The Effects Of Poverty In Our World Essays - Income Distribution

The Effects of Poverty in Our World All over the world, disparities between the rich and poor, even in the wealthiest of nations is rising sharply. Fewer people are becoming increasingly ?successful? and wealthy while a disproportionately larger population is also becoming even poorer. There are many issues involved when looking at poverty. It is not simply enough (or correct) to say that the poor are poor due to their own (or their government's) bad governance and management. In fact, you could quite easily conclude that the poor are poor because the rich are rich and have the power to enforce trade agreements, which favor their interests more than the proper nations. This is a very serious problem in our society today. Poverty is everywhere and it needs to reduced so that our economy will be more stabilized and balanced that it has been. What does it mean to be poor? What does it mean to describe a nation as ?developing A lack of material wealth does not define one as deprived. A strong economy in a developed nation does not mean much when a significant percentage or a majority of the population is struggling to survive. Development usually implies an improvement in living standards such that a person has enough food, water, and clothing, a stable social environment, freedom, and basic rights to have a fair chance for a decent life. Is this actually progress? On the other hand, are we fooled into believing that it is?

Integration of Essays on Linguistics

Integration of Essays on Linguistics Linguistics as a science has a long history of research and discovery, but still there is little agreement on the major roles and impacts of linguistic activity on the human nature, relationships and communication.Advertising We will write a custom coursework sample on Integration of Essays on Linguistics specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It goes without saying that any language is a powerful instrument of persuasion and communication of any information; it is a human invention for the utility of human interactions; it is a technology having much functionality in different applications of human linguistic capabilities; it is a powerful tool for acting in the world and producing influence on it (Pare, 2009). The major division among linguists is observed in the area of juxtaposed applied and formalist linguistic areas of research, and their ability to refer the language to realistic events and contexts. The functions of the language in constructing and influencing the social, political, ideological and cultural reality are also debated and researched. The set of articles reviewed in the present work provide a deeper understanding of the connections that a language has with the reality on any level, the functions that it plays in reflecting the human choices, and the way it is contextually shaped to reflect the social reality and discursive specificity of linguistic events. One has to realize the difference between language and reality, and never strive to direct representation thereof in a language, even in applied linguistics – these conclusions were initially drawn from the article of Widdowson (2001) about the nature of applied linguistics and its relevance to the reality, but further on related to the argumentation of Smart (2010) on the subjective nature of collective argumentation. The hypothesis of the author was that the discourse relationships in the formation of the argumentation, proofs and evide nce, contradictions and comparisons are discursively related not only in organizations with similar standpoints, but in those opposing each other in views.Advertising Looking for coursework on linguistics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Smart (2010) finds the recurrent claims, themes and patterns of argumentation that are directly influenced by the behavior of opponents. That is, the discourse of the professional climate change organization is continuously formed as a natural reaction to the argumentation of the opposing party (Smart, 2010). Hence, many similarities in the nature of scientific objectivity and its subjective representation in the collective argumentation of environmentalists and environmental skeptics may be found in the work of Smart (2010) voicing the claims of Widdowson about the fact that a linguist should â€Å"refer linguistic categories back to the actual language from which they had been abs tracted† (Widdowson, 2001). It is true because the practical element in linguistics should be observed – the science that exists for its own sake has no sense. Widdowson (2001) reviews two main tools of applied linguistics such as corpus analysis and critical discourse analysis to show how both the textual facts and effects can benefit the human understanding of linguistics and text in reality. It is the critical discourse analysis that has found its implementation in the work of Smart (2010); by analyzing the contextual discourses of collective argumentation formation, the author managed to show how the diametrically different viewpoints play a continuous role in the construction of the social reality of both opponents. One more useful idea of Widdowson that can be used in further practice is that linguists should â€Å"develop their own specialist discourses to suit their own disciplinary perspective on language† (Widdowson, 2001, p. 11). By stating this, the a uthor shows how the plurality of applied linguistics perspectives gives the opportunities for the scientific enquiry, research, comparison and analysis for the sake of further mediation between concepts and approaches. One of such perspectives finds its reflection in both the claims of Smart (2010) about the living nature of a discourse and its affluent changeability depending on the collective argumentation , and in the Widdowson’s theory of regarding language as detached from reality; it is the systemic functional linguistics (SFL) approach of Young (2010).Advertising We will write a custom coursework sample on Integration of Essays on Linguistics specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Young (2010) states that the intrinsic part in this language perspective is that it both creates and realizes its cultural part. This overview of the active nature of a language brings about the theory which says that language has its nature in the evolved service of its usage. Language then results from a continuous act of options and choices that it transpires in. It is also fashioned by varying cultural and social situations. Hence, the functional role of a language results from its function, purpose and immediate discourse, enabling the speaker to use various linguistic instruments to construct the reality. Young’s ideas about the functional application of language and its practical revelations of socio-cultural discourses may be developed further, as it is very logically complemented by the theory of Ricento (2006) about the language policy role in constructing the reality on the individual, group and even national level. Young (2010) argues that SFL is a biaxial language describing perspective that views the external social-cultural phenomenal of the formal internal system through which the expression of the meaning of language is derived. The SFL perspective is designed to work through the interaction of people t hrough the use of language. Some similar ideas may be found in the claims of Ricento (2006) about the social role of the language used in particular settings. Ricento (2006) identifies such concepts as diglossia in social terms, as a means of lowering the importance of indigenous languages and to assert the overwhelming influence of ‘big’ languages such as English nowadays or French several centuries ago. In his opinion, such terms as â€Å"native speaker†, â€Å"mother tongue† and â€Å"linguistic competence† have lost their meaningfulness, and were abandoned under the conditions of complex multiculturalism. Research of language policies under the proposed angle shades light on the current situation with the economic instability, political turbulence, racism and discrimination that first of all find the reflection in the language.Advertising Looking for coursework on linguistics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Ricento’s (2006) claim that â€Å"ideology of monolingualism† has to be considered â€Å"as necessary for social and economic equality† proves to be true in case of having a brief look at how the linguistic hegemony can change the cultural, political and economic perspectives of a state. The linguistic concepts appear deeply welded into socio-cultural, political and historical contexts. The proper approach to language policy can change the situation in a country and can alter the attitudes of some group members to another group. Young’s (2010) attention to the issue of linguistic metafunctions may serve as a sound theoretical substantiation of Ricento’s ideas on a theoretical, deeply detached level of linguistic functionality and situational context construction dependency. Instead of a conclusion, one needs to note that the role of the language in the practical, contextual issues of everyday life is gaining importance and influences the linguistic theory. Despite the fact that a linguistic situation may never render the reality in full, language has become a powerful tool for shaping the economic and cultural equality, solving various problematic issues and restoring the cultural dignity and autonomy by means of monolingualism implementation. The language has a set of practical and theoretical functions; it serves as a reflection of human choices and shapes the discursive reality on a continuous, living basis. Continuation of research in linguistics may help identify some more mechanisms that are enacted in the discursive interactions of linguistic acts’ participants. References Pare, A. (2009). What we know about writing, and why it matters. Compendium 2, Vol 2, No 1, pp. 1-11. Ricento, T. (ed.) (2006). An Introduction to Language Policy: Theory and Method. Malden, MA: Blackwell. Smart, G. (2010). â€Å"Argumentation across Web-Based Organizational Discourses: The Case of Climate Change.† In Srikant Sarangi C hris Candlin (eds.), Handbook of Communication in Organizations and Professions. Mouton De Gruyter. Widdowson, H.G. (2001). Coming to terms with reality: applied linguistics in perspective. In Graddol, D. (ed). Applied Linguistics of the 21st century. AILA Review 14. Young, L. (2010). Systemic Functional Linguistics. Forthcoming in J. Simpson (Ed.) Routledge Handbook of Applied Linguistics.

No Talent for Writing

No Talent for Writing No Talent for Writing No Talent for Writing By Maeve Maddox A reader writes: I have all these great stories in my head, but no talent what so ever when it involves writing it down. Is there any advice you could give me or am I stuck? Unless the questioner wants to become an oral storyteller and tell these great stories to a live audience, or record them as audiobooks, the answer has to be, â€Å"Yes, you’re stuck.† However, I suspect that the person asking the question has made some attempt to put stories into writing, but is unhappy with the result. Welcome to the tribe of fiction writers. We all have great stories in our heads. Getting them out of our heads and onto paper is the hard part. Talent is nice to have, but plenty of writers earn a living with a minimal amount of it. Persistence is far more important to a writer than talent. A large proportion of the world’s population is made up of extremely talented writers who have been working on the same book, or thinking about working on a book, for years. The word talent can mean simply â€Å"an inclination or a disposition† for something. Or it can mean â€Å"an innate aptitude.† Anyone who has the inclination to write can do it. Writing is a craft. Like any craft, it can be learned, and it must be practiced. Not everyone has the aptitude to produce a novel like Pillars of the Earth, War and Peace, or The Time Traveler’s Wife, but anyone who shows up at the computer every day will produce something. It’s in the rewriting that you’ll discover the extent of your talent. The best advice I can offer to the questioner is, â€Å"Start writing.† Pretend that one of the story ideas in your head is a movie that you’d like to tell a friend about. Pretend you’re writing a letter to that friend and then, start writing. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Fiction Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Dialogue Dos and Don'ts225 Foreign Phrases to Inspire You13 Theatrical Terms in Popular Usage

Analyze a website and present a case to the court Essay

Analyze a website and present a case to the court - Essay Example The area effect of explosive weapons causes death and injury not only to military combatants, but also to civilians, such as children, women and old people who clearly do not pose threat. This kind of harm is unacceptable because it has no justification. Although at present, there is no specific international treaty that prohibits the use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas, except perhaps for the use of cluster bombs which are banned by the Convention on Cluster Munitions, their use nevertheless, contravene basic human rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which should be abided by all members of the United Nations, proclaims that every person has the right to â€Å"life, liberty and security of persons.† Moreover, under the Geneva Convention of 1949, those who do not take direct part in a war are considered non-combatants and are therefore, must be, among others, free from violence to life and prison. Similarly, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court proscribes any attack against civilians. It is accepted principle under the international humanitarian law that the direct targeting of civilians violates the customary laws of war. The use of explosive weapons clearly breaches the principles enshrined in these treaties and customary laws.

Challenges of implementing Health IT on the African continent Essay

Challenges of implementing Health IT on the African continent - Essay Example While great strides have been made in managing the affairs of the continent by different countries in the continent, some have lagged behind in development, owing to the political instability and other natural forces such as the adverse climatic conditions and the environmental factors that poses a lot of challenge to the development of such countries. Consequently, the development of the African continent, especially in the field of health is far behind, compared to other continents of the world (Archangel, 2007). It is not unusual to find many people perishing from the very common and preventable diseases, which are non-existent in other continents, due to the inability of the African health systems to address such illnesses effectively (Edoho, 2011). Therefore, the health systems in the African continent highly require to be addressed. Nevertheless, there are major challenges that might face the implementation of the desired changes in the African health systems, especially regard ing the Health IT systems. Therefore, this discussion seeks to focus on the Challenges of implementing Health IT on the African continent, with a view to how such challenges can be overcome. Poor technological infrastructure, normally referred to as the digital divide, is one of the Challenges of implementing Health IT on the African continent (Khosrowpour, 2006).Technology in Africa is not only a challenge in the health sector, but in every other aspect of the technology application. By the year 2007, it was estimated that the access to technology was limited to a small percentage of the African continents population, including the telephone connectivity, the internet and the mobile phones accessibility. It was estimated that by then, only 1.5 in every 100 people had telephone connections in Africa (Edoho, 2011). The access to mobile phone subscriptions was estimated at 22.9% in every 100 people of the African population, while the level of internet accessibility was even lower, wi th the African continent having a meager internet accessibility of 3.7% for every 100 people of the African population. The African technological data is in sharp contrast with the global average technological data accessibility, where the internet accessibility, according to the global average was set at 20.6 for every 100 people globally (Edoho, 2011). The implementation of Health IT systems requires robust infrastructure, to ensure that data and information communication can easily be done by health professionals, health providers and other health institutions and agencies. The application of health IT systems is aimed at ensuring that the health information is gathered, stored, retrieved, analyzed and transmitted to the necessary information users, in the most timely manner (Archangel, 2007). However, all this cannot be achieved without a good infrastructural framework that allows for such gathering, storage, analysis and the transmission of the health information. The challenge with the African continent is that; it does not have a robust technological infrastructure, which would enhance the connectivity of the health systems and health facilities, thus enhancing transmission and sharing of information (Khosrowpour, 2006). Both satellite technology and the internet are limitedly developed in Africa, with only some countries managing to have access to such technology, though on a limited basis and restricted to the urban areas only. Considering the differences in

Overpopulation :: Papers

Overpopulation The twentieth century has drawn to a close and civilization faces the dilemma of supporting an overpopulated world. Throughout time, mankind has lived as though there were no consequences for his actions. But now, as people of the future, we see what is happening to the world we live in. Despite our knowledge, these straightforward problems are still being ignored. Our actions in the past have dictated the present, and our actions now will determine our future, and generations to come. We caused the overpopulation problems we are now facing; so we must also be the ones to solve the problems. The link between population growth and environmental impact seems obvious. More people, consume more resources, damage more of the earth, and generate more waste. In the book Earth Odyssey, by Mark Hertzgaard, he quoted Paul Ehrlich’s statement, â€Å"The United States is the most overp opulated country in the world† (197). Today’s children are likely to see a tripling of the global population within their lifetimes unless, solutions emerge decreasing population growth. Hertzgaard points out â€Å"the world’s population will stabilize at much less than eight billion people, and an eventual total of ten or twelve billion is quite possible† (220). We must take action to save our planet. One crisis the earth and its inhabitants fear today is lack of resources due to the increasing number of people. Justifications for our path of destruction are; destroy trees for more farmland; excessive consumption of food sources by over harvesting and overgrazing causing barren wastelands; continued use of fossil fuels and chemicals needed for transportation, creation of electricity, and heating our homes; and more people means more homes will be built again forests and natural habitats of animals.

The Air Traffic Controllers Strike of 1981

In this study, I intend to provide an overview of the air traffic controllers' strike that occurred in 1981. This strike came at the peak of increased tension between the air traffic controllers union, PATCO, and the FAA, a federal agency charged with overseeing the management of all civil air flights. The strike occurred on August 3, 1981. On that day, approximately 12,000 air traffic controllers went on strike, effectively crippling the civil air industry. As members of PATCO, these individuals certainly felt they had the right to strike; however, under the terms of certain laws affecting federal employees, the air traffic controllers, in fact, did not have this right. As a result, President Reagan immediately threatened that any air traffic controller not back at work within 48 hours of the start of the strike would lost his or her job. Three days later, the FAA issued 12,000 dismissal notices and the strike officially came to an end (Spector, 1982, p. ). Of particular interest to me is not only the details and particulars of this strike, but also the structural circumstances that precipitated it and why compensation negotiations were ineffectual. Therefore, I will focus the remainder of this overview on several key points: the internal and external environmental forces that led to the strike, specific human resources issues that made air traffic controllers apt to strike, and a review of the negotiation process and the failed proposals on both sides. In the course of this evaluation, I will discuss some of the major players in the strike, analyze some of the fundamental causes of this strike, and even present at least one alternative solution that was proposed at the time and should have probably been implemented without fail. In this, I intend to illustrate the nature of the air traffic controllers' strike of 1981 and the factors that made it all but inevitable. To begin with, let's consider some of the major players who were involved in the air traffic controllers' strike. First, there is the FAA. This is the federal agency that was established in 1958 to manage all civilian air flights in the United States. At the time of the strike, all air traffic controllers in the United States were trained, certified, and employed by the FAA (Spector, 1982, p. 1). In other words, the FAA had a literal stranglehold on the market for air traffic controllers in the United States. To work in the United States as an air traffic controller, thus, meant that one had to work with the FAA and abide by their prescriptions for how air traffic controllers should be employed. Second, we should consider PATCO, or the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization. This group was affiliated with the AFL-CIO and was created in 1968. It was, in short, a union of air traffic controllers. During the 1970s, in particular, PATCO grew at a tremendous rate (Spector, 1982, p. 2). By the time the potential strike rolled around, most of the air traffic controllers in the United States were members of PATCO. Third, we should consider the head of PATCO, the man who lead the organization down the more militant path towards strike and whose ultimate negotiations with the FAA would precipitate the strike in the first place. Robert Poll took the reins at PATCO in 1980, partially in response to attitudes within the organization that felt a more aggressive stance was needed towards the FAA on the part of unionized air traffic controllers (Spector, 1982, p. 2). In this context, we can see that Poll and PATCO were immediately at odds with the FAA, which as an organization naturally wanted to maintain its monopolistic control over the supply of air traffic controllers. The conflict between the two primary players in this strike-the FAA and PATCO-was only exasperated by certain pieces of federal legislation that prohibited federal employees from using strikes, sit-ins, or work slow downs to affect changes in their employment status. Legislation such as the Federal Relations Labor act prevented federal unionized employees to use their union status for anything other than collective bargaining (Spector, 1982, p. 2). This structural component of the issue further tied the figurative hands of PATCO and the air traffic controllers. It may even have precipitated a strike if the air traffic controllers felt cornered and desperate in their dealings with the FAA. If the air traffic controllers did not think there was any possibility of seeing their demands met-and how could they, if they were not permitted to use the threat of a strike? -then it is possible that they would have instigated the strike in desperation. There were a number of other issues that certainly led to a strike-style conflict between the FAA and PATCO. For example, of the 17,275 air traffic controllers employed in July 1981, all had to take part in a seventeen-week training course and then participate in on-the-job training for an additional two to four years. The FAA estimated that the total cost of training an air traffic controller amounted to $175,000 (Spector, 1982, p. 4). From the perspective of the FAA, labor negotiations were unlikely to result in higher pay rates or other forms of compensation. From the federal perspective, a significant amount of money had already been invested in these individuals; more was not a viable option. For the air traffic controllers, however, increased pay was the least of their concerns. As air traffic controllers knew all too well, the job of managing dozens of aircraft from the ground simultaneously was not easy. When PATCO went to the negotiation table with the FAA prior to the strike, they listed a number of concerns and problems that they wanted to see corrected. These included, but were not limited to, the following. One, PATCO was concerned about access. The FAA gave unfettered access to airports at any time, to anyone. The result was extremes of traffic during peak and off hours of the day or week. PATCO also cited poor supervision from individuals who were often paid more than the air traffic controllers to do nothing more than shift paperwork around. Safety responsibility was also a concern-given the demands of the job and the life-or-death nature of it, some air traffic controllers felt that there should be a better system of managing and accepting responsibility. Finally, the air traffic controllers were concerned about their pay scale, especially lost overtime hours according to federal mandate (Spector, 1982, p. 10-11). Salaries for air traffic controllers were reasonable for the period, however some federal regulations placed a cap on the amount that any individual could earn as a federal employee. Additionally, limitations were made regarding the amount of pay that could be awarded during any two week period, regardless of hours worked. This fact, combined with the extremely stressful nature of the job, upset many at PATCO (Spector, 1982, p. 4,6). The fact that the FAA rated as one of the poorest employers of air traffic controllers worldwide in terms of hours worked per week, vacation days, and sick leave only made matters worse (Spector, 1982, p. 5). Thus, when the FAA and PATCO went to the negotiation table in the days and weeks preceding the strike on August 3, there were a number of issues that had to be resolved between them. The air traffic controllers felt overworked, overstressed, and under appreciated in general. The FAA felt that it had the upper hand because the air traffic controllers were unable, by federal law, to go on strike. For this reason, the eventual strike-in hindsight-seems all but inevitable. In fact, the assumption that the FAA had the upper hand in the negotiations may have led directly to their counter offer which was much more conservative than the original PATCO demands. PATCO wanted an increase in salaries, a new maximum salary limit, a reduction in the work week, earlier retirement benefits, and cost of living adjustments to be made twice a year. The FAA negotiator, John Helms, estimated that this package would cost the government around $744 million the first year. He countered with a proposal that would only cost $40 million the first year, but which was a significantly watered down version of PATCO demands (Spector, 1982, p. 10). The union rejected this offer and went back to the negotiation table. When the second counter offer from the FAA was also not to their liking, they voted 95% in favor of going on strike (Spector, 1982, p. 11). The consequent strike on August 3, 1981 cost most of PATCO members their jobs and ended up costing the aviation industry, as well as associated industries such as tourism and hotels, millions of dollars in lost profits. Given these myriad environmental forces, symptoms and causes, and the inherent conflict between the FAA and PATCO, it is little wonder that a strike was the ultimate result between the negotiations between the FAA and PATCO. But what might have been done differently, what other solution might have worked in the past to alleviate the problems that occurred? For an answer I turn to Lane Kirkland of the AFL-CIO who said at the time, â€Å"The air traffic control system is a purely subsidized service the government is providing for the private airline industry. Under the Reagan doctrine of getting the government off people's backs, you'd think they might try to turn the whole thing over to the industry to run instead of using the might and majesty of the government to suppress a strike† (Spector, 1982, p. 4). In fact, this is exactly the solution that I would have suggested at the time and would advocate today as a solution to the mess that the FAA found itself in in 1981. If the FAA had been privatized, the concerns and issues that air traffic controllers were having could have been easily resolved between PATCO and the airline industry, in whose best interest it would have been to resolve the matter to keep planes in the air and profits in the black. Instead, the government used an ineffective law to force almost 12,000 people out of work who were simply trying to use the power of the strike to leverage themselves better working conditions. Especially when we consider the magnitude of the job that air traffic controllers did (and do) and the safety of countless lives that could have been at stake, it is even amazing that the government responded to the legitimate concerns of air traffic controllers in the way that it did.