The Creation Of Adam s Ceiling Essay - 1315 Words

According to arthistory.about.com The Creation of Adam is a fresco painting by Michelangelo, which is on the Sistine Chapel s ceiling. The Sistine Chapel forms part of the large Papal Chapel built within the Vatican by Pope Sixtus IV. Pope Julius II asked Michelangelo to paint the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling in 1508. Michelangelo painted the ceiling from July 1508 to October 1512. The creation of Adam was painted in 1511. In fact, The Creation of Adam took less than three weeks to complete. In the Sistine Chapel’s this painting is located next to the Creation of Eve, which is the panel at the center of the room, and the Congregation of the Waters, which is closer to the altar. The ceiling measures about 141 feet by 43 feet. Michelangelo painted over 5,000 square feet of frescoes. (arthistory.about.com) According to www.britannica.com/art/fresco-painting fresco painting is a method of painting water-based pigments on freshly applied plaster, usually on wall surfaces. The colors are made by grinding dry-powder pigments in pure water. Then, the paint dries and sets with the plaster to become a permanent part of the wall. Fresco painting is ideal for making murals because it lends itself to a monumental style, is durable, and has a matte surface. This contributed to why Michelangelo chose to paint using this style. (www.britannica.com/art/fresco-painting) I selected The Creation of Adam for this paper because of its popularity and I have seen it in many places. In church, myShow MoreRelatedMichelangelo s Creation Of Eve1416 Words   |  6 PagesMichelangelo’s Creation of Eve To the average person, Michelangelo s Sistine Ceiling is renowned for its grandeur, its dense scenes, but especially its iconic Creation of Adam. After all, Vasari described Michelangelo’s Adam as a â€Å"figure whose beauty, pose, and contours are of such a quality that he seems newly created by his Supreme and First Creator rather than by the brush and design of a mere mortal† (Varghese 191-192). And while this is true, while the attention-drawing Creation of Adam is immortallyRead MoreThe True Worship of Michelangelo in the film The Agony and the Ecstasy1395 Words   |  6 Pagesrelationship and Michelangelo’s progress on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, as well as notes the inspiration that Michelangelo gets from God for his work on this ceiling. In this film, Michelangelo is first commissioned by the Pope to execute a design for the 12 apostles on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo accepts this commission begrudgingly; he has no choice but to accept. Michelangelo begins to paint the apostles on the ceiling, yet he is unsatisfied with his work. One nightRead MoreThe Value of Genesis1127 Words   |  5 Pagessome of them are actually based completely on the stories of Genesis and Genesis itself. For example, John Milton’s Paradise Lost is a classic epic that relates especially closely to a story in Genesis. It depicts an in-depth version of the story of Adam and Eve’s rise in Eden and eventual fall into temptation, adding in multiple viewpoints to an originally one-sided story. Without having read Genesis, one finds oneself a little lost while trying to delve into the depths of Paradise Lost. Having readRead MoreThe Value of Genesis1059 Words   |  5 Pagesclosely to books that exist today. In fact, some are more accurately described as creative recounts of certain events in Genesis and Genesis itself. For example, John Milton’s Paradise Lost is a classic epic that has a strong basis in the story of Adam and Eve. It depicts an in-depth version of their rise in Eden and eventual fall into temptation, adding in multiple viewpoints to an originally one-sided story. Without having read Genesis, one finds oneself a little lost while trying to explore theRead MoreLeonardo Da Vinci vs. Michelangelo Buonarroti Essay873 Words   |  4 PagesLeonardo da Vinci vs. Michelangelo Buonarroti Linda Williams Art 101 Instructor: Anne Olden April 9th, 2012 1. Thesis statement a. Michelangelo’s sculpting of David, the Pieta, as well as his painting of the Creation of Adam on the ceiling of the Sistine chapel was some of his great works that influenced the art of the 16th century; Leonardo da Vince also contributed great works such as; the Last Supper, the Mona Lisa, and the Modonna of the Rocks. 2. David a. Michelangelo wasRead MoreMichaelangelos Magic Hands975 Words   |  4 Pageslittle bit of a curve to the entire upper body. The detail Michelangelo gives the body of David is unmatched by any other detail in a sculpture. You can see how his muscles are reacting with the way his body is suggesting that he could be moving. David ‘s massive size is something that really impressed Michelangelos fellow artists and sculptors like Donatello and Leonardo Di Vinci. It seemed as if Michelangelo had brought back life into a dead heroic classical figure with this incredibly sized sculptureRead MoreMichelangelo, The Best Artist And Sculptors Of The Italian Renaissance Period1758 Words   |  8 Pagesother more qualified sculptors had started to work on this piece of marble that would soon become David, but they both had given up on the marble. Michelangelo was able to pick up someone s discarded work and make it into a masterpiece. He really put the quote into act that says â€Å"o ne man s trash is another man s treasure†. This David sculpture served to Florence as a symbol of liberty during its time of need. Today, it is stored in Florence’s Accademia Gallery. As you can see, Michelangelo was ableRead MoreA Speech On The Cold War Of The Outdoor Mall Essay1350 Words   |  6 Pagesto another and then back again, all without fumbling a single line of dialogue. His shoes made a satisfying click, and these clicks sync with his talking, like a music beat. The words he said gave interest to the audience, â€Å"And with the power of Creation, God created the stars and planets. God then put time and care into crafting one particular place, Earth, the home to us all.† Many people stopped and listened to the man’s lore, but several grew bored and continued on with their lives. Even patronsRead More Magnificent Minds Of The Renaissance in Europe Essay856 Words   |  4 Pages The high renaissance of the 1500s was a time of scientific, philosophic, and artistic awe and inspiration. Many new discoveries were being made in the field of science, and philosophers expressed their assumptions on the world and universe around them. In addition, many individuals were gifted with artistic dexterity and skill. The amazing achievements of Michelangelo, Raphael, and Leonardo da Vinci are considered significant to the Renaissance period. In this paper, the endeavors and achievementsRead MorePublic Service Philosophy Essay : Public Services823 Words   |  4 Pagesthe greater good of the society as a whole. It’s the selfless pursuit of improving society to the capacity of their ability and prior commitments. Serving the public is putting the needs of the public before your individual needs or wants. People s wants and needs vary from regions, cultures and etc., so you can never please everyone’s wants and needs. Ideally, meeting the needs of the people is more important than meeting their wants. As a public servant, you must practice your discretion and

Music Therapy What, When, Where, And Why - 1434 Words

Music Therapy: Who, What, When, Where, and Why Music speaks. Through lyrics, harmonies, melodies, dynamics, and rhythms, music speaks. The song â€Å"You’ll Be in my Heart† written and enchantingly sung by Phil Collins always takes me back: â€Å"For one so small-/ You seem so strong-/ My arms will hold you-/ Keep you safe and warm-/ This bond between us-/ Can t be broken-/ I will be here-/ Don t you cry-/ Cause you ll be in my heart-/ Yes, you ll be in my heart-/ From this day on-/ Now and forever more-/ You ll be in my heart-/ No matter what they say-/ You ll be here-/ In my heart-/ Always-† (9-25). This incredibly beautiful song takes me back to my childhood innocence when I would listen to this soundtrack to one of my favorite Disney movies on repeat until it lulled me to sleep. Now as a young adult, the overwhelming sense of comfort, peace, and deep love still flood my soul with one of the greatest feelings I have ever felt the second the song begins to play. Music has this incredible way of making us feel so deeply. Doctors have been known to target this power of music and use it for music therapy; because this is so effective, it should be more widely spread and used far more often by individuals other that just doctors. The first group of people that should be using music therapy in their everyday work is certainly therapists. Numerous individuals suffer with post-traumatic stress disorder; a therapist could successfully treat a patient with this disorder byShow MoreRelatedMusic : The Power Of Music1741 Words   |  7 Pages Uses of Music The Power of Music Ariel Balda South Piedmont Community College Abstract Music is something has been around for a really long time. Music can be seen as a form in which artists express themselves but it could also benefit people that listen to it. Music has many uses for people. Musical therapy is a type of therapy that has been developed and researched well. Patients using musical therapy benefit in many ways such as helping in dealing with emotions, improvingRead MoreMusic Therapy For Children And Adults With Learning Disabilities1662 Words   |  7 Pagesliterature on the topic of music therapy, the background of music therapy, how it takes place and how it helps clients with autism. A lot of the literature found on the topic music therapy found it helped children and adults with learning disabilities. This section of the dissertation will analyse the literature that is already available on music therapy and autism. It will also analyse literature on drug therapies. I will explore the history of music therapy how and why it is used, how it is bene ficialRead MoreWilderness Therapy : An Alternative Therapy1442 Words   |  6 PagesWilderness Therapy The wilderness is a place known for peacefulness and can have physical and psychological benefits (Hassell, Moore Macbeth, 2015). Wilderness therapy is an alternative therapy, influenced by Outward Bound, which is an outdoor education company with programs for youth and adults. (Hoag, Massey, Roberts, Logan, 2013). Wilderness therapy combines group work, reflection, challenges and trust building exercises, varied length, and clinical assessment (Russell, 2001). WildernessRead MoreMusic Therapy And Its Effects On Society1697 Words   |  7 Pagespain, feeling different ‒ these are just a few of the things that people with mental disabilities and serious diseases have to go through on a daily basis. But what if there was a different kind of treatment that could comfort them or reduce their pain even a little bit? Fortunately, for the people facing these issues, there is. Music therapy is a relatively new approach that doctors, teachers, and many others are taking to help hea l and improve the quality of life for their patients and students.Read MoreMusic and sounds have the power to effect one’s thoughts and emotions. Certain tones, pitches,1300 Words   |  6 PagesMusic and sounds have the power to effect one’s thoughts and emotions. Certain tones, pitches, lyrics, and melodies can invoke happiness, sadness, relief, and confidence. To achieve these emotions with music, many people find it helpful to enroll into music therapy. According to the American Music Therapy Association, music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals. These goals may be to manage stress, promote wellness, alleviate painRead MoreMusic Therapy Approach I Decided Essay1521 Words   |  7 Pagesclass that I even started to consider which music therapy approach I wanted to take. In fact, it wasn’t until this class that I discovered all the approaches there were in music therapy. I always knew that I was interested in working with a population of children however this was an entire new depth level. Of all the interesting approaches, several stood out to me as ones that fit me personally and the career I want to pursue. Neurological Music Therapy When I first started learning about this approachRead MoreBenefits Of Music Therapy On Children Essay1651 Words   |  7 PagesBenefits of Music Therapy in Autistic children Benefits of Music Therapy in Autistic children Literature Review Zuleima Haskins â€Æ' Introduction Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a group of conditions of the brain development. (Vries, 2015). The main characteristic of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is that they have difficulties to adapt and interact with other people. Also, individuals with Autism have problems with their development of verbal and nonverbal communicationRead MoreDifferent Healing Modalities Throughout The World1201 Words   |  5 Pagesinfuse energy into the person’s body to create healing. Sound therapy uses sound to connect with the rhythmic balances of the body. It has been known to work for thousands of years, but science has finally figured it out in the past century. Sound is a universal language. It has been recognized as a way of healing for thousands of years from the ancient Greeks to today. However, it wasn’t until 1896 that they found it can be used for therapy. A young boy had an accident that caused his brain to beRead MoreThe Concert Hall At The University Of Evansville Hushed1743 Words   |  7 PagesUniversity of Evansville hushed as the conductor tapped his baton on the music stand in front of him. Raising both hands in the air, scanning the performers of the orchestra to make sure everyone had their instruments in place and appeared ready, he took a quick breath to cue the orchestra to start playing. Out of the many concerts that I have attended throughout my lifetime, especially since becoming a music student studying music, this particular concert was different. I found myself listening forRead MoreMusic And Music : The Impacts Of Music In Globalization1162 Words   |  5 Pages Music in Globalization Esmael Abofakher ILSC Toronto â€Å"When words fail, music speaks.† Shakespeare, that’s what put the music on the top of the global languages for connecting people to each other however from any countries belong. Globalization of Music is very important because music is global language, makes people closer and music as treatment for many people. I. Music is global languages between all the people around the world. A. Music is the universal language of all mankind

Arm Length and Heigh Investigation-Science Free Essays

Arm Length and Height Investigation By: Teresa Gebhardt Our Hypothesis is that, there is a linear correlation between arm length and height. We believe from observing our fellow students in class that taller people have longer arms. We tested this hypothesis by measuring the 24 students arm length compared to their height. We will write a custom essay sample on Arm Length and Heigh Investigation-Science or any similar topic only for you Order Now Testing this hypothesis is important so that we can solve our theory that taller people have longer arms. The control was one single student who measured the majority of the other students. Shoes were removed to ensure accuracy and we made everyone stand straight against the wall, when being measured to prevent imprecise measurements. We used a meter stick to measure arm length and measuring tape to measure height. We converted the inches from the measuring tape to meters so we had an exact unit. We measured from the tip of your longest finger to under the left arm’s armpit. Our sample size was 24 American students from the ages of 18- 21. The replicate measures we used were measuring the arm length and height of the same subject (student) three times. We then took the average of those three answers, which were sufficiently similar. Our assumptions are that the wall is straight, the floor is leveled, and that we perfected the way to measure. We found that the taller you are the longer your arms are. The average length of my classes’ arm length is 1. 64M and the average height of my class is . 7 M. The data collected shows that arm length increases as height increases. We used a table with 5 columns labeled: Subject, Trial #, height, arm length, average. Our limitations are that we only tested 24 students. The majority were Americans but of different races. We tested boys and girls. We only tested students of the ages between 18-21. My suggestion for doing this experiment again would be to separate males from females to see if sex is a determinant. How to cite Arm Length and Heigh Investigation-Science, Papers

Focus on Empathy and Emotional Competencies - Free Samples

Question: Discuss about the Focus on Empathy and Emotional Competencies. Answer: Introduction: The current study focuses upon the health effects of air pollution as pollution is a global problem and has been causing havoc to the health of people worldwide. For the current assignment, we have been mainly taken the aspect of air pollution has been taken into consideration.The air pollution has been seen to result in a number of respiratory disorders within people. Most of the times, the affect of pollutants are deleterious resulting in serious sickness such as lung cancer. Additionally, the air pollution has been damaging public and private properties alike. The high amount of sulphur dioxide which are released in the form of green house gases get dissolved in the atmospheric water droplets and are precipitated in the form of acid rain (11). For example, the white marble of the Taj Mahal have been corroded owing to the acid rain. The further effects of air pollutions can be evaluated with the help of drafting an effective research question. The research question has been represented in the PICO format. Here, PICO refers to Problem, Intervention, Comparison and Outcome. In children and old age group (P) how can air pollution control strategies (I) against exposure to large amount of air pollution compared to small amount of air pollution(C) positively impact the health in the population group (O)? Systematic review of literature based on research question The researcher had used secondary research design for the collection of data where he had mainly focused upon case study analysis. Some of this case study analysis has adopted randomised control trial whereas the rest were case study analysis. For the randomised control trials, the patients who had been suffering from some of the other respiratory issues owing to exposure to high amount of air pollution had been taken into consideration. The study methods have been further divided into control and experimental setups. The effect of the control and intervention methods on the focus groups gad been further evaluated through the research papers. The goal of the randomised control trials has been to reduce or control the ill effects of air pollution on individual well being. A number of inclusion and exclusion principle have been applied while doing the research such as only secondary databases have been utilised for the collection of the journal articles. Some of the secondary databases which had been used by the researcher over here are CINAHL, PUBMED, NCBI etc. During making the search only articles printed in English had been taken into consideration. Additionally, the articles which had been published prior to the last 10 years have not been taken into consideration. Additionally, a number of keywords were used of making the search such as air pollution, health effects. The articles which had been generate apart from the above search criteria had not been taken into consideration. There were a number of strengths and limitation of the search criteria. Since secondary databases were used only authentic peer reviewed article were taken into consideration. Additionally, considering only the recent articles and journals the past biases could be removed. However, there were a number of limitations of the search criteria as the researcher narrowed down his search criteria to the past 10 years. Thus, some of the articles published before that date was not taken into consideration, which could make the base of the research much more strong. Plausible biological mechanism in the research question There has been growing concerns regarding the health effects of air pollution. One such serious concern has been with respect to the abundance of particulate matter in the air. As mentioned by Watts et al., the particulate matters are mainly in the form of free carbon dust or soot particles (1). These have been seen to enhance the respiratory troubles along with causing breathing difficulties. Evidence has linked exposure to particulate matter (PM) with cardiopulmonary disease (2). A systematic response to PM induced pulmonary infection could lead to cytokine release which can later cardiac function. Studies have suggested that threshold level of PM above 2.5 can trigger a range of diseases w within an individual. As suggested by Percival, Schroeder, Miller, Leape , improving air quality is not the most effective method either (3). For instance, there is a need for stronger control methods, which could help in controlling the concentration of PM in the air. The free carbon or dust ha s been seen to produce carcinogenic effects in an individual which could further lead to the development of lung cancer (4). Inspite of sufficient research done on the topic and effective measures taken the rate of air pollution and the concentration of particulate matters is still high in certain places of the world. This could be attributed to the fast and the rapid rate of globalization. With the advent of globalization more and more people have been using public transit for travelling (5). Additionally, fast industrialization has also been affected with increasing rates of air pollution (6). However, none of the control measures pertaining to reducing the events of gloablization had been covered effectively so far as the theories suggested by one school of thought has been rejected by the other. References Watts N, Adger WN, Agnolucci P, Blackstock J, Byass P, Cai W, Chaytor S, Colbourn T, Collins M, Cooper A, Cox PM. Health and climate change: policy responses to protect public health. The Lancet. 2015 Nov 7;386(10006):1861-914. Whitmee S, Haines A, Beyrer C, Boltz F, Capon AG, de Souza Dias BF, Ezeh A, Frumkin H, Gong P, Head P, Horton R. Safeguarding human health in the Anthropocene epoch: report of The Rockefeller FoundationLancet Commission on planetary health. The Lancet. 2015 Nov 14;386(10007):1973-2028. Percival RV, Schroeder CH, Miller AS, Leape JP. Environmental regulation: Law, science, and policy. Wolters Kluwer Law Business; 2017 Dec 28. Mnzel T, Srensen M, Gori T, Schmidt FP, Rao X, Brook J, Chen LC, Brook RD, Rajagopalan S. Environmental stressors and cardio-metabolic disease: part Iepidemiologic evidence supporting a role for noise and air pollution and effects of mitigation strategies. European heart journal. 2017 Feb 21;38(8):550-6. Kelly FJ, Fussell JC. Air pollution and public health: emerging hazards and improved understanding of risk. Environmental geochemistry and health. 2015 Aug 1;37(4):631-49. Van De Loo KF, Van Gelder MM, Roukema J, Roeleveld N, Merkus PJ, Verhaak CM. Prenatal maternal psychological stress and childhood asthma and wheezing: a meta-analysis. European Respiratory Journal. 2016 Jan 1;47(1):133-46. Lyons RA, Rodgers SE, Thomas S, Bailey R, Brunt H, Thayer D, Bidmead J, Evans BA, Harold P, Hooper M, Snooks H. Effects of an air pollution personal alert system on health service usage in a high-risk general population: a quasi-experimental study using linked data. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2016 May 23:jech-2016. An R, Zhang S, Ji M, Guan C. Impact of ambient air pollution on physical activity among adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Perspectives in public health. 2018 Mar;138(2):111-21. Olmo NR, Saldiva PH, Braga AL, Lin CA, Santos UD, Pereira LA. A review of low-level air pollution and adverse effects on human health: implications for epidemiological studies and public policy. Clinics. 2011;66(4):681-90. Feretti D, Ceretti E, De Donno A, Moretti M, Carducci A, Bonetta S, Marrese MR, Bonetti A, Covolo L, Bagordo F, Villarini M. Monitoring air pollution effects on children for supporting public health policy: the protocol of the prospective cohort MAPEC study. BMJ open. 2014 Sep 1;4(9):e006096. Lamothe M, Rondeau , Malboeuf-Hurtubise C, Duval M, Sultan S. Outcomes of MBSR or MBSR-based interventions in health care providers: A systematic review with a focus on empathy and emotional competencies. Complementary therapies in medicine. 2016 Feb 1;24:19-28. Ren C, Tong S. Health effects of ambient air pollutionrecent research development and contemporary methodological challenges. Environmental Health. 2008 Dec;7(1):56.

Dickinsons` Poems Evaluation Essays - , Term Papers

Dickinsons` Poems Evaluation Emily Dickinson's poems, ?Because I Could Not Stop For Death? and ?I Heard A Fly Buzz-When I Died,? are both about one of life's few certainties, death. However, that is where the similarities end. Although Dickinson wrote both poems, their ideas about what lies after death differ. In one, there appears to be life after death, but in the other there is nothing. A number of clues in each piece help to determine which poem believes in what. The clues in ?I heard a Fly buzz-when I died,? point to a disbelief in an afterlife. In this poem, a woman is lying in bed with her family or friends standing all around waiting for her to die. While the family is waiting for her to pass on, she is waiting for ?...the King...? This symbolizes some sort of god that will take her away. As the woman dies, her eyes, or windows as they are referred to in the poem, fail and then she ?...could not see to see-.? As she died she saw ?the light? but then her eyes, or windows, failed and she saw nothing. This is the suggestion of there being no afterlife. The woman's soul drifted off into nothingness because there was no afterlife for it to travel to. This is the complete opposite belief about afterlife in Dickinson's other poem, ?Because I Could Not Stop for Death.? In the piece, ?Because I Could Not Stop For Death,? Dickinson tells the story of a woman who is being taken away by Death. The speaker in the poem clearly states that she will not stop for Death but that it will have to come and get her. This is illustrated in the second line of the poem ?Because I could not stop for Death- He kindly stopped for me.? ?The Carriage held but just Ourselves-And Immortality.? The idea of immortality is the first indication that this poem believes in an afterlife. In many religions, where there is a grim reaper type spirit, this being will deliver a person's soul to another place, usually heaven or hell. In the third stanza the speaker talks of how she and Death passed the school, the ?Fields of Gazing Grain-We passed the Setting Sun.? This stanza is referring to the woman looking bac on her own life as she is dying. This would not be possible without an afterlife because if the soul were to simply drift away into nothingness, it wouldn't be able to reflect it's lifetime. After this Dickinson presents the idea of the coldness of death in saying ?The Dews drew quivering and chill.? This is when we know for sure that the woman is in fact dead. In the fifth stanza, Death and the woman pause before ?...a House that seemed A Swelling of the Ground- The Roof was scarcely visible- The Cornice in the Ground-.? Even though the poem does not come out and say it, it is likely that this grave is the woman's own. If this is true, then her spirit or soul must be what is looking at the ?house.? In most religions, the idea of spirits and souls usually mean that there is an afterlife. It is not until the sixth and final stanza where the audience gets solid evidence that this poem believes in an afterlife. The woman recalls how it has been ?...Centuries- and yet feels shorter than the Day I first surmised the Horses' Heads were toward Eternity-.? To the soul, it has been at least a hundred years since Death visited her, but to the woman, it has felt like less than a day. Because a human body can't live for hundreds of years, the soul is who has come to the realization that so much time has passed. The final part with the horses refers to the horse drawn carriage the woman was riding in when she passed away. In those two final lines, the horses seem to be leading her into Eternity, or into an afterlife. Finally, these two poems deal with similar topics however they are entirely different in that on believes in life after death and the other does not. These two poems raise the question in whether or not there is anything after death, but that question is left to be answered until our final day on Earth. Poetry

10 Facts on Exchange Systems and Economics in the USA for a Presentation

10 Facts on Exchange Systems and Economics in the USA for a Presentation In order to fully discuss exchange systems and economics in the United States, it is important to fully understand what each factor represents and how they work together to influence monetary policies in a community. So here are a few definitions to get us started on the right path. Exchange Systems in their simplest form are the different ways in which consumers connect with producers. These different ways may include barter, or the use of money as a purchasing tool to acquire items and in the United States, money serves as that means of exchange. While economics can simply be defined as the social science that describes the factors that determine the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services. Therefore, this article will be providing some accurate facts on the exchange system and its effect on the economic and monetary policies in the US. Widespread use of the US Dollar: the United States reputation as the most influential nation on earth is also shared by its money as can be seen by the following statistics. The US Dollar is the currency mostly used in international transactions and it also serves as the world’s primary reserve currency. While the one dollar bill is the most circulated bill locally in the US. It makes up 48% of the paper bills printed by the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing. The US chosen exchange rate system is the floating rate exchange system. This means that the amount in which the Dollar trades for when compared to gold is set by market forces to a large extent. The US started using the managed floating exchange rate system in 1973 after the Bretton Woods fixed rate system became untenable and harmful to the US economy. The United States trade partners: an economy is reliant on its imports and exports which in turn becomes a factor that determines the exchange rate of that country. So here are the USs trade statistics: A 2014 survey puts China at the top of the pyramid of countries the United States imports from. The US imports approximately 66 billion worth goods annually from China. While Canada ranks at the top of the export list for the United States exports approximately 46 billion worth goods on a yearly basis to Canadians. The United States most traded commodities: in terms of importation, crude oil takes the lead as the most imported good coming into the US while domestic items are a close second. In 2014, the US spent close to $300billion dollars on importing crude oil and it is important to note that a large percentage of these imports were from Canada. Unsurprisingly, Americas biggest export quantifiable in dollars are also crude oil products which brings in approximately $130billion a year. America is a service based economy: the US tops the world in providing private services across diverse industry nichesfinance, insurance, telecoms etc.extensively. Travel services nets the US approximately $50 billion yearly, royalty and licensing approximately $100billion while patents come after oil products at $100billion. The US debt profile: every nation has its debt due to international economics and the need to raise money for wars, domestic growth etc. and the US is no different. Approximately 45 years ago in 1970, the total US debt both home and abroad including business debt, government debt and consumer debt was approximately $2trillion. Today, the total US debt is just over $20 trillion. In 2011, the US paid $454 billion dollars on interest alone servicing its debts. This was the highest fee paid as of 2014. The United States Economy and the World: the US status as one of the most developed countries in the world means that fluctuation in its economy also affects world economics. In 2001, the United States GDP accounted for 32% of all global economic activity which goes to show its influence. And despite the recession, in 2013, the US GDP still accounted for approximately 22% of all global activities. The Economy and the American household: everyone knows about the American dream of been able to comfortably take care of ones family in order to live happily ever after. But do the statistics back this dream? In 2013, statistics showed that approximately 20% of households with breadwinners under the age of 35 lived in poverty. 40% of Americans live in a home were a member is dependent on one or more government programs for monetary support. The US government runs 83 diverse welfare programs and approximately 33% of the US population participate in at least one of these programs. The Economy and US social security benefits: the number of people on social security benefits also plays its part in affecting the US economy due to their reliance on it. 2015 data shows approximately 58 million Americans dependent on social security and predictive analysis put the 2035 numbers at 91 million citizens. Also, the social security system is expected to face a $130trillion shortfall over the next 3 years. The wealth demographic: the wealth spread among citizens in the US also plays a part in telling the story of the US economy. The 20 wealthiest Americans are credited to have more wealth than the poorest 152 million US citizens. The top 0.1 percent possess wealth which is more than the combined wealth of the bottom 90% of all Americans combined. These are some of the interesting facts on the exchange system and economics in the US which you can put to use in your own essay concerning the economy. The facts places emphasis on the US currency, exchange system, trade partners and economic state of its local people. Make sure to also check our 20 topics on exchange systems and the US economy as well as a standalone guide on the genre of a presentation for this subject. Lastly, these facts are accurate and can be used as references. References: Paul, K. (2003). The Concise Encyclopedia for Economics: Exchange Rates.  econlib.org/library/Enc1/ExchangeRates.html Dixit, Avinash. Hysteresis, Import Penetration, and Exchange-Rate Pass-Through. Quarterly Journal of Economics  104 (1989): 205-28. Wikipedia: Economy of the United States. (2010).  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_the_United_States U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Economic Indicators Division Journal. (2015). Top US Trade Partners 2015. trade.gov/mas/ian/build/groups/public/@tg_ian/documents/webcontent/tg_ian_003364.pdf Christopher, C. (2016). United State Government’s Debt 2016.  usgovernmentdebt.us/ Social Security Administration: Fact Sheet. (2014). Fact Sheet.  https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/factsheets/basicfact-alt.pdf Fast Facts and Figures about Social Security 2014. (2015) 32, 34.  https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/chartbooks/fast_facts/2014/fast_facts14.pdf

Media Manipulation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Media Manipulation - Essay Example Those people oppose to the media argue that the media has failed to play its designated role in society. Nonetheless, today, it is clear that the media as shifted from its role as a tool for information, and has become a major tool for manipulation in society. The advancement of technology has allowed for the widening of the media. Today, there is media forms include books, newspapers, television, radio, internet, and movies, among many others. Therefore, people today are exposed to a variety of information sources; hence, there is a flood of information from different media, directed to the public. Furthermore, since the media is in business, the different media forms are in a competition. This competition has contributed to the divergence of the media from its ideal role as a tool for information. Although there is an overflow of information in society, people are hungry for the truth. This is because, the media, which should ideally be a source of true information, is owned by ind ividuals, who are only interested in pursuing their interests through the media. For this reason, the media ceases to be a tool for information, and becomes a tool for manipulation. There is a high level of manipulation and bias in the media today. According to the Centre for Research on Globalization

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Franklin Delano Roosevelt - Essay Example There were also looming strikes from small business owners and farmers (Polenberg 113). He possessed exceptional political tactics as this is proven the the fact he was reelected in office for a record four times (PBS). His victories in politics were based on his abilities to relate to the needs of people as well as global requirements. As he campaigned, he knew the deficiency’s citizens were experiencing and he created speeches and promises aimed at addressing these needs. Additionally, he adapted a campaign song that became popular political rhythm in the United States. Happy Days Are Here Again was a signature FDR political song (PBS). FDR had an objective of ensuring that the economy of the United States is revived. For this to be possible,he realized the need to change the way in which created laws (Brinkley 42). For instance, he created laws that increased the employment of women in government positions and offices as well as the military (Polenberg 95). In addition, the new employment laws led to the decrease of unemployment rates to 2%. FDR also created laws that governed the conduct of Wall Street, banks and the transport system (Brinkley 36). This greatly changed the United States economy as people became more productive. Other major creations by the congress under his leadership were the Social Security and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. In addition, he encouragedthe growth of liberty (Polenberg 116). His approach to foreign affairs was also exceptional. At the time he was elected, the globe was at brink of warfare that threatened global peace. In Europe, Nazis Germans dominated as they denied the prevalence of democracy (Brinkley 84). China was also faced with invasion threats from Japanese. The United States shared great relationships with China as well as the United Kingdoms. FDR collaborated with Scotland, Wales and Great Britain to end the dominance of Nazis in Europe. FDR also

Research paper wind power Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Wind power - Research Paper Example The size of turbines, types of rotors and the manufacturing technologies employed in the production of wind turbines have changed. Advanced methods such as compression moulding and injection moulding for blade manufacturing are being employed in order to reduce the time and cost of production and increase performance (Wind-energy-the-facts.org). Recent developments in the wind turbine technology include the use of vibration isolators for reducing sound, the use of active pitch controls for maintaining the performance even at very high wind speeds, the use of inverters connected to turbines, and the use of advanced manufacturing methods and blade designs. The International Energy Agency (IEA) aims at achieving a total output of 2000 GW of wind power by 2050 (Tanaka 1). There has been an explosive growth in the use of wind power throughout the world. According to the International Wind Energy Development – World Update 2010 report, the market value of wind power is estimated to grow from $96.4 billion to $161.2 billion in the period between 2011 to 2015 (Shahan 1). While wind power supplies 1.92% of the world’s electricity, it is expected to increase to 9.1% by 2020 (Shahan 1). The average rate of growth globally is estimated to be 15.5% annually. Estimates by the Global Wind Energy Council and Greenpeace International predict a similar growth. The United States is the second fastest growing markets for wind power, the first being China (DOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory). While 10 GW of new wind power capacity were added in 2009, 5.2 GW were added in 2010 and 6.8 GW were added to the US grid in 2011 (DOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory). By 2030, it is expected that the US can fulfill 20% of its electricity requirements from wind power (Shahan 1). According to estimates by the American Wind Energy Association, the potential of producing wind power in the US is about 10.8 trillion kWh annually, which is equal to the energy produced by 20 billion barrels of oil that is the present annual oil supply globally (Layton 3). Wind power provides about 3.23% of the total electricity in the US (Eia.gov). The current wind power capacity of the US is more than 20% of that of the total wind power produced throughout the world. In six states of the US, more than 10% of the total electricity is wind powered, with two of the states having 20% of their electricity requirements being fulfilled by wind energy alone (DOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory). In the coming decades, wind power can provide for 20% of the total electricity needs of the country. Various government incentives have encouraged the construction and operation of wind power. The United States Wind Energy Policy ensures that incentives in the form of grants, bonus depreciation, and tax credits, such as production and investment tax credits, are provided by the federal and state governments for the installation of machinery for producing wind energy. The Solar , Wind, Waste, and Geothermal Power Production Incentives Act 1990 and the Energy Policy Act (EPACT) 1992 ensure the provision of incentives for production of renewable energy. The production tax credit incentive provided by the US government has been instrumental in expanding the growth of the wind energy industry (Veganverve 1). This incentive however is set to expire in 2012. This incentive offers 2.2 cents per KW-h of energy produced by

Representations of Space in Art Movements

Representations of Space in Art Movements Spatial representation is a complex subject involving the scientific technique of perspective and incorporating different periods of art. Discussion of this topic allows for an analysis of both the random and deliberate forms of spatial representation, the ever-changing artistic conventions underlying this representation, and an examination of artists who have challenged this technique. Representation, defined as, the description or portrayal of [†¦] something in a particular way is utilised by artists to produce works that resemble, to varying degrees, their chosen subject. The techniques of spatial representation can be seen in a large number of artworks, such as sculpture, painting, photography, and collage. Composition, defined as, the artists method [†¦] of deciding what to put in and what to leave out in order to make an effective picture remains the most prevalent of these techniques. Both horizontal and vertical forms of composition provide the artist with a powerful means of communication with the spectator. Size is also important in spatial representation and is exemplified in Duccio di Buoninsegnas The Rucellai Madonna , where [†¦] la superposition ou lalignement des figures correspondent à   un ordre hià ©rarchique. Evidently, the more important figure was depicted as larger in early works of art. The varying scale of characters was used as an attempt at perspective. It has been said that the effect of space in a painting is [†¦] the creation of the illusion of three dimensions on a flat surface. Linear perspective, or single-point perspective, [†¦]was adopted as the standard way of representing spaceand works on the principle of orthogonal lines converging to a vanishing point'(see note 5 above), giving the illusion of depth, and thus three dimensions to a painting. Linear perspective was challenged by aerial perspective which utilises the principle of fading shades of colour and the increasing use of blue as the distance from the viewer increases. Aerial perspective can be observed in Turners Lake at Brienz, which uses colour to portray misty distances. La perspective tordue is another technique where le bison est reprà ©sentà © le corps de profil ou les cornes de face [†¦] qui rà ©unit deux points de vue, deux perceptions dans une seule et mà ªme figure . Although perspective remains an important tool, the interior and exterior representation of space needs consideration. In their works, artists can choose how much of the subject they wish to expose to the viewer. The utilisation of interior and exterior space can be seen in Vincent Van Goghs painting, La Chambre à   Arles (1888). Here, Van Gogh has painted a window, leading the viewers eye to the outside world. However, the viewers only connection with the outside world is through a picture of a landscape on the wall of the bedroom. It is also interesting to note the unusual use of the laws of perspective; there is no single vanishing point. Random spatial representation has long been a debatable subject. Frank Stella said, in 1986, the aim of art is to create space [†¦] that is not compromised by decoration or illustration, space within which the subjects of the painting can live. This quotation implies that space is represented in a very deliberate manner. However, the works of John Pollock were often said to represent space randomly as they appeared to have no degree of order to the viewer. It is also argued that when an artist chooses to create and represent space in an image, it creates another random space as a result. Although sculpture accommodates differing viewpoints, space can be represented randomly. For example, The Large Head, by Naum Gabo creates the illusion of a solid structure when viewed head on. However, when viewed from the side, space is represented differently, with the sheets of metal forming a random structure. Whilst a completely random representation of a space is rare, and it has been said that tout point de vue est un choix signifiant: il correspond à   une intention, implying that no art can ever be random, artists have often embraced the technique of Apparent Randomness. This technique is seen in Picassos Guernica and involves the artist deliberately positioning certain objects to create the illusion of randomness. Jackson Pollocks Abstract Expressionist painting, Autumn Rhythm, highlights the chaotic atmosphere which led to an assumption of randomness. Due to the disorderly pattern, the public felt that Pollocks spatial representation was far from deliberate. However, a close analysis revealed an underlying pattern. This technique is also shown in Jean Miros, The Dialogue of Insects, further emphasising how artists represent space deliberately. A further artistic movement which utilises the apparently random positioning of objects is Cubism. Pioneered by Picasso and Braque, Cubism was concerned with the deliberate interaction between geometrical shapes to create planes and lines of vision. Despite its random appearance, each shape was specifically placed. Picasso also developed the technique of collage. Collage is perhaps one of the most interesting examples of how artists choose to represent space. It is quite possible that the random appearance of a collage may have been created by an equally random procedure. However, some thought and calculation is often evident. This can be seen in Raoul Hausmanns, A.D.C.D, where different objects of different materials have been layered on top of one another in a precise manner. It is clear from the lines of an art work that some sense of order is displayed. Pierre Renoirs The Umbrellas shows how the use of repeated circles has created order within the crowd of people depicted. Line also gives rise to perspective. Alexander Rodchenkos Jeune fille au Leica demonstrates linear perspective, using the lines of shadows to lead the viewer to the vanishing point. Line and perspective are key examples of how artists represent space in a deliberate manner. Photography appears to capture life randomly through a lens. However, when a photograph is taken, the photographer has to make very deliberate decisions about what he wants to depict. In Russell Lees, Les mains dune fermià ¨re de lIowa, we see only the hands and lower body of the subject. This is a very deliberate action on the part of the photographer. Photography also clearly demonstrates field of vision and the use of plongà ©e and contre-plongà ©e.The space being viewed is represented far differently when viewed from a different angle. Although this compositional technique can often appear to be random, artists often employ it to convey meaning. An illustration of the multiplicity of points of view can be seen in Holbeins, The Ambassadors. This technique is also known as anamorphosis. The placement of objects must be decided very carefully to illustrate the passage of time in art. In Eugene Atgets Angle de la rue des nonnains dHyeres et de LHotel de Ville, the winding market street descending into fog, and the blurred figures in the foreground have been purposely captured in their positions. Artists must always work within frames, deciding what will be captured or depicted within them and what will be left unseen. This process appears to be far from the ideals of randomness. The variety of artistic techniques used to represent space leads to the questioning of the deliberateness of an artists work. Despite certain random spatial elements within a painting, sculpture, or photograph, it is evident that artists attempt to represent their chosen subjects with accurate spatial representation or deliberate attempts to illustrate randomness with geometric techniques. One can conclude that spatial representation has been used in a variety of ways to create works that appear both random and deliberate. Word Count: 1499

George Orwells Nineteen Eighty-Four 1984 :: Free Essays on 1984

1984 was written by George Orwell about a grim future in which people are controlled by a party known as the brotherhood which is led by Big Brother. The background of the story is that nuclear war has ravaged the earth and three superpowers have arisen out of the rubble, Oceania, Eurasia, and Eastasia, all of which are at war with each other. The leading party in Oceania, where the story take place, exerts and maintains its power through such techniques as the Spies, a youth group that encourages children to report adults, including their parents, to the party officials. Another technique is the thought police, who observe and spy on society and eliminate those who have thoughts against the party.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The party engages in many activities that people would consider blatantly wrong. These include the changing of history with the objective of making the party look good. The worst thing about the party is that it makes up the things it has the people believe through its telecasts, which the entire population watches. The main character is Winston, who works for the Ministry of Truth, which is an ironic name since it makes up what the people are to believe. Winston has thoughts all the time against the party but luckily has never been caught by the thought police. He keeps on seeing some woman and eventually they meet and he finds out her name is Julia. She also hates the party and they keep on meeting, even though it is against the policy of the party for two people to have sexual relations. They break the rule however and end up having sex outside the city. They differ in their view of how best to oppose the party. He believes in a widespread rebellion while she b elieves in just going against the party when it is safe. Eventually, they come to follow a man named O’Brien who is the leader of an opposition party to the brotherhood. He gives the couple a book by a man named Goldstein that is against the brother hood. He reads the book but soon after is arrested by the thought police because there was a hidden camera inside his room. It turns out that O’Brien was a thought police that had tricked them. Both he and Julia are taken away large cells with all the other people that have betrayed the party.

Cnpc and Petro China

Strategy – search for above normal performance 2. What strategy supports growth? Sustained CA- Not easily duplicated, or cost of duplication is higher than the returns Temporary CA- creates value, rare, but easily imitable. 3. Core competency- basic corporate principle around which all your resources are aligned, which builds your CA and differentiates you from your competitor. * Creates value, very few of your competitors can do, and grants you sustained competitive advantage. 4. Sources of Core competency= sources of sustained CA. . Sources of competitive parity, relatively normal, to get the risk adjusted return. 6. Goal of corporate – create CA that create more value than overhead involved (cost of corporates) 7. Business Unit strategy – bring standalone business units together into one corporate entity towards a common corporate goal. 8. Corporate Strategy a. Business units – tactics- how they help me achieve my corporate goal i. Differentiation ii. C ost leadership b. Different business units for different elements of corporate strategy 9.When your competition for customers is in different business segments, UWO and Ivey. 10. Unrelated corporate strategy c. Difficult to transfer core competencies and CA 11. Related corporate strategy- diversification d. Can transfer competencies, activities- distribution channel 12. Three types of corporate strategy e. Limited diversification iii. Single Business – risky portfolio. iv. Dominant business f. Related diversification v. Related constrained- net benefit and sharing. Cost synergies. Increase revenue synergies. Economies of scale.Transfer core competency for net benefit. g. Unrelated diversification- lack of ability to share activities. Best performance you can achieve is normal performance. h. Related constrained 13. Resources which are sources of Comparative parity, not core competency. i. Transfer when core competence creates net benefit for the corporate as a whole 14. Risks j. Systemic Risk or Beta- related to the market (external) vi. Very difficult to diversify it away k. Total risk = systemic risk +specific risk (unsystematic risk) l. Unsystematic risk = internal risk . Return per unit of risk = performance 15. How do you define sustained CA n. Competitor cannot compete it away, but can be destroyed by shocks to the systems by exogenous agents. o. Defined by the ability of the competitor to compete CNPC and Petro China 1. Down-scoping 2. Getting rid of social services business units (non-core businesses) that are not related to oil exploration and oil services. 3. PetroChina- own 88 to 90 % 4. Going from related linked related constrained strategy 5. Re- Strategizing 6. Successful IPO listing 7. Still struggling

Major Works Data Sheet Essay

In this column, choose five quotations from the text, one focusing on each of the following literary elements: In this column, analyze the significance of your quotations. Allow the following questions to guide your responses: Why is this important? What does this reveal? Why does the author say it this way? What is the tone/mood of this passage? Theme â€Å"Seek happiness in tranquility and avoid ambition.† -Victor Frankenstein This is part of the theme of the book, sometimes too much knowledge is a bad thing, like the death of Victors family members. He did not think through the consequences of creating such a creature and therefore it led to the death of his family. He now wishes that he had been happy and thankful for the life that he was living instead of attempting to alter it, because then maybe his family would still be alive. Characterization â€Å"William, Justine, and Henry – they all died by my hands.† -Victor Frankenstein This quote is an expression of the sorrow and the guilt that Victor feels for being the reason his family died. Because of the death of his family he has a very Debbie Downer outlook on life and does not end up making the monstrous creature his companion. Setting â€Å"When I looked around I saw and heard of none like me. Was I, the, a monster, a blot upon the earth from which all men fled and whom all men disowned?† – The monster, Chapter 13, page 105 The creature realizes what a monster he is, because everyone he encounters runs from him in terror. He is lonely on this Earth and wants Victor to make  him a companion in female form. Symbolism â€Å"What was I? Of my creation and creator I was absolutely ignorant, but I knew that I possessed no money, no friends, and no kind of property. I was, besides, endued with a figure hideously deformed and loathsome†¦was I, then, a monster, a blot upon the earth, from which all men fled and whom all men disowned. â€Å" -The creature, chapter 13 Sometime after being created by Victor, the creature no longer thought that he was happy and did not understand why he was alive. He tried to fit in with the world around him but everyone was afraid of him and at one point or another he just gave up on trying to fit in with society. In this quote he explains his actions and the reasoning behind them. Imagery â€Å"It was already one in the morning; the rain pattered dismally against the panes, and my candle was nearly burnt out, when, by the glimmer of the half-extinguished light, I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open†¦Ã¢â‚¬  -Victor Frankenstein, Chapter 5 This is when Victor brings the creature to life, the creature that he has work endlessly, spending all of his time on it. This scene is used in movies to make audiences fear the monster that Victor created.

Human Dignity and the Dignity of Life Essay Example

Human Dignity and the Dignity of Life Essay Example Human Dignity and the Dignity of Life Essay Human Dignity and the Dignity of Life Essay Name: Course: Tutor: Date: Human Dignity and the Dignity of Life The terms human dignity and dignity of life are often used interchangeably. It is significant to understand that these two terms were of the approach different aspects and ideologies of life although there is sometimes a thin line between them. In the history of the human being, these two terms may have meant different things to two different groups. If, for example, these two groups were to be labeled the elite and the oppressed groups, the similarities and the differences will be discussed in relation to human dignity and the dignity of life depending on the historical period. To comprehend and to appreciate the interconnectedness of life, to live and to let live, to value the small things, to die with dignity, amongst others, are the phrases that related to the term the dignity of life. Respect, self worth, equal treatment, necessities of life, integrity, amongst others, come with the term the human dignity (Bonefeld Kosmas 35). Although these seem quite straight forward and clear, they mean different things to the groups mentioned above. Some aspects of these two terms are similar to both the elite and the oppressed groups. The freedom to search for the life necessities such as shelter, water, food, social support, just to mention but a few has been evident since man came into being. Man has been known to hunt and cultivate as a way providing food for himself. In the early times, when people used to own slaves, the slaves used to work, and in exchange have food, clothing and shelter provided to them by their masters. The slaves also used to have families, and that is how they multiplied. During the colonial period, the colonialists allowed the colonies to live in groups, go on with their own activities of fending for themselves and keep the normal social life the elite/the colonialists had (Malpas Norelle 57). Although their social and economic life may not have resembled that of the elite, they still had a life. The oppressed and the elite groups have been sharing the human dignity concept of believing anything one wants. Since time immemorial, the people have been able to believe what they wanted especially when it came to religious beliefs. In the Roman Empire, slaves still believed in the religion of their ancestral land (Kim 76). Although the missionaries and the colonialists played a significant role in the influence of Christianity in the African community, many Africans still continued with their African practices even after the reign of the colonialists. Today, it is evident that the question of what one believes does not depend on ones social status. People are either influenced by where they have come from (background), where they are or their own understanding. This can be explained by how homosexuals view themselves as oppressed since they are not allowed to fully express themselves in public. In such a case, the elite are the heterosexuals while the oppressed are the bisexuals, homosexuals and the transsexuals Unfortunately, the significance of such a concept as to live and to let live started being of significance in the late 20th century. The elite considered themselves as the people to decide how long the oppressed would live and how they would die. A master would kill a slave as he wished with not as much as a question from the authorities. A black man would easily end up dead while in the hands of the police without any further investigations of how that came to be (Ugwuanyi 528). A woman would be beaten and finally get killed by the husband without much concern from the family let alone the authorities. Although such actions call for the law’s intervention today, some concerns are still raised on the competence of the investigations being done and the actions taken. Respect, which is perceived as a form of human dignity, is meant to be respect from others. Unfortunately, when it comes to the elite and the oppressed groups, the elite expect respect from the oppressed, but the oppressed do not expect the same from the elite. In the past, the oppressed, who were mostly the slaves and peasants, did not respect themselves. They felt that their obligation was to serve their masters and the rich in the society (Malpas Norelle 60). The peasants were referred as third or fourth-class citizens depending on the society. There was the royal family, the extremely rich, the middles class and the peasants. During periods of slavery, the 19th and the early twentieth century, the whites and the Blacks represented the early elite and the oppressed groups respectively. During that period, the whites were the only people to be respected, to die with dignity, to be shown compassion, to be treated equally and to acknowledge the ambiguity of the world, amongst other concepts. They acknowledged that they had more human and life dignity as compared to the blacks and so they treated them like so. Although this has slowly been erased from the physical world and the concepts of human dignity and the dignity of life been appreciated by all parties, there are that mental part that still shows discrimination. White dominated countries do not have as many black leaders as the population dictates. Waiters and servers in the African countries will still prefer serving a Caucasian customer faster than a dark-skinned customer will. Many women do not hold leadership positions as their male counterparts. For example, there are only 12 female prime ministers,11 female presidents and 3 queens in the world. This is out of the many countries, and kingdoms we have in the world. It is approximated that 51 to 60 females have either acted as heads of states or been the heads of state after the Second World War. Although human dignity and the dignity of life may not necessarily be entirely responsible for such statistics, the aspects of inequality, empowerment of the marginalized groups and other issues affect the outcome of such statistics. When it comes to the value of small things as far as dignity of life is concerned, this might mean different things to the elite and the oppressed groups. Due to circumstances, the oppressed people value small things more than the elite do. During the slavery time, something as small as a meal in a day, no matter how small, was extremely appreciated (Ugwuanyi 529). Slaves were sold, and so it was hard to come by slaves either of the same family serving one master or in the same region. This made them value and appreciate one another very much as each was on his or her own. In the African American community during the 18th, the 19th and the early 20th century, family members were the most important, than the friends and neighbors, then the rest of the community. It is the reason why it was common to see a family inclusive of the extended family. This extends to date. The oppressed such as the poor and the disabled tend to appreciate the small things more than the elite. A beggar on the street appreciates a smile and a quarter more from a stranger more than a chief executive in a company’s office. The rich, even in the past, were not only concerned about one meal, but they were also concerned about the three meals, cooked and served well with wine and fruits as accompaniments. They were also concerned with banquets, balls and other celebrations. Even today, the elite or the rich are first concerned about how the community and the whole society think about them, before they are concerned about how their families perceive them. Issues exist concerning the human dignity and the dignity of life that can be learnt from our global neighbors and our near ancestors. Our ancestors believed in integrity and the emphasis of it. This is explained by the American Constitution, which was written in the 18th Century, is still followed even today with as few as less than thirty amendments (Bonefeld Kosmas 67). The founding fathers of the nation believed in integrity, and they acted in ways that portrayed integrity. A more specific example is where most families have something that has been passed on from one generation down to the next generation. It may be a piece of land, an expensive jewelry or a souvenir that was entrusted to the family members by the ancestors. In the quest for knowledge, the ancestors in the African countries and other countries globally embraced education thus leading to the spread of the literacy all over the world. The ancestors in the colonized states believed that they were dying a dignified death when they died fighting for their countries. This is how countries came to achieve their independence. Whether it is in Asia, Africa, America, Europe or any other continent, people believed and still do in the right to celebrate through dance and music. There is not one single group in the world which did not engage in dance and music especially during celebrations as a way of expressing their joy. Cultures, communities, administrations, occupations, sharing of knowledge, patriotism, search of prosperity, amongst other concepts were founded by our ancestors. They pursued and passed on from one generation to another, as a way of showing each generation their significance. Neighboring countries in the globe also have a way of showing the values in human dignity and the dignity of life. In Asian countries such as North Korea, China and Japan, a small bow before greeting one another or failing to look once superior directly in the eye is a form of ones respect for another (Kim 75). Countries such as China, Singapore and India are known to value families immensely thus they live in large families. The Maasai of Kenya and other cultures in Africa and Asia still practice their traditional beliefs and wear traditional clothes in appreciation of their culture. The ancestors and the global neighbors have taught us and continue teaching us the dignity of life and human dignity. The traditional songs sang during the socials gatherings, the recognition of authority where one acknowledges their superior, doing things with integrity; these are ways the ancestors and our neighbors show the significance of human dignity and the dignity of life. It is agreed that the morality ethical issues are of more concern today than they were a few years back. Children are more rude and disrespectful to their parents today that they were some time in the early twentieth century. Every individual has a right to experience human dignity or dignity of life whether by offering or by receiving. Our ancestors, global neighbors and time have taught us the significance of these two terms. They are what keep people together and protects the human race from itself. If the human race decides to go against the concepts that come along with these two terms, they will drive themselves into extinction. Bonefeld, Werner Kosmas Psychopedis. Human dignity: social autonomy and the critique of capitalism. Burlington, VT: Ashgate Publishing Ltd, 2005. Print. Kim, Hyung-Kon. The Idea of Human Dignity in Korea: An Ethico-Religious Approach and Application. Lewiston: Edwin Mellen Press, 2007. Print. Malpas, Jeff, and Norelle Lickiss. Perspectives on Human Dignity: A Conversation. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Springer, 2007. Print. Ugwuanyi, Chikere. â€Å"Book Reviews: Towards a Fuller Human Identity: a Phenomenology of Family Life, Social Harmony, and the Recovery of the Black Self. by Pius Ojara.† The Heythrop Journal. 49.3 (2008): 527-532. Print.

A Common Question Recruiters Ask Prospective Candidates is How They Essay

A Common Question Recruiters Ask Prospective Candidates is How They Would Motivate Their Staff - Essay Example Introduction The success of any business primarily relies upon the performance of its staffs. They are treated as the vital resources of any organisation which tend to yield high productivity through their performances. For staffs or employees, motivation acts as a key towards enhancing their performances. Motivation is a force which encourages employees to render their best effort towards the job. This motivation can only be achieved when the requirements of employees are satisfied. These requirements can differ from person to person as every person has their personal needs which can help to inspire toward high performance and thus yield high productivity. It has often been argued in this context that effective motivation is one of the prime reasons which prompt certain positive behavioural aspects amid employees. Although motivation is regarded as a crucial factor for success of business, there are certain debaters who attempt contradicting this explanation. In broader terms, motiv ation is believed to be the determination to perform better. Motivated people are identified to commonly exhibit energy and enthusiasm in the work procedure. Based on this notion, the paper will describe motivation of people from different perspectives. The objective of the paper is to understand the aspects which can help to stimulate employees towards higher performance. Application of different theories along with challenges and success factors for motivation of employees has been illustrated in the discussion henceforth. 2.0. Literature Review 2.1. Traditional Motivational Theories There are three most commonly applied motivational theories which were developed in traditional period namely, ‘Maslow’s Need Hierarchy Theory’, ‘Hertzberg’s two factor theory’, and ‘Theory X and Theory Y’. Maslow had proposed that employees have different set of requirements through his Need Hierarchy Theory. He had identified five kinds of needs t o be effective for any and every individual from a generalised point of view which included ‘psychological needs’, ‘safety needs’, ‘social needs’, ‘esteem needs’, and ‘self-actualisation needs’. However, the earnestness of these different needs is likely to vary from person to person. In this regards, Maslow had described that when one need is fulfilled, the other need arises. Hence, the urge for satisfying different needs drive employees toward more effort. Thus, accomplishment of different needs can help to motivate employees toward higher performance in an organisation (Bryson, 2006). Fredric Herzberg had developed two aspects namely ‘motivators’ and ‘hygiene’ factors which certainly creates an impact on motivation of staffs. Hertzberg believed that there are certain aspects which result in satisfaction of staffs and certain other aspects which inhibit dissatisfaction amid them. According t o him, the hygiene aspects are essential for existence of motivation in the workplace. Although hygiene aspects do not result in positive satisfaction for long run, it is vital for preventing displeasure among employees. In other words, hygiene aspects are extrinsic factors in the job. Alternatively, motivational aspects can generate satisfaction for employees to a considerable extent. These aspects are fundamental in nature and motivate employees for providing superior performance on a consistent basis. Motivator aspects are often termed as satisfiers and represent the

U2 Case Project Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

U2 Case Project - Coursework Example d http://www.icann.org/epp#clientUpdateProhibited, serverDeleteProhibited http://www.icann.org/epp#serverDeleteProhibited, serverTransferProhibited http://www.icann.org/epp#serverTransferProhibited, serverUpdateProhibited http://www.icann.org/epp#serverUpdateProhibited. clientDeleteProhibited -- http://www.icann.org/epp#clientDeleteProhibited, clientRenewProhibited -- http://www.icann.org/epp#clientRenewProhibited, clientTransferProhibited -- http://www.icann.org/epp#clientTransferProhibited, clientUpdateProhibited -- http://www.icann.org/epp#clientUpdateProhibited, serverDeleteProhibited -- http://www.icann.org/epp#serverDeleteProhibited, serverRenewProhibited -- http://www.icann.org/epp#serverRenewProhibited, serverTransferProhibited -- http://www.icann.org/epp#serverTransferProhibited, serverUpdateProhibited -- http://www.icann.org/epp#serverUpdateProhibited In this section we shall resolve the server issues being experienced by a company that has upgraded its network from Windows Server 2000 server to Windows Server 2008. A server acts as an electronic filing cabinet. This happens to be one of its fundamental roles. Client’s connection to a server is purposefully to gain access to a shared file or stored data. Bender (2009) to us the newly improved technologies from Windows Server 2008 that will help in solving the server issue. These are improved distributed file services and improved file sharing wizard. A centralized point is provided by the distributed file sharing service (DFS), it is at this point that information is loaded to enable easy access. This point will enable the business to access network data from the database. The other technology is file sharing wizard. The sharing wizard on the system must first be enabled in other to share files with other network users. In order to establish connection you first start by c licking network and sharing center. You then turn on public folder sharing; this applies on systems with established

Can Selling Arrangements Be Harmonised Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Can Selling Arrangements Be Harmonised - Essay Example First off, the author claims to rediscover the issue of the internal market from the rational point of view in the scope of other relationships and vital constituents the nation gets in the economical and social sense. In this respect Davis admits that positive harmonization has a broader remit, because the Treaty makes clear that the internal market is to be a market which respects non-trade values.1 Given that, the movement of goods in the course of judicially confirmed agreements and arrangements should strive to be harmonized at a particular point of interaction within the internal market. However, such integration requires a deeper analysis of positive and negative implication related to selling arrangements and the point of harmonization. ... Due to the fact that the article 95 serves a powerful instrument toward establishment of more democratic ways of the internal market functioning, there is still less points on the equality proviso. On the other hand, the article 28 is put forward to reclaim the feasibility of the Courts to make sure the trade agreements are made in keeping with the best tradition of the European letter of law. To say more, the article takes notice of the national law regulations serving for proportionality as it is.4 Looking at harmonization through a lens of debates referred to the consumers’ rights, Keck doctrine emphasizes the extent of distortions. Therefore, the competition in trade relationships is merely based on the quality and transparency of the policy-making approaches by the trade companies, it is vital to mention that the distortions of competition is a normal phenomenon in the economic activity among different states. Davis highlights in his article that the difference in views o n the internal market development and the way it should be presented in a developed country serves a driven power for the emergence of distortions: In fact the relative cost differences resulting from more or less strict consumer contracts may well be extremely marginal. Consumer measures are not primarily concerned with quanta of damages, which might have, for some industries, significant economic impact5 Influence of selling arrangements cannot but be visible on a state’s performance in the world arena. The fact is that the de minimis rule is one of the core elements to provoke distortions as the opinions will differ regarding the commercial versus social implications for the society. Whereas article 95 is more relevant

What Is Economics Essay Example for Free

What Is Economics Essay Quoting Michael Yates, â€Å"The subject matter of economics is the production and distribution of output†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Yates, 2003). So what does this say to me? Simplifying, this says to me that Economics is a way of explaining the world. With studies dating as far back as Aristotle’s interest in the various forms of state, how can one ever fully understand the complexities of economic thought and how could one definition ever sum up the entirety of what economists endeavour to understand? Meikle, Scott, 1995) The study of economics attempts to understand and to explain how and why the wealth of the world is produced, distributed, and consumed. It examines everything from global and local markets, class structures and wealth distribution, the role of government and politicians, supply and demand of products and services, the division of labour, and countless other factors that affect how and why the productions systems of the world economy function the way they do. Arguably, one of the most influential factors in defining the subject matter of economics is the division of labour. By influential I am not stating that I am of the opinion that the current distribution of labour it is positive factor to our current economic climate, just that it is an influential one. Although the famous theorist Adam Smith argued that economic growth, as a result of the productivity improvements gained, was rooted in the division of labour (Smith, 1776). He, among others, also came to acknowledge the many downsides of a deepening division of labour (Walker, 1886 Smith, 1776 Marx, 1847). Labour is distributed not only between countries and companies but also within each individual company. The wage disparity between middle and lower class and the wealth distribution between labourers and capitalists (business owners) that results from a deepening division of labour plays a much more significant role in determining what is produced, by whom it is produced, who is able to purchase these produced goods and services, and ultimately the subject matter of economics then one would initially assume. The division of labour does not only refer to the dividing of complex tasks into simple tasks so that many, easily replaceable labourers, complete one task over and over to produce a product, (associated mainly with the industrial revolution); the division of labour refers to the division of labour between organizations. In modern times, labourers from individual organizations produce goods for another organization rather than directly for a consumer. That organization then uses those goods, combined with their own, to produce a final product. This deepening of the division of labour resulted in the progressive substitution of self-sufficient production with industrial production and market exchange. (Schmidt, 2009) These worldwide networks and interdependencies between organizations, combined with the division of labour within the individual organization, further the disconnect between workers and the ownership of their work. They lose pride of workmanship, close personal relationships, direct access to the means of production, and they become â€Å"a mere appendage to the cold, implacable, pace-setting machine† (Hunt Sherman, 1986). Their work, or labour, is owned by the capitalist that owns the organization in which they work and they are left virtually powerless to control the economy in which they live. The labour of a CEO differs substantially from that of a production worker in an automotive factory, and so does the wealth accumulated by that labourer and the CEO and eventually, their heirs. The ‘labourer’ who accumulates the most wealth has the most influence over the means of production. This labourer, once they own the means of production and are able to determine what is produced and the method of production comes to be termed a ‘capitalist’. A capitalist makes no secret that goods will not be produced and dollars will not be invested in production capital, regardless of people’s needs, because production decisions in a capitalist economy are based primarily on profit (Hunt Sherman, 1986). This capitalist, and the wealth they accumulate, also has significant influence over the political economy that sets the stage for capitalism to continue to thrive and to encourage capitalist accumulation and further the deepening of the division of labour. It is in this way that capitalism and the division of labour drives our production economy and influences the global markets and the modern subject matter of economics.

The Growth Of The Takaful Industry Economics Essay

The Growth Of The Takaful Industry Economics Essay Takaful is derived from an Arabic word â€Å"Kafala† which means mutual guarantee, whereby a group of participants agree to mutually guarantee among themselves against a defined loss. This simple concept of takaful is the foundation of the takaful business, which is the present Shariah-compliant insurance Takaful is â€Å"a scheme based on brotherhood, solidarity and mutual assistance which provides for mutual financial aid and assistance to the participants in case of need whereby the participants mutually agree to contribute for that purpose† The contemporary jurists acknowledge that the foundation of Takaful was laid down in the system of â€Å"Aaqilah†, which was an arrangement of mutual help or indemnification customary in some tribes at the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Takaful provides solidarity in respect of any tragedy in human life and loss to the business or property. The elements present in the conventional insurance viz; Gharar (uncertainty), Riba (interest) and Maisir (gambling) are against the tenets of Islam. Muslim Scholars do not object to insurance per se but only to certain weaknesses in the insurance contract (which weaknesses render the insurance contracts fasid). It is for this reason, 1972 Fatwa by National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs of Malaysia that life insurance is not lawful as it contains gharar, Maisir and riba. Hence, takaful tries to remove all these facets present in the conventional insurance and works within the guidelines of Shariah. The concept of tabarru makes the transaction permissible and valid according to Islamic law. It changes the basis of contract from an exchange contract (muawadat) which is bilateral in nature, to a charitable contract, which is unilateral. 2.0 Takaful Industry overview Globally, the takaful industry has been growing rapidly, appealing to both Muslims and non-Muslims. Currently, there are more than 110 takaful operators worldwide. As per the Ernst Youngs World Takaful Report 2009, global Takaful contributions have risen to $3.4bn in 2007 as compared to $2.5bn in 2006 (36% Growth). The new projections for 2012 for Takaful Market are US$ 7.7 bn and US$ 11.0 bn by 2015. Saudi Arabia was the biggest market in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), with contributions totaling USD 1.7 bn in 2007, and Malaysia the largest takaful market in Southeast Asia with contributions of USD 800 mn. Malaysia has achieved significant milestones in the development of its takaful industry. With the enactment of the Takaful Act 1984, the first takaful company was established in 1985. Since then, the industry has been gaining momentum and increasingly recognized as a significant contributor to Malaysias overall Islamic financial system. There are currently eight takaful operators and two re-takaful operators, with five foreign participations from the UK, Bahrain, Germany and Japan. These takaful operators conduct both domestic and foreign currency business. 2.1 Current Trends and Future prospects With the expanding demographics of Islamic countries and that of the Islamic population globally, the prospect of takaful looks promising. The Accounting Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) has been playing a key role in framing and reviewing the regulatory standards governing takaful companies. With improved standards of living and increasing awareness of Takaful, the market is expected to see steady growth in per capita spend on Takaful premiums and also in terms of market share in comparison with conventional insurance. 2.2 Strategic Issues and Challenges With projected growth as described above, the industry will experience much change. As with all new product offerings, success will depend on several factors, both internal and external. Highlighted below are a number of strategic issues and challenges that providers will contend with as the industry expands. Distribution Challenges New entrants should create synergies that can be used to leverage existing distribution channels, banc-Takaful and strategic alliances across geographies. This will also enable the operators to increase premium volumes to improve profitability; a key factor in surviving the ‘start-up years. Developing Innovative Products Developing attractive and competitive products that meet diverse customer needs will be a major challenge for Takaful operators. Though Takaful operators cater to a very specific and presently unsatisfied market, they still need to create product offerings that are as sophisticated and innovative as their conventional competitors. Improving Marketing and Branding Tactics The present brand value of Takaful is relatively limited particularly in non-Islamic countries. Analysts have suggested that Takaful has enormous potential for Islamic and non-Islamic populations, offering an ‘ethical insurance alternative. Experts also propose that Takaful can potentially be a useful mechanism for poverty alleviation. Raising the Standards in Customer Service As the industry grows and becomes more competitive, building customer service skills and developing best practices will become increasingly important. At present, general customer service standards are average among Takaful providers, relative to their conventional counterparts. IT Solutions for Takaful Issues such as innovative product development, time to market, servicing of policies and claims within acceptable time lines, accuracy of calculations, cost containment, and improvement in service standards can all be facilitated by the implementation of robust and flexible IT solutions. Takaful compliant IT solutions serve an important purpose from a regulatory compliance standpoint and can help operators avoid susceptibility to unfavourable regulatory decisions and the possibility of increased regulatory compliance costs. 3.0 Takaful Models A takaful model depicts the relationship between the company and the participants. Based on the nature of relationship between the company and the participants, there are various models like Wakalah (agency) Model, Mudarabah Model and the combination of agency and Mudarabah models. In Mudarabah model that is practiced mainly in the Asia Pacific region, the policyholders get profit on their part of funds only if Takaful Company earns profit. The sharing basis is determined in advance and is a function of the developmental stage and earnings of the Company. In Wakalahmodel, the surplus of policyholders funds investments net of the management fee or expenses goes to the policyholders. The shareholders charge Wakalah fee from contributions that covers most of the expenses. In order to give incentive for good governance, management fee is related to the level of performance. 4.0 Takaful Categories 4.1 General takaful The general takaful provides protection on a short-term basis, normally covering a period of one year. It commonly provides protection for property loss or damage, liability arising from damage. In general Takaful, the company raises a fund, which called as ‘tabarru fund or account, where the participants pay to the fund. The company will invest the remainder of the fund after deducting the operational cost of the scheme. Any profit or return from the investment will be returned back to the fund. If there is any participant who faced loss or damage to his property or belonging, then the particular participant will be compensated from this fund. 4.2 Family takaful The family takaful is a combination of protection and long-term savings, usually covering a period of more than one year. It provides benefits if the insured is inflicted by a tragedy as well as potential profits. Risks covered include premature death, illness and permanent disability, and regular income during retirement. 5.0Shariah issues in Takaful: As is the case with any industry in its nascent stages, the takaful industry too is facing its own set of teething problems. Whenever we go to conferences (or) read the literature and article related to takaful, the general and the most common allegation (or) complaint is that, â€Å"Inconsistency in the interpretations of certain Shariah rules or standards is said to be an issue of the Takaful Industry†.Some of the commonly discussed Shariah issues relating to takaful are: which is the right model to follow?, who are the real owners of the takaful fund?, the methodology and the process to be adopted to share the surplus between the participants, the issue of hibah (gift) in a takaful policy, the issue of insurable interest and whether underwriting in concordant with the principles of maqaasid as-Shariah etc. So, let us analyse these issues in the light of Shariah to understand the arguments for and against each of these issues to get a clear idea on the issue. Finally, we will also try to analyze if the issue of inconsistency is as serious as it is being projected and what are the areas which need to be standardized, if at all it is required. 6.0 Issue #1: The dilemma of choosing the right takaful model In many of the takaful conferences and literature available, the question that is manifested is regarding the different takaful models existing in the world market. Some people express a desire towards a standardisation of takaful products as this will avoid confusion, facilitate regulation etc. Before we analyze the pros and cons of this thought, let us understand the modus operandi of the mudarabah model. Some people, usually criticize the mudarabah model since the operator too shares the underwriting surplus which should ideally belong to the participant. 6.1The modus operandi of the mudarabah model Generally, many Takaful companies (especially those using the Mudaraba principle) claim that their operations are based on the concept of mutual or co-operative insurance as approved by the Muslim jurists. This claim is on the basis that: They receive the premium or contribution from the insured on the basis of the Mudaraba principle, whereby the company becomes the entrepreneur (Mudarib) and the insured party the capital provider (Rab al-Mal). The insured party agrees to donate a certain percentage (or in some cases as in General Takaful the whole of the amount paid) of the premium/contribution to a special fund used to pay compensation or benefits to contributors. Any surplus left in the fund after settlement of all claims is shared by the company and the insured as profit in a ratio as agreed in the contract. An insured party who has received compensation, the amount of which is greater than what he could have received as a share of the surplus had he made no claim, is not entitled to share such a surplus. The company uses normal actuarial principles to calculate risk and premium. 6.2The industry practice Until recently, the Mudaraba model adopted by Malaysian takaful operators refers to profit as the underwriting surplus, which is the excess of premiums over claims, plus investment returns. This arrangement marks a departure from the original Mudaraba model, which will entitle the takaful operator a ratio in the investment returns, without sharing in the underwriting surplus. The modified Mudaraba model justified the sharing of the underwriting surplus on the grounds that such an arrangement would allow takaful operators to withstand competition and avoid overpricing, which may eventually sway takaful participants from takaful, and be attracted to conventional insurance, with all its non-Shariah compliant elements. This is further justified by the fact that there is nothing haram in sharing the underwriting surplus, in the view of the absence of any textual or general Shariah principle disapproving such a practice. 6.3Modes of surplus distribution Generally the surplus which is generated after paying all the claims and other expenses is distributed in the following ways. Pro-rata mode: Whether the surplus is underwriting surplus plus profit or underwriting surplus only, it is distributed in proportion to the premium paid by the participants, without differentiating between claimable and non-claimable accounts. Selective mode: This mode tends to indemnify non-claimable accounts only. Takaful operators tend to deprive claimable accounts, so that they become more prudent in the future. 0ff-setting mode: This mode tends to offset the rate of underwriting surplus from the amount claimed. This is applicable only on accounts whose underwriting surplus less than the claims. If the underwriting surplus is equal or more than the claims, then the participant does not share in the surplus. 6.4Do Takaful models need to converge? While the positive desire towards a standardisation of takaful products to avoid confusion, facilitate regulation etc, are welcome, the other side of the coin is that takaful is an Islamic phenomenon and should be viewed through the prism of fiqh and socio-cultural context. We should realise that takaful per se is not a product, and thus should not be equated with insurance. It is described as a system, rather than a product, which aims at the joint-guarantee between the contributors in a risk-covering scheme. We should not lose focus of the source of the inspiration of takaful. It is primarily to spread a risk to alleviate financial burden when it inflicts a person in a spirit of humanism. Unlike in the past, presently money is contributed in advance. This element of philanthropy should also be reflected in takaful to differentiate it with insurance, which is a pure tug of war between maximising premium to be paid and minimising the compensation to be paid. If one adulterates the spirit of takaful and treats it as a pure standardised commercial venture then the Shariah spirit may be lost. The different models in fact create a space to reactivate the juristic acumen. For any legal system to survive, especially in an era of globalisation and universalism, one should allow the system to evolve. This evolution is in turn influenced by many external factors such as politics, schools of law, tax implication etc, which differ from country to country. For instance, many multinational banks offer different home financing products in different jurisdictions. May be in one country Ijarah (lease) will best suit everybody while in another country the Murabaha (differed payment). This shows the versatility of Islamic law. The same spirit should prevail for takaful. One cannot replicate these products on the basis of Islamic law and then try to standardize the Islamic products developed on the premise of conventional products. This should not be the case, a change in mind set is required because Islamic financial products should have its own features ultimately. Standardization is good in a way as it brings in more certainty. However, one should ponder on Imam Maliks attitude towards standardization of Islamic law when Ibn Muqaffa asked the caliph of that time to standardize Islamic law. But he refused on the basis that the jurisprudence developed by other imams also had their proofs from Shariah. Hence one cannot accept only Maliki school of law. In other words Islamic law must preserve its legal elasticity. By standardizing Islamic finance one will lose the legal beauty inherent in Shariah. Therefore by accommodating various models different branch of fiqh is revived. 7.0 Issue #2:The issue of surplus distribution The most critical issue in takaful is the issue of surplus distribution. Being a taawuni instrument to provide a mutual guarantee for possible risks, surplus arises as an issue of what to do with it if such risks are dealt with through risk transfer or indemnification. A recorded surplus at the end of the financial year of a particular takaful operator is an issue that invokes both Shariah and legal scrutiny. As far as surplus distribution is concerned, two juristic views have surfaced and dominated the takaful industry in the Middle East and Malaysia. The first one categorically prohibits the sharing of the underwriting surplus between the takaful operator and the participants, but the other view validates the sharing, based on ratios that differ according to the line of products offered. The opponents of sharing the underwriting surplus back their contention by decisions taken by highly acclaimed institutions, such as AAOIFI, whose standard on takaful reads: â€Å"The Takaful operator does not share in the (underwriting surplus)†. The AAIOFI Standard on takaful states: â€Å"The underwriting surplus and its returns, less expenses, and payment of claims, remain the property (milk) of the policyholders, which is the distributable surplus. This is not applied in commercial insurance, where the premiums become the property of the (insurance) company, by virtue of contract and acquisition, which would make it revenue and a profit for commercial insurance† This statement by AAOIFI raises the issue of ownership claimed on the premium paid. On one hand, the participant has donated the premium as tabarru, hence, losing title over it, as prescribed by the rules of hibah in the Shariah, but on the other hand, he still holds claim over it in the form of getting the whole underwriting surplus or a part thereof. Hence, let us analyse the ownership issue element in hibah and the extent of its Shariah compliancy. There are a number of jurists who emphasized that pure hibah leads the wahib to relinquish his ownership over the object of hibah. Ibn Qudamah asserts that â€Å"al-hibah tamalik†- a hibah which requires the wahib to enable the beneficiary to claim title of the object of hibah. Al Imam al- Shirazi points out that â€Å"Al-hibah tamlik bighayri ‘iwadd â€Å"- a hibah which enables the beneficiary to own the object of hibah without an exchange. In such a case, the juristic implications of hibah, as Ibn Nujaym al- Hanafi asserts, will be the transfer of hibah to the beneficiary, entitling him to hold title over the object of hibah (thubut al-Milk lil mawhubi lahu). Generally speaking, the Shafi‟is view hibah as transferring the ownership of an asset without exchange during ones lifetime, on a voluntary basis. The other mazahib (schools of jurisprudence) refer to the same meaning, with a special emphasis on the element of â€Å"no exchange†, i.e.: bi ghayri ‘Iwadd. This transfer of ownership would be effective, either by way of acquisition (qabd) on the part of the beneficiary, which is the view of the Shafi‟is and Hanafis, or by way of ijab and qabul (offer and acceptance),, which is the view of the Malikis. This juristic approach is an evidence that tabarru requires the relinquishing of ownership over the object of hibah. Since the latter entitles tamlik to the beneficiary, we can rightly say that the mutabarri (donor) does not hold any legal right or claim over the asset donated. Having said so, the takaful operators are at liberty to stipulate conditions on how the underwriting surplus should be distributed, invoking the doctrine of shurut (conditions) in contracts, as articulated in Islamic jurisprudence. The only shroud of right that the donor may still enjoy to hold title of his hibah is when he donates it in exchange for a counter value, a principle known as â€Å"hibah al-thawab† Contemporary scholars like al-Qurdaghi are of the view that the principle of hibah al-thawab (a gift for on exchange) is a good premise to justify the confinement of surplus to the participants only. It is true that some of the Prophetic hadiths referring to hibah al-thawab have secured some right of ownership to the donors after donation. Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said: â€Å"The donor holds an exclusive right of ownership over his hibah, provided he is not rewarded for it†. This hadith is the only piece evidence attesting to a conditional ownership of the hibah by the wahib, allowing him to retract his hibah if he is not rewarded or satisfied with the reward. However, as clearly understood from the hadith, this evidence only gives conditional retraction of the same gift, not a surplus of it. In the case of Islamic insurance (takaful), this hadith is not applicable to surplus distribution, rather it is about retraction of hibah. Another hadeeth which is given as an argument for confining the surplus distribution to the participants only is the hadith of Nahd/Nihd. It has been mentioned in Saheeh Al-Bukhari, (Book of Sharikah) that â€Å"Muslims did not see any harm in Nahd†. The latter, as Ibn Hajar explains, is â€Å"The allocation of a fund in proportion to the number of participants (in the fund)†. Although this arrangement was more useful and practical in journeys to provide mutual coverage of expenses, it has been viewed as a mechanism to transfer risks, whether in a journey or otherwise. After citing the same hadith, the appendix of AAOIFI Standard on Takaful provides an explanation to Ibn Hajar‟s definition of Nahd. The Standard states that Ibn Hajars definition of Nahd refers to the underwriting surplus, which should be redistributed to the participants, so that it could be used in another journey. Revising Ibn Hajars view in his Fath al-Bari, it can be hardly understood that Ibn Hajars definition and explanation of Nahd does not refer in any way to surplus redistribution to the same participants. The hadith, is thus, completely silent about surplus, opening the doors for ijtihad to be exercised, in view of the maqasid al-Shariahand general Islamic financial principles. Another issue raised by those who oppose the sharing of surplus to the takaful operator is that Sharing in the underwriting surplus is a kind of taking peoples property unjustly. This contention is held by prominent scholars like Hussein Hamid Hassan and Al-Qurgaghi. The contention seems to go beyond the accepted parameters of justice. Although there could be plausible grounds for such a view, in light of the practices of some takaful operators that seize the lions share of the underwriting surplus, there should not be any shred of doubt that, in light of our earlier juristic analysis, sharing the underwriting surplus is Shariah-compliant as long as it falls within the parameters of accepted conditions (shurut), as well as the principle of the rida (satisfaction), featuring such contracts. With the existence of sound regulatory framework that caps the percentage of the distributable surplus, takaful operators will not be in a position to take peoples property unjustly. 8.0 Issue #3: Distribution of death benefit in family takaful Another Shariah issue (or) concern raised is in family takaful on to whom should be the death benefit is paid after the death of the participant. One group of scholars and Takaful operators say that it should be given entirely given to the beneficiary as in the case of conventional insurance and the other group feels that the beneficiary should act as a executor of the deceased and the benefit should be distributed to the legal heirs of the deceased. So, let us analyse the arguments put forth by the two sides in the light of Shariah. 8.1The concept of mal in the light of Takaful benefit The Arabic word mÄ l, or property, originates from the root word mawala that literally means to finance. ZuhaylÄ « defines mal literally as being anything a man owns that is in his actual possession and this includes corporeal and usufruct. The classification of mÄ l by Dr. Muhammad Daud Bakar, which is suitable to the modern context, appears to adopt the majoritys definition. According to him, mÄ l or property can be classified into three types: Tangible assets like landed property, present items and stock including Islamic bonds that are asset-based such as ijÄ rah, musyÄ rakah and mudarabah bonds. Intangible assets such as copyright and royalty, trade name, trademark etc Financial rights (haqq mÄ liyy) such as rights to receive (receivable) that include Islamic bonds, deferred dowry maintenance, right to damages, the right to takaful compensation, etc. In the modern application, takaful benefit is also treated as mal (property). According to Sec.2 Takaful Act 1984, takaful benefit includes any benefit, pecuniary or not which is secured by a takaful certificate, and â€Å"pay† and other expressions. In family takaful, there are two accounts, namely the Participant Account and the Special Participant Account. The premium is paid into both accounts based on a ratio agreed by the takaful operator and the participant. The Participant Account is considered to be the deposit account of the participant whereas the Special Account is for the sole purpose of making donations. When a participant dies, there is no question regarding the heritability of the money in the Participant Account as it is part of the deceaseds estate. However, the money payable by the takaful operator taken from the Special Participant Account for the death benefit is still questionable. It is a standard practice in Malaysia that the payment of the money by the takaful operator to the nominee appointed by the deceased participant is subsequently distributed among the participants legal heirs in accordance with the farÄ `id law. The distribution of the proceeds among the legal heirs of the deceased participant has seemingly become standard practice in Malaysia. Section 65(1) of the Malaysian Takaful Act, 1984 stipulates that the payment of takaful benefits is made to the proper claimant. Section 65(4) explains that the ‘proper claimant is a person who claims to be entitled to the sum in question as executor of the deceased or who claims to be entitled to that sum under the relevant law. 8.2The concept of ownership in Takaful benefit Islamic law provides four legitimate means for acquiring absolute ownership[13]: (i) The contract of exchange such as trading and leasing contracts, and unilateral contracts such as wasiyyah, hibah and waqf, (ii) the replacement, or khalafiyyah, i.e. inheritance, the payment of diyyah and compensation, (iii) the control over permissible things such as fish in the sea and birds in the sky and (iv) The growth and the production of things owned such as eggs, milk, etc. Takaful benefit falls under the second part of the first category, i.e. unilateral contract (tabarruat). It could be contended that without the participation of the policyholder, the takaful operator would never pay the money. In other words, it is the contract entered into by the policyholder for family takaful, which generates the benefits. This contention is based on the fact that ones effort becomes a justification for ownership. As a result, the money is divisible among the heirs of the policyholder according to the law of farÄ `id. 8.3The takaful benefit to sole beneficiary vs. to the legal heirs Takaful contracts realize the obligation upon the company to pay. They do not create wealth in the insureds ownership, but rather they create an obligation to ease the burden suffered due to the losses of fellow participants. The participants contribution is his or her donation for the good of others, not for himself. The proceeds payable belong to the fund of the participants, not the takaful operator. Therefore, even though it is the deceaseds effort, the money is more appropriately to be regarded as an obligation upon the takaful tabarru fund to pay on behalf of other participant as financial assistance to the insureds family in case of death. This is the importance of considering a legal and financial entity for the fund. This monetary obligation is directly based on the agreement or promises of mutual assistance stated in the contract. In other words, the tabarru fund managed by the takaful operator on behalf of the participants agrees to pay the proceeds, and the matter of to whom they are paid should be freely and totally left to the agreement or the stipulation made by the policyholder to the company. This is similar with the condition made by the performer of wakf as he stipulated condition is binding. The primary objective of takaful is to provide financial assistance to the participants family. If the payment is payable strictly only to the heirs of the participants or insured, it implies that it is the property of the deceased. If this is so, the money is subject to the fulfilment of certain rights that must be carried out before distribution to the heirs, such as the payment of burial expenses, the deceaseds debts. This would mean that the compensation is not being used to ease the burden of the family but rather it seems that other fellow participants are under an obligation to settle the debts of the dead participants. In this regard, the creditors would have prior rights over the participants dependants. The dependants would only receive the benefits after the creditors claims have been satisfied. As such, inserting a clause legally and strictly imposing a duty on the appointed nominee to distribute the money among the legal heirs of the dead participant seems to contradict the objective of both the takaful. Inserting such a clause as currently practiced in Malaysia is not based on valid arguments. Furthermore, by considering it an estate for inheritance purposes, the takaful and insurance activity becomes a source of income. This is contradictory to the purpose of takaful i.e. mutual cooperation to ease a burden. Interestingly there are a number of contemporary fatwas allowing the distribution of takaful benefit to a particular beneficiary which is the common practice in the conventional insurance. The SAC of Bank Negara in its 34 meeting held on 21st April 2003 resolved: Takaful Benefit can be used for hibah since it is the right of the participants. Therefore the participants should be allowed to exercise their rights according to their choice as long as it does not contradict with Shariah. The status of hibah in takaful plan does not change into will (wasiah) since this type of hibah is a conditional hibah, in which the hibah is an offer to the recipient of hibah for only a specified period. In the context of takaful, the takaful benefit is both associated with the death of the participant as well as maturity of the certificate. If the participant remains alive on maturity, the takaful benefit is owned by the participant but of he dies within such period, then hibah shall be executed. A participant has the right to revoke the hibah before the maturity date because conditional hibah is only deemed to be completed after delivery is made (qabd). The Participant has the right to revoke the hibah to one party and transfer it to other parties or terminate the takaful participation if the recipient of hibah dies before maturity The takaful denomination form has to be standardized and must stipulate clearly the status of the nominee either as a beneficiary or an executor (wasi) or a trustee