Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Theories in Second Language Acquisition - 1470 Words

There has been a lot of research in Second Language Acquisition and there has many theories in this field. Since the 1970s more scholars have been very keen to explain the acquisition process. Particular attention has been given to the way we process information and this involves input and output. The major debate on this subject is what takes place in between the two stages. This essay will consider the contributions made by each of the above named scholars on the models of SLA. They each have their different versions of the model. Generally, the classic model of SLA is believed to be Input-Developmental system-Output. However, these two scholars have offered their own take on this classic model. The essay will first discuss the similarities of both of their models and later explain the differences between the two models. The similarities between the models are that they both agree that not all language data is available and utilised by the learner. This means that learners will have to use internal strategies as a result of not having all the information they need to process a sentence but they are able to process lexical items. They both show a progressive reduction of the amount of information processed. This means learners have a limited capacity for processing information. Therefore, they can only comprehend input by extracting meaning from the data they receive. This also means that learners will find it more challenging to process form and structure. AnotherShow MoreRelatedSecond Language Acquisition Theories1239 Words   |  5 Pagesto see themselves as volunteer ‘tutors’ but rather as English buddies to their young ELL partners (see p. 175). Why would the researchers insist on this subtle, but real, shift in the identity of the volunteers? Discuss at least two second language a cquisition theories that could plausibly be guiding the researchers. In Latino Children Learning English-The Steps in the Journey by Guadalupe Valdes, Sarah Capitelli, and Laura Alvarez we look the colleagues looking at the range of affordances onRead MoreSecond Language Acquisition ( Sla ) Theory1456 Words   |  6 Pageson second language acquisition (SLA) theory. In this section I address a number of studies that have been conducted on vocabulary acquisition and share results of studies that are related to the topic. This is the framework I use for establishing the importance of the study and a benchmark of comparing results with other findings. Literature Review Vocabulary Acquisition History Since the early 1980s, research on second language vocabulary has taken a prominent role in the field of second languageRead MoreSociocultural Theory Of Second Language Acquisition994 Words   |  4 Pages The sociocultural theory of second language acquisition has provided me with the strongest reasons for reconsidering my previous views on second language learning. Vygotsky proposed a sociocultural theory that is very influential within the field of second language learning. The focus was on the idea that all learning is primarily social. The connections between people and the sociocultural context in which they interact with one another are crucial. Through interaction in shared experiences newRead MoreTheories of first and second language acquisition Essay1536 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿ Theories of First and Second Language Acquisition There are various theories that have been put forward to describe first and second language acquisition. This paper outlines similarities and difference between first and second language acquisition. Additionally key theoretical points on second language acquisition have been identified. Finally, an explanation of how I intend to use my understanding of language acquisition theory to inform my teaching practice will also be includedRead MorePersonal Second Language Acquisition Theory Research Paper2249 Words   |  9 Pages Personal Second Language Acquisition Theory Research Paper Thesis and Introduction Many popular theories of second language acquisition have been analyzed throughout history. The socialization of L2 learners, their present emotional state that is present at the time of acquisition, as well as the comprehensible input and output with the use of scaffolding play a major role in second language acquisition. Kirsten Hummel states, â€Å"The one most effective way to increase L2 competence was by exposureRead MorePersonal Second Language Acquisition Theory Research Paper1899 Words   |  8 Pages Personal Second Language Acquisition Theory Research Paper Thesis and Introduction Many popular theories of second language acquisition have been analyzed throughout history. The socialization of L2 learners, their present emotional state that is present at time of acquisition, as well as the comprehensible input and output with the use of scaffolding play a major role in second language acquisition. Let us also not forget the importance of written expression as well as reading comprehensionRead MoreFirst And Second Language Acquisition And The Theories Of Literacy Learning And Associated Approaches Essay2275 Words   |  10 PagesIntroduction The purpose of this report is to explore the different theories related to first and second language acquisition and the theories of literacy learning and associated approaches. Furthermore, to consider the impact it may have on language learning, how it relates to the role of a language teacher and the implementation of strategies to facilitate and foster effective learning. Rational Language and literacy is a key component for effective social interaction and communication. StrongRead MoreTheories in Second Language Acquisition by James P. Lantolf and Steven L. Thorne593 Words   |  3 PagesAcquiring second language has its impact on the social and cultural knowledge. One of the theories that concern with that knowledge is the sociocultural theory that was originated by the Russian psychologist L. S. Vygotsky. The theory explains how individual mental functioning is related to cultural, institutional, and historical context. SCT has three main areas. These are: interaction, ZPD, and scaffolding. Summary In chapter (11) of James P. Lantolf and Steven L. Thorne’s book â€Å"Theories in secondRead MoreCritically evaluate Gardner and Lambert’s theory of instrumental and integrative motivation as a key influencing factor in Second Language Acquisition980 Words   |  4 PagesCritically evaluate Gardner and Lambert’s theory of instrumental and integrative motivation as a key influencing factor in Second Language Acquisition During the process of studying second language, Gardner and Lambert’s theory about instrumental and integrative motivation has a significant impact on different learners. As Falk (2000; cited in Norris-Holt, 2001) states that if learners aim to develop relationship with foreign friends or comprehend lyrics in popular song, which means that theseRead MoreLesson Planning with Siop: a Theoretical Base (Benchmark Assessment)1370 Words   |  6 PagesESL-523N SEI English Language Teaching: Foundations and Methodologies October 4, 2012 * Abstract Over the past few decades much research has been conducted as to how second language is acquired. Many theories of second language acquisition have been formulated. This paper will compare and contrast two influential second language acquisition theories: the behaviorist theory and the innatist theory specifically, Krahsen’s Monitor Theory. An overview of how these theories impact the SIOP Model

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

The Struggle For Women s Success - 1336 Words

This paper examines the struggle for women to obtain upper level management positions. Based on research from Zenger Folkman Inc. 360 evaluations, testimony and news articles. The articles telling women to be marked, but as a success. The women becoming more than just mothers. This paper tells of women s abilities and struggles in the search to balance career and family. Assumptions Women have been struggling to be given upper management opportunities. The choice between career and family is never easy, especially if you are a woman. I believe that having a family is a large contributing factor in women not having leadership positions. I expect to find that women in the business field have decided that having a career shouldn’ t†¦show more content†¦On the top 16 competencies top leaders exemplify most women outscore men on all but one criteria. Women that were surveyed scored higher at taking initiative, displaying high integrity and honesty, driving for results, developing others, championing change, solving problems and analyzing issues, communicating powerfully and prolifically, and many more; while men only scored higher on developing strategic perspective by 2%. Women also continue to grow and become better leaders as they become older, while the male counterparts platou around the age of 45 (Zenger, Folkman). Women and men br ains are wired differently, in the way it processes information and chemic makeup (Jantz). The corporate world hasn’t to fully recognized this, yet. Woman often recognize others for their contributing work, while men will often take the most credit. A man will often take all the credit for themselves. If you ask a woman how she got this far her response will most likely be â€Å" I had a great support team†, or â€Å" I got lucky†. While a man is more likely to say â€Å"I am just that good†(Sandberg). The man s confidence will help him get farther. A lot of times a woman will also be scared to continue promoting themselves, because they decide family is more important. The woman s mentality to take care of their children and be the nurture is also prevalent. Woman dont always strive to be the top of a company (Sandberg). Work isn t a woman s only priority. President Clinton’s senior

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Financial Decision Making

Question : What is the rolling forecast in budgeting process? Answer : Introducation This is a plan or budget which is updated continuously by adding an extra accounting where the initial accounting period is expired. It is continually updated in which individual time actual outcomes are reported. An additional forecast period is included and instant period forecasts are updated (Zeller and Metzger 2013). Forecast Both forecasting and budgeting can be perceived as a component of the process of planning that examines the future past the instant timeframe. Planning attempts to shape the future of an organization whereas forecasting and budgeting aim at predicting the value created as well as the resources utilized in a particular period. Embracing a rolling strategy is helpful in informing a more practical as well as timely process of planning. The figure below illustrates a rolling forecast. Source: https://www.cgma.org/resources/tools/essential-tools/pages/rolling-plans-and-forecasts.aspx Benefits of Rolling Approach The above strategy decreases uncertainties in forecasting and budgeting. It permits flexibilities with the firm. Additionally, it allows the organization to respond to the present event quickly. Do you have any other suggestions for business while the rolling forecast is applied? Before using this approach, the organization must determine whether it has time and resources for preparing plans on more successive terms. The organization should also determine where to buy-in from the entire organization. Actions to Take Engage budget holders in alterations to the process of planning Forecasting must be anchored on the key drivers of the organization. Management must be informed quickly in case of any modifications of such drivers to respond accordingly Actions to Avoid Organization must not take a top-top strategy by understanding and working closely with the business at all times and levels Organization must avoid time wastage in the preparation of comprehensive plans for the entire year. Focus primarily on the initial period as well as make outline plans for the next periods (Castellina 2013). References Castellina, N., 2013. Rolling Forecasts Enable Accuracy and Agile Business Planning. CGMA, 2016. Rolling Plans and Forecasts. Chartered Global Management Accouuntant Magazine , pp. 1-2. https://www.cgma.org/resources/tools/essential-tools/pages/rolling-plans-and-forecasts.aspx Zeller, T.L. and Metzger, L.M., 2013. Good Bye Traditional Budgeting, Hello Rolling Forecast: Has The Time Come?. American Journal of Business Education (Online), 6(3), p.299.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Multiple Object Tracking Models

Abstract Multiple Object Tracking is an undertaking normally used to look into the optical attentiveness of human beings in observing and supervising the attributes of various objects in motion. Human players portray different forms of achievements and failures in tracking practices that are frequently imputed to boundaries on a target system, tracking mental faculty or any other particularized cognitive structure.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Multiple Object Tracking Models specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In order to determine a human error that might spring up from cognitive restrictions and effects of unavoidable perceptual precariousness in tracking tasks, computation analyses are used. In dealing with a changing world, individuals are capable of maintaining discriminating focus on a set of mobile items within the surrounding. [108] Introduction In routine life, different situations are encountered where one requires look onto various objects at the same time in their fields of study. Performance in the tracking of such many items is bounded by some key elements- the amount of items to be tracked, the fastness of tracking them and the closeness of those items. For instance, walking across an engaged street calls for one to direct their focus on the vehicles, traffic lights at the crosswalk and other obstacles to attention (Zikan, 1988). Other applications such as protection and surveillance, automobile piloting, video redaction and compression, augmented realty, behavior analysis and medical imaging also require Multiple Object Tracking as they involve monitoring of several objects (Mole, Smithies, Wu, 2011). Humans are versatile in conducting circumstances such as these, whenever one’s focus needs to be spread over a number of details (Wolf, 2007). The ease with which several objects in motion are supervised in routine chores has yielded in the visceral anticipation that th ese many objects are tracked in line. Nevertheless, the subject of whether figures of attention are spread in serial or in a parallel mode over many objects has led to many arguments in the 20th century (Challa, Morelande, Misicki, Evans, 2011).Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This has yielded several models for Multiple Object Tracking including; Serial model, FINST (Fingers of INSTantiation) model, Yantis Grouping model, Double Serial model and the (Parallel) FLEX model which stands for FLexibiliy allocated indEXs. This study aims to discuss the five models of Multiple Object Tracking while identifying their strengths and weaknesses, and how they can be improved. The Serial Model This was first proposed by Pylyshyn and Storm in 1988. This model commands only a single focus of attention visits in each target successively. It therefore necessitates rapid cycling through the objects so as to index their positions and return to each one before it goes so far-off (Pylyshyn Storm, Tracking multiple independent targets, 1988). Every time the attention revisits the target’s recalled position, the closest object would be considered as the new location of the target and that current position would be noted for the following round. When it is time to revisit a given target, the model assumes that the object that is closest to the target’s previously remembered position is the target (Turek, 2007). A shortcoming to this model is that, its tracking ability of a target becomes poor if an object is not correctly located during the revisits. The preciseness with which an object can be situated is determined by a number of factors such as the speed with which the objects move, which might lead to invalid location info within the memory (Smith, 2011). An error occurs if the targeted item has travelled so distant from the time it was previously monitored, that i t is no more the nearest item to its previous location. Similarly, when the space betwixt items is decreased, there is a likeliness of confusing some nearby item for the purported object (Cui, Sun, Yang, 2011). Therefore, the performance of this model is greatly influenced by increase in the distance of the path linking each object to the other, increase in the number of objects to be tracked, increase in the amount per unit size of items being monitored, and increase in the speed of the items (Cremers, 2007).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Multiple Object Tracking Models specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More These factors influence the operation of the serial model by affecting the velocity with which the info concerning the presentation is outdated in proportion to the sampling speed of the serial mechanism (Seiffert, 1996). The FINST Model It was at the beginning also proposed by Pylyshyn and Storm in 1988. It a rgues that pre-attentive intellectual pointers track objects in parallel, mechanically and with no exertion. Once connected to a point, an index does not have to be reviewed but rather binds to the target while in motion (Pylyshyn Storm, 1988). These indexes, Pylyshyn argues, do not need attention for contact to be maintained with the positions of the target but they act as pointers to permit focus speedy approach of an item; but just a single item at once. The amount of pointers relies upon the person but is restricted to 3-5 (Pylyshyn, Tracking Without Keeping Track of Object Identities, 2004). Thus one would expect only these many objects to be tracked. Although the pointers themselves track objects pre-attentively, attaching them to an object to begin with may require focus (Scholl Pylyshyn, 1999). Yantis Grouping Model Yantis proposed that each target is sorted into a single advanced grade objects with every target an item in a vertex within a practical polygon. To track this shifting figure, only one channel of attention is required. By tracking the individual polygon, the positions of the targets can be inferred since the targets share a mutual movement, they group more firmly thus making tracking to be less difficult (Yantis, 1992). In short, it leaves all the targets to be tracked in one case whilst still only having a single centre of attention, that is, the focus of attention is on the polygon and not the targets as such (Cohen, Horowitz, Wolfe, 2010). This showcases that, object redundancy can be taken advantage of by the commentator but still is not a ground that grouping is the tracking mechanism for single targets in motion.Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Its disadvantages are that the objects might not be moving in unison hence reducing the tracking performance and that it disregards target identities hence might lead to confusion (Luck, 2007). The polygon might also collapse into a concave polygon (Sperling, 1960). For it to perform better, the objects need to form a more solid body. The motion of the objects also needs to be restricted so as to avoid the collapsing of the polygon (Kunar, Carter, Cohen, Horowitz, 2008). All the same, assuming that an observer loses or mixes-up target identities, this method will be the most suitable for locating the lost target as it groups all targets into one item hence making it easy to trace its location (Sharan, 2008). The Double Serial Model This was first proposed by Alvarez and Cavanagh in 2005. It resembles the Standard Serial Model in some ways except that there is a main point of attention in every Hemifield. It suggests that, each cerebral hemisphere is a representation of the opposite ocular Hemifield which has an independent method of tracking targets from the other (Brady, Konkle, Avarez, Oliva, 2008). It follows therefore that, every time a target traverses a perpendicular midline, the obligation for its tracking would require to be channeled from mechanism to mechanism (Howe, Sagreiya, Curtis, Zheng, Livingstone, 2008). Due to this independent object tracking, this method can only track two objects in each Hemifield but not four objects within a single Hemifield. Nonetheless, this method is advantageous as it can track as many objects per unit time (Cavanagh Alvarez, 2005). The FLEX Model This was introduced by Alvarez and Franconeri in 2007. This, just as the FINST Model, presupposes that items are tracked by mental pointers that run parallel to each other (Blakeslee McCourt, 1999). Nevertheless, dissimilar to the FINST model, it presumes that one can have any amount of the pointers but making a pointer utilizes a resource which requires lots of effort thus limiting the amount of pointers that one can have in the end (Franconeri, Jonathan, Scimeca, 2010). Hence performance reduces with the amount of items under tracking (Winawer, 2005). Consequently, the quicker the velocity, the more attention one requires to track every item and so only fewer items can be tracked (Anderson, 2008). Conclusion The information capability of human memory has a crucial function in cognitive and neurotic models of memory, identification, and classification, as models of these courses inexplicitly or denotatively makes claims concerning the level of information put in memory. Multiple object tracking addresses the subject matter of how attention can be split. Generally, the first three models of Multiple Object Tracking- serial, Yantis Grouping and FINST assume that human attention cannot be divided whilst the other two differs and proposes that attention can be divided. However, all agree that attention is vital in the tracking of an object. For inst ance, using a hands free phone whilst driving could pose some dangers to a motorist since it will impair his/her attention to an alerting rate. In this case, the danger lies most in what the conversation does to the motorists brain rather than what his/her hands does when taking the call. All the models except the FINST agree that objects can be tracked by occlusion which is applicable in real life situations. This is because tracking objects by occlusion requires that a prediction of where the object will reappear is done which would seem improbable for the FINST model as it is pre-attentive. Ultimately, in my point view therefore, the FINST model holds up as the most plausible model for tracking objects. This is because, despite its inability to track occluded objects and to track many targets at the same time, it has the ability to pre-attentively track objects in parallel and with less effort. Its efficiency can be improved by creating a kind of a MOT that is similar to it only that it will have a pointer pre-attentively tracking several objects at once. References Anderson, B. L. (2008). Transparency and Occlusion. University of New South Wales. Blakeslee, B., McCourt, M. (1999). A multiscale spatial filtering account of the White effect. Vision Research. Brady, T., Konkle, T., Avarez, G., Oliva, A. (2008). Visual long-term memory has a massive storage capacity for object details. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Cavanagh, P., Alvarez, G. (2005). Tracking Multiple Targets with Multifocal Attention. Harvard University. Challa, S., Morelande, M., Misicki, D., Evans, R. (2011). Fundamentals of Object Tracking. Cambridge University Press. Cohen, M., Horowitz, T., Wolfe, J. (2010). Auditory recognition memory is inferior to visual. PNAS. Cremers, D. (2007). Energy minimization methods in computer vision and pattern recognition. Springer. Cui, P., Sun, L., Yang, S. (2011). Adaptive mixture observation models for multiple object tracking. Springer. F ranconeri, S., Jonathan, S., Scimeca, J. (2010). Tracking Multiple Objects Is Limited Only by Object Spacing, Not by Speed, Time, or Capacity. SAGE. Howe, P., Sagreiya, H., Curtis, D., Zheng, C., Livingstone, M. (2008). The Double- Anchoring Theory of Lightness Perception. Harvard Medical School. Kunar, M., Carter, R., Cohen, M., Horowitz, T. (2008). Telephone conversation impairs sustained visual attention via a central bottleneck. Psychonomic Bulletin, 1135- 1140. Luck, S. (2007). The Capacity of Visual Working Memory for Features and Conjunctions. Macmillan Publishers Ltd. Mole, C., Smithies, D., Wu, W. (2011). Attention: Philosophical and Psychological Essays. Oxford University Press. Pylyshyn, Z. (2004). Tracking Without Keeping Track of Object Identities. Visual Cognition, 11, 801-822. Pylyshyn, Z., Storm, R. (1988). Tracking multiple independent targets. Spatial Vision, 179-197. Scholl, B., Pylyshyn, Z. (1999). Tracking Multiple Items Through Occlusion. Cognitive Psycho logy, 38, 259-290. Seiffert, A. (1996). Attentional costs in multiple object tracking. Cognition. Oxford Press. Sharan, L. (2008). Image statistics for surface reflectance perception. Cambrige University Press. Smith, K. (2011). Reversible-jump markov chain monte carlo multi-object tracking tutorial. Web. Sperling, G. (1960). The Information Available in Brief Visual Representations. Harvard University. Turek, M. (2007). Combinatorial optimization for tracking and low-level computer vision problems. ProQuest. Winawer, A. (2005). Letters to Nature. Nature Publishing Group. Wolf, J. (2007). Current Progress With a Model of Visual Search. New York: Oxford. Yantis, S. (1992). Multielement Visual Tracking: Attention and Perceptual Organization. COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY, 295-340. Zikan, K. (1988). Track initialization in the multiple-object tracking problem. Stanford University. This essay on Multiple Object Tracking Models was written and submitted by user Thunderbird to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Free Essays on General Education

Why the University of South Florida has General Education Requirements The University of South Florida’s General Education Requirements seem just like standard classes that students of any field have to take. These classes consist of thirty-six credits that you must take in order to get your degree. Why does everyone have to take these courses? Well the University of South Florida feels like they are needed to set a standard for the education you receive from USF. With everyone taking these classes it ensures that they will leave here with at least those knowledgeable skills. Others major universities all over the United States of America have there own appointed General Education Requirements. Other universities may have different standards such as the prestigious Ohio State University. Is Ohio State’s requirements for their curriculum better than the University of South Florida’s? Students from all schools would have their own opinions on the whole idea of general education requirements but schools would not have them unless the higher officials felt like they are needed. So here is a brief comparison of two schools requirements and why they even bother setting standards for the students. Ohio State University has there own classes they feel is needed to set their standard. They set their required classes based on your major. If you’re a Science major then your social sciences will be more rigorous than if you are an English major. Something else that is different than the University of South Florida’s idea on general education requirements are the credit hours needed. In some areas South Florida requires six credit hours where Ohio State only wants you to complete five credit hours in that subject. That may sound good but Ohio State’s total general education credit hours for completion is one-hundred and five total credit hours. Thir... Free Essays on General Education Free Essays on General Education Why the University of South Florida has General Education Requirements The University of South Florida’s General Education Requirements seem just like standard classes that students of any field have to take. These classes consist of thirty-six credits that you must take in order to get your degree. Why does everyone have to take these courses? Well the University of South Florida feels like they are needed to set a standard for the education you receive from USF. With everyone taking these classes it ensures that they will leave here with at least those knowledgeable skills. Others major universities all over the United States of America have there own appointed General Education Requirements. Other universities may have different standards such as the prestigious Ohio State University. Is Ohio State’s requirements for their curriculum better than the University of South Florida’s? Students from all schools would have their own opinions on the whole idea of general education requirements but schools would not have them unless the higher officials felt like they are needed. So here is a brief comparison of two schools requirements and why they even bother setting standards for the students. Ohio State University has there own classes they feel is needed to set their standard. They set their required classes based on your major. If you’re a Science major then your social sciences will be more rigorous than if you are an English major. Something else that is different than the University of South Florida’s idea on general education requirements are the credit hours needed. In some areas South Florida requires six credit hours where Ohio State only wants you to complete five credit hours in that subject. That may sound good but Ohio State’s total general education credit hours for completion is one-hundred and five total credit hours. Thir...

Friday, November 22, 2019

The Pros of Mosquitoes and Their Important Roles

The Pros of Mosquitoes and Their Important Roles Not much love is lost between people and mosquitoes. If insects can be credited with evil intent, mosquitoes seem determined to wipe out the human race. As carriers of deadly diseases, mosquitoes are the  deadliest insect on Earth. Each year, hundreds of thousands of people die from malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever after being bitten by a disease-carrying, blood-sucking mosquito. The Zika virus can harm fetuses if a pregnant woman gets bitten, and chikungunya can cause debilitating joint pain. If these diseases affect a large population at once, the outbreak can overwhelm local health care, the UN reports. Mosquitoes also carry diseases that pose serious threats to livestock and pets. At the very least, these bloodthirsty insects are major annoyances, biting humans with a persistence that can be maddening. Knowing this, is there an intrinsic value to keeping them around? If we could, should we just eradicate them all off the face of the earth? The answer is mosquitoes do have value. Scientists are divided as to whether theyre worth it, though. The Long History of Mosquitoes on Earth Mosquitoes populated this planet long before man. The oldest mosquito fossils date back some 200 million years, to the Cretaceous period.   More than 3,500 species of mosquitoes have already been  described from various parts of the world, of which only a few hundred species bite or bother humans. In fact, only female mosquitoes bite humans. Males lack the parts to penetrate human skin.   Benefits Many scientists agree that mosquitoes present more of a hassle than they have value. The mere fact that they are the reason for so many human deaths a year is reason enough to wipe them off the planet. However, mosquitoes serve important functions in numerous ecosystems, serving as food for many species, helping filter detritus for plant  life to thrive, pollinating flowers, and even affecting the herding paths of caribou in the tundra. Last, scientists are looking at the mosquito for potential medical treatments. The Food Web Mosquito larvae are aquatic insects  and, as such, play an important role in the aquatic food chain. According to Dr. Gilbert Waldbauer in The Handy Bug Answer Book, Mosquito larvae are filter feeders that strain tiny organic particles such as unicellular algae from the water and convert them to the tissues of their own bodies, which are, in turn, eaten by fish. Mosquito larvae are, in essence, nutrient-packed snacks for fish and other aquatic animals. In addition, while species of mosquitoes eat the  carcasses of  insects  that drown in the  water,  the mosquito larvae feed on the waste products, making nutrients such as nitrogen available for the plant community to thrive. Thus, the elimination of those mosquitoes  might affect plant growth in those areas. A mosquitos role on the bottom of the food chain does not end at the larval stage. As adults, mosquitoes serve as equally nutritious meals for birds, bats, and spiders. Mosquitoes seem to represent a considerable biomass of food for wildlife on the lower rungs of the food chain. Mosquito  extinction, if it is achievable, could have an adverse effect on the ecosystem. However, many scientists suggest that the ecosystem could eventually rebound and another species could take its place in the system. Acting as Pollinators Only the females of some mosquito species need a meal of blood to get the proteins necessary to lay eggs. For the most part, male and female adult mosquitoes depend on nectar for energy. While retrieving nectar, mosquitoes pollinate plants to help to ensure that different types of plant life thrive.  When mosquitoes pollinate  plants, especially the aquatic ones around which they spend much of their lives, they help perpetuate these plants. These plants provide cover and shelter for other animals and organisms. Medicinal Lessons? Although the mosquito has been a known vector for spreading disease all over the world, there is some hope that mosquito saliva may  have some potential use for the treatment of the No. 1 worldwide killer of humans: cardiovascular disease. One promising application is the development of anticlotting drugs, such as clotting inhibitors and capillary dilators. The composition of mosquito saliva is relatively simple, as it usually contains fewer than 20 dominant proteins. Despite the great strides in knowledge of these molecules and their role in blood feeding, scientists still know only about half of the molecules found in the insects saliva.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Art history Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Art history - Essay Example The angel Gabriel's declaration to Mary that she was to become the mother of Jesus is called the Annunciation. The story is found I what is known as the Infancy Narrative of St. Luke's Gospel - Luke 1:5-2:52 (The Catholic Encyclopedia).Rogier van der Weyden's painting, The Annunciation, was completed around 1435, is a 33 7/8" x 36 1/4" panel, which once was part of a triptych. The depiction is of Mary in a bedchamber, seated by the light of a window at the right, positioned on the floor in a stance that implies that she had been busy reading while angel Gabriel comes to pronounce that she was blessed among women to bear the child Jesus. Gabriel appears to Mary's back with a somewhat solemn face as Mary turns her head towards him.Weyden portrays a somewhat intimate detailed image; he tries to show that Mary was reading a book while angel Gabriel declared that she would be the chosen woman to bear Jesus. The original purpose of including a book in his painting was to evoke the prophecy of Isaiah, "Behold, a virgin shall conceive".In the deep space that characterizes Van der Weyden's work, Mary acknowledges the presence of Gabriel with a head inclined away from the book and a gesture of the raised right hand...Van der Weyden introduces some significant elements into the Annunciation iconography. To denote purity, the vase of lilies is present but so too is a carafe of clear liquid, which may also represent an alchemical union of the sexes (Losh, 2001). According to The Catholic Encyclopedia, "The column which separates the angel Gabriel from Mary symbolizes the division of the Old and the New Law that was bridged by the Incarnation." [National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., Mellon Collection, 1937] The artist represents a shallow space, and he uses logical measurement, since the bodies of angel Gabriel and Mary where inclined at the same direction and the bench was paralleled to the bed. We can clearly see that the picture is dynamic, full of movement, we can easily know that Gabriel is stating a message to Mary while Mary on the other hand reacts to what the angel have declared. The composition was fairly organized, the artist uses harmonious perspective in detailing every object in the painting, but the objects seem to be shorter than they really are, the bench was not comfortable to sit in, the bed looks shorter for the size of Mary, and the chandelier seems to hit the heads of Mary if she will stand. I consider Mary as the focal point of the painting. Her black gown catches first my attention; its solid, vivid color amazed me. The intended point-of-view of the scene is oblique, as intended by the artist, place yourself in the right side of the painting, and look at it with an angle of 45 degrees then you will see the image more precisely and the message it wants to impart. As one of Rogier's successful works, the Annunciation was characterized by cold and bold colors; they were as strong as the message was so strong - that it is possible for a virgin to conceive a child even without the intervention of the flesh or sexual intercourse - also it is characterized by rhythmic elongated lines, particularly evident in fluttering robes and draperies, by the elegant mannered poses of the figures, and especially by a tragic religious intensity that reached a peak in three versions of the crucifixion. The scene is sharply lit, there are no unnecessary lines in the painting, and every detail can be seen, even the thread that holds the curtain of the bed. The light is obviously coming from the right side window if you are facing towards the painting and at the left side of Mary. The artist uses different textures, from the chandelier, in designing the window, to the plain style of the bed and beddings, to the chairs and its pillows, to Mary's clothing, and specially so, to what Gabriel was wearing, its designs and details depicts the magnificence of the creature. Most of the paintings of Rogier van der Weyden were serene,

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Criminal Evidence Law - Evidential and Legal Burden Essay

Criminal Evidence Law - Evidential and Legal Burden - Essay Example In this case, the prosecution has a duty to link the facts surrounding the two parties’ visit to the deceased’s house and to his eventual murder. The facts should prove on the balance of probabilities that actions of the accused may have caused the death. A fact-finder working with the prosecution would be tasked to collect the facts and link them to the crime. A jury would then have the final say on whether or not the murder case should proceed. The evidential burden in this case, which the jury will be tasked to determine is as follows: a) the accused visited Denzil’s house over an unsettled debt; b) William allegedly remained outside, possibly to scare people away within his imitation of a gun while Altin went in; c) Altin immediately attacked the victim; d) the victim died of the injuries sustained in the attack. In this case, there is no gap in the facts, which could have been prompted by a fall, for instance, on his way to the hospital1. Apart from the evidential burden, Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), providing for the right to the fair trial requires the prosecution to prove beyond the balance of probabilities that the actions of the two parties accused of Denzil’s murder have a legal basis. In this case, the prosecutor must prove that the alleged actions of Altin had a substantial cause on the Denzil’s death, but does not necessarily need to be the only or largely the cause of the death. This implies the two could be charged with the murder of Denzil if the prosecution established that his injury by the accused substantially contributed to his death whether or not he had underlying health conditions. A judge would be tasked to determine whether the legal burden can sustain trial. Altin would find it hard to prove that he was acting in self-defence because he intentionally went to Denzil’s place. In addition, the immediacy of the attack lends credence to a pre-planned murder whose time had come.  

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Impact of Trade on East Asia and South Asia Essay Example for Free

Impact of Trade on East Asia and South Asia Essay East Asia and South Asia was similar in that it promoted economic development in both regions and transformed port cities of both regions into cosmopolitan centers, but differed in that it helped with the establishment of Buddhism in China while it helped with the establishment of Islam in India. The impact of trade on East Asia and South Asia was similar in that it promoted economic development in both regions. In East Asia, the Grand Canal, a series of connected waterways, linked together north and south China. As northern and southern China traded rice and other food crops, the larger economy of China improved and grew. In South Asia, northern and southern India traded spices, metals, and specialized crops that were not available throughout India. As northern and southern India traded, the south prospered and experienced a surge in economic development. Trade promoted economic development in both East Asia and South Asia because they both traded within their region and outside of it, obtaining profit and wealth, along with goods. The impact of trade on East Asia and South Asia was similar in that it transformed port cities of both regions into cosmopolitan centers. As China traded, Arab, Persian, and Malay merchants settled within its region. The merchants settled in port cities, such as Guangzhou and Quanzhou, which turned into cosmopolitan centers. As India traded, Muslim, Jewish, and other merchants began to dwell within the subcontinent. The brokers became residents at port cities, such as Calicut, which developed into cosmopolitan societies. Trade transformed port cities in both East Asia and South Asia into cosmopolitan centers because they both had thriving commercial centers where merchants moved to in search of business opportunities. The impact of trade on East Asia and South Asia differed in that it helped with the establishment of Buddhism in China while it helped with the establishment of Islam in India. Buddhism diffused into China along trade routes. Merchants set up Buddhist communities in China, such as Dunhuang, helping it gain a foothold in society. Islam spread into India as merchants traded and settled in the region. As they settled in cities, such as Cambay, they spread Islam into Indian society. Trade helped with the establishment of Buddhism in China, but helped with Islam in India because Muslim merchants traveled to South Asia due to its trade centers and relative proximity, while Buddhist merchants traveled to East Asia in search of trade opportunities outside of India. From 600 to 1450 CE, the influence of trade on East Asia and South Asia was similar in that it encouraged economic growth in both areas and helped with the development of port cities into cosmopolitan centers in both regions, but differed in that it promoted the establishment of Buddhism in China while it promoted the establishment of Islam in India.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

The Black Cat - Abnormal Madness :: Poe The Black Cat Essays

The   Black Cat - Abnormal Madness It seems that almost every Edgar Allen Poe story ever written has a much deeper and darker meaning hidden inside its lines. Many of these pieces are demented enough even if the reader does not read "between the lines." "The Black Cat" is an example of this kind of story. In this morbid look into the narrator's mind, the reader follows the narrator as he does many disturbing things in his household. This story, like many of Poe's other pieces, is a venture into abnormal psychology where the narrator is completely insane, not only because of the horrible things he does to his cat and his wife, but   because of his state of mind that he shows the reader throughout the story. At the beginning of the story, the narrator makes the writing out to be "plainly, succinctly, and without comment, a series of mere household events"   (p. 1495). As the story progresses, the reader finds out that this is > clearly not at all the case. The events within the text of this account are unmistakably the ramblings of a madman who cannot seem to control his actions and keeps drifting deeper and deeper into insanity. In the first paragraph of the story, the narrator begins to defend himself by saying that he is not mad. This definitely seems like he is trying to reassure himself more than the reader of his state of mind. This seems to be Poe's way of gradually   easing into showing the reader that this story is, in fact, an exploration   into the abnormal psychology of the human mind. The narrator says that from his childhood, he has been considered a very   docile person. He also mentions in the first part of the story that his "My tenderness of heart was even so conspicuous as to make me the jest of my   companions" (p. 1495). At the point in the story when he says all this, it seems fairly feasible. However, as the reader goes on to read, the rest of the story, they find out that this is not the narrator's present demeanor in the least. Just from seeing what is obvious about the narrator and not even reading deeper into his mindset, the reader can gather that the man is   probably not a reliable source for correct information.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Moscow Communist Party

Boris Yeltsin proved to be an invincible leader. In the year 1985 he was made the first secretary to the Moscow Communist Party by President Mikhail Gorbachev. In the succeeding year he was elected to the Politburo. Subsequently, he was made the chairman of the Russian Supreme Soviet. In June 1991, he became the first elected president to Russia. His efforts at separating the Commonwealth of Independent States secured complete independence for Russia. Yeltsin faced several administrative setbacks and his economic and market reforms resulted in unrest and parliamentary disagreement.In November 1993 internal conflicts in parliament led to the seizure of the Russian Parliament Building. Subsequently, he emerged victorious and obtained greater presidential powers. Yeltsin faced serious health problems, he had to frequently shuffle cabinet members and he had to countenance the armed conflict in Chechnya. Nevertheless, he was re – elected in 1996 (Yeltsin, Boris (1931 – ). In Andromeda Encyclopedic Dictionary of World History). Boris Yeltsin strongly believed in the socialist ideology of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union or the CPSU.The party’s ideals of economic progress and social equality had made him to join the CPSU in the year 1961. Gradually Yeltsin gained in importance in the party and became a member of the construction department of the party’s Sverdlovsk Oblast committee in the year 1968. His rise in this department was remarkable and by the year 1975 he became the secretary of the committee. In 1976 Boris Yeltsin was appointed the secretary of the Sverdlovsk Oblast committee by Leonid Brezhnev. This position enabled him to procure membership of the CPSU’s Central Committee in 1981.He became an important leader in the CPSU and openly criticized perestroika or the political reforms introduced by Gorbachev. Later on Yeltsin followed Gorbachev’s policies, in order to reduce strained relations with the Western na tions (Colton). President Yeltsin’s foreign minister was Andry Kozyrev favored a Western alliance. However, the Russian foreign policy did not change. Boris Yeltsin encountered his western counterparts on several occasions during international summits. He maintained friendly relations with US presidents George H. W.Bush and Bill Clinton. He solicited US backing in international platforms such as the International Monetary Fund. Yeltsin was friendly with the European economic giants. Accordingly he maintained cordial relations with Helmut Kohl the Chancellor of Germany and leaders of France and the United Kingdom (Colton). Yeltsin was disinterested in NATO’s plans and he reluctantly acceded to its proposals to admit former non – Soviet bloc countries. In the year 1999 the NATO waged a war against Yugoslavia. This measure resulted in strained relations with Russia.Subsequently, Yeltsin terminated all relations with NATO and this served to isolate Russia. However, Russia did not assist Yugoslavia to fight with NATO. Yugoslavia was compelled to agree to NATO’s proposals and had to accept foreign occupation of the Kosovo Province. Yeltsin ensured that Russia was included in the joint forces that occupied Kosovo. He made attempts to make an ally of China in Russia’s battle against the supremacy of NATO, further trade practices and mutual cooperation with China flourished in his era (Colton).The economic and market reforms implemented by Yeltsin were opposed by the parliament. In 1993 the free market reforms created internal conflicts and military intervention had to be resorted to, in order to control the situation. Yeltsin was successful in these military operations. During the period 1994 to 1996 the Chechnya crisis developed and Yeltsin’s response to it invited international criticism. Moreover, the parliament was dominated by communist members who opposed and disagreed with him.His power commenced to decline due to his i ll health and much of his authority was transferred to the parliament owing to the constitutional conflicts of 1998, which emerged due the serious financial crisis. Despite these setbacks, Yeltsin reclaimed his powers by dissolving the government four times in the period 1998 to 1999. In May 1999 the parliament made an abortive attempt to impeach him. Eventually, he submitted his resignation on the 31st of December 1999 and Vladimir Putin succeeded him (Yeltsin, Boris (1931 – ). In The Macmillan Encyclopedia).Boris Yeltsin had supported the Baltic States for independence. In order to achieve this he emphasized that there should be fundamental and radical reforms. Yeltsin relinquished his CPSU membership and contested in the presidential elections. He was elected president of the RSFSR or Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. Yeltsin had always demanded autonomy for the member republics of the federal USSR. He also persuaded the Russian parliament to enact legislations to give the republic’s laws precedence over the laws of the Soviet parliament.The congress bestowed emergency powers upon Yeltsin, which permitted him to rule by decree. This made him a popular president. After the futile coup, in 1991, against President Gorbachev, Yeltsin condemned the acts of the usurpers and demanded his reinstatement (Yeltsin, Boris Nikolayevich (1931 – ). In The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia including Atlas). Yeltsin’s leadership capability was severely tested during the economic crisis and subsequent deterioration of conditions in Russia. In September 1993 a coup attempt was made against him by the leaders of parliament, which was defeated.The conservative political parties won the December elections and this unexpected victory forced Yeltsin to review his economic policies (Yeltsin, Boris Nikolayevich (1931 – ). In The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia including Atlas). Yeltsin was criticized for taking the military initiati ve in Chechnya. Although, a peace treaty was entered into with Chechnya in May 1997, the war did not stop. Yeltsin dissolved the entire cabinet in March 1998, which surprised both Russia and the Western nations. He also appointed the fuel and energy minister Sergei Kiriyenko to the post of the prime minister of Russia.The Kiriyenko led government faced a major economic crisis, because of the sudden devaluation of the ruble in 1998. In the month of August in the same year, Yeltsin dismissed both Kiriyenko and the government. Yeltsin tried to appoint Viktor Chernomyrdin as the prime minister, but the Duma, which was dominated by communist members, rejected Chernomyrdin’s candidature for prime minister. This compelled Yeltsin to nominate Yevgeni Primakov as the prime minister. Subsequently, in May 1999, Yeltsin dismissed Primakov and his government.Yeltsin took this decision following a debate, in the Duma, as to whether Primakov was to be allowed to continue or Sergei Stepashin was to be made the acting prime minister. He appointed Stepashin as the acting prime minister after impeaching Primakov. The Duma approved of Yeltsin’s actions and confirmed Stepashin as the prime minister. However, Yeltsin was criticized all over the world for his failure to resolve the crisis in Chechnya (Yeltsin, Boris Nikolayevich (1931 – ). In The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia including Atlas).Yeltsin tried to continue the process of reforms but the conservative members of parliament opposed his initiatives. In order to evaluate the public’s attitude towards him, a referendum was conducted in 1993 in which he received a significant number of the votes. This prompted him to propose a new Russian constitution (Hough). Incidents like the confrontation with the hard core conservatives, which resulted in the dissolution of parliament and an armed conflict in which the Moscow parliament building was shelled, rendered Yeltsin’s political position very powerful.However, there was growing opposition towards him and economic instability and the war in Chechnya made it very difficult for Yeltsin. He emerged victorious but his ill health prevented him from participating in active politics. Yeltsin used to take sudden decisions, which would cause a great deal of astonishment to everyone and a very telling instance is that of his resignation as president in the year 1999 (Yeltsin, Boris (Nikolayevich) (1 Feb 1931 –). In The Crystal Reference Encyclopedia).In March 1998, President Yeltsin dismissed the government which included two prominent leaders, namely the prime minister and pro free market activist, Viktor Chernomyrdin and Anatoly Chubais, the first deputy prime minister. This action surprised the West which tried to improve trade practices with Russia. The sudden sacking of the government created tremors in the West. At this juncture, Yeltsin issued a communique that Russia would continue with the process of reforming the economy. This resulted in widespread disapproval in Russia, because of the economic setbacks that had lasted for years.Consequently, Yeltsin attempted to pacify the West and to secure their confidence he appointed Sergei Kiriyenko as the acting prime minister, who was considered to be a committed reformist. The Duma accepted his candidature as acting prime minister in its third round of voting. Kiriyenko formed the youngest cabinet in Russia (Russian Federation. In The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia including Atlas). Boris Yeltsin brought about the dissolution of the USSR. Scholars acclaim the contributions of Yeltsin in establishing the post Soviet order in Russia.Historians have named four men as having wrought change in this context, namely, Nikita Krushchev, Leonid Brezhnev, Mikhail Gorbachev and Boris Yeltsin. These four men constitute the four pillars of modern decentralized Russian politics. Krushchev attempted to reform the age old centralized political system, Brezhnev tried to consolidate and then adopt it, Gorbachev endeavored to transform it into a social democracy and Yeltsin attempted to destroy the whole system and replace it with a new system (Brown). Works Cited Brown, Archie.Gorbachev, Yeltsin, and Putin: Political Leadership in Russia's Transition. ISBN 0870031864: Carnegie Endowment, 2001, p45. Colton, Timothy J. â€Å"Boris Yeltsin . † Microsoft ® Student 2008 [DVD]. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation, 2007, 2007. Hough, Jerry F. Democratization and revolution in the USSR, 1985-1991 . ISBN 0815737483, p405: Brookings Institution Press, 1997. Russian Federation. In The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia including Atlas. 2005. 7 November 2007 . Yeltsin, Boris (1931 – ).In Andromeda Encyclopedic Dictionary of World History. 2001. 7 November 2007 . Yeltsin, Boris (1931 – ). In The Macmillan Encyclopedia. 2003. 7 November 2007 . Yeltsin, Boris (Nikolayevich) (1 Feb 1931 –). In The Crystal Reference Encyclopedia . 2005. 7 November 2007 . Yeltsin, Boris Nikolayevich (1931 – ). In The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia including Atlas. 2005. 7 November 2007 .

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Reflection on the book “Night” by Ellie Wiesel Essay

â€Å"I know it’s terrible, trying to have any faith†¦ when people are doing such horrible things. But you know what I sometimes think? I think the world may be going through a phase†¦ it’ll all pass, maybe not for hundreds of years but someday. I still believe in spite of everything that people are really good at heart.†(Diary of Anne Frank) While reading the book â€Å"night†, my view was that people had the right to lose faith after everything they had to go through. However, when I finished the book, I gave it a deep thought and realized that people are good at heart. Maybe it doesn’t take only one lifetime for them to realize what it means to be good and make good actions, but what is important is that maybe one day they will do realize it. It’s hard to accept that a person who was able to sleep after killing thousands of people, can change some day, but who knows? Life changes people and especially after such horrible scenes I think humans won’t let anything like this to happen again. In my opinion, the impact of the Holocaust is huge and people have learned their lesson. Killing and watching people of all ages suffer in such terrible ways didn’t do any good and it won’t do in the future. In times such as these, it’s hard to keep any faith. The only thing in your mind, other than how to survive, is to question life, or God, or even yourself â€Å"Why is this happening to me? What have I done wrong that I have to be punished for? Isn’t there a God?†. How can you explain to someone who has survived a concentration camp, that the one who had killed his/her family and friends, can change, can be good? Few are those who can understand the injustice of life, and moreover, can understand and believe that humans are not all that cruel. I truly believe that the phase when people were able to do anything without a blink of an eye has passed with the Holocaust. Also, I think that there are many people who pray for forgiveness for those who torture and murder, because â€Å"what goes around comes around†. Even if people don’t get killed themselves, life simply always gives it back to them, because the world has  to be in balance – one can’t kill, and have free soul at the same time.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

A Countrys Shape Can Impact Its Fortunes and Destiny

A Country's Shape Can Impact Its Fortunes and Destiny A countrys boundaries, as well as the shape of the land it encompasses, can present problems or help to unify the nation. The morphology of most countries can be divided into five main categories: compact, fragmented, elongated, perforated, and protruded. Read on to learn how the configurations of nation-states have impacted their destinies. Compact A compact state with a circular shape is the easiest to manage.  Belgium  is an example because of the cultural division between Flanders and Wallonia. Belgiums population is divided into two distinct groups: The Flemings, the larger of the two, live in the northern region- called Flanders- and speak Flemish, a language closely related to Dutch. The second group lives in Wallonia, a region in the south, and consists of the Walloons who speak French.   The government long ago divided the country into these two regions, giving each control over its cultural, linguistic, and educational matters.  Despite this division, Belgiums compact form has helped to keep the country together despite numerous European wars and attacks by neighboring countries. Fragmented Nations such as Indonesia, which is composed of more than 13,000 islands, are known as fragmented or archipelagic states because they are composed of archipelagos. Governing such a country is difficult. Denmark  and  the Philippines  are also archipelagic countries separated by water. As you might expect, the Philippines has been attacked, invaded, and occupied numerous times over the centuries due to its fragmented shape, starting in 1521 when Ferdinand Magellan  claimed the islands for Spain.   Elongated An elongated or attenuated nation such as  Chile  makes for difficult governance of peripheral areas in the north and south, which are from the central capital of Santiago. Vietnam is also an elongated state, which has battled numerous attempts by other countries to divide it, such as the 20-year  Vietnam War, where first French and then U.S. forces tried unsuccessfully to keep the southern part of the nation separated from the north. Perforated South Africa  is a classic example of a perforated state, which surrounds  Lesotho. The surrounded nation of Lesotho can only be reached by going through South Africa. If the two nations are hostile, access to the surrounded nation can be difficult. Italy is also a perforated state. Vatican City  and  San Marino- both independent countries- are surrounded by Italy. Protruded A protruded, or panhandle country such as  Myanmar (Burma)  or Thailand has an extended arm of territory. Like an elongated state, the panhandle complicates management of the country. Myanmar has existed in one form or other for thousands of years, for example, but the countrys shape has made it an easy target for many other nations and people, dating to the  Nanzhao kingdom in the mid-800s  to the Khmer  and  Mongol  empires. Though its not a nation, you can get an idea of how hard it would be to defend a protruded country if you picture the state of Oklahoma, which has a prominent panhandle.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

To Kill a Mockingbird Characters

To Kill a Mockingbird Characters Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is a tremendous literary achievement, combining a subtlety of voice with a setting and characters rendered with consummate skill. From a young girl imbued with her older self’s perspectives to the inner life of a servant, Lee makes choices with her characters that add impact to the plot’s events and realism to the setting. It’s that realism- the ability for the reader to imagine actually meeting the characters in the book- that makes Lee’s themes of racism, equality, and the trap of poverty so powerful, and why the novel remains relevant and readable today. Scout Finch Jean Louise Scout Finch is the narrator and main character of the novel. The fact that Jean Louise is actually telling the story as an adult decades later is sometimes forgotten, because Lee so perfectly ties the perspective to the younger Scout, who is 6 years old when the story begins. As a result of this technique, Scout is often remembered as a precociously intelligent child who understands the subtleties of events around her more than most children her age. The fact is, it is the elder Scout injecting those insights into the story with the aid of hindsight and mature experience. Scout is a tomboy who rejects traditional feminine roles and trappings. She is adventurous and idealistic, taking her moral cues from her father, Atticus. Even when she does not fully understand scenarios she instinctively defends Atticus, usually by getting into physical altercations. In fact, physical action is Scout’s preferred way of overcoming any obstacle, which is a curious opposition to Atticus’ more cerebral and peaceful approach. Scout’s physical approach to problems reflects her initially simplistic moral outlook: she initially believes that there is always a clear right and wrong in every situation, and triumph in physical combat always results in a winner and a loser. As the story goes on and Scout grows older, she begins to understand more about the world around her, which by necessity makes her less certain about the morality of any particular action. As a result, Scout begins to value reading and education more as she grows older, and begins to see the way physical force can be abused and lead to less certain moral outcomes. Atticus Finch Scout’s widower father is an attorney. Although he is a well-respected member of the community and can seem like a very traditional man of his time, Atticus in fact has many subtle attributes that mark him as a bit of an iconoclast. He shows little intention of remarrying and seems comfortable being a single father. He values education and is intent that his daughter receive a first-class education, and is not concerned with her lack of what many at the time would consider feminine qualities. He indulges his children, allowing them to call him by name instead of insisting on a honorific like father, and lets them more or less roam unsupervised, trusting their judgment despite their young age. Thus it should not be a surprise when Atticus takes his role as lawyer to Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white woman in the American South in the 1930s, very seriously. It is strongly implied that the town expects Atticus to do very little to defend Tom, and his insistence on taking his role seriously and doing his best for his client enrages much of the community. Atticus is presented as an intelligent, moral man who believes strongly in the rule of law and the necessity of blind justice. He has very progressive views on race and is very perceptive about class distinctions, and teaches his children to always be fair and empathetic to others, but to fight for what they believe in. Jem Finch Jeremy Atticus Jem Finch is Scout’s older brother. Ten years old at the beginning of the story, Jem is in many ways a typical older sibling. He is protective of his status and often uses his superior age to force Scout to do things his way. Jem is depicted by the elder Jean-Louise as sensitive, intelligent, and fundamentally fair. Jem also demonstrates a rich imagination and an energetic approach to life; for example, it is Jem who drives the investigation into the mystery surrounding Boo Radley, the play-acting the children engage in, and the steadily escalating risks involved with making contact. Jem is in many ways presented as the end result of Atticus’ parental example. Not only is Jem older, and thus able to demonstrate how his father has influenced his worldview and behavior, but he shares many of the implied characteristics of Atticus, including a deep reverence for fairness and a decency and respect offered to all other people regardless of race or class. Jem displays difficulty dealing with other people who do not rise to his standard, showing just how hard Atticus has to work every day to keep his aura of calm and maturity. In other words, Jem shows how difficult doing the right thing can be- something that his father makes look easy. Boo Radley If there is one character who encapsulates the broader themes of To Kill a Mockingbird, it’s Boo Radley. A troubled recluse who lives next door to the Finches (but never leaves the house), Boo Radley is the subject of many rumors. Boo naturally fascinates the Finch children, and his affectionate, childlike gestures towards them- the gifts left in the tree knot, Jem’s mended pants- point towards the ultimate lesson that Scout learns from him: That appearances and rumor don’t mean much. Just as Tom Robinson is assumed to be a criminal and a degenerate simply because of his race, Boo Radley is assumed to be terrifying and animalistic simply because he is different. Scout’s recognition of the fundamental humanity of Boo Radley is a crucial part of the story. Dill Harris Charles Baker Dill Harris is a young boy who visits his Aunt Rachel in Maycomb every summer. He becomes best friends with Scout and Jem, who find his sense of adventure and fanciful imagination to be a delightful source of entertainment. Dill is the main driver behind the quest to make Boo Radley come out of his house, and at one point agrees to marry Scout when they are older, something she takes very seriously. Dill serves as an outside point-of-view for Jem and Scout, who have grown up in Maycomb and thus cannot always see their home objectively. Scout expresses a callous attitude towards racism early in the book, for example, but Dill’s reaction is visceral revulsion, which inspires the Finch children to reevaluate their view of the world. Calpurnia Cal is the Finches’ housekeeper and a surrogate mother to Jem and Scout. Whereas early in the novel Scout views Calpurnia as a disciplinarian and killer of fun, by the end of the novel she views Cal as a figure of respect and admiration. Calpurnia is educated and intelligent, and has helped to raise the Finch children to be the same. She also provides the children with a window into the world of black citizens in Maycomb, which is vital to their understanding of the stakes involved in Tom Robinson’s plight. Tom Robinson Tom Robinson is a black man who supports his family by working as a field hand despite having a crippled left arm. He is charged with the rape of a white woman, and Atticus is assigned to defend him. Despite being the accused, Tom has very little to do with the central conflict of the story- just like other members of the black community in America at the time, he is largely powerless, and the conflict is fought between white people. Tom’s essential decency is perceived by Scout when he finally takes part in his own defense, and his eventual death disillusions and depresses Scout.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 74

History - Essay Example The treasury was dedicated to protecting the member cities of the League from attack by Persia and Pericles used his persuasion to ensure that Athens benefits the most from the treasury. Pericles could be labeled as tyrannical because he was also arrogant. For example, Thucydides recounts that Pericles spoke with pride, saying that there was no living Athenian who ever put on mourning because of him (Thucydides 180). Pericles acted tyrannically as can be seen when he influence the Dalian League to send troops to engage the Peloponnese. Even though the League lost in the end, Pericles led the fight against the Peloponnesian war and this brought it many victories between 410 and 406. Finally, Pericles’ tyranny is best seen in his ability to manipulate his opponents’ arguments to his favor. For example, when confronted by some members of the Assembly about a fault they had noted in one of the policies they had passed under his influence, Pericles was candid. He countered that he could not change easily. He blatantly told them that they were the ones who changed but they initially took his advice gladly thinking that all would work out but only regretted later when it did not (Thucydides

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Persuasive Presentation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Persuasive Presentation - Essay Example How many of you feel that guns are necessary and imperative for self-protection? How would you feel if you knew how many people die of the gun each day? Our society has socialized as to acknowledge guns as a beautiful and powerful device but never mention how many people lose their life through it. The magazine, videos, and the internet depict gun ownership as a prestigious phenomenon without informing us on how many people died from gun-related incidences either as innocent or guilty victims. Unfortunately, most gun owners kill their loved ones including their partners and children. Having easy access to guns increases the risks of and opportunity for fatal violence. When individual without a stable emotions or tempers owns guns, the likelihood of involvement in violence is high when they are provoked. Imagine a violent father who regularly beats his wife and threatens to kill her has a gun at such a time of great emotion. Do you think he would hesitate to pull the trigger? Such a scenario might seem to be strange in the ‘civilized America where wife beating is presumed to be a retrogressive practice. Unfortunately, a few months ago, a friend of my uncle shot his wife because of a simple domestic argument. Regrettably, he realised that he had killed his wife when it was too late. Another instance occurred in a public Restaurant where a waiter provoked a drunken man, and he removed his handgun and shot her in the chest; she died instantly. Guns are a risk to the owner and children in the family. According to the Childrens Defence Fund and National Center for Statistics, approximately eight children die each day, and about fifty die every week due to gunfire. Additionally, five times as many children and teenagers suffer fatal injuries related to firearms. It is not once that the media has reported a juvenile death related to improper handling of the

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Is fair trade fair Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Is fair trade fair - Research Paper Example 1923). Fair Trade organizations works in opposition to the capitalist market system, but works within it (Fair trade critique, 2010). They are backed by consumers and are engaged enthusiastically in supporting producers, raising consciousness and in organizing campaigns for bringing changes in the existing policies and practices of international trade. The producers in the South are often found to be marginalized to a great extent. The Fair Trade Organizations are working to make trading a fair practice which would accommodate the interests of all the trading partners. The concept of fair trade is relatively new and is commanding the interest of many researchers in current times. This paper presents a critical analysis of the concept of fair trade and evaluation of the practice by utilizing the theory of economics. The benefits of fair trade One of the most vital market based mechanisms is the practice of fair trade, which helps in the improvement of the livelihoods of the producers based in the developing countries (Nicholls & Opal, 2005, p. 5). The partnership between the producers and the consumers is targeted to provide a fair share of the benefits of trade to the farm workers and the farmers. This addresses â€Å"the imbalance of power in trading relationships† (What is Fairtrade? 2011). In many countries, particularly in the countries in the South, the farmers and agricultural producers are deprived of the actual yield of profits. Under fair trade the price for the products they sell is set according to the norms of the Fair trade Standards. Involvement of these workers in fair trade helps them to get better deals and also a superior terms of trade (O’Neill, 2007). This in turn provides them with the opportunity to lead a better standard of life and make better plans for their future. Fair trade prices The fair trade price is the minimum price that has to be paid to the fair trade producers. This price acts â€Å"as a safety net† (Wha t is Fairtrade? 2011) for the farmers. It is determined by the regulations mentioned in the Fair trade Standards. This price is associated to all the products that are Fair trade certified. This price is set in such a way that it can cover the â€Å"average costs of sustainable production† (What is Fairtrade? 2011). When the markets fall below the level of sustainable production, the farmers obtain a meager price for their produces; the fair trade prices are designed to safeguard the interests of the vulnerable producers. Sometimes the prices are negotiated with the buyers to yield a higher price on the basis of the quality of the products. Classical theory of employment According to the classical school of economics â€Å"the wage is equal to the marginal product of labor† (Keynes, n.d.). This implies that the real wage entitled to an employed person is the minimum amount of remuneration provided to the person to induce him to put the amount of effort or labor that is actually exerted. The wage is equal to the value of output that is foregone when one unit of the labor is removed from the process of production. The classical theory of economics is built under the assumption of the competitive market, in which the amount of labor employed and the amount of wages are determined by the forces of the market. In this context, the disutility

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Online Banking Services: Benefits and Risks

Online Banking Services: Benefits and Risks Internet banking ABSTRACT Internet banking started in 80s and nowadays its considered globally as an essential need of todays modern banking facilities. The debate about moving secure investment and banking transaction to the web is indeed over because they are already in progress but analysis of the dimensions of this revolution are far from complete. This research is done to reveal the views/perceptions of todays modern day customers about online banking. The main objectives were (a) customers perceptions of the benefits of online banking (b) customers perceptions of the risks/the issues/threats/problems associated with the online banking. The outcome of the study may help the higher management of banks to plan and implement more secure and effective online banking services. The researcher collected the primary data through questionnaires and then data was analyzed through frequency analysis and mean score analysis. The results show that online banking minimizes inconvenience, saves time, the cost of transaction and facilitates quick responses showed the highest mean scores i.e. 4.38, 4.26, 4.21, and 4.20. The outcomes of the benefits of online banking are similar to earlier studies of Ahmad Kaleem (2008). The customers gave average responses to rest of the statements of the benefits of online banking. The second part which was related to the risks associated with online banking show that the customers fear of the chance of fraud in online banking is at the top of the list with the highest mean score of 3.19.The chance of govt access to data comes second which showed the mean score of 2.56. Rest of the statements showed low mean scores. And the results of the risks associated with online banking are a bit different from previous studies. INTRODUCTION History tells that technological innovations have always added up in human general and professional life. And last two centuries can easily be called as the era of technological revolution. And during the process of this modern technological era the innovation of computer has totally changed the landscape of todays modern world. Rapid technology advancements in this field have totally changed the world wide economic and business atmosphere. Same way innovation of internet banking in the banking sector has opened a new and totally different platform for speed up communication and transactions of financial transactions for the customers (Booz et al, 1997). It is essential to introduce this latest banking tool to customers in a positive way and create awareness in customers minds to get the most out of this new innovation for both the customers and the service providers. Internet banking started some 20 years back and at the moment millions of people access their bank accounts online every single day and this number is increasing day by day. You can access accounts, make payments, can transfer funds online, pay bills, view your account statements, change your personal details etc online. Instead of traditional operating boundaries, in online banking financial institutions suddenly find themselves in a different kind of environment where they compete for the customer loyalty and liquidity. Starting of this new-era of online banking facility has helped customers in many ways but it has also introduced a number of risks which were never there before in any other generation both for the customers and the banks. Although internet banking has attracted hundreds of thousands of customers around the world but still the customer satisfaction/acceptance level, security issues and the future growth of the industry are still challenged. Online banking has develo ped at a tremendous rate and now even banks/financial institutions are competition each other in providing online services. But only those companies who will provide more value-added services will win the customer loyalty. Some of the barriers/drawbacks of internet banking are continuing investment that banks have to do to make sure that their online system is secure. These investments are mostly done in expensive, proprietary networks and software solutions to make their server secure from hackers and viruses. Although online banking has already completed more than twenty five years but analysis of the dimensions and the direction and the degree of risk involved in this revolution are far from complete. As every body knows that customer satisfaction is one of the basic requirements for the success of any business in any sector around the world (Welch et al., 2005, Terblanche, 2006, Perreault et al., 2006, Cohen, 2006, Athanassopoulos and lliakopoulos, 2003) The main reason to this is that high customer satisfaction in return gives higher market share and higher level of profits (Szymankski and Henard, 2001). Satisfaction levels with online banking are improving over the years. In this study the benefits that the customers are getting from using the online banking services are evaluated and the risk they are facing by using this service as well. In past few years, the margin of profits in banking sector has increased a lot. And online has also contributed to it. Although the ratio of accepting this new technology is different in different countries but still people are accepting it almost all over the globe. One of the positive aspects of todays modern world of commercial banking sector is the formation of new deliverance channels for customer satisfaction and most recent of them is online banking (Daniel, E. 1999). Traditional way of providing services only by bank branches is not enough to meet the needs of todays customers (Bradley, L et al, 2003). Adoption of online banking is increasing day by day although the level of adoption could be different in different countries. Online/Internet banking can be defined as an alternative to traditional banking system which allows the customers to perform almost all financial transactions e.g. balance checking, money transfer, account upgrades, bank statement printing etc on the banks secure website which otherwise can be performed only by visiting the banks branch. History of Internet Banking in UK Online banking services started from the early 80s in New York and in 1981. In the beginning Citibank, Chase Manhattan,Chemical and Manufacturers Hanover offered home banking services by using the videotex system but at that time videotex system didnt became popular except in France and UK where they used videotex minitel and prestel.Now we are going to discuss the history of online banknig in UK which started in 1983 and Nottingham Building Society was the first one to start this service at that time. It was based on the UKs prestel system and used a computer such as the BBC Micro or keyboard connected to the telephone system and television set. So, the customers had the facility to view their bank statements, bank transfers and also had the facility of making online bill payments. And at that time some part of it was done manually as well e.g. if any customers likes to make bank transfers or bill payments, (includeing details of the recipient)washad to be sent to the Nottingham Bui lding Society had to be notified in written form who set the details up on the Homelink system. Usually people used it for paying their gas, electricity and telephone bills. While Stanford Federal Credit Union also joined NBS in October 1994 and started online banking services to its customers and was the first one to do this. Types of Online Banking Online banking is divided into three types and this division is done on the basis of functional level of online banking that is currently employed in the market. Informational Communicative Transactional Informational (Websites) This has been identified as the first level of internet banking. Typically the bank has the marketing information about the banks products and services on a stand alone server. The risk is very low as informational systems typically have no path between the server and the banks internal network. Communicative/Simple transactional (Websites) This type of internet banking allows some interaction between the banks systems and the customer. The interaction is limited to e-mail, account inquiry, loan application or static file updates (name and address). It does not permit any funds transfers. Advanced Transactional (Websites) This level of internet banking allows bank customers to electronically transfer funds to/from their accounts, pay bills and conduct other banking transaction online like CABS in Zimbabwe. Features of Online Banking Online banking consists of many characteristics and some of them are listed below: Transactional Features: Features which are used to perform a financial transaction are called transactional features such as money transfer from one account to another account of either the same customer or different customers, paying bills,applying online for a credit card or for a loan or a new account etc Non-transactional Features: These features include online viewing or printing of account statement, checking links, cobrowsing, chat, wire transfer, sending mail to banks/financial institution administration. Different ways of attacking Online Banking Websites There are a number of ways used these days to directly attack either the banks websites providing the facility or their customers. But it is much easier to deceive the customers, most of the attackers try to deceive the user to steal his/her login id and password. Two of the most used methods for such kind of attacks are phishing and pharming. Other methods used to steal login information includes cross-site scripting and key logger or trojan horses. Even hackers try to attack signature based online banking method as well and they try to manipulate the software. By using this method real and genuine transactions are seen on the front page by the user to deceive him/her and faked transactions take place in the background. A recent report by FDIC Technology Incident Report tells that around 536 cases of computer crimes related to hacking and phishing and data loss have been registerd. And if we calcute the worth of these losses it goes around $30,000 per incident . And the grand total could be up to $16-million loss within 2007. Such kind of money loss due to computer crime have already increased at a rate more than 100 percent in last 2 to 3 years. And in most of these cases the attacker cannot be identified and the targeted custormers are those who are using online services in one way or the other. The latest method used by the hackers to attack is that a trojan horse allows the hacker to change both the destination account number and the amount of the user. Security Measures by the Banks In online banking increasing number of security issues day by day as compared to conventional banking is one of the major worries of banks. The most basic method used by the banks to provide security to the customers is allowing the customers to access the data by using a one time password authentication method. Most of the secure Internet shopping sites use this method for providing security to the customers. But using this method for online banking is not secure way of doing things online. Banks/financial institutions use two different security measures to fail the attacks by the hackers. The first one is the PIN/TAN system in which users are given new passwords every time they login and do the financial transactions. And mostly these passwords are sent to the customers by post. The most appropriate way of using TANs is to generate them only when customer needs them. This is basically a two-factor authentication way and the positive aspect of adopting this method is that no additional encryption is required. The second method is also a commonly used method and this method used is Signature based in which all transactions are signed and encrypted digitally. And the digital signatures of the custoemrs are then stored either on any kind of memory storage disks or smartcards. Countermeasures for failing such attacks Banks and financial institutions are using several countermeasures techniques to avoid all these kinds of attacks which have been discussed in previous heading e.g. to stop attacks that are done by both phishing and pharming, digital certificates have been introduced. On the other hand, class-3 card readers are introduced to fail those attacks which target signature based online banking. While on the users end, they should use virus scanners to be on the safe side against different ways of hacking tools like phishing, pharming, Trojan horses etc. It is also been observed that when people download material from internet, many times some hacking files also enter the systems and later those files are either used directly by the hackers to steal data or those files simply start sharing and sending your data with the hackers computer. Another step taken is the multifactor authentication (MFA) process. History of Banking The earliest of all banks in old age were the temples of that time. This practice started around third millennium B.C. And if we think that the culture of having banks in a society only started with the invention of money, then we are wrong because they started even before this. At that time instead of money people used to deposit grain. But after sometime at a later stage, people started depositing cattles and agricultural implements. Eventually comes the deposits in the form of gold, precious stones, metals etc in the form of compressed plates were used as deposits. One of the strongest reason of using temples and palaces to keep the precious goods were that they were the safest places to store gold at that time because they were almost always full of monks or worshippers and were well built as well. On the other hand, temples were sacred places so temples give an extra protection to precious goods from robbers. Even the culture of giving loans is as old as around 18th century BC i n Babylon. And most of the times those loans were given by priests/monks of that time and mostly to the businessman community of that time. Ancient Greece also has a history of banking. Most of the transcations at that time were giving loans, deposits, exchaning the currency. And proofs have been found that rather than giving money in cash which was taken as a loan, a credit note is given to the customer in one city and the customer used to take cash in another city by showing that note. And the advantage of doing it is that it was saving the customers from getting robbed on their way from one city to another. And this technique of credit-based banking was very common in 4th century B.C.in the Mediterranean world. Egyptian people also used to use grain as an alternative of money. By the fall of Egypt, the no. of different government based financial institutes of that time were combined into a single network of grain banks and their head office was in Alexandria from where they were monitored and the transactions of grains and other stuff from all the state granary banks were recorded. And even at that time paymets were done from one account to the other without actually moving money from one place to another. During last few decades of 3rd century B.C., an island of Delos, known for its magnificent harbor and famous temple of Apollo, became a leading and well known banking hub of that time due to the temple of Apollp and excellent harbour. Same way in Egypt, without moving cash from one place to another financial transactions used to take place by just writing a credit receipt. Ancient Rome took this art of doing financial transactions to a new level and started forming some rules and regulations and a set infrastructure for the system and formed and practice d many regulations for banks/financial institutions. Although interest charging was an old traditions but make it more structured. But further growth of Roman banks was limited because they used to do cash transactions more frequently. And even in Christinaity practice of charging interest is considered immoral, so the further development haulted at that time. And the last but not the least point to add here is that due to the fall of Roman empire banking also diminished and didnt came on screen until the start of the crusades. Western Banking History Modern Western banking history initiated in London with the formation of London Royal Exchange in 1565. At that time their offices where they used to sit and do financial work were called banks. There exsisted also a hierarchical order among professionals at that time. The list included bankers, city exchanges and pawn shops respectively.Before the Industrial Revoultion Amsterdam was the financial capita of the world in 1609. And during last decade of 17th century Amsterdam, London, and Hamburg were like the central banks of the world. And the famous East India Trade company was the most stable of that time. Global Banking In the 1970s and 1980s there was a wave of deregulation and privatization of government enterprises. The basic reason for doing so is to improve economic growth of the countries and it was private-sector at that time which was given the responsibility to participate positively in the growth and development of the country. Even the developed countries of today were facing the issues of economic growth at that time. This gave a chance to large companied to expand their business internationally. During this phase of globalization and expansion banking sector also grew tremendously. And U.S. emerged as the largest stock market in the world. And their economy and assessts grew twice the rate of the rest of the world. But they didnt enjoyed that kind of growth rate during last twenty years. And U.S. Foreign investments also play a part in this decline. And the other factor is growth of foreign financial markets. For example Japan where ratio of savings has gone up in last two decades and t hen the deregulation in other parts of the world is also a factor influencing U.S. growth rate. Such growing trend of globalization and the avaliability of opportunities of economic growth abroad has totally changed the traditional banking and now many banks have shown keen interests and preference for the universal banking model. And these banks can perform all kinds of financial services. And Internet banking is used as a major tool to meet the ever growing and changing demands of todays modern customers and so internet banking also expanded its wings globally under this new era of global banking. Such is a proof of global banking setup that by the end of 2000 around $10.5 trillion worth of financial activities were recorded breaking all the previous records. The top ten leading banks holding most of that market share was 80%. Among ten top ranked banks of the year the seven of them were multi-national bank who are doing business all around the globe and among them were three American and four European banks. Benefits of Online Banking Electronic Banking has many benefits and we are going to discuss them in detail now. First of all you can transfer funds from one account to another. And this could be done either between different accounts of the same person or vice versa. You can pay bills online, apply for a loan or a new account etc.Other features include printing of bank statement, changing personal details, contacting bank administration. Now if we go further in detail, we are going to examine more benefits of online banking. , service, technology, change, knowledge about computer usage and internet are a main Thornton and White (2001) found that there are many electronic distribution channels available for banks in US and then they compared them all and concluded that customer orientation towards convenience source of usage of different channels. And online banking is playing an important role to minimize the queues in branches which in turn increases efficiency of bank employees because if they got fewer cust omers in bank they can give them enough time and could solve their problems in a better way rather than looking at the long queue and getting stressed and under pressure (Thornton and White, 2001). Howcroft et al., (2002) found that the most important factors which are helpful in an increased number of usage of electronic banking are less fees and the reducing paper work and removal of the factor of human error.(Kiang et al., 2000). One more important factor which was concluded by Byers and Lederer, (2001) was that due to a rapid change in technology during last one century consumer attitudes have changed as well and people like to go for the usage of latest technology rather than bank cost a structure that determines the changes in distribution channels. Now users can do banking outside normal banking hours as well. Normally users can only do banking only between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. And this amount of time is only 8 to 9 hours per day. Now they have got the facility of 24 hours a day and 7 days a week to do banking operations. And this is one of the most important reasons for the adoption of online banking. Banks provide customers convenient, inexpensive access to the bank 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Another point is also found in this scenario that ATM machines are contributing a lot as well in this new era of technology and these machines are performing the same kind of transactions as do a member of the staff at a bank will do. And the point to note in this sentence is that the ATM is performing these transactions at half the cost a human can do and with a four-to-one advantage in productivity. Gerrard and Cunningham (2003) found a positive correlation about the factor of convenience and online banking because you can now do all the banking transactions even from the ease of your home and you dont need to go to branch and wait in a queue to be served. Multi-functionality of this IT technology is also contributing feature to higher the customer satis faction level which is not an easy task in a highly competitive time of today. With the availability of self-service machines or channels, banks can reduce their branch network and to some extend number of staffs as well. Because if people are being served by machines in the same way as by an employee and in return the customers are satisfied as well, so it means that these alternative channels are helping banks in improving their efficiency and reducing their branch network or the number of employees. And that number of staffs can be used in some other profitable venture by the bank (Birch and Young, 1997). And this thing can ultimately help towards achieving improved customer satisfaction and increasing the institutions efficiency level (Thornton and White, 2001). Nowadays banks are even competing over providing better and secure online services and even non-banking financial institution are involved in this race. With more usage of online system customers now can compare differen t prices by different suppliers easily and quickly. The Internet increases the power of the customer to make price comparisons across suppliers quickly and easily. And as a result this stabilizes the prices of different products and the customers can have a better product in reasonable price. Yakhlef (2001) found out that almost all banks are responding different to this new fast growing and adopting technology. He also found that those banks which are taking it in a positive way are achieving better communication levels with customers. This point has also been discussed that by providing financial services to them right into their home/office is strengthing the bond and trust level between cutomers and the banks. As a result banks are enjoying increased customers loyalty and satisfaction. Nancy et al. (2001) took forward this debate in a different way and viewed that customers still like and prefer to go to branch and interact with a human to solve their banking problems rather than choosing machines to solve their problem. Because they found that there are more possibilities of asking a same question in a different way or asking many different questions at a same time. And the bank clerks are less vulnerable to machines with a quick level of response to all possible questions. This increases the probability of offering customer a new product or a best suitable product to customer and at the end it leaves a good image on the customer and enhances customer loyalty. We should note another point over here that level of usage and popularity of online banking is not the same in different countries around the world and the level of response in many developing countries around the world is less than the level of response in developed countries. There are many factors which p lay role in such kind of response. It includes ignorance, illiteracy, insufficient security measures by the banks and the government for online banking, preference for banking in branches rather than on internet etc. For example Polatoglu and Ekin (2001) studied about online usage in Turkey and found the same reasons as described above for the low level of usage of online banking. They found that ignorance to the usage of email system and preference of doing everyday banking at bank branches are some of the main reasons of low level of adoption of online banking in Turkey. So as a result e-banking is not that famous and in use in Turkey. Risks Associated with Electronic Banking Now it is time to discuss the risk factor included in the usage of electronic banking. Now we are going to discuss that although customers are getting a lot of benefits by using online banking services but by using online services they are exposing them to a number of risks that should be considered before using online banking on regular basis. One of the most basic and first point in this debate is that although we accept that online banking is providing a lot of opportunities for the banks in terms of efficiency and time and money saving and customer loyalty but it also limits this whole system and its future and current growth due to security issues, complexity of the system and technical problems involved (Sathye, 1999: Mols, 1999). Now these issues can be viewed in different ways. Some people will view them as an issue related to the level of trust on ones bank. Even Hewer and Howcroft (1999) in their studies defined these risk issues as level of trust to a measure the amount of risk. A number of previous studies have concluded that level of trust in case of electronic banking and perceived risks have a positive impact on commitment and customer loyalty and trust which ultimately leads towards overall satisfaction level of the customer about electronic banking. In this scenario, we can say that reputation of the service provider also affects the customers level of trust on the financial institution/bank. Doney and Cannon (1997) defined reputation as the safety of customers money and privacy. Because if the customers are not sure of the honesty or loyalty of their service provider they will simply quit that service provider and move to some other service provider which they think is better and more honest and concerned about the security of their financial transactions. Level of trust is the first and the most basic step of doing any kind of business with any firm/institution or service provider. Tyler and Stanley (1999) also argued on the same thing that b y showing commitment, honesty and cooperation between them and the customers, they can win customer loyalty. In some cases it is found that customers do have complains about the longer logon times consumed during online banking transactions rather than using any other medium for communication e.g. phone call etc. Min and Galle (1999) found one of the common factor in their survey which is the disruption of information access to be one of the most common factor which draws the customers away from using Internet channels for commerce. Similar results have been found by Liao and Cheung (2002) in their research and they also suggested that customers expect the online system to be always accurate, friendly, fully secure, level of service should be good i.e. response time. If these factors are there then we can say that online banking can grow and it does hold a future otherwise the future is a bit doubtful and some positive changes are needed in the online system. Confidentiality or privacy of data is also one the major factors to be considered in adoption of online banking because a large number of customers feel unsecured about sharing their personal information by this medium and feel that their personal information could be used in a way to exploit them or to share with someone without have the right to share their personal information. (Gerrard and Cunningham, 2003). In the same scenario a research was conducted in UK by White and Nteli (2004) about the number of internet users n the country and the number of on line banking users in the country. And the major factor which came up at the end of the study was that people in UK are vary of sharing their personal information on Internet and they are still not satisfied about the laws by the government about internet banking and the frauds and hacking. This is an example of unfair or incomplete and unprotected system available to be used by everybody from a genuine customer to a hacker. In some cases people are not sure that in case of a dispute whether electronic documents and records are enough to prove their point or they ar not acceptable. And if a dispute arises in case of a fraud then what is going to the result of it, whether they will have enough material or not to prove their point. Other similar kind of risks include loss of job for many employees because of more frequent use of machines for financial transactions rather than going to bank branch. They it affects the social part of the society as well. because if people are doing all such things at home then they will not go out and contact with other people will reduce which will reduce the opportunities for people to socialize and interact with other people and to some extent can add up to a less active society (Black at al., 2001). LITERATURE REVIEW How Banks perceive Online banking in developing countries Online banking provides substitutes of fast services of banking to a large number of customers. Online banking services are fast becoming popular both among academics and practitioner. Rapid advancement in banking industry has brought a lot of amendments in the sector. Public banks dominated the financial markets before 1990. After 1990 the privatization of banking sector started. Many amendments and improvements came after the privatization of banking sector. Even the electronic banking started after the privatization of the sector. Out of many technological wonders electronic banking is one of the wonders. Quite a lot of online services are being provided by different banks in Pakistan i.e. checking account statement, account balance, checking current balance, transfer of funds, credit cards payments, direct payments, utility bills payments, cheque book requests, stop payments requests, demand draft requests, new fixed deposit requests, statement download, other information and gui delines download. This study describes the risks and benefits of online banking in Pakistan. It minimizes inconvenience, reduces transaction cost and saves time. It also reduces the risk of cash carrying. But it leads to data access to public which leads to data insecurity and enhances the chances of fraud and embezzlement. Electronic banking involves lower fee and less paper work and human error. O Crisis Management: Impact of a Crisis Crisis Management: Impact of a Crisis JAMES WALKER INTRODUCTION Crisis management will most likely require more than being remorseful to the press or the CEO of some organization appearing on the news. We know the news that is broadcasted goes viral quick. Organizations must be vigilant to respond to a crisis quickly and decisively utilizing all platforms of communication to speak to the public. Furthermore, the most important thing is for organizations to accept responsibility for the actions and not distant themselves from the crisis or from the public. Its given there is no fix for all methods to remedy a crisis, but the lessons learned should be important. In this assignment, it will allow chance to analyze a major crisis and the impact on a community, nation, and the world when bearing in mind crisis management. The assignment will discuss the threat or hazard to the organization, elements of surprise, decision making of leadership with timelines of event and decisions made, successful and unsuccessful decision making, and changes resulted or should be considered. THREAT TO ORGANIZATION The New York Times accused Coca-Cola, stating that the company was funding obesity research that attempted to disprove the link between obesity and diet and shifted the problem to lack of exercise. It was said that Coca-Cola financed the new nonprofit Global Energy Balance Network and it advocated propaganda and deflects the role of soft drinks in the spread of obesity and Type 2 diabetes. (reference COCA). The accusation had a huge impact to the company to a point it was losing in the market sales. It was a first-class type of crisis for Coca-Cola and it was caught off guard, especially the intent was to fund scientific researches for health and well-being programs. The idea was misconstrued from the publics and social medias eyes. LEADERSHIP DECISION-MAKING EVENTS During the crisis that could cripple Coca-Cola, the CEO (Muhtar Kent) had professionally managed the crisis and to act quickly to make decisions. He assumed responsibility, owned up to it through the whole ordeal. He understood the businesss level of reputation and if he left the crisis to take its course, the business could have lost it reputation and the market sale of the products. The CEO is the best spokesperson to rectify the issue and that person is who you want out front telling the truth or the intent. In most public relations (PR) incidents, the CEO is shielded and it portrays that the CEO has no interest to the issue. The making of an outsized response is crucial to the crisis. Overreacting is preferred to a small measure or ignoring the critics helps as well, since it is all about opinions. CEO Muhtar Kent led Coca-Cola to initiate a management committee of impartial experts to give governance on the investments of the business from an academic research and appoint profes sionals to investigate opportunities for research and health initiatives. The bottom line is that Coca-Colas response to the allegations that it finances a group to protects it interests at the expense of public health is a case study in PR crisis management. The explanation by CEO Muhtar Kent characterizes a business response that encompasses the important elements of effective business PR crisis management. SUCCESSFUL/UNSUCCESSFUL DECISION-MAKING The successful outcome for Coca-Cola over this accusation was all due to the CEOs professional decision-making. He provided guidance when responding to occurrences and apologies. CEO Muhtar Kents first successful decision was admitting the companys mistake while not really apologizing in his explanation, Well Do Better. Furthermore, he took this accusation in a resilient way, at the source, which was acknowledging the accusations that were deceiving the publics and social medias eyes about its support for scientific research. In return, he defends the company by attempting to confront the global obesity epidemic and that the company had good intentions. However, CEO Muhtar Kent admits the intention is not working. Additionally, the actions that were taken to support the research for health and well-being were misconstrued and it caused a lot of confusion and mistrust. In the CEOs explanation, the company will act forward and with more transparency. It will put on the website the list of health and well-being partnerships and research activities it supported in the past five years and updating bi-annually. CEO Muhtar Kent stated that efforts will be made to continue to support the healthy options by having lower sugar and calorie drinks to include his company will stay committed to fight obesity. The unsuccessful decision-making by the leaders was broadcasting their intent and ensuring it wasnt misleading to allow the intent to make out that Coke was averting criticism about the role sugary drinks have played in the spread of obesity and Type 2 diabetes. The support was in good intentions with health and well-being, but how the public and social media viewed it was the opposite. It became a huge PR crisis as it seemed that Coca-Cola was trying to save their sales by funding an alleged cover up. CONSIDERATIONS AND RESULTS FOR CHANGES The businesses or organizations can save themselves from potential crisis is the highpoint of their element. In the event the organization is faced with these crisis, its ability to rise from the bottom and reveal the strength shows its crisis management plan. Additionally, the organizations do have practice something called the Conflict Management Life Cycle. It is a cycle that supports organizations to remain stable during or after a crisis. The Conflict Management Life Cycle is the cycle that gives the know how to manage a conflict or crisis. The cycle deals with being proactive (environmental scanning, issue tracking, issue management, and crisis planning), strategic (risk communication, conflict positioning, and crisis management), reactive (crisis communications, litigation PR, and conflict resolution), and recovery (reputation management and image restoration). Coca Cola had a Crisis Management Plan and the CEO Muhtar Kent utilized the Conflict Management Life Cycle. The considerations that was discussed for Coca-Cola was dealing with issue management, plan for communications, and how to respond to a crisis. For issue management, the key steps were to identify the issue (accusation of supporting for the wrong intention), evaluate the facts (support for the right reasons), priorities (reputation and sale), response (response from CEO with the real facts), and implementation (plan to gain trust and show intentions were good). The communication plan that CEO Muhtar Kent (Coca-Cola) had allowed for anticipation (identify the threat and monitor risks), prepare (define the key information in advance and anticipate information), and response (react quickly and efficiently, utilize the organizations processes and procedures, and practice potential events). CEO Muhtar Kent responded with Coca-Cola supporting health and well-being programs was in goo d intentions and not to be misconstrued. He responded with the 5Cs (confidence, clarity, control, concern, and competence). CONCLUSION Crisis management requires more than being remorseful to the press or the CEO of some organization appearing on the news. Organizations must be vigilant to respond to a crisis quickly and decisively utilizing all platforms of communication to speak to the public. Furthermore, the most important thing is for organizations to accept responsibility for the actions and not distant themselves from the crisis or from the public. Its given there is no fix for all methods to remedy a crisis, but the lessons learned should be important. Coca-Colas CEO, Muhtar Kent, quickly addressed the accusations professionally into the reactive phase of the Conflict Management Cycle. Furthermore, he made statements acknowledging accusations and the strategies is not working. Even though he did not completely express regret, he disclosed the company did not choose the best way to fight obesity and assuring they would be transparent from now on. The CEO benefits from this approach to move on to the reputation management part of the recovery phase by promising that Coca-Cola will update frequently a list of its well-being partnerships and research activities. In this manner, the publics trust will be salvaged and the companys image will be restored. Coca-Cola did a noble thing when they took responsibility for their unsuccessful decision-making. The company showed interest and sent their CEO to address the problem that had good intentions by following the Conflict Management Life Cycle and their Crisis Management Plan. The importance of the CEO speaking out is critical since communication plays a relevant part in not identifying the crisis and the impact. A crisis can damage the organizations products or services, threat public safety, harm employees, customers and stakeholders (physically, emotionally, and financially). Furthermore, it can cause operational, financial and reputational loss to include the impacting the future probability and growth. The frameworks, Conflict Management Life Cycle and Crisis Management Plans, are essential when it comes to being proactive to a crisis, using strategy for a crisis, being reactive to a crisis, and recovering from a crisis. BIBLIOGRPAHY Bernstein, Jonathan (N/A) Free Management Library, All About Crisis Management, Retrieved from: http://managementhelp.org/crisismanagement/. Cantoria, Ciel S. (2011). Bright Hub Project Management, Great Real-Life Examples of Successful Crisis Management, Retrieved from: http://www.brighthubpm.com/risk- management/104704-great-real-life-examples-of-successful-crisis-management/, January 29, 2011. Comcowich, W. (2015). Cyber Alert, Case Study: Coca-Cola PR Crisis Management, Retrieved from: http://www.cyberalert.com/blog/index.php/case-study-coca-cola-pr-crisis- management/. Preach (N/A). How do you act in crisis?, Public Relations, Retrieved from: https://bronk002.wordpress.com /2016/10/25/how-do-act-in-crisis/. Poston, Leslie (2012). Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Shining examples of excellent social media crisis management, Retrieved from: https://www.marketingcloud.com/blog/shining-examples- of-excellent-social-media-crisis-management, September 21, 2012. OConnor, A. (2015). The New York Times, Coca-Cola Funds Scientists Who Shift Blame for Obesity Away From Bad Diets, Retrieved from: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/08/09 /coca-cola-funds-scientists-who-shift-blame-for-obesity-away-from-bad-diets/?_r=1. Prevention is Better than Cure: BCC- An Ultimate Life Saver Prevention is Better than Cure: BCC- An Ultimate Life Saver Sudipta Paul Introduction: India in global stage is aspiring to be a powerful country with its potential powers in various field but the policy makers and governments ended acting a feeble role due to lack of providing the basic amenities to people. Average poor people struggle to get basic health facilities and proper sanitation. Most of them are unaware of various health hazards, for example, about the unsafe cause of open defecation. Population explosion, high maternal mortality and infant mortality rate were observed in India. Lower rate of health literacy and cultural taboos made worsen the situations. There were urgent needs felt to enhance the health literacy among marginalised people and empowering them. Thus, government health policies are made to harness BCC strategies to fight the superstitions and myths from society. In 1951, policy makers recognised health education as one of the major components of health care delivery system. â€Å"In 1946, the Health Survey and Development Committee, headed by Sir Joseph Bhore recommended the establishment of a well- structured and comprehensive health service with a sound primary health care infrastructure. It was in this context that the concept of health promotion and health education were introduced to achieve desired outcomes† (Public Health Resource Network, Book 05, 2007, p. 6). Empowerment of rural folks on health education was named as IEC (information, education, communication) which in course of time harnessed with BCC programmes (Behavior change communication). BCC strategies are mainly part of development support communication and involve participatory action research which came out as critique of dominant paradigm of development communication. â€Å"Criticism of earlier approaches to health communication has resulted in development of the term â€Å"behavior change communication† (BCC), but so rapidly is the term BCC becoming associated with persisting past practices that one would not be surprised if there is done- from its current approach to an approach which involves the active participation of the community in directing the design of a strategy appropriate to social and cultural contexts which promotes good health and reduces their risk for ill health† (Public Health Resource Network, Book 05, 2007, p. 7). The book, Public Health Resource Network (2007, p. 2-3) defines BCC as, â€Å"understanding people’s situation and influences, developing messages that respond to the concerns within those situations and using communication processes and media to persuade people to increase their knowledge and change the behaviors and practices that place them at risk†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢ € ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ In the BCC approach, there is more conscious focus on the receiver- rather than the sender- as the center of communication. Earlier IEC programmes tended to see their purpose as having to â€Å"sell† a particular message or idea. The BCC approach recognises individuals within the intended audiences as active, rather than as passive receivers of information and messages, who act on messages only if they are seen as advantageous or useful. In BCC approach there is greater appreciation that the audience may need new skills and social support to make and maintain behavior change.† One way process of communication of IEC compelled to introduce BCC process as a part of development process of communication. Neill Mckee (2002), defines BCC as, â€Å"research based consultative process of addressing knowledge, attitudes and practices through identifying, analysing, and segmenting audiences and participants in programmes and by providing them with relevant in formation and motivation through well-defined strategies, using an appropriate mix of interpersonal, group and mass media channels, including participatory methods† (cited in BCC strategy for NRHM in Uttar Pradesh, 2008, p. 9). BCC analyses the socio- demographic profiles of a particular target community and tries to remove the social and behavioral barriers with discussions, interpersonal communications. â€Å"It is about understanding the communities, context and environments in which behaviors occur. BCC is also about using persuasive techniques to demand health rights and to make public sector health services available and accessible to the neediest. BCC is about integrating new practices into long standing social, cultural and communication systems† (Nandita Kapadia-Kundu, 2008, as cited in BCC strategy for NRHM in Uttar Pradesh, p. 9). BCC uses mass media, interpersonal communication, community mobilisation for change of behaviors of community for improvement of health status and development of future. Behavior Change Communication is used to generate knowledge, tries to bring changes in attitude, behavior, intentions of people. BCC along with other strategies advocates adopting a healthy behavior and overcoming barriers- whether it is mental block or physical block such as difficulty in accessibility of health facilities. Behavior Change Communication helps to bring a sustainable change in health behavior of community. Conceptual framework of BCC: (Source: http://www.cpc.unc.edu/measure/prh/rh_indicators/crosscutting/bcc) Need of BCC: BCC tools are used to increase the intervention of the promotive and preventive aspect of health among people. â€Å"BCC is a process that motivates people to adopt and sustain healthy behaviors and lifestyles† (INFO Reports, January 2008, Issue no. 16, p. 1). Needs of BCC (Public Health Resource Network, Book 05, 2007, p. 11) are: â€Å"BCC alone can: Increase the intended participant’s knowledge and awareness of a health issue, problem, or solution Influence perceptions, beliefs, and attitudes that may change social norms Facilitate building of social/community norms that are facilitative and supportive to desired changes of behaviors/practices Motivate and provide the confidence and optimism needed for community action Demonstrate or illustrate healthy skills Reinforce knowledge, attitudes, or behaviors that are promotive of good health Show the benefit of behavior change Advocate a position on a health issue or policy Increase demand or support for health services Refute myths and misconceptions† Goal of BCC strategies: â€Å"Empowering the family and individuals to take health related decisions based on information and analysis. Motivating the community to play a proactive role in improving their health status. Effecting greater utilisation of health services through an improved public understanding of health care. Creating competencies and enabling environment to assist with the above objectives† (Public Health Resource Network, Book 05, 2007, p. 14). Tools of BCC: Tools of BCC are intended to delineate planning, implementation, development of BCC strategies of any programme. Major BCC tools for strategic plan are: Situation analysis: This stage involes identification of social determinants, mental blocks or areas which need to adopt a healthy behaviour or change of habits or attitudes of people. The reasons behind the particular health issue are identified in this stage. Research should done on audience analysis- demographic and attitudal profile of the audience; idenitification of the knowledge, attitude, behaviour, beliefs and values of people; identification of primary and secondary audience; availability of health services in the locality; available media or peer groups in the area. Strategic design: Strategic design should contain a ‘SMART’ objective- The strategic design contains the objectives of the BCC plan- the desired change in the behaviours, knowledge, attitude and practice of the target audience and also develops a conceptual framework of BCC plan to work out the objectives. Implementation plan is sketched in this stage. Drawing out a BCC plan involves these six steps- â€Å"Identifying key behaviors that need to be changed and analysisng their determinants. Stating the mix of audience- message- media and communicators. Deciding the monitoring and evaluation startegy- especially the indicators that help us assess whether communication occurred and whether it was effective in securing behavior change. Deciding the plans needed to build capacity to implement this plan. Deciding the budgetary requirements.† (Public Health Resource Network, Book 05, 2007, p. 16). Message development: Appropriate message should be developed for target group. ‘Type of appeal’ applicable for a particular group should be decided in this stage. Pretest: Pretesting the messages is required for modification of messages based on the reactions of the target groups. Implementation of the programme: According to Public Health Resource Network, Book 05, 2007, p. 15, key components of implementation framework are: â€Å"Message, media and communicators Monitoring, evaluation and feedback Institutional structure and functions Capacity building Management Budgetary aspect† Monitoring and Evaluation: Programme implementers should keep eye on the proper implementation of the programme and if needed, they may modify a change in the mid term of the programme after evaluation of the programme based on reactions and feedback from the target groups. BCC along with IEC helps to eradicate many killer diseases. The example of such success stories are given here: Success story Part-1: The Polio eradication in India (along with several other countries) is considered as one of the most successful campaigns in the field of public health, globally. In the year 1988 global leaders and countries decided to end polio and started initiatives to reach to every child in every country for immunization (although India introduced the oral polio vaccine in 1985 in an Immunisation Programme in the backdrop of over 200,000 cases of polio annually (as per estimates of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics). India committed itself fully into this mission which was globally led by UNICEF and WHO partnering with various international bodies and countries. It was no doubt a massive challenge for a country like India to achieve a zero-polio status as India has been contributor of almost half of Polio cases globally at some point of time. For a country as populated, as diverse, as difficult to reach out to rural areas there was a need for dedicated efforts on the part of the health workers, vaccinators the whole public health machinery supported by a communication strategy through which the message of polio vaccination and its importance needs to reach every Indian- from the Metro cities to remotest villages of country. Each year twice national level immunization campaign are held with an intent to cover all children under the age of five (http://www.unicef.org/india/health_3729.htm). In every campaign around 2.3 million lakh vaccinators are involved directly in the process led by 155,000 supervisors. To make all this fruitful in achieving the Zero-polio status an effective awareness campaign including inter personal communication component is vital. For each campaign awareness is done by IEC materials viz. banners, posters, leaflets, hoardings also through television, radio and newspapers along with extensive loudspeaker announcements. The vaccinators along with other health personnels were also trained to enhance their interpersonal skills, so they could mobilise communities better. There were in initiatives to make resistant communities, individuals understand accept the vaccination for the children. Mention of two different incidents during such campaign gives an idea of how both awareness initiatives and service delivery efforts complement each other. The Christian Science Monitor shared the story of Setarah Khatoon of Bihar, India (Taghavi, 2013, http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-South-Central/2013/0504/Could-India-s-polio-eradication-success-story-be-a-model-for-its-other-health-issues). She got married at the age of 16 and by the age of 20 she had 3 miscarriages. She had one baby girl and one day she saw Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchans TV advertisement telling parents advocating do boond zindagi ki (two drops of life) actually during the polio campaign celebrities are engaged to spread the message that two drops of polio vaccine can save the life of a child. After watching the advertisement in her small Mumbai house she went to a pharmacy for getting her child vaccinated, the pharmacist directed her to a nearby clinic run by an NGO Doctors for you where her child got vaccinated (free of cost of-course). Her baby girl became the first in her family to get vaccinations and apart from that she got access to regular medical che ck-ups, advice on nutrition and about birth control options too. In another incident shared by UNICEF (http://www.unicef.org/india/reallives_7444.htm) in another part of the country millions of people were on their way to the annual Urs in Ajmer Rajasthan at a time of the year 2011. Before proceeding to Ajmer via Delhi the devotees need to make a stop over at Bareily, UP to pay homage to a local dargah. The local administration, along with gearing up to host over 200,000 devotees from West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Nepal, decided to administer oral polio vaccine to children upto 5 years of age travelling amongst the devotees. The administration with the health department and other NGOs were able to immunize 10,414 children as a result of this effort. The above two incidents show how the awareness IEC component go hand in hand with the service delivery component in achieving the desired output. Success story Part 2: Challenges of BCC: Gap between health education and BCC: Conclusion: In India especially in North East due to inaccessible geographical areas, cultural diversity and other reasons, access to health care services especially secondary and tartiary is limited to the large group of rural population. To make up for that gap the promotion of preventive aspect (PPA) of health plays a vital role. When it comes to saving life it becomes the ultimate life saver. But all the facilities in health system have to be lined up equally along with BCC efforts to provide health education to the masses. Service providers have to ensure the quality services to the people in the hospitals when people visit to them. It is more important to fruitful utilisation of services along with demand generated through IEC and BCC. Otherwise, the effort of health education would go haywire definitely. BCC successfully helps to create a demand of health seeking behavior among individuals and communities. References: Behavior Change Communication (BCC) strategy for NRHM in Uttar Pradesh. (2008). Available at https://www.google.co.in/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instantrlz=1C1AVSX_enIN408IN438ion=1espv=2ie=UTF-8# accessed on 18/ 06/2014 at 9.58 PM. David, Rohit. (2014, May 26). India’s Success In Polio Eradication Is A Model To The World: Dr. Nata Minabde. The Times of India. Available at http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/interviews/Indias-success-in-polio-eradication-is-a-model-to-the-world-Dr-Nata-Menabde/articleshow/32680701.cms, accessed on 19/06/2014 at 08:15 PM. Measure Evaluation and Polpulation Health’s Behavior Change Communication. (n. d.). Available at http://www.cpc.unc.edu/measure/prh/rh_indicators/crosscutting/bcc on 18/06/2014 at 10. 45 PM. Public Health Resource Network’s Behavior Change Communication and Training for Health (Book 05). (2007). Raipur: Surya Offset Printers (I) Pvt. Ltd. Taghavi, Roshanak. (2013, May 4). Could India’s Polio Eradication Success Be A Model For It’s Other Health Issues? The Christian Science Monitor. Available at http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-South-Central/2013/0504/Could-India-s-polio-eradication-success-story-be-a-model-for-its-other-health-issues, accessed on 19/06/2014 at 08:18 PM. Tools For Behavior Change Communication. (2008, January). INFO Reports, John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Issue no. 16. Available at http://www.k4health.org/sites/default/files/INFO Reports_Tools for BCC_0.pdf#sthash.2xvFcwSi.dpuf accessed on 18/ 06/2014 at 10.03 PM. UNICEF India’s Polio Eradication. India Celebrates Victory over Polio.(n.d.). Available at http://www.unicef.org/india/health_3729.htm accessed on 19/06/2014 at 08:19 PM. UNICEF India’s Time To Take Stock, Time To Discuss RTE. (n.d.). Available at http://www.unicef.org/india/reallives_7444.htm accessed on 19/06/2014 at 08:20 PM. UNICEF’s The Story of The End of Polio. (n.d.). Available at http://www.unicef.org/immunization/files/The_Story_of_the_End_of_Polio.pdf accessed on 19/06/2014 at 10:04 PM.