Aggression and violent behaviour Essay

The media of video and computer games is a phenomenon, which has developed rapidly since its first incarnations of simple graphical games, to today’s 3D rendered worlds which players are able to inhabit and explore as they wish. The gaming culture which has followed plays an integral part in contemporary society not just for the youth market but also for many adults, as a gateway to escape their everyday lives and express themselves within a gaming environment. This is the new media format much like television and radio with their introduction into the mainstream, the need to study and explore the implications has attracted scholars, and business’s to explore this new media, attempting to understand its effects on contemporary society. The amount of money and time spent by consumers on these game platforms and software has pushed them to the front of the entertainment market place, with several multinational companies vying for market dominance within this expanding industry (Calvert 2002). The research into violent video games and post play aggression is one of the key study points for this media source. The idea of played aggression transferring into real world situations generates a moral panic within society, and so researches are keen to discover any links with play and real life aggression or to dispel the fears of the public which have been scare mongered by the mass media. Moral panics such as video nasties are similar to the notion of game panics, both are especially aimed at young children for whom society deems to be susceptible and vulnerable to impressions from the mass media, and in this essay’s case their exposure to violent video games. The key to the difference with the notion of game panics is the interactivity between the player and the game mechanics, the player is able to decide what happens within the game as long as its within the game boundaries, for violent games this includes the abundance of killing computer generated characters, and this is the concern of the parents and oppositions to the graphic games available. Recent events such as the school shootings in Columbine, America have led to increased magnification on the topic and therefore more studies are being conducted trying to theorise a link between play and post play. The main research within the gaming context on violence and aggression is aimed towards the effects playing these games has on children. Jeanne B Funk’s writing on children and violent video games highlights these concerns. She explores the notion that children are ‘high risk’ players, and after playing the video games they become desensitised to violence, and deviant behaviour within the society that they belong. Funk doesn’t place a total blame on the games however as she draws on research into pre existing problems within the Childs personality developed within the environment and social surrounding which the child has grown up in, stating that playing these games could lead to the increased development of these problems. Dave Grossman, a US military trainer on the realities of war has a much different perspective to the debate on video games and aggression. He states that the continued playing of the game conditions and trains the youthful player into a killing machine, perfectly honed to kill on sight without a thought for the consequences. He develops the argument of Acquired Violence Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AVIDS), liking the disorder to the virus Aids. ‘The disease doesn’t kill you but simple destroys your immune system’ (Grossman). Arguing that the use of violent video games simple desensitises players, trains them to kill (stimulus response) with no thought for the repercussions of their actions. These two studies outline two different ideas on the argument of video games and aggression, but neither conducted first hand testing of the hypothesis of post play aggression. A frequently cited paper that presents evidence supporting the claim that violence in video games leads to violence in real life is: Video Games and Aggressive Thoughts, Feelings, and Behaviour in the Laboratory and in Life by Craig A. Anderson, Karen E. Dill. The research draws up the hypothesis of General Affective Aggression Model (GAAM). The model included both existing research on human learning and expression and research into media violence effects. The study consisted of two separate tests, a real life test and a laboratory-based test on game players to analyse a link between game play and post play behaviour. Goldstein disputes the merits of laboratory tests on the basis that they are floored due to the subject not playing the game but merely doing as they are told, so the same feelings, and experiences are different to those when the subject is truly playing the game in the comfort of their own home, with individual aims to achieve. The findings of the Anderson and Dill study supported the GAAM model in that post play aggression was evident. This is one of the few studies which have been conducted with any credibility on the topic of game panics, yet the topic is still wide open due to the lack of empirical research for which solid conclusions on the links between play and post play can be drawn. Freedman states that the lack of experimental research is fundamental in not being able to draw a clear link. He states that the demand factor, where the subject believes he has to react in a certain way and the ability to measure post play aggression are two factors which have thus far underlined the research in to video games and violent behaviour. These problems could be rectified by the increased proportion of studies, of by the drawing up of a new study method designed specifically for the examination of video games and not one which has been used to monitor other forms of media and post exposure behaviour. The existing research available on the topic of post play aggression is extremely limited with few pieces able to be seen as complete and giving a total answer to the questions answered. The idea that competitiveness within a game is equally to blame, as violent content needs to be explored as the arousal experienced from winning or losing a competition such as a sports simulation can increase the adrenaline within the body causing an outburst of violence (Fienberg 2002). Similarly the link needs to be addressed that not everyone who plays violent games will go out and kill people and so the link between characteristics innate to the individual are to blame for more severe violent acts and the video games at the moment are being lined up as scapegoats for individuals actions and more research needs to be conducted on the subject. Bibliography 1. Anderson, D.A. & Dill, K . E. (2000) Video games and aggressive thoughts, feelings, and behaviour in the laboratory and in life [online]. Washington: APA Journals. Available from http://www. apa. org/journals/psp/psp784772. html [Accessed 20/10/03]. 2. Funk, J. B. (2001) Children and violent video games: Are there high-risk players? [Online]. Chicago: Playing by the rules conference. Available from  http://culturalpolicy.uchicago.edu/

How Miller Creates Conflict in the Crucible?

English Controlled Assessment Draft: Conflict in the Crucible The play I am studying for this essay is called â€Å"The Crucible† and I will be focusing on Act 1 of the book. The question I will be answering is what’s the most powerful type of conflict in the opening act of the crucible? The word conflict means a state of disharmony, opposition and or fighting. The conflict portrayed in the Crucible is often described as tools used to describe events in Millers time period.For example, witchcraft doesn’t exist in Salem yet that is the basis of the storyline of the play and many people die as a result of accusations over witchcraft. During the time Miller wrote this book, the cold war was happening and many people in America were accused of communism (including Miller himself), when they were accused they were routinely asked to give names of other communists which is the same as the ‘witches’ in Salem were asked, whether the devil â€Å"come-with an other person† and many of these people turned out to not be communists in the first place same as the accused ‘witches’.So it seems that Miller uses the fact there were not any witches in Salem as a metaphor suggesting there were not any communists in America. Miller conveys Putman as a source of conflict as a result of his rivalry for power with Parris. This is demonstrated when Mr Putman is seen as attempting to stir drama over Parris’s daughters situation â€Å"No witchcraft! Now look you Mr Parris†.As Parris is so plainly defiant in his denial of â€Å"witchcraft† affecting his daughter, this portrays Mr Putman as deliberately trying to annoy Parris to most likely make him look like a loose cannon in the eyes of Salem to steal his job. Which makes sense as Miller tells us that the Putnam’s resent Parris and Mr Putnam wanted his brother in law to have Parris’s position. The directive â€Å"Now look you† magnifies this a s although Parris has more authority than him, he is already seen as trying to order Parris around.This is then amplified when Parris replies stating â€Å"They will howl me out of Salem for such corruption in my house† as Mr Putnam is seen as the main rival to Parris, it seems that Parris implies that Mr Putnam is the one who will â€Å"howl† him out of Salem. In addition, the word â€Å"Howl† at first seems to be a hyperbole as Salem is first thought of as a good religious community, but it then creates contrast towards the end of act one as the town is seen as willing to give the death penalty to children because they think that their witches â€Å"This woman must be hanged! . This creates tension throughout the audience as it makes them realize Salem isn’t as united as it first seemed and there is a massive power struggle between the two families as â€Å"howl† also portrays Mr Putnam as a monster, more specifically a werewolf which is a mytho logical predator and predators like to be at the top of the food chain. However, Parris already has a place on top of the metaphorical food chain which places Putnam and Parris as natural rivals.Also, it creates tension in the audience by showing just how important power is in Salem as Parris and Putman both care more about power and their reputation than their own daughters. Miller’s intentions of this may be to show that people will act in extreme ways to protect themselves including neglecting their daughter, which links back to Millers era as many accused communists were interrogated under torture and many tried to escape leaving behind their families.In the play â€Å"the crucible† Miller portrays a community in conflict when proctor’s commitment to their puritan ideology is doubted. This is demonstrated when Proctor states â€Å"No, No, Abby. That’s done with† when Abigail appears to flirt with him. The connotation of â€Å"That’s don e with† suggests that Proctor once committed the sin of Adultery with her which is a very serious sin to the Puritans. The repetition of â€Å"No, No† shows that proctor knows he’s done a bad thing not just in terms of the Puritan Ideology but also in terms with his own morals.However, the fact Abigail wants to do it again and doesn’t consider it a bad thing shows the conflict and divides between the older and younger generations in Salem as the younger generation’s challenge the Puritans rules without remorse. This creates nervousness within the audience as it demonstrates just how fragile the unity of the community in Salem is. It also links back to Miller’s intentions as he may be trying to suggest that paranoia divided communities as it did in America when many people were being accused of communism over little things.Miller intensifies a sense of conflict towards the end of act 1 through a fast paced scene when multiple accusation of wit chcraft are made. This is started when Abigail exclaims â€Å"I want to open myself! † and from there onwards Betty also takes up the chant and blames people â€Å"I saw Martha Bellows with the devil! † The fact that the curtain descends with â€Å"Devil† as the last word spoken reflects the state of fear on stage and the divides caused by this conflict to Salem as normally the people of Salem talk about God but as a result of this conflict they end by talking about he Devil, an abnormal thing for them. The use of Exclamation marks, snappy sentences and the amount of accusations made infers that it is a fast paced, loud scene and reflective of the hysteria on stage. This creates dramatic irony towards the audience as they know the truth which is that witchcraft doesn’t actually exist, the fact witchcraft is punishable by death shows them that the girls are willing to let someone else die to prove themselves innocent thus creating a sense of conflict.The r epetition of the word â€Å"Devil† towards the end makes the audience feel sympathy towards the people that are getting blamed as they know that none of it is actually true. This can be linked back to Millers intentions as he may be trying to show that when people fear for their life they are willing to lie and blame others to save themselves which also occurred during the cold war (Millers era) when people lied and blamed other people of being communists to avoid themselves going to prison.To conclude, there have been many powerful conflicts throughout act 1, my final judgement is the rivalry of power between Parris and Putnam is the most powerful conflict. This is important as it provides the baseline for the story line. Parris states that there are ‘factions’ after his position in Salem, It is likely that he is meaning the Putnam family as they are seen as a main antagonistic rival in ‘The Crucible’ against Parris. He describes calling for Reveren d Hale as a â€Å"precaution† but denies that â€Å"witchcraft† is the reason for his daughter’s problem.As a result it is likely that he called for Mr Hale just so Mr Putnam doesn’t complain and demand his removal from power, so it is essential that Miller introduced with this conflict as without it the play wouldn’t be as gripping. This conflict effects the audience by making them realize that even before witchcraft entered the picture there was already a fragility in the community relations in Salem and it’s likely that these conflicts would probably at some time be realised and spark irrational action. Witchcraft is seen as just the trigger to this.

Middle Eastern Views of Mental Illness

There are many countries that are considered to be countries of the Middle East. Some of these include Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Yemen, and Isreal, just to name a few. Many of these countries have things in common, such as belief in Islam, use of the Arabic language, connections through the Arab League, historical ties, etc. The different countries form a chain of countries that are linked by culture and religion on the one hand and yet vary greatly in terms of dialect and history on the other.The Arabic language is a large common denominator between these countries; however, dialects can be so different from each other to a point where a person from Syria can hardly communicate with a person from Algeria. (1) Most landscape in the Middle East is either occupied by harsh desert conditions or mountains. This has made its people very tough in terms of living conditions. Lebanon, parts of Syria, Turkey, Iran and Iraq have mountainous areas while most of the other countries are flat and extrem ely arid.Those living in the desert traditionally used to move around in a perennial search for water, which resulted in unique eating behaviors and homes. A typical Arab house in the desert is built out of mud and has little furniture. The food is basic with little processing. However, in the mountains of Lebanon, Syria or Turkey one will encounter strong homes with heavy stones and arches that can last for generations. In addition, food in these areas is usually produced during summertime and stored in cellars for use when nature does not allow them to go out and work their snow covered fields. 1) Religions play a big role in the dynamics of the Middle Eastern society. They are considered to be one of the main pillars of the society and individuals are stereotyped based on religion. Islam, Judaism, and Christianity are the main religions practiced in the middle-east and people who practice these faiths only surround themselves with people of the same faith. Daily life is practiced on the basis of ones religion and others are expected to respect that.1) The present day Middle East is a mixture of very old cultures and very young nations that were organized by European colonial powers after the defeat of the Central Powers which led to the end of World War One and fall of the Ottoman Empire. The culture of the Middle East is thus understood only by learning about the history of the region and the forces that have influenced the growth and demise of controlling powers. Since World War One, colonial countries such as France, Great Britain, and The United States have ignificantly influenced the Middle East. (1) Keeping in mind this very generalized description of the Middle Eastern culture we can now begin to look at the beliefs in terms of mental illness. In my research it is safe to say that most all opinions by middle easterners are based off of their religious beliefs. According to the SRA (Stigma Research and Action) people from non-Western cultures tend to attribute the cause of mental illness more frequently to the afflicted individual.It is possible that discrimination against the mentally ill differs in an Islamic culture where mental illnesses and other ailments are, to some extent, considered to be due to the will of God, rather than evil forces, bad behavior, or other personally devaluating factors. According to the holy Koran, people with a mental disorder should be treated with respect, and this might result in a less stigmatizing attitude.Such a perception of causality would also reasonably apply to the individual, and might be a factor that reduces self-blame. One must bear one’s predicament and wait for the mercy of God! A study was done by SRA researchers and participants were asked a series of open-ended questions. Responses indicated feelings of alienation, sharing stereotypes about the mentally ill, experiences of discrimination, social withdrawal, and resistance to being stigmatized and discriminated against.For example, responses included: Yes, they discriminate against us; They don’t count on us; Our society has no capacity for us; I mean there is no cultural understanding in our society; They ridicule, insult and harm us; I wish they could understand that psychiatric patients are like other patients, like patients with cancer or cardiac disease and that they can live their lives.A recurring theme was the idea of the mentally ill as dangerous and aggressive: They all believe a mentally ill patient is a natural born killer and that’s why I try to keep myself to myself and not even claim what I’m entitled to; When the police came they were acting as if I was a criminal, but they ought to know that I’m a patient, not a criminal. (2) The International Journal of Mental health Systems has thoroughly researched the country of Iraq in terms of their views on Mental illness.According to their research public attitudes towards mental illness in Iraq has shown that comm unity opinion about the aetiology of mental illness is broadly compatible with scientific evidence, but understanding of the nature of mental illness, its implications for social participation and management remains negative in general. (3) As nurses we have to remain unbiased, and educational towards our patients and their families.When faced with a patient with a mental illness whom is Middle eastern we need to stay mindful of the fact that they probably believe that they were afflicted by their God in some way, or in some way they deserved to be born with this illness. We need to simply educate them on the importance of medication Therapy and safety. We should treat all of our patients the same no matter what their cultural beliefs are and we should always treat each patient with respect.Active listening is an important skill to master as a nurse with all patients but with Middle Eastern patients especially it is a sign of respect to listen to them first, and allow them to finish completely prior to speaking. Giving this level of respect to all patients all the time will ensure that as nurses we never offend, and that we give the best quality care.

Rogerian Argument on The Chinese in all of Us Essay

Rogerian Argument on The Chinese in all of Us - Essay Example He thinks that there is no such thing as multiculturalism, there is only a melting pot and all the cultures go in and a different culture(s) emerges. The theme is relevant to all, as everyone supposedly belongs to some culture or race. If the only constant is change then what is a culture anyway? If certain tradition, style of speaking, food and dress remains specific to a place for a certain amount of time, does it mean it will always stay that way, if this is not true then what happened to the Stone Age culture and hunting with spears made of bone and wood? Shouldn’t we all hold on to our ‘true culture’? Rodriguez is right in his reasoning because he grew up in America, born to a Mexican family. He lived through all of the cultural amalgamation in the US. There are no hard and fast rules to cultures anymore. Probably there is no culture after all, but the culture of change and evolution. Rodriguez is right in arguing that there is no multiculturalism, it is just a haze. He astoundingly explains this to an interviewer who asks him if he considers himself as Hispanic or American, and he replies, Chinese. That is what he grew up with; a little bit of this and a little bit of that. He is born to Mexican parents and goes to an American school (where he’s shown to speak ‘proper’ English) and has Chinese neighbors. The ‘proper’ English even teaches him how to say his own name as the school teacher writes his name on the board and reads it out loud and asks him to follow along, so that the whole class gets familiar with his name and he gets to say his name in a certain accent; the ‘proper’ accent, this is what the culture (or multiculture) is all about. However, certain things remain specific to certain cultures, for instance Asian culture is very different from the Western culture; â€Å"Many Asian cultures have distinct conceptions of individuality that insist on the fundamental relatedness of indiv iduals to each other. The emphasis is on attending to others, fitting in, and harmonious interdependence with them.† (Markus and Kitayama, 1991) But there is something in the world that brings together different cultures, the melting pot. The author frequently uses the term melting pot and prefers it over common culture or multiculture. The term melting pot represents the trend in culture in a better way. The author has introduced two different views about the ‘melting pot theory’, one is positive while the other has some negativity attached to it. The author says that the melting pot has changes people. When someone goes into it, their identity is lost. An African will not remain African after the melting pot treatment. The loss of identity or separation from the origin is what he refers to as something which he doesn’t look forward to. He accepts it only because of its inevitability. The inevitable side of the ‘identity loss’ makes sense. Thi s world belongs to everyone; it would be ridiculous to think that certain race will remain in a certain piece of land for all eternity; an impossibility. They will eventually travel to some other part of this world. And when they live with the other ‘cultures’ they will take some part of it and will give some of theirs; â€Å"Even while America changes the immigrants, the immigrants are changing us† (Rodriguez) The other way Rodriguez sees the melting pot is somewhat of a miracle pot. A person goes in it and comes out as something different. The pot has magical powers, but he question is; does it bring people closer or pushes them away? Clearly it brings them closer at the cost of the so called ‘identity’. The only thing wrong with this approach is when people are forced to adapt to certain norms. They have their own culture and lifestyle, why would the dominant culture suppress it

Information security management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Information security management - Essay Example Taking a step back, there is value in situating a risk assessment process for Accounting Company in the context of a cycle for managing risks. The chart below situates this particular exercise for Accounting Company in terms of a cycle that includes the (1) assessment of risks and determination of needs; (2) the implementation of controls and policies; (3) the promotion of awareness; and (4) monitoring and evaluation; all occurring within the context of a central point of focus (United States General Accounting Office 6): Meanwhile, a compilation of risk assessment approaches for information security that is taken from best practices of many different top organizations in the US has distilled the most important elements of an effective security risk assessment as follows: (1) the identification of threats that could significantly impair crucial assets and operations; (2) estimation of the likelihood of the occurrence of such identified threats; (3) the identification and prioritization of assets and operations in order to determine the most crucial assets and operations to protect in cases of the occurrence of the identified threats; 4) the estimation of probable losses in the event of the occurrence of the threats, to included losses from the costs of recovery, for the most important assets and operations (5) the identification of interventions for risk mitigation, where the emphasis is on the cost-effectiveness of such interventions; and (6) the documentation of the results and the development of a plan of action (General Accounting Office 6). To be sure, while the above outlines a generic information security risk assessment approach that is the common denominator for all kinds of effective, best practice, approaches, the literature actually details many different kinds. Including a matrix approach (Goel and Chen), and many other different best practice

The Aspects of Terrorism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Aspects of Terrorism - Essay Example Understanding these aspects of terrorism is a necessary first step in forming a counter terrorism strategy. The most robust terrorist organizations have their basis in religion, and have been able to recruit members from areas that have been the subject of occupation by a foreign power. On the individual level, feelings of nationalism and a right to a land are the strongest motivators for committing terrorist acts, while ideology has only a small part. Suicide bombers are arguably the most heavily committed individuals to the terrorist's cause. In a recent study at the University of Chicago, Pape (2003) found that, "a strategy of suicide terrorism is most likely to be used to achieve nationalist goals, such as gaining control of what the terrorists see as their national homeland territory and expelling foreign military forces from that territory" (7). This has been evidenced in the Palestinian crisis, Northern Ireland, and Basque separatists in Spain. "Even Al Qaeda's goals for 9/11 included ridding Saudi Arabia of U.S. troops" (Investigations). A right to a homeland far outweighs the importance of ideology. Ideology seldom enters the discussion on terrorism or the terrorist's demands.

Cholera Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Cholera - Research Paper Example â€Å"The history of cholera begins in the waters of the Ganges River in India†, writes Peters in his book, Cholera: Curse of the Nineteenth Century (2004). India, in 1800s, saw deaths of millions of people when cholera spread from dirty standing waters in Calcutta. It was the time when eight choleric pandemics/epidemics started which spread across countries and continents, the first of which started in 1817-1823 spreading from India to Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East and Russia, and killing a lot of people with its deadly infection (Barua and Greenough, 1992, p.5-9). The last epidemic, which was eighth in number, occurred in Pohnpei and added to the death toll. Currently, it has spread to Peru, South Africa and the Marshall Islands. However, the later choleric epidemics saw fewer deaths than those which happened in India in 1800 because scientists like Filippo Pacini and Robert Koch devised tools and treatments to understand and control cholera, which lowered do wn the death statistics. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2011), â€Å"Cholera has been very rare in industrialized nations for the last 100 years; however, the disease is still common today in other parts of the world, including the Indian subcontinent and sub-Saharan Africa.† United States has introduced sophisticated methods of water purification and sanitation system due to which it has been easy to prevent and treat cholera. The bacteria that cause cholera are found in such water and food that has been contaminated by stool from an infected person. Cholera is mostly found in those regions where there is poor water treatment and sanitation, and where hygiene is not maintained properly. Since cholera spreads due to consumption of contaminated water and food, it does not spread through physical contact with the person. People

Meaning of my quote (please look in the details box for the quote) Essay

Meaning of my quote (please look in the details box for the quote) - Essay Example I think that the connection between a leader and the followers is based on the spiritual foundations. The leader sends messages to the followers verbally. This is the most identifiable and easily recognizable form of communication and interaction between the leader and the followers. However, there is something more to it that just the followers can feel and is not overtly visible to the outsiders i.e. the emotional connection. Whatever a leader says or does leaves an impression on the followers. The followers are best in the position to comply with the instructions of the leader when they know what the basis of the demand from the leader to behave or act in a certain way or do certain things is. In order for an individual to be effective as a leader, it is imperative that he/she first earns the trust and confidence of the followers. The leader accomplishes this by assuring the followers that if they comply with the instructions of the leader and do as he/she asks them to, he would lead them to the results they want. Followers only abide by the leader’s instructions when they see their personal benefit in doing this. The personal benefits of followers vary depending upon what are the conditions or context in which they are following the leader. In an organizational setup, subordinates follow the instructions of the management because their wages are decided and performance is evaluated according to their compliance. In the context of a country, people pay taxes to the government because they are confident that this money would be used to provide them with more benefits. My quote emphasizes upon one main objective of leadership i.e. inspiring the followers. There are many ways in which a leader can inspire the followers. Different leaders have different strengths using which they inspire the followers. For example, certain leaders have good vocal skills and inspire the followers through their motivational speeches. Likewise, there are certain leaders

Participant Analysis Assignment (active listener)

Participant Analysis (active listener) - Assignment Example The listening skills class does not increase their skills in any way since they possess advanced skills in technology. These participants all have good communication skills except for one individual. He is a shy individual and finds it hard to face people and pass on information appropriately. The training sessions truly help him develop competency in providing proper customer service and it raises his confidence. The upsurge in confidence is vital to improve general communication. One of the participants does not have experience in communication because he tends to avoid contact with other customers. They, however, all possess adequate knowledge on communication since it was part of their course work in college. They all help the inexperienced communicator improve his skills by working as a team and tutoring him on how to deal with different customers. They also help raise his confidence by providing him with encouragement and support at every opportune time. All the other participants have very good communication skills except for the shy participant. The training greatly helps him improve his skills and the tests during the course further improve his communication skills. This is because the tests address vital aspects of communication, especially his listening skills. This is because to reply to what someone has said you must listen and understand. Listening is an important aspect of communication and the most important part of providing customer service. This is because they listen to the customers query and empathize with their situation. They all know that having good communication skills will, especially while dealing with customers will keep them coming back. All the participants are comfortable with listening to the customers. Only the shy participant has problems with speaking with the customer due to their low levels of confidence. However, after training and some

Original Writing Essay Example for Free

Original Writing Essay I am the princess awaiting rescue in the quiet corner of the ballroom. I stand silently gathering dust in the shadows, grinning with gapped black and white teeth. The pungent odour of rising damp impregnates the air. Lonely and deserted by the warm affectionate hands I once knew and loved, shudders trace the length of my now slackened strings. I can still feel the faint, muffled trembling in my worn hammers of a serene piano concerto. I remain here reminiscing of times gone by; dreaming about rhapsodies of the great composers, sonatas with their heartbreaking refrains casting their sweet melodies out into the hearts of my listeners. I held the power to move people and touch their very souls. My waltzes floated dreamily like a single cloud in a clear blue sky drifting peacefully into the distance. I look back on my past at all the things I have experienced: my debut in the grand concert hall, the first time I felt the touch of his hands pounding passionately on my keys, I remember shaking with nerves as the critics watched and listened attentively, waiting for mistakes. We, my old friend and I, had travelled the length and breadth of the country together enchanting audiences with our music. Each week we would embark on another journey to take us to a new hall, each as grand as the last. The venues with their elegant, majestic decor were visited only by the noble and wealthy people in society. It felt fantastic to be associated with the upper class. They were women who could afford to wear the most opulent of gowns made with the finest silks, taffetas velvets and brocades; all of which were accompanied with stoles derived from the best pelts of fur that money could buy- the most popular of which being mink, ermine and fox. Their partners, of course, were dressed just as magnificently in their white tie evening suits. They looked somewhat like penguins in their expensive attire. I often wondered if it was the actual music they had come to listen to or just an excuse to show off their prosperity; the value of their wives jewellery alone could well have paid a kings ransom! How I miss the anticipation and the adulation that each concert brought; the scores of fans applauding and cheering for an encore for which we jumped at the chance! We would play for ages after the scheduled end of the show; this was my favourite part of the performance because we always made an unforgettable exit! We amazed crowds like this every night; they all loved us and our music. But, as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. The popularity of such grand events began to dwindle; the new recordings brought the great concertos into ones front room. Peoples leisure time was spent in the comfort of their own homes and they much preferred to spend their evenings at the newly developed moving pictures. Then came the Great War. All the men were sent away to foreign lands to fight for their country. War, as they say, can be a great leveller; a rich man can be killed with a bullet just as easily as a poor man. Peoples priorities altered, it wasnt thought to be patriotic to flaunt ones wealth as had been done before. Nobody came to watch our shows: there was no one to escort the ladies, and they no longer felt the need to show their prosperity. Our shows were all cancelled. We were no longer needed; no longer wanted. It broke his heart knowing that we could no longer perform together. Not long afterwards, he went bankrupt. He lost everything: his house, his livelihood, his possessions; and me. I was devastated, how could I cope without him to love and comfort me? Who could be there for me? Most importantly, what would happen to him? I was so confused, my life had been turned upside down and I didnt know if Id manage. I knew he loved and cherished me, and the last thing he wanted to do was sell me, but he found himself in financial dire straits. He did what he had to do and I cant condemn him for that. Nobody said that life should be fair. As the day of the auction loomed the atmosphere in the house was fraught. Complete strangers rummaged ruthlessly through all that was dear to him. The workmen pulled apart his home and left nothing behind. They had no respect for his privacy or his dignity. All his worldly goods were auctioned to satisfy his creditors. The items were sold for a pittance. I was sold there and violently shoved inside a small white transit van. It was not quite the transport I had become accustomed to, but I didnt really have a choice in the matter. I made my final journey to where I am today; isolated here in the corner, being tortured by incompetent, untrained and inept hands, making a tuneless drone where once beautiful melodies had been played. I hope one day my prince will come rescue me from the depths of my despair; stuck here in this cold, damp dining room fully exposed to the gales blowing through the open window. I long for the caress of someone who truly understands my worth; and I can only hope that someone can appreciate me half as much as my friend did. I resign myself to the fact that I am no longer the youthful princess awaiting my prince, but a dowager condemned to a life of solitude. I now realise that life doesnt always go the way you plan. I will always miss him but losing him has made me appreciate all the happy times we spent together and all the fond memories we share. 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The Functions of the Financial System | Economics Essay

The Functions of the Financial System | Economics Essay Introduction The objective of this chapter is to provide a theoretical and empirical literature review of the relationship between financial development and economic growth in general and more narrowly at sectoral growth analysis. Therefore, it is important to determine what financial development relates to, how the financial sector and overall economy are related to each other, and the implications of such a relationship for other sectors of the economy. In the following of this chapter, the study will first review the theory of financial development, whereby explaining the framework of financial system and how they affect growth of the real sector. The next section will focus on those authors who believe that economic growth is a good predictor of financial sector development. Further, effects of financial development on various sectors growth will be discussed. The next section will review the existing empirical studies examining the relationship of FD and growth. Theoretical Background Financial System A financial system is a network of markets and institutions that bring savers and borrowers together (Hubbard, 1997). Financial systems have become the keystone of most economies around the world. This field is of great interest to economists, who research mainly the causes and impacts of its development. Through years, economists has changed their perceptive has about the nature of the relationship between financial systems and economic growth. Bagehot (1873) established the pioneering theory on the relation between financial system and economic growth in his book Lombard Street: A Description of the Money Market (1873). He found that financial markets facilitate the accumulation of capital and these markets manage the risk from relative investments and business strategies. Later, Schumpeter (1911) identified that financial intermediaries facilitate technological innovation by gathering savings, evaluating investment projects, monitoring managers and facilitating transactions. The main argument of Schumpeter was that financial development affects economic growth through technological changes and this is done by banking institutions than stock markets. According to the Schumpeterian model, banks create entrepreneurs who carry out new investment projects that lead to economic growth as these rise in investment opportunities are available due to new combinations of providing finance to entrepreneurs. Following, there were Goldsmith (1969), McKinnon (1973) and Shaw (1973) who emphasised on the role of capital accumulation in economic growth. In the McKinnon-Shaw model, a well developed financial system mobilises savings by channeling small valued savings into profitable large scale investments. According to them, without a proper participation of financial system, these savings might not be available for further investment because a financial institution mobilises savings from various savers in an efficient and effective way by avoiding information asymmetries and lowering transaction costs. Unlike Schumpeter, they did not distinguish between the banking sector and the stock market. For them, both of markets are important in the process of economic growth. Although Schumpeter (1911), McKinnon (1973), Shaw (1973) and other economists emphasised on the positive role of financial development on economic growth, they failed to explain clearly how channeling of those funds affects growth. Then came Levine (1997, 1999), who has first depicted this link clearly. Levine demonstrated five main functions of the financial markets that affect the economic growth. More specifically, Levine pointed out that financial system Facilitate the trading, hedging, diversifying, and pooling of risk, Monitor managers and apply corporate control, Allocate resources, Mobililize savings, and Facilitate the exchange of goods and services. Functions of Financial System Unlike other economists, Levine (1999) produced a comprehensive way of showing the significant role for financial markets. The impact on economic growth occurs through the following channels according to Levine. As discussed above, financial markets play a significant role in economic growth through their role of allocation capital, monitoring managers, mobilizing of savings and promoting technological changes among others. Economists had held the view that the development of the financial sector is a crucial element for stimulating economic growth. Financial development can be defined as the ability of a financial sector acquire effectively information, enforce contracts, facilitate transactions and create incentives for the emergence of particular types of financial contracts, markets and intermediaries, and all should be at a low cost.  [1]  Financial development occurs when financial instruments, markets and intermediaries ameliorate through the basis of information, enforcement and transaction costs, and therefore better provide financial services. The financial functions or services may influence saving and investment decisions of an economy through capital accumulation and technol ogical innovation and hence economic growth. Capital accumulation can either be modeled through capital externalities or capital goods produced using constant returns to scale but without the use of any reproducible factors to generate steady-state per capita growth.  [2]  Through capital accumulation, the functions performed by the financial system affect the steady growth rate thereby influencing the rate of capital formation. The financial system affects capital accumulation either by altering the savings rate or by reallocating savings among different capital producing levels. Through technological innovation, the focus is on the invention of new production processes and goods.  [3]   As market frictions and laws, regulations and policies differs to a greater extent across economies and over time, the impact of financial development on growth may have different implications for resource allocation and welfare in the economy. Relationship between Financial Development and Economic Growth (i) Link of financial development and real sectors of the economy The theoretical evidence that financial sector development fosters economic growth has been accumulating over many decades. Schumpeter (1911), McKinnon (1973), Shaw (1973) Goldsmith (1969), Levine (1999) and other proponents came with a clear understanding of the role of financial development on economic growth. However, these theories do not provide a clear explanation of the transmission of financial development to the real sector of the economy thats lead to growth. Recently, some researchers have translated these abstract links between financial development and economic growth into concrete channels, such as household consumption, investment, trade (exports and imports) and government spending. Consequently, any increase from household consumption, investment, trade and government spending will have a positive impact on the real sector of the economy, and on the growth of economies. This link is illustrated below: Yt= Ct+ It+ (Xt-Mt) + Gt, where Yt is the gross domestic product, Ct is household consumption, It is domestic investment Xt is exports, Mt for the imports and Gt is government spending. Financial development and household expenditure are highly correlated, as discussed in Claessens and Feijen (2006). They argued that despite the causal relationship between financial development and household consumption is less clear than in the case of income, there is evidence that financial development is a leading indicator for increases in household consumption. Apart from increasing the household welfare, financial development also increases investment through the allocation of capital to private sector. The World Business Environment Survey (WBES), recent research concludes that finance is the most important constraint on firm growth. Other studies such as, Rajan and Zingales (1998), Perotti and Volpin (2005) have found that the number of firms in an industry grew faster in counties that have better financial development. Claessens and Feijen (2006) also highlighted that the presence of financial intermediaries with their products such as credit cards, debit cards facilitate domestic and international payment service whereby facilitating trade. The Claessens and Feijen framework hence has demonstrated the link between financial development and economic growth through concrete channels. (ii) Finance- Growth Nexus In the traditional development economics, there exist two distinct views of the finance-growth nexus. The first view was first proposed by Schumpeter (1911) who argues that services provided by financial intermediaries are essential drivers of innovation and growth. Thus, well-developed financial systems channel financial resources to their most productive use. The Schumpeters view was later formalised by Goldsmith (1969); McKinnon (1973); Shaw (1973); King and Levine (1993); Pagano (1993); Fry (1995); Zervos and Levine (1996, 1999); Christopoulos (2004); Manoj and Kamat (2007) and Hasan, Watchel and Zhou (2008) where all believed that financial development is a catalyst for economic growth. The second view suggests that economic growth is the major driving force behind the development of the financial sector. This idea is very much stressed in the work of Robinson (1952). According to him, as an economy grows, more financial institutions, financial products and services emerge in markets in response to a higher demand for financial services. Further, the Patricks hypothesis (1966) was introduced with the supply leading and demand following, which is important to determine the relationship between financial development and economic growth. The demand following view explains the demand for financial services as dependent upon the growth of real output and the modernization of subsistence sectors. Thus, the creation of modern financial institutions, their financial assets and liabilities, related to financial services are a response to the demand for these services by investors and savers in the real economy. Therefore, the more rapid growth of real national income, the gr eater will be the demand by enterprises for external funds (the savings of others) and therefore financial intermediation. Also, with a given aggregate growth rate, the greater the variance in the growth rates among different sectors or industries, the greater will be the need for financial intermediation to transfer saving from slow-growing industries to fast-growing industries. In this case, an expansion of the financial system is induced because of real economic growth. The second causal relationship between financial development and economic growth is termed the supply leading by Patrick (1966). Supply leading has two functions. Firstly, is to transfer resources from the traditional low-growth sector to the modern high-growth sector and secondly, to promote and stimulate an entrepreneurial response in these modern sectors. Thus, the availability of financial services stimulates the demand for these services by the entrepreneurs in the modern, growth-inducing sectors. However, previous empirical studies have produced mixed and conflicting results on the nature and direction of the causal relationship between finance and economic growth

Video game addiction

Video game addiction Video Games; is it really an Addiction? There are many addictions out there among us in the world and each addiction has been known to cause problems. The definition of addiction can be many things, but in this particular research paper I am going to discuss Video game Addictions. Specifically World of Warcraft gaming addictions and what this addiction does to the gamers life. Such as not socializing outside of the game and also people who let this addiction get so bad that it interferes with relationships and even their marriages. Video game addiction is an excessive use of computer video games in which one lets the addiction interfere with normal daily life. In this research paper I will use my own experiences along with facts of this addiction and what the effects on real life of a World of Warcraft player. I will also have a one on one interview with someone I believe to be a World of Warcraft addict. The Culprit WOW (World of Warcraft) is a (MMORPG) or Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game. Millions of people from all over the world play together and create groups and quest thru the game to get the best gear and to just be the best in game. This game is setup with monthly subscription fees whether you play or not you get billed. WOW also has a game card system which allows gamers to buy time in advance. The only downfall to this is you pay you play otherwise money is being wasted when youre not playing Many gamers continually play and play to keep up with their online friends and when I say keep up I am referring to levels of ones character or achievements in-game. The dazzling effects of the water look so real and graphical details of terrain and characters are magnificent. Gamers do not want to be left behind; I know I never wanted to be left behind. I played for hours on end trying to keep up with everyone and eventually I realized this has to end. Problems were on the horizon and I seen them coming. I can write even more about why people are drawn to play WOW for hours on end but I want to know how this addiction is affecting their lives outside of WOW. Who is Addicted? I have read many articles on this particular topic and find that this is not only common with young youth but also with adults. Gender is also not an issue. Do people realize they are spending too much time involved in a fantasy world? Do people who play see no problems at all? Its all about self control and setting priorities first, but unfortunately gamers usually do not have anything prioritized. While over time this excessive misuse can lead to bigger problems down the road. Also keep in mind that World of Warcraft has 11,000,000 million monthly subscribers that pay to play this game as much as they can. Most people believe that its normal for kids to play video games, but not all day every day. Excessive gaming in kids can lead to many social problems from disobedience with parents to kids actually withdrawing themselves with the real world to play in a fantasy one. Adults are also addicts when it comes to video games. Their ages range from 18-50 years old who actively play this game on a daily basis, while older players keep their video gaming a secret from others. Why do people get addicted? There are many, many articles and journals on this particular topic that talk about WOW addicts and there consequences. What I fail to see in my research are questions such as: Why are people addicted to these games? Is it really an addiction? Is it because real life is somewhat stressful and playing this game places one in a fantasy world free of stress? Or do people play to just pass the time? When I played, I did feel less stressful in-game. I sometimes felt like I was a completely different person, someone who I wanted to be fictitiously. Maybe there are others out there that feel the same way as I once did. Many will agree that its the thrill of the game or the next big raid where forty online players will battle a boss all at the same time with strategic force. One theory of addictions says Turner (2008) is that people become addicted to things/activities that are either positively reinforcing (receive rewards) or negatively reinforcing (escape from something aversive). Video games offer the potential for both. Woods (2008) study said people identified as having a video game addiction often use the games to cope with stress. However, using games to relax and escape from reality is not necessarily a problem. If people choose to play video games instead of dealing with problems or responsibilities, this is a symptom of their problems, not a cause. There are many other reasons why people reach for the fantasy world. Children and teens that play excessively have social problems and cannot seem to communicate with their peers. Some even get bullied in school. So in turn go home and play this game where no one bullies them and makes socializing easier when its not face to face communication. This may not be true for most youth but the ones that are addicted use it as an escape. Maybe people get addicted just because they want to play. The consequences of this addiction Adults also have been known to become addicted to WOW with serious consequences. Yes the game is fun to play but the fact of the matter is adults have responsibilities such as work, their relationship with their spouse and kids. People spend up to 16 hours a day if not more playing this online game knowing that there is school or work tomorrow. There also was a kid that played 36 hours straight and collapsed from dehydration that I read awhile back online. Marriages have ended due to this addiction. Spouses who devote their entire extra spare time playing WOW in the mean time the other spouse is feeling neglected. The WOW player is so involved within the game that he/she does not realize how bad this addiction is getting. Why does it come down to this? Are video game addictions like another form of narcotics such as crack? Can one be rehabilitated and be able to live a normal life in the real world instead of a fantasy one. Addiction rehabilitation There are many self help programs out there for people who feel that they cannot control this obsessive behavior over video games. Sven Rollenhagen (2009) said There is no known medical diagnosis of conditions brought on by excessive game-playing, but it is clear they have a very powerful addictive hold over many people who use them. Many psychologists do not believe that video game addictions are real but then again some do. There need to be more studies done on this topic. Griffiths (2008) said the fact that several studies overestimate the prevalence of video game addiction does not mean that it does not exist. There are also groups of psychologist willing to go as far as playing WOW to see its addictive traits first hand to get a better grasp on the matter. This means they become the gamer who is addicted to understand more fully what goes on in the minds of addicts. Interview with a gamer I setup an interview with an associate of mine to get a few answers and opinions on his addiction to World of Warcraft. His name is Matt and works everyday as head chef for a fine Restaurant. Matt said I play World of Warcraft whenever I am not working, it is something to do. I mentioned to him that many people spend hours playing the game to be the best knowing that there are priorities to be done. How do you handle these priorities? Matt said without hesitation, What priorities? I work and I play need I do anymore? Then I went on to ask what about relationships, dating of the sort. Matt declined to answer my question other than to say She left me a long time ago and I am happy without her (M. Walzcak, personal communication, November 11, 2009). These are the things happening to many people around the world not just Matt. The game takes over in their minds speaking for them, not knowing that this may affect things later on. Just small signs of whats to come for Matt. Or maybe he will realize that priorities and relationships whether their your friends or spouse should come first and foremost considering the game will still be there and your friends may not. We find out that there may be many different reasons why these games can be addictive. Some would play to pass time while others play it because it is all they think about, even though there excessive play time is ruining marriages, relationships and friendships along with their jobs. Is there hope for an video game addict, many say yes while others disagree entirely saying it is not a mental disorder in need of treatment. Wood (2008) said it is concluded that the most likely reasons that people play video games excessively are due to either ineffective time management skills, or as a symptomatic response to other underlying problems that they are escaping from, rather than any inherent addictive properties of the actual games. In conclusion, I feel this answers most of the questions we have been pondering on throughout this paper. I may have not got all the info needed to perform an in-depth analysis but this is definitely a great start. The more I research the more I figure out why I am sometimes addicted to the newest game out there and so to for others. References Griffiths, M. (2008). Video game addiction: Further thoughts and observations. International Journal of Mental Health Addiction, 6, 182 185. R, Sven. (2009, February 27). World of Warcraft more addictive then cocaine. Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/4863325/World-of-Warcraft-more-addictive-than-cocaine.html Turner, N. (2008). A comment on Problems with the concept of video game addiction: Some case study examples. International Journal of Mental Health Addiction, 6, 186 190. Wood, R. (2008). Problems with the concept of video game addiction: Some case study examples. International Journal of Mental Health Addiction, 6, 169 178.

Angels Essay -- essays research papers

ANGELS   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  God’s holy angels carry out a variety of tasks and deeds, as well as the angels of Satan. They carry out what the will of heaven is on earth when god Himself wants. Sometimes they appear as normal humans and sometimes with all the radiance of heaven shining upon them, and making known that a part of heaven is on earth. What I am going to try to explain is that I don’t think that angels have a role. I think that any angel does whatever heaven’s will wants it to do, when it wants it. In other words, angels do as they are told, not what they want. I’m going to review one by one what jobs or roles God has given to the angels. Roles of the Angels Messenger   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Most likely the angels’ main role that God gave to them was to be a messenger to those that were in need. Many times angels have appeared to someone just in the nick of time to deliver an urgent message from God. This is evident in the following stories: Abraham is just about to sacrifice his firstborn child before an angel comes and reveals to him why he had to do this. Many times in Acts angels appear to the Minor Prophets to give them important messages ranging from not being afraid for things to come or telling them they must seek out someone. Then there are the angels that are spoken of in Revelations. Sometimes the angels speak directly to John, and sometimes appear in visions of the end of times. The angel at the end of times is yet to come, and will proclaim in a loud voice to all the world the glory and majesty of God. There are many other examples of angel revealing a message to God’s people, both in the Old and New Testament. Many of them are very brief, (an angel appeared to John and told him not to enter Samaria), yet still important. We don’t know God’s reasoning for sending His angels, yet every message was in God’s plan and could not have been overlooked. Guardian   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Although the Bible does not actually use the term â€Å"guardian† angels, it does speak of angels protecting people. God is our protector and cornerstone, and yet He includes in His Word that angels also protect us. Specific instances of this are, for example, two times in Psalms angels are said to encamp around those that fear Him, and angels will guard you in all your ways. They don’t specifically guard one single person in these chapters, ... ...hat stands up for everything that is evil. His role is to corrupt and rapture all of mankind and bring them all into eternal punishment and damnation. As for all his demonic followers, Rev 12:14 suggest he might have taken one third of the angelic population with him as it says the dragon that swept 1/3 of the stars away. His fight with Michael is described in Rev 12:7-12 where again Satan is the dragon and Michael the guardian hurls him down to earth from the sky. After Revelations mention this they have 4 other passages with Satan that all speak of his and all of his and their demise. It says they are thrown into the lake of burning sulpher and condemned to hell forever to be experience eternal pain and suffering.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the end, are angels assigned to roles? Can some only do what they where made to do? I would have to disagree and say they don’t have specific roles in heaven. All the unnamed angels, when they visited earth, usually either guarded or gave a message to someone in need. God sends every angel with or for a purpose and Gods purposes are important. Really, the angel’s only role in heaven and earth is to do what the Lord requires them to do.

Straight from the CEO :: GCSE Business Marketing Coursework

Straight from the CEO A Review of the Literature (Dauphinais and Price, 1998) The minds of CEO's are, in aggregate, a tremendous center of power in society. Upon these minds - how they tick, how they prioritize, how they view the vectors of change depends on the transmission of know-how, technology, capital, and jobs. In addition, as globalization increases, the socioeconomic impact of their thoughts becomes all the greater (p. 15). This book provides a broad cross sample of the global CEO population. Insightful interviews have been collected, which contain lessons from both the brawny companies that have been forced to reinvent themselves, as well as from some of the brainy upstarts that needed to be rather unconventional to gain access to the global playing field. CEO's of top world corporations tell how they handle globalization, customer service, motivation, leadership and other management issues. Gone is the day of the stern looking, tight lipped, antisocial dark suit who sits positioned in the large corner office secured by twelve foot walnut doors with gold handles. Today's workers demand involvement and interaction from upper management, no longer do the baby boomers see fit to have P and L figures discussed between upper management only. In order to be a successful CEO in today's society you must be able to demonstrate an understanding of the dynamics of value enhancement, to be aware of opportunities and to exploit them. The future and success of the company depends on how you view the company and how your employees view you. A CEO's understanding can have no limits, adapting to change is just a small step in dealing with the organizations future. When we discuss change we have to keep in mind that, the largest of corporations feel the pressures of change on a global level, competing with our global trading partners such as Japan, China, and Europe. In order to be global a corporation must be able to compete on a worldwide basis and to do this manager's must be able to think globally. Percy Barnevik of ABB Asea Brown Boveri Ltd comments: "Global managers are not born-they must be developed" (p. 40). Developing managers in global thinkers has to start with understanding of the differences between U.S. and the international culture. For example, several months ago a potential client came to town and of course we wanted to leave an impressionable opinion by having lunch at the new Japanese restaurant that everyone in town raved about.

B&Q Case Study Essay

As data and information are readily available, and information communication technology (ICT) has highly advanced, organizations such as B&Q need to understand how knowledge creation can assist to improve internal and external processes and also encourage innovation. In task one, the aim is to differentiate between possession of knowledge and practice of knowledge and examine which epistemology B&Q uses throughout their supply chain. B&Q uses possession knowledge whereby it provides all their vendors with a code of conduct guidelines which they need to follow through. Knowledge is defined as â€Å"awareness, consciousness, or familiarity gained by experience or learning† (knowledge, n. d) which are the ways people in a social situations would understand and make sense of where they are and what they are doing. When knowledge is conducted and embraced in an organization, it will result to a group of people who develop shared beliefs, behaviours and routines that shape organization capabilities. Experts such as Polanyi (1966), Nonaka (1994) and Cook and Brown (1999) divide knowledge into two categories called tacit knowledge and explicit knowledge. Tacit knowledge is associated with the skills or know-how that people developed through their own experience in specific contexts. Whereas explicit knowledge is something that has been codified, written down or spelled out and is communicable across context. 1. 2 Possession and practice From the word possession itself, one can understand that it is about the knowledge that people have in their mind (Cook and Brown, 1999). Blackler (1995), and Cook and Brown (1999) refer possesion of knowledge as â€Å"knowledge† and practice of knowledge as â€Å"knowing†. Knowledge is a mental or cognitive capacity which is hierarchical in nature and comprises of data, information etc. moreover, possession of knowledge is a personal property where people render meaning from subjective experiences, perceptions and previous understanding. As human minds are individually unique, hence different people may perceive and intepret the same information or data differently. Meanwhile, practice of knowledge sees knowledge as something that it developed through social interaction such as project work, group assignment or group discussion. When people practice knowledge, they convert tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge, thus transferring knowledge from one person to another. This is done through sharing stories, experiences or creating norms to a group of people hence enabling the experience of an individual to be related to a wider community. 3. 3 B&Q case B&Q plc works with many vendors such as Kingfisher Asia (KAL) who supply products to B&Q. Hence to manage their vendors and ensure processes and procedures are followed, B&Q come up with code of conduct (B&Q Operational Standards for Supply Chains) for all their vendors. The code of conduct is based on the international labour and envirnmental standards set by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions which factories and worksites of all vendors throughout the world need to comply to. In summary, vendors need to let B&Q have full visibility of the enitre supply chain and fulfill and obey the code of conduct criteria at all facilities. Any failure to meet the nine Critical Failure Points (CFPs) will result in B&Q not buying or purchasing their products. Through this code of conduct, we can deduce that B&Q adopts a possession of knowledge rather than practice of knowledge. B&Q receives knowledge about labour and environmental guidelines from ILO conventions and uses the basic context to write down or capture in an information technology (IT) system which is then made available as an organizational resource – B&Q Operational Standards for Supply Chains. This is in contrast of having a group discussion with the vendors and seeking their opinions and views on how to create a better working environment for the workers (practice of knowledge). For example, Baer (1987) and Abbott (1988) explained that in order to defend their position, occupational groups such as doctors would write down or ‘black box’ their skills and knowledge which is then used by others as guidelines or instructions to follow. B&Q is following the same concept as they wish to guard their position as a responsible organization or employer where the rights of all workers throughout the world are respected and protected. Thus, this results to an encoded knowledge (Blackler, 1995) for the vendors as information is transmited through the code of conduct.

Osmosis Lab

Osmosis Lab March 22, 2013 Amanda L***** Introduction Transport into and out of your cells is important because without cellular transport, the cell could not move material into or out of the cell. This would lead to its inability to survive because cells must take in oxygen and food, and expel waste material that could inhibit the cell from performing in the body. A type of cell transport in particular is passive transport.Passive transport is a kind of  transport  by which  ions  or  molecules  move along a  concentration gradient, which means movement  from an area of  higher  concentration  to an area of  lower  concentration. Passive transport does not require an output of energy. There are 4 main types of passive transport: simple diffusion, facilitated diffusion, filtration, and osmosis. In this lab, we are particularly looking at osmosis and how it affects plant and animal cells.Osmosis is the diffusion of water molecules across a selectively permeab le membrane. In part A of this lab, we submerged the eggs in vinegar overnight, followed by peeling the softened shells from the eggs carefully while trying not to break the membrane the next day. We then recorded any observations we made on the eggs including weight and appearance. Next, we recorded any observations we could make on the carrots and potatoes before we put them into their solution.We then placed the eggs(animal cells), carrots, and potatoes(plant cells) into their solutions and let them stand in their hypotonic and hypertonic solutions overnight followed by observing any changes in weight and appearance the next day. In Part B, we observed an onion cell exposed to distilled water under a microscope, and another onion cell exposed to a saturated salt solution, and drew the two different cells comparing the differences between their exposure to the hypotonic(water) and hypertonic(salt water, corn syrup) solutions. Part APurpose To observe the effects of hypotonic and h ypertonic solutions on plant and animal cells. Hypothesis I predict that the hypotonic solution will cause the plant and animal cells to enlarge due to the difference in concentration on the inside of the cells, and the hypertonic solutions will cause the cells to shrink due to absorption of water molecules in the cells. Materials * 400mL beakers (2) * Tap Water * Eggs (2) * Vinegar * Salt water * Carrots (2) * Corn syrup * Potato strips (2) Procedure Day 1 1. Submerge the eggs in vinegar in a beaker. May have to weigh them down) 2. Leave them undisturbed overnight. Day 2 3. Peel the softened shells from the egg carefully so as not to break the 3membrane. 4. Record any pertinent observations on the egg, carrot and potato strip. 5. Place one egg and carrot in a beaker of water. 6. Place potato strip in a test tube. 7. Place the carrot in a beaker of saturated salt water and use corn syrup for the other egg. 8. Place the second potato strip in a test tube of saturated salt water. 9. L abel the beakers and test tube and place in the cupboard overnight.Day 3 10. Record any pertinent observations. Observations Plant and Animal Cells in Hypertonic Solution: | Solution| Appearance/texture Before| Weight before(g)| Appearance/texture After| Weight After(g)| Egg 1 | Corn Syrup| -translucent-yellowish colour-soft | 77. 53| -opaque-white/yellow colour-feels firm| 51. 17| | | | | | | Carrot 1| Salt solution| -orange-sturdy| 2. 59| -orange-sturdier -appears slightly smaller| 2. 36| | | | | | | Potato 1| Salt solution| -yellowish colour-sturdy| 2. 92| -same colour-sturdier | 2. 85| | | | | | |Plant and Animal Cells in Hypotonic Solution(Distilled Water): | Weight Before(g)| Appearance/Texture After | Weight After (g)| Egg 2| 71. 82| -opaque-orange colour| 84. 10| Carrot 2| 2. 29| -orange colour-not as sturdy| 2. 52| Potato 2 | 2. 49| -yellowish colour-not as sturdy| 2. 98| Part B Purpose To observe changes in plant cells when they are placed in a hypotonic(distilled water) s olution and a hypertonic(saturated salt water) solution. Hypothesis I predict that the hypertonic solution will cause the water to leave the cell, shrinking it due to dehydration from the salt.Materials * Microscope * Microscope slide * Coverslip * Tap water * Saturated salt water * Onion Procedure 1. Prepare a wet mount using distilled water of a thin section of onion skin on a microscope slide. 2. View to draw one to two cells. Use magnification which shows the best detail. 3. Prepare another wet mount using the saturated salt solution instead of distilled water. 4. View and draw one to two cells. Use the same magnification you used for the first drawing. Observations Refer to onion cell drawings. AnalysisMy predictions were both correct in part A and in part B when I stated that the cells would shrink in the hypertonic solution and enlarge in the hypotonic solution. The reason this occurred was because when a cell is immersed into a hypertonic solution, the tendency is for water to flow out of the cell in order to balance the concentration of the solute. When a cell is immersed in a hypotonic solution, it has a tendency to balance concentrations by water flowing into the cell, causing it to enlarge because of the lower concentration of solutes in its surroundings.None of the cells observed had the same weight when removed from their solution meaning they were not isotonic. Had they been isotonic, the solution would have no effect on the cells, therefore when placed in an isotonic solution the cells would tend to neither gain nor lose water. When observing the effects of hypotonic and hypertonic solutions on plant and animal cells, I came to the conclusion that the plant cells did not change much in weight. This is due to their cell walls which make it tougher for the cell to expand.The pressure exerted by water inside the cell against the cell wall is known as turgor pressure. In the drawing of the onion cell exposed to a hypertonic solution, the cell membr ane appeared to be shriveled up inside the cell wall due to its turgidity. Evaluation In part A, I did not experience any errors with the cells themselves, but potential sources of error could have been inaccurate measurements before and after placing the cells in their solution. Other potential sources of error could have occurred while peeling the shell off the egg, causing the membrane to break.In part B, I added too much distilled water to the slide making it difficult to get a good view of the onion cell exposed to the hypotonic solution. When performing a similar experiment in the future, I will be sure to add less drops with the eyedropper to the slide, enabling a clearer view of the cells I am observing. Application Questions 1. If the cells of a fresh water plant are placed in salt water, they will shrivel up due to the concentration difference between the salt water and the contents of the cell (cytoplasm). The water would escape the cell through osmosis causing it to dehy drate resulting in the shrinkage of the plant cell. . The fish that is used to salt water has high solutes and the freshwater is deficient of solutes, so when you place a  saltwater fish  in freshwater, the freshwater will move into the cells, causing them to swell and burst. 3. Grocery stores frequently spray the vegetables because the fresh water enters the plant cells through osmosis and makes them more turgid resulting in longer lasting freshness. 4. The use of road salt in the winter kills the plants alongside the road because the salt causes the cell to enter a hypertonic state. This causes the cytoplasm to move away from cell wall eventually making the plant shrivel up and die. Osmosis Lab Osmosis Lab March 22, 2013 Amanda L***** Introduction Transport into and out of your cells is important because without cellular transport, the cell could not move material into or out of the cell. This would lead to its inability to survive because cells must take in oxygen and food, and expel waste material that could inhibit the cell from performing in the body. A type of cell transport in particular is passive transport.Passive transport is a kind of  transport  by which  ions  or  molecules  move along a  concentration gradient, which means movement  from an area of  higher  concentration  to an area of  lower  concentration. Passive transport does not require an output of energy. There are 4 main types of passive transport: simple diffusion, facilitated diffusion, filtration, and osmosis. In this lab, we are particularly looking at osmosis and how it affects plant and animal cells.Osmosis is the diffusion of water molecules across a selectively permeab le membrane. In part A of this lab, we submerged the eggs in vinegar overnight, followed by peeling the softened shells from the eggs carefully while trying not to break the membrane the next day. We then recorded any observations we made on the eggs including weight and appearance. Next, we recorded any observations we could make on the carrots and potatoes before we put them into their solution.We then placed the eggs(animal cells), carrots, and potatoes(plant cells) into their solutions and let them stand in their hypotonic and hypertonic solutions overnight followed by observing any changes in weight and appearance the next day. In Part B, we observed an onion cell exposed to distilled water under a microscope, and another onion cell exposed to a saturated salt solution, and drew the two different cells comparing the differences between their exposure to the hypotonic(water) and hypertonic(salt water, corn syrup) solutions. Part APurpose To observe the effects of hypotonic and h ypertonic solutions on plant and animal cells. Hypothesis I predict that the hypotonic solution will cause the plant and animal cells to enlarge due to the difference in concentration on the inside of the cells, and the hypertonic solutions will cause the cells to shrink due to absorption of water molecules in the cells. Materials * 400mL beakers (2) * Tap Water * Eggs (2) * Vinegar * Salt water * Carrots (2) * Corn syrup * Potato strips (2) Procedure Day 1 1. Submerge the eggs in vinegar in a beaker. May have to weigh them down) 2. Leave them undisturbed overnight. Day 2 3. Peel the softened shells from the egg carefully so as not to break the 3membrane. 4. Record any pertinent observations on the egg, carrot and potato strip. 5. Place one egg and carrot in a beaker of water. 6. Place potato strip in a test tube. 7. Place the carrot in a beaker of saturated salt water and use corn syrup for the other egg. 8. Place the second potato strip in a test tube of saturated salt water. 9. L abel the beakers and test tube and place in the cupboard overnight.Day 3 10. Record any pertinent observations. Observations Plant and Animal Cells in Hypertonic Solution: | Solution| Appearance/texture Before| Weight before(g)| Appearance/texture After| Weight After(g)| Egg 1 | Corn Syrup| -translucent-yellowish colour-soft | 77. 53| -opaque-white/yellow colour-feels firm| 51. 17| | | | | | | Carrot 1| Salt solution| -orange-sturdy| 2. 59| -orange-sturdier -appears slightly smaller| 2. 36| | | | | | | Potato 1| Salt solution| -yellowish colour-sturdy| 2. 92| -same colour-sturdier | 2. 85| | | | | | |Plant and Animal Cells in Hypotonic Solution(Distilled Water): | Weight Before(g)| Appearance/Texture After | Weight After (g)| Egg 2| 71. 82| -opaque-orange colour| 84. 10| Carrot 2| 2. 29| -orange colour-not as sturdy| 2. 52| Potato 2 | 2. 49| -yellowish colour-not as sturdy| 2. 98| Part B Purpose To observe changes in plant cells when they are placed in a hypotonic(distilled water) s olution and a hypertonic(saturated salt water) solution. Hypothesis I predict that the hypertonic solution will cause the water to leave the cell, shrinking it due to dehydration from the salt.Materials * Microscope * Microscope slide * Coverslip * Tap water * Saturated salt water * Onion Procedure 1. Prepare a wet mount using distilled water of a thin section of onion skin on a microscope slide. 2. View to draw one to two cells. Use magnification which shows the best detail. 3. Prepare another wet mount using the saturated salt solution instead of distilled water. 4. View and draw one to two cells. Use the same magnification you used for the first drawing. Observations Refer to onion cell drawings. AnalysisMy predictions were both correct in part A and in part B when I stated that the cells would shrink in the hypertonic solution and enlarge in the hypotonic solution. The reason this occurred was because when a cell is immersed into a hypertonic solution, the tendency is for water to flow out of the cell in order to balance the concentration of the solute. When a cell is immersed in a hypotonic solution, it has a tendency to balance concentrations by water flowing into the cell, causing it to enlarge because of the lower concentration of solutes in its surroundings.None of the cells observed had the same weight when removed from their solution meaning they were not isotonic. Had they been isotonic, the solution would have no effect on the cells, therefore when placed in an isotonic solution the cells would tend to neither gain nor lose water. When observing the effects of hypotonic and hypertonic solutions on plant and animal cells, I came to the conclusion that the plant cells did not change much in weight. This is due to their cell walls which make it tougher for the cell to expand.The pressure exerted by water inside the cell against the cell wall is known as turgor pressure. In the drawing of the onion cell exposed to a hypertonic solution, the cell membr ane appeared to be shriveled up inside the cell wall due to its turgidity. Evaluation In part A, I did not experience any errors with the cells themselves, but potential sources of error could have been inaccurate measurements before and after placing the cells in their solution. Other potential sources of error could have occurred while peeling the shell off the egg, causing the membrane to break.In part B, I added too much distilled water to the slide making it difficult to get a good view of the onion cell exposed to the hypotonic solution. When performing a similar experiment in the future, I will be sure to add less drops with the eyedropper to the slide, enabling a clearer view of the cells I am observing. Application Questions 1. If the cells of a fresh water plant are placed in salt water, they will shrivel up due to the concentration difference between the salt water and the contents of the cell (cytoplasm). The water would escape the cell through osmosis causing it to dehy drate resulting in the shrinkage of the plant cell. . The fish that is used to salt water has high solutes and the freshwater is deficient of solutes, so when you place a  saltwater fish  in freshwater, the freshwater will move into the cells, causing them to swell and burst. 3. Grocery stores frequently spray the vegetables because the fresh water enters the plant cells through osmosis and makes them more turgid resulting in longer lasting freshness. 4. The use of road salt in the winter kills the plants alongside the road because the salt causes the cell to enter a hypertonic state. This causes the cytoplasm to move away from cell wall eventually making the plant shrivel up and die. Osmosis Lab Name: ____Justine Basilone___ Osmotic Regulation Virtual Laboratory Biology Go to the following virtual laboratory: http://www. glencoe. com/sites/common_assets/science/virtual_labs/LS03/LS03. html Answer your questions in this word document, save the file and submit through Edmodo. Your answers should be at least 2 complete sentences if not more! Part I: Observations & Data: Read the Introductory information and the Procedure located in the window to the left of the screen and then perform the laboratory. For your convenience, the data table has been inserted below – fill this one in (the website tends to delete data): Molecules Name |Red Blood Cell: |Red Blood Cell: | | |Net Water Movement In / Out |Appearance of Cell | |Hypotonic Solution | |Blown up and fat | | |Moves in to red blood cell | | |Isotonic Solution | |Normal, did not appear different | | |Moves in and out of red blood cell | | |Hypertonic Solution | |Shriveled up | | |Moves out of red blood cell | | | Elodea: |Elodea: | | |Net Water Movement In / Out |Appearance of Cell | |Hypotonic Solution | |Gets bigger | | |Moves in to Elodea | | |Isotonic Solution | |Appears the same. | |Moves in and out of Elodea (stays the same) | | |Hypertonic Solution |Moves out of Elodea |The inside shrinks and gets smaller | | |Paramecium: |Paramecium: | | |Net Water Movement In / Out |Appearance of Cell | |Hypotonic Solution | |Paramecium blows up and gets bigger. | |Moves in to Paramecium | | |Isotonic Solution | |Seems to stay the same. | | |Moves in and out of Paramecium | | |Hypertonic Solution | |Shriveled up and makes the cell appear smaller. | | |Moves out of Paramecium | | Part II: Questions & Conclusions: 1) Did water move into the cells or out of the cells while they were surrounded by hypotonic solution?Water moved into all of the cells while they were surrounded by hypotonic solution. 2) In which direction did the water move through the cell membrane when the cells were surrounded by the hypertoni c solution? The direction that the water appeared to be moving through the cell membrane was both ways, in and out. 3) Compare and contrast what happens to an animal cell, a plant cell, and a Paramecium cell in a hypotonic, and isotonic, and a hypertonic solution. (Does the cell wall make a difference? ) What seemed to surprise me most is that no matter what cell was used each solution had the same effect of the cells, no matter what kind it was. So no, the cell wall does not appear to make a difference. ) Could Elodea or Paramecium from a freshwater lake be expected to survive if transplanted into the ocean? Explain. Since they both react the same to different solutions I do believe that it is possible for both cells to be transplanted in the ocean and survive. 5) If you were to grill a steak, would it be better to put salt on it BEFORE or AFTER you cooked it? Explain why, USING THE TERMS OF OSMOSIS from this activity. While grilling a steak it is better to put salt on it before yo u grill it so while it is grilling osmosis will occur and it will retain the salt. So instead of it just sitting on top of the steak it will be on the inside. Giving it more flavor of the salt while eating it. ) Why does salad become soggy and wilted when the dressing has been on it for a while? Explain why, in terms of osmosis. The reason why salad becomes soggy and wilted when dressing has been on it for a while is because as it is sitting there osmosis takes place and the salad begins to take in the moisture of the salad dressing, leaving it soggy and wilted. 7) An effective way to kill weeds is to pour salt water on the ground around the plants. Explain why the weeds die, using the principles discovered in this virtual lab. I believe that the weeds would die due to the fact that as the weeds take in what they think is just water only to later dry out by taking in the salt along with it using osmosis.

The Constitution of Malaysia

Malaysia is known for its richness of multicultural and multi-racial country which is spread between Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak. Despite being one huge political unit, it has different set of rules and law to comply with. Malaysia law can be classified into various sources, mainly are written law, unwritten law and Muslim law. Written law comprises The Federal Constitution which is the supreme law of the land and State Constitution, a range of constitutions regulating the governments of thirteen states in Malaysia.Second written law is the Legislation law which is endorsed by Parliament and Legislative Assemblies at the federal and state level respectively. Final source of written law is the Subsidiary legislation as states in the Interpretation Act ‘any proclamation, rule, regulation, order, notification, by-law or other instrument made under any Ordinance, Enactment or other lawful authority and having legislative effect’. Malaysia has huge amount of subsid iary legislation.Subsidiary legislation is referred to law made through powers delegated by the legislature mainly Ministers and local authorities. Only Subsidiary legislation made in a proclamation of emergency under Article 150 of the Federal Constitution is accepted , other breaching of either a parent Act or the Constitution is voided. Unwritten law under the Malaysian law is the law which is not written or found in Federal and State Constitutions. It is also not endorsed by the Parliament or the State Assemblies.Unwritten law comprises of Judicial decisions of the superior courts Principles of English Law and Customs law. Judicial decisions using the systematical method called `doctrine of binding judicial precedent` at the High Court, Court of Appeal and the Federal Court followed by Supreme Court can still be found in Malaysian law. Nevertheless the decisions made by Federal Court and Judicial Committee of the Privy Council are still binding on the present court. Binding or p ersuasive is a process of adjudication, this is after argument and before the judge reaches the conclusion.The judge will formulate and apply a legal principle in accordance with certain rules to form a guide for future. The judge will provide reason for reaching a decision or the legal principles behind the decision; this may bind other similar disputes in future. Binding precedents depends on the court’s position in the hierarchy of the courts. These are binding until they are reversed or overruled, where else persuasive precedents are those which are not binding authorities. Another important unwritten law is the Principles of English Law.It consists of Common Law and Equity. The common Law is the body of rules developed by the old common law courts of England which no longer exist. It is established on customs common throughout England. On the other hand, Equity is the body of incomplete rules developed as a supplement to Common Law to correct defects and to reduce the ha rshness. Even though English Law forms part of the Malaysian law, the facts and rules stated are only part of the entire law of English common law and rules of Equity.Principles of English Common Law and rules of Equity received and applied in Malaysia Legal System is by virtue of the Civil Law Act 1956 (Revised01972) . Under Section 3(1) of the Civil Law Act, 1995 states that in Peninsular Malaysia, the courts shall apply the common law of England and the rules of equity as administrated in England on 7th April, 1956. As for Sabah and Sarawak, the courts shall apply the common law of England and the rules of equity, together with statutes of general application, as administrated or in force in England on 1st December 1951 and 12 December 1949 respectively.Application of common law of England is subjected to two limitations; firstly Local law takes priority over common law. Common Law is applied only in the absence of local statues. It is only meant to fill up gaps in the legal syst em in Malaysia. Secondly, part of common law which suits the local circumstances is applied. Common Law was initially introduced to the Straits Settlements through Royal Charters of Justice which was then extended to the Malay states through administrative arrangements. Finally the third unwritten law of Malaysian law is the Customary law.Malaysia is known as a multi-religious country, the multiracial local population of Malaysia is also a source of law which has been accepted by the Malaysian courts. Mostly family law limits, namely marriage, divorce and inheritance are given legal force by the courts of Malaysia. In peninsular Malaysia, `Adat` applies to Malays, there are two main diversities of Malay customary, the adat pepatih and adat temenggong. Adat pepatih is mainly known for the matrilineal system where else the adat temenggong is a patrilineal system of law.As for the Hindu and Chinese, prior to the enforcement of the Law Reform Hindu and Chinese customary law is applied t o Hindu and Chinese respectively. The Law Reform includes abolishing polygamous marriages, since then, Chinese and Hindu customs have become minimal to almost no effect as a source of law in Malaysia. In Sabah and Sarawak, native customary laws apply in land dealing over native customary lands and family matters where natives subject themselves to native customary laws. Other indigenous people of Malaysia apart from Sabah and Sarawak are the aborigines.There is an aboriginal customary law for the aboriginal people under the law of Malaysia. In contrast to the source of law discussed previously, Muslim law or Islamic law continues to grow in importance as another source of law just like the written and unwritten law as part of Malaysian law. Government policies of absorbing Islamic values in administration by introducing Islamic banking and Islamic insurance where Muslim law and Islamic principles are applicable is part of the renaissance of Islam in Malaysia.Also the Federal Constit ution has provided that State has the power to administer Muslim Law. The head of the Muslim religion in State is the Sultan. Muslim law is applied only to Muslims and the courts which enforce Muslim law are the Syariah Courts. Malaysian Islamic law is of the Shafii school jurisprudence, as modified by Malay adat, which was discussed under customary law, Malay adat law. This Islamic law falls into two main categories; the primary and secondary sources. Primary sources are Qur’an which is the Word of Allah and Sunnah is rules deducted from the traditions.The secondary sources are more to the means of discovering the law rather than source. These sources are Ijma which is consensus of jurists of any particular era on a juridical rule and Qiyas which are the deductions from reasoning by ijtihad or analogy. Initially Islamic law was not included in the definition of law; this was even after the independence of the Federation of Malaya. Federal Constitution was declared as the sup reme law . Before amendment in 1988, Article 121 Clause (1A) Syariah courts were excluded.However, upon recommendation from Alliance Party, a provision was added to the original draft of Reid Constitution Commission where Article 3 of Federal Constitution declares that ‘Islam is the religion of the Federation’. Article 3 appeared with necessary qualification that ‘other religions may be practiced in peace and harmony in any part of the Federation’. However there are clauses to ensure non-Muslim’s civil rights are also not affected. At any official functions, Islamic way of prayers is being offered.Islam being the official religion of the federation has two main consequences, firstly, the government (federal or state) may lawfully establish or maintain, or assist in establishing or maintaining, Islamic institution, or provide or assist in providing instruction in Islam, and incur the necessary expenditure for these purpose. Secondly, through annual Su pply Acts and Enactments, may spend money on the administration of Islamic law. Also in some of the cases for marriages where a non-Muslim is involved, Islamic law takes precedence over the common law.The religion of a child from previous marriage is determined by the parents of the child , in the case of where the consent is not given the minor will remain in the religion of the parent at the time of marriage . Furthermore polygamy marriages are allowed with judicial permission dependent upon application and court hearing should be with the existence of wife or wives. Judicial permission is requested only upon permission granted for marriages by the existing wife or wives. As Muslim Law is one of the main sources of law in the county, Malaysia became a member of Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) when it was established in 1969.OIC is a major organization of Islamic States that voices and coherent Muslim opinion on issues which are affecting the Islamic States. Other asso ciations where Malaysia is involved will be ASEAN where Malaysia was one of the first five countries to establish ASEAN in 1967. It was established to work together amongst the members of the association to speedup the economic growth, social progress as well as cultural development jointly to strengthen and prosperous with peaceful in amongst Southeast Asian Nations.Also to support regional peace and stability for justice and the rule of law in relationship amongst the member’s countries, making sure it adhere to the principles of United Nations Charter. ASEAN also provides assistance amongst the members in form of training and research facilities in the educational, professional, technical and administrative spheres. Other Malaysian involvement in reference to Asia-Pacific concerning economic growth is APEC which aims to support sustainable economic growth and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region. This is done by multiple different encouragement and enhancements.Apart from regional involvement, Malaysia does have collaboration with particular country which may not be part of ASEAN or APEC to jointly enhance for the benefits of both countries. Malaysia has jointly signed agreement to work together in multiple areas with many other countries. Malaysia has been involved in relationship with countries like China and India since before independence was declared in 1957. Till today Malaysia has been maintaining the well established relationship especially with these two countries by getting into agreement in multiple collaborations.Chinese is the second largest race in Malaysia followed by Indian since they were brought in by the British Empire before independence. Chinese migrated to Malaysia vastly as coolies in tin mining industry and rubber plantation. Although it is said that Chinese have been in â€Å"Malaya† since Malacca Empire in 15th Century . Today, 25% of the country populations are Chinese which are made up of various dialect groups suc h as the Hokkien, the Hakka, the Cantonese, the Teochew, the Hainanese, the Hokchiu and etc. who have intermarried extensively with each other.The Chinese have dedicated media and publication exposure for example daily newspapers, dedicated Chinese language radio stations and daily broadcast from all terrestrial television stations . Till date Chinese communities still perform traditional art, the lion dance and the dragon dance mainly during Chinese New Year. Chinese New Year is declared as a national public holiday where there Chinese celebrate the New Year by fulfilling most of the tradition and cultural activities. However the fireworks or firecrackers are part of the Chinese culture which has been ban in Malaysia due to safety reason .For the Chinese, apart from the myth that says firecrackers are to frighten away the â€Å"Nian†, it also signifies a joyful time of year which is an important element of Chinese New Year celebrations . On the other hand, the Indians starte d migration to Malaysia for the purpose of plantation labour, traders, policemen and colonial soldiers. Some English-speaking Indians were also brought to work in the British colonial government . However just like the Chinese, it is said that the Indians have been here from more then 500 years ago.Initially the Arabs and the Indians mainly the Indian Muslims from Gujerat came to Malaya as traders and merchants. Now the Indian population in Malaysia is 8% which is made up from Tamil, Malayalam, Telegu, Punjabi, Bengali, Gujerati and etc. Just like the Chinese, Indians also have dedicated media and publication exposure of daily newspapers, dedicated Indian language radio stations and daily broadcast from all terrestrial television stations. This is mainly in Tamil language as 80% of the Indian communities are the Tamils (South Indians) .Diwali aka Deepavali is the most significant celebration of Indian community where national holiday is acknowledged for. Fireworks during Diwali are to mark several significant , however in respect to the law it is not legally practiced in this country. Another tradition not being legally practice is gambling under Act 495 Betting ACT 1953. Among other tradition obstructed by the Malaysian law is the architecture of a Sikh Gurdwara should not have a dome to avoid the Muslims to mistaken that for a mosque .