Lift Every Voice and Sing essays

Lift Every Voice and Sing essays "Lift Every Voice And Sing" is a high-spirited gospel song that was written by the famous black poet and civil rights leader, James Welden Johnson. Performed by Melba Moore and a few others, I downloaded a version of the song to play. Originally in honor to celebrate Lincoln's birthday, it was performed in a Florida school to children who were being educated in a segregated environment. I happen to think it also has something to do with Martin Luther King Jr. and the marches he led in order to overcome discrimination and prejudice. Indeed, this song can be considered uplifting and courageous to the people that think God has left them during their times of trial. Specifically, this message focuses on the hard times of African Americans, during segregation and slavery. The speaker is someone who is trying to be inspirational and uplifting to those who need it. The audience is not only concentrated on blacks that went through or viewed hate crimes, but also to anyone that has felt the t errible burden of intolerance and hatred. The writer of this song entitled it "Lift Every Voice And Sing" because of the fact that he's telling all blacks to do the very same thing. Blacks were told to be quiet when they were slaves; they were there for service. Moreover, blacks were to be seen, not heard, like children. James is telling blacks to speak up, not to be ignored, or disregarded. His plea is to empower the oppressed so that the world is forced to notice the beauty and integrity of you as a person, as a fellow human being. The first stanza and chorus of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" reads: Ring with the harmonies of liberty; Let it resound loud as the rolling sea In this stanza, James is advising blacks to let people know they're here. The lines "Till earth and heaven ring, Ring with the harmonies of liberty;" (1.2-3) encourages blacks to make sure everyone hears what they have to say. It's also telling them that their words can teac...

Biography of Michelle Obama, U.S. First Lady

Biography of Michelle Obama, U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama  (born January 17, 1964) was the first African-American first lady and the wife of Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States and the first African-American to serve as president. She is also a lawyer, the former vice president of community and external affairs at the University of Chicago Medical Center, and a philanthropist. Fast Facts: Michelle Obama Known For: First Lady of the United States, wife to 44th President Barack ObamaBorn: January 17, 1964 in Chicago, IllinoisParents:  Marian Shields and Fraser C. Robinson IIIEducation: Princeton University (BA in sociology), Harvard Law School (JD)Published Works: BecomingSpouse: Barack Obama (m. October 3, 1992)Children: Malia (born in 1998) and Natasha (known as Sasha, born in 2001) Early Life Michelle Obama (nee Michelle LaVaughn Robinson) was born on January 17, 1964, in Chicago, Illinois, the second of two children of Chicagoans Marian Shields and Fraser C. Robinson III. She describes her parents as important early role models in her life, whom she proudly identifies as working class. Her father, a city pump operator and Democratic precinct captain, worked and lived with multiple sclerosis; his limp and crutches did not affect his abilities as the family breadwinner. Michelles mother stayed home with her children until they reached high school. The family lived in a one-bedroom apartment on the top floor of a brick bungalow on Chicagos south side. The living room- converted with a divider down the middle- served as Michelles bedroom. Michelle and her older brother Craig, now an Ivy League basketball coach at Brown University, grew up hearing the story of their maternal grandfather. A carpenter who was denied union membership due to race, Craig was shut out of the citys top construction jobs. Yet the children were taught they could succeed despite any prejudices they might encounter over race and color. Both children were bright and skipped second grade. Michelle entered a gifted program in sixth grade. From their parents, who had never attended college, Michelle and her brother learned that achievement and hard work were key. Education Michelle attended Whitney M. Young Magnet High School in Chicagos West Loop, graduating in 1981. Although she was discouraged from applying to Princeton by high school advisors who felt her scores werent adequate, she was accepted and graduated from the college with honors and a bachelors degree in sociology and a minor in African-American studies. She was one of very few black students attending Princeton at the time, and the experience made her acutely aware of the issues of race. After graduation, she applied to Harvard Law School and once again faced bias as college counselors tried to talk her out of her decision. Despite their doubts, she matriculated and excelled, obtaining her J.D. in 1985. Professor David B. Wilkins remembers Michelle as forthright: She always stated her position clearly and decisively. Career in Corporate Law After graduating from Harvard Law School, Michelle joined the law firm of Sidley Austin as an associate specializing in marketing and intellectual property. In 1988, a summer intern who was two years older than she by the name of Barack Obama came to work at the firm, and Michelle was assigned as his mentor. They married in 1992 and later had two daughters, Malia (born in 1998) and Natasha, known as Sasha (born in 2001). In 1991, the death of her father from complications related to MS caused Michelle to re-evaluate her life; she subsequently decided to leave corporate law to work in the public sector. Career in Public Sector Michelle first served as assistant to Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daly; later she became assistant commissioner of planning and development. In 1993 she founded Public Allies Chicago, which provided young adults with leadership training for public service careers. As executive director, she headed up a nonprofit named by President Bill Clinton as a model AmeriCorps program. In 1996, she joined the University of Chicago as Associate Dean of Student Services and established its first community service program. In 2002, she was named the University of Chicago Hospitals executive director of community and external affairs. Balancing Career, Family, and Politics Following her husbands election to the U.S. Senate in November 2004, Michelle was appointed Vice President of Community and External Affairs at the University of Chicago Medical Center in May 2005. Despite Baracks dual roles in Washington, D.C., and Chicago, Michelle did not consider resigning from her position and moving to the nations capital. Only after Barack announced his presidential campaign did she adjust her work schedule; in May 2007 she cut her hours by 80 percent to accommodate the needs of the family during his candidacy. Although she resists the labels feminist and liberal, Michelle Obama is widely recognized as outspoken and strong-willed. She has juggled career and family as a working mother, and her positions indicate progressive ideas on the roles of women and men in society. First Lady Michelles husband Barack was elected U.S. president in November 2007. During her first term as first lady, Michelle spearheaded the Lets Move! program, a concerted effort intended to reduce childhood obesity. Although it has been difficult to gauge the success of the program overall, her efforts led to the passage of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act in 2010, which allowed the U.S. Department of Agriculture to set new nutritional standards for all food sold in schools for the first time in more than 30 years. During Barack Obamas second term, Michelle focused on the Reach Higher Initiative, which aimed to help students identify future careers and enable them to complete coursework past high school- whether its at a professional training program, a community college, or a four-year college or university.  That initiative continues, with a focus on school counselor training, raising awareness about college access tools, and social media outreach and flagship events such as College Signing Day. Post-White House Since the Obamas left the White House in January 2016, Michelle worked on and published her memoir Becoming, published in November 2018. She has also worked on the Global Girls Alliance, an education project intended to help provide tens of millions of adolescent girls worldwide who were not given a chance to finish high school; Global Girls is an outgrowth of Let Girls Learn, which she started in 2015 and left with the White House. She has actively supported the Chicago-based Obama Foundation charity, and been a spokesperson for When We All Vote, to increase voter registration. Sources: Obama, Michelle. 2018. Becoming. New York: Crown, 2018.Saulny, Susan. Michelle Obama Thrives in Campaign Trenches. New York Times, 14 February 2008.Bennetts, Leslie. First Lady in Waiting. VanityFair.com, 27 December 2007.Gewertz, Catherine. Michelle Obamas Reach Higher Initiative Merges With the Common Application. Education Week Blog High School Beyond, 27 September 2018.  Ross Johnson, Steven. Gauging the public health value of Michelle Obamas Lets Move campaign. Modern Healthcare, 23 August 2016.Rossi, Rosalind. The woman behind Obama. Chicago Sun-Times, 22 January 2008.Slevin, Peter. Michelle Obama: A Life. New York: Vintage Books, 2015.Michelle Obama’s vacation is over. Now she’s claiming her own spotlight. The Washington Post, 11 October 2018.

Issues in Strategic Management Strategic Audit Exercise Essay

Issues in Strategic Management Strategic Audit Exercise - Essay Example Apple experienced good success during the late 1980s but after that there were testing times during the 90s. John Sculley, previously the CEO joined Apple in 1983. Sculley came to Apple with the valuable experience of the 'Cola-War' between Coke and Pepsi. Steven Jobs, more of technology oriented initially found this approach little weird, but later gave Sculley a free hand. Gradually, over the years, Apple has succeeded in regaining the lost glory to a great extent. Feb 27 edition of Business Journal (2007) points out that the ipod helped in this transformation process with the sale of over 90 million ipods since its launch in 2001. After this successful parade of its ipod, Apple has now taken up another ambitious product called 'iphone'. This gadget is an integration of an iPod, a mobile phone, a portable computing machine and a digital camera. With touch controls and an internet communication device the iphone is an innovative product from the armory of Apple. Slated for a full-fl edged launch in June 2007, iphone also has the Wi-Fi connectivity and Bluetooth features and it is based on quad-band GSM + EDGE technology. Now it is to be seen how Apple can mobilize its resources to convert this venture into another success story. Over the years Apple has also established a dependable value chain with strong links with its suppliers and distributors, but the spat with its arch rival Microsoft will not allow Apple to take things lying down, it'll have to be on the path of innovation with regular inputs from market. Though the iphone promises to be a cult item that may influence the industry to follow suit, yet there are certain finer edges which need to be smoothened before Apple expects an ipod like revolution. For example ipod became such a craze owing to its compatibility with the most popular music format-MP3, and the most popular operating system-Windows. But it at the moment industry analysts are keenly watching the verbal dual between Apple and Microsoft. O n the one hand Apple has issued a warning about MS Vista being a security threat to the ipods while on the other hand Microsoft chief Bill Gates underlined the importance of the 'software part' when asked for his views on Apple iphone. He sought to downplay the technological advancement and innovative features that Apple has put in it. This dual promises more fireworks in near future. Resources Audit Such an audit is done to identify different types of resources available to the company. Some of the resources that Apple Inc. could mobilize for carrying out its business are; Financial resources: The Company has been able to post a record revenue billion and record net quarterly profit of $1.0 billion, or $1.14 per diluted share for its fiscal 2007 first quarter ended December 30, 2006 (Apple, 2007). During the operations Gross margin was 31.2 percent, up from 27.2 percent in the year-ago quarter. What is the source of strength is that the International sales accounting for 42 percent of the quarter's revenue. The very fact that the company has been able to sustain the onslaught of Microsoft and IBM provides an insight into the strength of its financial resources. Company's consistent track record of dividend indicates that Apple values its

Critically assess theories of Transaction Cost Economics and Resource Essay - 1

Critically assess theories of Transaction Cost Economics and Resource Based View in terms of their usefulness in explaining firm - Essay Example This is a theory that tries to explain why companies exist, why they outsource activities to the external environment, and why they expand.The theory argues that companies try to minimize the bureaucratic costs of exchanges within the company, and that companies try to minimize the cost of exchanging resources with the environment.In their operations, the companies therefore, analyse the bureaucratic costs of conducting in-house activities, and the costs of exchanging resources with the environment (Williamson, 2010; Boneta, Peris-Ortizb & Gil-Pechuanb, 2010; McIvor, 2009). The market and the institutions are considered different forms of coordinating, and organizing economic transactions. The firm makes a decision basing an analysis on this theory to find out an appropriate move; whether to outsource or use internal resources. If such an analysis reveals high external costs, the firm will not outsource since it will have determined that it has the capability to perform its operation s cheaply. This means the firm will grow. When the external costs are lower than the internal bureaucratic costs, it is advisable to outsource the activities to be performed in the market. Such acts lead to minimized transaction and bureaucratic costs. Using the internal bureaucratic means of operation when the cost is higher than the transaction costs in the market reduces the firm’s growth rate or intentions.... After creation of the competitive advantage, a firm is able to sustain it over longer periods of time. The firm will then be able to protect itself against resource transfer, imitation, or substitution (Revilla, Cordeiro & Sarkis, 2011; Flynn, Morita & Machuca, 2010). When firms in a specific industry are competing in a market, these respective firms must have some unique resources that improve performance more that other companies. This creates the competitive advantage of a firm. If for example a firm has a unique strategy of acquiring customers, it will beat the other firms in the market, and gain more market share. This will be its competitive advantage. Not all firms therefore, should have the same resources that give a certain firm a competitive advantage. Such a resource or resources must be difficult to duplicate or imitate through other means (Flynn, Morita & Machuca, 2010). Usefulness in Explaining Firms’ Internationalising Strategies The transaction cost economics t heory explains why firms exist, expand and outsource certain activities. Internationalising a strategy means using the same strategy internationally. A firm may have its headquarters in Atlanta, but has found ready market in various other states, and countries outside United States. If this firm analysed its strategies, and found out that using one type of strategy, or by using certain strategies, the transaction costs and the internal bureaucratic costs are minimized, it will continue to use the same strategies internationally. Specific strategies therefore, ensure a new firm exists in a region; a firm expands to certain regions and survives or outsources to survive in the market. Analysing this considering the Resource Based

Public Health of the Developing Country of South Africa Essay Example for Free

Public Health of the Developing Country of South Africa Essay Abstract Studies and statistics have put the cost of one year requirement of standard essential medicines needed for the treatment of AIDS at $ 4000 to $ 6000 in developing countries like South Africa. This cost puts the medicines out of the reach of most of the people infected by HIV in the developing countries. In order to make the medicines available to all the needy people the cost should have been at least 95 percent less. The exorbitant price is because of the cost of the patents. The drugs protected by the intellectual property rights were required to treat diseases like Tuberculosis, in addition to the treatments of HIV/AIDS. Such drugs also included Hepatitis-B Vaccine. There has been a continuous criticism by the social activists and other public health associations, of the action by the World Trade Organization in making the developing countries implement the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement which deals with the protection of Intellectual Property rights relating to the essential drugs. They have also been condemning the attitude of the multinational companies in indulging in excessive lobbying to insist on the implementation of the IP rights protection which will have the effect of enhancing their earnings by charging exorbitant prices for the drugs and for putting the essential drugs and health care beyond the affordability of scores of people in the developing nations including South Africa. However under such circumstances the relationship between the government of South Africa and the international pharmaceutical companies had not been a conducive one – thanks to the implementation of the provisions of TRIPS Agreement. On the decision of the South African Government to pass the Medicines and Related Substances Amendment Act in the year 1997, 39 drug companies joined to initiate legal action against the government. The plea of the drug companies is that the Act gave too much freedom of action to the Health Minister and he acted beyond the legitimate interpretation of TRIPS. It was the endeavour of South Africa to make life saving drugs available at affordable prices. The country wanted to effectively utilize the compulsory licensing opportunities opened by TRIPS so that the prices of the drugs could be put under check. But since the action of the government posed a threat to the earning capacity of the international pharmaceutical companies they went to the extent of entering into litigation with the government of South Africa. Introduction TRIPS (Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) under the authority of the WTO were founded to protect worldwide intellectual property rights. The agreements, governing not only more general intellectual property rights but also those of the pharmaceutical industry, are fairly stringent causing many problems for developing countries especially South Africa which is being ravaged by epidemics which includes AIDS. According to a statistical survey by United Nations[1] 20 percent of the adult population in South Africa tests positive for HIV. The impact of the disease is such that the more than half a million children have been declared orphans. It is also reported that HIV/AIDS related diseases expect to reduce the average life expectancy in South Africa by 20 years in the year 2010. Therefore it can be inferred that the provision of treatment of HIV/AIDS in South Africa is a high priority issue[2]. It has been necessary for South Africa to circumvent part of the TRIPS agreements in an effort to protect its population.   AIDS is taking great toll of the country leaving families without parents and health care hospitals totally unable to cope. The United States currently insists on the TRIPS agreement being strictly adhered to and seems unable, or unwilling, to find a way to help the developing nations with this problem. There have been some efforts made to help them in this respect, for example compulsory licensing and parallel pricing and these methods will be examined in a later section. The negotiation of the TRIPS Agreement has been construed as one that was forcibly introduced by the developing countries against the objection of many of the developing nations. The industrial lobbies (multinational and transnational corporations) have convinced the governments of the developed countries to link the international trade with Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) so that the industrial advancement of the developing countries would be curtailed. This would automatically prevent imitation of technologies and increase the returns on research and development for the developed countries. Monopoly rights granted under IPR were mainly intended to deter the developing countries from advancing on the industrialization. Thus TRIPS Agreement and the protection of IPR have been used to ensure the comparative advantage of the developed countries in terms of the technological development. Under TRIPS countries like India, Brazil which manufactures generic medicines would not have the right to export such medicines with effect from 01 January 2005. This is so despite the fact that the importing countries do have the respective patents covering the drugs. Specifically the least developing countries have put a strong resistance to the requirements of TRIPS especially in the matter of granting the protection rights for the products and processes. While developing countries were required to implement the provisions within one year of reaching the Agreement, the developing countries were given time until the end of the year 2004. In the matter of protection of rights of pharmaceutical products the lease developing countries have been allowed to delay the implementation of TRIPS Agreement provisions till the year 2016. The peculiarity with the provisions of TRIPS is that it allows any country to override the patent right under certain specific circumstances by using the compulsory licensing procedure. For instance when there is a shortage of drugs or the prices of the drugs are too high to make them unaffordable the country can override the patent if the prescribed procedures are followed. This provision of TRIPS presupposes that all the countries do possess the required manufacturing facilities which enable them to use the provisions to produce generic medicines under extraordinary circumstances. But unfortunately many of the developing and least developing countries do not posses such facilities, and hence they would be left with shortage of such drugs. In addition they are also not allowed to import the generics from those countries that possess them. In any case these countries do not have enough power and administrative capabilities to invoke the TRIPS Agreement either due to the reason that they do not possess the know-how required to reengineer the drugs or they fear sanctions from the US and the West[3]. TRIPS Agreement under WTO The TRIPS Agreement is often thought of as one of the three â€Å"pillars† of the WTO (World Trade Organization), trade in goods and services being the other two.[4] TRIPS, initially part of GATT. But becoming part of the WTO brief, was founded to ensure that protection of intellectual property rights was not, of itself, an obstruction to trade and to increase cooperation between members. Under the TRIPS agreement each member state has an obligation to treat all other member states equally. The WTO negotiates between members and helps them to understand and carry out the rules and regulations they have signed up to. It also aids cooperation between members and acts as a watchdog to ensure that the agreement is adhered to. Marketing rights of a patent, when first applied for, are given for a period of 5 years or until the patent is finally approved (whichever is the shorter period) but even during this period members must comply with the rules and regulations as set out in Articles 3 and 4. Because of the nature of the agreement especially as regards pharmaceuticals, it was decided that minimum standards could be used, the USA prefers the higher standards but accepts the minimum as the developing world does not have the capacity to work to the higher standards at the present time. Public awareness of the serious issue of AIDS and other diseases has led to the belief   (by the WTO) that health must, in the final analysis, come before agreements since the spread of AIDS cannot be the sole responsibility of one country. In trying to bridge the gap between the pharmaceutical companies and the developing nations, TRIPS has endeavoured to bring the two sides together by allowing extensions to drugs’ patents but has also allowed some compulsory licensing. Article 3(a) under the TRIPS Agreement states that treatment of all members must be equal,   but Article 3(b) is a get-out clause and Article 4(b) states that all members are equal, unless an †¦agreement was entered into before the WTO agreement.   However, the Council for TRIPS must be informed of any non-observance of Article 3(a) under Article 3(b). The TRIPS Agreement ensures that members discharge their commitments to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). Part of the United Nations WIPO was set up in 1974 specifically to direct international treaties and agreements. The Paris Convention on Industrial Property and the Berne Convention on Copyright, two of the major treaties have been brought under the TRIPS umbrella.   The former states that â€Å"members must comply with the obligations they have towards each other† and â€Å"nothing must stand in the way of such obligations†.  Ã‚   However, as noted, there is a get-out clause in cases of emergency which has to be acknowledged by members to the agreements. There is also an agreement that member countries monitor each other for infringements.   Most important in terms of worldwide health problems is Article 67 of TRIPS which states   that developed countries must assist developing countries with the development of their intellectual property rights, it states: â€Å"In order to facilitate the implementation of this Agreement developed country Members shall provide, on request and mutually agreed terms and conditions, technical and financial cooperation in favour of developing and least-developed country members† â€Å"Such cooperation shall include assistance in the preparation of laws and regulations on the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights as well as on the prevention of their abuse, and shall include support regarding the establishment or reinforcement of domestic offices and agencies relevant to these matters, including the training of personnel.†Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Programmes to assist the developing nations have already been promoted and are being assisted by the WTO secretariat and WIPO. TRIPS Agreement in Relation to Medicines   Since most pharmaceutical research and development is carried out in developed countries the organisations involved feel that they should be better protected.   Most drugs cost millions and take years to test and develop before being allowed onto the market, the industry naturally want returns by way of profits on sales. AIDS medication has been a particularly important breakthrough since: ‘HIV infects an estimated 45 million persons worldwide†Ã‚   but there are also â€Å"†¦1.86 billion cases of infection with mycobacterium tuberculosis†[5] therefore, it is imperative that something be done to help alleviate this type of suffering which, with the ever growing number of tourists, should be the concern of not only those countries in which these epidemics are raging but every nation whose borders are open to travel from other countries. The TRIPS agreement, currently, seems to err on the side of the drugs’ companies, probably because they have such powerful lobbies and are part of the new world-wide elite of corporations which, according to Janet Dine, are increasingly importing their own ethics into the developing countries and virtually taking over, creating in the process an impoverished and unhealthy nation, they, the indigenous population have to take what is offered often at less than subsistence wages and become more dependant on the corporations who have moved into their countries in search of ever increasing profits. The money the corporations make from taking over in developing countries returns, not to the people of that region, but to their own countries.  Ã‚   With tax incentives and a population who take any work they can get to survive at the lowest rates offered, these Corporations appear to be fuelling a crisis in health for some of the poorest nations in the world.[6] Although The TRIPS agreement does allow for compulsory licensing in an emergency, each country must first negotiate with rights’ holders and must use those drugs obtained under such a license only for the emergency period and not for any commercial gain. Specific areas, such as South Africa, are going through a health crisis which needs the drugs already available to ameliorate it, however, in spite of clause 3(b), they are getting no further forward in their fight to help their citizens to overcome unprecedented death rates that the epidemics are producing. In spite of Articles 30/31, which allow for compulsory licensing, the poorest and least developed nations are fighting against the cost of the use of patents and the epidemics themselves. Compulsory licensing does not adequately cover the needs of such nations in   â€Å"sub-Saharan Africa since they do not have facilities to manufacture their own drugs.†[7] Protection of intellectual property is not part of the culture of many countries, nevertheless, the TRIPS Agreement was signed on 15th April 1994 by 117 nations. The agreement allows intellectual property rights to be â€Å"enforced by trade sanctions†[8] and, although some countries were not in complete agreement, international trade is vital to their economic growth so, however reluctantly, they signed.   Inhibitors, which have done much to control AIDS in the west, cost as much as $10.000 per head annually but international trade is the life blood of developing nations therefore they had little choice but to do so.[9] 4. TRIPS and Developing Countries It has been observed that implementing TRIPS Agreement and recognizing IPR on pharmaceutical products and processes would result in the following problems to the developing countries[10]: The minimum 20 years protection to the IPR would grant a virtual monopoly for a pharmaceutical company over its patented drug and the company would be able to charge exorbitant prices on the drugs without competition which in turn would keep the drug prices very high during the period of protection. It is also not possible to bring any generic equivalent into the market due to the TRIPS Agreement. This would deny the patients cheaper alternative drugs. The product and process patents provide for the protection of the product as well as the technology. Under the TRIPS Agreement the countries are given the right to make application for the protection of patent rights on drugs for a period extending up to twenty years. After the expiation of this period the countries can get the protection extended for further periods to the processes being employed in the manufacture of the drugs. This no doubt creates a monopoly situation on the drugs. Such protection also throw the domestic pharmaceutical producers in the developing countries out of market as they have to compete with large multinational pharmaceutical manufacturers which is not possible for small producers in the developing nations who use cheaper generic alternatives. Moreover such production may not be carried out by them during the 20 year protection period. Under TRIPS Agreement patent rights need to be granted irrespective of the fact that the products are imported or domestically manufactured[11]. This implies that the transnational corporations can supply global markets under the monopoly of patent rights even without producing any medicines in the developing countries by simply importing them into the developing countries. There will be no flow of technology or foreign direct investments into the developing countries as envisaged by the WTO However under Article 66 of the TRIPS the least developed countries were allowed to postpone the application of the provisions relating to the patents for a period of 10 years on specific application.[12] 5. Exceptions to the Patent Protection of Pharmaceuticals    Parallel importing – implying that the developing counties are allowed to import the drugs from the cheaper markets for resale in their respective countries and thereby lower the prices of drugs. Compulsory licensing – under compulsory licensing scheme, the government acting through the courts of law is empowered to provide a license in favor of a third party. Such license may be granted by the government even without the prior consent of the license holder. However the compulsory licensing can be resorted to in cases of national emergencies. The license may also be compulsorily transferred to a third party in case of an extremely emergent situation or where there are circumstances implying any anti-competitive movements by the manufacturers. The compulsory licensing is resorted to by the governments to make the drugs easily available to the poor and needy people at affordable costs. It also ensures that the patent holder is provided adequate compensation for use of the patent. 6. Public Health in South Africa and the Impact of TRIPS Agreement The need for cheaper drugs in South Africa can not be undermined. The impact of AIDS in the country poses the situation of an extreme emergency forcing the implementation TRIPS. The economy of South Africa is likely to get affected by a reduction of 1 percent every year because of the work force getting disintegrated. It is estimated that the life expectancy would be lowered to 50 years in 2010 from 70 years currently. These threats to the economy and population growth would as well be a threat to ‘peace and order’ situations in the country of South Africa[13]. In this context all the problems enumerated above for the developing nations have been faced by South Africa also. In addition when the government wanted to implement the Medicines and Related Substances Control Bill, the US Government vehemently objected to the passing of the law which allowed for parallel importing and compulsory licensing. However amidst lot of pressure on the government and the Parliament the South African government enacted the law in the year 1997.The pharmaceutical lobby backed by the transnational companies in the South Africa not only filed a suit against the promulgation of the law but also indulged in negotiations and threats   to the government to change its stand. The pressure was intense after the year 1997 when the South African government tried to implement a number of policy measures to lower the prices of drugs used in public health. â€Å"The SA policies have focused on such issues as mandatory generic drug substitution, restrictions on inappropriate marketing efforts, registration of generic versions of the cancer drug Paclitaxel (sold as Taxol by Bristol-Myers Squibb), parallel-imports, and compulsory licensing†[14]. It may be noted that despite Article 31 of the TRIPS Agreement that provides for the parallel importing and compulsory licensing the transnational pharmaceutical companies have vehemently opposed the attempts by developing countries like South Africa taking measures for implementing parallel importing and compulsory licensing as these practices would allow these countries to have their requirements of the medicines at cheaper prices which in turn would affect the profits of these transnational companies[15]. It was after the intervention of the AIDS activists and health activists that US came to an understanding in the issue. The government of South Africa insisted that it retains all the original provisions defending its position be retained. The government also wanted to make the fullest use of compulsory licensing and parallel importing which were considered as detrimental to the interests of the American Transnational Companies[16]. How American Corporations Control the Business World A- Business lobbies: Large and small businesses in the United States have been organised into various associations, for example Business Round Tables are national Associations which include membership of the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of all the most important trans-national companies and the National Chamber of Commerce includes all sizes of firms.[17] Round Tables have been in existence since 1972, the first was formed by forty-two of the (then) biggest and most important U.S. companies including banks, retailers, Insurance, transport and most of the utilities’ companies. They were designed to enable business to proceed without the destructive competitive basis of the business world. They were described as: â€Å"An association of chief executive officers who examine public issues that affect the economy and develop positions which seek to reflect sound economic and social principles. †¦ the Roundtable was founded in the belief that business executives should take an increased role in the continuing debates about public policy.†[18] The raison d’etre for these firms was the idea that ‘what ever is good for business is good for the American people’. They argued that, employees, purchasers, suppliers etc all have an interest in a business. These associations, they say, represent a cross section of the American public.[19] The idea that ‘what is good for business is good for America’ is patently nonsense since most people are in fact excluded from any rights in this elite world.  Ã‚   Employees have little or no say in the running of their firms and consumers must pay the prices asked, they do have the right ‘not to buy’ which is a somewhat negative view of the process of inclusiveness. David C Korten says that most of the memberships of the Round Tables are confined to white males over the age of 50 whose salaries are enormous. They do not, as claimed, consider that what is good for business is good for America but rather endeavour to maximise their own profits and those of their shareholders by seeking to globalise in areas where they can have an almost free hand to carry out their business practices almost unhindered by the laws of any country they move into. [20] Free Trade has long been an ideal of the American Corporate world which is why the Round Tables campaigned vigorously for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA and created USA-NAFTA to front their interests, the American public, nervous at so much control in so few hands, have been given country-wide blanket assurances through the media.   In spite of the fact that NAFTA was supposed to be a really broad church of interests it is really part of the elite Round Table Associations and has many representatives on advisory committees. The country might have been even more nervous if they had realised that at the time of the creation of these Round Tables the major companies were in fact laying aside their competitive differences to â€Å"reach a consensus on issues of social and economic policy for America†.[21] B- Influence of U.S. Democracy Janet Dine claims â€Å"no single idea is more deeply embedded in modern culture than the belief that economic growth is the key to meeting most important human needs, including alleviating poverty and protecting the environment† [22] which accounts for the greatest growth area in Washington being public relations firms. These firms work hard to protect the images of their corporate clients against a rising tide of discontent which is now manifesting itself throughout the world. It could be thought that they are fighting a losing battle but â€Å"the top fifty public relations firms billed over $1.7 billion dollars in 1991†[23] which gives rise to the question, why are these PR firms so necessary? There is probably no single answer to this question but very little news is given directly to the public without some corporate employee looking at the effect it will have, news and advertising, according to Korten, are almost synonymous.[24] The political system of America has greatly changed in the post war period of more general affluence. The Democratic party has lost its basic identity   the party of the people – as opposed to the Republicans who have always represented business and the wealthier side of the electorate – this being so the Democrats are far more dependant on the need to raise funds for their electioneering and have turned to the corporations who inevitably want quid pro quo for their donations. The mass media are heavily behind the elitist values of corporate America and the amount they are able to pay to PR firms to put across an extremely one-sided policy and both the leading parties needing the financial backing of corporate America, this, says David C Korten, â€Å"This is the sorry state of American democracy†.[25]   He says that voters tend to be seen as a passive homogeneous mass of potential customers who can be told not only what to buy but also what to think and feel.   What is worse, this idea of corporations is spreading, many trans-national companies rely heavily on the corporate idealism of what is good for them is good for the people they sell to.   Mexico and Japan both use those same American firms to tell their populations what they should think and feel and ultimately what they should buy. C- American Democracy   for Sale: â€Å"The Mexican government spent upwards of $25 million and hired many of the leading Washington lobbyists to support its campaign for NAFTA. †¦ Japanese corporations were spending an estimated $100 million a year on political lobbying in the United States and another $300 million building a nationwide grassroots political network to influence public opinion†. [26] Canada, Britain and the Netherlands’ governments employ public relations’ firms in America to help them lobby and draft laws that will be favourable to the business elites in their own countries. These companies try to sell the idea of ‘corporate libertarianism’ [27]which is supposed to allay the fears of those who have an idea that all is not well in the corporate world of business, it is possible to claim that these corporations are in fact in the act of ‘taking over the world’ and with the resources piling up behind them it could well happen in the not too distant future. The United States and Higher Levels of Protection. To add to this theme of a world take-over by corporate America, the signatories to TRIPS have begun to rethink intellectual property protection.[28] This is bad news for those under-developed countries which rely on drugs from the western world to protect their citizens from ravaging epidemics. Rosalyn S Park says: â€Å"Poor, developing nations have been most affected by the patent protection laws and resulting high drug prices, yet these nations also harbor the highest number of HIV-positive people. Consequently, the vast majority of people in need of HIV/AIDS medicines simply cannot afford them†. [29] In 2006 new protection laws will come into force which all members must adhere to. This will have a devastating effect on the millions of people in countries too poor to have their own drugs’ businesses, they will become more reliant upon those better protected, developed countries making vast profits from the countries least able to pay. Neither the USA nor the European Union appear greatly interested in aiding those countries with the greatest needs and the least ability to pay.   Admittedly concessions have been made as regards agricultural and textile concessions but this has been at the cost of allowing higher property rights which is a swings-and-round-a-bouts situation.   It would be much more useful to South Africa specifically and to the developing world in general, if the costs of patented drugs could be either brought down or, as a common sense gesture of good will, eliminated completely until such time as the AIDS epidemic was at least brought down to manageable proportions. In spite of â€Å"several different types of drugs on the market which help combat AIDS and AIDS related illnesses†[30] not enough are getting through to the developing countries as the multinationals are still insisting on not just the status quo as regards intellectual property rights but even higher levels.[31] They appear to be driven only by the profit motive and the perceived necessity for free trade paying little attention to the suffering caused in the developing world. Nor are they taking a long term view, highly contagious diseases are rife in the developing world, therefore, with the modern freedom of travel, no country can ever be safe from the same epidemics.   Even with modern drugs to combat them, new strains will develop, new drugs will have to be found and costs will escalate. Drugs now exist which allow people with AIDS to live a reasonably normal life including returning to work, it would in fact be in the interests of the drugs’ companies to allow South Africa to use them, dead people have no use for drugs nor anything else that the multi-nationals may wish to sell them. Conclusion The TRIPS Agreement was a milestone in patent protection of intellectual property rights and was considered to be a financial safeguard for research investment, however, it also had the effect of pricing some pharmaceuticals out of the reach of many nations most in need of the most recently patented medicines.   Before the TRIPS agreement, governments had been able to make compulsory licence orders to produce drugs at lower prices in their own countries, after the agreement, although still possible, it is much more difficult and thus more difficult to protect their citizens from the epidemics which are wreaking havoc in their countries. It is important to protect intellectual property rights but it is far more important to protect people’s lives but the balance currentlppears to be largely towards the greater protection of pharmaceutical industries. TRIPS allows compulsory licensing and parallel pricing but underdeveloped countries such as South Africa are being prevented from using them because of the threat of trade sanctions and trade is vital to their economies. It is necessary to protect peoples’ work and investment and research must be encouraged especially into life-threatening diseases. Corporations who invest time and money into producing drugs to cope with these scourges should reap the rewards of their labour.   However, many drugs’ companies are seeing such enormous returns on their investments that concessions should be made to underdeveloped countries which so desperately need the medications produced by these huge giants of industry. In spite of concessions in the TRIPS agreement, corporations do appear to be protected at the expense of people’s lives. Public health should be and is a priority in the west where governments can afford to buy the health of their citizens. Unfortunately, this is not the case in the poorer, less developed countries where governments are struggling to find ways to access drugs and yet to maintain a healthy trading relationship with the countries which hold the patents to these drugs. Good health is the basic right of every citizen of every country wherever possible. More goodwill is necessary on the part of the western world and America in particular to allow compulsory licensing and parallel pricing to be used without the threat of trade sanctions.  Ã‚   Epidemics do not respect borders, they can be carried by people to all corners the world, what was a third world problem yesterday is our problem today, world health is an issue that no country can ignore therefore although corporations must be allowed fair returns on their investments it must not be at the expense of world health. It is quite apparent that TRIPS Agreement has not taken into account the public health needs of the developing nations while formulating the clauses relating to the protection of IPR in respect of pharmaceutical needs. The Agreement has not specified any particular obligations towards those governments granting the IPR for pharmaceutical products. The Agreement has also not considered the need for public health in the developing countries and grossly ignored the interests of the patients of these countries. There are a number of factors that the developing countries have to take into account including the implication of the TRIPS Agreement and the patent protection under the Agreement in the provision of medical facilities and adequate public health to the people of the respective developing countries. â€Å"At the end of the day it must be recognized that the poorer residents of the world’s least affluent nations cannot pay even the marginal cost of drugs that might save their lives or permit them to become productive workers†[32]. Bibliography    Conceicao Soares (2007)‘The HIV/AIDS crisis and corporate moral responsibility in the light of the Levinasian notions of proximity and the Third’ Business Ethics: A European Review Vol. 16 No 3 p 280 David C Korten, When Corporations Rule the World, Earthscan Publication Ltd. London, p.144 Duane Nash, â€Å"†¦VI, Foreign International Law South Africa’s Medicines and Related Substances Control Amendment Act of 1997† 15 Berkeley Tech. L J. 485(lexis) Fact Sheet ‘Developing Countries’ Transition Periods’ http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/trips_e/factsheet_pharm04_e.htm#pharmsandags p1 F.M. Scherer and Jayashree Watal ‘Post-Trips Options for Access to Patented Medicines in Developing Nations’ Journal of International Economic Law (2002) p 939 Janet Dine, The Governance of Corporate Groups, Cambridge University Press, 2000.p.157 J H Reichman, The TRIPS Agreement Comes of Age: Conflict or Cooperation with the Developing Countries? P.6 John A. Harrelson, â€Å" IV. Note: Trips, Pharmaceutical Patents, and the HIV/AIDS Crisis: Finding the Proper Balance Between Intellectual Property Rights and Compassion† 7 Wid. L. Symp. J . 175(lexis) Kara M. Bombach ‘The South African Medicines and Related Substances Control Amendment Bill and TRIPS’ http://academic.udayton.edu/health/06world/africa01.htm p1 Lisa Foreman (2007)‘Trade Rules, Intellectual Property and the Right to Health’ Comparative Program in Health and Society Munk Centre for International Studies University of Toronto Ethics International Affairs Vol. 21 No3 p 342 Louise Sylvan ‘TRIPS: Protecting Intellectual Property or Putting Profits Before People’ Online Opinion http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=1968   p1 Medecins sans Frontieres (1999) Access to HIV/AIDS medicines in Thailand, Medecins sans Frontieres Report to the National AIDS Committee of Thailand, August 1999, MSF website, www.accessmed-msf.org/msf/accessmed/accessmed.nsf/html/4DTS2? Open Document.p1 N.B. Zaveri (1999) Success often comes to those who dare and act, paper presented at Brainstorming Workshop on WTO Agreements and Peoples Concerns, New Delhi, Oct/Nov 1999 p1 Patric Bond ‘US Policy toward South Africa and Access to Pharmaceutical Drugs’ Alternative Information and Development Centre http://www.aidc.org.za/?q=book/view/156 p1 Ross Brennan and Paul Baines (2005) ‘Is there a morally right price for anti-retroviral drugs in the developing world’ Business Ethics: A European Review Vol. 15 No 1 p32 Rosalyn S Park, The International Drug Industry: What the Future Holds for South Africa’s HIV/AIDS Patients, Minnesota Journal of Global Trade, p.3 Z. Mirza (1999) WTO/TRIPS, pharmaceuticals and health: impacts and strategies, The Networks Drug Bulletin, Sept-Dec 1999, Vol. 8, No. 5/6, Association for Rational Use of Medication in Pakistan p 27       [1] United Nations (2004) Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic. Geneva: United Nations [2] Ross Brennan and Paul Baines (2005) ‘Is there a morally right price for anti-retroviral drugs in the developing world’ Business Ethics: A European Review Vol. 15 No 1 p 32 [3] Conceicao Soares (2007)‘The HIV/AIDS crisis and corporate moral responsibility in the light of the Levinasian notions of proximity and the Third’ Business Ethics: A European Review Vol. 16 No 3 p 280 [4] www.wto.org (Frequently asked questions about TRIPS in the WTO). [5] Duane Nash, â€Å"†¦VI, Foreigh International Law South Africa’s Medicines and Related Substances Control Amendment Act of 1997† 15 Berkeley Tech. L J. 485(lexis) [6] Janet Dine, The Governance of Corporate Groups, Cambridge University Press, 2000.p.157 [7] John A. Harrelson, â€Å" IV. Note: Trips, Pharmaceutical Patents, and the HIV/AIDS Crisis: Finding the Proper Balance Between Intellectual Property Rights and Compassion† 7 Wid. L. Symp. J . 175(lexis) [8] Ibid [9] Ibid [10] Z. Mirza (1999) WTO/TRIPS, pharmaceuticals and health: impacts and strategies, The Networks Drug Bulletin, Sept-Dec 1999, Vol. 8, No. 5/6, Association for Rational Use of Medication in Pakistan p 27 [11] Medecins sans Frontieres (1999) Access to HIV/AIDS medicines in Thailand, Medecins sans Frontieres Report to the National AIDS Committee of Thailand, August 1999, MSF website, www.accessmed-msf.org/msf/accessmed/accessmed.nsf/html/4DTS2? Open Document. p1 [12] Fact Sheet ‘Developing Countries’ Transition Periods’ http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/trips_e/factsheet_pharm04_e.htm#pharmsandags p1 [13] Kara M. Bombach ‘The South African Medicines and Related Substances Control Amendment Bill and TRIPS’ http://academic.udayton.edu/health/06world/africa01.htm p1 [14] Patric Bond ‘US Policy toward South Africa and Access to Pharmaceutical Drugs’   Alternative Information and Development Centre  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.aidc.org.za/?q=book/view/156   p1 [15] Louise Sylvan ‘TRIPS: Protecting Intellectual Property or Putting Profits Before People’ Online Opinion http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=1968 p1 [16] N.B. Zaveri (1999) Success often comes to those who dare and act, paper presented at Brainstorming Workshop on WTO Agreements and Peoples Concerns, New Delhi, Oct/Nov 1999 p1 [17] David C Korten, When Corporations Rule the World, Earthscan Publication Ltd. London, p.144 [18] Ibid [19] Ibid [20] David C Korten, When Corporations Rule the World, Earthscan Publication Ltd. London, p.144 [21] Ibid [22] Janet Dine, The Governance of Corporate Groups, Cambridge University Press, 2000.p.156 [23] David C Korten, When Corporations Rule the World, Earthscan Publication Ltd. London, p.146 [24] Ibid [25] David C Korten, When Corporations Rule the World, Earthscan Publication Ltd. London, p.147 [26] Ibid [27] David C Korten, When Corporations Rule the World, Earthscan Publication Ltd. London,pp.147-148 [28] Rosalyn S Park, The International Drugs Industry: What the Future Holds for South Africa’s HIV/AIDS   Patients, Minnesota Journal of Global Trade, 2002.p.1 [29] Ibid [30] Rosalyn S Park, Minnesota Journal of Global Trade, 2000, p.2 [31] J H Reichman, The TRIPS Agreement Comes of Age: Conflict or Cooperation with the Developing Countries? P.6 [32] F.M. Scherer and Jayashree Watal ‘Post-Trips Options for Access to Patented Medicines in Developing Nations’ Journal of International Economic Law (2002)   p 939

The Columbia River Must be Restored :: Environment Environmental Pollution Preservation

A problem is arising in the Northwest region of our country.   The Columbia River is being abused by human expansion, which is resulting in the depletion of the variety of species found in the region, the number of each species, and the quality of life in the riparian habitat. A river is a living thing, flowing through time as well as space.   A river has a personality that reflects past circumstance as well as condition.   The Columbia, though now shackled in concrete traces, a wild creature turned workhorse, still has an aura of power and controversy.   It has been abused for long enough.   It is time to let the river flow. The once wild, free-flowing Columbia River no longer exists.   Since the 1930s, hydropower development has modified the Columbia River basin from a system which once encompassed more than 30 unique and diverse sub-basins to a series of electric power generators that include 19 dams and 100 smaller projects (McGinnis 69).   The power of the river has been captured for human consumption.   As a result of this increased demand for power, new areas must be deforested and developed.   In effect, this evicts the animals from their homes and forces them to find other places for refuge. Over one and a half million people live near the dramatic beauty of the lower Columbia River (Frissell 382).   The people who live there depend on the river for their economic well being.   Many more visit from elsewhere for rest, recreation, or business.   Unfortunately, these activities have taken a toll on the river.   Humans have been taking advantage of the gifts that nature has given them.   Unless action is taken soon, there could be a large problem.   Human activity and growth is occurring and impacting the natural resource.   The effectiveness of land use planning determines the extent to which the critical habitat can be protected.   Appropriate land use and development practices can reduce or eliminate the stress placed on the natural systems. The significance of this problem is not hard to find.   With the population of the Portland metropolitan area projected to reach 3 million people within 50 years (Oregon DEQ), it is vitally important to act now.   The effects of this growth combined with past and present activities places significant stress on the natural system.   If left unaddressed, the adverse effects already documented will intensify, resulting in a number of problems.

Freedom Writers Diary Movie Questions Essay

1. Eva’s view of herself and her people is that their nationality is competing with other races because of the discrimination. When Eva is a child, she is taught by her father that she has to fight for her people. â€Å"An Aztec princess is chosen for her blood, to fight for her people, as Papi and his father fought, against those who say we are less than they are, who say we are not equal in beauty and in blessings†. 2. According to Eva her father is arrested for retaliation, he was innocent but was jailed anyway, because of the respect he had from his people. Eva was waiting for the bus on her first day of school when she witnessed the war between races for the first time. â€Å"They took my father for retaliation. He was innocent, but they took him, because he was respected by my people. They called my people a gang because we fight for our America†. 3. The reason that Erin Gruwell decided to teach instead of be a lawyer is because of the influence from her father, being part of the civil rights movement and watching the L.A. riots on TV. Thinking of going to law school but thought that the case is already lost if it reaches the courtroom which indicates that Ms. G believes that going to the beginning where she can educate her students on the fundamentals and essentially prevent them from ending up with a lost court case because a good prevention method has no need for a cure. â€Å"And I remember when I was watching the LA riots on TV, I was thinking of going to law school at the time. And I thought, God, by the time you’re defending a kid in a courtroom the battle’s already lost. I think the real fighting should happen here in the classroom.† 4. In the beginning, obstacles that Ms. G faced are that the students didn’t believe in her, thinking that she wouldn’t be able to last in the classroom or teach because of the difficult interracial battles between students. â€Å"I give this bitch a week.† Erin had to deal with two students fighting on the first day of teaching, and witnessing another between different tribes within the school. Along with the discouragement from her father. â€Å"You’re gonna waste your talents on people who don’t give a damn about education. It breaks my heart†. 5. With gang violence and racial tension reaching an all-time high, the racial situation in Long Beach was separated into tribes based on the races of each person because of the L.A. riots. â€Å"Total civil unrest is happening throughout the Los Angeles area.† â€Å"The city resembles a war zone.† 6. At first, the students of room 203 relate to one another because of the similar situations and issues that each have experienced. Another way the students can relate to one another are the difficult moments of their individual lives they have to face because they’re all trying to cope with the cards they have been dealt in life. Also with discriminating against other races. Most of the students in room 203 are of different race to the teachers of Woodrow Wilson high school and feel separate from the community. â€Å"You can’t go against your own people, your own blood.† 7. A character that I like is Jamal because he seems like he is a funny person and entertaining to be around, making jokes out of negative situations. I can relate to him because I am a student myself. Having to complete unnecessary tasks when there are more important activities that I can be doing. 8. Ms. G tried to engage the students by finding something she thought they would be interested in and using it to relate to them with 2pac rapper lyrics with poetry as an example of an internal rhyme. The students are bothered by this, â€Å"Think we don’t know 2Pac? -White girl gonna teach us about rap†. She mixed up the separate boarders in the classroom to engage the students with differentiation without separate races but fails because of the lack of interest and students stop attending. 9. Reasons that the students do not respect Ms G are because of the racial situation at Long Beach, they think that she is just another white person analogous the rest of the teachers that have never really put any effort into actually teaching or caring about their education and don’t try understand their situations. The students are used to never being a priority in the education system, constantly being looked down on as not being smart enough or trusted with the schools proper resources and recognized as people who don’t want to learn and basically never having the opportunity to become  anything other than the stereotypes they have been categorised into. So Ms G. wasn’t seen as an individual, she was seen as another teacher that didn’t care. â€Å"Lady, stop acting like you’re trying to understand our situation†. They think she doesn’t deserve the respect given from them because she hasn’t earned it. â€Å"I’m not just gonna give you my respect because you’re called a teacher.† 10. Eva hates white people because of negative experiences she has had with white police. â€Å"I know what you can do. I saw white cops shoot my friend in the back for reaching into his pocket, his pocket! I saw white cops come into my house and take my father away for no REASON except they feel like it! Except because they can! And they can, because they’re white†. She feels that white people demand respect without earning it. â€Å"You don’t know what we got to do. You got no respect for how we living†. White people always wanting their respect like they deserve it for free†. Eva thinks that all white people feel that they have authority over her ethnicity, that whites run the world no matter what resulting in Eva hating all white people on sight. 11. Erin’s husband is a very considerate and devoted husband but shows resentment towards her career after assimilating extra jobs to support her teaching career without consulting him. He doesn’t appear to want to talk about her job and when he does, he doesn’t show any support toward it. While not paying attention to Scott, his attitude toward Erin’s career is that he feels that she is getting too involved as a result, letting their marriage suffer. â€Å"Scott, I finally found what I’m supposed to be doing and I love it. When I’m helping these kids make sense of their lives, everything about my life makes sense to me. How often does a person get that?† â€Å"Then what do you need me for?† â€Å"You’re my husband, why can’t you stand by me and be a part of that the way wives support husbands?† â€Å"Because I can’t be your wife.† And their marriage results in divorce because his life with Eri n wasn’t how he wanted it to be. 12. Ms G. again attempts to peak an interest with the students by using topics that relate to them with non-curriculum books about lives similar to  their own that she has bought herself for the students. 13. When Ms G. finds he picture of Jamal she confronts them, belittling their gang actions. â€Å"You think you know all about gangs? You’re amateurs†. Ms G informs the students about discrimination, bringing up the holocaust and how using racist pictures and antics is a way of wrongfully blaming others for their lives being hard to give themselves pride and identity. 14. The holocaust is relative to the students because they’re all associated or associate with gang violence and annihilation of people for the satisfaction of being the prime race. 15. The philosophy of the students is that they believe that the world is all about what colour someone is, not who they are. The students make illegitimate judgements about people of different ethnicity to themselves. To the students, graduation isn’t perceived as a concern when more important factors have to be dealt with. To them, making it through another day is an achievement alone, â€Å"Lady, I’m lucky if I make it to 18. We in a war. We’re graduating every day we live, because we ain’t afraid to die protecting our own. At least when you die for your own, you die with respect, you die a warrior†. 16. Within society, the students see themselves just as others perceive them. That being not as real graduates, as people who are going to be like their parents, as people who won’t really ever amount to much. No one has ever really taken them seriously which has resulted in the students not taking themselves seriously. â€Å"Nobody cares what I do. Why should I bother coming to school?† 17. The activity that united the students was learning about the holocaust, reading the books, hearing the stories of the victims and the excursion to the holocaust exhibition really spoke to students on a personal level that they could all connect and relate too. The main reason all the students are uniting for once is because of Ms Gruwell. Students know she goes above and beyond for them and that she actually cares. â€Å"My crazy English teacher from  last year is the only person that made me think of hope. Talking with friends about last year’s English and our trips, I began to feel better. I receive my schedule and the first teacher is Mrs. Gruwell in Room 203. I walk into the room and feel as though all the problems in life are not so important anymore. I am home.† Ms. G’s teaching is the activity that first started to unite the students. 18. The scene with Sindy and Eva shows that Ms. G’s class has united the students and created a bond between the two making them look beyond their own races. Ms. G’s students are starting to do right within society and not just right for their own race. For example, â€Å"I am my father’s daughter, and when they call me to testify, I will protect my own no matter what.† instead of Eva doing that which is what her family wanted her to do, she told the truth so an innocent man didn’t end up in jail. Eva thought about her actions and the consequences they would have on everyone and she did the right thing. This scene goes to prove that Ms Gruwell’s teaching initiative is working. 19. Marcus’ diary entry struck me most because it’s so unfair that human beings are judged by other human beings by their skin colour when it shouldn’t be considered as a negative factor because underneath it all we’re all the same. When Clive, accidentally shot himself and he stayed by his side until the police came the assumption shouldn’t have automatically been that Marcus did it because he was black, it was so unfair especially when Marcus lost his best friend that day. Marcus’ story moved me the most because he is still searching for his freedom after being wrongfully locked up. If Marcus had never been blamed for Clive’s death and had never gone behind bars, his life could’ve been different. â€Å"Every day I worry, when will I be free?† 20. At the beginning of Freedom Writers Ms. G was full of doubts and was questioning whether she was going to be able to connect with her students, get them to listen to her, to attend every class and whether she would be a good teacher or not, but throughout the movie she earned respect, grew and was taught so much from her students and by the end of the movie she had  transformed a classroom full of racial boarders and hate into a non-judgemental, safe place where the students found hope, connected with one another and felt at home. She had found what she was supposed to do with her life. 21. In the beginning, the students of room 203 were resistant to Erin, especially Eva who hated all white people and blamed them for taking her dad away when she was 5. They were disrespectful, extremely racist and mean toward one another to the point where Ben was scared to be in the classroom. None of the teachers cared about the students or their education. They were seen as lost causes which only made them feel like lost causes, especially Jamal who thought school was a waste of time. With the guidance of Ms. G every student in the class made a transformation for the better. Eva overcame her prejudice against white people and discovered they aren’t all the same; a lot of the racial barriers were broken down within the class. All the students attitude toward their education and each other changed, they developed respect and started caring and wanting to learn. Room 203 was transformed into an accepting, tolerant, secure, place like a home where all students, especially Ben, stopped being terrified. 22. All it takes is feeling as though you have one person in your life that genuinely cares about you, supports and encourages you and takes the time to help you and is behind you every step of the way to have the power to achieve anything and everything in life regardless how many people are against you. Every raindrop raises the sea so hope must never be lost. The most significant lesson to learn from this movie is that no matter what your background may be or how different you might think you are from someone, you’re not because at the end of the day we’re all human beings and we should never forget that. 23. The students of room 203 aren’t similar to the students of our classroom because I don’t think that anyone in my class has to face the sought of problems that the students of room 203 had to. Those kinds of difficulties come from gang violence, drug or alcohol abuse or physical injustice, I don’t know everyone’s story but I don’t think that our classroom has to deal  with those struggles.

MDG Presentation Essay

ABSTRACT The Importance of Information Technology (IT) cannot be over emphasized as it is very necessary in all works of life; Agriculture, Health, Education, Security, Entertainment etc. It provides new opportunities for improving performance and strategic competitiveness. However, few organizations have successfully grasped the opportunities enabled by IT, largely due to their limited ability to evaluate the impact of IT on firm performance and ignorance. My Industrial Training Programme has exposed me to the IT industry with hands-on practical experience on Computer engineering and software development. The practical side of computing can be seen everywhere. Nowadays, practically everyone is a computer user, and many people are even computer programmers. Getting computers to do what you want them to do requires intensive hands-on experience. But computer science can be seen on a higher level, as a science of problem solving. Computer scientists must be adept at modeling and analyzing problems. They must also be able to design solutions and verify that they are correct. Problem solving requires precision, creativity, and  careful reasoning. Computer science also has strong connections to other disciplines. Many problems in science, engineering, health care, business, and other areas can be solved effectively with computers, but finding a solution requires both computer science expertise and knowledge of the particular application domain. Thus, computer scientists often become proficient in other subjects. COMPANY PROFILE ABOUT CONNECT TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED In 1986, the founder had a dream and the urge to deploy Information Technology Solutions and participate actively in the Nigerian Economy. His mission then, was to exploit the untapped resources of the nation’s Information Technology (IT) Industry. With over 100 man-years cognate professional exposure fused in, Connect Technologies Limited was in 2000 incorporated as a leading specialist IT Solutions Provider. GOAL â€Å"Our clients’ success is our growth† MISSION STATEMENT Connect Technologies Limited is dedicated to accomplishment of its vision and  mission by applying the following ‘value chain’ approach: Customer Focus – Customer First Philosophy: We will work diligently to understand our clients’ IT needs, and strive to meet or exceed their expectations, using the best practice approach. Our People – Connect Technologies’ Management Team is its greatest asset. The Team understands the Nigerian IT needs and challenges in the competitive global economy. Commitment – To provide the highest level of commitment to quality service and products to our customers. CAPABILITY STATEMENT – EXPERIENCE Connect Technologies’ entry into the information technology industry is backed with more than 100 man-years of cognate and relevant professional experience of its leading practitioners. Connect Technologies’ professional and managerial manpower base, no doubt, represents one of the best in the industry today. Working in collaboration with our technical partners in Nigeria, Asia–India, Europe and the USA, we possess the capability to design, supply, install LAN-based/multi-tier Application Software, train, and maintain complex information technology systems, both domestic and overseas. VISION â€Å"To be and remain a leading IT Solutions Provider with capabilities to innovate and deliver functional hi-tech Software projects with maximum benefits to all clients.† Our concept of customer satisfaction is derived from the fact that we aspire to reduce our implementation downtime to the barest minimum while increasing our clients’ productivity at least cost to them. PROFESSIONAL SERVICES Connect Technologies practice and carry on the business of Informatics and Information with particular reference to all related activities and trade in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industries and services – involving Software Development and Hardware configuration solutions. The core service is focused on business of design, and development of Information Technology Knowledge Infrastructure projects with particular reference to the design of Application Software and Solutions and interfacing them with Local Information Infrastructure (LII), National Information Infrastructure (NII) and Global Information Infrastructure (GII). As professional IT trainers, Connect Technologies’ organizes and manages special I.T Seminars, Workshops and Conferences for corporate organizations – especially the banking industry for the purpose of upgrading the knowledge and operational expertise of Informatics Technology. The customized training embraces in-house training on Information Technology and Communications Technology – especially Internet Development and Operation Training. CORE COMPETENCE Capabilities: Design, automate, Integrate, Support and Manage complex technology-driven Application Software systems – Our Solutions are 100% indigenous effort. Human Resources Highly skilled Software Development & Implementation Team Solutions & Services LAN Groupware Applications and Solutions Internet Solutions & Web Portal Design Design and Installation of Local & Wide Area Networks Offshore Software Project Development Technical Training Facilities Management Project Management EXPERTISE Connect Technologies Limited has strong foundation in Infrastructural, Financial, Technical, Product and Marketing Resources. Today, this expertise in Retail Banking Consultancy, Software Development, Networking and other services will benefit major banks and business organizations all over the country. CONNECT TECHNOLOGIES SOLUTIONS EPortal Solutions Enterprise eGovernment Operation Solutions Enterprise Educational Portal Solutions Enterprise Business Intelligent Solutions Enterprise Campus-wide Knowledge Solutions Enterprise Recruitment Solutions Enterprise Cooperative Financial (CoopFinance) Web-based Financial Application designed to automate all Cooperative activities from Member Registration, Savings & Loan Application, Approval Process and Repayment Processes, Journal Posting, Account Management, Pool Fund Management, Payable & Receivables (Members & Third Party). Enterprise BankerïÆ' ¤ (CT2001) Banking software specially designed to automate all banking activities, from banking needs of retail customers, routine banking needs of investments and trade-finance activities to full activity report summary. Enterprise Stock MasterïÆ' ¤ Stock Application targeted towards mid-ranged stock and Stock Brokerage, Financial and Investment Houses in its scope. It is specially designed to automate all stock activities, from shareholder registration of clients and stock needs of investments and trade-finance activities to full activity report summary. Enterprise Inventory/Payment System Enterprise Manufacturing and Inventory System is designed to optimize the  efficiency of Trading/Sales Network, Sales Warehouses and Manufacturing capability. It is a complete Manufacturing/Inventory System [With Customer Support System, Financial Management System, Inventory Control System] [Including Sales, Purchase, Bills Receivable and Payable, Income and Expense maintenance] With various useful Reports. Money Transfer Management Systems MTMS, version CT2003 is a full Multi-Currency Solution targeted towards commercial banks, Merchant banks, Savings and Loans, Financial, Passenger Traffic Systems and Investment Houses. It is specially designed to automate all online money transfer activities, from sending and receiving of money to reconciliation of accounts and full activity report summary. The Application is secure and reliable. Digital Image / Account Security System Digital Image / Account Security System is an application designed to monitor customer’s accounts and provide adequate Account Security through Digital Image Capturing and Confidential Data Protection. MAJOR PROJECT REFERENCES S/N Client Nature of Project Status 1 NITDA Supply of e-Learning Application System to RITC Completed 2 NITDA ICT Consultancy on Development of Computer Network Security Standards Completed 3 NITDA Part of Consortium of ICT Consultants that developed Framework Architecture and Standards for e-Government Applications Completed 4 Shell-East Cooperative Investment Limited, PH IT Financial Consultant, Deployment and Implementation of Enterprise Cooperative Financials Software Completed and is being supported 5 NITDA ICT Consultancy & Implementation of eGovernment Project for Federal Government Completed 6 NITDA e-Government Workflow PS-NET Pilot Application deployed at FMST, Presidency, National Assembly, Finance Ministry, BOF (Budgets Office), Civil Service Commission, EFCC, PARP and Ministry of Education Completed 7 Akwa-Ibom State Government ICT Consultancy on SIT Park Project Completed 8 Trithel International Consulting E-Business Solutions (e-commerce portal) Completed 9 Akwa Savings & Loan – Uyo, Unical Community Bank – Calabar, Olomi Community Bank – Ibadan, Karakata Investment Limited – Ogbomosho, Aniocha Community Bank etc Deployment of our Enterprise Banker  Completed and is being supported 10 Riggs Securities, Lagos Deployment of our Enterprise Stock MasterïÆ' ¤ Solutions Completed 11 Toyota Nigeria Limited E-Business Solutions Completed 12 Henrich Boll Foundation, Socio Economic Rights Initiative, NOTAP (National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion), ITAN (Information Technology Association of Nigeria) 13 SIM Registration with Chams Plc Completed PROFILE OF KEY PERSONNEL CHRIS UWAJE (FNCS, FIAP) Born in Lagos, Nigeria, 4th August, 1951, Christopher Uwaje (FNCS, FIAP) is the Principal Consultant, Chief Software Architect and Chief Executive Officer: Connect Technologies Limited–CTL. He is the Originator/Pioneer of National Information Technology Policy for Nigeria. Guest Student on Informatics, University of Hamburg, Graduate of Informatics, British Institute of Engineering Technology and Control Data Institute, Frankfurt, Germany. Post Graduate Qualifications. Over Three Decades of on-the-job IT Practice as Computer Scientist – Spread across three continents (Europe/Africa and America), specializing in IT-Strategy Consulting – incorporating SIT Park project conceptualization, design, implementation, project management and Technical Support. Software Engineering Solutions; Research, Design and Development (RD&D). Special Professional focus: National & Regional IT Policy; Coordinating Chairman, Council for West Africa Information Technology Professionals (CWAITP). Immediate Past President of Information Technology Association of Nigeria (ITAN) and 1St Vice President of Institute of Software Practitioners Association of Nigeria (ISPON). Member, National Inter-Ministerial Committee on Software development. PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS AND ASSOCIATIONS Graduate of Informatics, British Institute of Engineering Technology and Control Data Institute, Frankfurt, Germany. Post Graduate Qualifications. IMMEDIATE-PAST PRESIDENT: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (ITAN) IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT: INSTITUTE OF SOFTWARE PRACTITIONERS OF NIGERIA (ISPON) FELLOW NIGERA COMPUTER SOCIETY NCS) FELLOW: INSTITUTE OF ANALYSTS AND PROGRAMMERS. U.K. FELLOW: INSTITUTE OF CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL OF U.K. MEMBER: COMPUTER PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION COUNCIL OF NIGERIA.(CPN) MEMBER: INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST, BRITAIN. PAST PRESIDENT: ROTARY INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT 9110, NIGERIA. OLUYINKA TANIMOWO Born on March 14th 1971 in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. Happily married with two lovely daughters and one handsome boy. B. SC (Hons), Computer Science (First Class Honours) from University of Benin, Benin-City, Edo State (1993) AWARDS Best graduating student in Faculty of Science during 1992/1993 Academic Session Best student in Computer Science during 1992/93 Session Best student in Computer Science during 1991/92 Session Nigerian Breweries PLC, Prize Winner, 1991/92 Session Best student in Computer Science during 1990/91 Session Best Student in Mathematics. 1988 (Secondary School) EXPERIENCE – SUMMARY Over 10 years of active Software Development. Hardware/OS Platforms: Have worked on various platforms that range from DOS, Windows 3.x, Windows 95/98, NT/Win 2000, Advanced Server 2002 and higher, Windows XP. Software/Internet Technologies: Experienced with the following: VB.Net, ASP. Net, C#, Visual C/C++, MFC, ActiveX Controls, Visual Basic, HTML, ASP, DHTML, VB Script, JavaScript, XML, CGI, JAVA, Windows NT, Client/Server Software Development, TCP/IP, ODBC, MS SQL Server, COBOL, MS Visual SourceSafe. Others: Object-Oriented Analysis & Design (OOA & D), UML, Rational Rose & Requirement Analysis. CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION Therefore, students most especially in higher institution of learning are expected to have an Industrial Training experience in order to improve their practical skills in their different course of study and also be computer literate. 1.1 Industrial Training Program. Industrial Training program provides pre-professional work experience with specific assignments and responsibilities. An Industrial Training should be relevant to a student’s personal career interests and academic courses of study, serving as a bridge between university and the world of work. Productive Industrial Trainings help students to make informed decisions and improve their marketability after graduation. 1.2 Objectives of Industrial Training. To provide avenue for students in higher institution of learning acquire industrial skills and experience in their various course of study. To prepare students for work situation they are likely to meet after graduation. To expose students to work methods and techniques in handling equipment and machinery that may not be available in the University. To make transition from University to the world of work easier and thus enhance contests for later job placements. To provide students with an opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge  in real work situation, thereby bridging the gap between University work and actual practice. To enlist and strengthen employers’ involvement in the entire educational process of preparing University graduates for employment in the industry. 1.4a Brief History of Connect Technology Ltd. 1.4b Structure of the Company. 1.4c Training Procedure of Connect Technology Ltd. At Connect Technology Ltd is a perfect mixture of theory and practical works also the implementation of web-based instructions to enable students on Industrial Training get a grip of whatever is taught. Connect Technology Ltd is a highly organized firm that not only satisfies clients but also ensures that students learn a lot that pertains to their course of study. 1.4d Features of Training Methodologies. Assignments: At the end of each lecture, students are to do their assignments and submit. Scores maybe awarded to keep check on progress level of students. Seminars: This is an interactive forum where students including staffs come together to talk about works they have executed, siting the challenges and also make plans for further works or projects. Textbooks: Students are allowed to go through the firm’s handout and read more pertaining to what has been taught. Internet: Students are also given the opportunity to go online to read up on different topics, which may not necessarily be what have been discussed at work but must be relevant so as to add more knowledge to the student. CHAPTER 2 WORK DONE The first day of work at Connect Technologies Ltd was on the 3rd of August, 2012. I was given an orientation in the company by one of the staff by name Pius Ekeh Junior, he told me of the rules and regulation of the company, showed me around different offices in the company, the services they render to the society, and he also gave a job description, and all that is expected of me during my Industrial Attachment. I was assigned to the hardware department, where we did jobs like formatting a system unit, ghosting of hard drives, coupling system, changing of damaged motherboard components and repairs of computer if the need arises, among others. Every Friday, everybody including staffs and IT students are enjoined in a seminar where they are given appraisal on works done during the week, discuss on challenges encountered during the week’s work and plan ahead for further jobs and projects. Monthly, I assist my colleagues in disk cleanup, disk fragmentation, antivirus update, and also give a well detailed report to the staff in charge of IT (Industrial Training) students. During the first week, no much work was done since I was new in the company, but as time went on, I was been thought on computer basics, how to use Microsoft, WordPad, Command Prompt, Viruses, Malware, Spyware and how they affect the computer system. I also learnt on the definition of disks, their different types which are Basic and Dynamic disks, their uses, and how to convert from one form or state to another i.e. converting a disk in its Basic state to a Dynamic disk or from its Dynamic state to a Basic disk. DISK CLEAN This is a process where the computer gets rid of irrelevant programs from its memory. It is used to clear unused files on the hard disk and offers more options than just emptying the recycle bin but also detecting temporary internet files. Files such as temporal office setups and old restore points can be removed in one operation, this also offers more flexibility for file removal. To do this Right Click the My Computer Icon Then Click on Properties Next Click Disk Cleanup Tick the items to be removed Select Yes to confirm deletion Then Click Ok to finish By these actions, the files are removed from the hard disk and the spaces occupied are being freed. RECYCLE BIN When a file is deleted from the computer, it is not completed deleted from the computer instead it is saved in the Recycle Bin, where it can be restored should in case it was deleted by mistake. Only when a file is deleted from the Recycle Bin, is it permanently deleted from the computer. The Recycle Bin should be emptied on a regular basis. SCAN DISK This is used to check the integrity of the file systems, also to scan the physical hard disk for bad sectors. These bad sectors can lead to data loss or corruption and this is one of the first signs of falling hard disks. When bad sectors are detected, Scan Disk attempts to repair these sectors mark them as ‘UNUSABLE’. GHOSTING This means creating a clone of its contents so that they may be transferred to a different and larger sized hard disk. It is not strictly the same as copying, but rather a means of accessing files and software without having to go through all the trouble of reinstalling them. Ghosting is typically done on a computer so as to upgrade it to a larger hard disk. It is also very important to note that when doing this both hard disks should be compatible, in terms model and brand. It is sometimes called CLONING. CONFIGURATION OF SYSTEMS System configuration is the process of setting up the hardware devices and assigning resources to them so that they work together without conflicts. A properly configured system will allow the user avoid resource conflict problems, and makes it easier for the user to upgrade the system with new equipments in the future. An improperly configured system will lead to storage errors and problems, and make upgrading very difficult. Steps in Setting up or Configuration a Computer. Power on the Computer On Set up window, choose country or region, time, currency and keyboard layout Click ‘Next’ Accept the license terms required to use your computer Click ‘Next’ Enter username and password, then choose a default picture for the use account Enter computer name e.g. Helen-pc Click ‘Next’ and click on ‘Ask me again if any message comes up’ Here set time and date time zone Finally click on ‘Start’ After configuration of the computer, the user can now allow the window to check the performance of the computer and prepare the desktop. At this juncture the user can install and download any necessary applications that are needed on the computer. UPGRADING WINDOWS XP to WINDOWS 7. It is the same steps taken when configuring a computer; the difference is that during the configuration, the following are done: Insert the OS cd for Windows 7 Restart the computer When prompted to boot to boot from CD, it any key on the keyboard to proceed Then all the instructions carefully and you will have your Windows XP upgraded to Windows 7 After that install the drivers and applications that are necessary to help the user work conveniently on the computer. ACTIVATING WINDOWS. Activating Windows is necessary for Microsoft to know it is a genuine version of the Operating System. It also aids in upgrading any Operating System to any version. These are the steps required: Click on the Start button Right Click on My Computer Select Properties Click on Activate Windows Follow all instructions including the EULA agreement You will need to type the product key of the computer and it is always at the top of the system unit After that you will be required to wait for some minutes so that Windows can be activated. TROUBLESHOOTING OF A COMPUTER SYSTEM. Troubleshooting is a process of determining the cause of, and ultimately the solution to, a problem. It is a form of problem solving, most often applied to repair of failed products and processes. It is a logical and systematic search for the source  of a problem, so that it can be solved, and so the product or process can be made operational again. It is also needed to develop and maintain complex systems, where the symptoms of a problem can leave many possible problems. By applying a logical, consistent method to the troubleshooting process, you make your work easier, and shorten the time it takes to discover the root of the problem. Acquire information about the problem by questioning the user and identifying any change the user has made to the computer lately. In acquiring the information, you will find out that sometimes the user has the problem. Some complain of not being able to connect to the internet or not being able to use the printer and applications. All that is needed is to check the machine which ever it is and try to proffer a solution.

Points of Argument on the Settlement of Cyrene Essay Example

Points of Argument on the Settlement of Cyrene Essay Example Points of Argument on the Settlement of Cyrene Essay Points of Argument on the Settlement of Cyrene Essay The subject of â€Å"Tradition† is problematic when regarding historical sources pertaining to archaic Greece. Much of what we know about ancient times comes from literary sources and various inscriptions, such as Herodotus. Having been written by people of the epoch, influenced by oral tradition as well as political and social climates, and not as historical research, these writings should not be taken literally. And some, like Osborne, would say are automatically disqualified as historical evidence. When examining the case of the foundation of Cyrene, we must first assess the quality of our main source of information on the subject Herodotus. Herodotus, who wrote in the 5th century BC, tells us of the stories he had heard from the people of Cyrene and the people of Thera (The claimed Mother-city of Cyrene) regarding the founding of Cyrene. Osborne’s reading of Herodotus’ stories conveys they are not in unison. He claims that the Theran story emphasizes the difficulties they went through and the amount of careful planning put into the founding endeavor, whereas the Cyrenian version tells almost exclusively of their founder and first king, Battos. He explains these differences by looking at the socio-economical climate at the time the text was written. The Therans had an interest to keep their historical links with prosperous Cyrene alive and well, while it was important for the Cyrenian monarchy, the Battiads, to emphasize Battos’ role to legitimize themselves, as well as affirm Cyrene’s independence. It is clear now that these stories were based on each side’s interests and needs, and are selective and exaggerated. Malkin dismisses Osborne’s presentation of Herodotus’ accounts as conflicting, and suggests that with further analysis of the text it becomes evident that the Theran version is a combined Theran-Cyrenian one, and the â€Å"Cyrenian† story is in fact just used to fill what is missing in the Theran version. He agrees that the stories, especially that of Battos’ origins, are filled with exaggerated and mythical elements, born of various social needs, but refuses that this is sufficient grounds to throw all â€Å"Traditional† evidence we have away. In example we see that in the combined Theran-Cyrenian version, it is said that all settlers of the first generation were Theran, and that no new settlers arrived for 60 years. This stands in direct conflict with a multitude of archeological and traditional evidence – Including that Polis around Cyrene show signs of settlement already during Cyrene’s first generation of settlers. We also find evidence of Spartan pottery at Taucheira since its first generation that is obviously of too poor a quality to have been imports. Malkin resolves the archeological problem by saying there were many other settlers from all over the Greek world that settled in Cyrene, and over time got blended in and their origins forgotten, a fact revealed by 6th century reforms that divided Cyrenians by their origin. This assimilation process occurred in reaction to the rise of various Polis around Cyrene, forcing them to differentiate themselves by creating a uniform identity as Therans. What we see in this process is that while certain facts may change, a basic frame of the story remains constant. The Sworn Undertaking of the Founders is a document written by the Therans and attributed to before the settlers from Thera set out to Libya, cited by Herodotus during his account of the foundation of Cyrene, and later presented by the Therans to the Cyrenians in the 4th century when coming to claim citizenship. Osborne relates to The Sworn Undertaking of the Founders with skepticism, he claims the text contains many elements which are out of place in an 8th century document, such as the anachronistic approach of sailing â€Å"On equal and fair terms† and the claim to having originated from an assembly at Thera, and questions the text’s authenticity. He states the reason for the Cyrenians willingness to accept this different version of their past as that the now fallen Battiad monarchy had become an embarrassment, and the Cyrenians were happy to adopt a version in which Battos no longer played a major role, and that better fitted their current needs. However, claims Malkin, this analysis relies on the Therans having a fairly vague and short-termed memory of their past, which, as seen by Teuchydides’ story of refugee’s from Epidemnus coming to Corcyra and pointing out their ancestors grave, was not the case as not only oral tradition, but also outside affirmation from visitors helped keep the memory alive. Furthermore, as seen in the story of Cyrene itself as told by Herodotus, already in the 6th century people regarded Thera as the natural home for exiles from Cyrene. As for Battos’ having become an object of embarrassment to the Cyrenians, both the Theran version and the Agreement name Battos as founder and king, and in fact affirm his position as leader on Thera’s authority. Furthermore, it is unlikely that Battos had fallen out of grace with the Cyrenians due to the fall of the monarchy; his grave in the agora was consulted as an Oraculum and ceremonies held near it, regardless of the changing political climate, Battos’ character remained heroic and mythic in the people’s minds and his memory important to the Cyrenians’ collective identity. We also find evidence of the popularity of the Founder’s cult in places such as Gela, where a cup was found with an inscription dedicating it to the city’s founder. What we see through the examples given by Malkin is that tradition isn’t as soluble as it first seems. People have a need for conformity, and look for constants on which to base their personal and collective identity. To that extent we have folk stories, religious beliefs and ceremonies, and various social conformities of thought and behavior, that are passed on and maintain their form if not specifics, in order to retain a cohesive social uniform. In conclusion, there is a certain amount of skepticism with which one must approach the study of tradition in history, and care with which to regard that which we see as fact, however, methodical skepticism is also dangerous, and one must carefully examine and differentiate the mythical from the factual, and the constant from the changing.