Rhetoric and Religion in Mary Astells a Serious Proposal Essay Example

Rhetoric and Religion in Mary Astells a Serious Proposal Essay The late 17th century is known as a time of religious devotion. Though the Church of England’s monopoly on Christian worship was coming to an end, its ideological influence remained. Throughout the scientific revolution and into the enlightenment, many notable thinkers (i. e. Newton, Descartes and Spinoza) shaped the intellectual landscape while remaining devout in their faith. Despite the obvious challenges their discoveries yielded, the groundwork for modern science and philosophy was set in Christian values. The origins of feminism are not dissimilar; Mary Astell, often accredited with being the first English feminist, was a deeply religious writer. Her Tory Anglican views helped persuade the highly devout and conservative aristocracy in advocating the establishment of academic institutions for women, which otherwise may have been dismissed as radical. In her book, A Serious Proposal to the Lades for the Advancement of Their True and Greatest Interest, Astell aims to promote women’s education by appealing to Christian values. The thesis and key points of part I of A Serious Proposal are nicely summarized in the excerpt titled â€Å"A Religious Retirement†, in which Astell outlines her argument for the erection of a â€Å"monastery† dedicated to women’s education (Astell 18). This monastery, or institution as she calls it (deliberately eschewing the word convent), is suggested to be a kind of seminary where women would be taught things like literature, philosophy and â€Å"Christianity as professed by the Church of England† (22). We will write a custom essay sample on Rhetoric and Religion in Mary Astells a Serious Proposal specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Rhetoric and Religion in Mary Astells a Serious Proposal specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Rhetoric and Religion in Mary Astells a Serious Proposal specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Astell says that such an institution will have a two purposes; to keep women â€Å"out of the road of sin† (19), and to â€Å"expel that could of ignorance which custom has involved [women] in† (21). That it would function as both an isolated retreat, where women would be kept innocent and uncontaminated, and academic academy, where useful knowledge could be feasted upon. Astell stresses quality over quantity. In true Anglican fashion, she boldly (or, perhaps, naively) envisions a perfect educational ideal. [The retreat] will be the introducing you into such a paradise as your mother Eve forfeited, where you shall feast on pleasures that do not disappoint your expectations,† she writes, â€Å"[which] will make you truly happy now, and prepare you to be so perfectly hereafter† (19). This undoubtedly sounds pretty appealing. To anyone ignorant of the â€Å"good works† she refers to (namely, most women of the time), this highly romanticized account of e ducation as â€Å"entertaining employment† would sound not only fun, but life-affirming. Astell’s vision is of a high-functioning, efficient institution, committed solely to necessary and relevant works, always striving toward perfection and against impertinency. The genius of this argument is it’s ability to appeal to more several demographics. It not only appeals to women readers enticed by this pedagogical utopia, but male readers as well, many of whom would have been highly educated and conservative. In the passage, â€Å"[She need not] trouble herself in turning over a great number of books, but take care to understand and digest a few well chosen and good ones† (22) Astell speaks to the erudite, conservative male mentality. Astell argues that women have an equal capacity for knowledge as men. The influence of Descartes (whom she later mentions) is apparent in her treatment of mind and body as separate entities. â€Å"For since God has given women as well as men intelligent souls, why should they be forbidden to improve them? † she writes, â€Å"Since he has not denied us the faculty of thinking, why should we not we employ our thoughts on himself their noblest object? † (22). This statement is the crux of Astell’s argument and was probably its most controversial, the assertion that both sexes have equal intelligence would have been highly disputed. Astell supports her claim by pointing out the egalitarian root of Christian values. â€Å"Being the soul was created for the contemplation of truth as well as for the fruition of good,† she writes, â€Å"is it not as cruel and unjust to exclude women from the knowledge of one as from the knowledge of the other? † (23). This line of reasoning is rhetorically brilliant because of its multi-audience appeal; on one hand it speaks to women about the unjustness of being denied education, on the other it appeals to the men of the time by its appeal to Logos. As the argument progresses, the intended audience seems to shift further toward males. Astell points out that the education of women would benefit not only the women themselves, but those who have to spend time with them. The line â€Å"learning is therefore necessary to render them more agreeable and useful in company† (23) suggests that uneducated women are not very good conversationalists, and are likely to tend toward insipid or banal subjects. Astell argues that the view that women are concerned only with vapid, frivolous issues is merely the result of ignorance, and that with a better education, women would be more relatable and easier to talk to. There is a prevailing sense that education allows women to be better judged by God. Astell argues that our earthly â€Å"habitude and temper of mind† carries over into the afterlife, and that those who have reflected upon â€Å"noble and sublime truths† will be better prepared for Heaven (23). She criticizes the idea that innocence, when resulting from ignorance, relieves a woman of sin, evident in the line, â€Å"seeing our beatitude consists in the contemplation of divine truth and beauty† (23), which shows that she believed active engagement in theological issues was necessary for salvation. She underscores the importance of a deep, spiritual seriousness in intellectual pursuits and warns against studying the trivial, secular topics of plays and romances. This is seen in the lines, â€Å"There is a sort of learning indeed which is worse than the greatest ignorance: a woman may study plays and romances all her life, and may be a great deal more knowing but never a jot the wiser† (23). Astell makes a strong distinction between spiritual and secular knowledge, her entire argument is in support of the former. To her, the spiritual is the practical, and the only type of knowledge worth pursuing. She defines practical knowledge as that which â€Å"will convince us of the absolute necessity of holy living as well as of right believing, and that no heresy is more dangerous than that of an ungodly and wicked life† (24). Her vision of â€Å"necessary† knowledge taking precedence over the frivolous â€Å"froth and trifles† (23) popular in women’s entertainment of the time is given considerable weight throughout the book, which turns her argument, in part, into a critique of superficiality. Modern readers may have trouble reconciling Astell’s religious convictions with her feminist beliefs. Indeed, her version of feminism is a far cry away from the sexually liberated second- and third-wave feminism we know today. I would urge such readers to look closely at what she really means by things like holy retirement, and freedom from sin. What Astell is suggesting is an earnest commitment to a pursuit; she is asking women to take themselves seriously. The greatest obstacle she saw for the establishment of women’s education was an obsession with â€Å"froth and trifles† (23). She saw that in order to effect significant change one first had to care deeply and sincerely about their cause, and it was in spiritual devotion that she saw this. It is no surprise she reveres the biblical saint Priscilla, who found the inspiration to do missionary work from her profound devotion to her cause. And much like Priscilla, Mary Astell found the strength to lead her cause in the face of fearsome opposition from a deep, sincere commitment to Truth. She had no idea, at the time, of the enduring influence her writing would have thereafter. Works Cited Astell, Mary. A Serious Proposal to the Ladies. London: Pickering Chatto Ltd. 1997

The New Napster essays

The New Napster essays So its a Friday night and you, being a stereotypical Penn State student, are ready to go out. Whether it be the latest fraternity party, or just a get together in an apartment, everyone is well aware of the evenings plans. Go to a party, drink some beer, take a few shots, and make your way home at some point in the evening. But you show up at this party and you hear the news, there will be no alcohol at this party. There will be no alcohol at any party that Penn State students attend. Instead, Gram Spanier has kindly purchased a vending machine full of non-alcoholic beverages that you can sample for free, but if you want to drink the whole thing, you must pay ninety-nine cents. He doesnt want any Penn State students getting in trouble with the police and that underage drinking law. So hes provided an alternative. Isnt he a wonderful president? I think not. This is Dr. Spaniers way of helping out the students of Penn State. This is his way of making sure we stay out of trouble. Except its not underage drinking that hes attempting to ban, its illegal file sharing. Penn State has recently adopted a new file-sharing program called Napster. Napster was previously shut down by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) but recently has been allowed because of the new pay-to-play ideals. This means that for a fee of ten dollars a month, anyone can download music to their computer (Sagoff, 2003). Penn State students do not have to directly pay this fee because it is included in the pre-existing information technology fees, currently $160 per semester (Borland, 2003). The new program gives on campus students free access to more than 500,000 songs, as well as forty radio stations, along with access to six decades of Billboard chart data, an online magazine and community features. Downloading songs is free, but to burn these songs onto a compact disc, the cost is ninety-nine cents per...

Aquinas and Aristotle's Perspective on the American Government Essay

Aquinas and Aristotle's Perspective on the American Government - Essay Example America was colonized by Britain and after independence, founders of the American society introduced federal system of government. This paper will analyze Aristotle and Aquinas view on the American style of governance and on allegations that the British occupation was unjust under the law of nature and God. The question that this paper will seek to answer is what the wisdom and justifications of these words in regard to Aristotle and Aquinas view of Governance in America are. Based on this question, the main objective of this paper is to analyze the teachings of Aristotle and Aquinas on Governance and apply them on American perspective. Thomas Aquinas observed that there are two types of governments, just and unjust. The three kinds of a just government are; monarchy, oligarchy and democracy. Aquinas states that monarchy is the best form of government, since one leader, known as a king is made to rule; his heart needs to be kind and just. The reason advanced by the philosopher is tha t no obstacle can come on the king’s rule. Oligarchy refers to rule by an elite group of people. Aquinas views this as second to monarchy since it is not efficient and ideal as a monarch in its operations. Aquinas argues that with oligarchy, there might be a different view which affects the functioning of the state. The least, in Aquinas view is a democracy, and he refers it as rule by the masses. Aquinas views this as the most inefficient since decisions are not implemented with speed. Basing on these teachings, the American claim of independence from British is not wise. They were against the King of England who was a monarch, and in his belief, monarchy is the best style of governance. Americans had the intention of creating a democratic government based on the concept of equality and unalienable rights. Aquinas argues that democracy can turn to be unjust (Lord, 47), for instance, when people turn out to be selfish and greedy, and, in a democracy, the unalienable rights of individuals can be looked down upon. The American system of governance is composed of the senate, the House of Representatives and the presidency and in Aquinas’ view; this is a just form of governance since the three organs control the excesses of each other. This hybrid style of governance was proposed by Aquinas, where the monarch, i.e. the presidency will be in check by a group of Aristocrats i.e. the senate and House of Representatives who are elected by the masses. For Aristotle, democracy is not the best form of government. He believed that the most efficient form of governance should be made using the concept of policy which embraces rule of law, personal freedom and dependent upon the middle class. The American style, though it’s a democracy was condemned by Aristotle, borrowed heavily from Aristotle’s teachings which are: Governments should enact policies which are for the benefit of the people. A stable regime is made of mixed regimes. The best form of government involves the balancing off the kingship, aristocracy and democracy. A pure democracy can turn into a tyranny of the majority. The rule of law should be the foundation of governance (Lord, 47). Basing on these teachings, the American constitution acknowledges the rule of law as one of its tenets which borrows heavily on Aristotle’s teach

Application of the Criminal Justice System Research Paper

Application of the Criminal Justice System - Research Paper Example As the discussion highlights the criminal justice system follows a well elaborate process. The process starts when the suspect of a crime is apprehended by the police, all the way to the time the suspect is arraigned, charged and convicted or released by the courts, and through to serving the required sentences if the suspect is found guilty. This study stresses that the crime involved the murder of Joseph Ronan at his home by John Burke. The crime was first suspected to be homicide, but after the police investigations, it was discovered that it was a murder case that involved a drug deal gone soar. The police followed the reads and were able to track down the suspect of the murder, who was set to be arraigned in court and charged for the crime of murder. This is the first process in the criminal justice system, which entails the police apprehending a suspect who is suspected of having committed a certain crime. Therefore, John Burke who is the offender in this case, will first be arrested by the police and kept in police custody, awaiting the next procedure in the criminal justice system. However, the arresting of the offender takes place only when the police have sufficient evidence to charge the suspect with the crime the suspect is alleged to have committed. This is the second process in the criminal justice system th at John Burke will go through. The prosecution and pretrial stage of the criminal justice process is the stage in which the prosecutor, will analyze and evaluate the available evidence gathered by the police.

Licensure Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Licensure - Essay Example According to Guido (2014), the scope of registered nurses is outlined by the Nursing Practice Act (NPA). For this reason, it is necessary for nurses to be aware of various clauses documented in the NPA because they indicate the scope of their activities. Of more importance, the regulations also stipulate factors that determine the working conditions for nurses (Bae, 2012). Nurses should also be aware of the implications of the violating the NPA policies. Like in other professions guided by standard practices, nurses are subjected to varying forms of punishment in the event of violating NPA. According to NCSBN (2011), incidences of malpractices violating the NPA are reported to the Boards of Nursing (BON) in the respective jurisdictions. Investigations into the concerned issues are done, and convicted nurses are subjected to legal prosecution process. Therefore, nurses should be aware that their licensures can be questioned or even revoked following the violations of NPA. Lastly, licensed nurses should be aware that they can perform activities beyond their scope of RN practice. According to Guido (2014), nurses can perform activities beyond their scope based on standards developed by the nursing, medicine and administration. In addition, nurses should be aware that additional factors such as status of healthcare administration can affect their effectiveness in service delivery (Auerbach, Staiger, Muench & Buerhaus, 2012). In conclusion, nurses should be aware of various factors affecting their licensures. In particular, nurses are subjected to various regulations that oversee the quality of their services. In addition, nurses are given additional mandates, such as healthcare administration and performance of activities beyond their usual scope after being licensed. Auerbach, D. I., Staiger, D. O., Muench, U., &

Sustainability Standards In Events Organizations

Sustainability Standards In Events Organizations In November 2007 we witnessed the release of BS8901 Event Management Standard on sustainability. This new standard was aimed at helping to improve the management systems in the events industry and thereby conduct business in a more sustainable manner. Amongst the earliest people to adopt the standard are the 2012 London Olympic Games Organizing committee. This being to oversee the tender process for the Olympic Games. BS8901 has received wide acclaim from a number of early sponsors in the events industry i.e. Live Earth, Manchester International Festival, Lords Cricket Ground and Reeds Carpets etc. BSI British Standards provides a system for managing the overall environmental, economic and social impact of an event. BS 8901 is a new standard which sets out the requirements for planning and managing a sustainable event. (Fulton) The DEFRA Minister Hillary Benn has been an immediate supporter of BS 8901 and the concept of sustainability. He was quoted as saying Lots of us love to attend music festivals and football matches but they can produce a lot of rubbish. We all have to play our part in the move to more sustainable living. (Benn). In addition to the national standard there is also the development of ISO 20121 that is being developed and finalized for the Olympic Games in 2012. The standard (ISO 20121) will take a management systems approach requiring identification of key sustainability issues like venue selection, operating procedures, supply chain management, procurement, communications, transport, and others. (Lazarte) The new ISO standard is expected to make a significant contribution to the entire event industry in the UK and Elizabeth Henderson the Director of Social and Corporate responsibility at media firm MPI stated As sustainability is becoming increasingly important for the event industry, individuals, companies and countries are setting multiple and differing standards. ISO 20121 will be developed with extensive stakeholder engagement so the industry can have one internationally recognized framework to implement sustainability (Lazarte). DEFINITIONS Definitions of sustainability in the event industry include: An enduring and balanced approach to economic activity, environmental responsibility and social progress (Sustainable Events) There are broader definitions of sustainability as this can be applied in a number of other very different contexts. These additional contexts are explored below with definitions provided by leaders in that particular field. Sustainable Development : Sustainability encompasses the simple principle of taking from the earth only what it can provide indefinitely, thus leaving future generations no less than we have access to ourselves. Friends of the Earth http://www.foe-scotland.org.uk/ Sustainable Society: Society whose long term prospect for continuing to exist are good. Such a society would be characterized by an emphasis on preserving the environment, developing strong peaceful relationships between people and nations, and an emphasis on equitable distribution of wealth. Coop America Quarterly, No. 37 Summer 1995. Sustainable Production: Sustainable Production is the creation of goods and services using processes and systems that are: non-polluting; conserving of energy and natural resources; economically efficient; safe and healthful for workers, communities, and consumers; and, socially and creatively rewarding for all working people. http://www.uml.edu/centers/LCSP/ Sustainable Agriculture: farmers in sustainable agriculture are concerned about feeding their families and paying their bills, but those are not their only goals in life. They set out to protect the land, improve their quality of life, and enhance the communities in which they live. Their day-to-day decisions are not guided by a single minded search for profit, but by a delicate balancing act among many goals. Land Stewardship Program, White Bear Lake Minnesota. Monitoring Sustainable Agriculture with Conventional Financial Data, http://www.landstewardshipproject.org From the above examples it can be observed that the general concept of sustainability has a wide application beyond that of event management. The Government is more concerned with sustainable environment and development matters The goal of sustainable development is to enable all people throughout the world to satisfy their basic needs and enjoy a better quality of life, without compromising the quality of life of future generations. (DEFRA). Sustainability in the event industry is really all about good management and business practice. It is important to demonstrate to key stakeholders that the event being hosted is ecofriendly and is being managed in a professional and responsible way. The 2010 Winter Olympic Games held in Vancouver Canada was a great international event but it equally left behind a lot of infrastructure and facilities that would be of benefit to the public post the games i.e. swimming pools, improved ski facilities, ice rinks, running trails etc. In essence sustainability leaves behind a lasting footprint and provides a major value added contribution to the original event. The London Olympic Games in 2012 will be no exception to this and it is already working on potential enhancements and improvements for re-generation of areas within greater London. As such it will provide a welcome boost to the local economic development of greater London. CRITICAL REVIEW OF BS8901 BS8901 has been developed entirely for the event industry. The prime objective being to make the industry operate in a more efficient manner. The standards are based around the support and build of an effective event management system. The British Standard requires those participating organisations to re-examine the efforts and impact that this event will have on the environment, society and the economy in both micro and macro conditions. From this analysis to determine a set of counter measures that will address this and help to mitigate the negative impacts. By implementing the guidelines of BS 8901 you would expect to derive the following benefits: A clear direction through the implementation of a sustainability policy; A thorough omissions check ensuring no important areas have been left out; A reduction in complaints as a result of improved communications with the key stakeholders; Better reputation through improved supplier relationships; Reduction of operating costs and elimination of waste; Improved process efficiency through streamlining and elimination of redundancies; More robust information and better decision making; A whole batch of cost reduction improvements i.e. lower training costs, lower staff turnover, improved productivity gains etc.; General increased customer satisfaction and an improved stance regarding marketing. BS8091 has changed from a specification to that of a standard focused on sustainability system for management of events This means that events do not comply with BS 8901, but that rather it is the management system behind the events that complies. The standard clarifies that it is applicable not only to event organisers, but to all organisations in the events industry, from event clients to venues, suppliers and contractors, regardless of their role in delivering events. (Whiteling). Another important aspect of the standard is that it requires the organisation to clearly define the scope of how it complies with the standard. Hence organisations must prepare a report that describes both the activities and the functions which are an integral part of the sustainable management system. Another change from the old version is that this new standard is far more process oriented. This will require a lot more communications with the key stakeholders and in general terms an improved communications plan. On the implementation side there is an increased reliance upon effective planning and particular the definition of roles and responsibilities together with milestones and timelines. Many of the ambiguities within the original version have been cleared up, and some of the confusing clauses, such as assessing options for improved event sustainability, have been removed, (Whiteling). ISO 20121 The future standard of ISO 20121 will make a significant impact to the events industry when it is released in 2012 at the eve of the London Olympic Games. The standard is aimed at providing a framework where event planners and other individuals in the supply chain can implement and maintain a sustainable program. ISO 20121 will have been designed and developed in extensive consultation with stakeholders in the events industry. It is anticipated that the standard will become the benchmark for the industry in terms of both quality and performance. The standard will adopt a management systems approach requiring identification of key sustainability issues like venue selection, operating procedures, supply chain management, procurement, communications, transport, and others (Lazarte). ISO20121 uses the BS 8091 as the starting point in order to develop a more comprehensive framework for an events sustainable management system. The global standard is intended to benefit all in the events industry and not only help in the reduction of an organizations social and environmental impact but help to streamline the operating procedures and reduce costs. An example being where energy is an identified issue, an appropriate sustainability mitigation strategy might be developing procedures that would reduce the carbon footprint. Despite the development of IS20121, the event and tourism industry is currently less sustainable than any previous time in its history. Consider the following issues: à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ We are seeing far more emissions in absolute terms; à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ With energy and land use we are seeing a lot more resource utilization; à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ We are seeing an increased loss in the contribution to bio diversity à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ The increasing contribution of tourism to that of environmental change raises considerable concern over effective sustainable policy development in this area. Another issue concerning sustainability is that it is mostly portrayed in terms of a one dimensional though process i.e. it is shown in economic terms. Hence using the London Olympic Games as an example it is mainly concerned with the hosting of that event and the impact to the UK inn terms of economic growth. There is not enough attention being paid to the costs of the longer term implication, this particularly at the time of a major recession in the UK. The BC Government in Canada was criticised for political grand-standing and committing a massive overspend on the hosting of the 2010 winter Olympics. Similarly in London this shows a considerable emphasis on international profiling and showcasing London in order to enhance its global marketing position and profile. The sustainability plan for the London Olympic Games is based upon 5 central themes: The Sustainability Plan focuses on five key themes: 1. Climate change: dealing with emissions and the impact of climate change such that there is a sustainable legacy for the future 2. Waste: The complete elimination of waste and ensuring that such a bi-product is not sent to land fill sites during the development of the games sites 3. Biodiversity: minimising the dangers on the destruction of wildlife sites and the habitats of same. Building upon the existing eco development policies leaving parks that will promote wildlife and sanctuaries. 4. Inclusion: Providing opportunities to showcase the diversity of London and market the business and commercial opportunities for the Capital 5. Healthy living: Getting people motivated towards concepts of more healthy living and taking up sports. ACCEPTANCE OF BS8901/ISO 20121 IN WIDER TERMS The concept of BS 8901 has a wide acceptance both in the UK and overseas. One of the important factors being that of long term sustainability in the urban planning of the Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee is highly supportive of this and takes into consideration how applicant nations will incorporate this into the overall planning of the games the IOCs Olympic Study Commission in July, 2003 has recommended a number of controls to ensure that legacy is a priority in the staging of future Games. Legacy needs to be integrated and given equal weighting through all stages of Olympic planning. (Chalkey). Another example of a specific success story was the hosts of the Olympic Games in Australia in 2000. Their attention to sustainability gave them the title of the green games By committing the government to environmental guidelines based on Agenda 21 and the recommendations of the National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development, the Sydney Olympics earned the unofficial title of the Green Games (Briese) The impact of BS 8091 and the subsequent development of ISO 20121 have been widely observed by other countries including Australia, Brazil and Canada. Amongst the first to take action was that of Brazil in developing the standard for use in that country Responding to wide-spread enthusiasm for BS 8901, work has now started on an international standard for event management. The proposal for the development of ISO 20121 was jointly submitted by BSI and ABNT, the Brazilian national standards body, as members of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). (Fulton) Examples of adoption of BS 8091 include the following: The Barbican, London A large conference facility in the Centre of London with 2000 seating capacity is used for hosting a wide range of events and meetings. It has recently started to implement BS8091 The centre introduced a variety of policies to improve its environmental efficiency, and won Gold at the City of London Clean City Awards 2008. The steps to this included sourcing 55 per cent of electrical energy contracts from renewable and green contracts, sourcing heating and cooling from a highly efficient, combined heat and power system. (Wyatt). Sheepdrove Eco Conference Centre, Berkshire A fully compliant BS8091 venue. A state of the art conference centre in Berkshire, greater London. Won awards for sustainability and eco considerations in its design It won the Green Venue Event Award 2008. Initiatives include using recycled or renewable materials during construction. Electricity is from 100 per cent renewable supplies, while a solar panel pre-heats water for the boilers. Its reed bed system annually recycles seven million litres of waste water. (Wyatt) The Brewery London A venue that has historical roots back to the 18th Century. Not currently BS8091 accredited but is an integral part of a larger group that has received the award. Low-energy LED lighting is used throughout, with high-powered hand-dryers and sensor lights in the bathrooms. Local produce is sourced wherever possible. The venue operates a waste management system and provides guests with filtered water in reusable bottles. (Wyatt) The ACC Liverpool ( BT Convention Centre) Not currently BS8091 certified but actively working towards certification acquisition. 1,350 seats with an adjoining area containing 11,000 seats and one of the largest UK facilities of its kind. It has 18 meeting rooms and a large area for exhibition space The  £164m venue is designed to produce half the CO2 emissions of a traditional building. The electricity supply is from a green energy provider. Five 20-metre low-noise wind turbines generate around ten per cent of the required electricity. Rainwater is collected and provides around 40 per cent of the water needed to flush toilets. The venue has won two Green Apple Awards, is about to embark on attaining IS012001 and is awaiting the outcome of a Green Business Tourism Scheme assessment. (Wyatt) Excel London A BS 8091 showcase site and one of the first to gain certification. It boasts a facility that contains over 5,000 seating capacity and in May 2010 this was expanded to 26,000 Has its own materials recycling facility, a wormery for food waste and a  £14m energy centre housing three boilers, three chillers and two back-up generators. (Wyatt) Faversham House Group One of the worlds largest independent media groups. They adopted certification of BS 8901 With ever increasing pressure from stakeholders and authorities to address sustainability, independent certification to BS 8901 will undoubtedly enhance the competitive stance and environmental credibility of any organisation involved with the events industry (BSI) Nimlok Ltd Nimlok are builders and constructors of custom exhibition stands and have a global presence in the supply of portable exhibition stands for conferences and exhibitions. Having already gained certification to ISO 9001 (Quality Management) and ISO 14001 (Environmental Management) with BSI, Nimlok recognised that BS 8901 would be an appropriate addition to its certification portfolio and would help the organisation differentiate itself from industry competitors. (BSI) Earls Court and Olympia A purpose built conference centre with BS8091 certification. All of the event managers are required to undergo BS8091 training The group won the 2008 AEO Sustainability Excellence Award and the Visit London Sustainable Tourism Award. The venues sustainable development policy includes engaging with customers and suppliers on sustainability issues, assessing sustainability risks and opportunities presented by hosting events and setting key performance indicators and objectives. Both venues have on-site recycling centres. (Wyatt) There are no significant problems reported with the implementation of BS8091 although some folk have cited minor operational issues that have caused some controversy. Overall the standard has been well received and adopted by all of those who have chosen to move forward and implement it. There is always room for ongoing enhancement and improvement and it is anticipated that this is where ISO 20121 will pick up any slack when it is formerly released in 2012. A lot of attention will be focused on the London Olympic Games and the success of these games will further enhance the credibility of these standards and the amount of work adapted from these standards in order to make the event a huge international success story. 11 Countries have signed up to mirror ISO20121 for adoption in their native country. One of the more recent entrants to the mirror committee being that of Australia It is important to note that a working draft for the International Standard (ISO) 20121 was produced with no involvement from the Australian events community. Twenty countries are actively involved in the development process including New Zealand. The SEA recognised this and approached Standards Australia to encourage our participation level to move from O (observer) status to P (participating) status (sustainable event). RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EVENT ORGANIZATIONS Many of the initiatives that support the implementation of BS8091 and that of ISO 20121 are still voluntary. There is no doubt that most event management organizations will significantly benefit from adopting these standards and taking up these initiatives. It is perhaps first useful to explain what BS8091 does relative to other environmental policies. There are three distinct advantages of BS8091. It defines the management system that an organization must put in place for effective sustainability of its operations. It is not a checklist but a definitive guide to operational procedures; It does not directly apply to events but more concerned with the management system that must be adopted in order to run these events. It is the management system operated by an organisation to deliver its event related activities that is certified and not the event (SEC) The standard is really more about sustainability and not purely focused on environmental issues, hence sustainability is about adopting strategies that will not only ensure long term financial success but will also drive social prosperity and progress as well as reduce environmental degradation (SEC). BS8091 has been criticised for containing too much jargon and not being an easy document to comprehend or navigate. Nevertheless, it contains a lot of good and useful material and many companies have succeeded in proper interpretation and use of the standard. These constraints have been notified to ISO 20121 which is expected to resolve these difficulties in the reading and interpretation of the standard. Benefits of BS 8901 The adoption of BS8091 has to be considered from the many benefits that it provides to event management organizations. Current research has demonstrated that the standard is particularly useful for small-medium sized business operations as it provides a reliable and robust framework which facilitates the integration of new staff. It also helps the organization in gaining a clearer understanding of the overall strategic direction and helps in harmonization of the workforce. Current projects have seen an improvement in communications and planning illustrating more integrated and harmonized communications that promote better teamwork and improved decision making capabilities. Overall a concept of rationalization and streamlining those results in more lucid and efficient systems and processes. As the standard effectively integrates social and economic standards it has an impact in helping to raise employee motivation and assists in retaining people with the best skills and talents. Furth er, it helps in improving the relations with key stakeholders and clients and strengthens the position of the business in the local community. From the financial perspective adoption of the standard is seen to reduce costs, eliminate wastes and create savings on energy. BS 8901 challenges business as usual and drives creativity and innovation which in turn can provide organisations with a competitive edge. (SEC) Recent reported innovations have included: à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Improved return on investment by introduction of new toolsets à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Reduction in carbon emissions by catering companies à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Venues providing improved waste diversion rates from land fill sites à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Reduction in paper handouts by event organizers à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ More events and conferences using 100% solar energy à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Gifts to those who support the sustainability events and objectives There is a huge benefit to be derived in terms of marketing capability. In particular the ability of organizations to demonstrate their uniqueness and distinction from competitors. This will improve chances of winning new contracts and awards as business move towards increased concepts of sustainability and environmentally friendly projects. A good example is that of the Greater London Authority that is now seen to include mention of BS8091 in the criteria of its tender documents, as such their clients are taking the lead and making similar incorporations into their own documents. This demonstrating to the wider market the importance of sustainability options in their contractual relationship building. Most noticeably, the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) released its London 2012 Sustainable Event Guidelines in which they expect all companies and organisations that wish to be associated with the Games to be working towards BS 8901. (SEC). There is also the question of getting ahead of your competition. There is no doubt that BS8091 will be thoroughly adopted by the events industry. Those who do not participate will be left behind and seriously disadvantaged in the competitive market place. Eventually the voluntary situation might change and it could become a minimum entry requirement to be BS8091 certified. This is likely to be further reinforced in 2012 when the ISO 20121b becomes released as an international standard. Hence those who take strides now will benefit over those who fail to see the significance of these standards in the future. CONCLUSIONS Despite the initial complexity of BS 8091 it has been widely accepted and endorsed by the event management industry. The benefits of adopting the standard far outweigh the disadvantages. The progression to the international standard of ISO20121 will be far more inclusive and involve the collaboration of multiple companies on a world-wide basis. The world has come to recognize the growing importance of sustainability as a direct result of climate change and environmental changes taking place throughout the world. We need to find an enduring and balanced approach to economic activity, environmental responsibility and social progress. Hence the concept of sustainability has far more wider reaching implications beyond that of the event industry. Major international events like the Olympic games provide the opportunity to both raise awareness and showcase the importance of sustainability and the need for international standards to a world audience. Another significant advantage of the mir roring concept being used in the deployment of ISO 20121 is that it provides a standard and uniform framework across different countries and as such gains immediate transparency in terms of understanding, interpretation and implementation. The increase in the technological development of computers and sophisticated communications has facilitated the design and build of robust event management systems. This has enabled better planning and organization of events and eliminated the need for generating large volumes of paper reports or storage. Sustainable Events Management Solutions (SEMS) are a good example of an Australian firm that has taken the matter seriously and fully embraced BS8091 into the design of its event management system. There is no doubt that to make BS8091 work requires a great deal of inclusivity and collaboration amongst the partners in the event management project Incorporating sustainability into meeting and event management practices requires organisers to employ a combination of sustainable approaches including environmental stewardship, economic efficiency, and social and cultural responsibility. (Edwards) 4010

The Birthmark :: Comparison and Contrast, Hawthorne

Every relationship is different. Weather one may be in a relationship with a boy, or just a friend, it is different. Even though they are different, the characters in â€Å"The Birthmark† by Nathaniel Hawthorne and â€Å"IND AFF† by Fay Weldon are in similar relationships. That is, the male is dominant over the female, and the woman thinks the man is her knight in shining armor. In the beginning of â€Å"IND AFF† the unnamed woman thinks her professor, Peter, who she is having an affair with, is her ticket to creating a good thesis and higher standings. Similarly, in â€Å"The Birthmark,† Georgiana thinks her husband is her ticket to flawless beauty because he tells her he will remove her birthmark. Obviously, this is not how relationships operate in today’s society. These two relationships compare and contrast with each other as well as with relationships in today’s day-and-age. â€Å"IND AFF† takes place in Sarajevo, which is where Princip assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife. This is a key aspect to the story because Peter is superb in history and thinks that he knows everything there is to know about history. Likewise, â€Å"The Birthmark† takes place in a laboratory. This is where the Georgiana’s husband, Aylmer, spends most of his spare time. Aylmer thinks he either knows or will be able to discover everything this is to know about science. So, in each story, the man takes the woman to somewhere he knows more about (and is therefore seen as superior) than she does. In both stories, the man is seen as intelligent. In â€Å"IND AFF† Peter says he is a professor of classical history and has a â€Å"first-class mind† (Weldon page 202). In â€Å"The Birthmark† Aylmer is referred to as â€Å"a man of science† (Hawthorne page 416) and a â€Å"genius† (Hawthorne page 423). Like the men, the women have similarities and differences. For example, in the beginning of both stories, the women seem confident in themselves. Then, the men tell them otherwise. In â€Å"IND AFF,† Peter tells the woman she does not have a first-class mind (Weldon 202). In, â€Å"The Birthmark† Georgiana is accepting of her birthmark and in fact comes to think of it as a touch from an angel (Hawthorne page 417). Then, her husband tells her birthmark is nature’s slightest possible defect (Hawthorne page 417).

The Secondary Education in Britain

The Secondary Education in Britain Introduction The United Kingdom has a completely world-leading education system. The education in the United Kingdom has hundreds years of history, which is quite perfect and complex, and also has a very large flexibility. It is quite different from the education in China. Overall, the education in the UK is divided into three parts: primary education, secondary education and tertiary education. The secondary education in the UK and China The difference of education between the United Kingdom and China is mainly started from secondary education.In the UK, students enter the secondary school by taking the 11 plus exam at the age of 11. Private schools and public schools are the 2 types of British secondary schools. Public School is totally free and private school will cost a lot. But Private schools are usually much better than public schools no matter in facilities or teachers. But in China most secondary schools are public schools, which is better than private schools. British secondary education lasts seven years and it can divide into two stages. One stage is before the age of 16 and the second stage is 16 to 18.The first stage is the period of compulsory education in the UK. British students have to learn many subjects during the secondary education before the age of 14, and then take the Key stage 3 exam. Students from the age of 14, they need to learn the core courses such as English, mathematics and science classes, but also need to learn four to five elective courses. Two years later, when they are 16th, they will take the GCSE exam. But in China, the first three years of secondary education is compulsory education.During this period, Chinese students have no choice to choose courses which they are interested in. They have to learn all the courses which Entrance Exam to Senior High Schools required. So Chinese students usually have much express of examination. After British students complete the first stage of secondar y education, they can choose continue their study or go to work. Of course, most of the students choose the first choice. If they do this, usually they will have two more years to take the A-Level courses.A wide range of subjects opened in the A-Level courses such as business, legal, media and politics etc. Finally they will take an exam to enter the university and finish their secondary education. But it is easier than the College Entrance Examination in China. Chinese students can choose Science or liberal art. But they still need to learn all the subjects of the college entrance examination required. They don’t have a lot of self-selective. Therefore, the secondary education in the UK and China has a lot difference, but they both have their own advantages and disadvantages. The Compulsory educationBritish compulsory education is 11 years, which two years longer than it is in China. And all the tuition of British compulsory education is paid by the government, but in China students have to pay some small parts of it like the cost of the kooks. In China, the compulsory education finished at the age of 15. The government will not pay for their further study; this may result in some of the students in poor families cannot enter junior high school. They cannot find a suitable job with such a young age. It both increased the pressure to individual families but also to the whole society.Longer compulsory education means that British students can get a better education. It not only can solve these problems, but also have a lot of benefits: Firstly, it can relieve some of the pressure on employment. Longer compulsory education can make some people’s employment time delay for years, to avoid the employment peak period and relieve the pressure on employment. Secondly, the children in poor families can get â€Å"knowledge assets†. With the help of â€Å"knowledge assets† they can get more income and then go out of poverty.Thirdly, it can imp rove the quality of all the people. Longer compulsory education can give all the school-age children better education. Result or process? In China, the assessment of student test scores only. In China, the score is the only way to assess the students. In other words, the only standard which decided the university they will go to is the College Entrance Examination scores. Therefore, with the education system in China, some students become abnormal: Academic performance is very good, but the other ability is almost a zero.The original intention of education is to make students smarter, but if the students pay all of attention on their scores, and lost the interest of the subject, it will make the students stupid. But British education always pays more attention to the comprehensive development of students. British schools have fewer exams. However, students have a lot of coursework and presentations. This kind of coursework usually focused on practical problems, and always need teamw ork. It is very helpful to improve the students’ abilities of express and create.Young people’s knowledge composition The different education made the young people have different knowledge composition in different countries. Secondary education opened in the UK has a wide range of courses. With the grade increased, students can gradually find which subjects that they are interested in or they are not good, and then the next semester, they could give up a subject that not interested in or not good at, and keep their favorite subjects. This is just like a pyramid; Students can fully demonstrate their own interests and hobbies with their learning initiative.On the other hand, it is very helpful for future university study. At the same time, this kind of course selection can help students limited their concentrate on their favorite courses and can improve their efficiency of learning. But in China, students in secondary education have to take all the subjects which the Col lege Entrance Examination required. So they may have to learn some courses which they are not interested in. But this kind of education made the foundation of the Chinese students very solid.In other words, Chinese secondary education pays more attention to comprehensive education. So, Chinese students always have comprehensive knowledge. But they are lack of creative ability. If there is a competition, the championship always belongs to China. Conclusion Overall, British secondary education system is pretty perfect. Student study in the UK can cultivate an interest easily. They can choose their favorite courses and learn a really useful knowledge that would be helpful to their whole life. ReferenceA survey by HM Inspectors of Schools, (1979), Aspects of secondary education in England, [online]. Available on http://www. educationengland. org. uk/documents/hmi-secondary/index. html Becky Francis and Louise Archer, (10 November 2003), British–Chinese pupils’ and parentsà ¢â‚¬â„¢ constructions of the value of education, British Educational Research Journal, Vol. 31, No. 1, February 2005, pp. 89–108 Montreal, (November 2008), The UK Education System: a summary input to the Canada UK Colloquia. Organization of the education system in the United Kingdom –England, Wales and Northern Ireland, UKENG/WLS/NIR

Alchemy essays

Alchemy essays Alchemy is an ancient art, practiced in the Middle ages,used to discover a substance that would transmute common or base metals into gold or silver ,and to find a way of prolonging human life.The main objective of alchemy was to discover a substance called the philosopher's stone.This stone was thought to transform common metals such as lead into silver or gold.Another objective of alchemist was to find the "elixir of life"- a potion that would cure all diseases and prolong life. The ancient practice of alchemy dates back to Egypt . Alchemy became popular in Alexandria around the same time it was developing in China.The theory that all things are composed of air , earth , fire and water greatly influenced alchemy . The alchemist performed many experiments in their search for the philosophers' stone .Even though the alchemist were unsuccessful in their search for the philosophers' stone they made many contributions to chemistry and developed laboratory techniques. ...

Bertrand Surname Meaning and Family History

Bertrand Surname Meaning and Family History A medieval French form of the given name Bertram, the Bertrand surname means bright raven, derived from the elements beraht, meaning bright or intelligent and hramn,  meaning raven. Bertrando is the Italian version of the surname. Bertrand is the 17th most common last name in France. Surname Origin: French Alternate Surname Spellings: BERTRAM, BERTRANDO Famous People with the Surname Bertrand Alexandre Bertrand -  French archaeologistJoseph Bertrand - French mathematicianAlexandre Jacques Franà §ois Bertrand  Ã‚  - French physician and mesmerist; father of Alexandre Bertrand and Joseph BertrandÉmile Bertrand - French mineralogist for whom bertrandite was namedAntoine de Bertrand - French Renaissance composerLouis Jacques Napolà ©on Bertrand (pen name  Aloysius Bertrand)  - French poet Where the Bertrand  Surname Is Most Common According to surname distribution from  Forebears, the Bertrand surname is most prevalent in France, where it ranks as the 21st most common last name in the country. Bertrand is also fairly common in Luxembourg, where it ranks 55th, as well as Belgium (107th) and Canada (252nd). It is almost twice as common today in the United States (ranked 2,667) as it was at the time of the 1880 census (5,258). Surname maps from  WorldNames PublicProfiler  demonstrate that the Bertrand surname is common throughout France, but is found in greatest numbers in the regions of Poitou-Charentes, Languedoc-Roussillon, Champagne-Ardenne, and Lorraine, as well as in nearby Wallonie, Belgium. Within the United States, Bertrand is, as you might expect, most common in Louisiana, while in Canada it is found in the greatest numbers in Quebec and the Northwest Territories. Genealogy Resources for the Surname Bertrand French Surname Meanings and Origins: Does your last name have origins in France? Learn about the various origins of French surnames and explore the meanings of some of the most common French last names.How to Research-French Ancestry: Learn about the various types of genealogical records available for researching ancestors in France and how to access them, plus how to locate where in France your ancestors originated.Bertrand Family Crest - Its Not What You Think: Contrary to what you may hear, there is no such thing as a Bertrand  family crest or coat of arms for the Bertrand surname.  Coats of arms are granted to individuals, not families, and may rightfully be used only by the uninterrupted male-line descendants of the person to whom the coat of arms was originally granted.BERTRAND  Family Genealogy Forum: Search this popular genealogy forum for the Bertrand  surname to find others who might be researching your ancestors, or post your own Bertrand query.FamilySearch - BERTR AND Genealogy: Explore over 500,000  results from digitized  historical records and lineage-linked family trees related to the Bertrand surname on this free website hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. DistantCousin.com - BERTRAND  Genealogy Family History: Explore free databases and genealogy links for the last name Bertrand.GeneaNet - Bertrand  Records: GeneaNet includes archival records, family trees, and other resources for individuals with the Bertrand surname, with a concentration on records and families from France and other European countries.The Bertrand Genealogy and Family Tree Page: Browse genealogy records and links to genealogical and historical records for individuals with the Bertrand  surname from the website of Genealogy Today. References Cottle, Basil.  Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1967.Dorward, David.  Scottish Surnames. Collins Celtic (Pocket edition), 1998.Fucilla, Joseph.  Our Italian Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 2003.Hanks, Patrick, and Flavia Hodges.  A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1989.Hanks, Patrick.  Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press, 2003.Reaney, P.H.  A Dictionary of English Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1997.Smith, Elsdon C.  American Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997.

How would you teach the following structures to Young Learners Assignment

How would you teach the following structures to Young Learners - Assignment Example While explaining, it is important to create the atmosphere of another culture. The atmosphere of the foreign culture must be created in order to introduce a language to children. If Children learn French, for example, the teacher can bring pictures of Eifel tower and other national images of the country as visual training means capture children’s attention and increase memorizing capabilities: e.g. using pictures and word cards for learning words will create necessary parallels between the word and the concept in a child’s mind. â€Å"The pupil ought from the very first lesson to have the clearest sensation of being on foreign ground, and he ought to realize that the foreign sounds cannot be learned without work† (Jespersen, Otto, 1928, 29). The new surrounding will enable young learners to be involved in the new culture and its language. There is no other practice that would be as effective in working with children as playing. Young learners always perceive the new information better when it is delivered in the game form. â€Å"The difficulties of the new language can be overcome by paying careful attention to both the processes that are involved: listening and imitation† (Kirkman, F. B., 1909, 28). An effective type of learning activity is singing songs containing repetitions of the new words and watching educational cartoons. Moreover, competitions can be organized between children divided into 2 groups with guessing the word describing the picture and writing it on the whiteboard (the group, which manages to guess more, wins). Small prizes like candies can be used to encourage the winners. The form of debates between the groups can be also used on the later stages of learning. During some creative activities (like drawing) children must be encouraged to say aloud what they are

Carriage of Goods by Sea Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Carriage of Goods by Sea - Essay Example The general principle regarding the application of the Hague Rules is that they apply by their own force (ex proprio rigore) to contract of carriage covered by a bill of lading or any similar document of title. Art. 2 and the definition of â€Å"contract of carriage† art. 1 (b) makes this clear.1 .Art.2 – Subject to the provisions of Article 6, under every contract of carriage of goods by sea the carrier, in relation to the loading, handling, stowage, carriage, custody, care and discharge of such goods, shall be subject to the responsibilities and liabilities, and entitled to the rights and immunities hereafter set forth†2 â€Å"Article 1 (b) – ‘Contract of Carriage’ applies only to contracts of carriage covered by a bill of lading or a similar document of title, in so far as the document relates to the carriage of goods by sea, including any bill of lading or a similar document as aforesaid issued under or pursuant to a charterparty from the moment at which such bill of lading or similar document of title regulates the relations between a carrier and a holder of the same.3 O chartered his ship to T, who in turn sub-chartered it on a voyage charter to Charlie for the carriage of a consignment of bananas from Jamaica to London. The voyage charter contained inter alia, a clause incorporating the Hague/Visby Rules. The voyage charter also contained a clause stating that the carrier should not deviate under any circumstances whatsoever except to save life.