Islamic cultures Essay Example for Free

Islamic cultures Essay 1.   Islamic cultures in the European Middle Ages were comparably more advanced and better than the Christianity.   Islamic cities in the Middle Ages were thriving and became the centers of trade and economy. Islamic merchants bought and sold goods from across Africa, Asia and Europe.   New technologies such as windmill, block printing as well as new methods of weaving, which were developed in China were brought to Europe by Islamic merchants. Moreover, Islamic cultures during this period were considered mixed and multi-ethnic as it borrowed from the cultures of the people that Muslims conquered or interacted during trading.    Greek works by early scientists and mathematicians were interpreted into Arabic and used by Islamic Arabs.   Islamic cities also became centers for art and learning. Since Islamic society during the Middle Ages valued scholarship Islamic cities became major sites of major libraries and scholarships. 2.   Europe provided a route and area for Islamic culture to flourish. In terms of trade, Europe provided the Islamic empires with raw materials while Asia became the center of trade and commerce.   Europe also became an avenue of the both Islam and Christianity.   Initially, Islam swept mostly all throughout Asia and Europe on the other hand was mainly dominated by Christianity.   But eventually, Islam conquered Europe as well which led to the conversion of many parts of Europe into Islam particularly Spain.   Islamic Europe were also comparable far more superior to those among European Christians, and Islamic cultures were responsible for bringing Asian innovations into Europe.

Triple Bottom Line (TBL) Concept Analysis

Triple Bottom Line (TBL) Concept Analysis Jin Thai, Chong In this assignment, the notion of Triple Bottom Line (TBL) reporting is being analysed critically. The definition of the term, created by John Elkington, as well as its concept and general principles (social, environment and economic lines) are discussed in this report. Representations of TBL in the Business and Government Organisations sectors are further explored with its five different interpretations: Wait and see, Packaging information for community right to know, stakeholder alignment, endorsing core principles, and holistic cultural perspective. The relationship between sustainable development and TBL is discussed in the report by considering the environmental sustainability, economic sustainability and social sustainability, with a backing example of the TBL Toolkit and the The Capital Works Sustainability Statement practiced in the city of Melbourne. The application of TBL in sustainable construction and its indicators of social and environmental, and economic performance us ed in the construction sector are also discussed in the report. Lastly, a case study has been done on Enviro-Cottage constructed in Spring Hill, Brisbane. The project has addressed TBL reporting considering the sustainable development and construction aspects. TABLE OF CONTENTS (Jump to) Introduction Principles of Triple Bottom Line Sustainable development Application of  TBL in sustainable construction Case study: Enviro-Cottage   Conclusion   Introduction Triple bottom line (TBL) reporting is becoming more common across many sectors of society. Although the concept was born out of the corporate and business world to report corporate social responsibility conveniently, it has been embraced by many organisations to give social and environmental agendas more prominence in the face of corporatist globalisation (Price, R n.d.). The term Triple Bottom Line was formed by John Elkington in 1997. Based in UK as a consultant to companies like BO, DuPont and the World Bank, John Elkington has been described by Business Week as a dean of the corporate responsibility movement for three decades (John Elkington 2010). Instead of the usual financial bottom line, Elkington define and expanded the baseline for measuring performance using social, environmental and economic bottom lines (Centre for ISA Information Sheet 7 n.d.). Elkington stated on his book, Cannibals with Forks that: The triple bottom line focuses corporations not just on the economic value they add, but also on the environmental and social value they add and destroy. At its narrowest, the term triple bottom line is used as a framework for measuring and reporting corporate performance against economic, social and environmental parameters (Elkington,, J 1998). Generally, Triple bottom line is an integrated management approach that consists of managing, measuring and publicly reporting performance in business and government sectors (Potts, T 2004). TBL also acts as a medium to discuss issues regarding the organisation and the community. According to A Tool For Measuring, Communicating, And Facilitating Change In Local Governments by Tavis Potts, TBL is a correspondence and process for reporting on sustainability and the results allow for communities to engage in an ongoing discussion. For sustainable organisations this means balancing the needs of the organisation against the environmental, economic and social factors, as depicted in Figure 1 to enhance the quality of life. Business Sector In the business sector, the growing tension between increased social values and conventional forms of value creation has forced consideration of sustainability (including TBL reporting). Pressure has been applied on organisations to be more socially and environmentally responsible in their pursuit of profit (Beilin, R Paine, M, Pryor R 2007). As an example, BP Australia reported that a TBL approach to business provides them with a sustainable competitive advantage and it is also in a good business sense to do so. It demonstrates to stakeholders the integrity of a business or industry, thus it improves its reputation, increases investor confidence and enhances marketing and profit opportunities. Governments Sector Similarly to businesses, local governments have adopted the TBL in response to community concern about issues of environmental sustainability. In the governments sector, the field of organisational accountability has broadened. Government organisations must now consider the wider impacts of their practices on other local, regional, national and even global stakeholders (Beilin, R Paine, M, Pryor R 2007). Growing government interest in corporate social and environmental responsibility is expressed in policy at local, State and Federal levels. TBL reporting has changed the appearance of the role of government in regulating private businesses and industries. Further, TBL has come to demonstrate good public relations in government organisations with its integrated focus on social, environmental and economic outcomes of practice. Principles of Triple Bottom Line The three vital aspects of corporate and government performance are based on Triple Bottom Line are the economic, social and environmental lines. TBL is also interpreted in 5 ways in business and governments sectors. The Economic Bottom Line The economic bottom line is the organisations record of economic performance (revenue and profit) and integrity. Even though the companies make profits in the business, profit is treated as the economic benefit for the enjoyment of the employees and community as a whole within a sustainability framework. The Social or People Bottom Line The social bottom line is the organisations record of social or people performance as it affects employees, consumers, and communities. This also refers to fair, ethical, and beneficial business practices toward employees, community, and country in which a corporation performs its business. The Environmental Bottom Line The environmental bottom line is the organisations record of performance as it considers all the issues related with environmental concerns. The goal of 21stà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ century companies is not only to help protect the environment by producing green or environmentally responsible products but also to have their own sustainable, environmentally-sound business operating practices. Organisations are expected to function in an environmentally responsible approach, through initiatives such as taking steps to reduce their own environmental footprint, consuming less energy and little or no non-renewable resources and producing less waste. Five interpretation of TBL Five broad categories capture the current diverse state of TBL performance measurement and reporting in Australia according to Triple Bottom Line Measurement and Reporting In Australia. The five categories are more to show the diverse business rationales and analysis of community expectations for triple bottom line measuring and reporting (Suggett, D, Goodsir, B 2002). Wait and see Wait and see is the category where organisations are satisfied with their present approaches to communication and accountability. Examples of such companies are Fosters and Woolworths. This may due to the fact that a change is not necessary in their business priorities, as well as a sense of potential benefit as it is still early in their business to use the TBL approach without understanding the directions of the business. Packaging information for community right to know By observing the community right to know attitude and supporting the notion of greater responsibility to the community for their business performance, other organisations make an obligation to their stakeholders to be open and transparent. To meet this commitment, they collect and package internal information or report for external audience. This report shows the values they seek to meet, their performance against those standards and a description of their activities. Examples of companies practising this approach of TBL in environmental reporting are Wesfarmers and Orica. As they continue to collect data, report on and verify approaches, those organisations do not see that a change in approach is required to embrace social or economic scopes. Stakeholder Alignment This approach analyses the relationship between stakeholders expectations and corporate strategy. In order for TBL reporting to derive maximum value, it is necessary that the information reported aligns with business strategy and objectives and accurately reflects the focus of the company activity. This serves to strengthen the significance of companies developing indicators in a structured way that reflects their objectives and the requirements of key stakeholder groups. As the stakeholders could be the shareholders, investors, employees, customers, suppliers, the community and government, organisations practicing this approach will be required to set up new management systems and in a long run is intensive on the business resource. One example is the WMC. WMC continues to expand in this direction and a number of other companies have embarked on the first steps, such as Westpac and ANZ. Endorsing Core Principles A few organisations outline their response to stakeholder expectations into values that guide their business activity: sustainability principles. Examples of organisations are Rio Tinto and Shell. This approach is directed at integrating these core principles into management practices. Holistic Cultural Perspective Organisations in private ownership define their business purpose and their commitment to sustainability values and accountability as a whole. Their business success depends on this cultural perspective. The Body Shop is the often-quoted example and the Co-operative Bank in the United Kingdom. Sustainable Development Sustainability is a pattern of resource use that aims to simultaneously meet human needs and preserve the environment so that these needs can be met not only for the present generation, but also for future generations. Sustainable development ties together the concern for the carrying capacity of natural systems with the social challenges (Sustainable construction gives a competitive edge n.d). Conceptually, sustainable development can be broken down into three constituent parts: Environmental sustainability Economic sustainability Social sustainability Sustainable development is often portrayed as the act of balancing economic, ecological and social concerns, and the TBL is commonly used internationally to prove corporate performance on sustainability and its approach to sustainable development in the corporate world. However, in sustainable development, TBL also concentrates on the external structure of development and excludes the internal structure of development. In other words, TBL also focuses on technological, economic and institutional development while excluding cultural and personal development (Riedy, C 2003). As an example, the City of Melbourne is using TBL approach to accomplish the goal of sustainable development. The city has developed a TBL Toolkit which includes checklists, guidelines, templates and case studies for the application of TBL decision-making and reporting (Triple-Bottom-Line Evaluation Approach Shows Promise for Local Government 2004). Part of this tool is the The Capital Works Sustainability Statement and it is a rating system that recognizes the degree to which a project contributes to the Councils sustainability objectives. The Capital Works tool is being applied to different ways, such as the bidding of capital works, budget approval process, and evaluating criteria against of capital works. Through this TBL approach, councils are able to demonstrate responsibility and transparency in decision making and administration. Moreover, TBL approach in the public sector including local government has helped to develop global standards and procedures in reporting decisions at all levels (Triple-Bottom-Line Evaluation Approach Shows Promise for Local Government 2004). Application of  TBL in Sustainable Construction Construction activities worldwide consume 40 per cent of all raw material exploited globally (Sustainable construction gives a competitive edge n.d.). For this reason, the use of sustainable building materials can help improve the global environment significantly. The public demand for sustainable solutions is growing, and in the years to come, contractors who are able to document sustainable methods will have a strong presence in the market. In order to make construction sustainable, one has to practise TBL in order to consider the environmental impacts of extraction, transportation, processing, fabrication, installation, reuse, recycling, and disposal of these materials. It is easy to understand why TBL has received acceptance in sustainable construction. Indicators of social and environmental performance are used to diversify work and practices of construction sector. TBL allows organisations to assess quantitatively and qualitatively how they are achieving their key performance indicators (Triple Bottom Line: A Ticket to the Game Or The Emperors New Clothes? 2005). TBL has been applied to the construction sector in the UK where the phrase Sustainable Construction has been coined. The UK Government is seeking to apply sustainable development practices to the construction industry. Leading construction companies in the UK, USA and Europe now report annually on social and environmental performance as well as financial performance. Jim Lammie, director of Parsons Brinckerhoff in a speech on sustainability of 8 September 2004 said that over 77% of construction companies in the UK had a sustainable development policy to deal with regulation, competitive edge, client policy, enhanced reputation, legal risks and future investments as well as addressing ethical obligations. Lessons from the construction industry overseas have a place for Australian construction companies who want to outperform their counter-parts in a society becoming increasingly aware of such issues. Implementing daily practices to elicit performance under TBL can be as simple as adop ting recycling programs, giving to the workforce through university sponsorship programs and adopting best practice voluntary standards. When a full assessment of practices are made construction players may find that they are already carrying out sustainable practices but are not reaping the reward through reporting their practices to stakeholders. Truly sustainable construction practices may mean assessing projects and work practices with TBL in mind (Triple Bottom Line: A Ticket to The Game Or The Emperors New Clothes? 2005). The triple bottom line concept of sustainable construction could be achieved through the application of sustainable design principles at early stages of planning and construction. By making these decisions earlier, it creates a building which is safer, secure, flexible, comfortable, environmentally-friendly and cost-efficient in the long-run. A sustainable construction project should be designed and constructed to take account of the principles of sustainable design which is to balance the social, environmental and economic aspects (Sustainable Homes Triple bottom line 2008). The triple bottom line approach to sustainable construction is a balanced integration of design factors that consists of social, environmental and economic sustainability. Social Sustainable buildings are designed for the people considering access, safety, security; it is a design that considers the clients future needs throughout various stages of lives, such as young families, older residents or residents with varying disabilities. Sustainably constructed buildings are safe, easily adaptable to suit a diverse range of needs and comfortable for people with varying abilities at different stages of their lives. This is especially relevant considering the elderly amongst our ageing population (Sustainable Homes Triple bottom line 2008). Socially sustainable construction can also strengthen social networks and allow people of every age and ability to participate in their community throughout their life. An aesthetically pleasing and stimulating built environment will reinforce the sense of well being of residents and people in the local community of the building. Under the social aspect of TBL reporting, the local society and streetscape should also be considere d in order to ensure considerate development, enhancement of the streetscape and the community function (Triple bottom line in housing n.d.). Environmental Sustainable construction are resource-efficient by incorporating sustainable and efficient management of water, energy and waste with other features such as passive solar design by considering the orientation, ventilation, insulation, shading and building materials (Sustainable Homes Triple bottom line 2008). Resource efficiency is also related to water efficiency in the building, waste management of materials used during construction, and energy efficiency by practising good passive design and high star-rated green technology appliances and lights. It is also associated with the reduced usage of greenhouse gas emissions from energy consumption. Local market for materials should be considered as well (Triple bottom line in housing n.d.). Besides that, resource efficiency also means lifestyle benefits for residents of the buildings as the thermal comfort is improved (social sustainability) and affordable running costs for the home (economic sustainability). Economic Economic sustainability of TBL reporting means designs and construction which are more cost-efficient in a long-run, considering the selection of low maintenance materials. Extra expense during construction should be provided for longer term operating cost savings as it is important to obtain the choices of design and material right the first time as it eliminates the need to make additional costly changes to the construction later. Besides that, installation of solar panels or water tanks will also increase the value of the property (Triple bottom line in housing n.d.). During the selection of building material, suppliers should consider the materials from local market. It is to optimise costs through reduced transportation expenses to the site (Sustainable Homes Triple bottom line 2008). Sustainable construction could become cost-efficiently over time by improving the design and construction features and the use of low-maintenance materials. Usage of appliances with high energy-star ratings that reduce the ongoing costs of running the home should be encouraged. By practicing sustainable construction, energy and water bills are lowered and potential future modification costs are greatly reduced, thus making the home more adaptable and flexible over its life cycle. Case study: Enviro-Cottage Enviro-Cottage is constructed in Spring Hill, Brisbane. It was built as a workers cottage in the late 1800s. During 2008, the houses were transformed from a traditional Brisbane cottage into a sustainable development for inner-city living. Enviro-Cottage as shown in Figure 2 is not a new, purpose-built house unlike other display homes. It is a renovation project that highlights the simple, technological and the necessary construction methods to help make a home more efficient by using less electricity, water and other resources, while improving how people live in the available space. Some of the ideas are very simple and easy to apply in any home renovation or construction projects to reduce its environmental footprint. Examples of sustainable construction methods used are passive design, thermal mass and solar orientation (Enviro-Cottage n.d.). Other revolutionary sustainable ideas are the installation of solar cell technology, water tank and grey water systems, glass technology, kitchen and laundry appliances, taps and showers, insulation, flooring, paints and other finishes, heating and cooling systems, and energy efficient lighting. The Spring Hill Enviro-Cottage Project has addressed the TBL reporting (Triple bottom line in housing n.d). Examples of the Enviro-Cottage TBL report considerations included in the sustainable development and construction according to Our Brisbane are: Social sustainability Enviro-Cottage is constructed to be multi-purpose. Its multi-use design is suitable for people from different background, such as families, users with disabilities, and elderly people. The cottage is constructed using the local Tuff stone to tie to Spring Hills heritage and preservation of the heritage streetscape Open front aspect to connect with local street life Open design to aid easy internal and external surveillance High security features to all doors and windows with simple and consistent locking systems The set back garage is designed and constructed to de-emphasise the role of the car Addition of two off-street parking options takes two cars off the crowded local street Preservation of the heritage streetscape Environmental sustainability The constructed building maximize the use of passive solar design features, such as implementing natural energy flows, and minimising the scale of overlaid systems lighting, cooling etc. There is no air conditioning or other mechanical heating or cooling systems required in the design. Rainwater is being capture, used, recycled and re-used as much as possible, inclusion of grey water processing system. Generation of required energy needs through onsite photovoltaic system and where possible provision of clean renewable energy back to the community. During construction, environmentally preferred materials are used (Eg. no use of rainforest or old growth forest products). Existing 1800s building are renovated to reduce consumption of new materials Materials with a lifespan equivalent to the projected life of the building are used during construction. Local products and materials are sourced where possible, thus minimising energy used to transport materials. Economic sustainability Enviro-Cottage practises passive solar design and the environmental- friendly products will take future operating costs down to a minimum. Modular design, flexible usage model, and choice of long lifespan materials selected to build the house will minimise any necessities for future renovations, thus decreasing ongoing construction costs. The Enviro-Cottage project has demonstrated sustainable development through TBL reporting and the project signified sustainable living ideas, solution and options which can be part of most constructions even when it is challenged with the many constraints facing such renovations such as council building codes, existing dwelling condition and design, and smaller block sizes. Conclusion In conclusion, the TBL concept demonstrates responsibility to stakeholders in terms of economic, social and environmental impact. The idea behind TBL reporting is sustainable success which will benefit the organisations. Benefits include better reputation and increased confidence, benchmarked performance, increased operational efficiency, stakeholder satisfaction, as well as improved risk management of the business. TBL reports may have different representations in the business and government sectors, and each of the sectors has different interpretation of TBL. TBL reporting is one way organisations can add value to their daily practices of their business. In terms of sustainable development and construction, TBL is the union of the three constituent parts social, environment, and economic. TBL is commonly used to prove corporate performance on sustainability as it covers accountability in an economic, social and environmental sense.

The Disease to Follow Is a Greater Threat :: Journalism Epidemics Health Essays

The Disease to Follow Is a Greater Threat This year, our nation faced a pair of crises: war and pestilence. Even as our brave men fought for America on Germany soil, an invisible and perhaps more deadly foe took hold in our nation and around the world. Our nation's hospitals face a drastic shortage of staff and space to accommodate adequately both the wounded soldiers who have returned from the war and our civilian population who have fallen victim to influenza. This was a consequence that we could not have foreseen. It is suspected that the origin of this great epidemic may have been Boston, considering that it is one of the busiest ports in our nation. From there the infection has spread throughout the New England area and reached areas as remote as California. Although this disease is called the "Spanish Influenza" it has spread beyond Spain, Europe and America. Cases from as far as the Orient and even Africa have been documented and verified. Clearly, this is no ordinary flu. However, I believe that this flu is extraordinary not only in its destructive nature, but in casting a legacy of distrust for science amongst the general populace. In Sierra Leone the flu was brought from Europe and become a deadly epidemic. A report claims that as many as 1,000 individuals had died there in a single week. Furthermore, the shortage of food in the region further execrated the problem. Strangely, the disease did [not] just claim human victims. There were even reports in Sierra Leone of monkeys and other primates who became stricken with the flu. (NY Times) The flu was perhaps hardest on our troops fighting abroad. Not only did they have to contend with the German infantry's relentless machine gun fire from the trenches, but they also endured some of the harshest conditions in the history of war. Here at home, we could easily put on a mask and avoid those who are infected hoping that we could avoid this virulent disease. But our brave fighting men could not. In the trenches of Germany, they had more to worry about than simply catching a cold. Their survival often depended on the cover fire from their nearest comrade, sick or not. Needless to say, the Americans were not the only party affected by this illness. The Disease to Follow Is a Greater Threat :: Journalism Epidemics Health Essays The Disease to Follow Is a Greater Threat This year, our nation faced a pair of crises: war and pestilence. Even as our brave men fought for America on Germany soil, an invisible and perhaps more deadly foe took hold in our nation and around the world. Our nation's hospitals face a drastic shortage of staff and space to accommodate adequately both the wounded soldiers who have returned from the war and our civilian population who have fallen victim to influenza. This was a consequence that we could not have foreseen. It is suspected that the origin of this great epidemic may have been Boston, considering that it is one of the busiest ports in our nation. From there the infection has spread throughout the New England area and reached areas as remote as California. Although this disease is called the "Spanish Influenza" it has spread beyond Spain, Europe and America. Cases from as far as the Orient and even Africa have been documented and verified. Clearly, this is no ordinary flu. However, I believe that this flu is extraordinary not only in its destructive nature, but in casting a legacy of distrust for science amongst the general populace. In Sierra Leone the flu was brought from Europe and become a deadly epidemic. A report claims that as many as 1,000 individuals had died there in a single week. Furthermore, the shortage of food in the region further execrated the problem. Strangely, the disease did [not] just claim human victims. There were even reports in Sierra Leone of monkeys and other primates who became stricken with the flu. (NY Times) The flu was perhaps hardest on our troops fighting abroad. Not only did they have to contend with the German infantry's relentless machine gun fire from the trenches, but they also endured some of the harshest conditions in the history of war. Here at home, we could easily put on a mask and avoid those who are infected hoping that we could avoid this virulent disease. But our brave fighting men could not. In the trenches of Germany, they had more to worry about than simply catching a cold. Their survival often depended on the cover fire from their nearest comrade, sick or not. Needless to say, the Americans were not the only party affected by this illness.

Moral Development in Huckleberry Finn and The Great Gatsby Essay exampl

Moral Development in Huckleberry Finn and The Great Gatsby      Ã‚   Moral Development, according to the Webster's dictionary means an improvement or progressive procedure taken to be a more ethical person, and to distinctly differentiate between right and wrong.   The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Great Gatsby, both pose as pieces of literature that vividly portray moral development through the narrator's point of view.      Mark Twain, the author of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, wants the reader to see and focus on the search for freedom.   As on the other hand, Francis Scott Fitzgerald, author of Great Gatsby, wants you to see the American Dream, which is a freedom as well, a socio-economic freedom. These authors have chosen their narrators well, as we see a significant number of action that have brought them to be ethically developed.   Narration in a story is important, and is usually told by a main character.   These narrators face a world of confusion, a world of fear, a world of adventure, and most of all, a world of opportunity.   By these things I mean that Nick Caraway, and Huckleberry Finn have a chance to mature as time progresses though the novel, and then make a remarkable move to end up as a hero. The narrators of The Great Gatsby and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn develop morally as the relate the story that reflects each one's position in society.         Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Great Gatsby, by Fitzgerald, is narrated by Nick Caraway.   Nick is a sophisticated observer of character, who starts out as an amoral person.   His character is a very peculiar one, because he is somewhat neutral though this whole st... ... The Great Gatsby. Ed. Ernest Lockridge. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1968. 37-53. Crowley, Donald J., ed. One Hundred Years of Huckleberry Finn: The Boy, His Book, and American Culture. Columbia: U of Missouri, 1985. Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. London: Penguin Books, 1990. Harris, Susan K. "Huck Finn." Huck Finn. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House Publishers. 1990. Johnson, Claudia Durst. Understanding Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: A Student Casebook to Issues, Sources, and Historical Documents. Westport, CT: Greenwood P, 1996. Poirier, Richard, Huck Finn and the Metaphors of Society. Twentieth Century Interpretations of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Simpson, Claude M., ed. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1968. Twain, Mark. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. (1884) Secaucus: Castle, 1987.      

Countries Can No Longer Exclude Immigrants Essay -- Immigration, Immi

Introduction In today’s world migration is a social phenomenon that affects a variety of countries. Nations are either experiencing an influx of immigrants or have the problem of individuals exiting their country. This movement of people between nations gives rise to a multitude of problems. The issue that this paper will explore, using examples from around the world, is that of incorporation. How are immigrants incorporated into their new social and geographic setting? Is this a smooth process or are immigrants locked in a period of liminality (transition stage) where they are literally and figuratively neither here nor there? In addition, are there possible solutions that can better facilitate the incorporation of immigrants and the movement of people between nations? Taboo, Liminality, and Boundaries â€Å"The idea of Society is a powerful image. It is potent in its own right to control or stir men to action. This image has form; it has external boundaries, margins, and internal structure. Its outlines contain power to reward conformity and repulse attack. There is energy in its margins and unstructured areas. For symbols of society any human experience of structures, margins, or boundaries is ready to hand (Douglas 1966:113).† - from Mary Douglas, Purity and Danger In the above quotation Mary Douglas (1960) describes the fundamental aspect of a society. Any organization of humans forms its own boundaries, whether real or imagined, and these have social consequences if crossed. Likewise, as immigrants cross the literal and figurative border of a state, they transgress both the social and geographic boundaries of the society in question. For most migrants the transition or â€Å"rite of passage† from one country to another ... ...drick A. Praeger, Inc. Espenshade, Thomas J. 1996 Contemporary American Attitudes Towards U.S. Immigration. Migration Review:539-541. Hastings, Donnan, and Thomas Wilson. 1999 Borders: Frontiers of Nation, Identity, and State. Oxford: Berg. Tarvarainen, Sinikka. 2006 African’s Dramatic Odyssey End in Homelessness in Spain. Deutsceh Press: 1-2. Turner, Victor. 2005 Betwixt and Between: The Liminal Periods in Rites de Passage. In Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion: An Anthropological Study of the Supernatural. 6th edition. Lehmann, Arthur C., with James Meyers and Pamela A. Moro, ed. Pp. 95-105. New York: McGraw-Hill. van Gennep, Arnold. 1960 The Rites of Passage. Monika B. Vizedom and Gabrielle L. Caffee, trans. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. White, Gregory. 2001 Risking the Strait: Moroccan Labor Migration to Spain. Middle East Report: 26-27.

The Life of Walter Mitty (Alternate Ending)

The life of Walter Mitty By Gregory Jones 9/17/12 Walter Mitty the Undefeated, inscrutable to the last. â€Å"Walter! † his wife yelled â€Å"what are you doing can’t you see I’m ready to leave! † Ok Mitty replied they got into the car and Mitty turned on the radio. The Football game had just ended, and the announcer was describing the atmosphere in the game it was the 4th quarter with only 30 seconds left on the clock. â€Å"Ok Mitty you’re going to throw to the drag route understand? â€Å"Yeah coach I know what to do I’ve done this before† Mitty ran onto the field into the huddle. â€Å"Ok guys we got 30 seconds left were going for it now, everyone just run down for a Hail Mary. The players stared at him in confusion they all knew the coach wouldn’t have called the play but they had faith in their quarterback to win the games. Mitty slowly walked up to the center and got set, looking at the linebackers and safety. Hike† Mitty dropped back, but the defensive tackle broke through the line and chased him out of the pocket. Mitty rolled out of the pocket knowing there wouldn’t be any open receivers. He pumped fake to make the linebackers drop deeper in coverage before he started running. He juked the first linebacker and hurdled the second. The crowd began to scream and yell as they realized Mitty had got the first down with 20 seconds remaining on the clock. But Mitty didn’t run out of bounds he was going for the win now.The corners and safety know having knowledge that Mitty was running immediately joined the chase. He stiff armed one corner to the ground still in full stride. The crowd was going completely berserk. Mitty had one last man until he scored the winning touchdown. Mitty was on the 5 the safety on the 1 Mitty leaped off the ground reaching the ball out. â€Å"Walter you passed our house! † â€Å" I was going to score† Mitty whispered â€Å"what?!?!? You mus t remember to take your medicine you always daze off when you don’t. †

The Need for Mass Media

Are there still mass media? The easy and immediate answer would be an absolute yes. However, the difficulty comes from substantiating the answer. For the purposes of this paper, mass media will be defined using Boeren’s (1994: 122-123) classification of media. According to him, mass media refers to â€Å"all media that enable one to disseminate ideas to large audiences through technological/electronic means†. Included here are printed medium of communication (books, newspapers, magazines, posters, etc.), recordings, radio, television, film, cassette, video programs, and the most recent information-carrying technology—the internet. Mass media here was also differentiated by Boeren from other channels of communication. These are media generated by the human body (verbal language, facial expressions, body decorations and the likes), objects or substances used in transient communication (Morse code, horn signals, perfume, etc.), objects or substances used to deposit and express ideas (architecture, ornaments, paintings, etc.), and complex media that refers to rituals and the performing arts such as songs, puppet shows, theater and the likes. To support the answer posed above, there is mass media and it is here to stay.   This is on the basis of, first, mass media play an important role in a democratic society wherein â€Å"the welfare of an entire nation depends on the knowledge and good judgment of the majority of individuals† (English & Hach 1968: 259). In support of this, the University of Washington (2000), in its article â€Å"What is the role of the media in the United States?† stated that media support democracy. This is done in a way wherein the media serve as a significant source of information. Through the information (and competing ideas) circulated by the media, people are then able to govern themselves or able to make their own decisions. Furthermore, mass media provide the general public â€Å"with the information it needs to function as a democracy† (Stay 1999). With this, it could be said that being a model country where its citizens enjoy democratic space, the United States of America will always consider media outlets as key structures or institutions for maintaining democracy in its ideal state. Second, there is a need to examine the role of mass media in a society. If those roles are still satisfied, then, it could be well validated that there is still mass media. For this paper, the roles of the media outlined by Voelker, F. and Voelker, L. (1978) were referred to. These are Informers or providers of information, Entertainers or providers of pleasure and enjoyment, and Persuaders or could be referred to as shapers of perception/public opinion and behavior. Mass Media as Informers News source for Americans has evolved over the past decades. Americans used to rely largely on print medium (mainly newspapers). Then the radio innovated how the public get their news from black and white printed paper. Then came television. And since then, it could be said that television has been the number one source of news compared to newspapers and radios. That TV is the primary source of news for Americans should not come as a surprise. In its study, the Arizona State University gave some data showing that TV sets are a fixture in American households (Arizona State University, n.d.). Data shows that 98.3% of households have TV sets, 65% have cable TV, TV sets are turned on for an average of 7 hours each day and that an average American spends 2.5 hours a day in front of TV. Aside from this access, news on TV is more available around the clock wherein we have early morning shows, noon newscasts, late night news and news breaks in between regular TV programs. In addition, TV is viewed as a source for international and national news while newspapers as source of local information. Meanwhile, with the advent of the internet, it is not yet defined whether this new technology has overtaken TV as the primary source of news. But data shows that over 2.5 million Americans are watching less TV this year compared in 2006 (Bauder c.2006). This decline has not been attributed to the internet replacing TV as a source of information (or other TV programs) but one of the factors being speculated upon is that more shows are either being downloaded or streamed. Mass Media as Persuaders With scores of discussion debating over the effects of media content, the point that mass media shapes individual or collective perception and behavior could not be disregarded. Gans (n.d.:236) stated that news, as an example of media content, â€Å"does not limit itself to reality judgments; it also contains values or preference statements.† With this, Gans forwarded that underlying the news lies â€Å"a picture of nation and society as it ought to be.† For example, a protest march pictured as a disruption to public order, would be considered more news worthy and placed in headline news. On the other hand, a family murder that claimed three victims is less news worthy would be placed in local news. The way how news stories are prioritized and presented in turn shapes the public’s perception on what social disorder is. On a different note, Klapper (1967:331-333) believes that mass media mainly strengthen the views the audience have. One factor leading to this situation is that generally, people lean to (watch, listen, read) materials that advocate the same views that they have. Similarly, people tend to ignore materials that are conflicting or opposing to their own judgment. Aside from the reinforcement power of mass media, Klapper also believes that the media is effective in creating opinion on new issues. He explained that when an individual has no predisposition on an issue, that individual would be vulnerable to adapt an opinion presented by any mass medium. That created opinion would be easy to reinforce and then hard to change. Now we go to the media as shapers of behavior. Some of the critics about media content pertain to their effects on the behavior of target audience particularly on issues such as violence, alcoholism and the likes. A research study by Atkin, Hocking and Block (1981:280-289) was used to support the idea that mass media indeed affect the behavior of its target audience. They used a correlational survey design to determine if advertising of alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine and liquor encourage non-drinkers to drink and encourage moderate drinkers to drink more. The questionnaires were distributed to 665 students from seventh to twelfth grades in the states of Michigan, California, New York, and Georgia. Over-all results of the study showed that the relationship between exposure to advertisements and liquor is strongly positive. Also, non-drinkers immensely exposed to alcohol ads expressed intentions of drinking when they get older. The difference between those who intended to drink and the opposite is a significant 26%. Mass Media as Entertainers Apart from its functions as providers of information and shapers of perception and behavior, there is no doubt that mass media also largely function as entertainers. Americans turn to different forms of mass media to enjoy, to relax or to simply spend leisure time. The expansion of leisure time in the twentieth century according to De Fleur and Dennis gave way to Americans’ â€Å"growing interest in various forms of recreation and entertainment: (1981:212). This could be attributed to reasons why most commercial TV shows (75%) are made for entertainment while the remaining 25%   accounts for the news and public affairs, educational and cultural programs and religious programs. They also classified entertainment programs that Americans watch such as dramas, situation comedies, variety and talk shows, personality and game shows, soap operas, children’s programs, movies, specials, sports and special events, and docudramas (1981:190-196). Aside from TV programs, it is also worth noting the movies or motion pictures as channels for entertainment. As early as the 1920s, Jowett (1976, quoted in De Fleur & Dennis 1981:212) stated that the movies â€Å"had become the largest and most widespread commercial entertainment form the world had ever known†. By that time onwards, the movies have become a multi-billion dollar industry. Of course, the business would not have been that successful if it had not been for the millions of audience patronizing them. Meanwhile, the print media was never behind when it comes to its role as entertainers. Newspapers and especially magazines make space for materials that offer amusement to the audience. And to complete the package, there is the internet, which makes available online versions of print materials, music, music videos, TV shows, and movies on the World Wide Web. Of course, the internet also offers other types of entertainment that are not offered by the aforementioned mass media such as online games, social networking and others. So are there still mass media? Definitely. To conclude different channels of communication—mainly print media, TV, radio, and the internet—are still prevalent today. The roles or functions of mass media in American society are satisfied because the public has a need for them. Americans are hungry for news and information. They continue to seek information, which consciously or unconsciously reinforce their views on various issues. In addition, Americans continue to turn to mass media as a source of entertainment. No mass medium has been obsolete since it was introduced decades ago. Mass media technology continues to be sophisticated and in the near future, we might be introduced to new channels of communication. Bottomline is, mass media provide distinct social needs of the Americans and that is why these channels of communication are here to stay, up until the next century or even forever. List of References Boeren, A. (1994) In Other Words†¦ The Cultural Dimension of Communication for Development. The Hague: Centre for the Study of Education in Developing Countries (CESO) English, E. & Hach, C. (1968) Scholastic Journalism. 4th ed. Iowa: The Iowa State University Stay, B. L. (ed.) (1999) Opposing Viewpoints: Mass Media [online] available Gans, H. J. (n.d.) ‘The messages behind the news’ In Media in Society: Readings in Mass Communication. ed. by Deming, C. J. & Becker, S. L. Illinois: Scott, Foresman and Company: 243 Arizona State University (n.d.) Mass Media & Society: A Sociological Perspective on Media [online] available from < http://www.public.asu.edu/~zeyno217/365/notes1.html> [17 November 2007] Klapper, J. T. (1967) ‘Basic Research in Persuasion and Motivation’ In Mass Media: Forces in our Society. 3rd ed. ed. by Voelker, F. H. & Voelker, L. A. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc.: 331-333 Atkin, C., Hocking, J. & Block, M. (1981) ‘Teenage Drinking: Does Advertising Make a Difference?’ In Media in Society: Readings in Mass Communication. ed. by Deming, C. J. & Becker, S. L. Illinois: Scott, Foresman and Company: 280-289 De Fleur, M. L. & Dennis, E. E. (1981) Understanding Mass Communication. USA: Houghton Mifflin Company Bauder, D. (c.2007) Data Says 2.5 Million Less Watching TV. [online] available from [17 November 2007] Pember, D. R. (1987) Mass Media in America. Science Research Associates, Inc.