Mahatma Gandhi and his non-violent struggle

Mahatma Gandhi and his non-violent struggle against the British Empire was a result of the political situation in India. Prior to World War II, the world has witnessed the rise of the Soviet Union in terms of political and military power. We also saw the rise of popular national liberation movements across the colonized world. In most colonies, the way of gaining independence from Western colonialism has been through the waging of armed revolutions, such as the struggle of the Chinese and the Malaysians, led by Mao Tsetung and Sukarno, respectively. However, such a type of struggle for Indian independence was essentially difficult in Indian society where a strict and clearly defined caste system was in place. The caste system hindered the creation of unity of Indians as a united people while transcending class divisions. More so, divisions between the ranks of the Indian people became more pronounced as fighting between rightist Hindu fundamentalists and left-wing communists never stopped, with both espousing violent means of securing Indian independence. All of these confused the majority of a people who continued to wallow in poverty and desolation. In all of these, Mahatma Gandhi emerged to present an alternative viewpoint, a seeming middle-ground between the pro-people radicalism of the left and the religious conservatism of the right. Related article: Favoring Pragmatism Over Principle It was founded on the principle of non-violent struggle. It dismantled all previous ideas that political power comes from the barrel of a gun. Gandhi turned the idea of revolution on its head and succeeded in doing so. While a major factor for their triumph was the waning power of the British empire after World War II, their struggle through non-violent means inspired other civil libertarians the world over to give peace and non-violent struggle a chance prior to the taking of arms. As can be seen from above, Mahatma Gandhi was clearly faced with almost immense tasks, particularly leading the Indian people in the path to independence, despite the power of the British Empire and the ethnic tensions evident in Indian society. At a time when almost the entire colonial peoples of the world were engaged in armed struggle, Gandhi decisively implemented his idea of non-violent struggle to force the British Empire to recognize their demands for sovereignty and independence. He utilized creative forms of protest, such as the non-payment of taxes, peaceful marches to the sea, even if these actions were met with brutal force by British security forces. One of the great things about Gandhi was his ability to present his vision of a free and independent India to the masses in very simple terms which could be clearly understood and grasped. More so, he fully understood that Indian culture was still basically rooted in Hinduism. He believed that the application of foreign theories such as Marxism and nationalism might isolate the independence movement from the vast majority of the people. He was also a very simple man, who embraced the entire cross-section of Indian society, even the so-called untouchables, to the extent of earning the ire of the elite Brahmin caste. As such, his own person was a concrete mobilizing force to move the Indian people into action and determine their destiny. On the other hand, a minor weakness of his leadership was the seeming personality cult that ensued even years after his death. This is shown by the absence of second-liners to continue his work in building a just and peaceful Indian society. While all the mass actions were joined by Indians from different castes, the focus was always primarily on Gandhi’s thoughts and decisions. Such a personality-based leadership, while effective in inspiring people into action, cannot work in the long-term insofar as empowering the people and sustaining the gains of Indian independence. This is due to the lack of a concrete organizational structure to effectively implement the ideas of Gandhi. Lastly, Mahatma seemed to favor speaking in very mystical and vague language, which tends to confuse his followers as to the exact meaning of what he wants to articulate. Nonetheless, his leadership style was still very effective in mobilizing almost a billion people to demand their independence from the British Empire. Being a charismatic leader, he used his gift of astute yet mystical articulation to convince all sectors of Indian society about the necessity of seeking independence. The clearness of vision and objectives, and the creativity of his means of action of pursuit of these goals, were also indispensable factors of his success in leadership. More so, his propensity for personal sacrifice, at the cost of his life and liberty, in pursuit of his goals are very high on the list of his outstanding leadership qualities. Years of imprisonment and the beatings he received from the British security forces did not deter him from continuing his leadership. This is a crucial part of his leadership style, especially when not many leaders in the world are prepared to do sacrifices like such. Usually, leaders are hidden above their ivory towers and palaces, to the extent of alienating themselves from the people they serve. Gandhi, however, was different, as he was like the common everyman, save that it was his leadership of commitment and sacrifice that helped his people achieve independence. In terms of my own personal leadership style, I accede to the leadership traits of Gandhi, in terms of his clarity of vision and propensity for sacrifice. In any organization, these are very fundamental because these will determine how the followers will appreciate their role in the organization. If the vision and goals are clear, the followers can quantitatively measure, in a given amount of time, the progress of the organization and their individual development as well, relative to the vision and objectives. It ensures that the organization does not operate in limbo, without any purpose or necessity of existence. Gandhi’s propensity for sacrifice can also be incorporated in my leadership style. It is important for followers to see and realize that the leader himself is willing to lay himself on the line in pursuit of the vision and goals of the organization. Such a leadership trait reassures the followers that the leader is serious about the success and development of the organization and dismantles notions that the leader’s only interest is to make his people follow orders and deliver results. However, my leadership style differs with Gandhi insofar as adopting a pragmatic and realistic view on plans and actions. I would accede more, in this regard, to the Leninist maxim of â€Å"concrete analysis of concrete conditions†, instead of the Gandhian mode of relying heavily on a notion of non-violence in the face of difficult odds, as I still contend that the success of Gandhi and his movement was also based on external factors (e.g. British losses after World War II) than his non-violence alone. I even surmise that without the world wars and the decline of the British Empire, his non-violent movement would never have been successful. Nonetheless, the above mentioned leadership traits of Gandhi are included in my notion of the ideal leader – clarity of vision and goals, and propensity for sacrifice. In analyzing situations and challenges, and making decisions, it must include the Leninist maxim of â€Å"concrete analysis of concrete conditions†, without, of course, prejudicing the principles and objectives inherent in the organization. A leader must always seek to create candor and camaraderie among his followers, to drive home the point that no unseen barrier exists between them. More importantly, the leader must always seek ways of empowering his people and training new second liners, based on the idea that leaders, no matter how great they are, will always have to step down and be replaced by new blood. If possible, the leader must shun micro-managing the affairs of the organization, especially when competent persons have been assigned to ensure the success of projects and goals. However, while being democratic and consultative as possible, the leader must exercise full control of the more important decisions of the organization, based on the notion that his experience and vision will always be beneficial for the future of the organization. Works Cited: 1. Gandhi, M. (1962). Essential Gandhi. Edited by Louis Fischer. New York: Vintage   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Books.

Mad Blood Stirring: Vendetta in Renaissance Italy Essay

Written by Edward Muir, this powerful microhistory analyses the events during 1511 in the town of Friuli, Italy at the time of the carnival. Muir’s thesis for his book, Mad Blood Stirring comes together in separate parts throughout his introduction. Firstly, Muir attempts to establish the importance of the Venetian rule over the province and people of Friuli and its capital city, Udine. Due to its geographical location, this part of Italy was essential to the country to protect due to risk of invasion and trading posts. Muir emphasises Friuli’s larger place in the politics of Italy, as well as an important part of the European principalities developed in the early modern period. The population of Friuli faced many obstacles in their daily life, such as the Venetian wartime taxation, oppression from local lords, the strain of a mixed group of people, as well as a broad financial decline. During this time Friuli became the birthplace of the type of feud known as the vendetta, which involved a blood feud between families or factions. Particularly in Friuli politics were divided between the two major family factions of the Savorgnan family and the Della Torre family. With all these different factors contributing to the wide scale outbreak of violence, Muir takes them all into consideration while conducting a systematic analysis of the social structure, economy, institutional and political history, and particularly the riot at the carnival of 1511. Overall, Muir sets out to answer the question of why the carnival was so explosive and what caused its events to be so cruel and revolting. Muir’s microhistory looks at many broad themes in its mission to examine the role of vendetta and factions in Italian and family politics, contributing to peasant revolt, the nature of the culture of population within the state and the incidents at the Carnival. To begin, Muir offers an anaylsis of the change in aristocratic behaviour from widespread uncontrolled violence to controlled duels subjecting only the two participants in harm. Next Muir attempts to explain the new workings in which Venice ruled its subject provinces such as Friuli. Also contributing to the peasants distress was the Italian wars involving imperial forces threatening to invade Friuli. Muir finally forms an understanding of the peasants revolts who wished to destroy the records of their debt and gain control over their own local affairs. By using historical methods such as narrative, social history and even anthropology in attempts to gain a â€Å"keener sense of how vendetta operated in Renaissance Italy, how factions dominated political life and how contemporaries understood their own violence† (p.12) Because of the important role vendettas have during the Renaissance in both city and family politics they appeared to be the most logical solution to failed political institutions. Muir uncovers underlying connections between the theme of the carnival, vendetta rituals and hunting traditions. Muir states the idea that the carnival massacre was the defining moment where the people of Friuli moved from the mentality of vendetta towards that of funnelled expression of anger in the form of duels. The wide range of sources used by Muir dates back to the Iliad and references feuds in the nineteenth and twentieth century, however he is always able to connect them to his Friuli situation. An important factor in analyzing Mad Blood Stirring is how the observers and participants retold their story in both written and oral history. By using a wide range of sources which mention the type of life the peasants and aristocrats were living, Muir is able to paint a colourful picture of the type of poverty and hard times many were experiencing. In Muir’s analysis of the Friulian social and political structures and their indifferences while in vendetta is based largely on the most recently available Italian historians as well as some primary sources. Through the use of his sources he is able to show that the Savorgnan taking on the duty of protecting the peasant population in Udine and attempting to build the relationship with Venice instead of diminishing it like their enemies. Although the author tries notably to give as much evidence as possible to bring forward connections regarding the carnival and the larger concept of the massacre, Muir fails to bring forward an example of who normally organizes carnivals and what carnivals are generally like in Udine. In order to consciously recognize this carnival as one that went horribly wrong, an comparison between two would make a far better justification as to why this carnival was so notable. In another example of Muir failing to fully justify his thesis, he states the carnival was one of the main instigators of the massacre in 1511, however his evidence to support this claim is very thin and questionable. Although Muir is excellent in his collection of sources, when it comes to simplifications he sometimes uses to broad of a source. This leaves Muir’s claim that the pattern of killing evolved out of the carnival itself appearing not completely proven. Like almost every piece of historical work, Muir’s book has room for debate, questions and more answers.

Conductimetric Titration and Gravimetric Determination of a Precipitate Essay

Abstract: This experiment demonstrated that by titrating barium hydroxide, Ba(OH)2 solution with a sulfuric acid, .1 M H2SO4 solution the point of equivalence can be obtained. Since they were ionic compounds, then the lowest conductivity reading was the point of equivalence because at that reading they were both at a non-ionic state since all their ions have been completely reacted. A first when the H2SO4 was added the conductivity was high, 17.8 umho, then as more H2SO4 was added it went to its lowest, 5.3 umho. The subsequent adding of more H2SO4 caused the conductivity to go again to a new peak, 10.3 umho, this was followed by another decrease in conductivity to 8.9 umho, from then on, as more H2SO4 was added the conductivity increased continuously until the end of the experiment. The tabulated resulted graph and the graph displayed on the pH sensor were quite different, wherein by tabulation the lowest was 5.3 umho, while the pH sensor graph had its lowest way below 5.3 umho. The refore, there was an error; it could be that the solution was not properly mixed during titration. There was only enough time for one trial. From calculation, the molarity of the Ba(OH)2 between 0.45-0.54 molarity when the conductivity was between 8.9 umho and 9.3 umho respectively. The molarity of the Ba(OH)2 should be the same as the H2SO4 which was .1 M. Introduction: The experiment was to demonstrate how to find the concentration of Ba(OH)2 needed to react with .1 M H2SO4; thus conductimetric titration was used. The theory is that during titration as the solutions react the ions in both solutions cause the conductance of electricity. When the reaction stops, meaning that all the ions have been removed from the reactants then the conduction would be at the lowest point. That is the point of equivalence wherein the ratios of both solutions are the same. In this case both would be 0.1 molar. From then on, any more addition of the .1 M H2SO4 would cause an increase of conductance because of the added ions. Result: There was only enough time for one trial. The graph below shows the theoretical result which was different from the displayed result. Sample calculation: 4 x 106 /8.9 = .45 x 106 M Ba(OH)2. Materials: Labpro or CBL 2 interface Conductivity probe Ring stand 250mL beaker Magnetic stirrer Stinning bar Filter paper- fine drade Filter funnel 10 mL pipet Pipet bulb and pump Ba(OH)2 solution .1 M H2SO4 distilled water 50mL buret Buret clamp 50 mL graduated cylinder Utility clamp Discussion: Earlier in the experiment as the 0.1 M H2SO4 was being added the displayed graph showed a faulty result because the ionization data was collected too early before all the ions had been removed, thus there was a misleading result that the point of equivalent was reached. Later as more of the acid was added the true point of equivalence was found, which was 8.9 umho. If there was enough time then the experiment could be redone; in a more timely fashion. Could it be that the experiment was prearranged to give a faulty result just for a learning experience? Conclusion: Conductivty titration is another method that can be used to find the concentration of an unknown solution, albeit that the experimenter must be patient so that the ionization results can be had at the equimolar concentration of both solutions. The error was evident because the acid was 0.1 M H2SO4, thus according to the readings, with 1 mL of 0.1 M H2SO4 and at 5.3 umho, that should have been the point of equivalence, meaning that at 1 mL of 0.1 M H2SO4 both substances would be equimolar, but that was not the case. Equimolarity was achieved at 4 mL of 0.1 M H2SO4 with the conductivity is 8.9 umho as displayed on the pH sensor graph.

The various forms of market structure Research Paper

The various forms of market structure - Research Paper Example In many cases, there can be the entry of an alike product but the title of the product and the packaging styles would have set the original product a way long higher than the reach of new comers. Ammunition suppliers and nuclear dealers are examples of monopoly in every country. ‘Microsoft’ is the largest name in monopoly of computer science and services. Italian and Indian governments have their monopoly in tobacco products. Mostly all the narcotic drug deals are associated with certain government monopolies. Railways of India and Russia and many high-end road tracks are now monopolies of concerned governments. In all these cases, one perfect seller is found to have the authority to occupy and decide on the sales of the product. Thus it seals the possibility of any competitive entry. Oligopoly is an inter-related marketing system maintained by a group of sellers of the same product or service (ibid: 178). Oligopoly frames a formal agreement among the members of the group in order to regulate the decisions regarding production and supply of product under trade in such way that each member is equally benefited from the market share. This system facilitates clear awareness of each member about what is going around with other members. The strategies and decisions are commonly taken for profit maximization conditions. The oligopoly is formed by high end sellers of the same product; therefore their union restricts the entry of infant sellers in the market. Interdependence, product differentiation and perfect knowledge are added advantages of an oligopoly. Almost all the large enterprises operating for product sales and consumer services are associates of oligopolies. Petroleum products, airlines and telecommunication services are examples of oligopolies. Verizon, AT&T Sprint Nextel, and T-Mobile are cellular giants of American oligopoly. While OPEC is the largest holder of petroleum products,

The End of American Exceptionalism Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The End of American Exceptionalism - Assignment Example However, Woods tainted his reputation and that of his country despite the global respect that he had attained over time in his career. This had a major effect of undermining the historical American exceptionalism that had put the nation at a superior level in the face of the global nations (LeVine, 2009). As an indirect technical rejoinder, Obama proves to the world that America still owns its superpowers. He delivers a powerful speech to the world that shifts the global attention from the tainted side of America to a more convincing side of the same. However, either through America’s leadership history or Woods’ misdeeds, the brand that America has boasted about long is under threat (Beinar, 2014). Like Obama, Woods humbly accepts his mistakes and expresses willingness to change and restore their country’s reputation. Obama who is a victim of the mistakes made by his predecessors openly accepts the nation's failures attributed to historical mistakes. This is so despite the fact that he may not mention or wish to know the how, where and when the misdeeds caused by his predecessors came about. On his part, Woods accepts his mistakes and he pretty understands how his wrong deeds served to tarnish the nation’s image. Both Woods and Obama intercept at the point that mistakes recognized and accepted, preserve and or restores America’s national brand despite the fact that challenging the costs and justification for such mistakes may not be possible (LeVine, 2009). Obama understands very well what the repercussions for mentioning and detailing the mistakes would be felt severely by the U.S. Mentioning what exactly transpired during the past regimes, even if he knew a million about them, would threaten the country’s reputation and international pride. The world views America as a powerful and autonomous nation that wields a vast socio-economic command over other nations in the world... However, Obama understands that when the past mistakes, injustices and constraints of the predecessors were to be unearthed in details, the nation could lose considerable amounts of power and command in the socio-economic aspect.  Ã‚  

Good Will Hunting and Cognitive Therapy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Good Will Hunting and Cognitive Therapy - Essay Example This avoidance again reinforces his negative thinking and strengthens his fears, and eventually the fear becomes a permanent part of his thoughts, emotions and behavior which increases his social and personal problems (Wright, Basco & Thae, 2006, p.4). The movie ‘Good Will Hunting’ is about a young man, who, because of his painful and lonely past, refuses to face the fears which are buried deep inside him, and how a psychology professor, Sean, helps him to deal with his fears by revealing his fears which are hidden under the mask of confident personality. 1) Professor Sean takes Will to a park and talks about Will’s behavior pattern. He says that by portraying a confident, knowledgeable and strong personality, he stops others from looking deep into the ‘real’ person. He tells Will that his lonely life and painful past affects him and the inferior complex that he has about his personal life keeps him from making new friends. Sean says that the fear of new life and social challenges has kept him from going out of Boston. However, to hide this fear and inferior complex, he uses his intellectual abilities to impress people and tries to show as if he does not think that people are capable of understanding him. 2) In one of the sessions, Will tells Sean that he is dating a girl. When asked if he called her again, Will tells Sean that he is in no hurry as he thinks that she is interesting as long he does not get close to her. He assumes that she might not be as smart as he is and hence, does not want to get disappointed by knowing her. However, Sean makes Will realize

The Quality Caring Model of Nursing Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The Quality Caring Model of Nursing - Term Paper Example It is not difficult to imagine that an uncaring hospital staff and bureaucracy lead to an enhanced potential for medical errors and other dysfunctions. When the perception exists that the staff is simply doing the job, that they have become hardened to the suffering around them, and that each patient that enters their doors is simply a number and a disease, the consequences to patients’ morale could be as damaging as delivering the wrong dosage of morphine. Here, the prospect exists of elevated stress levels, pain or discomfort that may go ignored, and general disappointment and/or dissatisfaction. It is a noteworthy issue in the sense that not only could patients’ medical outcomes be negatively impacted, but also, even from the most pragmatic and cynical perspective, extremely dissatisfied patients – even when they do recover – may lead to a bad reputation of the hospital, which could impact potential donations. Even if serious complications do not occur, inconsistent or inattentive medical staff and procedures can also delay healing and recovery, and this can create a financial burden for the patient and increase the risk of nosocomial infections through extended hospital stays, if surgery and healing are not expedited with efficiency. Thus, the issue of caring in nursing is not only a matter of bolstering spirits but also a matter of added medical burdens that can be avoided by the staff which is deeply passionate both about the job and the patients’ health.... On the one hand, some level of detachment is a necessity in the medical field. Excessive emotional investment in any particular patient could compromise judgment or debilitate the healthcare provider if that patient should in fact perish or take a turn for the worst despite the implementation of all appropriate procedural measures. There is always another patient, so doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals would be doing a disservice to other patients if the previous one consumed too much of their attention and emotion. Yet detachment is also an enemy promoting the carelessness described above, making the patient feel uncared for and unappreciated, and enhancing the statistical likelihood of a medical error. Thus, there must be a corporate culture that institutes an appropriate level of attention and compassion in the implementation and management of medicine. It is a standard to teach nurses and doctors to 'care', but with the constant demands of a large hospital, with an e ndless patient-after-patient time consuming process and a great deal to be accomplished independently, the reality rarely lives up to the rhetoric. Time constraints in a large setting also limit the prospect of getting to know a particular patient on an individual basis. Bereft of the potential for attachment, one is easily dehumanized. Thus, a balance must be sought between an emotional entanglement, especially in terminal patients that can emotionally damage doctors or nurses, and a laissez-faire factory farm attitude where no outcome has any emotional impact, leading to frequent mistakes and a clear perception of indifference on part of the patients, enhancing the negative

Buddhism healthcare Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Buddhism healthcare - Essay Example Buddhist rituls usully consist of thr min lmnts: rcittion, chnting nd th mking of offrings. Th vrss rcitd r usully ssocitd with th principl tnts nd idls of Buddhism; ND thy giv xprssion to th spiritul spirtion which mks somon Buddhist. Buddhists usully chnt in ithr Pli or Snskrit (two ncint Indin lngugs) nd chnting is wy of forging n motionl connction with motionl Buddhist idls. Somtims Buddhists chnt mntrs, Snskrit phrss which r blivd to b th vrbl xprssions of nlightnmnt. Offrings usully consist of flowrs, symbolising both buty nd imprmnnc; cndls, symbolising th rdinc of nlightnmnt; nd incns which prvds th ir in th sm wy tht th truth s xprincd by th Buddh prvds th univrs (Boorstin, 2001). Th cor thicl cod of Buddhism is known s th fiv prcpts, nd ths r th distilltion of its thicl principls. Th prcpts r not ruls or commndmnts, but 'principls of trining', which r undrtkn frly nd nd to b put into prctic with intllignc nd snsitivity. Th Buddhist trdition cknowldgs tht lif is complx nd throws up mny difficultis, nd it dos not suggst tht thr is singl cours of ction tht will b right in ll circumstncs. Indd, rthr thn spking of ctions bing right or wrong, Buddhism spks of th bing skilful (kusl) or unskilful (kusl) (Twd, 2000). 1. Not killing or cusing hrm to othr living bings.

Suggest one Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Suggest one - Essay Example The challenges such that LTE devices faces are called VoWLAN. These include the quality of service security challenges. The paper will also discuss various Cloud-RAN technologies which have been applied to solve these issues. LTE ISSUES There are three key issues that the devices using LTE technology faces. These include packet loss, delay, jitter and the issues with the original wireless security standards. Packet loss It has been realized that the number of packets that reaches the destination is always less that the number of packets that were sent. This implies that some packets are lost along the network. The loss are attributed to two major ways. The first is through network packet loss as a result of overflow in the router buffer, transmission error, rerouting and link failures. The other packet loss is as a result of excessive delay (Guan Kolding, & Merz 2010). Delay The time that packets take from the source to the destination is a critical factor. The delay originates from different points such as at the receiver, at the network or at the source. The delay that occurring in either the source or the receiver result from coding such at the transformation of a signal from digital to analogue or from analogue to digital (Lorca & Cucala 2013). The delay also accrues as a result of packetization while the transmission, propagation or queuing causes network delay Jitter Jitter is the difference in the time taken by a packet to reach the destination. This issue is very common and the only way to handle it is to use a jet-buffer that contains both dynamic software base and the hardware. However, the implementation of jet-buffer should be done with intense care as it can cause other delays such as memory over-flows (Fletcher, 2009). Initial IEEE 802.11 MAC layer The original MAC layer used by IEEE 802.11 does not incorporate applications to support voice data especially its sensitivity to delay jitter. This is because the ordinary MAC layer utilizes DCF and PCF to allocate the medium. DCT depends on Carrier Sense Multiple Access with collision avoidance. This property as far as sharing the medium among station is optional in 802.11 RTS/CTS. The issue with DCF is the delay since the packets will wait until the medium is free in case there is a collision. Such an incident causes delay since the bandwidth is wasted. This is basically because of absence of Quality of service priority and guarantee for traffic such as data and voice. In addition, when a node detects that the medium is free and start to communicate; all the others have to wait until the communicating node frees the medium (Guan, Kolding, & Merz, 2010). PCF is mostly prominent in LTE since it is optional and only uses the infrastructure setups which are linked by a single access point. Cloud –RAN capabilities With the rising need for high data speed, the existing technologies and infrastructure can no longer provide the required performance at a cost effective level. The current radio access network should be very flexible and able to support various technological standards. It should also be cost effective and simple to upgrade. Cloud-RAN has proved to be the solution to all the issues in the LTE (Chang 2013). Cloud-RAN is a modern RAN topology that solves the issues present in the previous technologies. In C-RAN configuration, the baseband processing units are concentrated in a single base

Cultural Investigation Essay Example for Free

Cultural Investigation Essay The paper will discuss the main aspect of a Comanche and what their culture is like. The paper encapsulates an interview from such a Native American and this interview will be analyzed with the help of other sources from the Internet. The paper will be followed by first introducing the Comanche tribe with their features and then go about analyzing the interview. The culture of the Comanche will be discussed in the light of how they treat their elders, children and their relatives. The culture also includes some of their important aspects of religion along with the language that they use. The paper will attempt to cover the overall aspect of the Comanche and their effect in the society. Introduction to a Comanche â€Å"The Comanche are a Native American group whose historical range (the Comancheria) consisted of present-day Eastern New Mexico, Southern Colorado, Southern Kansas, all of Oklahoma, and most of Northern and Southern Texas. There might once have been as many as 20,000 Comanches. Today, the Comanche Nation consists of approximately 10,000 members, about half of whom live in Oklahoma (centered at Lawton), with the remainder concentrated in Texas, California, and New Mexico. † (Wikipedia, 2006 ) From the above definition it can be understood that the Comanches are very old inhabitants of the United States of America and have long lived there. There are a number of reasons why the Comanches had left their older origin which is near Wyoming. The tribe had shifted to Arkansas where they are now inhabited. The reason why the Comanche is given a name like that is because it is believed that they like to fight and act as strangers to the other people. The origin of Comanche comes from a Spanish word and this is why it is used. They have always been a separate group and have not mingled much with the other tribes and other citizens of the country. Interview of a Comanche The name of the interviewee was Andrea Pahdocony who belongs to a tribe called Comanche of Oklahoma Lord of the Plains). The following questions and answers provide a summary of what their culture is like and how they live their lives. The questions and answers will then be analyzed along with other material to understand what their culture and beliefs are along with their values.

Reflect on the physical and social factors of vulnerability

Reflect on the physical and social factors of vulnerability I have recently undertaken a student nurse placement in a community hospital in North Wales. I was mainly employed on the care of the older person ward. This ward dealt with older people awaiting or recovering from surgery or awaiting re-housing into care facilities or their own modified house. Many of the patients could be considered vulnerable. Normal aging, illness and life experiences had increased the vulnerability of many of the patients and the coping skills of many had been severely diminished. In this essay, I will examine one of the patients I came into contact with regularly. In accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Code of Conduct (NMC 2008) all names and placement details will be concealed, and I will refer to the patient as Mr. A at all times. I will discuss Mr. As medical conditions and how and why these medical conditions have led Mr. A to be regarded as vulnerable, covering physical, social, psychological and environmental factors. Mr. A was a 67 year old gentleman who was morbidly obese. He had a BMI of over 40  kg/m2 and was bed bound. He also suffered with Aspergers Syndrome which is a type of autism mainly affecting social and communication skills. Both of these in addition with being an older person would have led to him to be vulnerable in various aspects. Vulnerability  is the susceptibility to physical or emotional injury or attack. Vulnerability refers to a persons state of being liable to succumb to  manipulation,  persuasion  or  temptation. (Bankoff, et al. 2004). A vulnerable adult is one who due to Age, Physical injury, Disability, Disease or Emotional or Developmental disorders is unlikely to be able to provide for their own basic necessities of life; they may also have an increased risk of harm or injury. This would include, but is not necessarily limited to adults who reside in long-term care facilities such as nursing homes, adult family homes, boarding homes, assisted living facilities or those who receive health care or other assistance in providing for the basic necessities of life while residing in their own home. Roper, Logan and Tierney(1980) published a nursing model outlining 12 activities of daily living that are crucial to a person basic needs, some of which are essential such as breathing, eating and drinking and others which enhance the quality of life such as work and play and expressing sexuality. When an individual becomes old, frail, ill and immobile they may be dependent on others to help them with the 12 ADLs. This can result in people feeling vulnerable. Fernandez LS et al (2002) states that impaired physical mobility, diminished sensory awareness, chronic health conditions, and social and economic limitations can result in vulnerability of the elderly to disasters such as falls or accidents. Frail elderly with serious physical, cognitive, economic, and psycho-social problems are at especially high risk. Mr. A was 67 and according to the Geriatric Pharmacology Research Group in Newcastle upon Tyne, The frail elderly are individuals, over 65 years of age, dependent on others for activities of daily living, and often in institutional care. As with Mr. A, he was 67 years old and was reliant on carers for many if not all of the Activities of Daily Living. He was also in institutional care for pressure sores. Due to all of these points Mr. A would be classed as frail elderly. Mr As problem with weight was the main cause of his hospitalisation, he stated he had weight consistently put on more and more weight over the years. He felt very responsible for his weight gain but was reluctant to do anything about it even though he was classed as morbidly obese. Obesity  is a  medical condition  in which excess  body fat  has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced  life expectancy  and/or increased health problems.  Body mass index  (BMI), a measurement which compares  weight  and height, defines people as  overweight  when their BMI is between 25  kg/m2  and 30  kg/m2, and obese when it is greater than 30  kg/m2. Mr. As obesity led him to be largely bedbound and incapable of maintaining his health, his home or personal hygiene. When Mr A was living in his own home district nurses would regularly come in to tend to his pressure sores. Pressure sores are  lesions  to the skin caused by many factors such as unrelieved  pressure and friction. These pressure sores were the result of Mr A being unable to move so constantly having to stay in the same position and thus having unrelieved pressure on different parts of his body. As Mr. A was bedbound he could not tend to his own housekeeping and his house became so untidy the district nurses found it too hard care for him in the chaotic surroundings so referred him to a community hospital. While he was in a community hospital a council funded cleaning team organized his house in order for him to be discharged back to a manageable house. Another reason that district nurses were finding Mr. A hard to manage was that he suffered from Aspergers Syndrome and would often be aggressive with the district nurses. Aspergers syndrome  is a type of autism that is characterized by difficulties in social interaction, along with restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviour and interests. It differs from other autisms as sufferers linguistic  and  cognitive development are often fine and develop well. The exact  cause of Aspergers  is unknown.  There is no single treatment but interventions are used to improve sufferers symptoms and functions. The main treatment used is  behavioural therapy, focusing on the specific insufficiency of the patient. These tend to consist of poor communication skills, obsessive or repetitive routines, and physical clumsiness.  Most individuals improve over time, but difficulties with communication, social adjustment and  independent living  can exist and continue into adulthood.  Some people with Aspergers syndrome may become angry and aggressive, either to themselves or to other people. Sometimes when a person with Aspergers feels angry, they cannot easily pause and think of alternative strategies to resolve the situation. The rapidity and intensity of anger, often in response to a relatively trivial event, can be extreme and can get so intense, they may go into a blind rage and unable to see the signals indicating that it would be appropriate to stop. (Attwood, 2006). At the community hospital Mr. A would often get aggressive or rude when more than one nurse would be in the room. If he felt he wasnt being listened to not being involved enough he would become very agitated and start shouting. The nurses took this into account and made sure Mr. A was involved at all times with anything going on in his room. I feel this condition may have led Mr. A to inadvertently isolate himself from people and people to him. When people do not understand something they can take a negative approach to it. Mr. As outbursts would have offended some people and cause them to detach themselves. This would quite possibly be due to the fact they did not understand or know about the condition and fear of the unknown leads to negativity in some cases. (Campbell, 2006) A person who is vulnerable to isolation or social pressure may be considered as suffering from social vulnerability. When people become isolated due to illness or reduced mobility they may find it difficult to access essential services. Mr. A had a job translating books from various foreign languages into English. He did this from his laptop every day and when he was transferred to hospital he left his laptop at home. This made his feel low all the time as he said he had no purpose to his day. The nursing staff through Multi Disciplinary Team meetings reviewed his situation and decided to let him have his laptop delivered to the hospital along with internet connection and had his mail transferred, this all to allow him to continue to work which elevated his mood greatly for the remainder of his stay. He reported he was much happier at the community hospital now that he could continue with his day to day life. Mr. A also said he felt isolated due to his obesity. As people age, they often become more vulnerable, their social circumstances particularly impact their health. As with Mr A, due to his obesity he was confined to his bed and this impacted on his social circumstances. It limited anything he wanted to do socially, for example, he could not venture out of the house, and could only find small ways of interacting with society. One of these ways was through his online job; this allowed him to interact through the internet without having to leave his bed. This had both a positive and negative side. Although it allowed Mr. A to interact with people, all be it virtually, which was important in developing his social skills it did however mean he did not have to move and so made little effort in changing his lifestyle. Mr. As lifestyle choices were undoubtedly the main cause of his hospitalization. He refused to try to diet at the hospital and stated he had always been this way, never wanting to diet. Family members would bring in unhealthy food for him; they were advised against doing this but made no attempt to stop. A dietician came to evaluate Mr. A and a plan was made but not stuck to by Mr. A. He was also offered physiotherapy in the form of help to start doing small movements with his arms and legs daily but he declined. This weight problem made him vulnerable to all sorts of illnesses; one in particular that was being managed at the hospital was his pressure sores. In hospital a special bed was required to accommodate his weight and relieve his pressure sores, along with bariatric chairs, wheelchairs and hoists. Mr. As weight and inability to move made him physically vulnerable. Many of the elderly are admitted to hospital due to something caused by a physical vulnerability. A physical vulnerability is when a person has an increased risk of injury. E.g. easily brakes bones, has reduced strength, reduced movement or dexterity. Many of the patients in the community hospital were there as a result of such vulnerability and had suffered injuries resulting from falls. Some had reduced mobility which meant they needed assistance in performing one or more daily tasks such as getting in and out of bed, preparing meals and eating them, doing housework, dressing, and performing personal hygiene. According to Holden and Smeeding sixteen percent of the elderly need help with at least one of these conditions. Elderly persons subject to two or more of the five they deemed insecure; those facing three or more were considered extremely insecure. Those people who are totally dependent on social services for survival are already economically and socially marginalized and require additional support at all times. Mr. A needed help with all physical activities, he was washed, dressed, fed, and cared for all by nurses and carers. He stated that because he could not do anything for himself he had no quality of life in the community hospital and although he was bedbound at home as well, he did have home comforts and had developed methods of reaching things he needed and wanted, such as a pik-stick. These new surroundings may have made Mr. A feel environmentally Vulnerable. Environmental vulnerability is when a person suffers reduced quality of life caused by external conditions and surroundings. The transfer to the community hospital was a major change of environment for Mr. A as he had to get used to new surroundings, new methods, and new people and as he has limited movement he stated he all the new goings on made him feel rather helpless as all he could do was press the bell and wait if he needed something. This was understandable and it was explained to Mr A in great detail the goings on, routines and layout of the hospital to try and overcome his worries. Brubaker (1987) tells of how having a major lifestyle change such as having to come to hospital for a long period of time can make the patient feel as though there dignity is being taken away from them. This was noticeable with Mr. A. When he was first admitted to hospital, he resisted being washed on many occasion. This may have been due to there being many new nurses and carers that he was not used to. He may have felt shy and undignified having to be washed in his hospital bed my many different workers. This was overcome by making sure his door was always closed, windows and curtains shut, nurses and carers would also introduce themselves, ask for consent and talk Mr. A through the procedure, all in order to make him feel more comfortable. This seemed to cease his worries and he started to allow the staff to wash him on a daily basis. One major concern of Mr. As was the time it took from when he pressed the bell in the hospital or the emergency bell in his house to the time a nurse or carer got to him. He would panic during this period and this impacted greatly on his psychological well being leaving him psychologically vulnerable. Psychological Vulnerability is when someone is vulnerable to emotional or behavioural harm. While Mr. A was in the community hospital calming and relaxation techniques were taught to him to try and overcome his anxiety. He was taught deep breathing techniques and stated he found this particularly beneficial. Every time he started to feel anxious and worried he could now use these new techniques which take his mind of the worry and keep him calm. While I was working at the hospital I saw a huge change in Mr. As behaviour in terms of anxiety. He became much less aggressive when having to wait for a nurse.   There were many elderly residents at the community hospital that suffered many different types of psychological vulnerability. Many of the frail elderly who had suffered falls lost their confidence completely. One female patient told me that she did not want to go home as she did not feel she could cope. She did not feel safe in her home but would not want to move to a residential home. This must be a very distressing time and it is hard to reassure patients in this mind set. Through the MDT meetings it was decided that Mr. A would have to go to a residential home as it would not be safe for him to go home. Mr. A felt he would not enjoy being in residential and was completely opposed to the idea. However, three workers from the residential home came to speak to Mr. A, he was taken to view the residential home and his room, the Doctors and Nurses at the community hospital spoke to Mr. A at length and gave him time to voice his questions and concerns. With time Mr. A seemed to come around to the idea and realise it was the best option for him and by the end of my student placement Mr. A told me he was looking forward to moving out of the community hospital and into the residential home. I have outlined Mr. As conditions and how he was affected by physical, psychological, sociological and environmental vulnerability. Over the seven weeks I was in the community hospital alot was done to conquer Mr As vulnerability and re-merge him into society. Community hospitals are designed to reduce the risks to people who are vulnerable to social, physical, environmental and psychological injury. Hospitals have special floors, showers, seats and beds. They have controlled heating, lighting, diets, they encourage interaction between patients and with visitors (at certain times during the day) thus reducing social isolation. Highly trained staff monitor and review patients regularly to ensure they are receiving the best care and the support needed to leave hospital and to prevent their return. This all minimises the risk of patients feeling vulnerable and helps them to have a fast recovery and rehabilitation.

Discovering a Culture through Magical Realism Essay -- Literature Essa

Discovering a Culture through Magical Realism      Ã‚   Every culture has a memorable type of literature. When one thinks of English literature, one thinks of William Shakespeare or Charles Dickens. The American writers Thoreau, Clemens, and Emerson bring to mind the days when America was still proving herself to be equal to the European countries. France had her own artists, such as Voltaire and Hugo, as did Spain with Cervantes and Dante. However, when one thinks of Latin America, what writers come to mind? Very few of these authors are as well known as those mentioned. However, through the concept of a previously unknown literature, the world is viewing Latin America in a new light. Magical Realism seems to have flourished in the warm, tropical climate and has bloomed so beautifully that scholars are at a loss to fully explain this concept and where it originated. Many opinions exist as to the true origins of Magical Realism. Flores has claimed that Borges, with his accomplished writings, began the movement. Flores also believes The Metamorphosis, written by Kafka, greatly influenced Borges, while other theories support Franz Roh as the source of this new movement. It seems the phrase was first coined by Roh while describing a new method of artwork in the 1920’s. This new artwork combined reality with a small addition of a nonrealistic aspect. For the most part, the general idea follows the theory of Roh’s creation. Each culture carves its own notch in the world of literature. America had to create her own new world of literature and still was criticized for not being like the other countries. It seems that when something is different, it is outcast and criticized to a much larger extent than should be. This situation... ... actually originated. The allure of this literature and the controversy concerning it will keep it on a steady rise in popularity through changing times because it is capable of change itself. Magical Realism reminds one of the beauty and the magic that can be found in everyday life. Works Cited Flores, Angel. â€Å"Magical Realism in Spanish American Fiction.† Magical Realism: Theory, History, Community. Ed. Lois Parkinson Zamora and Wendy B. Faris. Durham, N.C.: Duke UP, 1995: 109-117. Leal, Luis. â€Å"Magical Realism in Spanish American Literature.† Magical Realism: Theory, History, Community. Ed. Lois Parkinson Zamora and Wendy B. Faris. Durham, N.C.: Duke UP, 1995: 119-124. Roh, Franz. â€Å"Magical Realism: Post-Expressionism.† Magical Realism: Theory, History, Community. Ed. Lois Parkinson Zamora and Wendy B. Faris. Durham, N.C.: Duke UP, 1995: 15-31   

The Country of Iraq Essay -- Research Iraq Essays Papers

The Country of Iraq   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The country of Iraq has weathered many hardships over the past few decades. An eight-year war over territory with Iran began in 1980. Soon after, in 1990, Iraq invaded the country of Kuwait, which led to the Gulf War. Then, after twelve years of not complying with the UN Security Council over weapons of mass destruction, Iraq was invaded by the United States in March of 2003.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A consequence of Iraq's rocky past is an unstable government. Several countries, including the U.S. are currently providing aid to help the rebuilding effort. Some efforts include strengthening school, healthcare, and law enforcement systems with education and reconstruction. Recent government changes for Iraq include a new flag and new currency. The new flag has a blue crescent moon in the center and is white with one yellow and two blue strips at the bottom. The new currency is called the New Iraqi Dinar, and it features many new safety features to prevent counterfeiting. There is also currently an interim (temporary) government in Iraq. Elections by the Iraqi people will hopefully occur on the 30th of January this year. If the elections proceed as planned, Iraq will be one step closer to having an independent government.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Though Iraq is in a time of crisis, it is truly an interesting and beautiful country. At twice the size of Idaho, it is the home to about 25,374,691 Iraqis. The primary religion in Iraq is Muslim. Almost 97% of Iraqis are practicing Musli...

Public Art Essay -- Art

Public Art â€Å"Any drawn line that speaks about identity, dignity, and unity is art,† (Chaz Bojorquey) is a statement that I agree with. Art is perceived differently from all people based on their culture, religion, personal taste, and many other factors. I believe that as long as what has been created is meaningful to either the creator or even to somebody that is viewing it, it should be considered art. Art in the public is a very controversial subject that brings up the important question of, â€Å"Should public art be considered as real art,† personally I think that it should be. I believe that the difference between art that is placed in a gallery and art that is visible by a community is the fact that what is acceptable in a gallery is different than what is acceptable on the streets of our communities. When art can and will be viewed by the members of that town, there must be some line that cannot be crossed. There are many aspects that make public art an important addition to our communities, and there are also aspects that may be negative in the eyes of some. My love for art, as a whole, has a large affect on my acceptance of art in the public, but my love does not blind me to the reasoning as to why people may not agree with it. There are many different forms of what is to be considered public art. It can range from sculptors, paintings, murals, mosaics, graffiti, tagging, and even more. Many people often forget about the excitement that art has to offer; the way that it makes people feel is a sensation that can truly not be replaced by any other sight. Having something symbolic and cultural in your community enlightens the people that live there. It is what sets you apart from any other town. For instance it give... ...something that is often under appreciated or forgotten. Having art in the public more may be a large step toward teaching the future generations to appreciate creativity and participate in being creative. If something as simple as ground green marbles in a tar road can take my (a seventeen year old girl) breath away then imagine the reaction that could be expected from art being every where. My biggest fear is art being forgotten and with the beauty it has to offer being around more for everyone to see could eliminate that fear. Public art should be appreciated even though it may not be understood by all. It is a way to bring in tourism, excitement, beauty, creativity, and pure enjoyment to communities. I would like to end my paper with a quote from Pablo Picasso that expresses the way I fell about art, â€Å"Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.†

Gender differences over attraction on Facebook Essay

Internet has for a long time changed the way people communicate. One such internet services are provided by the Facebook. Since its launching in the year 2004, Facebook acts both as a means of communication while at the same time helps to maintain interpersonal relationships between genders. Past analysis show the use of internet to have dominated in one gender, the male, but the recent developments show equality in the male and female internet use. This study analysis the gender differences over attraction on Facebook. Such differences will be based on their differences on the use of Facebook and online relationships forged through the use of Facebook. The paper will also give a future direction on the results and the limitations in the research (Gross, 2004). Introduction There exist a lot of differences in as far as gender is concerned on internet services offered by the varying internet providers. The increased accessibility and the fact that internet services are ever expanding helps to augment the way people communicate. The internet use and the interpersonal relationships create a basis for gender differences on Facebook use. Considering some of the gender differences that exist and the dynamic nature of the Facebook users, it’s imperative to analyze the demographic differences that exist between the genders on such issues as (and not limited to) online relationships (Fallows, 2005). In as far as Facebook is concerned, the differences that exist in the usage or attraction to the services offered range from (and not limited to) chatting, sending mail, educational purposes, creation of ideas, pursuing sexual relationship. This paper carries out an analysis on different journal articles on the Facebook use and then gives a future direction of the topic. Methodology Secondary method of data collection was employed to collect the data for this paper. This is by the use of different journal articles on psychology, addressing the gender differences over attraction on Facebook. Facebook What is Facebook? Social networking website, with a free access, managed and privately possessed by the Facebook, Inc. it enables its users to connect with different networks organized by   (and not limited to) the school, and workplace, among others. It also enables people to add friends, communicate through messages, and update their profiles to provide information to their friends. It was founded by computer science student Mark Zuckerberg, and other students at Harvard University. It’s commenced with its members limited to Harvard students and later expanded to several colleges and universities (Ellison, Steinfeld & Lampe, 2007). It allows users to interact with a number of its features, such as the Wall (for posting messages), Pokes (a virtual poke to the users), Photos (for users to upload albums and photos), and Status (for users to inform their friends on their whereabouts and particular actions). Although Facebook has had a great success in the past, it has also received several challenges and controversy. For instance, it has been banned and blocked by some countries such as Syria and Iran, and its usage banned at different workplace to discourage workers from wasting time while using the service. Its privacy has also been compromised (Ellison, Steinfeld & Lampe, 2007). Literature review This section gives an explanation on the different journals used in writing of this paper. According to Yan (2006), the debates over the extent of gender differences in as far as internet use on Facebook is concerned still exist. The journal continues to explain that the ratio of men to women, who happen use these internet services, are equally distributed, although their activities while online are quite different (Yan, 2006). Golub, Baillie, and Brown (2007), noted that the attraction of women to the internet service was more on a need for a interpersonal communication, that includes, and not limited to chatting and message sending and other educational purposes, while on the other hand, although men enjoyed interpersonal communication, they were more into the different news offered by the internet service such as business news, such as on web page creation, and pursuing sexual relationships (Golub, Baillie, & Brown, 2007). On the other hand, Boneva, Kraut, and Frohlich (2006), in their recent studies indicate that women are more likely to use computer mediated communication that do men. This in other words is to say, women tend to use Facebook communication services for relationship building. Golub, Baillie, and Brown (2007), indicates that there are gender differences in as far as attraction is concerned, and this is attributed to the usage of the Facebook services. For the male, they consider the internet use as a daily activity more than women do. This indicates a gender gap in the internet use in as far as face book is concerned. The journal also indicated that men were more attracted to the use of Facebook messaging as a means to forge relationship more than women, this is because, men prefer to â€Å"date† and communication online than in person. Another difference existed in the state of the relationship especially, whereby; the journal indicates that women take such relationship more seriously than do men (Golub, Baillie, & Brown, 2007). According to Gross (2004), there exist no difference in as far as maintaining existing relationship is concerned via the Facebook. This is to mean that men and women prefer to use the Facebook services for the purposes of communication with their loved one in order to maintain an existing relationship. Lenhart, Madden and Hitlin (2005), indicated that men were more likely to communicate with strangers than women. This is because of the fact that some men would prefer to use the service for short term relationship or to establish a sexual relationship (Lenhart, Madden & Hitlin, 2005). Other reasons included the fact that men would greatly be affected by the physical appearances and therefore preferred this service. The authors also indicate that Facebook internet users from both genders have in the process formed a new relationship; friendly, romantic, and professional. This is attributed to the nature of privacy provided by the messaging services provided by the Facebook (Lenhart, Madden & Hitlin, 2005). On the contrary to the above findings, Fallows (2005) argue that, though internet use has in the past been a male domain, through the introduction of Facebook services, the gender gap in the use of their services have in great way improved. There is a high indication the future growth in the internet use in as far as Facebook is concerned which might tend to increase the gender gap. This is because introduction of such services as games will have a tendency to attract men. News and advertisement will also tend to attract men. Therefore, depending on the face and the services offered by the Facebook, the gender differences will be established (Ellison, Steinfeld & Lampe, 2007). References Ellison, N. B., Steinfeld, C., & Lampe, C. (2007). The benefits of Facebook â€Å"Friends:† Social capital and college students’ use of online social network sites. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 12 (4). Yan, Z. (2006). What influences children’s and adolescents’ understanding of the complexity of the internet? Developmental Psychology, 42(3), 418-428. Fallows, D. (2005). How women and men use the internet. Washington D.C.: Pew internet and American Life Project. Retrieved on 9th march 2009, from: http://www.pewinternet.org. Lenhart, A. Madden, M. & Hitlin, P. (2005). Teens and technology: Youth are leading the transition to a fully wired and mobile nation. Washington D.C.: Pew internet and American Life Project. Retrieved on 9th march 2009 from: http://www.pewinternet.org. Gross, E. F. (2004). Adolescent Internet use: What we expect, what teens report? Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 25(6), 633-649. Boneva, B., Kraut, R., & Frohlich, D. (2006). Using email for personal relationships: The difference gender makes. American Behavioral Scientist, 45(3), 530-549. Golub, Y., Baillie, M. & Brown, M. (2007). Gender Differences in Internet Use and Online Relationships. American journal of psychological research. New York, NY: Brooklyn College. 3(1).

Nutrition And Athletics

Good Nutritional practices play a very critical role in the physical performance of not only human beings but also all living creatures. To excel in any endurance physical activity, all the body systems must perform since the bioenergetics’ functions of the muscles has to be sustained in order to function at peak levels. (Berning, J. and E. Hultman. 1972)Energy providing nutrients, carbohydrates, lipids (which are also known as fats), and proteins provide fuel for the bioenergetics reactions, vitamins and minerals on the other hand speeds up the rate the bioenergetics’ reaction (acts as a catalysts); where water acts as a solvent for all these reactions and also serves as a cooling agents for the body from the heat which is produced by the bioenergetics reactions. (Bobb, A et al. 1969) All these nutrients are needed in appropriate quantities so as to enable the body function efficiently especially during exercise or sport. (Singh,V. N. 1992)Food is the major source of a ll these nutrients although sometimes nutritional supplements are used during critical times especially when a performer needs urgent nourishment either through oral or through introversions (IV) infusion. The gastro intestinal tract (GIT) helps to break down this food into smaller components (digests) so as to ease the process of absorption. The body cells then utilize the absorbed nutrients for all metabolic reactions in the body including energy production. (Asterita M. F, 1986) Studies show that the foods eaten today serves as a body part in the future therefore nutrition is very essential.This paper discusses the dietary requirements of an athlete, especially essential nutrients with regard to their forms, functions, food source, dietary recommendations and deficiency risks. BODY Athletes like all intensive /endurance physical activities is a high energy consuming exercise therefore diet is very critical and very essential for the health and performance of an athlete. However, Nutritional requirements for an athlete vary from one athlete to another depending on the time taken during training and actual performance. (Brouns, F. 1993)The aims of good nutrition in an athlete according to, (Buskirk, E. R 1997) include: o To help the athlete recover from performance or training o To prepare the athlete for performance or training o And to maintain the level of performance or training of an athlete Therefore unless an athlete is well nourished he/she may not exploit his/her full potential. This nutrition involves a balanced diet which is regular and with the required amount of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and water. The individual nutrient requirements and the deficiency side effects include: CarbohydrateCarbohydrate is a very important source for an athlete. It is required to help the athlete sustain the high level of the activity and to prevent muscle cramps and fatigue. (Consolazio, C. F, and H. L. Johnson. 1972). Carbohydrate in the body is s tored in the muscles and the liver as glycogen and these stores must be continuously replenished. (Burke, . L. M, et al. 1991) Research shows that a person can store enough glycogen in the body to help him/her sustain an exercise for a period between 90 minutes to 120 minutes but however taking a diet low in carbohydrates can reduce this time to less than 60 minutes.  (Chen, J . D. 1993)Recommended carbohydrate An athlete is supposed to consume a meal containing between 7-10g of carbohydrates per kilograms, body weight of the individual athletes per day (7-10g/kg/bwt/day) consequently he/she should consume a pre-exercise meal 1-4 hours prior to the event and the meal should contain 1-4g of carbohydrate per kilogram body weight, however if the exercise is prolonged, one has to consume a carbohydrate during the exercise and these should be 30-60 carbohydrate per hour.If the athlete is to participate in frequent activities he/she needs to consume in immediate post –exercise ca rbohydrate which is meant to aid in recovery in readiness for another performance (Bucci . L . 1995). He also says that this meal should contain 50-1000g of carbohydrate after every two hour until the normal meals resume. Signs of inadequate intake according to (Buxbaum, R, and L . J . M icheli) include: o Muscle heaviness o Lack of energy to train o Inability to concentrate for an extended period of time especially during an event o Poor recovery between training sessionsGenerally the carbohydrate requirement for an athlete will depend on the body weight, height, training, regime e. g. (Intensity and duration), Type of training and the gender of the athlete. Protein Requirements Protein is needed by an individual since it is involved in the building and repair of muscles and tissues the red blood cells, hair, finger nails, as well as synthesis of hormones. It is also required so as to reduce chances of development of iron deficiency anemia and improving the healing process incase o f an injury or disease. (American Dietetic Association and Canadian Dietetic Association, 1993).They further say that adolescent and adult athletes require 0. 6-0. 9g of proteins per kilogram per body weight per day (0. 6-0. 9g of protein/kg/bwt/day). During an intensive or enduring exercise energy production takes priority over tissue building however very little proteins is used as fuel when calorie supply is adequate in the body studies reveal that the best nutrients to provide fuel in athletic are carbohydrates and fats but they are inadequate or depleted gluconeogenesis takes place (process of converting non-carbohydrate sources such as Proteins to carbohydrates) to convert proteins in carbohydrates so as to provide energy.Proteins are the major sources of nitrogen in the body and nitrogen wastes produced after protein digestion require a lot of energy to eliminate which may otherwise be used during the event however nitrogen wastes are minimal when carbohydrates are adequate. Vitamins and Minerals. Fats are divided into two classes, first Fat soluble vitamins which include Vitamin A, D, E and K and second water soluble Vitamins which include Vitamin C and B complex vitamins.The body requires all these vitamins in amounts exceeding the recommended Dietary allowances especially in endurance exercises such as athletics but however care should be taken on fat soluble vitamins since if taken excess they may lead to toxicity which is detrimental to the health and eventually performance, but studies have shown that even if vitamins can be taken without conditions they do not contribute directly to the performance of an athlete, however, the reactions which the body uses to provide it with energy are controlled by chemicals which are mostly made up of vitamins and minerals that the body can only obtain from the diet.  (Allan ,J . G ,and K . A ,Overbaugh).Minerals on the other hand are very important in the health and performance of an athlete in that they act as catalysts and hence speeds the rate of reactions of energy provisions in the body. These minerals include calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, sulphur, potassium, sodium and chloride. It is therefore advisable that foods hat are high in vitamins and minerals especially fruits, green leafy vegetables, carrots as well as high biological valve proteins should be high in an athlete’s diet.Fats Fats are important sources of energy in the body. The body stores fat in the adipose tissue and under the skin it is the last to be used by the body incase of starvation or depletion of carbohydrates and fat stores in the body. However, in endurance sports especially athletics, excess body fat will often be detrimental to performance. This is because the increase in fat stores consequently raises the body weight and also the body uses a lot of energy to break down fats into fats acids so that it can be used.  (Chavez A, C et al, 1969)Excess fat in the body is not only caused by consumption of high fat diet but also by consuming large amounts of carbohydrates especially simple and sweet carbohydrates since they cause fat storage. Athletes are advised to consume high complex / high glycemic index carbohydrates since it releases energy slowly to the cells thus there is reduced fat storage. However athletes should eat smaller meals than non-sports people but in frequent intervals. Water Water is a non-calorific food because it does not give any calories to the body but it is extremely necessary.This is because the larger percentage about (60%) of the body is water and even small amounts of dehydration can have major effects on the performance of an individual. (Bobb, A, D . et al 1969) Water helps the body by protecting it against overheating (cools the body) and also as a means (blood) of transport for most substances in the body. Dehydration is very fatal in sports since it leads to reduced ability to exercise in the heat and also reduced mental skills such as concentr ation and decision making.Consumption of water is the key to optimal hydration but fluids such as diluted fluid juice or weak squash drinks after can help optimize hydration. While exercising athletes are often weighed before and after a session so that the fluid that has been lost can be replaced quickly. (Berning. J. R and S . N. Steen. 1991) Conclusion For excellence in exercise and sports, all body system must perform efficiently especially the muscles. This can only be enhanced through good nutritional practices. The body gets all the nutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, lipids/fats, vitamins and minerals) from the food on consumer or nutrient supplements.Athletes require higher amounts of carbohydrates than other nutrients since they are the major sources of energy: however, other nutrients can be converted to carbohydrate through the process of gluconeogenesis incase there is inadequate carbohydrates or there is depletion of carbohydrate in the liver and muscles where it is st ored in the form of glycogen. Water which is defined as a non calorific food is very important in an athlete since the highest percentage of the body is water and even small amounts of dehydration can have significant effects on the performance (both sporting and mental performance).Additionally high fluid levels in the body help to protect it against overheating and also provide the means (blood) of transport for most substances in the body. The body’s digestive system breaks down food into smaller components which are easily absorbed by the body cells and tissues and utilized during an exercise. Diet therefore plays a very important part in the health and performance (both physical and mental performance) of an individual and should be taken seriously.

Counselling Skills Essay

Interviews require the use of skills – for example, careful listening, noting nonverbal cues, monitoring the progress of what a client is saying while participating and taking notes, and require careful planning and preparation. A counselling interview (taken from ICCS Diploma of Counselling Participants’ manual) is structured by a number of phases in the session. They are: * Phase 1- Arrival (5 mins) * Phase 2- Connecting (10 mins) * Phase 3- Exploring the client’s world (30 mins) * Phase 4- Taking action (10 mins) * Phase 5- Closure (5 mins) Communication techniques including counselling micro skills Good communication techniques are imperative to the counselling session. 1) The counsellor aims to get the client to talk freely and openly. Micro skills used: Attending behaviour, such as appropriate eye contact, attentive body language, and communicates genuineness. 2) The counsellor tries to clarify and gather information from the client Micro skills used: Active listening, reflection of content/ paraphrasing to clarify. Use open and closing questions, and summarising to gather more information. Use minimal prompts, encouragers and reflection of feeling. 3) The counsellor offers empathy and understanding to the client and builds rapport, relationship and trust. Micro skills used: Reflection of feeling, warmth, genuineness, respect and congruence. Communication barriers and resolution strategies A communication barrier is anything that prevents one from receiving and understanding the messages others use to convey their ideas, thoughts and information. These barriers may be related to the message, internal barriers related to thoughts and feelings, or external barriers. Internal barriers include: fatigue, disinterest, poor listening skills, past experiences with the client, home or work problems. (QCOSS, 2007) External barriers include: noise and other distractions, unpleasant environment, problems with technology or equipment. (QCOSS, 2007) Skilled listeners attempt to be objective by consciously trying to understand the speaker without letting their personal opinions influence the message of the speaker’s words. They try to understand what the client wants to communicate, not what they want to understand. Effective counsellors will use alternate resolution strategies to overcome barriers, such as interpreter services, communication boards, translating equipment, sign language, and referrals to other professionals if required. Aim of counselling interview The main aim of the counselling relationship is the view to Phase 4- Termination. The counselling interview is to empower the client into making clear decisions, expressing an understanding and non-judgemental observation whilst building a trust relationship, and to assist in goal setting if required. Observational techniques, including facial expressions, non- verbal behaviour, posture and silences. A study by Albert Mehrabian in 1971 provided some interesting information about the relative importance of verbal and non-verbal messages in determining the receiver’s impression of the sender’s emotions. On average, words contribute to 7% of total influence, while tone of voice and visual clues contributed 38% and 55% respectively. (Mehrabian. A, 1971) Gerard Egan defined the acronym SOLER as part of his â€Å"Skilled Helper† staged approach to counselling. It is a non-verbal listening process used in communication. The following was retrieved from Steven Lucas’ (2012) Counselling Central webpage: S: Sitting squarely says â€Å"I’m here with you, I’m available to you.† Turning your body away from another person while you talk to him or her can lessen your degree of contact with that person. If, for any reason, facing the person squarely is too threatening for them, then an angled position may be more helpful. O: Adopt an open posture. Crossed arms and/or crossed legs can be a sign of lessened involvement with or availability to others. An open posture says you are open to the client and what he or she has to say. It is non-defensive in nature. L: It is possible to lean in towards the client. It says, â€Å"I’m with you, I’m interested in you and what you have to say.† Leaning back can suggest the opposite. Remember not to lean too far forward, or this may be seen as placing a demand on the client. He or she may find it intimidating. E: Maintain good eye contact. It’s another way of saying, â€Å"I’m interested, I’m with you.† Remember this is not the same as staring. You will need to look away every so often, in order not to stare, but monitor the amount you look away. It could say something about your own level of comfort/discomfort. R: Be relaxed or natural. If you are fidgeting nervously it will distract the client. Being relaxed also tells the client that you are comfortable with using your body as a vehicle of personal contact and expression. It helps put the client at ease. Client’s style of absorbing information including visual, auditory and kinaesthetic A client’s preferred style of absorbing information guides the way they learn. It also changes the way they internally represent experiences, the way they recall information, and even the words they choose. The best approach for a counsellor is to address a variety of learning styles when in a counselling session. It is also helpful to encourage the client to understand their preferred learning style, be it visual, auditory and/or kinaesthetic. The following information on the three main learning styles has been taken from B.W. James (2009) tutoring website: VISUAL- * take numerous detailed notes * tend to sit in the front * are usually neat and clean * often close their eyes to visualize or remember something * find something to watch if they are bored * like to see what they are learning * benefit from illustrations and presentations that use colour * are attracted to written or spoken language rich in imagery * prefer stimuli to be isolated from auditory and kinaesthetic distraction * find passive surroundings ideal AUDITORY- * sit where they can hear but needn’t pay attention to what is happening in front * may not coordinate colours or clothes, but can explain why they are wearing what they are wearing and why * hum or talk to themselves or others when bored * acquire knowledge by reading aloud * remember by verbalizing lessons to themselves (if they don’t they have difficulty reading maps or diagrams or handling conceptual assignments like mathematics). KINESTHETIC- * need to be active and take frequent breaks * speak with their hands and with gestures * remember what was done, but have difficulty recalling what was said or seen * find reasons to tinker or move when bored * rely on what they can directly experience or perform * activities such as cooking, construction, engineering and art help them perceive and learn * enjoy field trips and tasks that involve manipulating materials * sit near the door or someplace else where they can easily get up and move around * are uncomfortable in classrooms where they lack opportunities for hands-on experience * communicate by touching and appreciate physically expressed encouragement, such as a pat on the back Cultural/ other differences working against development of client Consideration of the diversity of a client’s values, beliefs and cultural expectations is imperative for practising counsellors. Cultural differences working against the development of a client can be the client’s: * Religious and/or spiritual beliefs and values * Ethnicity and culture may have an impact on a client’s behaviour, eg different interpretations of body language * The client’s view of time and making and keeping strict appointment schedules * Cultural views of the social significance of age and gender Another factor towards inhibiting the development of a client is the counsellor’s lack of awareness of their own cultural background/experiences, attitudes, values, and biases that might influence their ability to assist clients from diverse cultural populations. It is essential that you correct any prejudices and biases you may have regarding different cultural groups. Self-evaluation, including biases, values and working from a client’s frame of reference Evaluating one’s performance as a counsellor is very important. Self-awareness of biases, values, attitudes and beliefs, and why we behave the way we do can assist us to differentiate between our own responses and that of our client. Some methods of self-evaluation used are: * Organisational feedback forms for clients * Internal online monkey surveys * External stakeholder surveys * Supervision As a counsellor, we can never work with a client from our own frame of reference. ‘Stepping in the shoes’ of the client from their viewpoint and seeing the client in the context of their culture, background and family helps us truly understand the client. Potential impacts of using identified communication skills and techniques in a range of counselling contexts Potential impacts of using identified communication skills in a range of counselling contexts can be rewarding and fruitful for both the client and counsellor. Communication techniques, such as challenging and confronting are not yet my forte, and I struggle with how I may apply it, but understand the impact of its purpose and usefulness. Building a rapport and trust, using micro skills, showing empathy, reflection of content and feeling, and working through communication barriers, impacts the client/counsellor relationship in a positive way. It is a privilege to share the client’s journey while they are in our lives.

Outline current policies and legislation relating to children and how these affect your practice Essay

First of all what is the difference between â€Å"policy and legislation†. â€Å"A policy is a document that outlines what a government is going to do and what it can achieve for the society as a whole. It also outlines any and all methods and principles that the government or any entity, for that matter, will use to achieve its directive. Legislation is another term meaning statutory law. These laws have been enacted by a legislature or the governing body of a country. Legislation can also mean the process of making the law.† Before being able to take a position held in a school I would have to be DBS Disclosure and Barring Services which are replaced the CRB check**. This is a regulation within the law which will be looking at an individuals criminal history ranging from convictions, cautions down to warnings. In the Protection of Children Act 1999 it states that all adults working with children must be DBS checked. Any person who is found to have their name on this l ist with a criminal offense regarding children will not be allowed to work within this area. I would have to work under the law of the Children Act 2004 which is there to make sure the welfare and health of the child is protected, this also includes the Every Child Matters in which all children deserve and should expect the levels of care and adhere to this. This also includes in this green paper allowing all services to share information on children that they have concerns over, this is to help all the services have a better understanding and have the knowledge of that particular childs risk history so to evaluate what the next appropriate step is to take for this particular child.

Business Environment and Strategic Managment Essay

Business Environment and Strategic Managment - Essay Example Indeed, after the completion of the installation process, the business strategy needs to be periodically monitored as of its performance (Harrison 2012). In this way, weaknesses and failures can be identified early so that major risks in regard to all business operations are avoided. According to Herzog (2010) the strategic management process can be also completed in just three phases: â€Å"a) situation assessment, b) strategy development and c) strategy implementation† (Herzog 2010, p.17). The development of the phases of strategic management process, as described above, is based on a series of tools, also known as strategic tools. The key role of these tools is to ensure that the decision-making process is adequately supported (Herzog 2010). Certain of these tools are quite popular. Reference can be made, for example, to SWOT analysis, PEST analysis, Porter’s Five Forces, Benchmarking, Forecasting and Financial Ratios (Herzog 2010). Each organization chooses the stra tegic tools that most respond to its needs taking into consideration the existing resources and the risks involved, both in the short and the long term (Hitt, Ireland and Hoskisson 2010). Also, the type of industry in which each firm operates is expected to influence the firm’s strategic management process, meaning also the strategic management tools that will be used for achieving the business objectives ((Daft, Kendrick and Vershinina 2010). The business model is another important criterion taken into account by strategic managers when having to choose the strategic tools employed in the achievement of business goals ((Daft, Kendrick and Vershinina 2010). Qatar Petroleum (QP) is the most powerful competitor in Qatar’s oil and gas sector; the company... This paper approves that the strategic management process incorporates a series of phases, aiming to help businesses to keep their value at high level. According to the literature, four are the most common phases of strategic management process: at a first level, the â€Å"vision and mission of the organization are reviewed† then, â€Å"the internal and external organizational environment needs to be analyzed† using the information retrieved through the research and the analysis developed in the previous two phases, the strategic manager proceeds to the identification of strategy that is most appropriate for supporting business goals, the â€Å"implementation of the chosen strategy† can be completed; at this level, the strategic management process should not be considered as terminated. Indeed, after the completion of the installation process, the business strategy needs to be periodically monitored as of its performance. This essay comes to the conclusion that strategic management tools can be used in both planning and evaluation of a company’s strategy or direction. According to Henry Mintzberg’s strategy can be defined as â€Å"a pattern in a stream of decisions†; based on the above definition it can be claimed that strategic tools can be effectively used for the evaluation of the performance and the strategic objectives of an organization. The specific approach to strategic management has been used in order to explore and evaluate the business strategy of Qatar Petroleum. Three widely used strategic tools have been employed: SWOT, PEST and benchmarking analyses.

A Critique of Personality Fit in NASCAR Assignment

A Critique of Personality Fit in NASCAR - Assignment Example (1), Pp. 25-35. The study was carried out in an attempt to determine whether the personality fit between the drivers of NASCAR and their major sponsors affects the outcome of consumer attitudes in terms of sponsorships to the sponsor. The study also intended to determine whether the consumer attitudes towards the brand and the purchase intentions are affected by the personality fit between drivers and their sponsors. A literature review on NASCAR was carried out and it was noted that all fans of NASCAR normally choose their favourite driver based on the driver’s personality. It was also noted that the drivers are normally used as brand endorsers and they normally represent the brands of their sponsors. The review also notes that the drivers are normally branded with the brand name of their sponsors in that their uniforms, helmets and their cars bear the names of the brands. A theoretical framework was also presented in relation to event sponsorship and celebrity endorsements. The hypothesis adopted by the researchers is related to the congruence theory and they noted that people are more likely to process, store and remember information if it is related to information they have seen before. The hypothesis used in this study suggests that the response of customers to advertisements or sponsorships is significantly affected by the similarity of the endorser and the brand personality.

Just-in-Time Planning at Mutual Insurance Company of Iowa Case Study

Just-in-Time Planning at Mutual Insurance Company of Iowa - Case Study Example Its image could also be affected in the negative light and bring a halt to the current growing demands for its products as new customers shopping around for insurance products will opt for firms with a good of reputation in terms of faster processing of claims. Resources are overstretched and the company could end up losing new and existing business. Looking at the case at the case even without the advice of consultants or experts a number of assumptions can be made about the company’s personnel and equipment situation. Firstly the company and particularly the Des Moines facility for claim processing is facing human resources crisis. The increase in number of claims flowing in on a daily basis means increased amount of work for the same number of employees. One solution thus is the company to hire more personnel to meet the demands of growing workload. The inventory handling capacity should also increase in terms of equipment; the current equipments were not bought in anticipation of the workload the company is getting today. A permanent solution to this would be to get more modern equipment with a capacity to handle more work and also the facility should be expanded commensurately. The company is also faced with challenges surrounding administrative and workflow management. Claim documents have to pass through the hands of different persons for approval before a customer gets a verdict. The net effect of this is a lot of time taken to process just a single claim and also many people doing just the same work. Precisely this could be causing duplication of effort and therefore under-optimisation. The solution approach taken by Cook of streamlining workflow process and cross training employees will eliminate these problems as just the same employees will be capable of handling different types of duties. To help in restructuring the entire process of processing claims, Cook has established a taskforce and also outsourced an external

Investigating Sustainable Tourism Research Paper

Investigating Sustainable Tourism - Research Paper Example Suriname is located in the northeast of South America, with influences from a variety of cultures, from African and Amerindian to Asian, Dutch, and Jewish (Turquoise.net 2010). Suriname is not dominated by many beach areas that can compare to surrounding areas of the Caribbean, but it is lined with rivers that create a great web of travel into the beauty of the interior jungles. This makes the area a great spot for eco-tourists to see the natural wonders of the rainforests and jungle areas that house an enormous array of wildlife. Since there is little in the way of tourism infrastructure, the resources of the country can be exploited to attract the growing number of eco-tourists that are wanting to explore the natural world on their vacations and holidays. The concept of eco-tourism is based on the idea that the adventure that is available from the beauty of nature is captured in a single experience or group of experiences designed for a period of time within a vacation. According to Ziffer (1989), ecotourism is an adventure that is designed around an indigenous culture, takes place in a relatively underdeveloped area, attempts to leave the area having left no mark upon the eco-system that has been visited while contributing to the local economy, an opportunity to gain an appreciation for the natural resources of the visited area, and represents a dedication by the host region to preserve the natural beauty they hold through funding provided by the ecotourism market (p. 6). One of the prime purposes of the availability of the adventure is to help preserve the natural environments that the tour has exploited so that urban development will not spoil the land. There are some problems with developing a sustainable tourist trade through the ecotourism travel tours.

The Merchant of Venice Antonio's trial (Act 4) Essay

The Merchant of Venice Antonio's trial (Act 4) - Essay Example s a few impossible tasks like asking the tides not to rise, expecting the wolf to show pity to the ewe and not to devour the lamb, and to expect the firs not to make noise when the wind blows throw them, and then goes on to say that these are easily done as compared to expecting Shylock to be merciful. Shylock answers to the accusation by stating that he is no less merciless than the rest of the so called civilized men present there. He states how these people mistreat their slaves and how none of them would dream of treating them on equal footing with themselves. He then asks why it is that he is expected to forego his â€Å"pound of flesh† when they do not forfeit their slaves. Analyze the factores of argument used and identify these with those that both Shylock used & the lawyer (Portia) used. Consider the key factors as presented in your text book (Beyond feelings by Vicent Ryab Ruggiero 8th edition) - both the positive & negative forms of argument. The arguments that Antonio uses to state why it is useless to expect mercy from Shylock are negative. It is easy to see how he builds the premise to prove that Shylock is heard-hearted. The stated premise here is that impossible things can be achieved more easily than to get Shylock to change his heart. The Conclusion being that Shylock will not change his mind, for he is merciless. When Portia and Shylock argue later on, Portia first of all uses affirmative argument towards showing mercy, which Shylock simply denies by using the negative argument, which is that the law allows him to get the bond enforced, so there is no need for mercy. Portia uses affirmative arguments, whereas Antonio shows negative arguments towards a show of mercy. Portia states why Shylock should be merciful whereas Antonio avers how Shylock would not be merciful. Shylock’s own arguments remain the same, whether he is arguing with Portia or with Antonio. His premise is simple that as he is not required to show mercy under any law,

Executive compensation analysis-Is it Excessive Essay

Executive compensation analysis-Is it Excessive - Essay Example ncial Management of the company is one such domain where the management of the company can maximize the value for its shareholders by adopting various practices and policies which can help achieve them their highest goal. However there are also theoretical frameworks i.e. Agency theory which suggest otherwise that the managers and shareholders can conflict with each other when pursuing their individual goals and that the managers can engage into practices where they may take actions which may not help maximizing the shareholders value and rather work in their own benefits. Executive compensation is one such domain where modern executives are largely being criticized for taking high compensations mostly on the pretext that money spent on their compensation could have been utilized for creating value for the shareholders. This essay will look into how the financial management theories and practice can help managers to maximize the value for the shareholders and how it is achieved in practice besides providing a brief outline of how the managers may not, in practice, do things which can help maximize the value for the shareholders. The issue of executive compensation needs to be viewed in the historical context of the way modern businesses developed. The era during 1990s saw a slow and steady increase in the overall median compensation of the CEOs from 1992 to 2000 increased from USD 2.335(m) to USD 6.549(m)- a general increase of 180%1 suggesting the direction of the overall increase in the executive compensation. (Murphy). Similarly, despite the overall decline in the performance of financial sector due to subprime crisis, Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein has been able to gross up a bonus of $70million which is 30% more than what he got in previous year. The research conducted on the executive compensation subtly points towards the fact the executives exercise substantially degree of power over the board besides showing the attitude of grabbing opportunities at