish control. Rumelia was to be administered by Turkey, but Turkish troops never reoccupied the province. Bulgaria was to be set up as an independent state, but in reality was to be a Russian puppet. Austria was allowed to occupy, though not to annex Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bismarck was extremely important to a peaceful settlement of the crisis. Even before the crisis, Bismarck was approached by Russia, asking if Germany would remain neutral in case of an Austro-Russian war. Bismarcks response was very similar to all his responses to this question throughout his rule: we could endure that our friends should lose or win battles against each other, but not that one of the two should be so severely wounded and injured that its position as an independent Great Power would be endangered. Bismarck knew that he needed Russia to protect its northern border and Austria to secure its western border. He was unwilling to choose between Russia and Austria, since he needed both countries to counterbalance each other, the weakening of either one meant greater German dependency on the other. The reasons that Bismarck wanted peace were completely in line with Realpolitik: he wanted peace because peace and the status quo were favorable to Germany. The Eastern crisis demonstrates Bismarcks genius as a politician, planning and manipulating situations to his advantage, in order to maintain the status quo. However, an argument could be composed from a revisionist viewpoint, William Carr suggests, The truth is that he acted once again on the spur of the moments to deal with an emergency situation-largely of his own making. This is demonstrated with his involvement in the Eastern Crisis. The first instance is shown with his dealing of the Balkan problem in1876. A solution he proposed that the British seize control of Egypt and the Suez; Austria takes Bosnia, Russia controls Bulgaria, leaving a weak Turkey to occupy the Straits. Bismarck, of his own accord, admitted that this was a picture of his fancy, rather than an immediate practicable solution. Hereafter Bismarck reveals his ignorance of world affairs. Moreover Taylor writes, the days of European upheaval were over; they would not come again until one of the powers felt itself strong enough to challenge the balance which had been established at the congress of Berlin. This suggests that a conflict may never have actually erupted, since Germany was the most powerful state in Europe, it would also be the deciding force in any European war. Going to war against it would be foolish unless the opposing coalition had one more great power than the coalition, which was supported by Germany. Thus, Bismarcks involvement was meaningless and actually could have disrupted the status quo. Perhaps the most important argument supporting the intentionalist view is Bismarcks control of the Austro-Russian friendship and that of Germany, and the Alliance System, he employed to maintain their relationship. According to Langer, No other statesman of standing had ever before shown the same great moderation and sound political sense of the possible and the desirable, this can clearly be justified. There were five main understandings and alliances, which were established during the two decades, following the Unification of Germany, by Bismarck to obtain peace within Europe, and fundamentally between Austria and Russia. The first of which was in 1873 when he created a set of treaties between Austria, Russia and Germany, which created the Three Emperors League (Dreikaiserbund) Although the Dreikaiserbund was not an official treaty of alliance, it was an agreement by the three leaders to maintain a close association so that, the maintenance of the peace of Europe be secured, and if necessary defended from every quarter (Gordon Craig, is again an expert in this field and his book Germany 1866-1945, is critically acclaimed and an extremely reliable source). The pact pronounced a step forward in the preservation of peace, if only through the very fact that the agreement was signed. It marked a rapprochement both between Germany and Austria-Hungary, Austria-Hungary and Russia, moreover between Germany and Russia. The dà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½tente between Austria and Russia was extremely important to preserving the peace in the Balkans, because they had to agree on compromises over influence and maintenance of the ba lance of power to avoid war. The initiation of dialogue, between the two countries, although informal, was a huge step forward. Moreover the reaffirmed friendship between Austria and Germany was a sign that the tension between the two, over Germanys defeat of Austria in 1866, had eased. Although the pact was unofficial, it sent a message to France that the conservative eastern block had been rebuilt. Thus the Dreikaiserbund, indirectly, reduced the threat of war on two fronts, on the Rhineland and in the Balkans. The second instance where Bismarck created an alliance to maintain peace between Austria, Russia and Germany herself, was the Dual Alliance. This was an agreement by Germany and Austria in which either power would assist the other in attacked by Russia, and would stay neutral in case of an attack by any other power. An argument may suggest that Bismarck implemented this alliance in order to diplomatically isolate France. This caused the Russians to seek an alliance with Germany, as they needed Germanys backing for their expansion in the Balkans. Bismarck, however, was more interested in a three party agreement, since it was the only system offering the maximum of stability for the peace of Europe (Langer, A leading authority in the field of diplomatic history, wrote extensively on the diplomatic climate preceding World Wars I and II. His work includes, European Alliances and Alignments). Although Russia was not directly interested in an alliance with Austria, it had to conclude one in order to get German support in the Balkans. Bismarck intentionally manipulated Russia into seeking an alliance with Germany, which led to the Second Dreikaiserbund in 1881. In this instance, again supporting the intentionalist argument, Russia, Austria-Hungary and Germany agreed that if any of the signatories found itself at war with a fourth power (except Turkey), the other two promised to remain neutral, thus destroying any likelihood of France finding any allies for a revenge war with Germany. Furthermore Bismarck tactically removed tension between Russia and Austria and, according to Rich, provided a foothold for negotiations between them in the event of a crisis. Bismarck had found two allies in Russia and Austria and had isolated France, by planning and maneuvering events to his advantage. Preceding this Bismarck created the Triple Alliance, between Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy. This again demonstrates the intentionalist argument, where Bismarck anticipated that Russia and France might still have formed an agreement; he extended the Dual Alliance to Italy. His reasoning for this was that Germany should always seek to be part of a larger combination, when there are five [powers], try to be a trois. Moreover a purpose of this alliance was to reduce the likelihood of Italy going to war against Austria in a general conflict. As Bismarck put it, he would be happy if one Italian corporal with the Italian flag and a drummer at his side should take the field on the western front, and not on the eastern front. The alliance provided the support of Italy or Germany in case of a French attack, support in case of an attack by two great powers on any of the signatories, and neutrality in case one of the powers was threatened and forced to make war, respectively. Thus the alliance created a situation where no power could attack any other power without having all of Europe against it. Bismarck had reduced the chances of waging war successfully, and therefore the chances of war in general fell. The intentionalist case is supported further, since after the bond between Austria and Russia, which Bismarck had built, was disrupted by the Bulgarian Crisis of 1885 and posed the threat of Russias gravitation towards France, he formed The Reinsurance Treaty of 1887, in strict secrecy. This guaranteed that Russia would remain neutral in the event of any war between Germany and France, provided that France was the aggressor. Ultimately, Bismarck had carefully and systematically crafted a system of alliances and agreements, which if properly used and maintained would keep Europe at peace. The alternative argument is that Bismarck simply reacted to events, with no clear structure and certainly with no overall scheme, in an attempt to maintain relations with and between Russia and Austria. It is argued that the other powers provided him with his opportunities, all he had to do is manipulate these at short notice (lee). This case is strongly supported by A.J.P. Taylor, who maintained that Bismarck lived in the moment and responded to its challenge. An argument for a more careless and impulsive Bismarck it may be compiled, although the Dreikaiserbund did reduce the risk of war with France by creating and allegiance between Germany and Russia, it was in fact Tsar Alexander II who suggested Russias membership, Bismarck merely accepted the opportunity (Lee). Following the Balkan Crisis, as Taylor argues, Bismarck rushed into the Dual Alliance with Austria and he was manipulated to such an extent, he was forced to say to the Austrian Foreign Minister, Andrassy, If you will no accept my terms, then I am forced to accept yours. After his initial carelessness Bismarck attempted to compensate by renewing the Dreikaiserbund in 1881, attempting to prevent his mistake that if a war between Russia and Austria occurred, Germany would be on the side of Austria. Also he tried to compensate by forming the Triple alliance, to prevent Italy from attacking Austria and to help in any war between Germany and France. After the Bulgarian Crisis of 1885, which threatened Bismarcks hasty arrangements, Bismarck created the secret Reinsurance Treaty, which so easily could have ruined the Dual Alliance, which is why his successors failed to renew it. Bismarck had created a web of alliances and agreements on the spur of the moments, that was so intertwined and complex that the next Chancellor, Caprivi, found that the system was already on the verge of collapse. Malcolm Pasely goes as far as to suggest that the alliances themselves would never be successful because they were too weak, The new structure was fragile, suggesting how the Triple Alliance was inferior and could easily collapses, as it did after the Bulgarian Crisis of 1885. Another point, indicating that Bismarck was not in control of Germanys foreign policy, is how during this time of elevated discussion and activity between Germany and the rest of Europe, Bismarck failed to involve Britain, who at the time was the most powerful nation in the world. At this time Britain had interests connected with the continent, the main one being the preservation of Turkey in order to prevent Russian control of the Dardannelles and Bosphorus. Most of the British interests lay in her numerous colonies, and an absence of a strong army kept Britain from actively participating in continental affairs. Her fleet, however, remained a threat to any power with maritime interests. Thus she was able to bully Russians into staying away from the straits, lest Britain recreate the Crimean alliance, or even attack Russia itself. In failing to concern Britain, Bismarck was unsuccessful in forming an ally against Russia On the other hand, it could be argued that Bismarck had no reason to involve Britain, as she was one of the two satiated powers and was interested in maintaining the status quo. Moreover Britain was an island, and was in a stage of isolationism. Involving Britain may have upset the Status Quo and resulted in further complications. Both arguments are extremely strong, and it is very hard to decide which is the stronger. Andrew Bonar Law said that, There is no such thing as an inevitable war. If war comes it will be from a failure of human wisdom, I believe that Bismarck engineered Germany to maintain peace within Europe. However, whether Bismarck was in control of the bearing that Germanys foreign politics took between 1870 and 1890 is debatable and I perpetuate that Bismarck was an interventionist, rather than an intentionalist. He maneuvered and manipulated events as they happened, rather than foreseeing and planning for the events that arose. This is explanatory by the state of foreign affairs that Caprivi inherited, which ultimately led to the First World War. The Reinsurance Treaty that Bismarck had forged with Tsar Alexander II was a secret Treaty that Caprivi thought was too risky and could have easily wrecked the Dual Alliance. He failed to resign the Treaty, therefore relations between Germany and Russia disintegrated and Russia began to gravitate toward France. Thus Bismarcks perplexed and somewhat confusing web of Treaties and Alliances, which were in a precarious position, became untangled, and hence World War One erupted. Therefore it is possible to argue that, although Bismarck managed to keep the newly United Germany at peace, what Law suggests is true of Bismarck, that in fact it was through Bismarcks failure of human wisdom that the First World war occurred.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Douglass Narrative and Browns Narrative of the Life and Escape of William Wells Brown :: Compare Contrast Brown Douglass Essays

Douglass' Narrative and Brown's "Narrative of the Life and Escape of William Wells Brown" Aside from the many obvious differences between Douglass’ Narrative and Brown’s â€Å"Narrative of the Life and Escape of William Wells Brown†, I found an important similarity. Although they are not told with the same style or point of view, I think the way both narratives are introduced are practically the same. This is because they both introduce themselves in relation to their families. For William Wells Brown, he begins to tell about his family in the just the second sentence, and for Frederick Douglass, it starts in the second paragraph. First of all, this is important because it sort of allows whites to see validation for black existence free of slavery. This is because white people can actually relate to family structure and the overall notion of family values. Another important aspect is that both men point out that they are of mixed blood. Their fathers were white men. That obviously establishes a connection with white readers, be it negative o r positive. A major goal of these authors is to get the white reader to want to abolish slavery. If they feel connected to Brown or Douglass, they might feel sympathy and therefore want to free them, or they could possibly feel against the mixing of races and therefore getting slaves away from whites (freeing them) might prevent this. Either way, the goal is realized. (The latter one might not be great in terms of preventing colonization though). Thirdly, they both reach out to readers by showing their broken family and how hard separation is for them. Whites, with their view of the family as sacred, might see this as something that needs to be changed. Because both authors opened their narratives with family and its importance to them, they appealed to people who might have originally felt no sympathy for them. I think that Brown includes his â€Å"Narrative† as an introduction to Clotel for two main reasons. I think it shows that he himself has been intimate with, or, at least that he has a great understanding of the situations presented in the novel because he has experienced being a black (mixed black) too.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

The Twilight Saga 3: Eclipse Chapter 27. NEEDS

I DIDN'T GET VERY FAR BEFORE DRIVING BECAME IMPOSsible. When I couldn't see anymore, I let my tires find the rough shoulder and rolled slowly to a stop. I slumped over on the seat and allowed the weakness I'd fought in Jacob's room crush me. It was worse that I'd thought – the force of it took me by surprise. Yes, I had been right to hide this from Jacob. No one should ever see this. But I wasn't alone for very long – just exactly long enough for Alice to see me here, and then the few minutes it took him to arrive. The door creaked open, and he pulled me into his arms. At first it was worse. Because there was that smaller part of me – smaller, but getting louder and angrier every minute, screaming at the rest of me – that craved a different set of arms. So then there was fresh guilt to season the pain. He didn't say anything, he just let me sob until I began to blubber out Charlie's name. â€Å"Are you really ready to go home?† he asked doubtfully. I managed to convey, after several attempts, that it wasn't going to get any better anytime soon. I needed to get past Charlie before it got late enough for him to call Billy. So he drove me home – for once not even getting close to my truck's internal speed limit – keeping one arm wrapped tightly around me. The whole way, I fought for control. It seemed to be a doomed effort at first, but I didn't give up. Just a few seconds, I told myself. Just time for a few excuses, or a few lies, and then I could break down again. I had to be able to do that much. I scrambled around in my head, searching desperately for a reserve of strength. There was just enough for me to quiet the sobs – hold them back but not end them. The tears didn't slow. I couldn't seem to find any handle to even begin to work with those. â€Å"Wait for me upstairs,† I mumbled when we were in front of the house. He hugged me closer for one minute, and then he was gone. Once inside, I headed straight for the stairs. â€Å"Bella?† Charlie called after me from his usual place on the sofa as I walked by. I turned to look at him without speaking. His eyes bugged wide, and he lurched to his feet. â€Å"What happened? Is Jacob . . . ?† he demanded. I shook my head furiously, trying to find my voice. â€Å"He's fine, he's fine,† I promised, my voice low and husky. And Jacob was fine, physically, which is all Charlie was worried about at the moment. â€Å"But what happened?† He grabbed my shoulders, his eyes still anxious and wide. â€Å"What happened to you?† I must look worse than I'd imagined. â€Å"Nothing, Dad. I . . . just had to talk to Jacob about . . . some things that were hard. I'm fine.† The anxiety calmed, and was replaced by disapproval. â€Å"Was this really the best time?† he asked. â€Å"Probably not, Dad, but I didn't have any alternatives – it just got to the point where I had to choose. . . . Sometimes, there isn't any way to compromise.† He shook his head slowly. â€Å"How did he handle it?† I didn't answer. He looked at my face for a minute, and then nodded. That must have been answer enough. â€Å"I hope you didn't mess up his recovery.† â€Å"He's a quick healer,† I mumbled. Charlie sighed. I could feel the control slipping. â€Å"I'll be in my room,† I told him, shrugging out from underneath his hands. â€Å"‘Kay,† Charlie agreed. He could probably see the waterworks starting to escalate. Nothing scared Charlie worse than tears. I made my way to my room, blind and stumbling. Once inside, I fought with the clasp on my bracelet, trying to undo it with shaking fingers. â€Å"No, Bella,† Edward whispered, capturing my hands. â€Å"It's part of who you are.† He pulled me into the cradle of his arms as the sobs broke free again. This longest of days seemed to stretch on and on and on. I wondered if it would ever end. But, though the night dragged relentlessly, it was not the worst night of my life. I took comfort from that. And I was not alone. There was a great deal of comfort in that, too. Charlie's fear of emotional outbursts kept him from checking on me, though I was not quiet – he probably got no more sleep than I did. My hindsight seemed unbearably clear tonight. I could see every mistake I'd made, every bit of harm I'd done, the small things and the big things. Each pain I'd caused Jacob, each wound I'd given Edward, stacked up into neat piles that I could not ignore or deny. And I realized that I'd been wrong all along about the magnets. It had not been Edward and Jacob that I'd been trying to force together, it was the two parts of myself, Edward's Bella and Jacob's Bella. But they could not exist together, and I never should have tried. I'd done so much damage. At some point in the night, I remembered the promise I'd made to myself early this morning – that I would never make Edward see me shed another tear for Jacob Black. The thought brought on a round of hysteria which frightened Edward more than the weeping. But it passed, too, when it had run its course. Edward said little; he just held me on the bed and let me ruin his shirt, staining it with salt water. It took longer than I thought it would for that smaller, broken part of me to cry herself out. It happened, though, and I was eventually exhausted enough to sleep. Unconsciousness did not bring full relief from the pain, just a numbing, dulling ease, like medicine. Made it more bearable. But it was still there; I was aware of it, even asleep, and that helped me to make the adjustments I needed to make. The morning brought with it, if not a brighter outlook, as least a measure of control, some acceptance. Instinctively, I knew that the new tear in my heart would always ache. That was just going to be a part of me now. Time would make it easier – that's what everyone always said. But I didn't care if time healed me or not, so long as Jacob could get better. Could be happy again. When I woke up, there was no disorientation. I opened my eyes – finally dry – and met his anxious gaze. â€Å"Hey,† I said. My voice was hoarse. I cleared my throat. He didn't answer. He watched me, waiting for it to start. â€Å"No, I'm fine,† I promised. â€Å"That won't happen again.† His eyes tightened at my words. â€Å"I'm sorry that you had to see that,† I said. â€Å"That wasn't fair to you.† He put his hands on either side of my face. â€Å"Bella . . . are you sure? Did you make the right choice? I've never seen you in so much pain -† His voice broke on the last word. But I had known worse pain. I touched his lips. â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"I don't know. . . .† His brow creased. â€Å"If it hurts you so much, how can it possibly be the right thing for you?† â€Å"Edward, I know who I can't live without.† â€Å"But . . .† I shook my head. â€Å"You don't understand. You may be brave enough or strong enough to live without me, if that's what's best. But I could never be that self-sacrificing. I have to be with you. It's the only way I can live.† He still looked dubious. I should never have let him stay with me last night. But I had needed him so much. . . . â€Å"Hand me that book, will you?† I asked, pointing over his shoulder. His eyebrows pulled together in confusion, but he gave it to me quickly. â€Å"This again?† he asked. â€Å"I just wanted to find this one part I remembered . . . to see how she said it. . . .† I flipped through the book, finding the page I wanted easily. The corner was dog-eared from the many times I'd stopped here. â€Å"Cathy's a monster, but there were a few things she got right,† I muttered. I read the lines quietly, mostly to myself. â€Å"‘If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be; and ifall else remained, and he were annihilated, the universe would turn to a mighty stranger.'† I nodded, again to myself. â€Å"I know exactly what she means. And I know who I can't live without.† Edward took the book from my hands and flipped it across the room – it landed with a light thud on my desk. He wrapped his arms around my waist. A small smile lit his perfect face, though worry still lined his forehead. â€Å"Heathcliff had his moments, too,† he said. He didn't need the book to get it word perfect. He pulled me closer and whispered inmy ear, â€Å"‘I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!'† â€Å"Yes,† I said quietly. â€Å"That's my point.† â€Å"Bella, I can't stand for you to be miserable. Maybe . . .† â€Å"No, Edward. I've made a real mess of things, and I'm going to have to live with that. But I know what I want and what I need . . . and what I'm going to do now.† â€Å"What are we going to do now?† I smiled just a bit at his correction, and then I sighed. â€Å"We are going to go see Alice.† Alice was on the bottom porch step, too hyper to wait for us inside. She looked about to break into a celebration dance, so excited was she about the news she knew I was there to deliver. â€Å"Thank you, Bella!† she sang as we got out of the truck. â€Å"Hold it, Alice,† I warned her, lifting a hand up to halt her glee. â€Å"I've got a few limitations for you.† â€Å"I know, I know, I know. I only have until August thirteenth at the latest, you have veto power on the guest list, and if I go overboard on anything, you'll never speak to me again.† â€Å"Oh, okay. Well, yeah. You know the rules, then.† â€Å"Don't worry, Bella, it will be perfect. Do you want to see your dress?† I had to take a few deep breaths. Whatever makes her happy, I said to myself. â€Å"Sure.† Alice's smile was smug. â€Å"Um, Alice,† I said, keeping the casual, unruffled tone in my voice. â€Å"When did you get me a dress?† It probably wasn't much of a show. Edward squeezed my hand. Alice led the way inside, heading for the stairs. â€Å"These things take time, Bella,† Alice explained. Her tone seemed . . . evasive. â€Å"I mean, I wasn't sure things were going to turn out this way, but there was a distinct possibility. . . .† â€Å"When?† I asked again. â€Å"Perrine Bruyere has a waiting list, you know,† she said, defensive now. â€Å"Fabric masterpieces don't happen overnight. If I hadn't thought ahead, you'd be wearing something off the rack!† It didn't look like I was going to get a straight answer. â€Å"Per – who?† â€Å"He's not a major designer, Bella, so there's no need to throw a hissy fit. He's got promise, though, and he specializes in what I needed.† â€Å"I'm not throwing a fit.† â€Å"No, you're not.† She eyed my calm face suspiciously. Then, as we walked into her room, she turned on Edward. â€Å"You – out.† â€Å"Why?† I demanded. â€Å"Bella,† she groaned. â€Å"You know the rules. He's not supposed to see the dress till the day of.† I took another deep breath. â€Å"It doesn't matter to me. And you know he's already seen it in your head. But if that's how you want it. . . .† She shoved Edward back out the door. He didn't even look at her – his eyes were on me, wary, afraid to leave me alone. I nodded, hoping my expression was tranquil enough to reassure him. Alice shut the door in his face. â€Å"All right!† she muttered. â€Å"C'mon.† She grabbed my wrist and towed me to her closet – which was bigger than my bedroom – and then dragged me to the back corner, where a long white garment bag had a rack all to itself. She unzipped the bag in one sweeping movement, and then slipped it carefully off the hanger. She took a step back, holding her hand out to the dress like she was a game show hostess. â€Å"Well?† she asked breathlessly. I appraised it for a long moment, playing with her a bit. Her expression turned worried. â€Å"Ah,† I said, and I smiled, letting her relax. â€Å"I see.† â€Å"What do you think?† she demanded. It was my Anne of Green Gables vision all over again. â€Å"It's perfect, of course. Exactly right. You're a genius.† She grinned. â€Å"I know.† â€Å"Nineteen-eighteen?† I guessed. â€Å"More or less,† she said, nodding. â€Å"Some of it is my design, the train, the veil. . . .† She touched the white satin as she spoke. â€Å"The lace is vintage. Do you like it?† â€Å"It's beautiful. It's just right for him.† â€Å"But is it just right for you?† she insisted. â€Å"Yes, I think it is, Alice. I think it's just what I need. I know you'll do a great job with this . . . if you can keep yourself in check.† She beamed. â€Å"Can I see your dress?† I asked. She blinked, her face blank. â€Å"Didn't you order your bridesmaid dress at the same time? I wouldn't want my maid of honor to wear something off the rack.† I pretended to wince in horror. She threw her arms around my waist. â€Å"Thank you, Bella!† â€Å"How could you not see that one coming?† I teased, kissing her spiky hair. â€Å"Some psychic you are!† Alice danced back, and her face was bright with fresh enthusiasm. â€Å"I've got so much to do! Go play with Edward. I have to get to work.† She dashed out of the room, yelling, â€Å"Esme!† as she disappeared. I followed at my own pace. Edward was waiting for me in the hallway, leaning against the wood-paneled wall. â€Å"That was very, very nice of you,† he told me. â€Å"She seems happy,† I agreed. He touched my face; his eyes – too dark, it had been so long since he'd left me – searched my expression minutely. â€Å"Let's get out of here,† he suddenly suggested. â€Å"Let's go to our meadow.† It sounded very appealing. â€Å"I guess I don't have to hide out anymore, do I?† â€Å"No. The danger is behind us.† He was quiet, thoughtful, as he ran. The wind blew on my face, warmer now that the storm had really passed. The clouds covered the sky, the way they usually did. The meadow was a peaceful, happy place today. Patches of summer daisies interrupted the grass with splashes of white and yellow. I lay back, ignoring the slight dampness of the ground, and looked for pictures in the clouds. They were too even, too smooth. No pictures, just a soft, gray blanket. Edward lay next to me and held my hand. â€Å"August thirteenth?† he asked casually after a few minutes of comfortable silence. â€Å"That gives me a month till my birthday. I didn't want to cut it too close.† He sighed. â€Å"Esme is three years older than Carlisle – technically. Did you know that?† I shook my head. â€Å"It hasn't made any difference to them.† My voice was serene, a counterpoint to his anxiety. â€Å"My age is not really that important. Edward, I'm ready. I've chosen my life – now I want to start living it.† He stroked my hair. â€Å"The guest list veto?† â€Å"I don't care really, but I . . .† I hesitated, not wanting to explain this one. Best to get it over with. â€Å"I'm not sure if Alice would feel the need to invite . . . a few werewolves. I don't know if . . . Jake would feel like . . . like he should come. Like that's the right thing to do, or that I'd get my feelings hurt if he didn't. He shouldn't have to go through that.† Edward was quiet for a minute. I stared at the tips of the treetops, almost black against the light gray of the sky. Suddenly, Edward grabbed me around the waist and pulled me onto his chest. â€Å"Tell me why you're doing this, Bella. Why did you decide, now, to give Alice free reign?† I repeated for him the conversation I had with Charlie last night before I'd gone to see Jacob. â€Å"It wouldn't be fair to keep Charlie out of this,† I concluded. â€Å"And that means Rene and Phil. I might as well let Alice have her fun, too. Maybe itwill make the whole thing easier for Charlie if he gets his proper goodbye. Even if he thinks it's much too early, I wouldn't want to cheat him out of the chance to walk me down the aisle.† I grimaced at the words, then took another deep breath. â€Å"At least my mom and dad and my friends will know the best part of my choice, the most I'm allowed to tell them. They'll know I chose you, and they'll know we're together. They'll know I'm happy, wherever I am. I think that's the best I can do for them.† Edward held my face, searching it for a brief time. â€Å"Deal's off,† he said abruptly. â€Å"What?† I gasped. â€Å"You're backing out? No!† â€Å"I'm not backing out, Bella. I'll still keep my side of the bargain. But you're off the hook. Whatever you want, no strings attached.† â€Å"Why?† â€Å"Bella, I see what you're doing. You're trying to make everyone else happy. And I don't care about anyone else's feelings. I only need you to be happy. Don't worry about breaking the news to Alice. I'll take care of it. I promise she won't make you feel guilty.† â€Å"But I -â€Å" â€Å"No. We're doing this your way. Because my way doesn't work. I call you stubborn, but look at what I've done. I've clung with such idiotic obstinacy to my idea of what's best for you, though it's only hurt you. Hurt you so deeply, time and time again. I don't trust myself anymore. You can have happiness your way. My way is always wrong. So.† He shifted under me, squaring his shoulders. â€Å"We're doing it your way, Bella. Tonight. Today. The sooner the better. I'll speak to Carlisle. I was thinking that maybe if we gave you enough morphine, it wouldn't be so bad. It's worth a try.† He gritted his teeth. â€Å"Edward, no -â€Å" He put his finger to my lips. â€Å"Don't worry, Bella, love. I haven't forgotten the rest of your demands.† His hands were in my hair, his lips moving softly – but very seriously – against mine, before I realized what he was saying. What he was doing. There wasn't much time to act. If I waited too long, I wouldn't be able to remember why I needed to stop him. Already, I couldn't breathe right. My hands were gripping his arms, pulling myself tighter to him, my mouth glued to his and answering every unspoken question his asked. I tried to clear my head, to find a way to speak. He rolled gently, pressing me into the cool grass. Oh, never mind! my less noble side exulted. My head was full of the sweetness of his breath. No, no, no, I argued with myself. I shook my head, and his mouth moved to my neck, giving me a chance to breathe. â€Å"Stop, Edward. Wait.† My voice was as weak as my will. â€Å"Why?† he whispered into the hollow of my throat. I labored to put some resolve into my tone. â€Å"I don't want to do this now.† â€Å"Don't you?† he asked, a smile in his voice. He moved his lips back to mine and made speaking impossible. Heat coursed through my veins, burning where my skin touched his. I made myself focus. It took a great deal of effort just to force my hands to free themselves from his hair, to move them to his chest. But I did it. And then I shoved against him, trying to push him away. I could not succeed alone, but he responded as I knew he would. He pulled back a few inches to look at me, and his eyes did nothing to help my resolve. They were black fire. They smoldered. â€Å"Why?† he asked again, his voice low and rough. â€Å"I love you. I want you. Right now.† The butterflies in my stomach flooded my throat. He took advantage of my speechlessness. â€Å"Wait, wait,† I tried to say around his lips. â€Å"Not for me,† he murmured in disagreement. â€Å"Please?† I gasped. He groaned, and pushed himself away from me, rolling onto his back again. We both lay there for a minute, trying to slow our breathing. â€Å"Tell me why not, Bella,† he demanded. â€Å"This had better not be about me.† Everything in my world was about him. What a silly thing to expect. â€Å"Edward, this is very important to me. I am going to do this right.† â€Å"Who's definition of right?† â€Å"Mine.† He rolled onto his elbow and stared at me, his expression disapproving. â€Å"How are you going to do this right?† I took a deep breath. â€Å"Responsibly. Everything in the right order. I will not leave Charlie and Rene without the best resolution I can give them. I won't deny Alice her fun, if I'm having a wedding anyway. And I will tie myself to you in every human way, before I ask you to make me immortal. I'm following all the rules, Edward. Your soul is far, far too important to me to take chances with. You're not going to budge me on this.† â€Å"I'll bet I could,† he murmured, his eyes burning again. â€Å"But you wouldn't,† I said, trying to keep my voice level. â€Å"Not knowing that this is what I really need.† â€Å"You don't fight fair,† he accused. I grinned at him. â€Å"Never said I did.† He smiled back, wistful. â€Å"If you change your mind . . .† â€Å"You'll be the first to know,† I promised. The rain started to drip through the clouds just then, a few scattered drops that made faint thuds as they struck the grass. I glowered at the sky. â€Å"I'll get you home.† He brushed the tiny beads of water from my cheeks. â€Å"Rain's not the problem,† I grumbled. â€Å"It just means that it's time to go do something that will be very unpleasant and possibly even highly dangerous.† His eyes widened in alarm. â€Å"It's a good thing you're bulletproof.† I sighed. â€Å"I'm going to need that ring. It's time to tell Charlie.† He laughed at the expression on my face. â€Å"Highly dangerous,† he agreed. He laughed again and then reached into the pocket of his jeans. â€Å"But as least there's no need for a side trip.† He once again slid my ring into place on the third finger of my left hand. Where it would stay – conceivably for the rest of eternity.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Communications & Crisis Essay

The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) has begun to receive official reports stating that the public water supplies of several towns in the South East Texas (SET) area have become contaminated with life-threatening biological agents. As director of this office, it is my responsibility to address contingency plans within the organization and the public; without creating panic. Areas of focus will include external and internal communication channels, communication advantages and challenges, communication strategies, applicable technology, technology utilization, and media opportunities. Successful management of the situation requires the establishment of teams and communication channels. Organization teams include a state relations team, district relations, media relations, and a crisis communications team (CCT). State, district, and media relations will communicate with CCT acting as coordinator. As the director of TDEM, I will be in charge of the CCT and oversee all organization operations. The state relations team till will be in charge of communications with the Texas Department of Health, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas Emergency Management Council (TEMC), and other government officials. According to Texas law, mayors and county judges serve as emergency management directors, bearing the responsibility for maintaining an emergency management program within their respective jurisdictions (TDEM, 2014). This will help with local emergency coordination’s. The district relations team will engage with local authorities to organize emergency response operations. The media relations team will communicate with local and online media sources and keep them informed of the issue. Our organizations communication channels can instantly connect with multiple organizations at once. This gives our organization a major advantage. We have the ability to spread and collect information quickly and on a grand scale. Information needs to be disseminated as fast and efficiently as  possible. The challenges associated with communications is the coordination of all efforts. According to Athena du Pre, lack of communication can lead to duplicated efforts, costly (and sometimes life-threatening) delays, frustration, and wasted time (Du Pre, A., 2003). During crisis events delays and wasted time can cost lives. This means that our team must keep in constant communication with other organizations to prevent overlapping efforts. Crisis communication is an ongoing process. Having a crisis communication plan is important so that more time can be spent acting and less time be spent making decisions. Examining the communication process of other crisis events can be a useful way to identify successful strategies. In 1979, the Three Mile Island reactor malfunctioned. The major form of communication used to report the event at the time were televisions and radios. Access to information was limited and local television and radio station bore the bulk of public inquiries. Organization communications had to be accomplished via telephones or face-to-face. Public communications were also limited to telephones and face-to-face. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina ravaged the city of New Orleans and left a large portion of it underwater. The major forms of communication during this event included television, radio, and the internet. With this event the internet provided quick connection and communication with multiple entities. Information could also be transferred on faste r and larger scale. However, with this particular event a large portion of the public had to go without electricity for an extended period of time. Without electricity television, radios, and the internet cannot be operated. Smartphones existed at the time, but were not as abundant. Those with smartphones and cell phones had a small window for communications after the loss of electricity. Unfortunately, these devices require recharging and are useless after so many hours. Examination of these scenarios provide proof of the importance of information access during times of crisis. In 1979, their limited resources increased the levels of public concern. In 2005, their lack of resources reduced the number of communication channels. Many people were left clueless and helpless. I believe that a good way of utilizing this knowledge is to prepare for similar situations. Publishing emergency information to the public on a wide variety of channels means more access to information, less confusion, and better coord ination of efforts. Fortunate for us, the current  scenario is not a threat to public electrical systems. However, we should be prepared for interruptions or breakdowns amongst communication channels. Each team should have contingencies in place, in case one or more resources is lost. These contingencies should include backup agencies, officials, and media sources. Teams should also have contingencies in place incase internal communications are interrupted or broken-down. Organization teams should allocate responsibilities between different members. If something happens to a team member, their responsibilities should either be divide up amongst all other team members or given to a single member. This largely depends on the size of responsibility and number of available team members. If an entire team becomes unavailable, then that teams responsibilities will be divided by the CCT and distributed amongst the remaining teams. Public contingency plans must also be addressed. In this scenario there are effectively two distinct immediate dangers. Lack of public knowledge leading to exposure, and difficulties decontaminating the public water supplies. In regards to public knowledge, it’s important that information be disseminated not only through technological communication channels, but through ground communication channels as well. Public and municipal service employees of all types should be called upon to spread the word throughout the public. The more entities that can be informed via employer to employee, the better. In regards to decontamination, the public should be fully aware that government agencies are working around the clock to solve the issue. Government entities should also offer access to alternative water supplies. During times of hurricanes, many agencies and charitable services hand out bottled water from multiple locations in their respective cities. This strategy should be utilized with the current scenario. If necessary, these services should be offered for as long as they are needed. As indicated in the previous scenarios, technology and the spread of the information go hand in hand. With the addition of the internet and digital communications, the communication process has become much more versatile. Social media often provides as a communications network for the public. Social media users can connect with other users and members of the public to share information and coordinate efforts. In today’s world many people have smartphones that are capable of internet access. These devices provide people with the ability to  access information no matter where they are. The downside to this technology is the requirement of data access. Times of crisis can overwhelm internet infrastructure, making communications slow or impossible. Short messaging services (SMS)’s are a good way of combating this effect. The benefit of SMS’s is that they operates on the mobile carrier signal rather than the connection used for mobile voice and data, allowing messages to be delivered and received on mobile devices even when the networks are too congested to make voice calls (Anonymous, 2014). Emergency alerts are also able to be broadcasted this way. Those with smartphones can be sent instant notifications; keeping them updated with current information. These systems can be used to inform a large number of people all at the same time. Compared to previous crisis scenarios, it’s possible that some technologies could be used differently. With the expansion of available communication channels, reliance on some technologies may not be as abundant as it once was. Television and radios no longer bare the sole burden of emergency broadcast communications. This can free up the efforts of local news and radio stations. Fewer public inquires to contend with, increases the overall resources of the stations. People will still call the stations for information, but the number will be significantly lower than it was in previous scenarios. In some cases television and radio may not even be utilized. Advancement in technologies has allowed the home computer to become the central h ub for information in some homes, and amongst many college students. Computers can be used for watching television and listening to radio programming. This technology increases the need for broadcasting emergency information over internet channels. Media opportunities of this management crisis include redundancy broadcast. According to a study from the University of Texas, redundancy is often necessary to overcome the noise in people’s lives because it reveals that people’s urgency perception increased after receiving three messages (Stephens, K., Barrett, A., & Mahometa, M., 2013). Having the media broadcast continual information will help increase the urgency perception of the public. The more people that are made aware, the less potential there is for casualties. Social media could also be used as a way to broadcast emergency information to different groups. Sites like Facebook and Twitter, can be used to spread information. Users connected or â€Å"subscribed† to  different groups receive notifications from those groups. This allows for information to be spread quickly across a major network. Often groups will be connected to other groups. When one group learns of the emergency they can then share the information with another group, and so on. Crisis management is an urgent matter that must be handled swiftly and efficiently. Planning and communications are vital for coordinating efforts. To protect the public, organization and communication strategies and contingencies must be in place. Communication channels must be established and their advantages and challenges should be known. Applicable technologies and their utilizations should be identified. Media opportunities should also be known so that appropriate communication channels can be utilized as a means of keeping the public informed. References Anonymous. (2014). Dynmark International: SMS is most effective communication channel during emergency. (2010). Wireless News, Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/750383013?accountid=458 Du Pre, A. (2003). Communicating About Health (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: McGraw Hill HIPAA compliance. Corrections Forum, 12(1), 15-16. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/214412170?accountid=458 Seeger, M. W. (2006). Best Practices in Crisis Communication: An Expert Panel Process. Journal of Applied Communication Research, 34(3), 232-244. doi:10.1080/00909880600769944 Stephens, K., Barrett, A., & Mahometa, M. (2013). Organizational Communication in Emergencies: Using Multiple Channels and Sources to Combat Noise and Capture Attention. Human Communication Research, 39(2), 230-251. doi:10.1111/hcre.12002 Texas Department of Emergency Management (TDEM). (2014). Retrieved from http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem/ he Fiscal Year of 214.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Gestalt Therapy Essays

Gestalt Therapy Essays Gestalt Therapy Paper Gestalt Therapy Paper Gestalt therapy was largely developed by Fritz Perls and his wife, Laura. Together they created a theory that is based on the premise that individuals must be understood in the context of their ongoing relationship with the environment. To better understand that, one must review the key concepts, therapeutic process, and the techniques of application. The first key concept of Gestalt therapy is its view of human nature. Perls believed that genuine knowledge is the product of what is immediately evident in the experience of the perceiver. He believed that individuals have the capacity to self regulate in their environment if they are fully aware of what is happening in and around them. There are several basic principles that underlie the practice of Gestalt therapy. Holism, one of the principles, is the interest in the whole person. The therapist will attend not only to the clients thoughts, feelings, and dreams. The field theory suggests that the client be seen in its environment and the figure formation process is how the individual organizes the environment from moment to moment. Last is the organismic self, which is a process by which equilibrium is disturbed by the emergence of a need. The next key concept is the focus of the now in Gestalt therapy. The present is seen as the most significant tense. To help the client stay in the here and now, therapist often ask what and how questions but rarely why. A Gestalt therapists aim is to help clients make contact with their emotions. For example, if a client begins to talk about sadness, the therapist will do what they can to have the client actually experience that sadness in the now. : Another key concept is that of unfinished business. When figures emerge from the background but are not completed and resolved, individuals are left with unfinished business. This can manifest in unexpressed feelings such as resentment, anger, frustration, rage, pain, anxiety, and grief. Yet another key concept is contact and resistances to contact. In Gestalt therapy, contact is necessary if change and growth are to occur. Contact is made my seeing, hearing, smelling, touching, and moving and it is made effectively by interacting with nature and other people without one losing their individuality. However, people often resist contact. Resistances to contact are defenses we develop to prevent us from experiencing the present. These defenses are called introjection, projection, retroflection, deflection, and confluence. The concern of Gestalt therapists is helping the client to become aware of how they are blocking their environment. The last key concept to talk about is energy and blocks to energy. Blocked energy is another form of resistance and it can be manifested by tension in some parts of the body such as posture, keeping ones body tight and closed, not breathing deeply, etc? The therapist aims to make their client aware of their blocked energy and bring the sensations to the clients awareness. To further the understanding of Gestalt therapy, it is important to get a good idea of the therapeutic process. The basic goal of therapy is attaining awareness and with it, greater choice. Awareness emerges within the context of a genuine meeting between the client and therapist. The therapists function is to assist the client in developing their own awareness and experiencing themselves how they are in the present. The therapists must also pay attention to their clients body language. These nonverbal cues can provide a lot of useful information because they are often a result of feelings that the client is unaware of. The Gestalt counselor must also focus on the clients language patterns and personality. The therapist will challenge the client by interventions that help them become aware of the effects of their language patterns. Gestalt practice involves a person-to-person relationship between the therapist and the client. The therapist is responsible for the quality of their presence, for knowing themselves and the client, and remaining open to the client. Although Gestalt therapy is quite simple, that does not mean that the therapists job is easy. They have a number of challenging techniques and procedures they use. One of which is the experiment, which is grown out of the interaction between the client and therapist. The experiment is a way to bring out some sort of internal conflict within the client by making the struggle an actual process. A therapist may have their client play out or relive a problem situation to increase their range of flexibility of behavior. In addition to experiments, the Gestalt therapist will use confrontation. This is not to be mistaken as a harsh attack. Gestalt confrontation is done in such a way that clients cooperate, especially when they are invited to examine their behaviors attitudes, and beliefs. This confrontation is used in correlation with the experiments. It can be used in many interventions used by Gestalt therapists. These interventions include the internal dialogue exercise, making the rounds, the reversal exercise, the rehearsal exercise, the exaggeration exercise, staying with the feeling, and dream work. Gestalt therapy seems as thought it would be best suited for someone who has had numerous problems in the past or who has a lot of built up anger and resentment. Allowing these people to relive these feelings, they will be able to fully experience those feelings and no longer carry them around. This could also work in counseling people of various cultures, however it would need to be proceeded with caution. It would be appropriate because experiments can be tailored to fit the person individually and to fit the unique way they perceive things. Also, the Gestalt therapist approaches the client in an open way and without preconceptions. However, Gestalt therapy tends to produce a high level of intense feelings and not all cultures value expression of feelings and emotion. This could be true with anyone though, I know I would have difficulty expressing such intense emotions. I tend to be emotionally reserved and it would be uncomfortable for me, which in turn could drive me away from therapy. However, I do agree with the theorys use of experiments. I think it is important for the client to actively realize their faulty thinking. Through the experiments, the client can experience feelings and become aware of how they are controlling their life. I do question, however, how effective the experiments would really be. I would have to see to believe that a person can play out a past situation and feel just as intensely as if it were really occurring. After reviewing the Gestalt therapy and its key concepts, therapeutic process, and application, I have realized that that thus far, this is my least favorite form of therapy. Though, like the others, I will take bits and pieces of it which will shape my future form of practice.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

8 interview tips for your first nursing job

8 interview tips for your first nursing job You’ve worked so hard in nursing school and on your exams, and now here you finally are: ready to embark on your nursing career. Interviews are nerve wracking in any situation, but particularly early on your career for a job that really excites you. Here are 8 tips about what to emphasize, what to ask, and what not to forget to say.1. Pay attention.Take a few moments to absorb what you are seeing in the atmosphere around you. What sense can you get of the work culture? What dynamics can you see playing out? Pay attention also to the kinds of questions your interviewer asks. Distinguishing a vibe in the air or a common thread to the questioning can really help you tailor your answers.2. Look the part.Preparation isn’t just coming up with answers beforehand to anticipated questions. It also means presenting yourself professionally and neatly and having an extra resume on hand, plus a notebook and a pen for jotting notes down. Be sure to have two forms of ID in case the fa cility in question requires it. And, please,  leave your phone off and tucked away!3. Talk about what makes you special.The most important things to emphasize are the skills that make you uniquely suited for the open job. Everyone applying for these jobs will have the proper credentials. What do you have that they don’t? Talk about your special talents, the diversity of your life experiences, or how low maintenance you are.4. Ask questions.This is crucial. First of all, as in all interviews, you will be asked if you have any questions for the interviewer. Have a few ready- there’s nothing more uninspiring than a candidate with nothing to ask. You can ask about the fine print- questions about overtime and scheduling- or about the work culture. Ask what their ideal candidate looks like (this will help you show them how you’re it, or help them see you as a solid alternative to their ideal).5. Know the logistics.Make sure you know where you’re going, how to get there, how long it will take, and who you’ll be speaking with. This will take a lot of the stress out of the process so you can focus on performing well once you arrive.6. Take care of yourself.You’ll be no use if you show up exhausted, frazzled, nervous, or unprepared. Make sure to do your homework, get a good night’s sleep, eat well, and hydrate before the interview. Wear something that is comfortable, but that also makes you feel confident. Feel as polished and professional as possible and you’ll do great.7. Take your time.Acing an interview isn’t about rattling off rote answers to questions instantaneously. It has a lot more to do with considering what you are saying and making sure you’re representing yourself in your best light. Rather than thinking of it as an oral exam, think of it as more of a conversation. And don’t forget to breathe.8. Do your homework.Learn everything you can in advance about the employer you are inte rviewing with- their facilities, their staff, the management, their policies, etc. Consider your strengths and weaknesses as they pertain to this particular job and be prepared to discuss them intelligently.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Discussion Forum Post Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Discussion Forum Post - Assignment Example Human nature and the tendency to change can be viewed from two dimensions, which include norms and lifestyle. Human nature is not independent of other influences because, in the absence of external factors, human nature can be said to be fixed. Cultural issues, norms and way of life determine to a great extent human behavior, attitude and the nature of interactions. A number of issues arise in so far as the study of the nodes is concerned. Study of the nudes, especially as depicted in the artwork symbolizes the human beauty and the inherent qualities posed by either gender (Powers 80). Consequently, nudity demonstrates various aspects of human life, such as energy and emotions manifested by the posture and the interventions depicted by the nudes (Powers 89). Nudity simply brings out the inner human into display and provides a broad basis over which a number of issues can be

Friday, November 1, 2019

Stylistic analysis and history in art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Stylistic analysis and history in art - Essay Example Legon claims, â€Å"The Egyptian canon of art was metrological founded through the system of horizontal guidelines that established the canonical forms† (Legon Web). The most appealing nature of the image that looks Egyptian to me is the choice of colour. The colours used in the image are a true reflection of Egyptian artwork. â€Å"Cannon of art† refers to classification of art by early historians. This early classification still has its influence in the naming of today’s art. In the topic "Discrimination in the Arts in America," â€Å"Cannon of art† is present. The early historians in America supported hierarchies of race due to the alleged evidence from the book of Genesis chapter nine in the bible. Noah blessed his son, Shem who covered him of his nakedness when he was drunk and cursed Canaan, Japheth was blessed to expand. Christian fundamentalists believed in the three races, White representing Japheth who was to expand to other nations. They justified slavery of Africans on this and believed that the whites should take the highest positions that existed. The cannon of art for Americans had a background of racism, which many art historians represented in their work. They did this via colour since the three different races had three distinct colours; white, yellow, and black. My choice of a retablo is the painting of Virgin Mary by Frida Kahlo made in Mexico. Like most of the retablos made during the 18th century, the Virgin Mary retablo was made in honour of the Catholic saints (Castro-Sethness 21-23). Virgin Mary is one of the most honoured spiritual personalities in the Catholic Church in prehistoric times and even at present. The most important learning from the Virgin Mary retablo is that the people who existed in the period in which the retablo was made had a significant connection to the church (Nolan 15-20). Most notably, they valued the saints and therefore, preferred preserving their images in form