How can Maslow's idea of self-actualization and eupsychian management Research Paper

How can Maslow's idea of self-actualization and eupsychian management be reconciled with prevailing mental models of managemen - Research Paper Example Later many other theorists have worked to develop the mental models of management. However, most of them are related to the model presented by Maslow. In this paper, we will first discuss the Maslow’s idea of self-actualization and eupsychian management and how it is connected with the mental models of management. Later in the light of human variance and capabilities, the need of self-actualization and eupsychian management is discussed by the help of other theorists. A comparison is made between the Maslow’s hierarchy and Alderfer’s ERG theory. The paper also discusses the implications that are required for the practical managers, how at different stages of their professional life they can use the Maslow’s theory. It also talks about how I can use self-actualization and other concept of Maslow’s hierarchy in my professional life. In the end, it discusses the scenarios like religious activities, creativity, and people who work for the society, for i nstance a doctor who, keeping in mind their profession and duties does not flow the hierarchy and strive to achieve self actualization way before they achieve their basic needs. On the other hand, it also discusses the scenarios like bank jobs and other discrete organizational structures in which the idea of self- actualization are implemented. How can Maslow’s idea of self-actualization and eupsychian management be reconciled (to cause) with frequent mental models of management? Self-actualization refers to making something real or actual in our innate talents, aptitude, and the possibility to release out highest potentials. This whole process is done when a person satisfies their lower driving needs such as food, water, sleep etc. and jumps to the highest needs by learning, changing, growing, and transforming. Like this, a person becomes fully functioning and the best person comes out of them. According to Bernardo and Carducci (2009) Eupsychian management emphasizes that t he managers must concern themselves by becoming more aware of the needs of the employees and create the working environment that facilitate the satisfaction of the needs of the employees in order to attain self-actualization. In the theory, it is argued that, as people move from the basic needs towards self-actualization needs, the source of motivation changes for them on every stage. According to Douglas and Khalil (1967), as the managers progress, their lower level needs that of physiology and safety reduce, while the upper level needs that of affiliation, self-esteem, and self-actualization amplify. The motivators that are significant when one’s career starts, become insignificant later. For example, money that is the driving force in the early stages of one’s careers becomes less important. This natural growth towards job satisfaction and job empowerment becomes significant with time. Through Eupsychian management, great trust in the employees is reflected, which a ssumes that every worker prefers to become a prime mover than a passive helper. To become more productive and reach to the point of self-actualization, few things need to be considered in the work environment: trust in human nature; within the human nature there should be strong belief for the self-actualization; there should be strong belief in the cooperation, capacity and productivity of the workers; within the work enviro

Thoreau and Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay Example for Free

Thoreau and Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay . Drawing on Thoreau and Martin Luther King, Jr., defend or attack the practice of â€Å"Civil Disobedience† in a democratic society such as ours. Civil disobedience is not only a crucial tool that the masses use to express their grievances against an unjust government, but it is a necessity for the social health of any society.   Citizens can only respect a country worthy of respect, with or without rule of law dictating behavior.   The rule of law may retain order, but may also be seen as unjust or unnecessary by those are forced to submit to it.    Since Thoreau’s treatise on civil disobedience, nonviolent protest has been used by many movements such as the civil rights movement to affect change, and must continued to be employed as a tool to ensure that people retain the power over the government. Civil disobedience has been a successful tool in initiating change in many countries, including the United States.   Civil disobedience is generally comprised of a majority group that represents the voice of those who are adversely affected by injustice and is mostly nonviolent, usually in the form of protesting.   Henry David Thoreau discusses the subject of civil disobedience when talking of his own efforts to make a nonviolent protest:   â€Å"All men recognize the right of revolution; that is, the right to refuse allegiance to and to resist the government, when its tyranny or its inefficiency are great and unendurable† (Thoreau). When a government or ruler fails to treat all citizens equally, citizens must mobilize to voice grievances when they decide that the governmental system is not ideal.   Analysis of the history of civil disobedience reveals that leaders of such movements have always advocated against violence, preferring peaceful measures as a main weapon.   Peaceful weapons have been proven more effective in changing the systems and achieving national and individual freedom.   Civil disobedience utilizes a system of protests, from boycotts to strikes, that always seek to remain true to non-violent ideals.   The ultimate goal of civil disobedience is to initiate systemic change. Civil disobedience is driven by a motive of correcting the wrongs and demand for equality and justice. Unlike other movements, the motive of civil disobedience is not to dictate or oppress others.   It is a system of protest, driven more by intelligence than force.   The question of attacking or killing has no place in civil disobedience, which aims at willingly and peacefully breaking the law.   As a civil disobedience movement gathers momentum, the government it is opposed to is bound to be crippled and ruptured, and ultimately changed by the movement.   During the twentieth century, this was used successfully in India to liberate the country from colonial rule. Indian spiritual and political leader Mahatma Gandhi believed in Satyagraha, the philosophy of non-violent resistance.   He used it to drive the most powerful empire in the world out of his country, achieving independence and proving to the rest of the colonial world that peaceful resistance could initiate change.   Gandhi passionately advocated nonviolence and peaceful protesting, and provided guidelines on civil disobedience.   Some of Gandhi’s guidelines included that resisters would harbor no anger, or suffer the anger of the opponent, putting up with assaults, though never retaliating. Civil resisters would not submit, out of fear of punishment or the like, to any order given in anger, and they would also accept arrest, the loss of property, and adherence to all other laws as dictated by authorities.   However, if a civil resister has any property in is possession as a trustee, he will refuse to surrender it, even though in defending it he might lose his life.   He will however, never retaliate, insult his opponent, nor submit to the pomp and circumstance accompanying allegiance to the government being opposed. And, as part of Gandhi’s guidelines, a civil resister will even protect opposing authorities from any violence that might be perpetrated upon them (Gandhi).   With Gandhi’s guidelines for civil disobedience, one can clearly see that rule of law is a careful consideration to those wishing to peacefully affect change.   Only decades after Gandhi’s successful campaign of nonviolent civil disobedience against the British, in the United States, Martin Luther King inspired millions of African Americans to employ civil disobedience to achieve equal rights. Martin Luther King adhered to Gandhi’s guidelines for civil disobedience to protest segregation and helped ensure equal rights for African Americans in the process.   King espoused his philosophy on civil disobedience in a letter he wrote sitting in a Birmingham jail.   The religious leaders who opposed the peaceful demonstrations in Birmingham representing various denominations united in disapproval stated their belief that protestors should not break local laws while demonstrating for their cause. Dr. King replied to this charge with a powerful question about justice:   â€Å"One may well ask, ‘How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others?’ The answer lies in the fact that there are two types of laws: just and unjust.   One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws.   Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.†Ã‚   He supports this in later paragraphs by suggesting that the Constitution represents a just law that has been unevenly applied, allowing the unjust laws of segregation to remain in force and leaving a blot on the absolute fairness of our founding principles. Written from jail after King was arrested for practicing civil disobedience, a ‘Letter from Birmingham’ espoused his views on rule of law that enabled social injustice and how it must be opposed: â€Å"In   any   non   violent   campaign   there   are   four   basic   steps: collection   of   facts   to determine   whether   injustices   exist, negotiation, self-purification   and   direct   action. We have gone through all these steps Birmingham. There   can   be   no   gainsaying   the   fact that   racial   injustice   engulfs   this   community. Birmingham   is   perhaps   the   most thoroughly   segregated   cities   in   the   United   States. Its ugly record of brutality is widely known. Negroes have experienced grossly unjust treatment in courts. There   have   been more   unsolved   bombings   of   Negro   homes   and   churches   in   Birmingham   than   any   other   city   in   the   nation. These are hard brutal facts of the case. On   the   basis   of   these conditions, Negro   leaders   sought   to   negotiate   with   the   city   fathers, but   the   latter consistently   refused   to   engage   in   good-faith   negotiation† (King). To King and other civil resisters, it   is   the   right   of   every   individual   to   fight   for   justice   and equality by   the   virtue   of his   very   birth, putting it forever opposed to any rule of law considered unjust.   And, as Dr. Kings bedrock principle was nonviolent social change, he and his followers were beaten, blasted with fire-hoses, and jailed without ever striking a retaliatory blow.   Their willingness to suffer the consequences of their actions showed an admirable respect for the rule of law in America.   The letter states, One who breaks an unjust law must do so openly, lovingly, and with a willingness to accept the penalty. I submit that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for law (King).   By paying the price for civil disobedience, the Birmingham protestors were able to take the moral high ground from those who hid behind the strict interpretation of the law.     While Dr. King is sure to warn against anarchical views of his statement to disobey laws, his argument against following unjust laws is sound and easy to understand. Injustice and inequality can exist under rule of law, and civil disobedience is the best non-violent way to oppose the responsible government.   While breaking any law is technically outside the rule of law, civil disobedience cannot be considered consistent with true unlawfulness.   Lawmakers are not always sane, equal, or fair, and often prone to error in framing laws, and civil disobedience is the best way to use the law by breaking it. While   civil   disobedience   is   not   consistent   with   the   rules   of   law, injustice and inequality seems to continued unabated, and the natural right of an individual is to oppose such laws.   Civil disobedience will remain an effective method of opposing rule of law considered unjust, though determining justice may prove to be the most difficult part of the process, as well as the most important. Works cited: Gandhi, Mahatma. Nonviolent Resistance. 1961. King, Martin Luther.   â€Å"Letter from a Birmingham Jail [King Jr.].† African Studies Center – University of Pennsylvania. 16 Apr 1963. 25 Apr 2008. http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html. Thoreau, Henry D. â€Å"Henry David Thoreau’s ‘Resistance to Civil Government’ (1849) or, ‘On the Duty of Civil Disobedience’.† The Transcendentalists.   2008.   25 Apr 2008 http://www.transcendentalists.com/civil_disobedience.htm.

Travel and Tourism Essay

Travel and Tourism Essay Introduction to Travel and Tourism Tourism is travel for leisure, recreational and business purpose. Tourists can be defined as people who travel to and stay in places outside their usual surroundings for more than twenty-four hours and not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes by the World Tourism Organization. Tourism is a known affair in human life. It has been an industry of vast dimensions and eventually supports economic and social growth. Tourism worldwide has experienced phenomenal growth. With more than 600 million people travelling annually, tourism is the worlds largest industry, with revenues of about half a trillion dollars a year, and averaging five percent annual growth. India, being a vast and diverse country has always something to offer, and its glorious traditions and rich cultural heritage are linked with the development of tourism. Its magnificent monuments attract large numbers of visitors from all over the world. Tourism is the largest service industry in India, with a contribution of 5.68% of the national GDP and 8.78% of the total employment in India. India witnesses more than 13.72 million annual foreign tourist arrivals and 650 million domestic tourist visits. The tourism industry in India generated about US$ 100 billion in 2008 and is expected to increase to US$ 275.5 billion 2018 at a 9.4% annual growth rate. Booming IT industry and outsourcing industry has led to growing number of business trips made by foreigners to India, who often add a weekend break or longer holiday to their trip. Foreign tourist spends more in India than almost any other country worldwide. Tourist arrivals are projected to increase by over 22% per year through till 2010. Tourism minister has also played an important role in the development of the industry, initiating advertising campaigns such as the Incredible India campaign, which promoted Indias culture and tourist attractions in a fresh and memorable way. This campaign helped create a colourful image of India in the minds of tourists all over the world and directly led to an increase in the interest among tourists. The tourism industry has helped growth in other sectors as diverse as horticulture, handicraft, agriculture, construction and even poultry. Both directly and indirectly, increased tourism in India has created jobs in a variety of related sectors. Almost 20 million people are now working in the Indias tourism industry. Growth Of Hospitality Industry In India The hotel industry in India is going through an interesting phase. One of the major reasons for the increase in demand for hotel rooms in the country is the boom in the overall economy and high growth in sectors like information technology, telecom, retail and real estate. Rising stock market and new business opportunities are also attracting hordes of foreign investors and international corporate travellers to look for business opportunities in the country. The hotel industry in India is going through an interesting phase. The industry has a capacity of 110,000 rooms. According to the tourism ministry, 4.4 million tourists visited India last year and at the current rate, the demand will soar to 10 million by 2010 to accommodate 350 million domestic travellers. The hotels of India have a shortage of 150,000 rooms fuelling hotel room rates across India. With tremendous pull of opportunity, India has become a destination for hotel chains looking for growth. Due to such a huge potential available in this segment, several global hotel chains like the Hilton, Accor, Marriott International, Berggruen Hotels, Cabana Hotels, Premier Travel Inn (PTI), InterContinental Hotels group and Hampshire among others have all announced major investment plans for the country. The Governments move to declare hotel and tourism industry as a high priority sector with a provision for 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) has also provided a further impetus in attracting investments in to this industry. It is estimated that the hospitality sector is likely to see US$ 11.41 billion rise in the next two years, with around 40 international hotel brands making their presence known in the country by 2011. Simultaneously, international hotel asset management companies are also likely to enter India. Already, US-based HVS International has firmed up plans to enter India, and industry players believe others like Ashford Hospitality Trust and IFA Hotels Resorts among others are likely to follow suit. Niche Tourism The concept of niche tourism has emerged in recent years in counter-point to what is commonly referred as mass tourism. In a globalising world of increasing sameness, niche tourism represents diversity and ways of making difference. It plays on the pejorative connections that have accompanied the evolution of mass and package tourism and their, often cited, negative impacts in relation to environmental degradation and socio-cultural disturbance. For destination managers and planners seeking to utilise tourism as a mechanism for economic development, the niche tourism approach appears to often greater opportunities and a tourism that is more sustainable, less damaging and more capable of delivering high spending tourists. The term niche tourism is largely borrowed from the term niche marketing, which in turn has appropriated the niche concept from the language of the relatively recent discipline of ecology. Tourists, as consumers have developed increasing levels of expertise and experience of being tourists. Whilst this developmental pattern of tourists may not always be linear or simplistic. Figure 2: Niche Tourism Components Types of Niche Tourisms Niche tourism has broadly been divided into following components: Cultural Tourism: Cultural tourism is the subset of tourism concerned with a country or regions culture, specifically the lifestyle of the people in those geographical areas, the history of those peoples, their art, architecture, religions, and other elements that helped shape their way of life. Cultural tourism includes tourism in urban areas, particularly historic or large cities and their cultural facilities such as museums and theatres. It can also include tourism in rural areas showcasing the traditions of indigenous cultural communities (i.e. festivals, rituals), and their values and lifestyle. Environmental Tourism: Environmental tourism, ecotourism, or nature tourism provides an opportunity to visit undisturbed natural areas, scenic vistas, and observe plants and wildlife. Ecotourism is responsible travel to fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas that strive to be low impact and often small scale as an alternative to mass tourism. Its purpose is to educate the traveller and provide funds for ecological conservation, directly benefit the economic development and political empowerment of local communities and foster respect for different cultures and for human rights. Generally, ecotourism focuses on volunteering, personal growth and environmental responsibility. Ecotourism typically involves travel to destinations where flora, fauna, and cultural heritage are the primary attractions. One of the goals of ecotourism is to offer tourists insight into the impact of human beings on the environment, and to foster a greater appreciation of our natural habitats. Responsibl e ecotourism includes programs that minimize the negative aspects of conventional tourism on the environment and enhance the cultural integrity of local people. Rural Tourism: Any form of tourism that showcases the rural life, art, culture and heritage at rural locations, thereby benefiting the local community economically and socially as well as enabling interaction between the tourists and the locals for a more enriching tourism experience can be termed as rural tourism. Rural tourism is essentially an activity which takes place in the rural areas. The term rural tourism was adopted by the European Community to refer to all tourism activities in rural areas or as an economic activity, which depends on and exploits the countryside. Figure 1: Rural Tourism Approach Forms of Rural Tourism Agritourism: Agritourism or farm tourism refers to an organization working on farm or agricultural plant made for entertainment of tourists or visitors, thereby generating income for farm owners. This may help the farmers to interact with the visitors, thereby benefiting the visitors to enrich their knowledge regarding agritourism. Sports Tourism: It involves tourists to participate or observe rural sports. It teaches the local rural people how to get scope/chance in international game and to compete with opponents. It enables the people of different cultural background to mix with other people and exchange cultural activities between the parties and thereby they are culturally rich. Pro-Poor Tourism: Pro Poor tourism is set up in developing countries as a means to improve the local economy for local people. It enhances the linkages between tourism businesses and poor people; so that poverty is reduced and poor people are able to participate more effectively in tourism development. The aims of pro-poor ranges from increasing local employment to involving local people in the decision making process. Introduction to Rural Tourism in India Majority of India is among the rural category with the sanctity and subtleness intact in the very essence of the village soil. This pious environment of the rural India attracts lot of interest among the tourists in India and thus rural tourism is a fast emerging category. A national tourism policy was introduced in 2002, with rural tourism identified as a focus area to generate employment and promote sustainable livelihoods. The government in its 10th five year plan has focused on the subject of rural tourism. With a rich diversity in culture, heritage, food, crafts, and tradition, India has immense potential and opportunity. It has identified certain areas across the country, which can immediately be developed as the rural destinations. The government partnered with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) for an Endogenous Tourism Project. Some 30 rural sites were selected in 20 states to develop as destinations for rural tourists. The UNDP pumped in an initial US$2.5 million. Those proposals that were selected by the government were entitled to assistance up to US$100,000. Divining Forces in Rural Tourism Industry stakeholders define the rural tourism experience by what they offer as product. But they are simply responding to what they perceive as an increasing demand for experience of rural communities, and interpreting it via their own world views. This demand is driven by a range of forces that combine to create tourist interest in rural experiences. These forces have been identified by many authors and can be summarised as: Tourist generating regions for rural tourism are highly developed and urbanised. The stresses of urban living and the remoteness from the natural environment has created a desire for escape from the monoculture of city living. Baby boomers are driven to tourism experiences that yield increased self-awareness in their drive for longed for perfection that compensates for lives destabilised by uncertainty and insecurity (Mackay, 1997) Demand fuelled by media, over-familiarity and congestion with traditional tourist resorts and increased interest in alternative attractions with its voracious appetite for content and the resultant over exposure of many traditional tourist destinations. Increasing environmental awareness and interest in the relationship between humans and the environment. Green issues have raised the attractiveness of rural experiences as ecologically sustainable tourism. Transport, communication, and the removal of political and economic barriers to travel have facilitated accessibility of rural areas. Increase in number of free independent travellers due to the increased capacity, especially in long-haul transport modes. When combined with increasing discretionary incomes, greater awareness of the range experiences on offer, the accessibility and attractiveness of rural destinations has been dramatically improved. Changing work patterns have increased the popularity of shorter breaks that minimise the absence from work and the effect of absences on work flow and involvement. An increased interest in heritage can be satisfied through rural tourism as rural areas are often the repositories of remnant heritage. Rural areas are perceived as healthier, offering fresher air, cleaner water and the opportunity for outdoor recreation. Rural areas offer fresh and speciality food. (Bartmann and Baum, 1998) Issues with Rural Tourism The lack of statistical base: It is difficult to establish volume and value of rural tourism as a specific market sector in nations, even harder on an international scale. Many countries have different definitions of rural and will therefore collect different data. Data on rural tourism are not easily obtainable. Rural communities: These tend to be non-uniform for example remove versus accessible rural areas contain very different types of settlement, employment opportunities, socio-demographic characteristics. Different community structures with diverse responses to tourism exist. Tourism development strategies may not benefit all rural areas: Where there is an inadequate supply of attractions or accommodation, tourism may not flourish. However marketing strategies must be good to attract tourists. Likewise, development of tourism provision by local people may not be feasible in a depressed rural economy. Impact of Rural Tourism The aim of tourism development in rural areas is, in general terms, to provide opportunities for economic and social development. In some areas, tourism provides the main source of income and employment, as well as providing social and economic benefits. Inevitably, negative aspects of rural tourism are evident as well. (Gannon 1994) Economic Assists viability of existing tourism and non-tourism business. Encourages dependence on industry prone to uncontrollable change Creates new employment Creates part time, seasonal employment Attracts inward investment Incurs development costs and public service cost Socio-cultural Assists in viability of local service Creates feeling of invasion by tourists Creates sense of pride Increases crime Revitalises local culture, traditions, events and crafts Reduction in local services Environmental Leads in environmental improvements in settlements Increases wear and tear on landscape features Provides income for conservation of buildings and natural environment Creates need for new developments which may not be in keeping with local area. Fosters awareness of conservation as worthwhile activity Increases pollution and affects local biodiversity Table 1: Positive and negative impacts of rural tourism Niche Market: A Place in Rural Tourism If the importance of the products one buys lies largely in their potential as social markers, tourism marketers must focus both on tourisms social signification and on meanings attached to spaces in which these occur. Explanations of tourism consumption cannot be derived in isolation from the social relations in which they are embedded. New users of the countryside are redefining what constitutes rurality, and there is a need to take postmodernism and the construction of the rural much more seriously. Contemporary social construction often transcends the countrysides tangible characteristics and qualities of open space or fresh air by representing it as the setting for the achievement of a range of personal goals. The need for a wider sociological approach to tourism studies has been emphasised by Sharpley, who argues for the recognition of broader social and cultural influences that shape consumer behaviour as a whole and influence consumption patterns. In the interests of the rural environment, therefore, and of the small businesses trying to meet the needs of emerging markets, it is necessary to look beyond classical marketing theory to gain a useful understanding of rural tourism consumption and to evaluate the existence of niches for marketing purposes. The increasing need for analysts to focus on consumption as an improved means of understanding contemporary forms of rural tourism demand requires a dynamic framework within which the analysis can be conducted. A continuum to measure the relative importance of the countryside to the consumption of tourism in rural areas is proposed to indicate the importance of the countryside to the purpose of the trip and to tourist satisfaction. The significance of the model lies in its recognition of the primacy of neither tourism nor tourist types but the ways in which the countryside is consumed as a recreational resource. Challenges and Opportunities in Rural Tourism The major problem in rural areas is that there is not much scope for working. Most of the People are engaged in agricultural activities, some of them in forestry and others are artisans. Villages are struggling with large families with one or two earning members in the family and high consumption expenditure. Due to less scope in villages most of them started migrating to cities. There are 638,691 villages in India as per the Census Report 2001 and the rural population is 741,660,293 with average population of 1,161 per village. Many of these rural communities have the potential have the potential resources, ability to attract the growing tourism industry. The scenic beauty, historical importance may appeal the urbanites, caught up in todays fast pace of lifestyle. Challenges in Rural Tourism The major challenges are the need to preserve the environment and natural resources and the need for proper education. Legislation Problems Respondents have pointed out that there can be legal problems. Tourism is a part of entertainment industry. All hotels, motels and cottages having license pay taxes to government. Rural tourism should have a tax holiday or it should be tax free. The government should encourage rural tourism to grow. Lack Of Trained Man Power The ruler people require to be trained for discharging their duties, decorating the cottages and maintaining them, serving food to the visitors and to understand the taste of the costumers, either the local cuisine or different type of Indian cuisine. The success of rural tourism totally depends on the quality of service provided to the tourists. To develop the manpower government has to take initiative to open various short training courses for imparting knowledge and skills. Insufficient Financial Support To start rural tourism, sufficient fund is required to promote it in introductory phase. Rural tourism is still uncommon to many tourists. This is because the government has just started promoting rural tourism. Central and state government should encourage rural tourism by providing financial support to start the project. As it will create employment in rural areas and will help the inflow of funds from rural areas to urban areas. Lack of Local Involvement Since rural people do not have knowledge and skills to involve hem in different activities. They may get the job of unskilled workers. The rural people need to develop the knowledge and skills to have a higher involvement in rural tourism. The basic concept behind the rural tourism is the participation of rural people. But in practice local people are seldom involved in decision making, planning and implementing policies. Most of rural people do not have much knowledge of tourism, and are misled by outside investors who hope to take most of the economic benefits from rural area. Language Problem There are 16 recognized languages and 850 dialects in India. Although Hindi is an official language, in many parts of India people do not understand it. The rural people have to upgrade themselves to communicate with the urbanites. The villagers not only have to educate themselves but they have to understand hindi to interact with the Indian costumers and English to communicate with the foreign costumers. Opportunities in Rural Tourism The tourists look for quality environment and meaningful experience. Marketing of rural is a specialist job. For rural tourism, rural people have to surrender themselves to professional marketers who understand the complexity of their task. The business depends on the development of networks, creation of trust and loyalty and information system, all of which takes money and time to develop, which is beyond the resources of most individual. Tourists have become more educated, more aware of facilities available and more experienced, their expectation has also increased. People are interested in exploring new places. Rural tourism in India has great future, since it not only provides natural elements of beauty but also the indigenous local traditions, customs and foods. Direct experience with local people can be a unique selling proposition to attract tourists. Every state in India has unique handicraft, traditions and foods. The rural tourism not go for mass marketing, rather different strategies should be under taken for different segment to make it successful.

Planned Organizational Change Essay -- Organizational Development, Cha

The ideal approach to creating change in any organization is to apply a realistic and deductive method of planned change. Within the realm of planned change, there is an eight-step process to implementing a program. However, there are four elements that are fundamental to any plan of action that will allow for an environment conducive to planned change. Planned change requires that those responsible for making decisions are not only rational, but must also have access to specific information pertaining to the plan, as well as the lack of constraints on time and resources (Stojkovic et al., 2008). The four key elements of planned change help to guarantee success in reaching a rational approach to important changes. The four elements needed for substantial change are innovation, accountability, leadership that will challenge historical routines, and commitment to change. In the area of innovation, it is important to note that successful change cannot occur in a passive environment and that a proactive approach for planned change is necessary (Stojkovic et al., 2008). Just as planned change cannot be successful without innovation and a proactive approach; there should also be a proactive approach to the accountability of the decision- makers if one wants to see the planned change succeed. While many organizations have already set forth accountability guidelines, they are not without a measure of corruptibility (Stojkovic et al., 2008). To implement planned changed that is going to be above reproach, a system of accountability with safeguards in place to limit corruption is necessary. The third element necessary for planned change is that there must be an acceptable leadership that is not afraid to challenge the status quo. To... ...is an insider that will guide the forces of change while simultaneously altering the climate in a positive manner (Stojkovic et al., 2008). The entire concept of an organizational change being handled sensitively with the entire culture being considered is in stark contrast to the paramilitary model where the climate is not conducive to change. Large police agencies and correctional systems are organized in a bureaucratic hierarchy. They have a clear chain of command that is rampant with formality that often makes it difficult to institute any type of change (Stojkovic et al., 2008). The top-down hierarchy considers only the organization as a whole, with top level administrators making the decisions for everyone. The lack of concern for subordinates often creates a climate of hostility that can often breed insubordination, but leave little room for alteration.

Deception Point Page 91

Rachel stood in silence as the Bathynomous pages rolled out of the printer. She tried to tell herself this was all an honest NASA mistake, but she knew it was not. People who made honest mistakes didn't try to kill people. The nasal voice of Corky echoed suddenly across the lab. â€Å"Impossible!† Both Tolland and Rachel turned. â€Å"Measure the damn ratio again! It makes no sense!† Xavia came hurrying in with a computer printout clutched in her hand. Her face was ashen. â€Å"Mike, I don't know how to say this†¦ † Her voice cracked. â€Å"The titanium/zirconium ratios we're seeing in this sample?† She cleared her throat. â€Å"It's pretty obvious that NASA made a huge mistake. Their meteorite is an ocean rock.† Tolland and Rachel looked at each other but neither spoke a word. They knew. Just like that, all the suspicions and doubts had swelled up like the crest of a wave, reaching the breaking point. Tolland nodded, a sadness in his eyes. â€Å"Yeah. Thanks, Xavia.† â€Å"But I don't understand,† Xavia said. â€Å"The fusion crust†¦ the location in the ice-â€Å" â€Å"We'll explain on the way to shore,† Tolland said. â€Å"We're leaving.† Quickly, Rachel collected all the papers and evidence they now had. The evidence was shockingly conclusive: the GPR printout showing the insertion shaft in the Milne Ice Shelf; photos of a living sea louse resembling NASA's fossil; Dr. Pollock's article on ocean chondrules; and microprobe data showing ultradepleted zirconium in the meteorite. The conclusion was undeniable. Fraud. Tolland looked at the stack of papers in Rachel's hands and heaved a melancholy sigh. â€Å"Well, I'd say William Pickering has his proof.† Rachel nodded, again wondering why Pickering had not answered his phone. Tolland lifted the receiver of a nearby phone, holding it out for her. â€Å"You want to try him again from here?† â€Å"No, let's get moving. I'll try to contact him from the chopper.† Rachel had already decided if she could not make contact with Pickering, she'd have the Coast Guard fly them directly to the NRO, only about 180 miles. Tolland began to hang up the phone, but he paused. Looking confused, he listened to the receiver, frowning. â€Å"Bizarre. No dial tone.† â€Å"What do you mean?† Rachel said, wary now. â€Å"Weird,† Tolland said. â€Å"Direct COMSAT lines never lose carrier-â€Å" â€Å"Mr. Tolland?† The Coast Guard pilot came rushing into the lab, his face white. â€Å"What is it?† Rachel demanded. â€Å"Is someone coming?† â€Å"That's the problem,† the pilot said. â€Å"I don't know. All onboard radar and communications have just gone dead.† Rachel stuffed the papers deep inside her shirt. â€Å"Get in the helicopter. We're leaving. NOW!† 109 Gabrielle's heart was racing as she crossed the darkened office of Senator Sexton. The room was as expansive as it was elegant-ornate wood-paneled walls, oil paintings, Persian carpets, leather rivet chairs, and a gargantuan mahogany desk. The room was lit only by the eerie neon glow of Sexton's computer screen. Gabrielle moved toward his desk. Senator Sexton had embraced the â€Å"digital office† to maniacal proportions, eschewing the overflow of file cabinets for the compact, searchable simplicity of his personal computer, into which he fed enormous amounts of information-digitized meeting notes, scanned articles, speeches, brainstorms. Sexton's computer was his sacred ground, and he kept his office locked at all times to protect it. He even refused to connect to the Internet for fear of hackers infiltrating his sacred digital vault. A year ago Gabrielle would never have believed any politician would be stupid enough to store copies of self-incriminating documents, but Washington had taught her a lot. Information is power. Gabrielle had been amazed to learn that a common practice among politicians who accepted questionable campaign contributions was to keep actual proof of those donations-letters, bank records, receipts, logs-all hidden away in a safe place. This counterblackmail tactic, euphemistically known in Washington as â€Å"Siamese insurance,† protected candidates from donors who felt their generosity somehow authorized them to assert undue political pressure on a candidate. If a contributor got too demanding, the candidate could simply produce evidence of the illegal donation and remind the donor that both parties had broken the law. The evidence ensured that candidates and donors were joined at the hip forever-like Siamese twins. Gabrielle slipped behind the senator's desk and sat down. She took a deep breath, looking at his computer. If the senator is accepting SFF bribes, any evidence would be in here. Sexton's computer screensaver was an ongoing slideshow of the White House and its grounds created for him by one of his gung-ho staffers who was big into visualization and positive thinking. Around the images crawled a ticker-tape banner that read: President of the United States Sedgewick Sexton†¦ President of the United States Sedgewick Sexton†¦ President of the†¦ Gabrielle jostled the mouse, and a security dialogue box came up. Enter Password:_ She expected this. It would not be a problem. Last week, Gabrielle had entered Sexton's office just as the senator was sitting down and logging onto his computer. She saw him type three short keystrokes in rapid succession. â€Å"That's a password?† she challenged from the doorway as she walked in. Sexton glanced up. â€Å"What?† â€Å"And here I thought you were concerned about security,† Gabrielle scolded good-naturedly. â€Å"Your password's only three keys? I thought the tech guys told us all to use at least six.† â€Å"The tech guys are teenagers. They should try remembering six random letters when they're over forty. Besides, the door has an alarm. Nobody can get in.† Gabrielle walked toward him, smiling. â€Å"What if someone slipped in while you're in the loo?† â€Å"And tried every combination of passwords?† He gave a skeptical laugh. â€Å"I'm slow in the bathroom, but not that slow.† â€Å"Dinner at Davide says I can guess your password in ten seconds.† Sexton looked intrigued and amused. â€Å"You can't afford Davide, Gabrielle.† â€Å"So you're saying you're chicken?† Sexton appeared almost sorry for her as he accepted the challenge. â€Å"Ten seconds?† He logged off and motioned for Gabrielle to sit down and give it a try. â€Å"You know I only order the saltimbocca at Davide. And that ain't cheap.† She shrugged as she sat down. â€Å"It's your money.† Enter Password:_ â€Å"Ten seconds,† Sexton reminded. Gabrielle had to laugh. She would need only two. Even from the doorway she could see that Sexton had entered his three-key password in very rapid succession using only his index finger. Obviously all the same key. Not wise. She could also see that his hand had been positioned over the far left side of his keyboard-cutting the possible alphabet down to only about nine letters. Choosing the letter was simple; Sexton had always loved the triple alliteration of his title. Senator Sedgewick Sexton. Never underestimate the ego of a politician. She typed SSS, and the screensaver evaporated. Sexton's jaw hit the floor. That had been last week. Now, as Gabrielle faced his computer again, she was certain Sexton would not have taken time yet to figure out how to set up a different password. Why would he? He trusts me implicitly. She typed in SSS. Invalid Password – Access Denied Gabrielle stared in shock. Apparently she had overestimated her senator's level of trust. 110 The attack came without warning. Low out of the southwest sky above the Goya, the lethal silhouette of a gunship helicopter bore down like a giant wasp. Rachel had no doubt what it was, or why it was here.

Voting Rights Background for Students

Voting Rights Background for Students In any presidential election year, the months before the election afford middle and high school teachers a great opportunity to engage students in the new  The College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards  (C3s)These new frameworks  center on guiding students in activities so that they can see how citizens apply civic virtues and democratic principles and have the opportunity to see actual civic engagement in the democratic process. Principles such as equality, freedom, liberty, respect for individual rights, and deliberation [that] apply to both official institutions and informal interactions among citizens. What Do Students Already Know About Voting in the United States? Before launching an election unit, poll students to see what they already know about the voting process. This can be done as a KWL,  or a chart that outlines what students already Know, Want to know, and what they Learned  after the unit is completed. Using this outline,  students can prepare to research a topic and use it to track information gathered along the way: â€Å"What do you already ‘know’ about this topic?†Ã‚   â€Å"What things do you ‘want’ to learn about the topic, so you can focus your research?† and   â€Å"What did you ‘learn’ from doing your research?† An Overview of K-W-L This KWL begins as a brainstorming activity. This can be done individually or in groups of three to five students. Generally, 5 to 10 minutes individually or 10 to 15 minutes for group work is appropriate. In asking for responses, set aside enough time to hear all responses. Some questions could be (answers below): How old must you be to vote?  What requirements are there for voting other than age?  When did citizens get the right to voteWhat are your state’s voting requirements?  Why do you think people vote?  Why do you think people choose not to vote? Teachers should not correct the responses if they are wrong; include any conflicting or multiple responses.  Review the list of responses and note any discrepancies which will let the teacher know where more information is needed. Tell the class that they will be referring back to their responses later in this and in upcoming lessons. History of Voting Timeline: Pre-Constitution Inform students that the highest law of the land, the Constitution, mentioned nothing about voting qualifications at the time of its adoption. This omission left voting qualifications up to each individual state and resulted in widely varying voting qualifications. In studying the election, students should learn the definition of the word  suffrage: Suffrage (n) the  right  to  vote,  especially  in  a  political  election. A timeline  of the history of voting rights is also helpful to share with students in explaining how the right to vote has been connected to citizenship and civil rights in America. For example: 1776: Only people who own land can vote when the Declaration of Independence signed.1787: No federal voting standard states decide who can vote when the U.S. Constitution is adopted. Voting Rights Timeline: Constitutional Amendments In preparation for any presidential election, students can review the following highlights that show how voting rights have been extended to different groups of citizens through six (6) suffrage amendments to the Constitution: 1868: 14th Amendment:  Citizenship is defined and granted to former slaves, but voters are explicitly defined as male.1870: 15th Amendment:  The right to vote cannot be denied by the federal or state governments based on race.1920: 19th Amendment:  Women have the right to vote in both state and federal elections.  1961: 23rd Amendment:  Citizens of Washington, D.C. have the right to vote for U.S. president.  1964: 24th Amendment:  The right to vote in federal elections will not be denied for failure to pay any tax.1971: 26th Amendment:  18-year-olds are allowed to vote. Timeline for Laws on Voting Rights 1857: In the landmark case Dred Scott v. Sandford, the US Supreme Court rules that â€Å"a black man has no rights a white man is bound to respect.† African Americans are further deprived of the right to citizenship and, by extension, the right to vote.1882: Congress passes the Chinese Exclusion Act, which establishes restrictions and quotas on Chinese immigration while legally excluding Chinese persons from citizenship and voting.  1924: The Indian Citizenship Act declares all non-citizen Native Americans born in the USA to be citizens with the right to vote.1965: The Voting Rights Act is signed into law, prohibiting any election practice that denies the right to vote to citizens on the basis of race and forces jurisdictions with histories of voter discrimination to  submit any changes to its election laws to the government for federal approval prior to taking effect.1993: The National Voter Registration Act requires states to permit mail-in registration, and make registr ation services available at DMVs, unemployment offices, and other state agencies. Questions About Researching Voting Rights Once students are familiar with the timeline of the Constitutional Amendments and the laws that provided the right to vote to different citizens, students can research the following questions: What were ways states denied certain people the right to vote?Why was each of the different laws on voting rights created?Why were specific Constitutional Amendments on voting necessary?Why do you think it took so many years for women to attain the right to vote?Which historical events contributed to each of the Constitutional Amendments?Are there any other qualifications necessary to vote?Are there citizens today that are denied the right to vote? Terms Associated With Voting Rights Students should become familiar with some of the terms associated with the history of voting rights and the language of the Constitutional Amendments: poll tax:  A poll or head tax is one imposed equally on all adults at the time of voting and is not affected by property ownership or income.literacy test: Literacy tests were used to keep people of color and, sometimes, poor whites from voting, and they were administered at the discretion of the officials in charge of voter registration.grandfather clause:  (or grandfather policy) A provision in which an old rule continues to apply to some existing situations while a new rule will apply to all future cases.  residency: Voting residence is within the state of legal residence or domicile. It is the true, fixed address that is considered a permanent home and a physical presence.  Jim Crow Laws:  The segregation and disenfranchisement laws known as Jim Crow represented a formal, codified system of racial apartheid that dominated the American South for three-quarters of a century beginning in the 1890s.  Equal Rights Amendment: (ERA) a proposed amendment to  the  United   States  Constitution  designed to guarantee  equal rights for women.   In 1978, a joint resolution of Congress extended the ratification deadline to June 30, 1982, but no further states ratified the amendment. Several organizations continue to work for the adoption of the ERA. New Questions for Students Teachers should have students return to their KWL charts and make any necessary corrections. Teachers can then have students use their research on laws and specific Constitutional Amendments to answer the following new questions: How does your new knowledge of suffrage amendments change or support your earlier answers?After nearly 150 years of voting rights being added to the Constitution, can you think of any other group that has not been considered?What questions do you still have about voting? Review Founding Documents The new C3 Frameworks encourage teachers to look for civic principles in texts such as the founding documents of the United States. In reading these important documents, teachers can help students understand different interpretations of these documents and their meanings: What claims are made?What evidence is used?  What language (words, phrases, images,  Ã‚  symbols) is used to persuade  the documents audienceHow does the documents language indicate  a particular point of view?   The following links will take students to founding documents associated with voting and citizenship. Declaration of Independence: July 4, 1776.  Ã‚  The Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia in the Pennsylvania State House (now Independence Hall), approved this document  severing the colonies ties to the British Crown. United States Constitution: The Constitution of the United States of America is the supreme law of the United States. It is the source of all government powers, and also provides important limitations on the government that protect the fundamental rights of United States citizens.  Delaware was the first state to ratify, December 7, 1787; the Confederation Congress established March 9, 1789, as the date to begin operating under the Constitution.   14th Amendment:  Passed by Congress June 13, 1866, and ratified July 9, 1868,   extended liberties and rights granted by the Bill of Rights to former slaves. 15th Amendment:  Passed by Congress February 26, 1869, and ratified February 3, 1870,   granted African American men the right to vote. 19th Amendment:  Passed by Congress June 4, 1919, and ratified on August 18, 1920,   granted women the right to vote. Voting Rights Act:  This act was signed into law on August 6, 1965, by President Lyndon Johnson. It outlawed the discriminatory voting practices adopted in many southern states after the Civil War, including literacy tests as a prerequisite to voting. 23th Amendment:  Passed by Congress June 16, 1960. Ratified March 29, 1961;  giving residents of the District of Columbia (DC) the right to have their votes counted in presidential elections. 24th Amendment:  ratified on January 23, 1964, was passed to address the poll tax, a state fee on voting. Student Answers to Questions Above How old must you be to vote?   In the United States,  twenty-one states permit 17-year-olds to vote in  primary elections  and caucuses if they will be 18 by election day.   What  requirements  are there for voting other than age?   You are a U.S. citizen.You meet your state’s residency requirements. When did citizens get the right to vote? The  United States Constitution  did not originally define who was eligible to vote; Amendments have extended rights to various groups. Student answers will vary on the following questions: What are your state’s voting requirements?  Why do you think people vote?  Why do you think people choose not to vote?

Eero Saarinen essays

Eero Saarinen essays Eero Saarinen. What did you think when you heard that? You probably thought, Who is that? I have never heard of him. That is not surprising, because he accomplished many things he is not well known for, unless you do crossword puzzles which are filled with unusual information. If you do know who he is, however, it is probably because of his architecture or his curious furniture. After a very brief overview of Eeros life the focus will be on his work involving Dulles International Airport. Eero Saarinen was born on August 20, 1910, in Kirkkonummi, Finland, to Eliel and Loja Gesellius Saarinen. He and his family moved to the United States and became naturalized citizens in 1923. His father, who was an architect as well, settled near Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, because there was a lot of architectural work needed in that area. Eero Saarinen married Lillian Swann in 1939 and had two children, Eric (1942) and Susan (1945). Eero and Lillian were divorced however, and he eventually married Aline Louchheim and they had a boy named Eames (1954). Saarinen worked on many great architectural designs and won many awards, among these buildings were Dulles International Airport, the Master Plan for the University of Michigan, Drake University, General Motors Technical Center, and Vassar College to name a few. Eero died September 1, 1961, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, after having brain surgery on a tumor The airport was originally in Chantilly, Virginia, and was originally called Washington International Airport but was later named after John Foster Dulles. The building is 600 feet long and has huge columns that stretch up 65 feet to reach the large awning that canopies the large terminal. This was the first airport to be built in which the travelers convenience was considered in every line drawn on the blueprint (Temko Dulles International Airport was construc ...

When to Cite a Source in a Paper

When to Cite a Source in a Paper Write an essay and back it up with facts. How many times have you heard a teacher or professor say this? But many students might wonder what exactly counts as a fact, and what doesnt. That means they dont know when it is proper to cite a source, and when its OK not to use a citation. Dictionary.com states that a fact is: Something demonstrated to exist or known to have existed. Demonstrated is a hint here. What the teacher means when she/he tells you to use facts is that you need to back up your claims with some evidence that supports your claims (sources). Its one trick that teachers use to make sure you actually use some references when you write a paper, instead of simply offering a list of your opinions. This may sound easy, but its actually tough sometimes to know when you need to back up a statement with evidence and when it is fine to leave a statement unsupported. When to Cite a Source You should use evidence (citations) any time you make a claim that is not based on a well-known fact or common knowledge. Heres a list of situations when your teacher would expect a citation: You make a specific claim that could be challengedlike London is the foggiest city in the world.  You quote somebody.You make a specific claim that is not common knowledge like the Indian Ocean is the youngest of the worlds major oceans.You paraphrase information from a source (give the meaning but change the wording).Offer an authoritative (expert) opinionlike germs cause pneumonia.You got an idea from somebody else, even through email or conversation. Although there may be interesting facts that you have believed or know for many years, you will be expected to provide proof of those facts when youre writing a paper for school. Examples of Claims You Should Support Hot water can freeze faster than cold water.Poodles are friendlier than Dalmatians.American Chestnut trees are nearly extinct.Eating while driving is more dangerous than talking on the cell phone while driving.Thomas Edison invented a vote counter. When You Dont Need to Cite a Source So how do you know when you do not need to cite a source?  Common knowledge is basically a fact that practically everyone knows, like the fact that George Washington was a U.S. president. More  Examples of Common Knowledge or Well-Known Facts Bears hibernate in the winter.Fresh water freezes at 32 degrees F.Many trees shed their leaves in the fall.Some trees do not shed their leaves in the fall.Bears hibernate. A well-known fact is something that many people know, but it is also something that a reader could look up easily if he/she didnt know. Its best to plant flowers in the early spring.Holland is famous for its tulips.Canada has a multilingual population. If youre not really certain about something being common knowledge, you could give it the little sister test. If you have a younger sibling, ask him or her the subject youre pondering. If you get an answer, it could be common knowledge! A Good Rule of Thumb A good rule of thumb for any writer is to go ahead and use a citation when youre not certain whether or not the citation is necessary. The only risk in doing this is littering your paper with unnecessary citations that will drive your teacher crazy. Too many citations will give your teacher the impression that you are attempting to stretch your paper to a certain word count! Simply trust your own best judgment and be honest with yourself. Youll get the hang of it soon!

INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY,unit 4, question #1, Essay

INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY,unit 4, question #1, - Essay Example tions to philosophy Thomas White states â€Å"Aristotle is very much a commonsense philosopher, and commonsense tells us that people should be held responsible for what they do†(White, 2008). Therefore, because Aristotle believed and philosophized that people are responsible for their own lives and actions, which is the definition of commonsense in the realm of philosophy, Aristotle would definitely fit into such a category of philosopher. The idea of Aristotle being a commonsense philosopher is further shown through his discussions and thoughts on voluntary and involuntary actions. White defines voluntary actions as those that are â€Å"under our control,† and involuntary actions as those that â€Å"result from constraint or ignorance†(White, 2008). In Aristotle’s view, humans should be held responsible and accountable for the actions that they themselves have chosen and should not be held responsible for actions that were forced upon them or done through ignorance(White, 2008). However, Aristotle does seem to make the distinction between responsibility and accountability in regard to involuntary actions. It appears that this is where morality plays a large part as a person should be held more accountable for involuntary actions if those actions had a negative impact on the overall well-being of humanity. These voluntary and involuntary actions may be positive or negative, and both types of actions are related to the concept of well-being (White, 2008). By maintaining this viewpoint that humans must be held responsible or accountable for their actions, both good and bad, Aristotle is showcasing his commonsense approach to philosophy. Commonsense generally means knowledge that everyone has or should have. Aristotle’s contribution to philosophy uses a lot of the moral and ethical reasoning that already exists in a civilized society, but was not fully understood at that particular point in history. Aristotle brought this kind of thinking and reasoning to the

Data Collection and Analysis With a Real Teacher-Researcher Essay

Data Collection and Analysis With a Real Teacher-Researcher - Essay Example May benefited in her collaboration, in that, they broadened her mind to the inquiry where she saw it from different angles, and guided her to choose the best approach, and they also assisted her in areas she felt tired. Collaboration in the research process gives time for one to come up with the best service because shortcomings are outweighed (Herreid, 2006). Mays’ plan of data collection is good from my general perspective if looked at a glance. The most meaningful part of her plan is tier 3 intervention. This is because the section targets the challenging students individually and tends to empower him or her, and this leaves a clear result for May. If compared to other parts, this one focus on each student at a time until the areas of improvement are identified, it shows how practical the area is, where students also build on previous knowledge from classroom routines and became responsible and answerable if they do not meet the set standards. The most impractical area comes in when a teacher decides to rely on another who collects data on their behalf. The data may be biased or in accurate, also, the idea of adding adults to class may distract some students, to the teacher, they may be forced to reset the goals, and also give more time for all students to familiarize themselves so as to be ready to learn. It will reduce the morale and authority May had on her students. Conducting an individual interview among students exhibiting worse behaviors in class would be another good form to put into consideration. This will allow her capture external triggers to such behaviors like problems from home between parents or sibling rivalry or social wise among others. Taking one by one for interrogation will allow May understand them better and deal with each differently. To the students, they will have a picture in mind of a caring teacher (Shagoury & Power,

Introduction to Managerial Accounting Research Paper

Introduction to Managerial Accounting - Research Paper Example In addition, what price should be charged to the product to replace the production costs and earn a profit that is optimal? In addition, they have to plan how to finance the operations and how to manage the available cash. That is important in keeping the activities of the business to work smoothly. Â · Decision making. Managers need managerial accounting information when they decide whether or not to commence a certain project. Managerial accounting will help them compare the benefits of various opportunities and help them decide which ones to choose. Â · Performance measurement. Managers have to compare the budgeted figures to evaluate the performance of the business to actual results of the operation. They will have to use certain techniques of managerial accounting such as standard costing to assess the performance of various departments (Weygandt, Kieso, & Kimmel, 2010). Managerial accountants keep record financial information for their firms that are used by the management team of the company to aid in the process of decision-making. Managerial accountants do develop budgets, perform asset, cost management, and create necessary reports to be used by the Directorate team. In every company managers to significantly depend on the data provided by managerial accountants to develop business strategies that are effective. Owners of small business make most of the decisions within their company. The data offered by managerial accountants can affect the liability of the owner to make business decisions that are sound (Weygandt, Kieso, & Kimmel, 2010). The main purpose of managerial accounting in business is to support decision making by collecting, processing, and communicating helpful information that would assist the managers. The information would help the managers to plan, control, and evaluate the processes of the business and strategy of the company (Albrecht, 2007).

I, the Juror by Joyce Carol Oates Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

I, the Juror by Joyce Carol Oates - Essay Example Further the defending and prosecuting attorneys do their utmost to obscure the actual facts by drowning the jurors in a deluge of sheer verbosity calculated to bias the jury in favor of their respective clients. Consequently the behavior of the jurors as they half-heartedly try to arrive at the truth is characterized by prejudice and a singular lack of interest in the proceedings that are far-removed from their own lives. Oates description of the behavior of her fellow jurors is chilling. Their careless thoughtlessness is far more disturbing than deliberate maliciousness or spite, as the sheer subtlety of the former trait puts them in a position to do irreparable damage albeit inadvertently to those supplicants seeking justice. From the clothes worn by the jurors (one juror actually turns up in shorts) to their careless misrepresentation of facts in their final deliberation of the case, the jurors behave with a certain frivolity that shows a lack of respect for the gravity of the situation and their own responsibility to fellow human beings. Age old prejudices based on the color of the skin or sex thought long dead and buried rear their ugly heads and manifest themselves in the long-winding, precarious road to justice. Such conduct on the part of the jurors is surprising in the extreme. Their exposure to the dark underbelly of American society is a far cry from the pristine, squeaky-clean existence t hey are accustomed to. Most react by hastening to put as much distance as possible between themselves and the world of the victim and defendant, in which they want no part. Therefore the jurors made no attempt to grasp the facts or analyze them with any degree of insight or intelligence, the bottom-line being a largely white jury wanted no truck with the blacks and their doings. In this day and age, such a state of affairs is shocking and the

Homework 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Homework 2 - Essay Example to day communications among all team members of the project to come up with various creative ideas on how to develop the software according to their goals and preferences of the organization. They recognize that customers can always change their minds about what they want. The scrum master enables the organization to use scrum effectively. They act as an intermediary between the development team and any distracters. They ensure that the scrum process is used as intended because they are the enforcer of the rules of scrum. They chair any crucial meetings and challenge the team members to improve in their developments. There is no role manager in a scrum project since it is not required. All the traditional roles that belong to a project manager have been carefully divided into three scrum roles and reassigned to the developmental team and product owner rather than to the scrum master. Conducting scrum project with a project manager results into conflicting responsibilities, unclear results authority (Rubin

Turkey political system Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Turkey political system - Term Paper Example One of the non-Muslim communities is the Greek community. Another community is the Armenian community. A third community is the Jewish community. Recognition of these communities is in line with Turkey’s compliance with the Lausanne Treaty. The Turkey nation includes other homogenous communities. The community includes the 15 million member Kurdish community. Furthermore, the other Turkish groups included immigrant communities. One of the communities is the Circassian community. A second community is the Albanian community. A third community is the Bosnian community. Georgia is another community. Moreover, the Turkish community is ruled by several political parties. One of the parties is the Justice and Development Party (AKP). The Islamic AKP party is a conservative party that espouses democratic ideals. The AKP government’s cultural and societal policies implements democratic religious concepts. Mustaf Kemal â€Å"Ataturk† and his Turkey-based concepts (Ataturk Movement) Mustafa Kemal or Ataturk is recognized as one of Turkey’s well known leaders. He founded the Republic of Turkey (Crossland, 1). Ataturk did not espouse the philosophical theories of Karl Marx. He did not propagate the political theories of Lenin. In fact, Ataturk did not directly espouse any philosophical theories. He never borrowed any philosopher’s theories. Moreover, Ataturk did not even create his own unique philosophies. Ataturk was more of a manager than a thinker. Ataturk was more of a pragmatist. Further, Ataturk did not imitate some of the Brazil government leaders’ positivism philosophies. A pragmatist is a person who decides on a case to case basis, not based on standard policies, theories, philosophies or procedures. Ataturk was a down to earth or practical leader. Ataturk... Turkey today is embroiled in a territorial dispute with the neighboring Cyprus government. The issue arose between the Greek government leaders and Turkey’s AKP government leaders, in terms of their Eastern Mediterranean hydrocarbon mining. The Greece government ordered the establishment of an exclusive economic zone. Turkey’s AKP government felt the establishment of the zone was economically disadvantageous to the Turkish nation. Mining quarrel focused on the drilling of oil in the area. The democracy will produce de-bureaucratization and de-securitization of the Greek and other foreign issues. Further, Turkey’s AKP government prioritized creating cooperation and camaraderie with its Muslim neighbors. Turkey contributed its share to the resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli crisis. Turkey’s President Sezer visited Damascus to create close ties with its neighbors. The AKP government’s beneficial relations with Syria irked the United States.

I, the Juror by Joyce Carol Oates Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

I, the Juror by Joyce Carol Oates - Essay Example Further the defending and prosecuting attorneys do their utmost to obscure the actual facts by drowning the jurors in a deluge of sheer verbosity calculated to bias the jury in favor of their respective clients. Consequently the behavior of the jurors as they half-heartedly try to arrive at the truth is characterized by prejudice and a singular lack of interest in the proceedings that are far-removed from their own lives. Oates description of the behavior of her fellow jurors is chilling. Their careless thoughtlessness is far more disturbing than deliberate maliciousness or spite, as the sheer subtlety of the former trait puts them in a position to do irreparable damage albeit inadvertently to those supplicants seeking justice. From the clothes worn by the jurors (one juror actually turns up in shorts) to their careless misrepresentation of facts in their final deliberation of the case, the jurors behave with a certain frivolity that shows a lack of respect for the gravity of the situation and their own responsibility to fellow human beings. Age old prejudices based on the color of the skin or sex thought long dead and buried rear their ugly heads and manifest themselves in the long-winding, precarious road to justice. Such conduct on the part of the jurors is surprising in the extreme. Their exposure to the dark underbelly of American society is a far cry from the pristine, squeaky-clean existence t hey are accustomed to. Most react by hastening to put as much distance as possible between themselves and the world of the victim and defendant, in which they want no part. Therefore the jurors made no attempt to grasp the facts or analyze them with any degree of insight or intelligence, the bottom-line being a largely white jury wanted no truck with the blacks and their doings. In this day and age, such a state of affairs is shocking and the

Turkey political system Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Turkey political system - Term Paper Example One of the non-Muslim communities is the Greek community. Another community is the Armenian community. A third community is the Jewish community. Recognition of these communities is in line with Turkey’s compliance with the Lausanne Treaty. The Turkey nation includes other homogenous communities. The community includes the 15 million member Kurdish community. Furthermore, the other Turkish groups included immigrant communities. One of the communities is the Circassian community. A second community is the Albanian community. A third community is the Bosnian community. Georgia is another community. Moreover, the Turkish community is ruled by several political parties. One of the parties is the Justice and Development Party (AKP). The Islamic AKP party is a conservative party that espouses democratic ideals. The AKP government’s cultural and societal policies implements democratic religious concepts. Mustaf Kemal â€Å"Ataturk† and his Turkey-based concepts (Ataturk Movement) Mustafa Kemal or Ataturk is recognized as one of Turkey’s well known leaders. He founded the Republic of Turkey (Crossland, 1). Ataturk did not espouse the philosophical theories of Karl Marx. He did not propagate the political theories of Lenin. In fact, Ataturk did not directly espouse any philosophical theories. He never borrowed any philosopher’s theories. Moreover, Ataturk did not even create his own unique philosophies. Ataturk was more of a manager than a thinker. Ataturk was more of a pragmatist. Further, Ataturk did not imitate some of the Brazil government leaders’ positivism philosophies. A pragmatist is a person who decides on a case to case basis, not based on standard policies, theories, philosophies or procedures. Ataturk was a down to earth or practical leader. Ataturk... Turkey today is embroiled in a territorial dispute with the neighboring Cyprus government. The issue arose between the Greek government leaders and Turkey’s AKP government leaders, in terms of their Eastern Mediterranean hydrocarbon mining. The Greece government ordered the establishment of an exclusive economic zone. Turkey’s AKP government felt the establishment of the zone was economically disadvantageous to the Turkish nation. Mining quarrel focused on the drilling of oil in the area. The democracy will produce de-bureaucratization and de-securitization of the Greek and other foreign issues. Further, Turkey’s AKP government prioritized creating cooperation and camaraderie with its Muslim neighbors. Turkey contributed its share to the resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli crisis. Turkey’s President Sezer visited Damascus to create close ties with its neighbors. The AKP government’s beneficial relations with Syria irked the United States.

Diffraction and Interference Essay Example for Free

Diffraction and Interference Essay Purpose: The aim of doing this experiment was to examine diffraction and interference effects of light passing through various apertures, and use the diffraction patterns obtained by single and double slit apertures to find the wavelength of the light source used. Theory: We know that light can be described by two theories, namely the particle theory and the wave theory of light, each having its own experimental proofs. In this experiment, we examine the interference and diffraction phenomena of light, both of which can be described by the wave theory of light. While interference is just the superposition of waves, diffraction is also any deviation from geometrical optics that results from the obstruction of a wavefront of light. In other words, diffraction is considering the double-slit experiment by taking into account the width of the slit openings, too. Another way of distinguishing between interference and diffraction is to consider the interfering beams in diffraction phenomena as originating from a continuous distribution of sources, whereas the interfering beams in interference phenomena as originating from a discrete number of sources. This way of treatment of interference and diffraction is a result of Huygens’ principle which states that every point of a given wavefront of light can be considered a source of secondary spherical wavelets. Hence, superposition occurs between these secondary waves emitted from different parts of the wavefront, taking into account both their amplitudes and phases. Diffraction effects can also be classified according to the mathematical approximations used in calculations. In the case of the light source and the observation screen being very far from the slit, relative to the slit width, the incident and diffracted waves are assumed to be plane and the diffraction type is called Fraunhofer, or far-field diffraction. In this case, as the viewing screen is moved relative to the aperture, the size of the diffraction pattern changes, but not the shape. We are going to use this kind of approximation in this experiment. We should keep in mind that the Huygens’ principle used to find the diffraction relations is itself an approximation. When calculating the single-slit Fraunhofer diffraction a rectangular aperture with a length much larger than its width is considered. In this case the intensity of the light reaching the screen at point P, at an angle ÃŽ ¸ is given by: Is=I0(sin2ÃŽ ±ÃŽ ±2) where ÃŽ ±=12kasinÃŽ ¸=Ï€asinÃŽ ¸ÃŽ » In the above relations I0 is the intensity at the middle of the central maxima and a is the slit width. Hence, by taking the limit as ï„Æ'→0, we observe that this pattern attains its maximum at ÃŽ ¸=0. Similarly, equating ï„Æ'=mÏ€, we obtain the minima of the pattern and we get the following relation for this case: nÃŽ »=asinÃŽ ¸ where n=1,2,3,†¦ For small angles we can make the sinÃŽ ¸=tanÃŽ ¸ approximation and, calling L the distance between the slit and the screen, we can get y=LsinÃŽ ¸, where y is the distance from the central maximum to the observation point. For this case, we conclude that on the screen, the irradiance is a maximum at ÃŽ ¸=0, hence y=0, and it drops to zero at values of y such that y=ÃŽ »La . Therefore, we can find ÃŽ » using this relation. (Here, y is the average distance between adjacent minima). When we regard the double-slit diffraction we see that we have to do with two different terms, one of which belongs to the interference pattern, and the other to the diffraction pattern. If we ignore the effect of the slit widths, we get the intensity of the pattern given by only the interference term as I=4I0cos2ÃŽ ², where ÃŽ ²=(Ï€bÃŽ »)sinÃŽ ¸. Here, ÃŽ ¸ is the angle of observation and b is the slit separation. Nevertheless, since the intensity from a single slit depends on the angle ÃŽ ¸ through diffraction, we should take into account the diffraction pattern, too. Now, the intensity is given by: I=4I0(sin2ÃŽ ±ÃŽ ±2)cos2ÃŽ ² In this case ï„Æ' is again ÃŽ ±=12kasinÃŽ ¸=Ï€asinÃŽ ¸ÃŽ ». Hence, we conclude that in double slit diffraction the intensity is the product of the interference and diffraction patterns. By analyzing the intensity relation, we observe that an interference minimum occurs whenever ÃŽ ²=(n+1/2)Ï€ for n=0,1,2,3,†¦, and an interference maxima occurs whenever ÃŽ ²=nÏ€, again for n=0,1,2,†¦ Using the approximation sinÃŽ ¸=tanÃŽ ¸, we obtain y=LsinÃŽ ¸, and y=ÃŽ »Lb, where y is the average distance between either adjacent maxima or minima. Data and Results: Part A: Single Slit Pattern| A| B| C| Width of the slit, a| 410-5m| 810-5m| 1610-5m| Distance slit-screen, L| 1m| 1m| 1m| Average dist btw minima, y| 1.67 cm| 0.75 cm| 0.45 cm| ÃŽ »=ay/L| 668 nm| 600 nm| 720 nm| Error ∆y on y| 0.08173 cm| 0.138 cm| 0.0548 cm| Error ∆Î » on ÃŽ »=a∆y/L| 32.7 nm| 110 nm| 87.7 nm| ÃŽ »=ÃŽ »Ã‚ ±Ã¢Ë†â€ ÃŽ »| 635.5 nm| 710 nm| 632.3 nm| | y1| y2| y3| y4| y5| y6| A| 1.8| 1.6| 1.7| 1.7| 1.6| 1.6| B| 0.5| 0.8| 0.8| 0.8| 0.9| 0.7| C| 0.5| 0.5| 0.5| 0.4| 0.4| 0.4| The error on y is found using the relation below: ∆y=i=1N(yi-y)N-1 Part B: Double Slit Pattern| D| E| F| Width of the slit, a| 810-5m| 810-5m| 410-5m| Slit separation, b| 510-4m| 2.510-4m| 2.510-4m| Distance slit-screen, L| 1m| 1m| 1m| Average dist btw minima, y| 0.00160 m| 0.00300 m| 0.00155 m| ÃŽ »=by/L| 800 nm| 750 nm| 387.5 nm| Error ∆y on y| 0.000342m| 0.000524m| 0.000342m| Error ∆Î » on ÃŽ »=b∆y/L| 171 nm| 131 nm| 85.5 nm| ÃŽ »=ÃŽ »Ã‚ ±Ã¢Ë†â€ ÃŽ »| 629 nm| 619 nm| 473 nm| y| D| E| F| 1| 0.138| 0.110| 0.053| 2| 0.141| 0.106| 0.051| 3| 0.143| 0.101| 0.048| 4| 0.146| 0.095| 0.045| 5| 0.148| 0.090| 0.043| 6| 0.151| 0.086| 0.040| 7| 0.154| | 0.038| 8| 0.156| | 0.035| 9| | | 0.033| We calculated the difference between each successive data to obtain the displacement. Then, we multiplied each displacement value with a factor of (21.5/34.5) because the scale of the linear translator and the interface were not equal. Having done this we calculated the average distance. The error on y is found again by using the relation ∆y=i=1N(yi-y)N-1 Discussion and Conclusion: In part A we considered interference and diffraction pattern of a single slit opening for three different slits. We measured the distance between the source and the slit to be 1m and we used the relations found in the theory part in order to find the wavelength of the light source used. We found the average distance between minima to be 1.67 cm for slit A, 0.75 cm for slit B and 0.45 cm for slit C. Hence, we found the wavelength of the light source to have values of 668 nm for slit A, 600nm for slit B and 720nm for slit C. However, after calculating the error in the average distance and using this error, the wavelengths turned out to be 635.5nm for slit A, 710nm for slit B and 632.3nm for slit C. We know that theoretically the wavelength is expected to be 650 ±10nm. Our experimental values, despite the fact they are close to, do not fit totally to the expected theoretical ones. Hence, we argue that any discrepancy in the values found is a result of the imprecise equipment used, especially the light sensor. Furthermore, we claim that these discrepancies are also a result of the fact that we had to move the linear translator with our hand slowly enough so that the detector could detect the intensity peak and the other maxima. Hence, it is very much likely that we could not carry this process out precisely enough as it is required in order to have correct data, since we are human beings and it is impossible for us to achieve such a thing. We also think that the light coming from the surrounding might have had a negative effect on our results since the room where the experiment was carried out was not evacuated well enough. Moreover, we point out that the relations between wavelength, distance between minima and slit width used to find the wavelength and the Huygens’ principle itself are all approximations, since as it was stated in the theory part, we u sed far field mathematical approximations in order to obtain these relations. In part B, we used a double slit opening in order to observe the interference and diffraction pattern. In this case both the slit width and the slit separation have an effect when finding the intensity at a certain point. However, in the relations used to find the wavelength we considered only the slit separation b. In this part, after calculating the error in displacement and using this in ÃŽ », we found the wavelength values to be of 629nm for slit D, 619nm for slit E and 473nm for slit F. We observe that, except for slit F, these values of ÃŽ » agree with the values found in part A. We claim that the discrepancies in this part are a result of the same reasons causing the discrepancies in part A. As for the case of slit F where ÃŽ » turned out to be 473nm (much smaller than the theoretical value) we think that the main reason for such a result is the change in width of the slit, which in this case, unlike the other two cases, is 0.04mm. This leads us to conclude that, as expected t heoretically, the width of the slit also affects the intensity pattern, and in these cases more precise relations should be used in order to obtain correct data. Applications: Interference and diffraction phenomena of light have found a quite large application in science and technology. Understanding these phenomena has led to understanding the world around us and being able to use it in a better way in order to fulfill our needs. Among the most important applications of diffraction for example, is the fact that it is used to obtain accurate information about the atomic scale structure of the matter around us. Since the number of atoms or molecules inside a crystal is arranged in such a way that it resembles a grating with very thin spacing, diffraction phenomena leads to understanding the insights of each crystal structure. Diffraction phenomena was also used to learn that the sodium and chloride ions are bonded in a lattice fashion and not molecules, to distinguish between different cubic lattice, to analyze all kinds of materials, even biological samples, etc. Using diffraction interesting things such as hair thickness can also be measured .The interference phenomenon, on the other hand, is used to make highly-wavelength specific mirrors for lasers. Furthermore, interference is the reason why soap bubbles appear colorful. Many other optical coatings owe their optical properties to the interference phenomena. An example of this is the antireflection coatings on lenses that we use everyday. Another application of interference is holography, which is a way of reconstructing three dimensional images with laser light. Perhaps the most fascinating application of interference is to create holograms. This is done by reflecting a coherent light source, such as a laser, off of an object onto a special film. The interference patterns created by the reflected light are what result in the holographic image, which can be viewed when it is again placed in the right sort of lighting. Moreover, diffraction and interference can be observed when an atom passes through a standard light wave and its position is localized. In this case, the localization can be thought of as the creation of virtual slits leading to the above mentioned phenomena. Diffraction is also used to understand the insights of the ionosphere. All in all, by doing this experiment we learned the importance of the phenomenon of interference and diffraction in our lives. References: http://online.physics.uiuc.edu/courses/phys214/spring09/Lectures/Lect04.pdf http://bigbro.biophys.cornell.edu/~toombes/Science_Education/Laser_Diffraction/Diffraction_Lesson.pdf http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080509124425AAyW8bl http://physics.about.com/od/mathematicsofwaves/a/interference.htm URL: http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.68.472

Political Apathy in Youth Essay

Political Apathy in Youth Essay Is Political Apathy Among Youths Prevalent Across The World Today? Tan Hong Kai Introduction The antithesis of social advancement, political apathy, is a pressing yet thorny issue all countries need to address. Citizens’ impassivity towards politics could destabilise a country, particularly the youths as they are the future of a nation. With the increasingly rapid pace of life, youths tend to be more occupied with keeping up with the Joneses and climbing up the social ladder rather than getting themselves involved in the affairs of their state. Recently, American youths have also made clear that they do not vote due to their dislike of politicians. Political apathy is a universal problem. It recognises no boundaries, and continues to be pervasive across many parts of the world today. Definition of Key Terms Political apathy is a lack of concern and the indifferent attitude of citizens towards public affairs. Throughout this essay, the term youths will refer specifically to persons between the ages of 18 and 29. Political Apathy Among Youths in America One of the main problems with American youths is the huge propensity to be politically indifferent. This attribute is seen in two metamorphic events, the 2008 and the 2012 Presidential Elections. 3.12008 and 2012 Presidential Elections The 2008 United States Presidential Elections saw Barack Obama succeed George Walker Bush as the 44th President of the United States. The voter turnout for the 2008 Presidential Elections was 61.6%, which was the highest since the 1968 Presidential Elections. Howbeit, Hayes (2013) pointed out that the youth vote made up a mere 19% of the electorate. The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement pointed out that youths â€Å"make up 21% of the voting eligible population in the U.S.† The data above can be represented in a pie chart, as shown in Figure 1. Figure 1. 2008 Presidential Elections Voter Turnout. Only 11.7% out of the 21% of youths casted a vote in the elections. Four years later, in the 2012 Presidential Elections, Barack Obama was re-elected to a second term. Voter turnout, however, decreased from 61.6% in 2008 to 58.2% in 2012. According to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (2012), 45% of youths voted, which is a decrease as in 2008, 51% of youths casted a vote. Evidently, less than half of all American youths are keen in choosing the leader they want to represent their nation. According to Kohnle (2013), the 2013 Harvard Public Opinion Project found that most American youths would replace every member of Congress if they could. However, 26% have declined the opportunity to vote in the 2014 midterm elections. Although American youths do hold certain views against the political leaders, they are uninterested in instigating change themselves. Stockley (2014), per contra, expressed that historically youths have been the least reliable voters as they tend to be distrust and be dissatisfied with the government for not listening to concerns, thus believing that their votes do not matter. This could be the reason why American youths choose not to vote. The participation of American youths in the elections suggests that problem of political apathy among youths is present in America. As youths are uninterested in voting, there is a lack of political participation as they choose to abstain from voting. Political apathy is thus present in the United States. 3.2Political Participation of American Youths Nevertheless, American youths cannot be said to be completely apathetic about politics. During the African-American Civil Rights Movement, youth activists participated in the â€Å"sit-in movement†, which had â€Å"at least 56 colleges in the region linked to† it. A decade later, hundreds of youth demonstrated at Times Square to protest against the Vietnam War. Thus in history, youths were proactive about politics and wanted a say in the decisions the government makes. In recent times, similar movements had taken place as well. In 2011, youths organised the Occupy Wall Street protest movement to express dissatisfaction at the country’s economic disparity and alleged political corruption. This suggests that even till today, youths do participate in politics and in this case, pressure the government to reform and ameliorate the country’s plight. American youths are hence not as apathetic as feared. American youths are concerned and do express their thoughts over state affairs through demonstrations and protest. Political Apathy Among Youths in China While America is ruled democratically, the People’s Republic of China adopts a different kind of political ideology. Governed by the Communist Party of China, civilians in the socialist country do not have the opportunity and freedom to vote for a leader. Nonetheless, the difference on political ideology has no impact on whether citizens are concerned about the state’s affairs; youths in China are politically apathetic as well. To date, the Tiananmen Square protest of 1989 was the only student-led demonstrations in China. In 1989, Chinese youths gathered in Tiananmen Square. Youths called for social equality, freedom of speech, and most importantly, democracy, amidst political corruption and economic nepotism. However, on 4th June, Chinese troops entered Tiananmen Square and opened fire on these student protesters. This attack conveys the message that the government is unwelcoming of these demonstrations and will be hostile towards anyone who partakes in such protests. Political apathy in China can be attributed to the education system and the stringent laws the Communist Party of China had enforced in the country. The Chinese Education System The Chinese education system places a huge emphasis on galvanising chauvinism. Taboo topics such as the Cultural Revolution, the Hundred Flowers Campaign, the Great Leap Forward and the aforementioned Tiananmen Square Massacre are intentionally omitted from the syllabus. (â€Å"Political Apathy Among Youth†, 2012) As these taboo subjects are usually events which stir anti-government fervor, youths lack exposure to these movements which could have spurred them to participate in political activities and make a difference. Besides, in the Chinese education system, America’s multi-party system is ridiculed. In high school, students go through Political Science lessons and courses, in which they are taught sensitive yet critical issues such as Sino-Japanese relations, the â€Å"Taiwan Issue† and â€Å"Mao Zedong Thought.† These lessons stir nationalistic feelings and promote patriotism among the students. Thus, youths are taught to be loyal and committed to the Communist Party of China. As a result, youths would refrain from instigating anti-government protests or participating in politics as they are satisfied with status quo. The Prohibition of Demonstrations All protests are banned in China. â€Å"Public demonstrations from dissidents that explicitly oppose the government will be whisked away by the police force.† (â€Å"Political Apathy Among Youth†, 2012) Due to such strict laws the government has imposed, youths would naturally be unconcerned about politics. Youths know that any efforts to call for change will be dismissed. Only government-sanctioned protests are permitted. This can be seen from the 2012 Anti-Japan Riots. Tang (2012) reports that â€Å"Outside the Japanese Embassy, student protesters shouted slogans demanding that Japan relinquish the Senkaku islands.† While Chinese youths do not initiate any movements or demonstrations as it is banned, they would still participate in protests approved and led by the Communist Party of China. Political apathy is hence prevalent amongst Chinese youths as they do not display any interest or concern unless they are instructed by the government to do so. Political Apathy Among Youths in Singapore Singapore has always been known as the bridge between the East and the West. As mentioned, both the youths in the East and the West are politically apathetic. Intriguingly and idiosyncratically, that is not the case in this hybridised cultural melting pot. Political Participation of Singaporean Youths Singaporean youths have actively participated in politics. This can be seen from the organisations youths have established in response to certain political issues. 5.1.1Youth for Ecology In 2013, the government released the Population White Paper which proposed the Singapore population to hit 6.9 million in 2030. The release triggered a countrywide debate as Singaporeans did not welcome the import of foreign labour. A group of youths from Singapore Polytechnic realised that â€Å"there was little said about the environmental impact of what was outlined in the paper†, thus they formed the â€Å"Youth for Ecology† to raise awareness. Dialogues were organised and papers were written and submitted to Nominated Member of Parliament Faizah Jamal to address in Parliament. Singaporean youths are concerned about the nation’s future as well. They are also willing to take action to appeal to the government certain aspects they might have missed out. 5.1.2Social Media According to Lee (2013), a Singapore Polytechnic survey found that â€Å"almost 71% of those aged 15 to 19 said they speak up on politics and the Government on social media, while 68% of those aged 20 to 24 do so†. Social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, all of which are hugely popular among the tech-savvy youths, can be used to express their opinions on state affairs. A study conducted by the Institute Policy of Science (2010) showed that 25.5% of youths participate in politics online as compared to 16.8% adults. Over 77% of Singaporeans in their 20s have a Facebook account (Nielson, 2009) while more than half of Singapore Members of Parliament have a Facebook account. (Hussain, 2010) Thus, social media can be utilised to convey their opinions on political issues and ensure it is heard by the Members of Parliament. With such a convenient platform, youths are recommended to air their views freely and encouraged to participate in political activities. 2006 and 2011 General Elections Nonetheless, the voting turnout of Singaporean youths has been largely disappointing. Chang (2012) found that in Singapore, despite its compulsory voting, the youth turnout had a 40% drop from 63% to 2006 to 38% to 2011. About 70% of young voters had hardly voted in elections. A survey conducted by The New Paper found that 40% of youths will not vote if voting were optional. Furthermore, 25% of youths bemoaned that they have little say in government policies. (â€Å"Are our young Singaporean voters politically apathetic?†, 2011) This suggests that Singaporean youths believe that it would have been pointless to vote since they could not influence any plans the government proposes. Conclusion As Meheresh Yeditha puts it so nicely, â€Å"As the youth, we are its future. Our habits, political views, and actions will have a major effect on the future of our country, and the future of humanity. We as a youth have a moral obligation not only to be informed about current situations, but also to try to make a difference.† Political apathy is something any country could not afford. Youths, being a crucial subset of every electorate, can influence election results to a huge extent. Despite, political apathy is still present in today’s world. Youth turnout for the American Presidential Elections in 2008 and 2012 was low. Nevertheless, American youths have organised political movements to protest about certain issues. Saying that American youths are politically apathetic would be a sweeping statement. In China, due to the education system which places a huge emphasis on chauvinism and the prohibition of demonstrations, youths believe that any participation would not have any impact on how the country is ran at all. Therefore, Chinese youths would not be concerned about state affairs knowing that there is no room for contribution. In Singapore, youths are actively participating in the country’s state affairs. For instance, youths have established organisations which provide feedback to Members of Parliament on certain governmental policies. Youths have also used social media as a platform to express their opinions. However, youth turnout has declined, and youths would choose not to vote as they believe they had little say in politics. Nevertheless, voter turnout should not be the only measure used to determine whether a country’s youths are politically apathetic or not. Political participation should also consist of how vocal they are and how much they engage themselves with political issues. Such is the case in America and Singapore, where youths may not vote but are proactive in voicing out their concerns through protests and peaceful demonstrations. As in the case of socialist China, since there are no elections and freedom of expression is limited, Chinese youths are demotivated to participate in politics, which explains why they are politically apathetic. Plato once said â€Å"One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors. For a democracy to work, people must participate in that democracy. The same applies to any political ideology. Governments worldwide have gradually become aware of that and are starting to take measures to curb political apathy. In America, MTV has established the â€Å"Rock the Vote† organisation, which strives to fuse pop culture and technology to encourage youths to register and cast a ballot. It allows youths to register online, which is a more convenient process. In Singapore, the People’s Action Party has set up and developed a youth wing, called the â€Å"Young PAP†. Formed by Singaporean youths, it seeks to influence youths to participate in politics as they are indispensable to Singapore’s future. In China, while plans have been made to provide more channels to allow youths to express their thoughts, it remains to be seen what will be put into effect. During the 2011 United Nations High-Level Meeting, Senior Official Zhou Changkui mentioned, â€Å"As youth is an important political force, facilitating youth in political participation symbolizes equality and progress of a society. Participation is a way for young people to improve their status, exercise their rights and promote common development.† It could only be a matter of time when barriers are removed and Chinese youths start to engage themselves in political activities. It is therefore unfair to say that political apathy among youths is prevalent across the world. While it exists, it is not pervasive and widespread. Youths in democratic countries such as Singapore are less politically apathetic as compared to those in countries with lesser freedom, such as China. Hence political apathy among youths is not prevalent across the world today, but it is existent and is a pressing problem for countries to curb and prevent. 7.0References