How The Veil And Double Consciousness - 989 Words

How do racial identities play a role in the development of professional athletes? In order to dive into this topic we can follow the works of social theorist W.E.B. Dubois. Dubois introduced the world to sociological theories such as the veil and double consciousness. This analysis of the racial consciousness of athletes is based upon DuBois s works. In this research, I will provide examples of how the Veil and Double Consciousness theories play out in current professional sports. Dubois understood what it meant to be a black man. Yet, individuals would find it hard to walk a mile in those shoes. The Negro is a sort of seventh son, born with a veil, and gifted with second-sight in this American world, a world which yields him no true self-consciousness, but only lets him see himself through the revelation of the other world (Social theory 332). The discrimination between perception of the other and its relation to internal self can be viewed as either a form of DuBois s veil concept or of double-consciousness. â€Å"One ever feels his two-ness, an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder (Social theory 332). Dubois put great stress on the difference between internal and external perceptions. This is vital to analyzing the struggle of the black athlete. In American sports, it is noticed but often dismissed how establishedShow MoreRelatedHow The Veil And Double Consciousness Theory1590 Words   |  7 PagesHow does the contributions of W.E.B Dubois fit into the world today? In order to dive into this topic we can follow the works of social theorist W.E.B. Dubois and the effect they may have on black athletes. Dubois introduced the world to sociological theories such as the veil and double consciousness. In this analysis, I will provide examples of how the Veil and Double Consciousness theories contribute to today’s society by observing professional black athletes. Dubois understood what it meant toRead MoreEssay on Double-Consciousness in Audre Lorde’s Coal1641 Words   |  7 PagesDouble-Consciousness in Audre Lorde’s â€Å"Coal† There is a double-consciousness, according to W.E Burghardt Du Bois, in which we view ourselves through a veil. Underneath of this veil is the true self. The person that we are in our purest state. The veil itself, however, is how society sees us and our realization of that projection. Looking in a mirror, both layers can be seen. However, the true self is still covered, muddled, unclear beneath the sheer outer shell of expectation. In her poem â€Å"Coal†Read MoreBlack Folk Analysis On The Double Consciousness Theory Essay908 Words   |  4 Pages Re-examining W.E.B Du Bois’ Souls of Black Folk analysis on the double consciousness theory INTRODUCTION: In 1903 the brilliant historican and sociologist W.E.B Du Bois’ introduced his theory known as the Double-Conciousness in Souls of Black Folk Bois provides his readers with insight on the treatment of people of color, and supports this notion by giving personal examples of his experiences. He writes with the hope that many will understand the diffculty of having to be obtain two personalitiesRead MoreThe Double Consciousness Of African Americans905 Words   |  4 PagesThe Double Consciousness of African-Americans Envision that you live in a place where you feel like you belong there, but because on the outside you look different the majority resents you. The Souls of Black Folks by W.E.B. Du Bois written in 1903 consists of a collection of short essays that convey the important aspects of African-American history. Throughout the novel there are two main themes. One is that African-American’s lived and experienced moments from behind a veil, and the other isRead MoreDu Bois’s Concepts of the Color Line, the Veil, and Double Consciousness1280 Words   |  6 PagesUnited States, when racism was one of the biggest concerns.   He believed that â€Å"the problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color line (pg 347). Du Bois introduced us to the concept of life, or in other words â€Å"the veil†, which eventually led to â€Å"double consciousness†, which he explained as seeing yourself through others’ eyes.      Du Bois concept of the â€Å"color line† is very fascinating to me, because it talks about the collective/rational, collective/nonrational, and individual/nonrationalRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem Long Black Song By Richard Wright1531 Words   |  7 Pages W.E.B Du Bois makes points of having a double consciousness and being behind a veil. While Booker T. Washington points out that there is a dignity to be found in fruits from labor. In the reading of â€Å"Long Black Song,† by Richard Wright, he uses both of these points in his text to make the story come alive. Although, creatively both Du Bois and Washington’s points can be found hidden within the text; it is clear within this short story that Wright leaned to agree more with Du Bois points than heRead MoreKeith Dubois Double Consciousness Essay1208 Words   |  5 Pagesterm â€Å"double consciousness† to light, there was no way to describe such an unspoken phenomenon. In W.E.B. Du Bois†™ The Souls of Black Folk (1903) he introduces and describes how African Americans and their history have been shaped by the state of living in and wanting to overcome double consciousness. Du Bois perfectly describes double consciousness in African Americans as living behind a veil. The veil is bittersweet and produces a â€Å"second-sight† in America. From one perspective, the veil is a curseRead MoreKarl Marx s The Soul Of Black Folks 947 Words   |  4 Pagesregardless of how much the capitalists advance, individual freedom for all of humanity did not abolish racism. On the other hand, critics believed that discrimination was more than segregation and the lack of intelligence because the organizations that form society allowed inequality to grow and develop. During the slavery period, blacks presumed their identity from the capitalists. Furthermore, Dubois believed that black people link to African Americans worldwide (Ritzer and Stepnisky 2013). The veil is aRead MoreB. Du Bois Essay1447 Words   |  6 Pagescontroversial concepts (veils and double-consciousness). The concepts that Du Bois used to describe the quintessential African-American experience and how white-American views defined them in the 20th century. I will use scenarios to explain how these concepts affected the identity of African-Americans. W.E.B. Du Bois â€Å"The Souls of Black Folk†, was written about how racism’s affected African-American’s identity. The story exposed the substantial causes of racism and how it was used to oppressRead MoreThe Souls Of Black Folks1486 Words   |  6 PagesThoughts and emotions are derived from our own sense of consciousness, or our own self-awareness. It is what comes to shape our identities. Some of us have one conciseness, but many of us have two. This is because many of us have suffered at the hands of others. Not suffering that comes from physical touch. This is suffering that comes from psychological abuse. The kind of suffering that grinds our mind and makes us question who we are. I, like most, have always felt I was living two lives

CIA Operational Psychology Essay - 2562 Words

The National Security Act of 1947, signed by President Harry S Truman, is how the Central Intelligence Agency was formally created. The â€Å"office off director of central intelligence† was also created as a result of this Act. Anyone in this position served as head of the United States intelligence community and acts as the President’s principal advisor. He/She usually updates the President of any and all intelligence issues concerning national security (Wagner 13). Even before the National Security Act, our nation’s officials used spies, secret agents, covert action, and the gathering of intelligence during wars. During the Revolutionary War, George Washington drafted Nathan Hale and other spies to help them acquire†¦show more content†¦Members of the CIA complete this task by collecting â€Å"intelligence† about foreign threats to our nation’s security (Wagner 12). There are four parts that make up the whole of the CIA. The hours a psychologist works and their place of employment vary based on their selected career field. Those who have created their own practice typically have their own office and set their own hours. Usually, they offer night and weekend hours to accommodate their clients. Psychologists who work in hospitals or nursing homes don’t have set schedules and often work night and/or weekend shifts while those who are employed in schools and clinics usually work only during the weekday. Psychologists employed for the Federal or State Government, like an Operational Psychologist for the Central Intelligence Agency, and in industry settings have structured schedules with known holidays. Their schedules typically only include Monday through Friday work weeks (Bureau of Labor Statistics). An Operational Psychologist employed for the CIA would more than likely be located at the Central Intelligence Agency Headquarters. This is located eight miles northwest of downtown Washington, D.C. on more than 250 acres of land near the Potomac River in Langley, Virginia (Wagner 12). Instead of referring to this location as the â€Å"CIA Headquarters,† most people simply call it â€Å"Langley,† and use it as a metonym, which is a term used when describing a word thatShow MoreRelatedThe Intelligence Cycle Essay1627 Words   |  7 Pages[effective], but outdated model. Essentially, it attempts to visualise intelligence as a process, and not merely a product. As such, by attempting a simple outline of a complex procedure, the cycle will be prone to misrepresenting dynamic changes; operational realities and either over, or under value particular parts of the process. However, it’s core strengths lie in it’s simplicity: shifting through the alphabet so up that is the Intelligence Community and making sense of the entire process is daunting:Read MoreWhat Were The Most Important Reforms That Occurred After The 9-11 Intelligence Failures?2172 Words   |  9 PagesIntelligence Community (IC) for years; federal agencies chose when and with whom they shared collected intelligence all under the umbrella of ‘secrecy’ and the ‘need-to-know.’ The 9/11 Commission Report found that there were two weaknesses in the IC and operational capabilities during the conduction of counter terrorism. First, the U.S. intelligence community could not operate in an integrated manner because its structure was a Cold War relic with no one in charge. Second, the executive branch lacked an effectiveRead MoreThe Intelligence Failure Of Pearl Harbor3558 Words   |  15 Pageslast 20 years. Betts had come to the conclusion that there is a paradoxes in intelligence which prevents anybody from eliminating failure (Betts 1978). Failures will happen. They are natural. Most of the times they are the results of politics and psychology. Only in minor cases are the failures caused by the organizations or the analysis (Betts 1978: 61). The ones at fault for Intelligence Failures in the view of Betts are, therefore, the consumers of the Intelligence product. Betts is not againstRead MoreMarketing Manager Vs. Internal Auditor1688 Words   |  7 Pagesrelationships, interact with computers, make decisions and solve problems, organize, plan and prioritize work, sell and influence others through their creative thinking and identify objects, actions, and events. Furthermore, they analyze data to implement operational decisions and evaluate the overall effectiveness of a program. A Marketing Manager spends most of their time working with a group or team and works more than 40 hours a week, with more than 75% of them having a regular established routine or setRead MoreGovernment and Torture2485 Words   |  10 Pagesbad enough† (Ross and Esposito). Along with these techniques, psychological manipulation, sensory deprivation, starvation and thirst, sleep deprivation, forced standing, Palestinian hanging, sweatboxes, and sexual abuse and humiliation are also used. CIA Inspector General John Helgerwon also believes these torture techniques appeared to constitute cruel, and degrading treatment under the (Geneva) convention, (Ross and Esposito). The reason given by the officials to justify their actions was time;Read MoreHistory and Rolls of Law Enforcement in America10094 Words   |  41 PagesNow let us take a look at the distinction among the multiple functions of modern law enforcement agencies. The Federal level comes first. This level of jurisdiction consists of many different agencies such as the: FBI, DEA, ATF, DHS, U.S. Marshalls, CIA, and I.R.S. The Federal Burro of Investigations, also known as the F.B.I., has three top priority areas. First priority is to protect the American public and the United States from Terrorist Attacks. This agency also protects the United StatesRead MoreTrung Nguyen Internation Business20210 Words   |  81 PagesManagement Team: 75 7.1 Phan Hong An- Director of Representative office: 76 7.2 Le Xuan Phong- Marketing Manager: 77 7.3 Bui Thi Xuan Mai- Financial Manager: 77 7.4 Nguyen Van Thanh – Administrative/ HR Manager: 77 7.5 Tran Hong Tri – Operational and Logistics Manager: 78 7.6 Organizational Chart 81 8. International Aspect 84 8.1 Place: 84 8.2 Promotion: 87 8.3 Market analysis 87 8.4 Management team: 87 8.5 Entry mode 89 9. Conclusion: 89 10. Reference 90 11. Appendix:Read MoreTrung Nguyen Internation Business20216 Words   |  81 PagesManagement Team: 75 7.1 Phan Hong An- Director of Representative office: 76 7.2 Le Xuan Phong- Marketing Manager: 77 7.3 Bui Thi Xuan Mai- Financial Manager: 77 7.4 Nguyen Van Thanh – Administrative/ HR Manager: 77 7.5 Tran Hong Tri – Operational and Logistics Manager: 78 7.6 Organizational Chart 81 8. International Aspect 84 8.1 Place: 84 8.2 Promotion: 87 8.3 Market analysis 87 8.4 Management team: 87 8.5 Entry mode 89 9. Conclusion: 89 10. Reference 90 11Read MoreRole of Cultural Factors in Shaping Human Resource Management6912 Words   |  28 Pagesestern European cultures (Bangladesh.com). Residents of Bangladesh, about 98% of who are ethnic Bengali and speak Bangla, are called Bangladeshis. Most Bangladeshis (about 86%) are Muslims, but Hindus constitute a sizable (13%) minority (CIA Factbook, 2008). Hofstede‟s (1980) study did not include Bangladesh; however, two significant neighbors, India and Pakistan, were included. Despite some differences, Bangladeshi culture is quite similar to Indian and Pakistani culture due toRead MoreThe Impact Of Black Friday On American Symbols, Values And Interests6556 Words   |  27 Pagesinternational terrorism in particular reached their first peak in the last three decades, mainly in the wake of the hot Cold War years between the late 1970s and the mid-1980s. According to many policy analysts, Bin Laden and his team of Mujahideen are CIA-created phenomena who led part of the Cold War by proxy for the United States against the Soviet Union. The old enemy is yet new; it is this time a rather latent, undefined, global, unallocated and indefinite enemy. It is precisely a ghost of different

Child Development Theories Free Essays

Child Development Theories A Comparison of Theories: Freud, Adler, and Jung The following paper will obtain information based upon three influential men; Sigmund Freud, Alfred Adler, and Carl Jung. All three with their own theories of being and mental health will be explored. In addition to the basic theories of all three men, a comparison will be conducted based on each individual theory. We will write a custom essay sample on Child Development Theories or any similar topic only for you Order Now Sigmund Freud was a man that believed in the unconscious mind and sexual impulses. Alfred Adler was a man that believed in the individual’s ability to be psycho analyzed as well as social relationships among people. Carl Jung was a man that believed in the individual’s past experiences as well as the individual’s religious beliefs. ‘Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, and Alfred Adler; these three figures loom large in the history of modern psychology, casting long shadows that have, in the course of one century, forever changed the way we use the first-person pronoun, â€Å"I. † Among these giants, Freud is indisputably the most towering monolith. It was Freud’s pioneering use of the term the â€Å"I† (â€Å"das Ich† in his native German, which was then translated into the Latin â€Å"ego†) that brought â€Å"ego† into common parlance and popular interest to the process of self-consciousness. ’ (Nystul, M. S. 2005) (Enlightenment Magazine 2008) Sigmund Freud was the founder of psychoanalysis and he also believed that religion was of universal importance. Sigmund Freud felt that sexual impulses are the main motivation for men. He also felt that any mental activity was due to the unconscious mind. Alfred Adler was well known for his belief in individual psychology. He believed that motivational influence was due to social behavior and upbringing. This is not an uncommon belief today. The author of this paper happens to believe that it is our experience that makes us who we are. A child that grows up in a rich, non-threatening home is far more likely to have a better adult hood than that of a child that grows up in a poor, full of abuse ridden home. Not saying that someone that grows up poor and abused can make it because they could. Anyone can be anything they want if they put their mind to it. It is just that there would be a better chance of success than that of the opposite upbringing. All three men had their own interpretation. Adler believed in individual psychology. His belief that the human being should be viewed as a whole was a big find. He also believed that human beings accomplish goals because they want to not because anything is forcing them or helping them along. Adler also believed that only we have control over how our lives turn out and what we do with them. All three men were also professional about what they did and how they perceived one another. Each respecting each other, while understanding that their each individual way may not be the exact way everyone is going to view their concepts. â€Å"Individual Psychology breaks through the theory of determinism,† he writes. â€Å"No experience is a cause of success or failure. We do not suffer from the shock of our experiences—the so-called trauma—but we make out of them just what suits our purposes. We are self-determined by the meaning we give to our experiences. Adler’s emphasis on the wholeness of the person and the fact that our values inevitably shape our experience led to his conviction that, in the end, there is only one true meaning to human life: care and love for our fellowmen. ’ (Nystul, M. S. 2005) (Enlightenment Magazine 2008) Carl Jung didn’t think that the individual past of a person was of any importance. He believed that religio n was the main basis for any and all aspects of a human beings life. All three men were captivated by one another and their individual thoughts on the matter at hand. Religion was a big deal to Carl Jung and it is the experience of the author of this paper that religion is of importance to so many today. Religion is of values and beliefs that most everyone has whether they are Christian, Catholic, Buddhist, or any other religion that exists. Tradition shows that most religions have a set of beliefs and values that are followed by each member of that religion. Meeting every week on a certain day- Christians on Wednesdays and Sundays. It is following the values and beliefs provided by the church that Carl Jung believed in so much. If one is to be true to the church that would in fact have an effect on the way that individual would carry him or herself. In conclusion, Freud, Alder, and Jung have three very different outlooks on psychological theories. ‘All three of these remarkable men knew and worked with each other. In their day, these three men were on the cutting edge of the newest science of western civilization. If not for Freud, Alder, and Jung psychology would not have evolved into the field that it is today. ’ Life is full of surprises and one may never know what is going to happen next. Without theories or experiments, the knowledge of psychology would not have evolved into what it is today. Learning is the key to life and there is no such thing as too much knowledge. (Douglas C. 2005) References Enlightenment Magazine (2008) what is â€Å"Dis Ich† retrieved from: http://www. enlightenmentmagazine. com Nystul, M. S. (2005) Introduction to Counseling: an Art and Science Perspective (3rd edition) New York: Pearson Douglas, C. (2005). Current psychotherapies. (7th Edition) (pgs. 96-129) Itasca, Ill. F. E. Peacock How to cite Child Development Theories, Papers

Effect of Leadership in Change Management-Free-Samples for Students

Question: "What types of leaders are needed to recognize what factors hinder or slow down the transformational process and how might they overcome?" Answer: Introduction The effect of leadership in change management and specifically which types of leaders can identify the factors that are hindering the organizational change management has become a topic of interest nowadays. In todays world, the managements of the business organizations believe that leadership is a tool that has great potential to initiate an organizational transformation for the best interest of the business concern (Bolman Deal, 2017). The purpose of this concept paper is to highlight specifically which type of leaders can be effective for the change management process of any business organization. Discussion Leadership can be stated as a way of generating change and the changes are not imposed by the leaders, rather it is a sharing process with same values and purpose. In any business concerns, the leaders have to be the promoters of the changes. It can be said that the leaders possess the power to motivate and influence the other employees of an organization to achieve personal and organizational goals. It can be said that while it comes to organizational change management the leaders take an integral part in that and thus it can be said that the organizational change management immensely depends on the type of leadership (Cameron Green, 2015). It can be said that leadership is a process of persuasion where the leaders induce the workforce or some specified employees to work on the objectives set by the leader and the management of the organization. Thus it can be said that the style of leadership will determine the way in which the organizational change will be performed. It can surel y be said that the leadership engages the influence of employees to bring in the necessary changes in the organization to sustain the growth and development of the company (Pugh, 2016). It is seen that the instantaneous resistance against the organizational change can be spawned by the instinct of the general employees and there might be some rejection or aggressiveness towards the overall change. The leadership experts have opined that to successfully implement change management in a business organization, the management will require developed skills in leadership (Van der Voet, 2014). This is because, it is not easy to lead the workforce through an organizational change as the process might be hampered with various types of resistance, and those resistances may occur from employees of the organization or from any other outer sources. Required leadership skills The instant resistance to the organizational transformation can hinder the process of the overall change management and specifically in these cases the management needs leaders with strong will power and with strong leadership skills. It can be said that, the initiating point to decrease the resistance against the change management is a type of depersonalization of the issue (Goleman, 2017). In this regard, it is worthwhile to mention that depersonalization of the issues can potentially reduce the emotional reactivity to the situation, that encourages the overall transformation of the organizational structure. The most important issue in this regard is that particularly which skills or which type of leadership can enhance the change process or can identify and remove the factors that are hindering the overall change process (Holten Brenner, 2015). It can be said that the leaders will need skills like self motivation, ability to show empathy, emotional maturity and ability to sustain and develop positive relationship in the business organization to successfully lead the employees through the change process (Pugh, 2016). Areas of competence Recent studies have showed relation between various styles of leaderships and transformation of the organizational structure. The results of this linkage showed five basic area of competence of leadership regarding successfully implementing the organizational transformation. These areas of competence are mentioned below: Ability to make structural change: The leaders should incessantly work on the employees understanding regarding the essence of explicit change phenomena and giving the necessary support by reliable processes and tools (Cameron Green, 2015). Engaging other employees: The leaders should be able to motivate and engage the entire workforce in the process of the organizational change and also to make them loyal and committed towards the organization to sustain the process of change management. Ability to create the case for transformation: The leaders should be able to create awareness among the workforce regarding the imminence of change and also the leaders should be able to demonstrate the necessity of the change management to the employees (Van der Voet, 2014). Developing and facilitating capability: The business leaders should be able to help the employees to find their motivation to go along with the process of organizational change (Cameron Green, 2015). Sustaining and implementing changes: The leaders should be able to elaborate the strategies of the change process and should be able to develop action plans as required. Apart from that the leaders should supervise the progress of the change process (Van der Voet, 2014). It can be said that a leader will be only effective in the change process if he or she can successfully adapt to the changing process of the business organization. The leaders need to understand and feel the requirements of the employees to make them secure, committed and loyal towards the organization for the best interests of the concern. Thus it can be said that the business leaders who have ability to show empathy, self motivation, emotional maturity and ability to maintain and develop positive relationship in the business organization to successfully lead the employees through the change process of the organizations can easily identify the issues that might hamper the transformational process. It can be said that in the change process the employees may get insecure and that may harm their motivation to work, the change process might not benefit all and that is not possible, and that can bring in a disruption among the workforce. These are the issues that can be solved by the pro active participation of the business leaders (Cameron Green, 2015). Conclusion Thus to conclude, it can be said that change management is one of the most important factors of the business organizations to sustain the growth and development. Thus the managements of the business organizations should focus on building necessary leadership skills or hiring business professionals who already have these required skills. It can be said that to implement change management in any type of business organization, the management will have to secure that there are leaders who can lead the general workforce through the process of transformation and then only the organization will metamorphose to experience increased profitability and productivity. Thus the importance of leadership regarding the change management process of any business organization cannot be denied and it is nowadays generally accepted that leadership is one of the integral parts of the process of organizational transformation. References Bolman, L. G., Deal, T. E. (2017).Reframing organizations: Artistry, choice, and leadership. John Wiley Sons. Cameron, E., Green, M. (2015).Making sense of change management: A complete guide to the models, tools and techniques of organizational change. Kogan Page Publishers. Goetsch, D. L., Davis, S. B. (2014).Quality management for organizational excellence. Upper Saddle River, NJ: pearson. Goleman, D. (2017).Leadership That Gets Results (Harvard Business Review Classics). Harvard Business Press. Holten, A. L., Brenner, S. O. (2015). Leadership style and the process of organizational change.Leadership Organization Development Journal,36(1), 2-16. Hughes, M. (2015). The decline of change management and the rise of change leadership. Pugh, L. (2016).Change management in information services. Routledge. Van der Voet, J. (2014). The effectiveness and specificity of change management in a public organization: Transformational leadership and a bureaucratic organizational structure.European Management Journal,32(3), 373-382.

Who Speaks The Voice Of History Essays - E. H. Carr,

Who Speaks The Voice Of History Who Speaks The Voice Of History The facts of history in the eyes of Americans have been viewed in many lights. The Smithsonian exhibit entitled, "American Encounters" is no exception. This multimedia exhibit focuses on American Indians, Hispanics and Anglo-Americans in New Mexico. Although the exhibit contains many noteworthy facts about the culture and lifestyle of the Indians, in my opinion, many other aspects of Native American history were left in the shadows. The Smithsonian did not clearly illuminate the struggle and oppression which the Indians endured during the European settlement. This obscured information raises the issue of which historical facts are selected as notable. E.H. Carr, an historian, explains this argument with a very prominent quote from the first chapter of his book What is History. The quote states, "The facts speak only when the historian calls on them: it is he who decides to which facts to give the floor and in what order or context" (Carr 9). As stated above, Carr believes that "facts only speak when the historian calls on them. . ." (Carr 9). In the "American Encounters" exhibit, the facts concerning Indian tribulation and European domination could not be heard. By all means I believe that their situation was more than just an encounter. From the statement on the plaque, one could interpret that the Europeans were given the land, or that the Europeans established forts, trading posts, and colonies to live as one with the Indeginous peoples; however, that was not the case. Consequently, Carr's statement holds true. The authors of the exhibit choose how to present this portion of history. They decide in what context to display the facts. Obviously the authors feel that a blurb on the wall is enough to express years of struggle and strife. If visitors to the Smithsonian had no previous knowledge about the conflict between Native Americans and the Spaniards, does this excerpt explain the real situation? From this plaque I am taught nothing of the hardships that the Natives endured. I do not learn that thousands of Indigenous lives were taken at the hands of the Spaniards simply to acquire land that wasn't theirs. I do not learn that families and tribes were broken up in order to teach the Europeans how to survive. To my dismay no artifacts, pictures or any other type of visual display told this side of the story. It is the responsibility of the authors of this exhibit to accurately convey the facts and clearly elaborate on them. However, the Smithsonian has dedicated a large section of the exhibit to the lifestyles of current American Indians. As previously stated, Carr is certain that, ". . . it is [the historian] who decides to which facts to give the floor. . ." (Carr 9). In the section allotted to the Kha p'on, Indians of Santa Clara, there is a plaque mounted on the wall which is, to my surprise, accompanied by an assortment of visuals. Among many items, the display includes numerous examples of pottery, a Pueblo Indian-shaped mirror, and a traditionally set dinner table. Beside this manifest is an extremely eye-catching photograph of a typical Pueblo Indian family. All of these wonderful artifacts are presented in order to show how the American Indians of today continue to prosper despite their distressing history. Once again the "American Encounters" exhibit confirms Carr's statement. The authors of this exhibit choose which aspects of history to amplify. I don't completely understand why the modern lifestyle of an American Indian is uplifted, yet acknowledgement of their burdened past is vague. Visuals and artifacts provide an understanding of the exhibit that a plaque alone cannot equally produce. It is imperative that the presentation of historical facts are appealing, explicit and powerful.

King Sejong the Great of Korea, Scholar and Leader

King Sejong the Great of Korea, Scholar and Leader Sejong the Great (May 7, 1397–April 8, 1450) was king of Korea during the Choson Kingdom (1392–1910). A progressive, scholarly leader, Sejong promoted literacy and was best known for developing a new form of writing to allow Koreans to communicate more effectively. Fast Facts: Sejong the Great Known For: Korean king and scholarAlso Known As:  Yi Do, Grand Prince Chungnyeong  Born: May 7, 1397 in Hanseong,  Kingdom of JoseonParents:  King Taejong and Queen Wongyeong of JoseonDied: April 8, 1450 in Hanseong,  JoseonSpouse(s): Soheon of the Shim clan, and three Royal Noble Consorts, Consort Hye, Consort Yeong, and Consort ShinChildren: Munjong of Joseon, Sejo of Joseon, Geumseong, Jeongso, Jeongjong of Joseon, Grand Prince Anpyeong, Gwangpyeong, Imyeong, Yeongeung, Princess Jung-Ui, Grand Prince Pyeongwon, Prince Hannam, Yi Yeong, Princess Jeonghyeon, Princess JeonganNotable Quote: If the people prosper, how can the king not prosper with them? And if the people do not prosper, how may the king prosper without them? Early Life Sejong was born under the name Yi Do to King Taejong and Queen Wongyeong of Joseon on May 7, 1397. The third of the royal couples four sons, Sejong impressed all of his family with his wisdom and curiosity. According to Confucian principles, the eldest son- named Prince Yangnyeong- should have been the heir to the Joseon throne. However, his behavior at court was rude and aberrant. Some sources claim that Yangnyeong behaved this way purposefully because he believed that Sejong should be king in his place. The second brother, Prince Hyoryeong, also removed himself from the succession by becoming a Buddhist monk. When Sejong was 12 years old, his father named him Grand Prince Chungnyeong. Ten years later, King Taejong would abdicate the throne in favor of Prince Chungnyeong, who took the throne name King Sejong. Background to Sejongs Succession to the Throne Sejongs grandfather King Taejo overthrew the Goryeo Kingdom in 1392 and founded Joseon. He was assisted in the coup detat by his fifth son Yi Bang-won (later King Taejong), who expected to be rewarded with the title of crown prince. However, a court scholar who hated and feared the militaristic and hot-headed fifth son convinced King Taejo to choose his eighth son, Yi Bang-seok, as successor instead. In 1398 while King Taejo was mourning the loss of his wife, the scholar hatched a conspiracy to kill off all of the kings sons besides the crown prince in order to secure Yi Bang-seoks position (and his own). Hearing rumors of the plot, Yi Bang-won raised his army and attacked the capital, killing two of his brothers as well as the scheming scholar. The grieving King Taejo was horrified that his sons were turning on each other in what became known as the First Strife of Princes, so he named his second son, Yi Bang-gwa, as the heir apparent and then abdicated the throne in 1398. Yi Bang-gwa became King Jeongjong, the second Joseon ruler. In 1400, the Second Strife of Princes broke out when Yi Bang-won and his brother Yi Bang-gan began to fight. Yi Bang-won prevailed, exiled his brother and his family, and executed his brothers supporters. As a result, the weak King Jeongjong abdicated after ruling for just two years in favor of Yi Bang-won, Sejongs father. As king, Taejong continued his ruthless policies. He executed a number of his own supporters if they became too powerful, including all of his wife Wong-gyeongs brothers, as well as Prince Chungnyeongs (later King Sejongs) father-in-law and brothers-in-law. It seems likely that his experience with princely strife and his willingness to execute troublesome family members helped encourage his first two sons to step aside without a murmur and allow King Taejongs third and favorite son to become King Sejong. Sejongs Military Developments King Taejong had always been an effective military strategist and leader and continued to guide Joseon military planning for the first four years of Sejongs reign. Sejong was a quick study and also loved science and technology, so he introduced a number of organizational and technological improvements to his kingdoms military forces. Although gunpowder had been used for centuries in Korea, its employment in advanced weaponry expanded markedly under Sejong. He supported the development of new types of cannons and mortars, as well as rocket-like fire arrows that functioned in a similar way to modern rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs). Gihae Eastern Expedition Just one year into his reign in May 1419, King Sejong dispatched the Gihae Eastern Expedition to the seas off Koreas east coast. This military force set out to confront the Japanese pirates, or wako, who operated out of Tsushima Island while harrying shipping, stealing trade goods, and kidnapping Korean and Chinese subjects. By September of that year, the Korean troops had defeated the pirates, killing nearly 150 of them, and rescuing almost 150 Chinese kidnap victims and eight Koreans. This expedition would bear important fruit later in Sejongs reign. In 1443, the daimyo of Tsushima pledged obedience to the King of Joseon Korea in the Treaty of Gyehae in exchange for what he received as preferential trading rights with the Korean mainland. Marriage, Consorts, and Children King Sejongs queen was Soheon of the Shim clan, with whom he eventually would have a total of eight sons and two daughters. He also had three Royal Noble Consorts, Consort Hye, Consort Yeong, and Consort Shin, who bore him three, one, and six sons, respectively. In addition, Sejong had seven lesser consorts who had the misfortune of never producing sons. Nevertheless, the presence of 18 princes representing different clans on their mothers sides ensured that in the future, the succession would be contentious. As a Confucian scholar, though, King Sejong followed protocol and named his sickly eldest son Munjong as Crown Prince. Sejongs Achievements in Science, Literature, and Policy King Sejong delighted in science and technology and supported a number of inventions or refinements of previous technologies. For example, he encouraged the improvement of a moveable metal type for printing first used in Korea by 1234, at least 215 years before Johannes Gutenberg introduced his groundbreaking printing press, as well as the development of the sturdier mulberry-fiber paper. These measures made better-quality books much more widely available among educated Koreans. Books that Sejong sponsored included a history of the Goryeo Kingdom, a compilation of filial deeds (model actions for followers of Confucius to emulate), farming guides meant to help farmers improve production, and others. Other scientific devices sponsored by King Sejong included the first rain gauge, sundials, unusually accurate water clocks, and maps of the stars and celestial globes. He also took an interest in music, devising an elegant notation system for representing Korean and Chinese music, and encouraging instrument-makers to improve the designs of various musical instruments. In 1420, King Sejong established an academy of 20 top Confucian scholars to advise him called the Hall of Worthies. The scholars studied the ancient laws and rites of China and previous Korean dynasties, compiled historical texts, and lectured the king and crown prince on Confucian classics. In addition, Sejong ordered one top scholar to comb the country for intellectually talented young men who would be given a stipend to retreat for one year from their work. The young scholars were sent to a mountain temple, where they read books on a vast array of subjects that included astronomy, medicine, geography, history, the art of war, and religion. Many of the Worthies objected to this expansive menu of options, believing that a study of Confucian thought was sufficient, but Sejong preferred to have a scholar class with a wide range of knowledge. To aid the common people, Sejong established a grain surplus of approximately 5 million bushels of rice. In times of drought or flood, this grain was available to feed and support poor farming families to help prevent famine. Invention of Hangul, the Korean Script King Sejong is best remembered for the invention of hangul, the Korean alphabet. In 1443, Sejong and eight advisers developed an alphabetic system to accurately represent Korean language sounds and sentence structure. They came up with a simple system of 14 consonants and 10 vowels, which can be arranged in clusters to create all of the sounds in spoken Korean. King Sejong announced the creation of this alphabet in 1446 and encouraged all of his subjects to learn and use it: The sounds of our language differ from those of Chinese and are not easily communicated by using Chinese graphs. Many among the ignorant, therefore, though they wish to express their sentiments in writing, have been unable to communicate. Considering this situation with compassion, I have newly devised twenty-eight letters. I wish only that the people will learn them easily and use them conveniently in their daily life. Initially, King Sejong faced a backlash from the scholar elite, who felt the new system was vulgar (and who likely did not want women and peasants to be literate). However, hangul quickly spread among segments of the population that previously did not have access to enough education to learn the complicated Chinese writing system. Early texts claim that a clever person can learn Hangul in a few hours, while someone with a lower IQ can master it in 10 days. It is certainly one of the most logical and straightforward writing systems on Earth- a true gift from King Sejong to his subjects and their descendants, down to the present day. Death King Sejongs health began to decline even as his accomplishments mounted. Suffering from diabetes and other health problems, Sejong became blind around the age of 50. He passed away on May 18, 1450, at the age of 53. Legacy As King Sejong predicted, his eldest son and successor Munjong did not survive him by much. After just two years on the throne, Munjong died in May 1452, leaving his 12-year-old first son Danjong to rule. Two scholar-officials served as regents for the child. This first Joseon experiment in Confucian-style primogeniture did not last long, however. In 1453, Danjongs uncle, King Sejongs second son Sejo, had the two regents murdered and seized power. Two years later, Sejo formally forced Danjong to abdicate and claimed the throne for himself. Six court officials formed a plan to restore Danjong to power in 1456; Sejo discovered the scheme, executed the officials, and ordered his 16-year-old nephew burned to death so that he could not serve as a figurehead for future challenges to Sejos title. Despite the dynastic mess that resulted from King Sejongs death, he is remembered as the wisest and most capable ruler in Korean history. His accomplishments in science, political theory, military arts, and literature mark Sejong as one of the most innovative kings in Asia or the world. As shown by his sponsorship of Hangul and his establishment of the food reserve, King Sejong truly cared about his subjects. Today, the king is remembered as Sejong the Great, one of only two Korean kings honored with that appellation. The other is Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo, r. 391–413. Sejongs face appears on the largest denomination of South Koreas currency, the 10,000 won bill. His military legacy also lives on in the King Sejong the Great class of guided missile destroyers, first launched by the South Korean Navy in 2007. In addition, the king is the subject of the 2008 Korean television drama series Daewang Sejong, or King Sejong the Great. Actor Kim Sang-kyung portryed the king. Sources Kang, Jae-eun. The Land of Scholars: Two Thousand Years of Korean Confucianism. Paramus, New Jersey: Homa Sekey Books, 2006.Kim, Chun-gil. The History of Korea. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing, 2005.King Sejong the Great and the Golden Age of Korea. Asia Society.Lee, Peter H. William De Bary. Sources of Korean Tradition: From Early Times through the Sixteenth Century. New York: Columbia University Press, 2000.

Topic by yourself Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Topic by yourself - Dissertation Example Basic small fashion business theory and principles were examined and issued within the scope of the study of as well. In-depth research into areas of luxury brand loyalty and image, as reflected by the fashion consumer, were discussed in order to better understand the various influences that marketing has on the small fashion business. In addition, data relevant to the overall luxury fashion business was analyzed and discussed in an effort to compare that information with the gathered qualitative data. Static data collected from gathered case studies are also presented to illustrate the attitudes of luxury brand fashion items that are inherent in the industry today. By presenting a combination of theoretical and practical analysis, final conclusions and recommendations are issued at the end of the study. 1. Introduction Fashion is a multi-billion dollar industry, and the luxury brand makes up a considerable portion of that prowess. Luxury fashion consumers, to a large degree, are the face and voice of the entire industry and, as such, it is important to understand the distinctions that make up various brands and give small fashion businesses a relative and comparative advantage. ... 1). These are important distinctions to be made from the outset, primarily because luxury brand items carry substantially more market appeal than other types of fashion accessories. They cannot be easily replicated and the consumer develops a strong loyalty toward a brand, but not necessarily toward a product. A successful brand is vital to the success of a fashion company, as it most often results in a competitive advantage over others in the same niche market (Aaker, 2004). Not only does a particular brand greatly contribute to the overall profit generated by a fashion company, but it also serves as the fact of the company by implementing a particular name or symbol that consumers can identify with. These ideas and concepts distinguish them from their competitors and generate interest within the market itself. Logos, trademarks, and package design all contribute to the image of the luxury brand, necessitating that fashion companies focus on the development of they major brands in o rder to identify and differentiate one company from another (Aaker, 2004, p. 5). With the continuing development and expansion of the global luxury fashion industry, there has come a renewed emphasis on understanding the consumer that desires to purchase such items and to apply a proper growth strategy that will form the future of fashion building. 2. The Nature of Fashion Building Fashion building takes time. The nature of developing a brand image that appeals across sectors of society takes ingenuity, design, and a bit of luck. It requires the foresight to understand the affluent consumer, the willingness to adapt to changing markets and circumstances, and the desire to maintain that competitive edge that separates it from the rest. 2.1 Branding and Communication

Issues in Global Business and Strategic Concepts Essay - 1

Issues in Global Business and Strategic Concepts - Essay Example In this paper, the proponent provides the necessary recommendations for the government to consider in order continue expand Australia’s leading role in mineral extraction in the world. Keywords: mining, mineral extraction, Australia Table of Contents Executive Summary 1 Introduction 3 Industry Gross Value Added 4 The Value of Exports 5 Operating Profit Before Tax 6 Mineral Production 7 Assessment of Mineral Extraction to Australia’s Economy 8 Domestic Issues 8 International Issues 9 Conclusion/Recommendations 10 References 12 Appendices 14 Introduction One cannot deny the fact that Australia is one of the countries with largest mineral extraction industries in the world today. It holds abundant supply of natural resources allowing it to generate a great opportunity to supply the world market as it is capable of providing affordable minerals of its own and efficient than other producers. This places Australia in the point of absolute advantage (Zhang, 2008). Furthermore, this sets Australia in the position to possibly be the unbeatable leading player in the global mineral commodities in the long run. This maximizes its potential to comparative advantage (Mudd, 2010). This information must be specifically appealing to the Australian Government, because in totality this has significant impact on its economic growth and development. Recently, Australia has continuously gained investor confidence because of its competitive business climate as revealed through its surging high foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow which doubles over five years to 2012 (Australian Trade Commission, 2013). This report is presented to the Australian Government which provides the actual assessment of the contribution of mineral extraction activity to Australia’s economy, and consideration of domestic and international issues that need to be addressed in order to maintain and expand Australia’s current position as the leading producer and exporter of minerals such as iron ore, coal and gold. The implications of these issues for Australia’s future are also included. Therefore, the work at hand provides the remarkable economic figures that will present the actual data prior to the analysis and assessment of the contribution of mineral extraction to Australia’s economy. In addition, the prevailing domestic and international issues that at some point may have strong contributions to the actual capacity of Australia to maintain its current position as a leading producer and exporter of minerals will also provide the bases of the actual recommendation for the Australian Government. Industry Gross Value Added Industry gross value added (GVA) is the contribution of an industry to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). Based on the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2012), the total production of Australia’s Mining Industry as measured by the GVA showed a positive direction from year 1989 until 2010, which was clear ly indicated by increased of 6% between 2008-2009 and 2009-2010, a double increase of percentage between 1989-1990 and 2009-2010. As shown in Figure 1 in the Appendices, the graph taken from the site of Australian Bureau of Statistics shows the actual GVA of Australia’s Mining Industry in terms of volume. The information in Figure 1 reveals not just about the volume of production, but the associated positive

Sunoco case study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Sunoco - Case Study Example Though it has managed to garner 14% increase in net income through cutting expenses, the loss in shareholders’ value has become a major concern. The company is faced with challenges of reducing cost through restructuring and evolving new business model. As a result, Cindy Hartley was appointed as Senior Vice President of HR by CEO, Harris DeLoach so as to bring about necessary changes within the organization. It is believed that new business model would enhance organizational capabilities in terms of human resource and provide it with flexible approach to meet the challenges of time. Sonoco’s traditional model of business is faced with huge challenges of competitive business due to rapid globalization and advancing technology. The overcapacity within the industry has forced businesses to consolidate and diversify to regions like South East Asia, specifically China and India where low production cost helps to maintain leverage. Initially, industrial packaging had accounted for 55% of its revenue but now the trend seems to have reversed. Consumer packaging now represents 70% of industrial revenue and operates within the broader framework of global business environment. Branding and market segmentation have also become very important aspects which have redefined the role of packaging within the new business imperatives. Retail packaging has become vital part of marketing of goods. This has further escalated financial burden as creative inputs in design require new technology that would equip organizations with hi-tech tools of designing. Most importantly, So noco has realized that in the dynamic business environment, people centric policies have become central to business goals and must be developed to compete in the highly competitive business environment. The major problem of Sonoco is that its HR strategies are not aligned with the business goals and objectives. Though it has centralized HR policy but each of the Divisions of Sonoco works independently

Trans Atlantic Slave Trade History History Essay

Trans Atlantic Slave Trade History History Essay The Royal African Company of London was initiated by King Charles II in his ambition to expand the slave trade of England. King Charles II and the duke of York invested their own funds into the company to establish it. Initially it was known as the Company of Royal Adventurers Trading to Africa company and was only involved in gold trading and was created by the Stuart family and London merchants once the former retook the English throne in the English Restoration of 1660.The company was granted a monopoly over the English slave trade by a charter issued in 1660 and was given the mandate to capture any English rival ship transporting slaves. The company later collapsed since it could not meet the due huge demands of slaves in England among other issues (Miers 45). England first got involved in slave trade in the 16th century; a move pioneered by John Hawkins an English man whose business was to deport Africans from the west coast of Africa to the West Indies (Walter 72). At first, trading directly with other European countries was common in Virginia, but the Navigation Act of 1660 brought such relations to an end and only English-owned ships could enter colonial ports. It was at this time that the Royal African Company was formed to supply Virginia planters with labor since England had realized there was a lot of wealth in the trade. The Royal African Company traded mainly for gold and slaves and the majority of whom were sent to English colonies in the Americas. Its headquarters was Cape Coast Castle, modern-day Ghana; it also maintained many forts and factories in other locations such as Sierra Leone, the Slave Coast, the River Gambia, and additional areas on the Gold Coast Weeden 63). The Royal African Company lost its monopoly in 1698, although it continued to engage in the slave trade until 1731. It was replaced by the Company of Merchants Trading to Africa in 1752. In the 1680s it was transporting about 5,000 slaves per year. Many were branded with the letters DY, after its chief, the Duke of York, who succeeded his brother on the throne in 1685, becoming James II (Blackburn 212). Other slaves were branded with the companys initials, RAC, on their chests and its profits made a major contribution to the increase in the financial power of those who controlled London The British greatly benefited from this lucrative enterprise and approximately 1.5 million ,people were enslaved by the them, London was the biggest trading centre because of its transport links provided by river Thames and the London docks (Alpers, Campbell Salman 256). Britain as a country enormously benefited from the trade since slaves were exchanged for cutlery and, military supplies, which they would then exchange in West Indies to get raw materials for their industries and the products sold at huge profits. According to Bryan (106), There can be little doubt that such a system of trade substantially boosted the development of Britains commerce and manufacturing. However, there were different lines of slave trade such as the Pacific and the Atlantic; England was mostly involved in the Atlantic slave trade. The slave trade was also known as the Trans-Atlantic slave trade; it was the biggest and it mainly dealt with Africans. It lasted from the 16th century to the 19th when slave trade was abolished (Carlos 330). The trade involved many countries like the Portuguese, Brazilians, the British, the French, the Spanish, the Dutch, and the North Americans. The slaves were mostly from west and central Africa who were captured during trade at the coast while others were kidnapped from their homes or raided at their homes. They were sold to North and South American merchants to work in their sugar, coffee, cocoa, cotton, and rice plantations while others worked in the gold mines and silver mines (Drescher 77). Curlin (169) notes that more than 12 million Africans were enslaved under this trade which is referred to as maafa by Africans (literally meant great disaster), and the trade involved four continents, four centuries and millions of people. The first documented arrival of Africans to Virginia the first place where slaves were deported was in 1619, when a Dutch trading vessel docked in Hampton. There were 20 Africans who were traded to the English as much-needed workers to cultivate tobacco, the new cash crop of Virginia (Engerman 79). The institution of slavery slowly crept into Virginia legislation and by 1660 it was fully established in Virginia, since tobacco was extremely labor-intensive, and more and more workers were needed and also the sale of Africans to Virginia planters promised to be a profitable endeavor which really flourished (Brown 51). Nevertheless, Kwaku (4) states that slavery can be traced back to Africa itself, where Africans practiced slavery and was a part of their traditions. Africans sold slaves to Arabs before the arrival of the European who took the trade to a higher level. The Atlantic trade happened in two systems: the first and the second Atlantic systems. The first system involved sale of slaves to South America colonies of the Portuguese and the Spanish empires. It only accounted for a small percentage of the Atlantic trade about 3%. Later, Portugal was attacked by the Dutch and the British therefore weakening the trade (Martin 98). The second system involved enslavement of Africans to work in the Caribbean colonies of Brazil and North America. The slave trade was triangular; the starting point was Europe goods were transported from Europe to Africa they were given to African leaders, kings and merchants in exchange of slaves, this goods included guns, medicine, ammunition and other factory manufactu red goods. The slaves were then transported to America through the Atlantic and the final part was returning of goods from America to Europe for manufacturing these goods were sugar, tobacco ,coffee, rum and moll assess. However Brazil the main importer of slaves then manufactured the goods in South America and traded directly with the Africans (Maugham 56). The trade was encouraged by many reasons but shortage of labor was the main one. This was due to discovery of the new world hence there was a lot of cheap land available and the owners definitely wanted workers because the amount of labor was too much as they practiced intensive planting, harvesting and processing (Eltis 98). The trade also developed because of the willingness of Africans to sell fellow Africans for goods from Europe. Those convicted also for wrong doing in Africa were sold to slavery as punishment since there were no prisons. Inikori (45) argues that warfare in Africa was also a major contributor of the slave trade, there were many wars taking place at that time, for example the Congo civil war Oyo and Asante empires crisis. Patterson (10) and Clarke (75) note that although Africans practiced slavery themselves, it was very different from that of the new world. Whereas in Africa slaves children were not enslaved, in America they were enslaved at birth. In Africa they were treated well and in some communities they were considered as adopted and had the permission to marry, in contrary to America where they were not allowed to marry, they were ruthlessly bitten and even branded to show ownership although they were not used for sacrifices like it happened in Africa. Countries involved actively or passively in the trade were: Senegal Denanke Kingdom, Kingdom of Fouta, Jolof Empire, and Kingdom of Khasso, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone Ghana, Asante Confederacy and Mankessim of Nigeria, Benin Kingdom of Dahomey, and the Republic of Congo (Cheeves 102). About 1.2 2.4 million Africans died during the middle passage and others died soon after their arrival. The number of people who died during the capture and kidnapping of the Africans is countless but it remained higher than those actually enslaved. Most of the slaves sold were prisoners from African conflicts which the European fueled to their advantage, this trade led to the led to the destruction of individuals and cultures (Cooper, Holt Scott 120; David 84). The second part of the slave trade triangle was the most important is known as the middle passage of African people from Africa to the new world (Reynold 85). Ships departed to Africa with merchandise to trade in Africa for slaves, business took place at the coast since the Europeans feared to get into the interior because of tropical diseases. Voyages were organized by companies or groups of merchants and not individuals because they considered it as a major investment opportunity. Millions of Africans were imprisoned, enslaved, and removed from their communities, 15% of those captured died at sea during transportation that is about 2 million, and those that died as a result of slavery in America were more than 4 million African deaths (Roberts 92; Robin Law, British Academy, Royal African Company 106). In the eighteenth century about 6 million slaves were enslaved and Britain accounted for 2.5millon of them being the largest importer then. The duration of the transatlantic voyage varied depending on the weather many took six months; although as centuries went by the more the importers took less time because they were getting experienced and a voyage would even take six weeks (Williams 56; Cateau Harrington 96). Slave ships usually would have several hundreds of slaves and about thirty crew members. Men were chained together in pairs right leg to the next mans left leg in order to save space, while women and children had some little space to themselves. The slaves in transit were fed once a day on beans, corn, yams, rice or palm oil. Some slave holders would let their captives move around the ship daytime but most did not, they tied them throughout the grueling journey (Willis Miers 480). Disease and starvation were the main causes of death and amoebic dysentery and scurvy caused the majority of deaths. There were also disease out breaks like, smallpox, syphilis, measles, and other diseases spread rapidly in the in the squeezed compartments. The longer the voyage took the more slaves would die due to the harsh conditions, the quality and freshness of food disappeared every passing day. Another cause of death was depression because of the loss because of the loss of freedom, family, security , and their own humanity (Zuberi 156; Fage 198). Some slaves would take courage and resist their oppressors most of them refused to eat and this would make them sick and eventually die and hence a loss to the holder. Others would commit suicide by throwing themselves overboard, as well as a variety of many other opportunistic means. Over the centuries very many Africans committed suicide, which they preferred since they believe they would meet with their families in the afterlife. A former slave was quoted saying When we found ourselves at last taken away, death was more preferable than life, and a plan was concerted amongst us, which we might burn and blow up the ship, and to perish all together in the flames (Indrani 321). Both suicide and self-starving were prevented as much as possible by slaver holders hence they were even torture so that they would feed but some still managed to starve themselves. It was not just the slaves who suffered, the sailors themselves experienced terrible conditions and often were employed only throu gh coercion. Sailors knew and hated the slave trade, so at port towns, recruiters and tavern owners would get sailors drunk, and then offer to relieve their debt if they signed contracts with slave ships. If they did not, they would be imprisoned, sailors in prison had a hard time getting jobs outside of the slave ship industry, since most other maritime industries would not hire jail-birds, so they were forced to go to the slave ships anyway (Hogg 73; Michlethwait Wooldridge 32). This kind of treatment made many Africans depressed and left them in a severe psychological shock. This was compounded by a common fear among the Africans that they had been taken by the Europeans to be eaten, to be made into oil or gunpowder, or that their blood was to be used to dye the red flags of Spanish ships while it was their skills as agricultural laborers and their adaptability to tropical climates that were sorely needed in the agricultural economy of the European colonies. Once the slaves arrived in America or other destinations they were taken to the plantations by their specific owners while others would be sold, as property, even worse there were advertisements for slaves on sale. It was not only merchants and ship captains who were involved in this trade, but also artisans and businesspeople were involved. These included blacksmiths, bakers, goldsmiths, hatters, shoemakers, tailors and tobacconists. Doctors, judges, and midwives were also among the slave sellers. Even governors owned slaves as demonstrated by an advertisement listing a Mulatto Boy for sale from the estate of a deceased governor Collins 25). In Britain, the first private slave trader was, John Hawkins, who began the trade in 1562, he left England with 100 men and 3 ships, his first point was Sierra Leone where he captured 300 slaves and sold them in Hispaniola, on his return his ship was full of goods like such as hides, ginger and sugar the queen gained interest in him and the two became business partners, the royal family slowly got into the slave trade and on the third voyage Hawkins took along Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh who also developed to be great slave traders. The Duke of York also through the queen joined the trade and he used to get his initials, DY, branded onto the left buttock or breast of each of the 3000 slaves who were his and he sold them to the Caribbeans. Business was booming and in the 17th and18th century slaves population in the British Caribbean was approximately 428,000 out of a population of 500,000 (Kitson 87). Due to the growth of slave trade, the royal family decided to create a company that would control slave trade and completely abolish the private slave traders; for this reason the Royal African Company was established. The Company transported an average of 5000 slaves per year, between 1680 and1686, and received annual grants from parliament of about  £90,000. King Charles II was a major a shareholder, and hence maintained the Royal family involvement in slavery. The Royal African Company had agents in Virginia to whom slaves were delivered, they were given a seven-percent commission on sales, some of the major players in trade were John Page, Colonel Nathaniel Bacon and William Sherwood were all prominent Virginians who served as factors, agents or representatives for the Company (Miers Klein 102; Spooner 87). Private traders were not pleased with this and pardoned the court to be allowed to continue with the trade of human cattle, however in 1698 parliament approved private traders to participate in the slave trade as long as they paid a 10% duty on English goods exported to Africa. Business went bad for the company, since private traders overtook it. Many factors led to the fall of the company some of them were: the Company was not achieving a profit and had to borrow money to pay dividends, the planters were always complaining that the company was not able to supply enough slaves and the demand was overwhelming, hence they argued that the monopoly be abolished so that more slaves could be imported. Eventually, the Company, which was always heavily patronized by the Stuart monarchs, fell out of favor when James II was deposed and William and Mary came to the throne this led to the abolishment of the company because it was no longer valid. The company though continued slave trade at small scale levels until 1731; it abandoned the trade and started trafficking of ivory and gold dust. Charles Hayes (1678-1760), mathematician and chronologist was sub-governor of Royal African Company till 1752 when it was dissolved. Its successor was the African Company of Merchants (Solow Engerman 214). Liverpools Bristol and London benefited greatly from this trade, it was booming and in the 17th century Liverpools first slave ship transported 220 slaves to Barbados and sold them for  £4,239, this was less than  £20 per slave. In addition, Liverpool had 8 major slave traders who together could transport 25,820 that worked out around 50-550 per ship. However, England signed the Treaty of Utrecht with Spain in 1733, which granted England monopoly of the Spanish slave trade for 30 years as England promised at least 144,000 slaves at the rate of 4,800 slaves per year. In 1772 Lord Mansfield came to proclaim it illegal to remove any person forcibly from England, though this did not make any big change because many of the major politicians were deeply involved with slavery. For example, Richard Pennant who was Liverpools Member of Parliament from 1777 to 1790, owned 8,000 acres of sugar plantations and over 600 slaves in Jamaica. Similarly, three out of 41 councilors in Liverpool wer e slave ship owners or major investors in the slave trade and during the years of 1787 and 1807, all 20 mayors who held office in Liverpool financed or owned slave ships. The slave trade was abolished in 1808 over 100 years after the British Empire became involved in slave trading, the Trans-Atlantic slave trade was abolished within the Empire and also in the United States. However it was not until 1827 that Britain declared the slave trade illegal, and in 1833 slavery was abolished throughout Europe, the Emancipation Act went through British parliament. It still took another 11 years until 1838 before slavery was fully abolished within the British Empire. The new system however gave some  £20,000, to the planters as compensation although nothing was awarded to any former slaves. The system even made things worse for the former slaves due to the high taxes on smallholdings, high rates for licenses on small traders and contracts to shackle the laborers to the large plantations; hence they were forced to continue working in arduous conditions on the plantations. In 1844 there was labor shortage and this led to the introduction of indentured labor from another of Britains colonies, India. The Indian laborers made conditions worse for former slaves as they undermined any attempts to get better working and living conditions through strikes. By 1917, 145,000 Indians had been transported to Trinidad and 238,000 to Guyana. Jamaica was also affected with around 39,000 immigrants. The only island not affected was Barbados. It evident that the slave trade led to the growth of the populations of Europe and America while those of Africa remained stagnant. Revenues from slavery were used to build Europe and Americas economies and especially the industrial revolution was funded by the profits from agricultural activities which were done by the slaves. Scholars have argued that Britains industrial development is owed to slavery and that Britain thrives on slavery wealth. Some also have claimed that by the time it was completely abolished its importance was long gone and its abolishment was an advantage for Britain, some though think differently and argue that slavery was useful to the end. In 1787, the first anti slavery movement was formed The Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade. The first countries to petition against slavery were Cuba and Jamaica, United States followed suit and later on Britain, Portugal and in some other parts of Europe. The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) was the leading movement in Britain that called for abolition of slavery, the movement was joined by many and began to protest against the trade, but they were opposed by the owners of the colonial holdings. Denmark was the first country to ban slave trade through a parliamentary legislation in 1792, which took effect in 1803. In 1807, Britain banned the trade but not slavery itself, although the slave trade had become illegal, slavery remained a reality in British colonies. Wilberforce himself was convinced that the institution of slavery should be entirely abolished, but he also knew there was little political will to do so by the politicians. The Emancipation Bill was taken to parliament, it was supposed to officially abolish slave trade in Britain if passed, and it gathered support and received its final commons reading on 26 July 1833. Slavery was to be abolished planters would be well compensated; slaves on plantations were required to remain for a further six years. Those who petitioned for abolition argued that slavery made Africans to go into constant wars so that they could capture prisoners who would be sold as slaves to meet the ever growing demand for slaves. People avoided details of the middle passage issue because it would have caused great animosity and only talked about the massive deaths it caused and hence the need to an end of slavery. They also argued that despite the conditions at sea the whole ordeal of slave trade was grueling and had to stop immediately. The trade also led to the birth of the black social identifies and European superiority, which led to the slow development of the African race. They however agreed that the trade was important for the stability of the economy which was obviously not important than human rights. The debate over slavery went on for decades before abolition was finalized. Davies (86) observes that The Royal Navy, which then controlled the worlds seas, moved to stop other nations from filling Britains place in the slave trade and declared that slaving was equal to piracy and was punishable by death. They forced other nations to quit the trade to so as to protect their economy and also make their colonies uncompetitive. Other European countries were left with no option but to stop and when that happened the British navy took its supremacy to the west coast so as to secure the sea and they were stationed there for the next 50 years. Action was taken for African leaders who refused to stop slave trade activities. Antislavery treaties were signed all over Africa by 50 leaders (Boddy-Evans 10; Carlos Kruse 291). In conclusion Englands involvement in the slave trade as viewed from the National Gallery in London, slave trade was a respected occupation then and many of the London merchants who were taking almost 3/4 of the sugar imported from the West Indies lived in South London in Blackheath. It can be said Europe and America are built on funds made through the sale of Africans ancestors because they labored and toiled on the plantations to many of the banks in this countries today and so are the their families. Slavery is not over but entrenched at the heart of Londons wealth. In 1998, UNESCO designated August 23 as International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition. Since that occurrence, a number of events surrounding the recognition of the effect of slavery on both the enslaved and enslavers have come to pass. At the World Conference against Racism, South Africa, African nations demanded a clear apology for slavery from the former slave-trading countries. Some nati ons were willing to do so but some refused such as the United Kingdom, Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, and the United States. The countries feared that they would be asked to pay compensation. Apologies on behalf of African nations, for their role in trading their countrymen into slavery, also remain an open. On November 27, 2006, British Prime Minister Tony Blair made a partial apology for Britains role in the African slavery trade. However, African rights activists denounced it as empty rhetoric and it did not address the issue like it should. The apology was just mere talk and they say he should have not even said it. On August 24, 2007, Ken Livingstone (then Mayor of London) apologized publicly for Londons role in the slave trade. You can look across there to see the institutions that still have the benefit of the wealth they created from slavery, he said pointing towards the financial district, before breaking down in tears. He said it was still haunted by the memories of sla very. Jesse Jackson praised Mayor Livingstone, and added that reparations should be made. On January 30, 2006, Jacques Chirac (the then French President) said that 10 May would henceforth be a national day of remembrance for the victims of slavery in France, and when marking the day in 2001 when France passed a law recognizing slavery as a crime against humanity. On July 30, 2008, the United States House of Representatives passed a resolution apologizing for American slavery and subsequent discriminatory laws. The language included a reference to the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality and inhumanity of slavery and segregation (Howard 21).

Edith Whartons The House Of Mi :: essays research papers

Lily Bart, the central character in Edith Wharton’s novel, The House of Mirth , was born into the fringes of high society in late nineteenth century New York. She developed a, “lively taste for splendour';(page 30) and a fear of, ';dinginess';.(page 35). Everything within this social circle is measured in monetary value, people and things alike are treated as commodities. This is the only way of life Lily knows, and without the financial means to sustain herself, Lily is destined to be a victim of this commodification of people and objects. Victim is defined in the Oxford Concise Dictionary , as a, “person or thing harmed or destroyed in the pursuit of an object or in gratification of a person';. Commodifiaction is defined as “the action of turning something into, or treating something as a commodity'; and commodity is defined as, “an article of raw material that can be brought and sold';. It was Mrs Bart who had raised Lily to value the finer things in life and fear the “dinginess';(page 35) that she associated with those who did not have money, or those who did not choose to spend their money on luxury. When Mrs Bart died, she died, “ ......of a deep disgust. She had hated dinginess, and it was her fate to be dingy';(page 35). But Lily’s mother alone is not solely to blame for this want, Lily says of her need for luxury, ..I suppose (it was) -in the way I was brought up, and the things I was taught to care for. Or-no I won’t blame anybody for my faults: I’ll say it was in my blood (page 226) Although Lily felt that she should not blame anyone else for her high tastes she does not blame herself. She uses the excuse that it was in her blood that her fate to live for splendour was predetermined. Lily therefore sees herself as victim, a victim because it was her fate. Mrs Barts parental guidance did help to shape Lily’s value for the extravagant. It was Mrs Bart who taught Lily to value her beauty. Lily was told by her mother, “after they had lost all their money'; (page 28) that Lily’s asset was her beauty. Mrs Bart saw the potential for trading Lily’s beauty for a rich husband, so they would have the means to sustain themselves in ‘high society’. Mrs Bart saw Lily’s beauty as:

Preparation and Reactions of Boric Acid

To prepare boric acid from sodium deteriorate (borax) To carry out tests on the prepared sample of boric acid To study the physical and chemical properties of boric acid Introduction: Boron is an element in the p-block of the periodic table. It has the electron configuration of 1s22s22p1 and is in group 3 or coup 13 (PUPAS classification). In nature, it consists of two isotopes BIB (19. 6%) and BIB (80. 4%). Boron is bonded to the oxygen in nature. The important sources of Boron are borax and kerning.Boron sides and their derivatives are technologically important and are relatively inexpensive to produce. Boron oxides is very difficult to crystallite and normally exists in a glassy state (d=l . CACM-1). Molten boron oxide has a high melting point of 450 degree Celsius that is readily dissolves metal oxides to form colored borate glasses as one of the main commercial uses of boric oxide. Particularly, borosilicate glasses find wide applications in glassblowing and the production of gl ass objects. On top of the boric acid, it is also known as hydrogen borate as a weak monobasicLewis acid. At room temperature, it exists as white powder or colorless crystals with a chemical formula of HOBBS or B(OH)3. Apparatus and materials: ;Sodium deteriorate ;Concentrated hydrochloric acid ;Concentrated sulfuric acid ;Methyl red indicator ;Imitation ;Beaker ;Methanol ;Distilled water ;Electric heater ;Test tube ;Test tube rack ;Glass rod ;Suction funnel ;Suction pump ;Filter flask ;Filter paper ;Spatula ;Watch glass ;Splint Procedures: 1 . About log of sodium deteriorate (borax) is dissolved in CACM of water in a beaker. 2.The mixture is boiled and CACM of concentrated hydrochloric is added into the solution. 3. The beaker is immersed into a container with ice and water to cool down the temperature. 4. After the solution is cooled down, the boric acid is crystallized out by using the Boucher funnel, 2 layers of filter papers, suction pump and a filtering flask. 5. The remaining crystals in the beaker and on the glass rod are washed well with ice-cold water for a few times and filtered off with the Boucher funnel. 6. The yield is left aside to be dried and the weight is measured and recorded.Test 1 1. A little boric acid is inserted into a test tube. 2. Small amount of distilled water is added to dissolve the acid in the test tube. 3. A drop of methyl red indicator is added. 4. Test tube is labeled as A. 5. Steps 1 to 3 are repeated again by replacing the acid with the imitation and the test tube is labeled as B. 6. Half of each solution in test tube A and B are mixed in a test tube labeled as C. 7. All results and observation are recorded. -rest 2 1. A small amount of boric acid crystals is inserted into a Tyrant boiling tube. 2.A little ethanol is added into the boiling tube Just to cover the acid. 3. Some concentrated sulfuric acid is then added into the tube. 4. The boiling tube is held by a test tube holder and heated on a Bunsen burner. 5. The vapor produced is ignited by using a burning wooden splinter. 6. All observations are recorded. Discussion: First and foremost, we managed to yield 4. Egg of HOBBS. According to our calculation, the theoretical mass that we are supposed to obtain is 6. Egg. This means that our percentage of yield is 74. 64%. According to Vogue's Textbook ofPractical Organic Chemistry, yields around 100% are called quantitative, whereas yields above 70% are good. This means that our team did quite a great Job. Boric acid is a Lewis acid that is able to interact with the water molecules to give out hydrogen ions and dehydrogenation ion in the solution. In test 1, the methyl red indicator is used to determine the acidity of the each solution in different test tubes. The indicator can show the pH range at around 4. 4 – 6. 2. At pH 4. 4, the solution with the indicator will appear to be in red in color and whereas at pH 6. , it will show allow. On test tube A, solution turns from colorless to pink color . This shows that boric acid is a relatively weak acid with pH around 4-5. Next on test tube B, the methyl red indicator is added into a imitation solution. The color of the solution seemed to remain unchanged. It is colorless. In fact, the solution is supposed to change from colorless to yellow. Perhaps, we accidentally made some mistakes by adding the wrong reactant in the experiment or we were a bit of too rush deciding the color of the solution without looking at it carefully.Thirdly, when we mix both he solutions from A and B, an intense pink solution is formed. This means that a stronger acid is formed. It can be simply explained by the stronger acid complex formed in between imitation and boric acid. The pH is less than 4 for sure. According to the test 2 results, a beautiful green flame is formed when we ignite the vapor with a burning wooden splinter. By mixing the alcohol (methanol) and acid (conch HOSTS) will create ester (CHI)BIBB. An alcohol flame itself is usually, ord inarily colorless. The presence of the green in the flame is indicating the ester formed contains boron element.A strong acid like concentrated sulfuric acid is needed to propionate the HOBBS and this will create the electroplate which attacks the O atom of the methanol. Without the existence of a strong acid, an intense green flame might not be formed. This is because ester may not formed and even if it is formed, it will exist in equilibrium with the alcohol & boric acid. Thus, making the green flame not really intense. There are a few precautionary steps that should be taken during this experiment. Firstly, suction pump used in test 1 is powerful and thus, 2 layers of filter papers are seed to cover the holes of the Boucher funnel.From our experience, the suction pump will cause the filter paper to be torn if only a piece of filter paper is used. Furthermore, we shall always pour the solution slowly on the rod, so that the solution will flow slowly without causing any wastage. By using this method, we can make sure the crystals are accumulated in the middle of the filter paper and it eases our Job to take out the filter paper from the funnel. On top of the safety, all acids are corrosive. In this experiment, we use concentrated hydrochloric acid and concentrated elliptic acid.We shall wear gloves and handle them with extra care to prevent and avoid any accident to occur. In addition, a tyrant boiling tube is used instead of a test tube in test 2 (flame test). A boiling tube can withstand strong heat without breakage. Test 2 (flame test) has to be carried out in the fume hood as the vapor released from the boiling tube is toxic. Therefore, we shall remain our distance with the vapor, although the green flame is beautiful. Last but not least, we shall discard the excess boric acid into the waste bottle instead of basin as to prevent water pollution.

The Top 20 Figures of Speech

The Top 20 Figures of Speech A figure of speech is a rhetorical device that achieves a special effect by using words in a distinctive way. Though there are hundreds of figures of speech,  here well focus on 20 top examples. Youll probably remember many of these terms from your English classes. Figurative language is often associated with literature and with poetry in particular. Whether were conscious of it or not, we use figures of speech every day in our own writing and conversations. For example, common expressions such as falling in love, racking our brains, and climbing the ladder of success are all metaphors- the most pervasive figure of all. Likewise, we rely on similes when making explicit comparisons (light as a feather) and hyperbole to emphasize a point (Im starving!). Did You Know? Figures of speech are  also known as  figures of rhetoric, figures of style, rhetorical figures,  figurative language,  and  schemes. 1:15 Watch Now: Common Figures of Speech Explained Top 20 Figures of Speech Using original figures of speech in our writing is a way to convey meanings in fresh, unexpected ways. They can help our readers understand and stay interested in what we have to say.   1.  Alliteration: The repetition of an initial consonant sound. Example: She sells seashells by the seashore. 2. Anaphora: The repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or verses. Example: Unfortunately, I was in the wrong place at the wrong time on the wrong day.   3. Antithesis: The juxtaposition of contrasting ideas in balanced phrases. Example: As Abraham Lincoln said, Folks who have no vices have very few virtues. 4.  Apostrophe: Directly addressing a nonexistent person or an inanimate object as though it were a living being. Example: Oh, you stupid car, you never work when I need you to, Bert sighed. 5. Assonance: Identity or similarity in sound between internal vowels in neighboring words. Example: How now, brown cow? 6. Chiasmus: A verbal pattern in which the second half of an expression is balanced against the first but with the parts reversed. Example: The famous chef said people should live to eat, not eat to live. 7. Euphemism: The substitution of an inoffensive term for one considered offensively explicit.  Example: Were teaching our toddler how to go potty, Bob said. 8.  Hyperbole: An extravagant statement; the use of exaggerated terms for the purpose of emphasis or heightened effect. Example: I have a ton of things to do when I get home. 9.  Irony: The use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning. Also, a  statement or situation where the meaning is contradicted by the appearance or presentation of the idea. Example: Oh, I love spending big bucks, said my dad, a notorious penny pincher. 10.  Litotes: A figure of speech consisting of an understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by negating its opposite. Example: A million dollars is no small chunk of change. 11.  Metaphor: An implied comparison between two dissimilar things that have something in common. Example: All the worlds a stage. 12.  Metonymy: A figure of speech in a word or phrase is substituted for another with which its closely associated; also, the rhetorical strategy of describing something indirectly by referring to things around it. Example: That stuffed suit with the briefcase is a poor excuse for a salesman, the manager said angrily. 13.  Onomatopoeia: The use of words that imitate the sounds associated with the objects or actions they refer to. Example: The clap of thunder went bang and scared my poor dog. 14.  Oxymoron: A figure of speech in which incongruous or contradictory terms appear side by side. Example:  He popped the jumbo shrimp in his mouth. 15.  Paradox: A statement that appears to contradict itself. Example: This is the beginning of the end, said Eeyore, always the pessimist. 16. Personification: A figure of speech in which an inanimate object or abstraction is endowed with human qualities or abilities. Example: That kitchen knife will take a bite out of your hand if you dont handle it safely. 17.  Pun: ​A play on words, sometimes on different senses of the same word and sometimes on the similar sense or sound of different words. Example: Jessie looked up from her breakfast and said, A boiled egg every morning is hard to beat. 18.  Simile: A stated comparison (usually formed with like or as) between two fundamentally dissimilar things that have certain qualities in common. Example: Roberto was white as a sheet after he walked out of the horror movie. 19.  Synecdoche: A figure of speech in which a part is used to represent the whole. Example: Tina is learning her ABCs in preschool. 20. Understatement: A figure of speech in which a writer or speaker deliberately makes a situation seem less important or serious than it is. Example: You could say Babe Ruth was a decent ballplayer, the reporter said with a wink.

Measuring Earthquake Intensities Using Seismic Scales

Measuring Earthquake Intensities Using Seismic Scales The first measuring tool invented for earthquakes was the seismic intensity scale. This is a rough numerical scale to describe how severe an earthquake is in the place where youre standing- how bad it is on a scale of 1 to 10. Its not hard to come up with a set of descriptions for intensity 1 (I could barely feel it) and 10 (Everything around me fell down!) and the gradations in between. A scale of this kind, when its carefully made and consistently applied, is useful even though its based entirely on descriptions, not measurements. Scales of earthquake magnitude (the total energy of a quake) came later, the result of many advances in seismometers and decades of data collection. While seismic magnitude is interesting, seismic intensity is more important: its about the strong motions that actually affect people and buildings. Intensity maps are prized for practical things like city planning, building codes, and emergency response. To Mercalli and Beyond Dozens of seismic intensity scales have been devised. The first to be widely used was made by Michele de Rossi and Francois Forel in 1883, and before seismographs were widespread the Rossi-Forel scale was the best scientific tool we had. It used roman numerals, from intensity I to X. In Japan, Fusakichi Omori developed a scale based on the types of structures there, such as stone lanterns and Buddhist temples. The seven-point Omori scale still underlies the Japanese Meteorological Agencys official seismic intensity scale. Other scales came into use in many other countries. In Italy, a 10-point intensity scale developed in 1902 by Giuseppe Mercalli was adapted by a succession of people. When H. O. Wood and Frank Neumann translated one version into English in 1931, they called it the Modified Mercalli scale. That has been the American standard ever since. The Modified Mercalli scale consists of descriptions that range from the innocuous (I. Not felt except by a very few) to the terrifying (XII. Damage total . . . Objects thrown upward into the air). It includes the behavior of people, the responses of houses and larger buildings, and natural phenomena. For instance, peoples responses range from barely feeling ground motion at intensity I to everyone running outdoors at intensity VII, the same intensity at which chimneys begin to break. At intensity VIII, sand and mud are ejected from the ground and heavy furniture overturns. Mapping Seismic Intensity Turning human reports into consistent maps happen online today, but it used to be quite laborious. During the aftermath of a quake, scientists collected intensity reports as fast as they could. Postmasters in the United States sent the government a report every time a quake struck. Private citizens and local geologists did the same. If youre into earthquake preparedness, consider learning more about what quake investigators do by downloading their official field manual. With these reports in hand, investigators of the U.S. Geological Survey then interviewed other expert witnesses, such as building engineers and inspectors, to help them map zones of equivalent intensity. Eventually, a contour map showing the intensity zones was finalized and published. An intensity map can show some useful things. It can delineate the fault that caused the quake. It can also show areas of unusually strong shaking far from the fault. These areas of bad ground are important when it comes to zoning, for instance, or disaster planning or deciding where to route freeways and other infrastructure. Advances In 1992, a European committee set out to refine the seismic intensity scale in the light of new knowledge. In particular, we have learned a great deal about how different kinds of buildings respond to shaking- in effect, we can treat them like amateur seismographs. In 1995 the European Macroseismic Scale (EMS) was widely adopted across Europe. It has 12 points, the same as the Mercalli scale, but it is much more detailed and precise. It includes many pictures of damaged buildings, for instance. Another advance was being able to assign harder numbers to intensities. The EMS includes specific values of ground acceleration for each intensity rank. (So does the latest Japanese scale.) The new scale cannot be taught in a single lab exercise, the way the Mercalli scale is taught in the United States. But those who master it will be the best in the world at extracting good data from the rubble and confusion of an earthquakes aftermath. Why Old Research Methods Are Still Important The study of earthquakes gets more sophisticated every year, and thanks to these advances the oldest research methods work better than ever. The nice machines and clean data make for good fundamental science. But one great practical benefit is that we can calibrate all kinds of earthquake damages against the seismograph. Now we can extract good data from human records where- and when- there are no seismometers. Intensities can be estimated for earthquakes all the way through history, using old records like diaries and newspapers. Earth is a slow-moving place, and in many places the typical earthquake cycle takes centuries. We dont have centuries to wait, so deriving reliable information about the past is a valuable task. Ancient human records are much better than nothing, and sometimes what we learn about past seismic events is almost as good as having seismographs there.