JC Penney - When did the Giant Retailer make the change and why Term Paper

JC Penney - When did the Giant Retailer make the change and why... Myron Ullman vs Ron Johnson leadership styles - Term Paper Example The company’s stated goal is to build deeper, more enduring relationships with its customers, increase associate engagement and retention and deliver industry-leading financial performance for its shareholders. As a business strategy, J.C. Penney intends to become a growth leader in retail industry.   The retailer strives to achieve excellence in style authority, customer interactions, digital experiences, and operational effectiveness (JCPenney, 2013). James Cash Penney  opened the first J.C. Penny store in Kemmerer, Wyoming in 1902. In 1907, he purchased â€Å"The Golden Rule Stores† chain of stores where he was a partner. In 1913, the company changed its name to the J. C. Penney Company and adopted the business principles that would guide the company to conduct its business. By 1922, the J.C. Penney operated 371 stores located in 27 different states. J.C. Penney went public in 1929. In 1951 the company introduced credit sales and in 1953 it began catalogue sales. The company advertised on the national television for the first time in the 1970s. In the 1990s, the J.C. Penney stores became ‘anchors’ for the malls that came up across the United States. In 1994, J.C. Penny launched its e-commerce website  www.jcp.com. In 2005, the online sales exceed $1 billion. A year later, the retailer unveiled Sephora, the store-within-a-store concept. The company launched its customer loyalty program, jcp Rewards, and its Customer FIRST initiative in 2008 (JCPenney, 2013). The retail industry in United States clocks more than $3.8 trillion in  retail  sales on an annual basis (Business Wire, 2013). The ongoing recessionary conditions have thwarted the industry from registering rapid sales growth in recent times. The retail industry in the United States is undergoing a change. There has been a transformation in consumer buying habits especially in the wake of the recession of 2008. Numerous retailers have reported lukewarm

Son Of The Revolution Essay Example for Free

Son Of The Revolution Essay STRUGGLE AGAINST ONESELF; CRITICIZE REVISIONISM (p. 144) was a slogan often used during the Great Cultural Revolution. In reality, the Cultural Revolution was not great at all. It was an unwarranted attack on personal freedoms of Chinas people. The Chinese fought themselves, they even acknowledged it as a struggle. They looked upon this struggle as part of the great Cultural Revolution. At age 3, a boy should not be held accountable for his parents political status. Yet, Liang Heng was. One mistake on his mothers, Yan Zhi-de, behalf changed his life forever. Yan Zhi-de uttered the words that the leaders of the Party would not listen to the masses opinions when it came time to give raises. This led the Party to label her a rightist. What began as the Hundred Flowers Movement quickly changed to the Anti-Rightist Movement, leading many to the path of poor political performance. In turn, disgracing her family members, she was sent to become a peasant. For the rest of her life, Yan Zhi-de remained a peasant. After this incident, Liang Heng, Liang Wei-Ping, and Liang Fang had been labeled Rightists children. Though each of the children attempted to fit in, the other students picked fights with Liang Heng and the children never had the opportunity to join the Red Guards. Not until Liang Heng tricked his way into being admitted into the group. Liang Heng saw many different aspects of the Cultural Revolution. He became a student, a peasant, a basket ball player, factory worker, and finally an intellectual (writer.) Liang Heng had been falsely accused of many crimes throughout his life, and he held his ground firmly. Fate had another choice for Liang Fang. Though she would try desperately to join the Communist Youth League, she was never able to. However, she did join the Red Guards and later became a Rebel. Ultimately, she ended up as a peasant until her mid-twenties. Liang Wei-Ping joined the Educated Youth which was the determining factor that led her to become a peasant. Liang Shan had one of the most miserable situations out of the entire family. Once his wife had been declared a rightist, he immediately attempted to  break off all relations with her. This was unsuccessful. Everything in his life went downhill from there. He was publicly humiliated and suffered mental torture due to the fact that he had to criticize himself. Liang Shan was sent to a re-education center for a number of years, then spending the rest of his days in the countryside. He eventually had a stroke and lost the abilities of his left side. The Cultural Revolution was a serious mistake. A mistake that took many happy homes and destroyed them. Neglecting to seriously care about the people of his country, Chairman Mao started a disaster. Thankfully, this disaster ended with his death. That allowed people to live somewhat normal lives, compared to the horrible lives the lower class was forced to live during the Cultural Revolution.

European Immigration Essay -- Globalization, UK Government, Ethnic Min

This paper is going to discuss the differences between well managed immigration and poorly managed immigration and how globalisation and the inclusion of the A8 countries into the European Union have changed the migration patterns to the United Kingdom. It will also examine how Eastern European migrants are perceived and treated by the majority and ethnic minority populations. Globalization has increased the mobility of capital and labour which has led to a greater labour demand for the production of goods and services worldwide. Consequently, labour requirements outside the services sector, are being met via the growing class of economic migrants who are either escaping unemployment in their home countries or seeking improved employment abroad (UNCTAD, 2009). Globalisation and the inclusion of the A8 countries into the European Union (EU); Poland, Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungry, Slovakia, Slovenia, Cyprus and Malta, in 2004 and Bulgaria and Romania in 2007, has created the world’s largest free-trade bloc giving over 100 million people open access to live and work in the United Kingdom (UK). The influx of approximately 1.5 million EU workers, mainly Polish, to the UK has fundamentally changed the migration patterns to the UK (Kegley, 2008; Polish Migrants UK, 2010; Sumption & Somerville, 2009). The UK government acknowledge that in a globalised economy well-managed immigration can provide a powerful boost to the British economy whilst others in Europe stagnate (May, 2010). Therefore, these highly educated migrants can aid economic growth and reduce inflationary pressures by keeping wages low, fill existing skills shortages and make positive contributions to the tax system. They have a lower unemploym... ...ings of each other's backgrounds and ways of living† due to "The European Union expansion has had an impact on the number of jobs going to those in the ethnic minority communities – it's easy to bring in outsiders who will work for less but we run the risk of leaving people behind†. Therefore, "They're taking out their aggression on the newer immigrants for what they've had to suffer themselves in the community for years." (Smithard, 2008 NPN). Lastly, whilst immigration has been beneficial to the business sector of the UK, too many people have experienced the negative connotation of immigration via social tension, cultural racism and discrimination. However, Britain could cope with migration providing people feel that the immigration system is fair and does not undermine the employment status of the indigenous populations.

Fine Arts Classes Are Necessary Essay examples -- Persuasive Essay

Fine arts classes benefit students and schools alike. Fine arts are needed courses, not just as electives but as core classes that promote learning and creativity in the lives of students. There are three different styles of learning: auditory, visual, and kinesthetic. Fine art provides an avenue for all of these learning styles to be utilized during one class period; therefore, all students are able to understand and benefit from the curriculum. In a normal academic setting all types of learning may not be used, so a percentage of the classroom will not understand the lessons as well as it could have if it had arts incorporated into the class. It may seem impossible to include arts into an academic setting, but it is possible, effective, and fun. According to Barry Oreck, it has been proven that students learning molecular bonding through a dance had a more proficient understanding of the concept. He states, â€Å"We have found that if you learn something through a theater game, you can still answer a test question† (new horizons Dickerson 3). This statement proves that arts are extremely important and beneficial. With fine arts, students have a safe environment to express themselves, a motivation to stay in school, and higher test scores. The fact that fine arts are needed is evident, but will schools respond or live in denial? The arts provide a safe environment for students to express themselves without the worry of ridicule. These kids should have the opportunity to participate in multiple fine arts activities as a way to communicate their feelings in a healthy atmosphere (Weber). Green Lake Elementary School believes its students â€Å"acquire a positive learning attitude for a lifetime, celebrate the uniqueness of... ...rts into schools is not as hard as it seems. Including arts in the class room is a simple as playing music. It is proven that just listening to music or even a simple rhythm will engage both sides of the brain and help it to learn more efficiently (Weber 1). Even though this country is in an economic recession, fine arts are a necessity to the schools. The arts may cost a little extra money, but in the end the benefits of keeping fine arts in the school system will bring about rewards never imagined. The students will have a safe place to express themselves, a motivation to stay in school, and a higher test score. Fine arts are evidently needed; so now, what will people do to make sure that the arts have a permanent place in the schools? Will people realize the difference the arts make and change their ways, or will the voice of fine arts dwindle and die?

What Is Cerebral Palsy Health And Social Care Essay

Along with motor upsets, patients can besides hold other medical jobs. Epilepsy, mental deceleration, larning disablements or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ( ADHD ) are sometimes seen in patients with intellectual paralysis. Cerebral paralysis is non a progressive upset, intending symptoms will non come on after clip. Congenital intellectual paralysis, intending bing from birth, is the largest figure of instances in the United States. 5 kids in every 2,000 Borns are diagnosed with intellectual paralysis. Today, 5-10 % are diagnosed with athetoid intellectual paralysis, which is characterized by slow, wrestling nonvoluntary motions. The staying 80-90 % are diagnosed with spastic intellectual paralysis. This type is characterized by rigidness in musculuss which causes stiffness and restricted motion in patient. In the 1880 ‘s, intellectual paralysis was believed to be caused by deficiency of O at birth. It has since been found to be caused by encephalon harm in early fetal development, before the procedure of birth. One possibility is an infection in the amnionic fluid environing the foetus. Infections can be rubella ( German rubeolas ) , toxoplasmosis-an infection caused by a one-celled parasite most normally acquired from contact with cats and their fecal matters. These infections are a hazard to the foetus merely if the female parent contracts the infection for the first clip during the gestation. A shot in a foetus can do neurological harm merely like every bit in an grownup. Birth asphyxia important plenty to do intellectual paralysis is uncommon in developed states, although it can still happen. There are infections that can be passed during birth that are n't passed through the placenta during gestation. An infection that causes a serious unwellness in the neonate can hold the possible to bring forth some neurological harm. Approximately 15 % of intellectual paralysis is due to a encephalon hurt sustained after birth. Infections, such as meningitis and phrenitis may do irreversible harm to the encephalon. Abuse, accidents, near drowning, or asphyxiations may do intellectual paralysis in newborns/children up to age 3. After the age of three, the neurological harm is n't classified as intellectual paralysis. A doctor will name intellectual paralysis in a kid by supervising the kid ‘s mileposts, when they sit up, start catching things and when they start walking. Besides observing musculus rigidness or unnatural leg/arm motion in the kid. Children enduring from intellectual paralysis will besides meet other neurological jobs besides the 1s mentioned and besides orthopaedic jobs. Seizures, epilepsy, ADHD, larning disablements, and mental deceleration are a few of the neurological jobs that can travel along with intellectual paralysis. Scoliosis, disagreement in leg length, contractures of articulations, and hip disruption are some of the orthopaedic jobs associated with intellectual paralysis. This is n't to state that every patient diagnosed with intellectual paralysis will see every one of these symptoms. Since it is a neurological upset, no two patients are traveling to be afflicted in the same manner. There are different types of Cerebral paralysis. Spastic is the inability to loosen up a musculus ( stiffness ) and affects approximately 80 % of those with CP. Athetoid is the inability to command a musculus and it affects about 25 % of those with Cerebral Palsy. Hypotonic is where the musculuss are really floppy due to hapless or low musculus tone and may develop spasticity. Hemiplegia is muscle stiffness in one arm and one leg on the same side of the organic structure and affects approximately 1 in every 1,000 kid born. Hemiplegia does n't ever intend your kid has intellectual paralysis. Diplegia is musculuss stiffness in both legs. Quadriplegia is muscle stiffness in all four appendages including the truck and cervix musculuss. This signifier of intellectual paralysis is caused by an hurt to the spinal cord that sends messages to the organic structure parts that control motion and esthesis. Ataxic affects coordination of musculuss, impacting all four limbs and besides the bole. A patient holding atactic intellectual paralysis will hold hapless or low musculus tone. Ataxic intellectual paralysis affects 5-10 % of those with intellectual paralysis. There are different types of therapy that can be used with intellectual paralysis to decrease or command the grade of musculus job. Physical therapy, medicines, orthotic devices and surgery are some types of therapies or interventions that can be used. Physical therapy can assist with musculus preparation, beef uping the musculuss, balance and mobility. Stretching is one manner to assist decelerate the formation of contractures ( joint scope of gesture restrictions ) . Medicines can cut down shudders, musculus cramps and can besides loosen up tight musculuss. Injected medicines can cut down countries of musculus spasticity. Orthotic devices, besides called braces, can be used to stretch spastic musculuss which can forestall loss of abilities and balance. Surgery can be used to rectify size of leg differences and besides to assist rectify any spine curvatures. Cerebral paralysis is a neurological upset caused by infections during gestation, during birth or after birth, physical injury to the caput and/or spinal column, and besides by deficiency of O although that cause has been decreased as medical progresss are made. If affects a big sum of people and can be rather hard to populate with. Since it is a neurological upset, it affects each patient in a different manner. There is no remedy for intellectual paralysis, but there are ways to minimise the effects it can hold on a patient.

Does pressure group politics damage or enhance democracy Essay Example

Does pressure group politics damage or enhance democracy Essay Example Does pressure group politics damage or enhance democracy Paper Does pressure group politics damage or enhance democracy Paper Democracy can be defined as the political orientation of those who favour government by the people, or by their elected representatives (Whawell, 1998 p. 178). Democracy derives from the Greek word demos meaning people, in essence a democratic society is a fair society. A Pressure group or interest groups fundamental aim is to influence decision makers in the Government domain, which can be formulated by central government, local government, the European Union, and in some cases by quasi government (Grant, 1995 p. ). Pressure groups do not attempt to gain political power, which differs from a political party, in respect that pressure groups inform, influence, and exert pressure on those creating public policy. Coxall (2001 p. 3) has suggested the following definition of a pressure group: A pressure group is any organisation that aims to influence public policy, by seeking to persuade decision makers, by lobbying rather than by standing for election and holding office. In essence, pressure groups do not wish to become actively involved with the government; they tend to concentrate on one particular aspect, as apposed to the government who are involved with many strategies. The fundamental purposes of pressure groups are to influence decisions making on exigent issues. For the purpose of this assignment, the author will discuss further, whether the issues of pressure group politics damage or enhance democracy. There are different forms of pressure groups, these being sectional or interest groups, cause or promotional groups, and insider/outsider groups. A sectional or interest group by definition tends to be motivated by their particular economic interests of their members, for example, The Trade Union Congress, (TUC) professional bodies such as The British Medical Association, (BMA) and specific employers organisations such as lawyers and medics fall within this category. A cause or promotional group can be defined (Grant, 1995 p. 3) as an idea, which is not directly related to the personal interests of its members, an example of this would be, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, (CND), Green Peace, or the Child Poverty Action Group, (CPAG). An insider/outsider topology was developed by Grant in 1995, (1995, p 15) which can be defined as categorising groups according to the tactics that they employ, and their relationship with the government. Thus, government and the civil service regard insider groups as justifiable partnerships, and when it comes to formulating and executing policy in particular areas, the insiders are deemed as the specialist in their area of interest, for example, The Charted Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH). Insider groups are perceived by the government as providing reliable and precise information, using the same verbal communication and ideologies, and perhaps more importantly, retaining the confidence of the government, being ideally placed in a position to compromise. In contrast, an outsider group tends not to be recognised and accepted by the government, arguably that they do not wish to pay homage or the political game, and bow down to the demands of the institution (Jones, 1991 p. 251). In quintessence, they are protest groups, which have specific objectives, which are external to the mainstream political opinion. For example, the government perhaps would not approach the animal activist group for advice about animal rights; however, may seek the professional knowledge and expertise from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA). Pressure groups can also be influential within government, depending on current societal issues, the government has the opportunity to be selective about which pressure groups they utilise, and not all groups have equal access. A poignant example of this would be the National Farmers Union (NFU), in the 1980s as an interest group they were an insider group. However, since the recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease, the government have changed their tactics, deeming the NFUs information as unreliable and not accredited, and now utilise the Royal Veterinary Society (RVS) for their expertise and knowledge instead. Membership of pressure group parties has increased significantly over the last twenty years in comparison to the public who attend voting at general elections. This may be due to a variety of influencing factors, such as a higher disposable income, the advent of the internet, and there are now more bureaucrats. Kavanagh et al (2006 p. 418) suggests that In Britain today, more than half the adult population are members of at least one organisation, and many belong to a number of groups. For Example, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, (RSPB) has more members in total than all of the British political parties amalgamated, (Grant, 1995 p. 7) It could be argued (Grant, 1995 p. 17) that this does not enhance democracy. Pressure groups provide government with expertise and advice to facilitate policymaking, which ultimately result in enhancing the quality of government; they explore further avenues of participation, and actively contribute to the surveillance of government on behalf of its members, and look to expose information. Many of the pressure groups, whom assist the government, are experts in their own areas of competency such as medicine or farming. With the increased prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Aids) was promulgated in the 1980s, the Terrance Higgins Foundation (THF) was consulted for their technical expertise and practical advice. Budge et al (2006 p. 446) has suggested that consultation with relevant groups makes for rational decisions, and quotes, Governments obviously have a democratic duty to consult and may depend on organised groups for policy information and implementation. Thus promoting political stability by providing a channel of communication between the government and the people, Budge, et al (2006 p 446) also suggested that by joining a pressure group, the populace fundamentally believe that they are actively being involved with politics. Pressure groups can also provide an essential freedom for the populace, especially minority groups, they are able to organise with concurring individuals so that their views can be articulated, and taken into consider ation by the government. For example, the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) provides comprehensive information on its role in advising the Government on the transport needs of a disabled person. The DPTAC are currently lobbying for changes for people who are discriminated against, with disabilities, on aeroplanes, (December, 2007) this facilitates the needs of people who autonomously would not be able to make a difference, in essence, assisted by a pressure group, they have a voice. Within the last decade, The Peoples Fuel Lobby (farmers and the road hauliers) launched a campaign against fuel tax, blocking oil refineries, which caused widespread national disruption. The government were left with no option other than to reduce the price of fuel, in order for public confidence to be resumed and services to recommence. This type of pressure group campaign displayed a positive effect, as far as the protesting party were concerned, however, it was incredibly embarrassing for the government, who ultimately succumbed to this form of blackmail. It was suggested by Grant, (1995, p. 13) that this bullying tactic can have detrimental effects and eventually recoil. For example, The Fathers for Justice Campaign (Guardian, Chezneck, 2006), allegedly plotted to kidnap Tony Blairs son, which led to an announcement in 2006 that the group was dissolving, this may indicate that the pressure group had in fact gone too far on this occasion. A negative impact of pressure groups can be of overcrowding the political arena and overloading the government with information therefore, preventing them from addressing important issues. Large scale demonstrations mounted by any group may lead to clashes with the police and the government, an example of this is the poll tax demonstrations which took place in 1990 (Jones, 1991, p. 259), where scenes of violence were frowned upon by the public. During the 1970s the Trade Unions had a substantial amount of influence and power within the government, until Margaret Thatcher came into power in 1979. It was suggested by Kavanagh et al (2006, p 418) Thatcherite conservatives were often suspicious of pressure groups, blaming them for overload and exponential state expansion, one of the stated aims of Thatcherism was to tame the enemy within. Margaret Thatcher thought that pressure groups were (Jones, 1991, p. 59), always intrusive, meddling and interfering with government practices. It was suggested by Watts, (2007, p. 154) that pressure groups only provide for people that have the time, money and educational backgrounds and therefore this automatically excludes people from lower socio economic groups, these are the cohorts in society that really do need their voices to be heard. To conclude, pressure groups are very popular in the United Kingdom, and there are in excess of five thousand diverse groups (Jones, 1991, p. 59). It ca n be suggested, by the author, that pressure groups have some control over democracy; this is done by assembling the public with similar beliefs, and individuals freedom to be heard increases power, thus creating movement of power downwards and away from central institutions, ultimately resulting in a fairer democratic society. Continuality of political action enhances democracy as it gives constant reviews to policy. If there were to be demise in pressure groups, the process would not flow, as government elections only take place every four years. Pressure groups bring to the attention of the public governments activities, ensuring that procedures are being followed. Regardless of positive or negative factors brought on by pressure groups, they play a poignant role in contemporary British politics, although it may not always benefit them or society, their role is to serve individuals politically in ways that elections, campaigns and political parties are unable to.

Babi Yar - Analysis Of The Poem Essays - The Holocaust In Ukraine

Babi Yar - Analysis Of The Poem Essays - The Holocaust In Ukraine Babi Yar - Analysis of the Poem Yevtushenko speaks in first person throughout the poem. This creates the tone of him being in the shoes of the Jews. As he says in lines 63-64, "No Jewish blood is mixed in mine, but let me be a Jew . . . " He writes the poem to evoke compassion for the Jews and make others aware of their hardships and injustices. "Only then can I call myself Russian." (lines 66-67). The poet writes of a future time when the Russian people realize that the Jews are people as well accept them as such. If you hate the Jews, he asks, why not hate me as well? True peace and unity will only occur when they have accepted everyone, including the Jews. Stanza I describes the forest of Babi Yar, a ravine on the outskirts of Kiev. It was the site of the Nazi massacre of more than thirty thousand Russian Jews on September 29-30, 1941. There is no memorial to the thirty thousand, but fear pervades the area. Fear that such a thing could occur at the hands of other humans. The poet feels the persecution and pain and fear of the Jews who stood there in this place of horror. Yevtushenko makes himself an Israelite slave of Egypt and a martyr who died for the sake of his religion. In lines 7-8, he claims that he still bars the marks of the persecution of the past. There is still terrible persecution of the Jews in present times because of their religion. These lines serve as the transition from the Biblical and ancient examples he gives to the allusions of more recent acts of hatred. The lines also allude to the fact that these Russian Jews who were murdered at Babi Yar were martyrs as well. The next ezza reminds us of another event in Jewish history where a Jew was persecuted solely because of his religious beliefs. The poet refers to the "pettiness" (line 11) of anti-Semitism as the cause of Dreyfus' imprisonment. Anti-Semitism is his "betrayer" (line 12) when he is framed, and anti-Semitism is his "judge" (line 12) when he is wrongly found guilty. Lines 13-14 claim that even the fine and supposedly civilized women of society shun Dreyfus because he is a Jew and fear him like they would fear an animal. In ezza III, Yevtushenko brings himself to the midst of the pogroms of Bielostok. He gives the readers the image of a young boy on the floor being beaten and bleeding while he witnesses others beat his mother. In line 24, he gives the reader the rationale of the Russians who are inflicting such atrocities on the Jews. "'Murder the Jews! Save Russia!'" They view the Jews as the curse of Russia; a Jewish plague that must end in order to save their country from evil. In a way they think that they are acting in patriotism. The poet transports us to Anne Frank's attic in the fourth ezza. He describes to the reader the innocent love that has blossomed between Anne and Paul. Her love of the world and life and spring has been denied her (line 30). Yet, she manages to find comfort for her loss in the embrace of her beloved. In line 33, Yevtushenko shows the reader Anne's denial of what is going on around her. She tries to drown out the noise of the Nazis coming to get her. When her precious spring comes, so do the war and the Nazis to take her to her death. Stanza V brings us back to the ravine of Babi Yar. In line 40, the poet chooses to personify the trees. They "stare down" on him in judgement as G-d would. Line 41 is oxymoronic. There is a silent mourning for the martyred Jews by the air; a force in nature. The air around Babi Yar howls for the massacre it has witnessed. The poet himself claims to be "an endless soundless howl/ over the buried" (lines 43-44). He is a mourner for the thirty thousand, but there is nothing that can be said. He writes that e is every one of thirty thousand and feels

Hunting for Witches in the Family Tree

Hunting for Witches in the Family Tree Whether your ancestor was actually a practicing witch, or someone accused of or involved with witchcraft or witch hunting, it can add a touch of interest to your family history. Of course, were not talking about the witches we think of today - the black pointy hat, the warty nose, and the ragged broomstick. Most women, and men, who were accused of witchcraft, were feared for their nonconformist ways more than anything else. It can still be fun to claim a witch in the family tree. Witchcraft in Europe Colonial America Talk of witches often brings the famous Salem Witch Trials to mind, but punishment for practicing witchcraft was not unique to colonial Massachusetts. A strong fear of witchcraft was prevalent in 15th century Europe where strict laws against witchcraft were put into effect. It is estimated that around 1,000 people were hanged as witches in England over a 200-year period. The last documented case of an individual found guilty of the crime of witchcraft was Jane Wenham, charged with â€Å"conversing familiarly with the Devil in the shape of a cat  in 1712. She was reprieved. The largest group of convicted witches in England were nine Lancashire witches sent to the gallows in 1612, and nineteen witches hanged at Chelmsford in 1645. Between 1610 and 1840, it is estimated that over 26,000 accused witches were burned at the stake in Germany. Between three and five thousand witches were executed in 16th and 17th century Scotland. The anti-witchcraft sentiment that had been growing in England and Europe undoubtedly had an impact on the Puritans in America, ultimately leading to the witch craze and subsequent Salem Witch Trials Resources for Researching the Salem Witch Trials Salem Witch Trials - Documentary Archive Transcription ProjectThe Salem Witchcraft Papers from the University of Virginias Electronic Text Institute provide a wealth of primary source documents, including a verbatim transcript of the legal documents generated during the arrests, trials, and deaths of the accused Salem witches in 1692. The site also includes site lists of jurors, Puritan ministers, judges, defenders and others involved in the Salem Witch Trials, plus historical maps.The Associated Daughters of Early American WitchesA membership society geared toward preserving the names of those accused of witchery in Colonial America prior to 1699 and to locate living female descendants of those witches. Contains a comprehensive list of accused witches.Genealogy of Witch Trial Ancestors FamiliesGenealogy reports for six of the individuals involved in the infamous Salem Witch Trials, including accused witches and officials involved in the trials. Researching Witch Trials the Witch Craze in Europe The Witch Hunts (1400-1800)Maintained by Professor Brian Pavlac at Kings College in Wilkes Barre, PA, this site examines the European witch craze through timelines and discussion of common theories, errors, and myths behind the Witch Hunts. You can also suffer through witch hunting first hand in an interesting simulation of a 1628 witch hunt.​Survey of Scottish Witchcraft 1563 - 1736An interactive database contains all individuals known to have been accused of witchcraft in early modern Scotland - nearly 4,000 in total. Supporting material provides background information on the database and an introduction to Scottish witchcraft. References Gibbons, Jenny. Recent Developments in the Study of the Great European Witch Hunt. Pomegranate, Vol. 5, 1998.History of the witch hunt (Geschichte der Hexenverfolgung). Maintained by the Server Frà ¼he Neuzeit (University of Mà ¼nchen) in cooperation with the Arbeitskreis fà ¼r Interdisziplinre Hexenforschung (research group for interdisciplinary witchcraft research). Mainly in German.Zguta, Russell. Witchcraft Trials in Seventeenth-Century Russia The American Historical Review, Vol. 82, No. 5, Dec. 1977, pp. 1187-1207.

GM business report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

GM business report - Essay Example US president Barack Obama is not willing to provide any governmental aid to the company as he believes that first there should be serious restructuring plan before providing any financial aid. The company has decided to down size its workforce as a process of reorganisation. Moreover GM decided to sell its European arm Opel and Vauxhall to Magna International, a Canadian automobile parts manufacturer and supplier. After a long biding process Magna was selected and it was expected that Magna would invest around 700 million dollar into Opel. It was also expected that with this huge investment would create over 25,000 jobs in Germany. But in the later half of this year GM again decided that it would keep Opel with itself and cancelled that entire plan. The company has been going through such a situation over the past few months which it has never been before. It is been a century that GM is one of the largest automotive companies in the world. It was holding the number one position in terms of sales for 77 long years before Toyota surpassing it in 2008. Today there are 235,000 employees in the company. GM is operating business in 140 different countries while in 34 countries it has production facilities. Primary activities are directly involved in creating and delivering values and support activities are not directly associated in the process of value creation but play important role in enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness (Tutor2u, n.d.). General Motors has strong value chain which enables the company to be at the top for almost a century. GM’s inbound logistics are very strong as the company maintains good relations with its suppliers whom it get the inputs from. These inputs are converted into final product into its large number of production plants. It is already mentioned that the company has its production plants in almost 34 countries. Manufactured cars then reach to the buyers through a strong

Second Language Acquisition Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Second Language Acquisition - Assignment Example   The RANGE programs are used for the analysis of word frequencies at each vocabulary level. Among the useful functions that the program will be used for include the determination of vocabulary size, creation of wordlists, and the measurement of vocabulary load. Based on the usability and applicability of the RANGE program, it is suitable for teachers to use the output to determine vocabulary load and influence the preparation of suitable text for classwork. Additionally, based on BNC, 90% is text and 10% is spoken text as Nation (2006) puts it. The standard measures of the BNC include 14000 words whereas 16 wordlists are created. The 16word lists are set of 1000-word lists generated for 16 levels. Under each word list of 1000, the consecutive wordlist adds up to the next. Thus, at the first wordlist, 1000 words are considered while at the 5th wordlist, 5000 words are considered. In this analysis, range analysis will be taken into consideration to show how comprehensively appropria te the text is in the teaching of L2.   The nation is referenced arguing that any text should be 98% comprehendible by students given 8000 to 9000-word families. With reference to Laufer’s (2010) argument, on the other hand, indicates that a 95% coverage in written text should be treated as the standard comprehension level. Based on the two arguments from Laufer and Nation, the current Range Analysis will consider the 95% coverage recommendation by Laufer to ensure that the current text can be understood up to 95% by the students.  

Discussion paper on New actors in international and global health Essay - 1

Discussion paper on New actors in international and global health focuse on NGOs - Essay Example piece of discussion I will also put light on all kinds of loop holes present in current and emerging NGOs and would end up with number of suitable suggestions and recommendations for the improvement of these supporting bodies within a country. NGOs plays a significant role in improving the struggling masses present in the third world countries and in developing nations to an extent for which, I would use various references from books based on facts and figures to make this discussion qualitative and reasonable for the reader to understand the original essence of the topic. This paper analysis and discusses about the issues raise in Non Governmental Organizations which are non- profitable at the same time around the globe. In this era, where communication is not an issue and distances are no more a deal, all the NGOs have worked together and settled down together with civil society organizations to make a remarkable difference. Some of the facts which are eye catching, as it is getting into power rapidly. â€Å"Nationally, the non-profit arts and culture industry generates $166.2 billion in economic activity every year:   $63.1 billion in  spending by organizations and an additional $103.1 billion in event-related spending by their audiences†. Non-profit sectors/non-governmental organizations work in every community which includes rebuilding cities, schools for primary education, supporting the workforce,  medical assistance, old age masses, elevating the arts, mentoring our youth, protecting natural resources, and much more. In this deal, many new names of business industry and actors are coming up with great deals to offer. They are working for humanity not in a particular region but throughout and around the globe. All these points will be discussed in detail later in this paper. As the masses of the globe situated at different corners were dipping more and more into crises like Health, lack of education, insecurity, poverty and hunger, and when these issues

Animal Cruelty Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Animal Cruelty - Essay Example This paper will examine the topic of animal cruelty in details by discussing various emerging issues and themes arising from the topic. Animal brutality investigations and trials have become regular dealings that interest extensive responsiveness. They cause massive emotion and attention, yet they can be difficult to follow. While certain people may see these cases as unimportant, actions against offenders of these crimes are being prosecuted like any other criminals. Animal cruelty is a crime as serious as any other cruelty crimes. Animal cruelty does not involve just beating up an animal. It also involves denying an animal food, water, basic medical care and shelter. Moreover, many animals are also protected by the law (Arluk 183). The neglect of animal can be classified into two sections. They are simple and gross neglect. Simple neglect involves depriving an animal of basic needs. It is normally not viewed as a crime and is usually resolved by intervention by animal control and care by educating the people on proper animal care. Gross neglect involves willful cruelty and malice towards an animal. Willful neglect is prosecutable by law as it is considered a serious crime. Avoidance of pointless animal abuse has been fundamental in laws in Western people for eras (Arluk 186). Governments and metropolises have reacted to the wellbeing of citizens by increasing the punishments for acts of brutality and providing better means for the investigation and trial of these offenses. The animal welfare states that animals can be used for food, clothing and research as long as this is done in a humane way. An example is the slaughter f cows or goats for domestic or commercial purposes. Animal should not be subjected to any kind of suffering. Animal rights activists disagree with this. They argue that many people may misinterpret the word humane and they rule pout the idea of animals being viewed as commodities.

Researched Proposal Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Researched Proposal - Research Paper Example If you found this article by using the World Wide Web, you must complete the following portion of the form as well. Answer the following questions: If the article comes from an online subscription service found in the SCC library, you may stop here. If you found this article by using the World Wide Web, you must complete the following portion of the form as well. Answer the following questions: If the article comes from an online subscription service found in the SCC library, you may stop here. If you found this article by using the World Wide Web, you must complete the following portion of the form as well. Answer the following questions: If the article comes from an online subscription service found in the SCC library, you may stop here. If you found this article by using the World Wide Web, you must complete the following portion of the form as well. Answer the following

Animal Cruelty Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Animal Cruelty - Essay Example This paper will examine the topic of animal cruelty in details by discussing various emerging issues and themes arising from the topic. Animal brutality investigations and trials have become regular dealings that interest extensive responsiveness. They cause massive emotion and attention, yet they can be difficult to follow. While certain people may see these cases as unimportant, actions against offenders of these crimes are being prosecuted like any other criminals. Animal cruelty is a crime as serious as any other cruelty crimes. Animal cruelty does not involve just beating up an animal. It also involves denying an animal food, water, basic medical care and shelter. Moreover, many animals are also protected by the law (Arluk 183). The neglect of animal can be classified into two sections. They are simple and gross neglect. Simple neglect involves depriving an animal of basic needs. It is normally not viewed as a crime and is usually resolved by intervention by animal control and care by educating the people on proper animal care. Gross neglect involves willful cruelty and malice towards an animal. Willful neglect is prosecutable by law as it is considered a serious crime. Avoidance of pointless animal abuse has been fundamental in laws in Western people for eras (Arluk 186). Governments and metropolises have reacted to the wellbeing of citizens by increasing the punishments for acts of brutality and providing better means for the investigation and trial of these offenses. The animal welfare states that animals can be used for food, clothing and research as long as this is done in a humane way. An example is the slaughter f cows or goats for domestic or commercial purposes. Animal should not be subjected to any kind of suffering. Animal rights activists disagree with this. They argue that many people may misinterpret the word humane and they rule pout the idea of animals being viewed as commodities.

Research Paper to included Data Analysis Plan Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

To included Data Analysis Plan - Research Paper Example The same document reveals that among the general public, men are more likely (60%) to come across traumatic experiences that may trigger PTSD than do females (50%). However, women are more likely to develop the condition despite their lower rate of exposure, with a likelihood of 10% compared to men’s 4% (Gradus, 2014). At the same time, research has established that veterans who took part in different operations have varying rates of PTSD prevalence. This could be the result of varying intensities of the wars, and differing levels of exposure to other traumatic experiences. The Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) veterans have a prevalence of between 11% and 20%; Gulf War (Desert Storm) veterans have a 12% prevalence; and 30% of Vietnam War veterans have endured PTSD in their lifetime. Taking a look at the gender dimension in prevalence of PTSD among military personnel reveals that a higher percentage of women (55%) are exposed to sexual harassment than men (38%) (U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, 2014; Haskell et al, 2010). Needless to say, these experiences elevate female veterans’ risk of developing PTSD. With this fact in mind, it is accurate to adjudge that female veterans are more prone to PTSD than are male veterans. It is these assertions on higher prevalence of PTSD among veterans and among females in society (both in the general public and the veteran community) that this research seeks to investigate. None of the literature material consulted appears to point at the implications of longer or shorter exposure on the prevalence of PTSD among veterans. The researcher delves into this issue by seeking to establish whether those who have been in the battlefield for longer periods are equally likely to suffer PTSD as a result of accumulated traumatic experiences. As indicated, this research aims to investigate whether there

America’s Two Assemblies Essay Example for Free

America’s Two Assemblies Essay Introduction The U.S. government is composed of a bicameral Congress. The first one is the Senate, which is represented equally by the states. The second one is the House of Representatives, which is represented by population. This setup is proposed by the Connecticut Compromise, which combines the proposal of New Jersey and Virginia regarding the issues surrounding the creation of a new Congress. New Jersey, one of the smaller states, insisted that each state should have equal representation in the Congress. But the Virginia Plan argued that a legislature based on population is more fitting. So as a result, the two proposals were combined satisfactorily forming the two houses of the Congress (Lader 2002, 55). The U.S. Senate, or the upper house, is bestowed with different powers, one of which is the power to approve the laws and treaties created by the presidential or the executive branch of the government, as well as the ones coming from the lower house. It approves the laws and treaties by the virtue of two-thirds of votes of the whole Senate population. If that number is not reached, the law can be outwardly rejected, shelved, or is requested to be amended (Powers and Procedures 2006, 1). The lower house, or the House of Representatives, on the other hand, is bestowed the power to create bill which, in turn will turn into a law that the whole nation will follow, and eventually, benefit from. The House of Representatives meets to create bills and resolutions, discusses them, and passes them on to the Senate for further review and ratification (The Legislative Process 2006, 1). These are the basic functions of both the Houses. The functions of creating laws will be further discussed in this paper to show that these two assemblies are essential in any system of government to ensure checks and balances on government power. II. Making a Law A bill starts from an idea of a person. It won’t matter if he is a part of the Congress, a social group or organization, or just a regular citizen. The idea then is brought to the House of Representatives so that they can hear out the pros and cons about it. A group especially designed to cater to the needs and the interest of that idea hears it. For example, if the idea is about education, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce handles it. The law starts from a single thought that is processed and formed into a bill (Donovan 2004, 6-11). All American law starts out this way as a bill. A bill is a document that proposes an entirely new law or an amendment to an existing one. The bill can be passed by any member of the Congress, even though the idea of making a law comes from government departments or from political parties, as announced in the party platforms during election campaigns. A bill passed by a member of the House of Representative as projected by the government is called the â€Å"Government Bill.† If an individual member of the Congress passes a bill, it is called a â€Å"Private Member’s Bill† (Brody 2001, 1-3). A bill is not a law yet; it has to be approved first by both the Houses of the Congress, and should be affirmed by the incumbent President. The two Houses of Congress will be assessing the bill and has the power to add proposals to make the necessary changes in it. These proposals are usually debated on; speeches are crafted to pronounce a member’s stand towards the bill. The Congress will be voting towards the approval or the shelving of the bill. Usually, the bill has to be read thrice and has to go through all the necessary changes before it is successfully passed on each House of Congress (Holder 1997, 1-4). Here, we see the interaction of the two Houses of the Congress. A law can impact the nation’s economy, and so that the lawmakers themselves, either from the upper or lower house won’t make a law that would benefit them individually or wholly. Intense deliberation and scrutiny is performed on the every bill that was conceptualized and is passed in the hope that it will be implemented only to benefit the many (Brady McCubbins 2002, 17). III. The Showcase of Balance The innate need of one House of the Congress for the other shows that there is balance in the legislative branch of the government itself. One cannot exist without the other. A bill will not become a law in the absence of either the houses. There would be no law implemented and conceptualized by just one House alone. A single law has to go through the process as required by both the Houses of the Congress (Sajo 1999, 69). These laws, on the other hand, will not become valid without being finalized and approved by the executive branch of government, which is composed of the President and his Cabinet. The final say still belongs to the Head of State. But he cannot influence the Congress as to what laws they should make or ratify. The executive branch can propose and lobby for a bill, but it cannot fully instruct the Congress to just pass it in its favor. Even if the bill is proposed from the above, it still has to go through the same processes. No special treatment is given (Sajo 1999, 89). At this point, the balance between the two branches of the government, namely executive and legislative becomes evident. The President of the United States in his supreme power and capacity, cannot, in any way, influence the Congress to absolutely work for him. He cannot mandate what laws he wanted to be created and passed over to him for finalization. In essence, his office is equal to the legislative office. They work in parallel of each other, so that one cannot take advantage of one another (Sajo 1999, 99). Without the Congress doing its job, the President will have the freedom of making laws himself for whatever reasons he finds urgent. And laws have a big impact to a nation. One wrong law could mean economic distress. One selfish law could suppress freedom. One inappropriate law could wreak havoc. Without the Congress, the President will have his absolute power. The U.S. democratic form of government is gone and a totalitarian form of government will take its place. When that happens, the power shifts heavily to the executive branch of the government (Borrelli 2002, 18). Another branch of the government is the judicial branch. Although the branch does not actively participate in the law-making process, it is directly involved in the implementation of such laws. Even if the legislative body makes the laws and the executive finalizes it, they do not participate in the process of making sure that the laws are fully observed and strictly followed by all members of the society. This is the job of the judiciary. The law applies to all, and that includes the lawmakers who created them and the President of the United States himself. Without the judicial branch of government doing its assigned task of maintaining harmony and peace within the nation’s constituents, the laws would become worthless (Berger et al 2001, 606). IV. The Law and the Society A harmonious society simply cannot exist unless the people who belong in it respect all the governing law implemented to a considerable degree. Laws have the power to settle certain issues in the society and the government. If all people respect the law enough, they would choose to reconcile their individual differences to the context of what is right and valid, as provided by the law’s provisions. All laws should be respectable and sound enough to be appreciated by everyone. Law and morality should also come hand in hand; otherwise, the people will have to choose either to lose their morality or their respect of the law. Laws are created so as to maintain justice in the society; therefore law and justice should be one and the same in the minds of the people (Bastiat 2004, 22). Lawmakers should take it upon themselves to make and amend laws according to the interests of the general public and not for their own personal gains. Laws should help accelerate the resolution of current social conflicts and national dilemma. Every law in the land should represent their citizens accordingly. The law is so powerful it can make a society; and that power is also enormous enough to destroy it in a rather big and convincing way (Lempert Sanders 1986, 15-20). And this is the main responsibility bestowed upon the shoulders of the legislative branch of government. A balanced government cannot exist in the absence of the Congress. The power will swing indefinitely to either the judicial or the executive branch. And the result of that can prove to be perilous to the society (Lempert Sanders 1986, 26-27). V. Conclusion The American law is intensely compiled, created, and enacted to serve a greater purpose in the society. The burden of enhancing the laws does not depend solely on the solons and lawmakers. We, as individual members of the society, have an immense duty to promote and participate in the creation of these laws as well. We have to be active members of the society and have to make a mark for our own good. We should all help the legislative branch to preserve the balance of power in the government and the society. Works Cited Bastiat, Frederick. (2004). The Law. Montana: Kessinger Publishing. Berger, Marsall J., Schatz Gerald S., Laufer Deborah S. (2001). Federal Administrative Dispute Resolution Deskbook. Illinois: American Bar Association. Borrelli, Maryanne. (2002). The Presidents Cabinet: Gender, Power, and Representation. Colorado: Lynne Rienner Publishers. Brady, David W McCubbins, Matthew D. (2002). Party, Process, and Political Change in Congress: New Perspectives on the History of Congress. California: Stanford University Press. Brody, David C. (2001). Criminal Law. Maryland: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Donovan, Sandy. (2004). Making Laws: A Look at How a Bill Becomes a Law. Minnesota: Lerner Publications. Holder, Angela R. (1997). The Meaning of the Constitution. New York: Barrons Educational Series. Lader, Curt. (2002). Barrons How to Prepare for the Ap U.S. Government and Politics. New York: Barrons Educational Series. Lempert, Richard Sanders Joseph. (1986). An Invitation to Law and Social Science: Deserts, Disputes and Distribution. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. Powers Procedures. (2006). United States Senate. [Online] Available at http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/history/one_item_and_teasers/powers.htm. Sajo, Andras. (1999). Limiting Government: An Introduction to Constitutionalism. New York: Central European University Press. The Legislative Process. (2006). United State House of Represenatives. [Online] Available at http://www.house.gov/house/Tying_it_all.shtml.

Effective methods of understanding and treating PTSD

Effective methods of understanding and treating PTSD The treatment related publications of the last twenty years places a large amount of attention on determining the most useful psychological therapy for clients with a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder, PTSD. The overall aim of this paper is to critically evaluate current cognitive models of PTSD and literature on the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapies to treat this disorder based on these models. Definitions of PTSD The 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, DSM-IV (APA, 1994) defines trauma as: (a) The individual experienced, witnessed or was confronted with an event that involved actual or perceived threat to life or physical integrity; and (b) the individuals emotional response to this event included horror, helplessness or intense fear, Foa and Meadows (1997, p. 450). The psychological symptoms connected with PTSD are categorised into three groups of symptoms in DSM-IV: The main characteristics include re-experiencing (in the form of flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, and distressing dreams), avoidance/numbing and heightened arousal, after the person is subjected to a traumatic incident. (Foa Rothbaurn, 1992). The next group includes avoidance of stimuli trauma-reminding stimuli and symptoms of emotional numbing (Foa, Hearst-Ikeda, Perry, 1995; Litz, 1993). The final symptom group includes heightened arousal e.g. hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response, difficulty sleeping and irritability (APA, 1994). Current Government Guidelines on the treatment of PTSD Determining effective and efficient treatments for PTSD has come to be seen as important due to the conditions prevalence and the many techniques and interventions available. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence, NICE, reviewed the most robust outcome research and produced guidelines, to provide information and direction for the psychological management of PTSD in adult sufferers (NICE, 2005). The guidelines were developed from an independent, methodical, rigorous and multistage procedure of selecting, examining and assessing evidence for the successful treatment of PTSD. These guidelines conclude that individuals with PTSD should receive either trauma focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TFCBT) or Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR). However, a distinction is made between single incident trauma and more complex presentations, and the guidelines suggest increasing the total number of sessions accordingly. Although the guidelines appear helpful for the tre atment of single incident PTSD, they are arguably not as informative for treatment approaches for a large group of individuals with complex PTSD. This presents difficulties for the clinician and patient in deciding the most effective therapeutic options. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is the most extensively studied therapy for individuals with PTSD (Foa Meadows, 1997) and many studies support its efficacy in reducing symptom severity (e.g. Resick Schnicke, 1992; Foa, Rothbaurn, 1992; Foa et al., 1995; Foa Jaycox, 1996; Riggs, Murdock, 1991; Richards, Lovell, Marks, 1994; Thompson, Charlton, Kerry, Lee, Turner, 1995). However, CBT for PTSD encompasses diverse techniques. These include exposure procedures, cognitive restructuring procedures, and combinations of both these techniques. Exposure Therapy Exposure therapy is derived from the idea that imaginal exposure (IE) to the trauma or feared situation, leads to a decrease in symptoms. The theory argues enduring activation of traumatic memories result in processing of the emotional information, lessening of anxiety and assimilation of accurate memories (Foa et al., 1995). Much research has shown that treatment involving exposure therapy is effective in decreasing PTSD symptoms (e.g. Foa et al., 1999; Frueh, Turner, Beidel, Mirabella, Jones, 1996; Keane, Fairbank, Cadell, Zimmering, 1989). Foa, Rothbaum, Riggs, and Murdoch (1991) investigated exposure therapy, stress inoculation (a type of Anxity Management Treatment, AMT), supportive counselling, and a non-treatment group in the management of rape-related PTSD. Clinical measures of symptoms and standardized psychometric tests were examined before and after treatment as well as at a three month follow-up. The stress inoculation intervention showed superior results to the counselling and non-treatment conditions at post-test. However, at the follow-up, the individuals participating in exposure therapy showed more improvements of PTSD symptoms than individuals in the other groups. Research has investigated the efficiency of exposure therapy compared to different methods of treatment. For instance, exposure therapy and cognitive therapy were investigated by Tarrier et al. (1999) for the management of individuals with PTSD arising from various traumatic incidents. Although both approaches demonstrated a noteworthy decrease in PTSD symptoms that was still present at 6-months follow up there was no non-treatment control against which these two treatments could be evaluated. Similarly, Foa et al. (1999) compared exposure therapy to AMT and then combined the two treatments. These three groups were compared to a non-treatment control group. All three of these treatments successfully decreased symptoms of rape-related PTSD and improved more than the non-treatment control group. However there was no significant variation among the treatment groups on outcome measures. In a study that once again compared exposure therapy to cognitive therapy, Marks, Lovell, Noshirvani, Livanou, and Thrasher (1998) examined these two treatments alone and in combination in outpatients with PTSD secondary to a wide range of traumatic events. A relaxation therapy condition was employed as the comparison group. The three active treatment groups demonstrated significant reduction in symptoms compared to the relaxation sample. These intervention groups were not markedly different from on another on the main treatment outcome measures. Several investigations have advanced the field of PTSD treatment, even though the methodology utilized in the outcome study limited the conclusions that could be drawn. Frank and Stewart (1983) reported the effects of systematic desensitization on women who had been raped and who developed significant psychological symptomatology. Compared to an untreated comparison group, those women treated with graduated exposure improved most on a range of anxiety and depression symptom measures. Imaginal and in-vivo exposure was compared in a randomized study of survivors of varying traumatic events (Richards, Lovell, and Marks,1994). At the 12-month follow-up, patients reported consistent reductions in PTSD symptoms and improved social adjustment. This data further substantiates the efficiency of exposure treatment for some individuals, and also suggest that improvements in symptoms are also reflected in critical domains of life functioning. In conclusion, the existing data advocates the use of exposure therapy in the treatment of PTSD. In a previous review of this literature, Solomon, Gerrity, and Muff, (1992), (Sited in Shapiro, 1995) derived the same conclusion from data available at that time. Similar conclusions were drawn by Otto, Penava, Pollack, and Smoller (1996) in a more recent review of the literature. In what may prove to be an important lesson for the treatment of individuals exposed to traumatic events, Foa, Hearst-Ikeda, and Perry (1995) investigated the effectiveness of a short-term intervention to prevent the development of chronic PTSD in females who had been recently raped. The program was based upon that which worked well in earlier trials with chronic PTSD. Exposure therapy figured prominently in the package of treatment and also included elements of education, breathing retraining, and cognitive restructuring. When individuals receiving the package were compared to a control group, this study found that at 2 months post-treatment only ten percent of the treatment sample met the diagnosis for PTSD, while seventy percent of the untreated comparison group did. As information continues to grow on exposure therapy, there is a clear requirement for research to investigate combinations of psychological treatment, to utilize screening measures that consider occupational and social performance, and to access the outcome of interventions on co-morbid psychological difficulties. Unmistakably, the existing empirical research reveals the importance of extending the application of exposure approaches to PTSD patients. However future studies assessing the generalization of exposure therapy from laboratory trials to clinical settings would be particularly useful. When exposure therapy has been compared to other forms of cognitive therapy, such as cognitive restructuring (see below), it has proved to be more successful in reducing PTSD. Tarrier et al., (1999) assigned 72 people with chronic PTSD to either a Cognitive Therapy (CT) group or an imaginal exposure (IE) therapy group, and concluded that there was no noteworthy differentiation between the two treatment conditions initially or at 12 months post treatment. Participants recruited were obtained from a sample of referrals to primary and secondary mental health services and voluntary services, indicating that they were representative of a genuine clinical sample. However, 50% of the sample remained above clinical significance for PTSD symptoms after treatment was completed, although this dropped to 25% at six-month follow-up. This lack of improvement may have been influenced by participants failure to attend sessions regularly. Furthermore, those who did not show improvement rated the trea tment as less convincing and were rated as not as motivated by the clinician. Therefore, it is argued that motivation for therapy and regular attendance plays an important role in outcome of therapy regardless of treatment model. A further limitation of this study was that no control group was used and non-specific treatment factors and spontaneous remission could also account for the improvements in reported symptoms. Cognitive Restructuring Cognitive restructuring is derived from the theory that discovering and altering catastrophic and inaccurate interpretation of the trauma leads to a decrease in symptoms. Some of the latest models have emphasised the significance of altering thinking distortions in the rehabilitation of individuals who have experienced trauma (Ehlers Clarke, 2000). Ehlers, Clark, Hackmann, McManus, and Fennell (2005) utilized cognitive therapy based on the cognitive model of PTSD (see figure 1. Ehlers Clarke, 2000). From this model, the aim of therapy is to alter overly negative interpretations, amend the disturbance in autobiographical recollection and to eliminate the unhelpful behavioural and cognitive strategies (see figure 2, Ehlers et al., 2005). In a randomised controlled trial of twenty-eight participants diagnosed with PTSD. Fourteen participants were assigned at random to cognitive therapy treatment or a 13-week waiting-list condition. Those receiving cognitive therapy had 12 weekly treatment sessions, based on the Ehlers and Clarke (2000) model of trauma focused CBT. Participants completed self-report screenings of anxiety, mood and PTSD symptoms, and the Sheehan Disability Scale (APA, 2000). Measures were administered before and after treatment and at 6-months follow up. Findings revealed that cognitive therapy for PTSD was signifi cantly better than a three month waiting-list group on symptoms of PTSD, disability and symptoms of anxiety and affect. This study had no dropouts, which is a significant improvement on other studies, which yielded high dropout rates, (e.g. Tarrier et al., 1999). Participants displayed a positive change in cognitive appraisals. The Ehlers and Clarke (2000) model suggest that two additional paths of change; alteration in the autobiographical recollection of the trauma, and the discontinuation of maintenance behaviours and cognitive strategies are integral in reducing symptoms of PTSD. While the treatment incorporated these other aspects, these have not been measured systematically, so it is difficult to conclude whether clients experienced a change in these two areas. Further analysis indicated that demographic, trauma and diagnostic variable did not predict intervention results, signifying that the approach is pertinent to a broad scope of individual who have experienced trauma. Conversely, the extent of discrepancy of trauma and small sample numbers suggests that this finding would not be present in a larger sample. Co-morbid depression and previous trauma history, which was present in over half the sample, did not negatively affect outcome. Combinations of therapy Resick and Schnicke (1992) have proffered a multidimensional behavioural treatment for females who have PTSD associated with sexual assault. This treatment, known as cognitive processing therapy (CPT), includes components of exposure therapy, AMT, and cognitive restructuring. The cognitive therapy element of CPT involves tackling central thinking distortions found among females who have been assaulted. These authors have developed interventions which particularly deal with concerns of trust, self-confidence, safety and intimacy in the lives of trauma victims. In a preliminary evaluation of CPT, the authors compared outcomes at pre-treatment, post-treatment, 3 months follow-up, and 6 months follow-up for an intervention group and a non-treatment group (no random assignment was used). On clinician ratings and psychometric inventories of PTSD, the individuals receiving CPT improved significantly. Impressively at the post-treatment assessment, none of the treated patients met criteria fo r PTSD. In another study, Resick, Nishith, and Astin (2000) evaluated CPT and exposure therapy in the management of sexual assault-related PTSD. Both approaches proved successful in general and were more successful than a non-treatment control group. CPT did also seem to reduce comorbid symptoms of depression, as well as those of PTSD. Combination therapy that incorporates a number of cognitive-behavioural techniques have the advantage of addressing various difficulties that individuals with PTSD may experience, in addition to integrating methods that have a considerable scientific evidence base in the clinical literature. An intervention incorporating exposure therapy, AMT, and cognitive restructuring as the main elements for treating PTSD was proposed by Keane, Fisher, Krinsley, and Niles (1994). This treatment utilizes six stages as a means of treating severe and chronic PTSD, it incorporates the following: (1) behavioural stabilization; (2) trauma psycho-education; (3) AMT; (4) trauma focus work; (5) relapse prevention skills; and (6) aftercare procedures. Although this approach has clinical appeal, it wasnt until psychologists Fecteau and Nicki (1999) examined such a package in a randomized clinical trial for PTSD resulting from automobile accidents that the impact of a combination package such as that proposed by Keane et al. (1994) was assessed. Their intervention consisted of psycho-education, relaxation, exposure, cognitive restructuring, and guided behavioural exercises. Patients were randomly assigned to the treatment group or non-treatment comparison group and received some 8-10 sessions of individualized treatment. The outcome of the treatment was effective as assessed by clinical ratings, self-report questionnaires, and lab-based psycho-physiological evaluation methods. Described by the authors as clinically and statistically significant, these treatment outcomes were sustained at the 6-month post treatment evaluation. Bryant, Moulds, Guthrie, Dang, and Nixon (2003) studied the effects of IE alone or IE with CR in the treatment of PTSD. They hypothesised a CR and IE treatment combination would lead to significantly better decrease in PTSD symptoms than exposure on its own, which would be more beneficial than a supportive counselling condition. Fifty-eight civilian trauma victims, diagnosed with PTSD as measured by the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale, version II, CAPS-2, (Blake et al., 1995) were randomly allocated to one of the 3 conditions. Each participant received eight weekly 90-minute sessions of either IE, CR and IE or supportive counselling. Participants completed assessments at pre and post intervention and six months following. These measured PTSD symptoms and psychopathology. Forty-five participants completed treatment and analysis indicated that dropouts had higher scores for depression, avoidance and higher catastrophic cognitions than those who completed. Results indicated that parti cipants receiving both IE and IE/CR had a siginifcantly better decrease in PTSD symptoms and anxiety than supportive counselling (SC). The main revelation of this investigation was that treatment comprising of IE and CR leads to significantly better reductions in CAPS-II scores compared to treatment involving IE alone. Furthermore, those receiving IE/CR, but not IE on its own, gave accounts of less avoidance, depression and catastrophic thoughts than individuals in receipt SC. The findings from this research indicated that the combination of IE and CR are successful in decreasing symptoms of PTSD. It can be argued that the reasons why IE/CR may have been more effective than augmented treatments in the past (e.g. Foa et al., 1999) was that the research prudently controlled for the duration of time spent on every section of treatment. Furthermore, participants were instructed on CR before commencing IE so they understood the rationale behind the techniques prior to addressing the strong emotional components of IE. This may have increased their understanding and belief that it was a credible treatment approach. The outcome that CR improved the benefits of IE treatment could have been a result of a number of likely mechanisms. IE and CR may consist of similar aspects, such as processing of emotional memories, amalgamation of corrective information and acomplishment of self-mastery (Marks, 2000). Combining the two approaches may give the patient more chances to achieve treatment gains. CR may have lead to greater decrease in symptoms as it explicitly attended to identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts that may add to the maintenance of PTSD and related difficulties (Ehlers Clarke, 2000). Paunovic and Ost (2001), compared treatment outcome data for CBT and exposure therapy for sixteen refugees with PTSD. The authors excluded those who became too distressed in the initial interview, expressed a lack of confidence in the therapist or were misusing alcohol or drugs. Results indicated there was no significant difference between participants completing CBT or exposure therapy, being similar to Tarrier et als (1999) findings. Criticisms of Paunovic and Ost (2001)s study are that participants did not use a self-report trauma measure, so although results are positive, there is no clear analysis of whether participants felt their trauma symptoms decreased as a result of the treatment. Further, it is not possible to generalise these findings to traumatised refugees in general, as this work is unique. Working with the use of an interpreter raises several ethical and sensitive issues, as the participant must be able to develop a therapeutic alliance with the therapist and trust the interpreter (Tribe, 2007). It could be argued that participants may have been experiencing a greater degree of trauma, not least because they had not yet learned the native language. Discussion The most successful CBT treatments seem to be those that involve repeated exposure to the traumatic memory (Foa et al., 1991; Foa et al., 1999; Foa Rothbaum, 1992) on cognitive restructuring of the interpretation of the traumatic event, (Ehlers Clarke, 2000) or a combination of these approaches, (Resick Schnicke, 1992). Importantly, studies have concluded that trauma focused CBT is more successful than supportive counselling (Blanchard et al., 2003; Bryant et al., 2003). Whilst the studies reviewed have helpfully added to our understanding of PTSD there are numerous limitations of the applications of the findings. One in particular is an over-reliance on non-clinical samples of participants such that many claims of clinically effective therapy have been made from research with participants who were not within mental health systems, and despite having PTSD symptoms had not actively sought treatment. In addition, dropout rates in studies are high, particularly for those studies that did not use a clinical sample. This might have skewed the evidence particularly with approaches that used exposure-based therapy. Furthermore, most of the studies reviewed screened out those individuals experiencing the greatest amount of distress, avoidance and co-morbidity. Therefore results are biased towards those clients who were able to tolerate treatment and whose symptoms were not as chronic. Indeed, inclusion and exclusion criteria appear to have a great impact on outcome of treatment. For example, studies with a strict inclusion criteria (e.g. no co-morbidity, substance misuse, self harm) appear to have significant improvements, whilst other studies i.e. Kubany et al., (2003), allowed participants to continue with other therapy while embarking on their therapy. This makes it methodologically difficult to ascertain exactly what has been effective in reducing PTSD symptoms. As inclusion and exclusion criteria are idiosyncratic across studies, it makes it difficult to draw general conclusions regarding treatment effectiveness with a clinical population across studies. Studies often chose to focus therapy on identified groups, e.g. police officers. However, clients who experience PTSD do not form a homogeneous group and further, the symptoms experienced may be diverse even within a sample of individuals who have experienced the same trauma. Treatment studies often do not control for other factors that may be important contributing factors in outcome such as the role of education, quality of the therapeutic relationship, therapeutic alliance and other nonspecific factors. The literature was generally from American, British or European sources although clearly trauma is intercultural. This raises issues about how different cultures interpret PTSD, an essentially Western concept, and also whether the treatments advocated would be effective cross-culturally. Previous research has strongly indicated that PTSD is not an appropriate term to use in non-western situations (Summerfield, 1997), hence therapeutic approaches need to account for this. It is not clear in the majority of studies when the participant experienced the trauma, and at what point therapy started. Frequently these characteristics are omitted from studies, therefore making it difficult to compare effectiveness of studies. It is essential to think about the types of individuals that have been represented in the research and to look at whether it is representative of those who seek treatment. Finally, very little has been reported on the impact of other difficulties an individual is experiencing as PTSD can have a broad ranging effect on an individuals quality of life and functioning and most often clients have more complex presentations. Only very few studies reviewed controlled for this variable (see Ehlers et al., 2005). This is an inherent difficulty when completing resea rch with a trauma population as within research it is important to obtain a sample that have a similar degree of difficulties in order to assess treatment efficacy. Several papers have evaluated different types of therapy according to particular groups. However, it appears that one size does not fit all in relation to PTSID. In particular the issues of culture and gender are of importance (see Liebling Ojiambo-Ochieng, 2000; Sheppard, 2000). Individual formulations of presenting problems and contexts, which informs therapy that is adapted to suit individual clients needs, may in fact be more helpful. It remains important to consider individual differences and client choice when offering trauma therapy. Trauma therapy outcome studies are limited by the fact that sufferers usually have other mental health problems alongside PTSD such as depression or social anxiety. Evaluation of effective treatment of trauma survivors therefore might need to go beyond medical diagnostic categories as most of the research excludes clients with co-morbid problems. A multifaceted intervention, based on clients own views, which addressed these other difficulties, could assist in decreasing relapse and greaten the long-lasting effectiveness of any PTSD intervention. As outlined in the methodological limitations section, much of the research reviewed has not used a genuine clinical sample, there are high dropout rates, widely variable inclusion and exclusion criteria, and the heterogeneity of PTSD has perhaps not yet been accounted for. It is therefore difficult to ascertain what is specifically helpful or effective within the treatment components. This seems to be the next area for consideration in resea rch. Further research into the optimal length of treatment and timing of therapy, the effect of co-morbidity and the differing effects of individual and group therapy approaches for traumatised clients are required. Further controlled research is needed to ascertain if the types of therapies reviewed can provide long term lasting effects in reducing PTSD symptomatology. At present the scientific evidence is mainly restricted to the evaluation of short term, focused treatment approaches, and it would be helpful to have controlled studies on longer-term interventions for more complex cases of trauma. Further research would benefit from considering the clients views and experiences of therapy, this perspective was lacking in the literature reviewed. Service user and carer perspectives are beyond the scope of this review, however they have been highlighted as an important consideration within the NICE guidelines and therefore require further consideration in future research. Conclusion There appear to be at least three approaches with exceptional empirical evidence for treating PTSD; exposure therapy, cognitive therapy or a combination of these methods. These three interventions have empirical validation in well-controlled clinical trials, demonstrate strong treatment effect sizes, and seem to work well across varied populations of trauma sufferers. However future research to examine the efficacy of these methods in clinical environments is necessary. There is much to be learned about the treatment of PTSD. It is certain there will be no simple answers for treating people who have experienced the most horrific events life offers. Undoubtedly, combinations of treatments as proposed by Keane et al. (1994) and Resick and Schnicke (1992) may prove to be the most powerful interventions. PTSD research in this area is only in the earliest stages of its development. Finally, an assumption about the uniformity of traumatic events has been made in the literature in general. Although it is reasonable to speculate that fundamental similarities exist among patients who have experienced diverse traumatic events and then develop PTSD, whether these patients will respond to clinical interventions in the same way is an empirical question that has yet to be addressed. Studies posing a question such as this would be a welcome addition to the clinical literature: Will people with PTSD resulting from combat, torture, genocide, and natural disasters all improve as well as those treated successfully following rape, motor vehicle accidents, and assaults? This is a crucial issue that requires additional scientific study in order to provide clinicians with the requisite evidence supporting the use of available techniques. Research on the prevalence of exposure to traumatic events and the prevalence of PTSD has mainly been carried out in the United States. Yet there are fundamental errors in assuming that these prevalence rates apply even to other Western, developed countries. Studies that examine the prevalence of PTSD and other disorders internationally are clearly warranted. Implicit in this recommendation is the need to examine the extent to which current assessment instrumentation is culturally sensitive to the ways in which traumatic reactions are expressed internationally. Much work on this topic will be required before definitive conclusions regarding prevalence rates of PTSD internationally can be drawn. Studies of the effectiveness of the psychological treatments across cultures and ethnic groups are also needed. What may be effective for Western populations may be inadequate or possibly even unacceptable treatment for people who reside in other areas of the world and who have different world views, beliefs, and perspectives. This issue will need to be more closely examined before we can draw definitive conclusions. It is suggested that despite the type of treatment provided to individuals with trauma there is ultimately a necessity for a flexible, integrative approach to treatment in order to address the multifaceted and changing requirements of individual trauma survivors. A range of outcomes has been revealed with the types of treatments outlined in this review, it is uncertain which individuals will respond greatest to various treatment approaches. Nevertheless, what is important in determining the effectiveness of any psychological treatment of PTSD is that it is reliant upon forming and upholding a therapeutic alliance that is strong enough for the client to experience as safe and trusting for positive emotional modifications to take place.

A Critique of Thank You for Smoking? :: Critical Essays

A Critique of â€Å"Thank You for Smoking†¦?† Intro: The essay â€Å"Thank You for Smoking,† written by Peter Brimelow, is far from an influential essay on why people should smoke. Through this essay, Brimelow makes an effort to convince the audience smoking is actually beneficial to your health. I find it hard for people to write about what they think are the benefits of smoking when there are so many obvious reasons why you should not smoke. The main audience being targeted in this article is those who already smoke and those who are thinking about smoking. One thing mentioned in the article is the fact that smokers are usually lighter in weight. In my personal opinion, I would rather eat a balanced diet and walk daily rather than walk around with a cigarette in my mouth and risk lung cancer. Inductive or Deductive: When trying to find if an essay is logically stated, you first must find if it is inductive or deductive. This is an example of an inductive essay. What inductive means is that the author goes from using specific samples to generalizations that are drawn from those examples (McFadden). Major Claim: The major claim is usually the topic sentence or main idea in the article (McFadden). Through the major claim, Peter points out that smoking has beneficial factors. He states those who smoke are less likely to get many diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, endometrial cancer, prostate cancer, osteoarthritis, and colon cancer (Brimelow 142). Another example used in this essay is the author’s comparison of driving automobiles to smoking cigarettes. Brimelow states, â€Å"But so is driving automobiles dangerous to your health (over 40,000 deaths a year)† (141). This to me just seems like a completely ridiculous comparison to include in this article, especially when in the prior paragraph he states that there are approximately 400,000 deaths annually, which are smoking-related (Brimelow). Minor Claim: One minor claim pointed out through this essay is how smoking helps to relax people, which is one form of a stress reliever (Brimelow). In addition, smoking is said to stimulate alertness, dexterity, and cognitive capacity (Brimelow). It is true these are all things in which people can benefit from; however, these are far from being favorable enough for people to decide to go light up. Grounds: Grounds include all evidence, facts, and logic used in supporting claims (McFadden).

Eliminating Trade Distortion Policies in the United States :: Economy

Eliminating Trade Distortion Policies in the United States The corn bounty, it is to be observed, as well as every other bounty upon exportation, imposes two different taxes upon the people; first, the tax which they are obliged to contribute, in order to pay the bounty; and secondly, the tax which arises from the advanced price of the commodity in the home-market, and which, as the whole body of the people are purchasers of corn, must, in this particular commodity, be paid by the whole body of the people. Introduction The export subsidy, or bounty as it is referred by Adam Smith, has existed for many centuries. Created to augment an industry in need of assistance to the market, the export subsidy has become an outdated trade entity in the developed world. As stated above, export subsidies impose a greater hindrance to the exporting nation that must be compensated by their consumer population. As the United States prepares to host the next global round of negotiations for the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Seattle, Washington, it establishes the perfect opportunity to initiate the abolition of all export subsidies from domestic policy books worldwide by eliminating our own trade distorting programs. Export subsidies are tools used to supplement the producer’s profits from selling a commodity. They are efficient and positive when used to initiate commerce in a developing society. Adam Smith realized their intentions by mentioning that, "bounties were given for the encouragement either of some beginning manufactures, or of such sorts of industry of other kinds as were supposed to deserve particular favor" (Smith, 1776: 450). However, their purpose of origin did not legitimize their existence to Smith. The problem begins when the society grows dependent upon these additional payments because the market has been so thoroughly distorted that prices are inflated beyond normally affordable means. Producers in other nations can no longer compete with the sale price of the commodity from the subsidized nations. The competition is thereby artificially defeated. Export subsidies have reached their expiration. It is time for world markets to convince their users of their inherent inefficiency and to proceed into the next millennium with an agenda calling for freer global trading practices. This process of opening markets and eliminating barriers to trade has already caused quite a stir throughout the WTO’s member nations. In particular, the United States and the European Union (EU) will be at the forefront of the chopping block when it comes the time for discussions regarding agricultural trade. Eliminating Trade Distortion Policies in the United States :: Economy Eliminating Trade Distortion Policies in the United States The corn bounty, it is to be observed, as well as every other bounty upon exportation, imposes two different taxes upon the people; first, the tax which they are obliged to contribute, in order to pay the bounty; and secondly, the tax which arises from the advanced price of the commodity in the home-market, and which, as the whole body of the people are purchasers of corn, must, in this particular commodity, be paid by the whole body of the people. Introduction The export subsidy, or bounty as it is referred by Adam Smith, has existed for many centuries. Created to augment an industry in need of assistance to the market, the export subsidy has become an outdated trade entity in the developed world. As stated above, export subsidies impose a greater hindrance to the exporting nation that must be compensated by their consumer population. As the United States prepares to host the next global round of negotiations for the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Seattle, Washington, it establishes the perfect opportunity to initiate the abolition of all export subsidies from domestic policy books worldwide by eliminating our own trade distorting programs. Export subsidies are tools used to supplement the producer’s profits from selling a commodity. They are efficient and positive when used to initiate commerce in a developing society. Adam Smith realized their intentions by mentioning that, "bounties were given for the encouragement either of some beginning manufactures, or of such sorts of industry of other kinds as were supposed to deserve particular favor" (Smith, 1776: 450). However, their purpose of origin did not legitimize their existence to Smith. The problem begins when the society grows dependent upon these additional payments because the market has been so thoroughly distorted that prices are inflated beyond normally affordable means. Producers in other nations can no longer compete with the sale price of the commodity from the subsidized nations. The competition is thereby artificially defeated. Export subsidies have reached their expiration. It is time for world markets to convince their users of their inherent inefficiency and to proceed into the next millennium with an agenda calling for freer global trading practices. This process of opening markets and eliminating barriers to trade has already caused quite a stir throughout the WTO’s member nations. In particular, the United States and the European Union (EU) will be at the forefront of the chopping block when it comes the time for discussions regarding agricultural trade.

Narrative Reflection: A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah Essay

Society can be represented by an onion. There are many layers to both. In society, the center is an individual. It then moves on to family, community, nation, and finally, humankind. Each layer cannot exist without the layers underneath it, just like how an onion cannot be an onion without its many supporting layers. A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah shows the layers of society through memories. Beah has experienced these layers through war, and explains each one in his memoir. The first, being himself. When an individual is torn away from his/her parents, moral corruption may be imminent. Once Ishmael and his friends are separated from their families, they are looked down upon by others. They are seen as filthy, useless beings, and that arises many internal conflicts. The separation also leaves a lot of responsibility on the individual. They have to provide for themselves. â€Å"Apart from eating and drinking water and once every other day taking a bath, I spent most of my time fighting myself mentally in order to avoid thinking about†¦ where my family and friends were.†(Beah 52). This quote from the memoir shows how he was experiencing self conflict because of the loss of his family. It shows that separation from one’s family impacts his/her life. Families sacrifice whatever it takes to reunite after being separated. Ishmael traveled across Africa to attempt to reunite with his family. He sacrificed many days and went through a lot of pain to find them. Even his family, while in the village where all the Mattru Jong refugees were staying, kept looking for Ishmael, even if the searches were in vain. â€Å"One man was carrying his dead son. †¦ The father was covered with his son’s blood, and as he ran he kept saying, ‘I will get you to the hospital, my boy, and everything will be fine.’ Perhaps it was necessary that he cling to false hopes†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Beah 13) This quote shows that even though the son is dead, the father does all he can to attempt to keep them together. â€Å"I wanted to see my family, even if it meant dying with them† is another example of family sacrifice. Ishmael would rather see his family one last time, and be together one last time, even if it meant that he would give up his life. A community is many families working together to help each other. â€Å"‘In that village there are lots of people from Mattru Jong and the Sierra Rutile mining area. All of you might be able to find your families or news about them’† (Beah 83). When Ishmael Beah and his friends go to a village, the people there help direct them to their families who were staying in the next town over. Communities also help provide food and shelter for their members when it is needed. Nations are multiple communities joined together to help each other or fight together. â€Å"The following morning our nameless host came again with food and a smile on his face that said he was glad that we were doing fine.† (Beah 62) A man from one community helped the boys from a different community. This shows how a nation works. Communities work together to help each other. Even so, not all parts of a nation get along. â€Å"One day, as soon as we had left the forested area of a village we had bypassed, a group of huge, muscular men sprang from the bushes onto the path in front of us. Raising their machetes and hunting rifles, they ordered us to stop. The men were the voluntary guards of their village and had been asked by their chief to bring us back.† (Beah 38). The village that sent the guards to capture the boys weren’t being a helpful community to others; however, each nation has different types communities. Some of them willing to help, while others at tempt to protect only themselves. The final layer of society is humankind. It is exactly like the skin of an onion. It ends the layers in a neat finish and protects them. When turmoil occurs in one nation, other nations provide aid. â€Å"‘You have been great soldiers and you all know that you are part of this brotherhood. I am very proud to have served my country with you boys. But your work here is done, and I must send you off. These men will put you in school and find you another life.’† (Beah 129). The program the boys are sent to is UNICEF, which was established to help rehabilitate child soldiers and try to bring them back to reality. Later in the memoir, Ishmael is also sent to the United States to represent Sierra Leone. He shared with the rest of the United States the horror going on in Africa. Americans helped Ishmael’s nation when it was in need. Ishmael uses these layers of society throughout the entire novel. He starts with an individual, the center of an onion, and moves through all the layers, reaching humankind, or the skin of an onion. These layers build his experiences to the maximum level of emotional appeal, and bring many people together to help others like him.