Wild Horses and Slaughter Issue an Example by

Wild Horses and Slaughter Issue Civilization was built on the backs of wild horses. From the very first encounters with the majestic four-legged creatures, humanity was able to tame them enough to achieve a delicate relationship that continues to this day. Currently, the descendents of the wild horses that early man tamed continue to roam around the world, including in the western United States. The population of wild horses continues to grow, inspiring many of those affected by their presence to call for stronger regulations regarding their removal by the government, as well as the widespread support of slaughtering them, negating much of the American spirit behind them. The courage of the American west defined our nations character and because of the freedoms established in the explorations of original settlers we are able to stand up for our liberties today. In the cradle of the old west, our manifest destiny was achieved and a free country evolved out of the wild. Roaming free in this very wilderness, the wild horse has become the embodiment of our American bravery and vigor for life. They symbolize the raw will to survive and the powerful drive of liberty. Need essay sample on "Wild Horses and Slaughter Issue" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed Wild horses live mostly throughout the Great Basin Desert, a huge stretch of land which includes nine western states and about 300 mountain ranges. These majestic creatures originate from Spanish settlers and have occupied North Americas western frontiers since the 1600s. By the mid-1700s wild horses had become vital parts of the Native American community and Native American Horsemanship was one of the most respected occupations. During the 19th and 20th centuries, overgrazing by sheep and cattle caused the once ideal grass prairies to become arid. The short grassy fields were provided the perfect environment for supporting herds of bison and eventually wild horses. Horses abandoned by trappers, pioneers, explorers, miners, and ranchers found this prairie land too and were able to grow because of the grasslands (Hyde). Horses have been deserted throughout American history, and today we face the challenge of managing their expanding populations. Even from when the Native Americans were forced into reservations, thousands of their horses were sent back to the wilderness. Later from the Civil war to the 1930s, the US Calvary released Morgan, Thoroubred, and Arabian stallions into wild herds in order to harvest their offspring for profits. Mustangs, the wild horses of the Great Basin Desert area, which could be sold provided a large profit for ranchers of the area and this practice has grown into a controversial issue. About 1 million of these horses were sent abroad to help fight foreign conflicts and wars as a result of breaking mustangs with stallionsno horse returned but many Americans got rich (Kerson). After the invention of the automobile and the poverty of the Depression, horses were no longer necessary to mans survival and so their value decreased. Many unwanted horses were abandoned from farm s and ranches and a fair portion were sent to slaughter houses. As the popularity of horses decreased, wild herd populations grew and eventually had to compete for grass and water with domestic livestock. Ranchers shot wild horses on sight from 1920 to 1960 in order to decrease such unmanageable numbers of animals, and they felt that wild horses were a genuine threat to their livelihoods. The open range was closed, grazing districts added, and grazing permits were allocated in 1934 with the Taylor Grazing Act. The Taylor Grazing act was established to stop injury to public rangelands from horse grazing and sought to provide for orderly use, improvement, and development. The Grazing Service and ranchers despised horses on their lands and wanted to banish wild horses from grazing areas. By the end of World War II 77,000 wild horses were taken from public lands to control their population size. The injustices toward the wild horses had only just begun at this point. Mustangs at this point had become an inexpensive meat as pet food, and were also used in fertilizer. Pet food processing plants began hunting mustangs and after only a few years drastically reduced their numbers in all areas that they could roam. Without the horses, grazing land became available for ranchers and horse meat was an inexpensive solution for processors. The handling of the mass slaughters of wild horses has, however been described as bloody, brutal, and repulsive (Mustangs and the Emergence of 'Wild Horse Annie) and as completely inhumane. Not only were the horses captured by airplane and killed in slaughter houses, but they were becoming close to a new extinction. The famous Velma B. Johnston, also known as Wild Horse Annie lead a campaign to stop the slaughtering of wild horses after seeing a truckload of injured horses near her home in Nevada. She raised awareness about horse treatment, and in 1971 convinced Congress to pass the Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act. This law prevented wild horses and burros from being caught for slaughter and forced livestock owners to either claim the horses they already had, or surrender their ownership. After a set time the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) became responsible for protecting and handling any remaining horses and those still in the wild. Rather than send the mustangs to slaughterhouses to keep their population sizes down, wild horses became available, after being given any needed medical attention, at BLM Wild Horse Facilities where wild horses could be adopted (Mustangs and the Emergence of 'Wild Horse Annie). After over thirty years of grazing in peace without the danger of being sent to the slaughter houses, the laws changed once again for the wild horses. In 2004 the BLM wanted to reduce the number of wild horses from 37,000 to 28,000 in order to manage the population (Mott). The horses themselves have few natural predators and their population size can increase dramatically from year to year according to BLM. Each year the BLM would round up horses that became available for adoption at adoption homes, homes that already had 24,000 horses to manage. According to Montana Republican Senator Conrad Burns These animals live in poor conditions that often lead to their deaths, and without proper management this will continue to happen (Mott). Senator Burns himself attached an amendment to a spending bill that would allow for the sale and slaughter of horses older than ten years and those that have been offered for adoption unsuccessfully more than three times. The bill, passed in December 2004, removed the laws set in place by the Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act. The bill was designed to reduce the number of horses in government-run facilities and the roughly 20 million dollar cost per year to care for them (Mott). Despite government intentions and the efforts of anti-slaughter lobbyists, horses still continue to get slaughtered and have become a key battle line in the war between animal rights activists and commercial ranchers. Because of the sensitive nature of slaughtering the horses, there have been passionate arguments for both those in favor of slaughtering the horses and those against. Those that claim the ever-expanding horse population is a nuisance and destroy land continue to make their case to legislators and have been successful in lobbying states to pass laws protecting the slaughter of wild horse. According to one such important supporter, Ron Cerri, of the Rebel Creek Ranch in Nevada and president-elect of the Nevada Cattlemen's Association, said that the economic situation made slaughtering the horses virtually the ranchers only option: Ranchers would prefer horses be adopted but euthanasia may be necessary to keep their numbers down (Animal-Rights Groups Protest Wild-Horse Cull). However, to counter such actions, groups like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals put forth massive media campaigns and likewise lobby prominent politicians for assistance. Thus far, they have been instrume ntal in convincing celebrities and at least some influential politicians to take up the cause against horse slaughter. In 2005, a bill to ban horse slaughter was introduced to Congress, coauthored by prominent U.S. Senator Robert Byrd. For six decades, Byrd has thrown his support to many animal causes, and his efforts in response to the horse slaughtering issue has been extremely fruitful, though the wheels of the government continue to move slowly. One of three bills currently in Congress related to horse slaughter, the bill would prohibit the commercial slaughter and sale of wild horse and burros (Robert Byrd named Peta's Person of the Year). For his efforts, Byrd was even named 2007 Person of the Year by PETA, who leant their official endorsement of the bill, along with the endorsement of American legend and icon of the American southwest, Willie Nelson. With political and popular supporters on their side, activists against the slaughter of horses have plenty of fuel and energy to continue crusade. Though PETA is a large organization responsible for many successful protests and lobbying against horse slaughter, the wide scale nature of the problem has inspired many regular everyday people to take up the cause. As recently as early July of 2008, activists and ranchers clashed repeatedly in Nevada over horse slaughter. Unfortunately for many of the protestors, as well as people like Sen. Byrd and Willie Nelson, the United States continues to permit the slaughter of horses. Citing the overpopulation of wild horses in the West, the considerably large amount of wild horses the federal government has rounded, budget problems and the high cost of caring for the animals, federal officials with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management believe they have no choice left but to kill the animals they have rounded up (Animal-Rights Groups Protest Wild-Horse Cull). This proposal has the horse advocate community in an uproar, claiming that the drastic measure is merely a reflection of the Bureaus poo r management of the wild horse situation. Because the government fails to let the wild horses roam free and round them up, many cite the roundups as a cause for the proposed mass killing. According to Chris Heyde, the deputy director of government and legal affairs for the Animal Welfare Institute based in Washington, D.C., the roundups left too many horses for the public to adopt, requiring the agency to contract for more private long-term holding facilities (Animal-Rights Groups Protest Wild-Horse Cull). As the state with one of the largest population of wild horses, Nevada allows a management level of 27,000 wild horses, while the state has around another 30,000 in holding facilities. Like so often in the debate for and against horse slaughter, it seems to be a case of business interests against moral objections, and more often than not, business interests have won. More than anything else, this speaks of a social problem greater than the issue of horse slaughter itself. The wild horse represents so many things to those with even a limited knowledge of American history, as well as the history of humanity. Until only a century ago, the horse was a pivotal instrument in society, allowing humans to communicate and travel faster than anything else. While the need for horses decreased with the rapid advancement of technology in the industrial age, their significance remains. Wild horses helped define the American push westward, and symbolize a freedom that is intrinsically American. The slaughter of horses, even if they are considered superfluous and a nuisance to a few wealthy ranchers, is fundamentally egregious in a country that was built on the backs of horses. Holding them in facilities and going on elaborate and costly roundups likewise seems like a waste of taxpayers money in the name of a few. Though the majority of the horses rounded up are adopted, it remains that it is simply not reasonable to roundup incredibly large numbers of wild horses and expect them to be adopted by people that will care for them. Whether legitimately from poor management or hidden obligations to the horsemeat lobby, the government has seriously mishandled the issue of wild horses. The arguments for and against the slaughter of animals make it difficult for a rational person to ever do anything but oppose their slaughter. If the fundamental reason for horse overpopulation is because they are not rounded up and slaughtered, then there is a slight chance that supporters of the sl aughter are correct. However, there exist many means to keep the population down, and according to Lacy Dalton, president and co-founder of the Let 'Em Run Foundation horse advocacy group, the government can also make efforts to step up birth control and legislation to provide tax breaks to large landowners willing to let horses roam on their property (Animal-Rights Groups Protest Wild-Horse Cull). If everyone like Lacy Dalton had land to provide for horses and a kind heart, the issue may dissolve into oblivion, though the population of wild horses may also grow to numbers previously unseen. That is why there is no easy answer to the issue of wild horses, and the debate rages on. The tumultuous history of wild horses has landed them in many places. From an invaluable aspect of life for Native Americans and pioneers to an airplane of devalued caucuses for processing plants and certain ranchers, these wild horses have experienced the breath of humanity. They have seen protestors fight for their treatment, and have experienced landowners taking control of grasslands. The wild horses once symbolized our American courage and spirit for freedom, and today they call on us to use our rights to give them a voice. Works Cited: Animal-Rights Groups Protest Wild-Horse Cull. FoxNews. 7 July 2008. 14 July 2008. Hyde, Dayton O. "History of the Wild Horse." Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary. Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary. Kerson, Nancy. "Mustang Wild Horse History." Mustangs 4 Us. 2006. 14 July 2008. "Mustangs and the Emergence of 'Wild Horse Annie.'" Unbroken Spirit. Buffalo Bill Historical Center. 14 July 2008. Mott, Maryanne. "U.S. Wild Horse Slaughter Legalization Draws Fire." National Geographic News. Mar.-Apr. 2005. National Geographic. 15 July 2008. Robert Byrd named Peta's Person of the Year. Horsetalk. 1 January 2008. 15 July 2008.

Population growth in Africa essayEssay Writing Service

Population growth in Africa essayEssay Writing Service Population growth in Africa essay Population growth in Africa essayToday many developing countries are concerned about population-related challenges, which have a strong impact on social, cultural and economic development of human society. Africa is no exception. The growth of population in Africa is a key factor that lies at the root of many population-related challenges. According to researchers, â€Å"currently, the developing world accounts for about 95% of the population growth with Africa as the world’s fastest growing continent† (Hartemink, 2007, p. 85). In other words, Africa faces more population-related challenges than any other continent. Besides, many African countries are dependent on the industrial market economies of the developed countries as their domestic economies are unstable. Researches state that â€Å"poorly managed African economies remain essentially in the state of deterioration† (Mbaku, 2004, p. 102). There are three major population-related challenges in Africa, includ ing starvation, urbanization which leads to inadequate housing, improper health care, and poverty. As African population has been growing rapidly, â€Å"from 221 million in 1950 to 1 billion in 2009,† the population-related challenges affect the life of each African family to a great extent (Africa Hunger and Poverty Facts, 2014). The rapid population growth, along with a wide range of other factors, such as poor economic system, deterioration in the environment and the spread of criminal violence, has considerably limited the â€Å"growth in per capita income, causing poverty and hunger† (Africa Hunger and Poverty Facts, 2014). The best strategy to address the major population-related challenges in Africa is the promotion of population control programs that will help to provide adequate conditions for social, economic and cultural development of people.The major goal of this paper is to identify three major population-related challenges in Africa, and present a strate gy to effectively address these problems.Three major population-related challenges in Africa  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The major population-related challenges in Africa are caused by the largest population growth. Three significant population-related challenges in Africa include starvation, urbanization and poverty.Starvation as one of the major population-related problems in AfricaOne of the major population-related problems Africa faces today is the lack of enough food to feed all the people. According to researchers, â€Å"starvation and famines have ravaged several African countries† (Hartemink, 2007, p. 85). Somalis, Ethiopia, Angola, Sudan and many other African countries have faced serious problems caused by severe food shortages since the 1950-60s. Today the problem of starvation is an acute one in Africa. The growth of African population leads to the growing number of underweight children. The statistical data show that about â€Å"33 percent of ch ildren are underweight in Africa† (Hall, 2006, p. 6). Starvation is caused by a wide range of factors, including economic, environmental, political and social factors. The African continent includes fifty four countries, and practically each country has encountered food crises (Hall, 2006).  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Actually, food-related problems in African countries have been widely discussed in the media. According to researchers, â€Å"the continued struggle to meet basic food needs has made it difficult for policymakers to devote any effort or resources to general economic development†(Mbaku, 2007, p. 9). African policymakers lack the required industrial base to achieve the surficial amount of products in food production industry, as well as the adequate foreign exchange that could allow to â€Å"import food from abroad to meet domestic shortages† (Mbaku, 2007, p. 9).  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As a matter of fact, food is considered to be one of the major needs for all human beings. African people encounter inadequate distribution of food that fails to maintain good health condition of population. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, â€Å"about 239 million people in sub-Saharan Africa were hungry or undernourished in 2010† (Africa Hunger and Poverty Facts, 2014).Urbanization as one of the significant population-related problemsUrbanization is another significant population-related problem in Africa. Researchers state that â€Å"since the late1960s, Africans have been moving from the rural and agricultural sectors to the urban sectors in large numbers† (Mbaku, 1997, p. 7). There are several factors that led to the increased rate of urbanization, including the lack of opportunities for economic development of people living in rural areas, the increased growth of population in rural areas, etc.   For example, in many countries of South Africa, rural people have to migr ate to the urban areas because of decreased farming opportunities. As a result, African people find themselves in the urban areas absolutely unprepared for urban life. They lack the required education, cannot speak English well, and have to support large families. They have to live in â€Å"crowded and unhealthy quarters,† being used as the cheap labor force (Mbaku, 2007, p. 7).  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Urbanization has led to the problem of overcrowding in many urban areas of African countries. The increased demand for a wide range of infrastructural services places emphasis on other challenges caused by urbanization, including inadequate housing, the lack of the required amount of medical facilities, etc. (Mbaku, 2007).Poverty as one of the major population-related problems in African countries  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Poverty is one of the major population-related problems in Africa. Poverty is considered to be the major cause of hunge r in African countries.   In Africa, people do not have sufficient income to buy enough food to feed children. According to statistical data, in 2008, â€Å"about 47 percent of the population of sub-Saharan Africa lived on $1.25 a day or less, a principal factor in causing widespread hunger† (Africa Hunger and Poverty Facts, 2014).  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In addition, poverty leads to the spread of diseases, which jeopardize the lives of many African people. There are several factors that lead to spread of poverty in Africa, including not only diseases, but also natural disasters, warfare, forced migration, bad governance and illiteracy† (Brenzinger, 2009, p. 37). Actually, poverty in many African countries relates to certain social challenges, such as the lack of education and improper well-being. Besides, poverty in Africa can be characterized by some physical features, such as â€Å"short life expectancy and severe malnutrition† (Brenzing er, 2009, p. 37). Droughts in tropical Africa produce natural disasters. As a result, people face chronic food shortages, as well as lack sufficient food security. In some areas, African people have no access to clean drinking water and they face poor sanitation conditions.Presentation of the strategy to effectively addressthe major population-related problems in AfricaAs the majority of countries in Africa are characterized by relatively high population growth, the strategy to effectively address the major population-related challenges should be aimed at reduction population growth rate. Population-related challenges have led to the crises in many countries of Africa, including Sudan, Ethiopia, Chad, Somalia, Rwanda, and other countries with excessive population growth and poor eco-systems. It would be better to develop an effective strategy that will provide control over child bearing. It is necessary to develop the health care reform that would allow African women to have no more than two children (now they have five- six children) (Africa Hunger and Poverty Facts, 2014). According to researchers, in 1970s, the governments of many African countries were advised to develop national population control programs. These programs could encourage all citizens to assess the â€Å"dangers of uncontrolled population growth, educating them on the economic and social impact of bringing forth new lives without corresponding economic empowerment to bring them up† (Mataen, 2012, p. 23). However, these programs had no positive impact on African women, although in some countries the â€Å"number of children per woman came down from 7.2 to 6.5† (Mataen, 2012, p. 23).Today it is necessary to make this strategy more effective. It would be better to involve the developed countries that could act as sponsors in promoting population control programs in Africa. The governments of African countries should be focused on joint efforts in reduction the increased rate of population growth (Mataen, 2012). The governments of African countries should be aimed at extension of basic primary education, which will allow African people to find jobs and support their families. Besides, the governments should promote basic health care services to the larger part of their population. So, population growth should be reduced to create adequate conditions for social, economic and cultural development of people (Mataen, 2012).Conclusion  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Thus, it is necessary to conclude that today African countries face serious population-related challenges that have a strong impact on social, cultural and economic development of people in Africa. The rapid growth of population is a key factor that lies at the root of many population-related challenges, including poverty, urbanization and starvation. The governments of African countries should develop effective strategies to reduce the increased rate of population growth and provide adeq uate conditions for social, economic and cultural development of people. The promotion of population control programs in Africa is the best solution to the existing population-related challenges.

Answer 9 questions Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Answer 9 questions - Assignment Example ironic, in that in its translation, it means It is sweet and glorious, while the actual theme of the story is to present the horrific incidence of a chemical weapon attack on a British soldier, who was unable to put on a protective gas mask. Referring to such a poem as sweet and glorious, yet presenting and condemning the horrific incidences of World War I is pure irony (660). 3. The point of view in the short poem â€Å"Death of the Ball Turret Gunner,† changes at the end, to indicate how the society loses interest in an individual after death, even after having considered them useful during their lifetime (652). 4. The flea in John Donne’s poem, â€Å"The Flea†, is an extended metaphor, which is used in this poem to represent sexual encounter (847), making the blood of the two individuals involved mingle and end up as one, through the divine act of nature where a child is formed, which the individuals cannot control. 5. The theme of â€Å"To His Coy Mistress† compares to that of â€Å"The Flea† in that, both poems present the theme of love. The narrators of these poems want to present their case for love, where the women they are in love with do not seem to satisfy their desires for intimacy (981). Both of these poems are an argument to the end, since the narrators are consistently presenting their interests to their love partners who do not seem to cater for such interest adequately. 6. The comparison in the treatment of fairy tales in the poems, â€Å"Snow White,† and â€Å"Cinderella is that, the beautiful girls, who actually belong to the throne, are mistreated by their stepmothers after the death of the queens, who were their mothers. However, due to their beauty, they eventually ended up being married by the kings of these thrones and become queens. The contrast is that while the girl in Cinderella is married by his father, the one in snow white is married by his stepbrother. The writers make the tales more realistic through having the mistreated girls

Nike-CEO Mark Parker Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Nike-CEO Mark Parker - Essay Example This led to resistance to change and the creation of a gap between the firm and the CEO. Parker inherited this problem because he had to gain their confidence to implement the changes he perceived worth. Parker has proved to be a strategist through his changes on the operations of the company. He shifted the brand away from the original products based and sub-brand structure to a structure that is customer driven. He divided the company into various categories such as women’s fitness, running and basketball. He also initiated an innovation process by creating an innovation group that would come up with different brands as a strategy to command large market share. Considering the concept of impact of environmental sustainability, Nike has â€Å"Nike Sustainable Business + Innovation† program. This program is used to power the companies brand, the employee efforts, and passions to ensure that changes that are brought in the brand are environmental friendly (Lussier, & Achua, 2013). This program ensures that any opportunity that the organization gets is utilized in a manner, which it creates a positive social and environmental impact in the world. This product has seen its customers accept its products in the market easily because of the additional cooperate social responsibility. Parker pursues the strategy of enhancing value to its customers by acknowledging that the customer is their main asset and thus all employees work to cater for the needs and wants of customers because they are their boss. In creating new opportunities, he has a partnered the company with key organizations such Steve Job and Apple. Apple Company has created an opportunity by allowing Nike + footwear to talk with the customer’s iPod as they are running or carrying out workout experience. This creates an opportunity for customers to long for Nike brands to get this service by Apple known as Nike Plus program (Lussier, & Achua,

Differences Between Capitalism and Socialism Assignment

Differences Between Capitalism and Socialism - Assignment Example Remarkable progress was achieved in the fields of infrastructure development and industrialization and the capitalist maximized their profits, but the state of affairs of the labor class of the society remained the same. As the standard of living of the elite class and the capitalists increased with the increased productivity, the disparity and discrepancy between different social classes went on to increase and the lower classes started to protest about their miserable status of living. This led to the development of another socioeconomic ideology which was later called socialism. Socialist thinkers such as Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels declared that state is responsible for safeguarding the basic rights of each and every individual of the society and the ultimate objective of the states should be to provide better services all the classes of the society, irrespective of their financial status (Balcerowicz, 1995). Capitalism Capitalism is a system of economics in which the producti on and the distribution is the ownership of individuals or corporations and the development is proportional to the accumulation and the reinvestment of the profits generated in a free market economy. In simple words the person or the group of persons who have invested its capital, and thus put their money on risk, are entitled to enjoy absolute authority over production and distribution and also the profits generated through the investment of capital. The industrial revolution compelled a considerable number of people living in rural areas to move to the cities in order to enjoy the advantages of industrial revolution. This led to the concept of buying the services of people in return of wages and thus a working class was created in the society, but in contrast to the aspirations of the common people, the working class could not improve their working conditions because they were considered as a means of maximizing profit by the capitalists and were exploited bitterly (Davis & Scase, 1987). The pioneers of capitalism advocate increase in productivity as the greatest advantage of this economic system which results in the economic growth of the society and thus the living standard of each and every individual is improved because resources are utilized to their fullest. Moreover the competition in a free market economy improves the quality of the product which is being produced. However, in the early days with the absence of labor laws and human rights protection agencies capitalism resulted in the exploitation of the labor class by the elite and the promises of better living conditions and improved quality could not be realized. The desire of the capitalists to maximize profits makes the economy money-oriented which promotes a materialistic approach of running the economy. This approach made capitalism very unpopular among the lower classes of the society in the 19th and 20th centuries and thus the new systems of economics like socialism and communism were adopte d as new social ideologies. During the later part of the 20th century, labor laws were formulated and made strong and human rights charters were adopted which greatly improved the state of affairs of the working class in capitalism. The development of these laws and some other laws related to trade and free market economy has helped capitalism to emerge as the strongest and the most-practiced system of economy and a new

Importance of New Psychiatric Medication Guide

Importance of New Psychiatric Medication Guide CHAPTER 1: THE IMPORTANCE OF A NEW PSYCHIATRIC MEDICATION GUIDE PREFACE: Over the last decade, I’ve served as the medical director of multiple mental health clinics. I’ve worked with thousands of clients amidst a variety of challenging circumstances. Throughout my experience, I became increasingly aware of the challenges that clinicians face about quickly and comprehensively understanding the complexities of psychopharmacology. I’ve seen clinicians spend hours browsing through massive manuals when seeking information about medications, potential side effects, drug interactions and related questions. Although a number of resources and books about psychopharmacology are available in print, no definitive guide of psychopharmacological resources has been created before. Some resources are concerned with defining psychopharmacology, while some concentrate on a specific class of drugs. Those that do attempt to provide a comprehensive overview of psychopharmalogical resources generally do so in a complicated and discursive manner. Until now, clinicians have lacked a single, comprehensive book about psychopharmacology that conveys this vital knowledge in a simple, concise format. To address this challenge effectively, I have compiled this guide that allows mental health clinicians to find all relevant information about important psychiatric medications in shortest possible time. By practicing psychiatric medicine for many years, skimming through hundreds of books and thousand of articles, giving lectures, speaking with fellow clinicians, and treating clients in various settings, I was able to condense relevant information on psychiatric medications into the following guide. This resource changes the way in which clinicians work, equipping them with the necessary tools and information to allow them to provide the best possible care to their clients. In doing so, this book not only covers the essential facts about each psychiatric drug, but it also provides clinically actionable information about every drug and its class, such as latest dosing protocols, clinical indications, side effects and related content. All these aspects are presented in a concise, elegant manner without superfluous intricacy. I’ve intentionally structured this book according to concept learning, categorizing and explaining various drugs in their specific pharmacological classes. Consequently, the guide incorporates the most up-to-date knowledge and practices in straightforward and clinically sound terms. Every drug class is addressed in its own chapter, and important pharmacological agents would be further expanded upon. Heading and sub-headings further elaborate the data. Additionally, helpful pictures, diagrams and tables are included in full-color to summarize concepts efficiently. Moreover, this book’s pocket-sized format is priced affordably and is designed for the busy clinician in practice, the young medical professional in training, and anyone else seeking a clear, quality resource on psychopharmacology. It is my hope that this guide will enable you to glean current, comprehensive information about psychotropic drugs to strengthen your daily practice. INTRODUCTION: Despite decades of research and medical advancements, mental health challenges continue to plague the world’s population in epidemic proportions. The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that mental illness will become the leading contributor to the global burden of disease by the year 2020. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), about 1 in 4 Americans (approximately 61.5 million people) have been diagnosed with some form of mental illness (PhRMA 2014). Mental illnesses are also expensive, costing the US over $317 billion each year (PhRMA 2014). As clinical psychiatry struggles to keep up with the growing burden of disease, the need for better medications and enhanced understanding of the psychopathology of mental illnesses is of utmost importance. Efforts to combat this growing problem have resulted in the creation of new drugs, which are incessantly entering and flourishing in the market, replacing many of the older drugs, now obsolete due to their poor efficacy or harmful side effects. Currently, more than 119 medicines with novel mechanisms of action are being developed to treat a variety of mental health conditions (PhRMA 2014). Some of these innovative approaches include intranasal medication for treatment-resistant depression, a cocaine vaccine, and a rapidly dissolving tablet for autism. Additionally, the discovery of the glutamate system marks a major breakthrough for many psychiatric conditions, such as depression and suicide. Triple reuptake inhibitors, brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), corticotropin-releas ing hormone (CRH), and melatonin are just a few of the mechanisms recently receiving significant attention from researchers. Similarly, the NMDA-receptor antagonist ketamine has shown promising results for the rapid treatment of severe depression and acutely suicidal patients. It seems possible that before long, physicians will be developing personalized treatment plans via gene scanning, RNA fingerprinting, brain mapping, and brain imaging. In light of these breakthroughs and developments, prescribers have a responsibility to their patients to stay updated on the latest psychopharmalogical advancements. The interplay of evolving treatment options, new diagnoses, redefined disorders, and changing treatment recommendations from various professional and regulatory organizations places a tremendous burden on prescribers who need to keep their knowledge current. In the wake of these dynamics, it is highly necessary to update information about new or adjusted medications, not only for medical professionals, but also for the patient. To a prescriber, however, maintaining a robust scientific literacy can involve an overwhelming amount of information that may seem just as daunting as the problem of mental illness itself. Consequently, using a comprehensive and up-to-date guide to stay abreast of new psychiatric medications and regimens is vital for mental health professionals. As the medical director of multiple bustling mental health clinics and having treated thousands of patients over the last decade, I recognize the obstacles faced in day-to-day psychopharmacology practices. I found myself surprised by the lack of any portable, comprehensive resource on psychiatric medications. I have observed professionals waste so much time trying to find just fundamental information about medications, like dosing, side effects, interactions, precautions, withdrawals, and use in special populations. Clinicians lack informative support, as there is not a single book currently available that provides all the essential information about psychiatric medications and psychopharmacology in a concise, reliable, and elegant way. With those challenges in mind, these contents serve as a relevant â€Å"one-stop shop† guide of psychiatric medications for mental health clinicians. Designed for any mental health professionals looking for simple information about the treatment of mental health issues, the material in this book contains a full listing of important information on psychopharmacology. Scouring hundreds of references, lecturing, speaking with other clinicians, and treating patients in multiple settings have allowed me to condense all of the pertinent knowledge in this short resource. Hence, this guide is the result of decades of experience, dedication, and hard work. This book presents that treasure of knowledge—hitherto dispersed across bulky, obscure, and expensive reference texts—in a readily digestible form. It replaces booklets written by non-clinicians, which often lack sufficient detail. It displaces texts that focus solely on basic overviews or on specific classes of drugs. It replaces other lengthy manuals that attempt to encompass all relevant material but which do so in a complicated, discursive manner. Rigorously composed and updated, this guide covers existing as well as new psychiatric medications and their latest dosing protocols. It is my hope that the integration of basic psychiatry and psychopharmacology with the most current guidelines, recommendations, and best practices of prescribing render this information both comprehensive and reader-friendly. This resource thoroughly and clearly covers every topic that is encountered daily by mental health clinicians in the field. The bulk of this text consists of chapters organized by disorder with emphasis on the important classes or individual drugs for that particular diagnosis. Essential information covering every aspect of the medications is provided including: Generic brand names FDA approved indication(s) Off-label uses Medication form(s) Dosage Mechanism of action (MOA) Pharmacokinetics Warnings Drug interactions Common side effects Contraindications Lab tests recommended Overdose information Tapering/withdrawal Special Populations: use in pregnancy, lactation, elderly, and comorbid illnesses (e.g., hepatic and renal impairment) Important notes: evidence-based clinical pointers for further clinical context Having this material handy will change how clinicians work by equipping them with all of the necessary tools so that they can care for their patients in the best possible way. The guide further examines some of the most prevalent psychiatric disorders, including major depression, substance abuse, bipolar disorder, ADHD, psychosis, and schizophrenia. In addition, the book has dedicated sections for the following major topics: must-know changes in the DSM-5, substance abuse, eating disorders, dementia or cognitive disorders, and personality disorders. Other current mental health issues are explored in detail, including psychiatric emergencies (such as suicide/homicide or violence), PTSD, and future medications. This guide also discusses medication use in special populations in-depth, addressing areas such as use in pregnancy, lactation, the elderly, children, and comorbid illnesses (e.g. renal and hepatic impairment). Material is uniquely presented with additional vital information on special cases. Moreover, due to the growing interest surrounding the use of alternative medications in the treatment of psychiatric ailments, a separate chapter is devoted to the various dietary, herbal, and OTC drugs available. In addition to focusing on psychiatric medications, this guide also expands upon the emerging non-pharmacological psychiatric interventions that are being used in current practice. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), deep brain stimulation (DBS), and trans-cranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) are covered thoroughly, enabling physicians to sharpen their interventional knowledge and related skills. The contents of this guide are a vital tool for clinicians, allowing them to save valuable time and to succeed in the modern era of medicine through its straightforward presentation, portability, and reliability. As a result, it will be of tremendous help to any prescribing physician who requires a short, clearly presented account of the latest medications used in psychiatry. As a text that intersects clinical psychiatry with psychopharmacology, this guide is intentionally accessible to students, residents, counselors, therapists, psychologists, family physicians, pediatricians, and psychiatrists alike. Simple, concise, current, evidence-based and written from clinical expertise, this book is a vital guide for those responsible for prescribing, dispensing or administering drugs for patients with mental health disorders.

A room of ones own Essay -- Literary Analysis, Virginia Woolf

Virginia Woolf's ambitious work A Room of One's Own tackles many significant issues concerning the history and culture of women's writing, and attempts to document the conditions which women have had to endure in order to write, juxtaposing these with her vision of ideal conditions for the creation of literature. Woolf's extended essay has endured and proved itself to be a viable, pioneering feminist piece of work, but the broad range of ideas and arguments Woolf explores leaves her piece open to criticism over certain concepts which seem to contradict themselves. This observation can be explained most satisfactorily by critic Ellen Bayuk Rosenman, who posits, "the essay does not strive for the strict coherence of a jigsaw puzzle, composed of perfectly interlocking pieces in which no gaps exist and there is nothing left over...Woolf's essay has proved so durable because it often contradicts itself"(13). Woolf puts forth the notion in the end of her essay that the "androgynous mind" i s to be the apotheosis of all the perspectives of writing; yet this belief she conveys contradicts not only previous evidence she has expressed but also diminishes the value of the female as a significant contributor to the world of literature, and discredits woman's ability to write as she is attempting to praise and inspire us. Virginia Woolf uses A Room of One's Own as a platform to discuss past and current social inequities that exist within the realm of women and literature, attempting to document the negative effects that patriarchal society of the early twentieth century England has wrought upon the female psyche. From her analysis of these issues and her own life experiences, Woolf comes to the conclusion which becomes the basis for this essay... ...(13), exposes brilliantly the ambiguity present throughout Woolf's essay. And Woolf herself provides the most eloquent contradiction of the piece when she urges, "it is much more important to be oneself than anything else. Do not dream of influencing other people, I would say, if I knew how to make it sound exalted. Think of things in themselves"(2211). To 'think of things in themselves' in the most literal sense would be to allow every perception, every attitude, every emotion equal stature in one's mind and in the writing process. Perhaps it is not disregarding one's own sex that will make for the highest form of literature, but instead allowing the combination of experience and emotion, spirituality and materialism, belief and conjecture, to coalesce into a beautiful mass of ideas that will truly be a reflection of the author in her most complete consciousness.

College Computerized Billing System Essay

With the power of technology nowadays, people get interested with computers. They tried to indulge themselves on it to have a productive result in a more efficient and time saving process. It is highly valued in institutions like business enterprises, schools, hospitals, government and non government services. However, some of them are still using manual system. In this regard, we acknowledge the value of computerized system. As of today’s generation, there are already many college schools existing. One of which is IJMS College Departmentthat serves tutorialtype. It is located at Malvar, Santiago City and is owned by Dr. Imelda B. Brilliantes. IJMS started the operation of their college department onJune 2004. Since the said industry is new, they still don’t have computerized system for reservation and billing which is very useful for business purposes. For thesis project, the researchers would like to propose a reservation and billing system to D’ Budgetel to help the management and have a synchronize flow in their transactions system. 1. 2 Statement of the Problem Hotel customers choose important considerations in choosing a place to stay like location, price/value and service. These are very important because these are the primary basis of a customer to be attracted in that business. Since the researchers found out that manual procedure are still used in processing their billing and reservation transactions, it greatly affects their customer’s need. This study aims to look for the following problems: 1. The School billing statement doesn’t provide specific or detailed information regarding on student’s payment or charges.

The turning point of war; Stalingrad battle

The turning point of war; Stalingrad battle Introduction The following essay will show how the Stalingrad battle, ordered by Hitler, was just but the turning point of war in World War II. This is because it was the end of a perception the world had, that Germany was the most powerful nation and could win every war. This will be into comparison with other instances when Hitler had attacked other parts of the world.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on The turning point of war; Stalingrad battle specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Stalingrad Battle By mid 1942, Germany had cost Russians tremendous losses in terms of resources and work force given that the former had managed to kill over three million Russian soldiers and putting almost a similar number in captivity. Were it not for winter that pushed them back a bit, Germans had captured around ninety percent of Russian land and resources. By the beginning of summer, Hitler was again ready to attack Russia taki ng advantage of their weak status due to the tremendous losses he had cost them earlier on. The Stalingrad battle began in September 1942 during the winter, led by the â€Å"German commander of the sixth army, General Paulus and assisted by Fourth Panzer Army†; indeed, General Paulus was ordered by Hitler to take Stalingrad whose initial target was to capture the oil fields at Caucasus and their final target was Baku[1], which supplied seventy-one percent of all the oil the Soviets used during Word war II. Hitler’s other reason for capturing Stalingrad was due to its association with Russia as well as its connection to the south waterway. Thus by seizing Stalingrad, he would have paralyzed Russia by a great deal. All his interest on Stalingrad was accelerated by the fact that he was interested in damaging the name of his enemy Stalin who was the Soviet dictator and the city was named after his name. For a long time, the world was convinced that Germany had the best and strongest army, meaning they could win any war. The contrast of this began during Red Verdun war in 1918, two years before World War I ended[2]. In 1916, the cream of Germany army engaged French in a battle that failed terribly and since then, problems began since most its followers withdrew, divisions in the army began which finally collapsed, thus it had no future. Their enemies â€Å"Anglo-American-French bloc,† did not realize that they were approaching victory and they â€Å"continued believing that the German army was still the most powerful†[3]. The Stalingrad battle is different in nature from Red Verdun battle since it was the Germans last expression of a desperate struggle. The Soviet army won this battle and it was not only the turning point in the World War II but in the history of humankind.Advertising Looking for term paper on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Sixty five percent of all casualties in the war were Russian. It was Russia blood, machinery, resources and will which brought Hitler down. This is evident from the fact that, when Stalin appointed the two best military commanders, they vowed to either liberate Stalingrad or die with so much determination. Millions of people in the world followed the proceedings of Stalingrad carefully and every step the Soviet army made brought to them anxiety and stirred elation throughout the world[4]. After this defeat, the German army was in full retreat because it had lost a lot thus it was so weak such that it would take a long time to recover of which Russia was still advancing.. During his battles, before e.g. in Poland, Norway, Holland, Belgium, and France, where he definitely won, Hitler never dared to divide his attention but always directed all his concentration to one major objective. Contrary, during the Stalingrad battle, Hitler had divided attention because by the time he ordered attack of the city, som e groups of his army were still on their way to Caucasus and he was still preparing others for a succeeding attack of Siberia. It was therefore unwise to advance having left a major city unconquered[5]. Were Hitler not divided; his sixth army would not have been intertwined at Stalingrad. The city of Stalingrad was named after the Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin who was a great enemy to Hitler. Germany almost overthrew Russia but they failed to exercise their authority. Hitler had dismissed his commander in chief and had taken the role himself without any consultation thus this confusion made it hard for the army to defeat Soviet, which was very organized and determined. Both armies were well equipped with soldiers, artillery guns, tanks, and planes thus, though Germany was thought to be stronger, they would capture areas during the day, but Russia would recapture them at night. Russian commander at the time was Marshal Zhukov. For them to be defeated, Germans were trapped in Stalingr ad city by a bulk of Zhukov army who had surrounded the city. Paulus could have been able to get out of the trap in the fist stages of Russians preparation but Hitler ordered them to fight up to the last bullet. When the momentum of the battle was fully with the Soviets, Hitler refused to let Paulus retreat since he never wanted to bear the blame.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on The turning point of war; Stalingrad battle specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Their capture was accelerated by the fact that when they were surrounded in the city, it was hard for them to be supplied with food, ammunition, and heat since the winter temperatures were reading negative. Left with no choice, they surrendered to the Soviet army and were taken as prisoners. Germany began to retreat since their defeat in Stalingrad. This is because they lost labor when 91 000 Germans were taken prisoners and they lost their army and equipment m eaning they could not be able to fight the Soviet Union any more. This was the downfall of the world’s most powerful army, which had purposed to conquer the whole world thus their downfall was a complete liberation to the human race and a turning point in the World-war II. The battle of Stalingrad was the bloodiest battle in history and a sudden and widespread disaster of Germany. It was one of the most inhuman and cruel during the World War 2 since people fought literally from street to street and house to house[6]. It was a titanic battle where Stalin’s very name was a target, whereby, every street, house, and floor had to be painstakingly taken. It was the end of the last major gain of territory by the Axis on either front, from then on forward all the major attacks and offensives were a combined effort. Germany was a super power before 1914 but by 1945, it was a second world nation. This is because the invasion of the Soviet Union drained most of their resources. T he Germans were completely unprepared for war and if it were not for the long distances and terrible winters, the Soviet Union would have probably lost. The diaphanous numbers of work force and increasing production finally turned the tide. After Germanys failure to take Stalingrad, their Eastern front army was practically destroyed and they were forced to flee the Soviet Union[7]. This turned the War in putting the Russians on the offensive, which directly aided in the destruction and conquering of Germany by the Allied Forces throughout 1944 and 1945. Germany was, essentially, surrounded with the Americans and British in the West, and the Russians in the East. Before Stalingrad Hitler was still on course to win the war in the European theatre but afterwards, he was on the back foot considering the number of troops that were engaged and that died[8].Advertising Looking for term paper on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Clearly, the battle was a major strategic mistake by Hitler since it wasted vital German resources. Hitler should have concentrated all forces in Southern Russia and used them to capture the vital oil fields of the Caucasus’s since oil was the lifeblood of all the mechanized tanks, planes, and trucks that the Soviet union used during World war II. In Stalingrad, the Germans were bogged down and lost all their previous advantages such as mobility, firepower and aircraft cover. Despite taking 90% of the city, the Russians held on, and since they well conversant with the winter season, they were able to encircle the city, rendering Germans helpless. Thousands of men had been trapped and surrounded and the first German field marshal had been taken prisoner in history – a major propaganda coup for Stalin and a slap in the face for Hitler. Had Soviets lost Stalingrad, they would have lost the war, and the raw material they needed would have fallen into the hands of Germans. This is because their target, Stalingrad and Baku were the major suppliers of oil and other necessities Soviet were using during the World War II. The Downfall of Hitler The downfall of Germany came from poor leadership. This is because when the Germans were attacking Russia for the second time, Hitler decided to taken up the role of his Generals and he consulted them no more. Earlier on, the German military had purposed to continue evading the already weak Russian army and to crush the remaining ones as well as capturing the Russia capital city. Furthermore, they were to capture the rich oil fields Caucasus as well as Stalingrad, the main industrial and transportation centre that was the main waterway of inner Russia. Their aim was not to occupy Stalingrad but to put it under heavy surveillance to ensure that no businesses were operating. The biggest mistake that Hitler did was his decision to remain in Stalingrad after being deceived by the fact that they had achieved their first objective as per their plans, thus he thought the Russians would not counter attack. His decision lead to heavy losses since he lost the southern campaign and his army was destroyed. All this was because of taking power to himself since he never listened to them and he insisted that they were to fight until the last bullet[9]. The other reason that leads to the downfall of Hitler and his army was divided interest. He was over confident due to his previous success in the western front and thus he decided to conquer the outstretched Soviet Union in three months. This made him disperse his army through the large socialist nation since he wanted to achieve his objectives very fast and still conquer Moscow to the north and Persian Gulf to the south. At the same time, he had dismissed his commander-in-chief and he was still directing a Japanese fascist that was preparing to attack Siberia after the fall of Stalingrad. All these tasks divided his attention making it hard for him to perfect the matter at hand. At the end of that summer, Hitler had not achieved any of his objectives since he was too ambitious. He was not able to penetrate the oil fields nor did he capture Stalingrad, thus his army was left unable to advance or to retreat causing immense losses[10]. When Russians realized that it was so evident from the look of things that they would loose their city to Germans, Stalin came up with a very brilliant strategy that drew Hitler towards destruction[11]. He realized that the only thing that would save Russia was a good leadership. He therefore chose two superb commanders with highest military skills and strong will i.e. General Zhukov at national level and Vasily Chuikov at local level. They vowed to either defend the city or die. Since Germany, leadership was weak and Hitler had already dismissed his commander in chief, this counter attack swept them off the ground and the result was that hundreds of thousands of their military men were killed though the dam ages and killings were both way traffic. Conclusion The Soviet Union victory against Germany was the beginning of liberation of humankind from the hands of a dictator Hitler. The Germans were thought to be the most powerful nation in the world and even at the verge of their defeat; they still under estimated the Russian resources. The Russians did their preparation for the counter attack very carefully, putting every detail of their internal organization in perspective, as they knew that a slight mistake would bestow victory upon their rivals. On the other hand, by the time, Germans realized the ability in Russia, there was little left to do apart from surrendering. Furthermore, the nature of dictatorship in Hitler cost Germany a great deal since he dismissed the opinions of professionals making it hard for them to operate. Actually, after they were defeated, Hitler announced a mourning day to accomplish his blame game over his army commander Paulus. Apart from its losses, German ar my lost its formidable image of being unbeatable. Out of the hundreds of thousands of Germans militia who went for war, only five thousand went home safe. Indeed, around three hundred thousand soldiers from Germany died in Stalingrad thus indicating how terribly the Germans had lost the battle to the Russians. The Soviet victory boosted their morale a great deal and fought with vigor until the end of World War II, which lasted almost three years since the defeat of Germany. Bibliography Anon. The Battle of Stalingrad, N.d. Web. Duiker, William and Spielvogel, Jackson. World History. NY: Cengage Learning, 2008. Web. Hansen, Valerie and Curtis, Kenneth. Voyages in the World History. NY: Cengage Learning, 2008. Web. Trueman, Chris. The Battle of Stalingrad, N.d. Web. Tse-tung, Mao. The Turning Point in World War II, 2004 Web. Footnotes Anon. The Battle of Stalingrad. N.d. Mao Tse-tung, The Turning Point in World War II. 2004. William, Duiker and Jackson J. Spielvogel. World History. M ao Tse-tung, 2004. Mao Tse-tung, 2004. Valerie Hansen, and Kenneth, Curtis. Voyages in the World History. William, Duiker and Jackson J. Spielvogel, 2010. Valerie Hansen, and Kenneth, Curtis, 2010. Anon, N.d. Mao Tse-tung, 2004. Chris Trueman. The Battle of Stalingrad. N.d.

The Tuskegee Project essays

The Tuskegee Project essays In 1972 a great injustice was the Tuskegee study. It was a study performed in 1932 on 600 African-American men. 399 of the men were infected with the STD syphilis and 201 of them were not infected with the disease. All of these men were uneducated and poor. So when the government offered them free physical examinations, free rides to and from the clinics, free treatments for minor ailments, and a guarantee that a burial stipend would be paid to their survivors of course they accepted. Even though the men agreed they were not informed of what was supposed to happen in the study. But what they didn't know was that they would never receive the proper treatment for their disease. Even when penicillin was accepted as the treatment of choice for syphilis in 1945 the men were still not given the treatment. This study went on until 1972 exactly 40 years after it began. In 1947 an advisory panel found nothing to show that the subjects were ever given the choice of quitting the study, even whe n this new, highly effective treatment became widely used. The Tuskegee Study symbolizes the medical misconduct and blatant disregard for human rights. And the worst part about the whole thing is that the government let this happen. The doctors that participated in the study were performing unethical and immoral experiments on human subjects. Many people compare the Tuskegee Study to the in-human experiments performed on the Jewish. There was not a formal protocol for the study nor could one be provided. By the time the story broke in 1972 over 100 of the infected men had died, others suffered from serious syphilis related conditions that may have contributed to their later deaths. In 1973 Fred Gray a prominent civil rights lawyer, brought a $1.8 billion class action civil suit against many of those institutions and individual involved in the study. Gray also demanded 3 million in damages for each living participant and the heirs of th ...

OUTLINE ON THE JAPANESE PEOPLE Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

OUTLINE ON THE JAPANESE PEOPLE - Assignment Example Most of the workforce in Japan, which numbered 65.1 million as of 2010, consists of 70% working in services, 26% working in industry, and 4% working in agriculture (United States Department of State, 2011). Less than 15% of the land is arable, and farming is fiercely protected and subsidized, though not enough to make it a full-time occupation (United States Department of State, 2011). 42% of the workforce consists of women, and while labor unions are prevalent throughout the country, representing about 10 million workers as of 2007, their main focus is on those with full-time employment, leaving others such as those who work from home without representation (United States Department of State, 2011). Since it would be impossible to delve into all the specific facets of Japanese life and culture, five elements have been chosen for representation. These include the Japanese language, Japanese art, marriage and family as they relate to Japanese society, and the religions of the Japanese . It is hoped that through careful research insight may be gained into these parts of the Japanese culture. III. Statement of purpose, introducing your focus group The purpose of this focus group was to gather information on the country of Japan and its people, specifically the facets of the Japanese language, art, marriage, family, and religion. Working together and individually, these aspects were researched to the best of our ability through the use of books and internet sources. Dictionary use was also prevalent, as the definition of the five areas were a vital and integral part of basic information, before finding out how the culture of Japan viewed them. IV. Discussion It is known that Japan has a culture with a high work ethic and mainstream language, and it is expected that research will support this. Since Japan is a small country with no viable means of expansion, as it is surrounded on all sides by water, the focus group expects to find information about how the people li ve in multigenerational homes, as well as how the educational system is geared towards helping Japanese children find their place in their country while taking care of their elders. Further research should reveal how marriages are handled in the country as well as how family and family planning fit in with the life plans of those wishing to raise any children. A curious point of discussion may be how life has changed in Japan since World War II due to their participation on the side that was not victorious. V. Five Main Elements of Japanese Culture 1. Language – The words, their pronunciation, and the methods of combining them used and understood by a community (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary). Japan is mainly divided into two subcultural regions, Eastern and Western, with language being a very minor element of all of the differences found between the two (Sugimoto, 2010). The Japanese have one main language, but distinctions in dialect. These dialects are so great that a person outside of one prefecture (area) of Japan may have trouble distinguishing the dialect of another (Sugimoto, 2010). The language of residents in the upper-class neighborhoods of Tokyo is regarded as â€Å"

West African and African American Cultures - Before and After Assignment

West African and African American Cultures - Before and After Emancipation - Assignment Example Emancipation of the African Americans in 1863, their struggle for equality and citizenship resulted in their assimilating some aspects of American culture while retaining their original heritage to a small extent. Africa was the home of â€Å"people with different languages, traditions, histories, and religions''. The diversity of cultures was evident in the different types of group structures they lived in: some in ancient kingdoms such as those in the oldest of recorded history, and others in small family groups. Some of their societies had men leaders, and others had women as chiefs. The Gods they worshipped were of different forms, and some believed in one, while others in numerous Gods. People from all religions, Muslims, Christians, and others, whether they lived in towns or villages, participated in world affairs, taking central roles in them. Egyptians achieved great development in medicine, language and architecture, which had a significant impact on Greek and Roman culture. Millions of Africans were shipped to America between the sixteenth and the nineteenth centuries to work as slaves in the plantations, in the construction of towns and cities, as domestic help and for various menial jobs. The African American’s perspectives regarding the meaning and significance of Africa remains unclear; thereby affecting the identity problems of black people in America. The western stereotypical view of Africa as a land of wild people and wild animals affects the way African Americans think about Africa. The white disparagement of Africa was mainly to support imperialist interests and to rationalize â€Å"slavery and oppression of the descendants of Africa in their land of captivity†.