Multilingual learners in Primary classrooms Essay

Multilingual learners in Primary classrooms - Essay Example The result is one which creates a disadvantage to students that are bilingual and in a specific environmental setting. Analyzing the policies, practices and educational needs of students that are in a bilingual setting helps to establish a stronger relationship to what it takes to work within this setting. Observations of the Bilingual Classroom The first concept approached is one which comes from observations of the classroom and the way in which students interact in a bilingual setting. When observing the classroom, I found that there were welcome signs and procedures used to guide students. These were in different languages, which showed a specific level of assistance and ability to embrace diversity. The signs extended to different learning materials, such as body parts and days of the week, all which were established in different languages. The next representation was of the teachers and staff. There was no background languages of staff employed outside of English. The first lan guage was used all of the time in all instances. It was also noted that there were not books in other languages, with the expectation that students should be able to read in English. To try to keep with the diversity of the classroom, students were placed in groups named by planets, all which were based on the evaluation of learning. This allowed students who did not speak English as a first language to have he ability to work at their own pace. This shows that there is an embracing of diversity and culture in the classroom. However, the teacher competence and ability to meet the needs is one that is currently not being met. Policies for Bilingual Children The diversity in classrooms follows with policies which are expected for bilingual children. The policies that have been used for the education of bilingual children are based on the observations created through meeting standards and statistics which have been observed within this. Through a recent analysis, it was noted that bili ngual children who had already advanced in the language had stronger results and improvements than other children. More important, schools which were advancing into higher numbers in terms of performance were able to meet more of the needs of bilingual children while creating mainstream results within the needs for students. The study conducted by the Department of Education also indicated that the gap with bilingual students came from the ability for teachers to have a sense of confidence and expertise with the students. This particular aspect would begin to close the gaps of learning while creating more possibilities with the learning initiatives for bilingual learners. Similar to observations in the classroom, this shows that the gap is with teacher diversity, lack of learning materials and substitute materials that lead to the learning gaps (Department of Education, 2007). The creation under the Primary National Strategy in 2004 has tried to alter the gaps with policies and prog rams which are required by region. The strategies have combined with finding different ways to work with teachers while offering new programs for students who are bilingual to learn the needed materials. The policies are based on strategically finding new solutions that don’t allow children to be left behind within the school system while setting standards and requirements for children of diverse backgrounds to have the same achievements. The concept used is based on

Side Effects of Chemical Based Beauty Products

Side Effects of Chemical Based Beauty Products A growing concern over side effects of chemical-based products for enhancing ones’ beauty has resulted in the consumers’ shift to ayurvedic beauty products. Many companies have entered the beauty segment with branded products in categories such as skin care, hair care, soaps and essential oils. India is capturing the mainstream cosmetics industry and capitalizing on Ayurveda. Itincludes various high end brands creating makeup shades (based on the country’s bright colors) to skin- and hair-care segments. Indian herbs and Ayurveda products are being sourced and tested for use in the cosmetics industry and beauty parlours. Ayurvedic natural cosmetics business of India is growing at the rate of 15-20% per year- much higher than India’s overall cosmetics business that has a growth rate of 7-8%. Yoga is a mind and body practice with historical origins in ancient Indian philosophy. Various styles of yoga typically combine physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation or relaxation.Practicing yoga might improve quality of life; reduce stress and hence improve overall physical fitness and appearance. Naturopathy includes a range of therapies based on exposure to natural elements such as sunshine, fresh air, heat, or cold, nutrition. The treatment modalities include nutrition and dietary changes (eating more whole and unprocessed foods) and use of vitamins, minerals, dietary supplements, herbal medicines. Hydrotherapy, physical medicine (therapeutic massage and joint manipulation), exercise therapy and lifestyle counseling are other aspects of naturopathy Unani and Sidha are traditional Indian medicinal systems and chiefly use herbal remedies, dietary and lifestyle modifications. There are few indexed studies demonstrating efficacy of polyherbal Unani formulations in acne vulgaris. Homeopathy was developed by Samuel Hahnemann, a German physician. It is based on the law of similars and the law of infinitesimals. The first doctrine is simili similibus curenti that is the symptoms caused by a drug in healthy person, will cure similar symptoms. The second doctrine is that the appropriate drug has to be given in high dilutions, and that the higher the dilution, the greater the effect; and is termed as potentiation. Modern physics and chemistry have shown that some of the dilutions used in homeopathy may be so high that no molecule of the original substance will remain in the preparation. However, the â€Å"essence† of the original substance is considered to remain in the preparation and a â€Å"memory of water† has been postulated. Homeopathic remedies include substances derived from plants, minerals, or animals. Examples are red onion, arnica (mountain herb), crushed whole bees, white arsenic, poison ivy, belladonna and stinging nettle. The remedies are formulated as sugar pellets to be placed under the tongue; other forms, such as ointments, gels, drops, creams, and tablets are also available. Homeopaths generally begin with detailed examinations of their patients histories, including questions regarding their physical, mental and emotional states, their life circumstances and any physical or emotional illnesses. The homeopath then attempts to translate this information into a complex formula of mental and physical symptoms, including likes, dislikes, innate predispositions and even body type. There is no specific drug for disease as in case of modern medicine but collective understanding of patient’s symptom complex and the selection of drug from material medica. There are various â€Å"miASMS’ envisaged and understanding them and, the defect in constitution ultimately leads to the selection of remedy. Themiasms are as follows Psoric, sycotic, syphilitic and tubercular. The homeopathy practitioner chooses how to treat the patient based on the inner physical and mental stress, personality, the symptoms, miasms, individual constitution, personal and family hi story. Homeopathy is being used in various dermatological diseases including infections such as warts, abscesses; chronic conditions such as acne, psoriasis, rosacea, various forms of eczema, etc. Though homeopathy claims to be beneficial in a variety of chronic cutaneous diseases, a review of various trials of homeopathic treatment did not find evidence for any single dermatological condition. The outcome of a therapeutic measure may be due to a placebo effect, the medical intervention or by the natural course of the disease resulting in recovery by the patient. In cosmetic dermatology, homeopathy attempts to alter the patients’ mindset towards changes in beauty and appearance and its perception. In any disfigurement perceived, the cosmetic enhancement needed will be balanced by homeopathic principle of correcting mental and physical disturbances and correcting the miasms which are responsible for various cosmetic problems such as pigmentation, acne, aging, hair loss or exce ss body hair. Homeopathy may be considered as an effective method of communication and counseling for various chronic diseases. Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners use herbal medicines and various mind and body practices (tai chi and qi gong), and acupuncture. The fundamental treatment techniques in acupuncture are either needling, heat, moxibustion, suction or cupping, and pressure (acupressure). Acupuncture techniques have been used in various dermatological conditions including acne and melasma. Its use in cosmetology is now gaining popularity.Facial cosmetic acupuncture is applied to the head, face, and neck and showed improvement in facial elasticity in a pilot study. Aromatherapy is a subset of the  biological  or nature-based  therapies. It consists of therapeutic use of volatile, aromatic essential oils extracted from plants. It has similarities to other forms of herbal medicines; the major difference between them is that, in the former, essential oils are extra cted from parts of the plant, whereas the whole plant is used in herbal medicines. Aromatic forms of medicine have been used traditionally for spiritual, medicinal, social, and beauty purposes. The effects of aromatherapy are believed to result from the binding of chemical components in the essential oil to receptors in the olfactory bulb, impacting the brain’s emotional center, the limbic system. Topical application of aromatic oils may exert antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects. The essential oils are usually diluted in carrier oils. The essential oils may be extracted from different part of plants such as the leaves (eucalyptus, peppermint), flowers (lavender, rose), twigs (juniper), wood (sandalwood), roots (vetivert, calamus), sap (benzoin, frankincense), and grasses (palmarosa grass, lemongrass). The major chemical components of essential oils include terpenes, esters, aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, phenols, and oxides. Oils high in ketones are known for their wound-healing properties, such as Helichrysmitalicum (everlasting flower) whereas oils high in alcohols are renowned for their antimicrobial and anti-infectious properties (e.g., Melaleucaalternifolia terpinen-4-ol, tea tree). Two lavenders, Lavandula angustifoliaand Lavandula latifolia are high in alcohols, terpenes, and oxides and are noted for their effects in the rapid healing of burns, without scarring or infections. The carrier oils, such as avocado oil, wheat germ oil, sweet almond oil, evening primrose oil, and coconut oil, also have some pharmac ologic activities. The oils may be applied externally in the following ways: therapeutic massage, mixed with a plain vegetable oil, via a compress , as a topical wound dressing, mixed in a gel or paste , as a spray , in a bath , or as an inhalation therapy. Essential oil may be ingredient of gargles and mouthwashes. The internal use of essential oils is very rare. The cosmetic and perfume industry are the largest users of essential oils. Although high-quality evidence of effectiveness and safety for aromatherapy in the cosmetic dermatology field is lacking, few studies are now being reported. Plant-derived essential oils may be a biologically plausible treatment for acne and is being researched. Lavender aromatherapy’s potential to ease anxiety in patients undergoing minimally invasive facial cosmetic procedures has been demonstrated. Positive biologic effect on hair loss and hair regrowth of a pulsed electromagnetic field in combination with essential oils in cases of androg enic alopecia has been demonstrated. Skin appearance affects the self-image via the central nervous system, whereas autonomic, psychoneuro-immunologic, and behavioral factors interact to affect the skin appearance. Psychological counseling and various techniques such as meditation, relaxation, hypnosis, biofeedback and other methods of stress management benefit cosmetic problems such as hair loss, rosacea, aging signs and acne. These techniques also help to reduce anxiety, needle phobia, and pain during various cosmetic and dermatosurgical procedures. The medical spa concept is new and gradually capturing the beauty and wellness market in India. In a medical or dermatology spa (spa environment within a cosmetic set up), the clients avail of treatments and services which have medicinal value and long lasting aesthetic benefits. It can be considered as a blend of medical and aesthetic services offered at a one stop shopping environment. CAM practices such as nutrition/ dietary supplem ents, massage therapy, aromatherapy are employed for skin rejuvenation and integrated within a cosmetic dermatology set up. Though CAM methods are considered safe and free from side- effects, these can cause adverse reactions. As there are no molecular targets available for most of the traditional medicine, it is difficult to assure their safety. The alternate or traditional medicines may contain heavy metals, toxins, allergens which can cause damage to the skin and/or internal organs.Oral herbal medications may be adulterated with steroids, heavy metals, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antihistamines, diuretics, etc. Chinese herbal creams may be adulterated with corticosteroids. Allergic contact dermatitis and photosensitization are common. Both type I and Type IV hypersensitivity reactions have been documented with Ayurvedic oil (Dhanwantaratailam) application. Hepatotoxicity may be seen with commonly used herbal products, such as Ayurvedic and Chinese herbs, green tea, etc. There is a high use of CAM among cosmetic surgery patients along with increasing reports of hematomas associated with herbal and homeopathic medicines. The most common adverse effects with homeopathy were allergic reactions and intoxications. Heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, mercury and iron which are used in homeopathy can be toxic. Rhus toxidendron was a frequent cause of adverse reactions. Essential oils used in aromatherapy may be toxic if used inappropriately in the hands of unqualified personnel. Potential hazards from essential oils exist due to their chemical constituents. High proportions of aldehydes and phenols can cause irritant dermatitis; ketones can cause neurotoxicity; potentially carcinogenic components include safrole in sas safras oil or beta-asarone in calamus oil. Phototoxicity, allergic contact dermatitis and airborne contact dermatitis have been reported with aromatherapy. Adulteration in oils can cause dermocaustic reactions, neurotoxicity or have an abortive potential. In the field of CAM, it is difficult for science to catch up to practice due to the lack of funding for appropriate studies. In contrast, it also becomes difficult for practice to catch up to science as new information is discovered. It is also difficult to conduct randomized control trials to demonstrate the efficacy since most CAM therapies are individualized. However, qualitative research is gaining momentum in the field of CAM. The scientific evidence for a CAM product or practice (with respect to safety and efficacy) can be accessed by the literature reviews published in last 5 years in the form of systematic reviews or meta-analysis or randomized controlled trials; and has been made accessible by NCCAM. The Department of Heal th Research, Government of India has also developed a policy for studies on Ayurveda and other traditional medicines. CAM methods are commonly used in our population. Herbal medicines and natural products are an integral part of CAM and the use of botanicals, nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals are an integral part of cosmetic dermatology practice. Thus a cosmetic dermatologist can be inclined to incorporate CAM in clinical practice to address the patient care needs. However, he/she should have a proper knowledge and experience with specific CAM treatments. In addition, further research into the efficacy, benefits, and risks of CAM methods should be undertaken for a better insight. CAM methods are popular and are commonly used by aesthetic patients to enhance their skin health, beauty and youth. Hence a cosmetic dermatologist needs to be aware of the various CAM practices.The major traditional Indian healthcare system includes AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and H omoeopathy).

Steak and E- Love :: Journalism Journal Essays

â€Å"Steak and E- Love† I take the heels off my aching feet and remove my eyeliner; sometimes I wonder why I ever take this job. Even though I have a place in Manhattan Park Apartments with a great view of the city and of course my Persian cat, Delta, writing a weekly article for the NY Times can be trying and hectic, especially when you are writing on some pretty controversial stuff. I'm mean, I'm talking about everything from violence in the media to this week's "E- Love", about singles finding love through Websites online. My boss is a fast pace man with an eye for great articles, and those that are a product of me are no exception. I came to him last week with the idea of doing this story. I had already found three very different websites; each containing contrasting thoughts and ideas of what these sites should consist of. "Mr. Lance, I have an idea..." He was astounded, this was exciting because I'm really trying to move my way up the corporate latter and every little bit helps. Making the boss happy is at the top of my priority list. "Ms. Nash, I think that is a great idea, good work," he said with a relieving smile. I could feel my day perk up, I better start making some phone calls and get some good quotes. I walked out of his office with an undeniable glow. Then the suggestion came that shot down the cloud that I was riding on. "Hey Nash, one more thing, maybe you should have dinner with all of them at the same time, it should add some appeal to your article." Before I could even repl y, the door shut and that was that. So, where do you take three totally different people to dinner? Then it came to me. The Waldorf . Yes, dinner would be beautiful with a striking view of the city, and delectable food on the paper's tab. I made reservations for seven- thirty and made the phone calls to my prospective guests. Of course, all could come and so it was set. If the night turned out to be a total disaster, at least they would get a great meal at a world- renowned place.

Consider carefully which of Bathsheba Essay

TASK: Consider carefully which of Bathsheba’s three suitors, Boldwood, Troy or Oak possessed the qualities most likely to make Bathsheba a good husband. In the book, ‘Far from the Madding Crowd’ by Thomas Hardy, there are three suitors for the novels protagonist, Bathsheba Everdene. Unfortunately because she is a very capricious lady, one suitor is murdered by another, who was consequently sentenced to life imprisonment. This essay will discuss which suitor would have been the most compatible to Bathsheba in marriage. In the novel, Bathsheba is the second character we are introduced to, and Thomas Hardy portrays her as a very beautiful but penniless woman. She is the protagonist of the novel, and her interaction with her various suitors propels the plot. As the story unfolds, her character is developed, but it is very clear in the beginning she is a very vain woman. This is firstly shown when Gabriel sees her sitting on top of a carriage full of furniture. It is obvious her beauty entrapped him and he, ‘followed the vehicle to the turnpike gate some way beyond the bottom of the hill, where the object of his contemplation now halted for the payment of the toll. ‘ Bathsheba’s vanity was evident where she refused to pay the turnpike keeper the extra two pence he wanted. Subsequently, Gabriel paid it and she was neither pleased nor dismissive because she had lost her point, she was just a little disgruntled. In addition to this, shortly after she is seen looking into her mirror, admiring herself. Further reference to Bathsheba’s vanity is later in the story when she has just inherited the farm and she throws all of her existing clothes away because she feels she has moved up a class, and her old ones were inferior. The last evidence of her vanity occurred after she had encountered Troy for the first time, when she was in front of her dressing table mirror and she repeated a sentence he had whispered to her, ‘Hello gorgeous’. Despite this flaw in her character, she showed independence in both financial and spirited terms. She was able to run the farm she had inherited by herself, and after finding her bailiff stealing grain, she fired him and took on that job as well. Furthermore, having moved up a social class didn’t seem to effect this self-reliance as she still travelled to Bath on her own not asking for a chauffeur to ride the cart for her, as most rich people would have because of their status. She wasn’t accompanied by anyone when she went out horse riding either. This shows both independence and that she likes to be alone sometimes, not in the eye of her employees. There are many other of her characteristics which are described in the novel, including bravery which is highlighted on three occasions: in the beginning of the novel where she saves Gabriel from gas poisoning in his hut; when she helps Gabriel to secure the hayricks in the storm and the way she dealt with the numerous disasters on her farm. One of those disasters was bought on by her impetuousness as she fired Gabriel because he rebukes her, saying ‘I cannot allow any man to – to criticize my private conduct!†¦ Nor will I for a minute. So you’ll leave the farm at the end of the week! ‘ From this it is obvious she is intolerant towards gossip and people’s views. Unfortunately, shortly after Oak leaves, a disaster happens, whereby the sheep all get a disease, which only Oak knows how to treat. Subsequently she has to swallow her pride to save her sheep. A further example of her impetuous character was a little later on in the novel, when she visited Bath and married Troy so that his attentions would only be focused on her, and not any other women. This also shows immaturity in her, not just the rash decision of marriage, but also the quick dismissal of Oak because she couldn’t take criticism. Contrary to this though, when Fanny went missing, she was responsible enough to send out a search party, so despite being volatile and distant from her workforce, she was still interested in their well being, even though she was an x-employee. No later than Troy goes missing, she turns to Boldwood who she had previously sent a valentine to, admittedly quite reluctantly, but she does, and this highlights the capriciousness and flirtatious side of her character. This isn’t a good thing for a relationship, especially in a vain woman like Bathsheba, who would be easily convinced to see other men, so a compatible partner for her would have to be stern with her, but in a loving manner. Therefore, the best suitor for Bathsheba needs to be able to cope with the characteristics I have highlighted above, being similar to some of her characteristics, and the opposite to others. The best person for her would be a handsome and romantic farmer who was financially secure. Mr Boldwood is the wealthiest of the three suitors whom Bathsheba could have chosen, owning a neighbouring farm. As his name suggests, he is quite a wooden man. By this I mean he doesn’t reveal his true emotions until he is sent the valentines letter on a whim when he suddenly develops feelings for her. From this point onwards, he loses his self-control and pursues her with a single-minded passion to make her his wife. Unfortunately, because his love becomes so all-compassing and single mindedness, it leads him to neglect his farm losing all of his crop one stormy night. He is also quite a personal and reserved man who, despite many women finding him attractive, lives a quiet life on his neighbouring farm. His high status in society is indicated on numerous occasions, but the most obvious occurrence was when Bathsheba invited Mr Boldwood over to join in the celebratory dinner after the successful harvest. At first Gabriel Oak, Bathsheba’s main shepherd was sitting at the head of the table, but when Mr Boldwood appeared a little later, Gabriel was asked to move from the head of the table so Mr Boldwood could be seated. It is obvious from the moment Mr Boldwood starts to develop feelings for Bathsheba that he is a caring man, always checking up on her, but it is later on in the story when Mr Boldwood’s chivalrous side is shown to its full extent. Bathsheba had been seeing Troy for a little while, and they were having relations outside of marriage, which for the novels time was not allowed. Therefore Mr Boldwood offered Troy money to marry her, in order for her name to be respected. This was obviously a very hard act to come to do, especially as he loved her so dearly. When Troy went missing, believed drowned, Bathsheba was in mourning for a little while, but because no body was found, she had to wait seven years before she could marry again. Mr Boldwood made his feelings clear to her again a little later, and she agreed upon marriage if Troy didn’t reappear after seven years had passed. This showed a very patient side of Boldwood, different to the very persistent side of him seen earlier in the book. Unfortunately, after seven years had passed, on the night Bathsheba had promised to accept Boldwood’s proposal, Troy burst into the party, insisting on regaining his half of her farm, which came with the marriage. At first Boldwood was deeply upset, but knew there was nothing he could do about it and accepted it, but Bathsheba refused to go at first, and Troy rough handled her. Boldwood, did not like, or accept this, especially because he was so protective and obsessed with her. A mixture of jealousy and over protectiveness then took hold of him, and he shot Troy, killing him almost instantly. Boldwood was then sentenced to death, but because of his high status, because he was a well-respected gentleman and finally because it was argued he was mentally unstable, the sentence was changed to life imprisonment. After the sentence was passed, his obsession with Bathsheba was revealed to its full extent, as items of clothing and jewellery were all found in Boldwood’s house, all gift wrapped and with a label saying ‘Bathsheba Boldwood’. Sergeant Troy is the second of Bathsheba’s possible suitors. Troy is the novels antagonist, and is the less responsible male equivalent of Bathsheba, and his description is the complete opposite of Gabriel Oak’s. His irresponsibility is shown on the night of the ‘after harvest celebratory meal’ when he decides to get drunk, knowing there is a storm which could destroy all the hayricks which they had just harvested. Unfortunately, because he was devastatingly attractive, had a dashing manner, continually flattered Bathsheba and was skilled in swordsmanship, she fell for him. This was mainly because of her vanity; he said what she wanted to hear. And furthermore, it was his vanity which made him say such things as, ‘Thank you for the sight of such a beautiful face’ and ‘Ah, beauty; good-bye! ‘ This first impression of Troy gives him the appearance of having some strength of character, such as helpfulness when he offers to help in the haymaking when he bumps into Bathsheba one night. Unfortunately, this strength in his character is quickly shown to be limited, for example, he initially gave the impression of being frank, letting his thoughts be heard, but this is quickly offset by his lies. Troy lied on numerous occasions, such as when Bathsheba saw a lock of golden hair in Troy’s pocket watch, when he said he went to church regularly through the back door, which when investigated by Gabriel was found to have not been opened for a very long time and thirdly when he said he didn’t know the tramp on the road. It was in fact Fanny Robin who he was engaged to, but neglected after they miscommunicated about which church they were due to have their marriage in. She was actually Troy’s true love and the lock of hair in his pocket watch belonged to her. Another act, which showed Troy’s character to be limited, was the way he acted and cruelly abused her after they were married. This really shows that Troy was quite capricious in a way because no later than Troy has left Fanny, he seduces Bathsheba. Troy was an unstable character, mainly because when his parents died when he was only small, he was sent off to be a soldier. This environment, which he grew up in, therefore influenced his character, and he became a mercenary, working only because he wanted to spend money at the races. Unfortunately, not being trustful, he left Fanny gambling debts, and he used a lot of Bathsheba’s money up as well. Another quality of Troy’s was his cunningness and deviousness. This is shown near the end when, after seven years of being missing, presumed dead, he returns, not for Bathsheba, but for the money which he was entitled to, namely half Bathsheba’s assets (farm and contents) which came with getting married. That was what triggered Boldwood to kill Troy in the end, the way he was only interested money, and the way he mishandled her. The third and final suitor was Gabriel Oak. He was in fact the first of the three men whom Bathsheba met in the novel when he generously paid the two pence toll for her because she felt she had already paid enough. The novel starts describing Gabriel; ‘When Farmer Oak smiled, the corners of his mouth spread till they were within an unimportant distance of his ears†¦ ‘ He isn’t the best looking of men, and is only a shepherd, but has a very strong, good character, which is developed throughout the novel. Being a shepherd, he has exceptional skill with animals, and is hardworking. He knows the trade so well that he can tell when it is going to be bad whether and acts accordingly. An example of this was when the storm came after the hayricks had been harvested and, knowing a storm was on its way, Oak tried to alert the others for help, but after realising they weren’t interested, he started tying them down on his own. This shows determination, responsibility and reliability. Whenever Bathsheba needed help, he would be there, even after he had been dismissed for criticizing her judgement, he forgave her and came back to save the sheep from a deadly disease. Another example of his responsibility was when Joseph Poorgrass stopped off at the Buck’s Head Inn for a drink, rather than taking Fanny’s coffin to the church. It was Gabriel who went to the inn and too the coffin to the church, and then on to Bathsheba’s house because Joseph had delayed them so much. When he saw Fanny’s coffin, he was generous in spirit, because he rubbed off ‘and baby’ after Fanny’s name because he wanted to spare Bathsheba’s feelings, especially as it was Troy’s baby. The reason Bathsheba said that she would not marry him when he asked was because he wasn’t that rich and he was unromantic, which is a characteristic in Oak which Bathsheba would have wanted from her husband. Shortly after, he unluckily lost all of his sheep, but instead of reverting to alcohol, or committing suicide, he put it behind him, paid off his debts with what he had left, and went to the market to look for a job. While this is all occurring, he is still steadfast, wanting to marry Bathsheba, and he is loyal, not going after any other women. Instead he just concentrates on his work, and is as hardworking as ever, in a sense he is quite boring because he doesn’t ease up on his work. Even when she marries Troy, he is thoughtful, sparing her feelings, as she is not aware of all the truth. His loyalty, whether standing up for Bathsheba when the workers gossip, or just by being there for her, is repaid later when Bathsheba finally gives him the job of Bailiff. It is mainly because of his organised nature, and because he has a very good knowledge of the farm. In conclusion, I have to answer the original question, ‘Consider carefully which of Bathsheba’s three suitors, Boldwood, Troy or Oak possessed the qualities most likely to make Bathsheba a good husband. ‘ After analysing each of their characters, I feel she would really be best off with a person who had parts of each of the suitors: Boldwood’s money and devotion, Troy’s handsome appearance and Gabriel’s knowledge of farming. Unfortunately this is impossible, therefore I have chosen Gabriel Oak as whom I feel would be the best suitor for Bathsheba Everdene. I think that despite Boldwood saying that she would never have to work again, she is a very independent woman, and I’m not sure she would appreciate that. Troy is like the male equivalent of Bathsheba, and I don’t think that she would last that long with him, as problems would arise. Furthermore, he mishandles her, and I think their marriage would be over very quickly. Gabriel is quite different to Bathsheba, and I think that he would be devoted to her, especially after analysing his character, but wouldn’t smother her, still giving her her independence. Furthermore, his knowledge of farming would be helpful on the farm. Marriages last if the couple can communicate, and come to a conclusion about situations, and I feel Boldwood would just do whatever she wanted to do, Troy would only do what he wanted to do, but Oak would do whatever was best and fair. Gabriel’s character is opposite to Bathsheba’s, but in this case I think the marriage would work really well.

Is the U.S. prepared for another terrorist attack? Essay

In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of 9/11, securing the country has become a national priority. The events of 9/11 were the first attacks on the United States (U.S.) since Pearl Harbor which catapulted the U.S. into World War II. As of the writing of this paper, the U.S. has been engaged in the War on Terrorism for 13 years. During this period of time the U.S. has been kept free from terrorist attacks by changes to laws, technology, and investigative methods to combat terrorism internationally. Although there have been a number of changes to U.S. law and American citizens have been kept safe, the threat of terrorism has not abated. With the continued threat of terrorism to the U.S. and its citizens, there is a high probability that the U.S. will suffer another 9/11 type of event. The U.S. has shown its resolve in recovering from 9/11 and the many natural disasters that have occurred since and is preparing for incidents in the future. There is a plethora of information and stu dies conducted after 9/11 that, in great detail, informed us to the extent we failed to prevent the events of 9/11. Ironically, in the years after the creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) many academics feel we are no safer now than we were prior to 9/11. In a historical context, the U.S. has been reactive in nature to every major catastrophe it has endured. The cycle of disaster events has repeated itself over and over throughout our history. The U.S. experiences a major response event, fails in the initial response and recovery efforts, endures congressional investigations, obtains funding to  fix the failures, execute the recovery effort, and return to a complacency mentality until another major event occurs. The purpose of this paper is to address the question of the U.S. readiness in the event there is another terrorist attack. I plan to focus on the aspect of preparation, reforms, and interagency coordination before and after the next terrorist attack. This paper will argue that the preparation for a terrorist attack is required; it’s not a question of how an attack is orchestrated. The question is the U.S. prepared for another terrorist attack and recovery? Literature Review In Perry’s (2001) analysis he explains the actions that the U.S. needs to take in preparation for the next attack. The articles’ publication is under the premise of a worst case scenario as it pertained to terrorism in 2001. The primary focus of the article was the U.S. preparation for any delivery method terrorist organizations could provide. There was a concern that terrorist organizations could/would buy nuclear weapon platforms from rogue Soviet BLOC nations. The only way these attacks could be thwarted was by the mix of three strategies: deterrence, prevention, and defense. The ability for the U.S. to use conventional forces to deter enemies needed to be maintained as well as the intelligence community with an aggressive campaign against nations that sponsor terrorism. In the article, The Next Attack, Flynn (2007) provides a framework in which terrorist organization detonates a bomb at an oil refinery, near Philadelphia’s Citizen Bank Park, that results in the release of a chemical cloud comprised of chemicals used in the refinery process. The cloud kills thousands over a ten day period as a result of breathing the fumes. In the aftermath of 9/11 the U.S. government concluded there was no way they could protect every essential asset and chose to specifically defend critical infrastructure networks. It was believed that terrorists would only attack large targets that they could get the biggest return on investment. Flynn took a very critical view of the U.S. government’s response to compiling a list of high value targets that needed protection, â€Å"It wasn’t rocket science to figure that out, and it took five years to complete.†Ã‚  Flynn further explained a need for manufacturing industries to utilize safer production methods known inherently as safer technology. The technology has a higher cost, but Flynn does an impressive cost comparison that the change-over could cost nationwide for around $250 million, which is what was being spent daily on the war in Iraq. In Interagency Coordination in Response to Terrorism: Promising Practices and Barriers Identified in Four Countries (Strom and Eyerman 2007) is an article that examines our nation’s ability to prepare, respond, and recover from terrorism hinging on multiagency coordination. The focal point of the article is the explanation of the problems that existed pre-9/11 and the progress law enforcement agencies and public health agencies have in coordination with each other across multiple jurisdictions and countries. The article explains in detail the coordination problems that occur when two or more agencies are involved in the same incident. There is a competition for command and control, funding, redundant system and processes across multiple agencies. Two primary problems that were noted were the inability for all agencies to achieve an interoperable communications system to aid in interagency cooperation. The second problem is barriers to communication ranging from coordination and cultural barriers and the lack of proactive information sharing among multiple agencies. The authors noted several changes that needed to occur in order to be successful. The primary focus falling on ceasing interagency competition for funding as this has created fraud, waste, and abuse across multiple U.S. agencies. The second focus was fostering a liaison model and incorporating public-private partnerships as individual companies have systematically been delegated the responsibility of protecting their own businesses. Methodology and Research Strategy The literature review has produced some excellent talking points that may show the U.S. government is not prepared for another 9/11 terrorist attack. This paper will review the readiness of the U.S. in preparation for the next terrorist attack and the ability to respond to that attack. My research will be qualitative in method and analysis in an attempt to produce a  respectable projection of the U.S. readiness for the next terrorist attack. After reviewing twelve Scholarly articles or books the following question is presented. Is the U.S. prepared for another 9/11 terrorist attack? Findings  In the pre-9/11 article: CatastrophicTerrorism: Elements of a National Policy, Carter explained that the U.S. was not taking the threat of terrorism, as they had known in that generation, seriously (Carter, Deutch and Zelikow 1998). In the aftermath of the embassy attacks in Kenya and Tanzania which killed hundreds Carter did not feel that the U.S. government was committed to address terrori stic threats nor was it suitably prepared for a catastrophic terrorist event. Carter gave a prophetic warning that a catastrophic event was plausible in 1998. Terrorist networks were no longer hiding in the shadow as they did during the Cold War. The Preventive Defense strategy, at that time, was outdated. Terrorist networks were embracing change, embedding with organized crime syndicates, drug and human traffickers, and money laundering which created the basic infrastructure of a terrorist organization. During this same time frame we saw the effects of globalization in the Sub-Sahara Africa as it folded in on its self and created lawless safe havens for terrorist organizations to freely operate. Carter predicted a catastrophic terror event would be a watershed event in U.S. history that would change law, challenge personal liberties, and ultimately make terrorism the focus of our national defense strategy (6). Carter and his team were virtually ignored until 9/11. In the aftermath of 9/11 Zelikow sat on the 9/11 Commission. Many of the findings that the 9/11 Commission determined came from the 1998 article. Ultimately, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) creation was in response to the large number of listed intelligence and operational failures among U.S. governmental agencies. These failures were over classification of intelligence, lack of information sharing, interagency competition in investigations, and multiple agencies conducting the same redundant tasks to name few. During DHS’s inception twenty- two federal agencies and 170,000 employees, which specialized in various disciplines ranging from law enforcement to disaster mitigation, were pulled under the control of DHS in order to streamline information sharing and overall interagency cooperation. In the years that followed many studies and reports to congress on the DHS suggest that the organization needed to be reformed due to over-all mismanagement and lack of any institutional control over the multiple agencies. The primary reason for concern is the organizations layer of bureaucratic red tape and political appointees who lack the ability and structural knowledge are hampering the Secretary of Homeland Defenses ability to lead U.S. security efforts (Carafano and Heyman, DHS 2.0: Rethinking the Department of Homeland Security 2004). The DHS has a leviathan sized mission as it pertains to keeping the U.S. safe from terrorist activity. In 2003 report, Major Management Challenges and Program Risks: Department of Homeland Security, the Government Accounting Office (GAO) reported the DHS was a high risk organization for three reasons. First, the organization is too large to manage efficiently. The DHS creation is in response to the events of 9/11 without having a command structure properly planned. Second, among the 22 agencies under the DHS umbrella, there was a large amount of discord, strife, and competition before the merger. The merger did not quell the conflict, it actually added to the competition for funding and resources. Third, these failures expose the U.S. to other possibilities in regards to terrorism (Governement Accounting Office 2003). The GAO further outlines what DHS needs to do to alleviate some of the existing challenges they face now and in the future. DHS must effectively integrate discording agencies in order to foster an environment of partnerships and working environments. DHS must adopt and use public and private partnership business methods, as most of the protection Flynn mentioned earlier has fallen on the private sector and the dependency of first responders. â€Å"The private sector controls 85 % of the critical infrastructure in the nation. Indeed, unless a terrorist’s target is a military or other secure government facility, the first responders will almost certainly be civilians† (9/11 Commission 2004). Finally, the DHS infrastructure must incorporate the maximum use of its brightest and best individuals and must foster interagency cooperation among multiple organizations and countries simultaneously (pg. 1). Since 9/11 the U.S. has not experienced another 9/11 terrorist event, one could assume the DHS and the U.S. War on Terror is having a significant impact on terrorist activity. In 2011, The Heritage Foundation reported 40 terrorist plots had been thwarted since 9/11due to the efforts of DHS employees and power granted under the PATRIOT Act (Carafano and Zuckerman, War on Terrorism: 40 Terrorists Attacks Foiled Since 9/11 2011). Although the PATRIOT Act granted law enforcement agencies nationwide powers and abilities they did not have pre 9/11, the agency has stonewalled terror attacks on U.S. soil, and it is still failing at multiple levels. At this point, it would not be wise to assume the U.S. is 100 percent safe from terror attacks or more importantly the ability or readiness to respond to one. The DHS track record for responding to natural disasters in the U.S. is poor, at best. One example is the DHS response to Hurricane Katrina. By the time Hurricane Katrina had made landfall the DHS had not established the roles and responsibilities that the public and private sectors would play in the survival and recovery of New Orleans, even though the energy and shipping facilities had been considered, â€Å"national critical infrastructure for which the U.S. government should take substantial responsibility in the event of a disaster† (Military Technology 2005). This is where Flynn related this wasn’t rocket science; it just was not completed in a timely manner. There have been a number of theories for the dysfunction of the DHS as it pertains to disaster response. One primary theory is DHS does not have its priorities straight. DHS creation in response to the attacks of 9/11, with its primary focus being on prevention of future attacks. DHS thought process can be seen as one sided as 75 percent of the 3.35 billion in Federal grants were designated for counter-terrorism activities (pg. 104). Additionally, DHS was charged with not fully notifying local and state  leaders about the magnitude of the event and many mass-causality centers were diverted to Iraq and Afghanistan leaving the homeland under sourced. Of the 22 agencies that fall under DHS the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has borne the brunt of the fallout in responding to disaster events. Prior to 9/11 FEMA held a cabinet level position within the Presidential Cabinet and responded to incidents with competence, ability, and utilized lessons learned to prevent the same mistakes in the future. Under the authority of DHS, FEMA lost its cabinet level position, lost independent funding, and FEMA’s competency and performance decreased significantly. Further adding to the dysfunction within the DHS and FEMA’s ability to respond to incidents are the political ramifications of power sharing between the Federal government and state agencies. In response to Hurricane Katrina, the Federal government to include the Department of Defense, the Department of Justice, and the White House could not determine if utilizing Active Duty would violate the Posse Comitatus Act. The DHS and White House did not want to take Constitutional rights away from the states. This delay furthered much needed assistance to the hardest hit areas of the Gulf Coast. WAL-MART had a quicker response time of getting much need supplies into New Orleans but was unable to do enter and provide assistance due to the bureaucratic boondoggle in Washington (Abouo-Bakr 2013). In 2007 and 2009, â€Å"FEMA participated in a national-level exercise aimed at assessing U.S. capacity to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from a large-scale disaster† (Busch 2012). In the following months after these training exercises it was reported FEMA did not effectively manage, track, or maintain and failed to complete less than 40 percent of corrective actions noted (pg. 18). FEMA also failed to provide a training outline to address the corrective actions to ensure the mistakes made and lessons learned could be used at future training events in preparation for real life responses to disasters. Conclusion The U.S. has thwarted terrorist attacks on the U.S., on both foreign and  domestic fronts, since the historic events of 9/11. The additional powers granted to the DHS under the PATRIOT Act have aided law enforcement agencies and anti-terrorism activities in the War on Terrorism. The question is not how well the DHS prevents future attacks; it is a question of when the next attack will happen and how will the U.S. respond. In order for the DHS to become successful the Secretary of Homeland Defense must coordinate organizational and logistical support across all 22 agencies. The monetary focus of the DHS must be distributed equally along the other agencies supporting the relief efforts in the event another terrorist event occurs on U.S. soil. The DHS must foster an environment that encourages employees to create Private Public Partnerships (PPP). These partnerships must have a clear and concise plan and all players involved must have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities as it pertains to information and resource sharing during a response to a terror event. The relationship between the DHS and PPP must foster long-term projects and must initially come from within the DHS. FEMA should be removed the organizational tree of DHS and have its cabinet level position re-established and given the ability to meet directly with the President of the United States and all emergency response assets nationwide. FEMAs ability must be restored to pre-9/11 levels in order to meet all future natural disasters or terrorist attacks. The USG must network with the private sector and ensure the plans created do not hamper their bottom line and ensure the cost/risk ratio is sufficient to stock holders in the private sector. The DHS and FEMA have applied some of the lessons learned in past response efforts and Congress has turned some of them into law. The two most important laws will assist FEMA in emergency management. First, the head of FEMA must be an emergency management professional and have least five years executive experience. Second, during a disaster, the lines of communication between the President and FEMA are open without interruption from the DHS (King, et al. 2009). The changes to law were a small step for FEMA but now allow them to coordinate with all organizations along the National Incident Management System and the National Response Framework. Both of the programs describe how multiple players from the lowest level to the Director of FEMA how they should work together in response to an incident. Both of these programs are balance to react to an incident whether it is a terrorist event or a natural disaster, but they still have a long way to go. The DHS prevents attacks well but at times fails miserably in response efforts due to interagency shortfalls. Until there is a balance between the efforts carried out in the War on Terror and the response efforts after an event the U.S. will not be prepared for the next attack. References 9/11 Commission. The 9/11 Comission Report. July 26, 2004. www.9-11commission.gov/report/911Report.pdf (accessed 12 29, 2013). Abouo-Bakr, C. Managing Disasters through Public-Private Partnerships. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press, 2013. Busch, Jason. â€Å"FEMA Falters in Self-Improvement.† News Network, November 2012: 18. Carafano, James, and David Heyman. DHS 2.0: Rethinking the Department of Homeland Security. Special Report SR-02, Washington: The Heritage Foundation, 2004. Carafano, James, and Jessica Zuckerman. War on Terrorism: 40 Terrorists Attacks Foiled Since 9/11 . September 7, 2011. http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2011/09/40-terror-plots-foiled-since-9-11-combating-complacency-in-the-long-war-on-terror (accessed 12 24, 2013). Carter, Ashton B,, John M. Deutch, and Philip D. Zelikow. Catasrophic Terrorism: Elements of a National Policy. Visions of Governance for the Twenty-First Century, John F. Kennedy School of Government, 1998. Flynn, Stephen. â€Å"The Next Attack.† The Washington Monthly, March 2007: 31-37. Governement Accounting Office. Major Management Challenges and Program Risks: Department of Hoeland Security. Series Report, Washington: United States General Accounting Office, 2003. King, Peter, et al. â€Å"Keep FEMA within Homeland Security.† January 14, 2009. http://search.ebscohost.com.ezproxy2.apus.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bwh&a