My Unforgettable Trip Essay Example

My Unforgettable Trip Paper My most unforgettable Trip occurred about 3 years ago during the summer vacation, when I and my sister were embarking on our journey to Spain due to relocation. The day of the trip I laid in bed thinking about the friends of mine whom I was going to leave behind. Thoughts kept coming in. A night before we planned the journey from a city in Nigeria to the capital to catch the plane the next day. We didnt book to take a van. So thought of waking earlier to get to the station were they hire cars and taxis for travelling because we could drive down due to the far distance. So the day came when we had to travel and got to the station as planned. When we arrived at the hire station we seemed to have some problems with our luggage because they were too much for a car our taxi so we had to book for a van to be able to take our luggage. We waited for a long period of time to find the perfect car that would fit our luggage but they seemed to too small or parked up. My aunty who was going to accompanied me and my sister to the airport got so angry because she tend to get very hot tempered because we didnt have a very long period of time to waste before our plane could take off because the journey from were we where to the airport was about 3 hours long. We will write a custom essay sample on My Unforgettable Trip specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on My Unforgettable Trip specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on My Unforgettable Trip specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer And we had to be their before 7pm. It was about 12pm we hungry so we went for food everyone looking frustrated at the time hoping we leave soon. We where about to leave to another hire company when they assigned us to the perfect van that could take us to the place and fit our entire luggage. Before leaving we had to pray, and I felt very bad because I was going to a different country and was going to miss all my friends and family. I was not comfortable and I cried and wished I never moved. I then got used to the fact that I could come and visit them often and call them. So we took some pictures and we where very happy. The journey was almost perfect but they rain started and it was extremely heavy the drivers driving couldnt see as far due to the rain and that caused a huge traffic jam. I was sitting close to the window with my can of coke and eating my lunch which I had purchased earlier on from the shop. My aunty and my sister fell asleep. During that time I was bored and thinking about other things that were bothering me. My eyes moved into seeing the hill at were in font of us. A bus suddenly came into the picture and which was very close to us. Every car speeding by passing, no limit what so ever. At my side I could say lakes which were very deep inside: I wondered to myself what if something someone fell in side it Then suddenly the bus that was in front of our van suddenly stopped, due to the rain and the speed those cars where taking no one could see what was going to happen and, Boom we smashed into each other. Our car tumbled and we were in luck that the car didnt stumble into the lake. People came across to help us get out of the car because we where stocked and the driver was half dead. We struggled to get out of the car and our entire luggage went lost. Everything was very strange; I had never had that kind of experience before. It was like watching a horror movie. Some people who also participated in the accident started crying, looking for their children, tears beginning to increase, and my leg was deeply injured, my aunty was seeking some help, and my sister was full of injury. It almost seemed that the strategy was never going to end. It felt that I was dreaming and was confused. I was losing a lot of blood and then the emergency aid came and took me and some other people to the hospital where we where treated. We had to pay for some fees but someone came to our aid and did the payments. That was miraculous because we didnt have any money on our hands. We finally got to where we where headed to. And rested but didnt miss our flight. We were happy that we made it through because someone could have lost their life.

History of Management Thought

Misunderstood essays

Misunderstood essays Strong, durable, vigorous, and resilient. These adjectives are the most accurate means of describing Pink and her successful album, titled Missundaztood. If I had somehow been stranded on a desert island, without a doubt in my mind, this album would be the one item that would help me to survive. Although I have an interest in a variety of music, I do not think that country or pop-like music would be the ideal type of music that would help me to feel as hopeful in such a situation. This album, both sounding upbeat and radiating a feeling of triumph, produces a sensation of hope and survival. What makes this album particularly important to me, is not only the lyrics and sound of the music, but more importantly, it explains how tough life can seem. In particular, the songs Dont Let Me Get Me, Just Like a Pill and Family Affair provide a rock/pop tune, easy to feel, and lyrics that send a shiver through out ones body: Don't let me get me/ I'm my own worst enemy/ Its bad when you annoy yourself/So irritating/ Don't wanna be my friend no more/ I wanna be somebody else. These feelings of self-frustration and poor self-esteem, emit something so powerful and so deepsomething that most young adults or teenagers all too often can relate to. The second song on the album which makes this reach my top list of albums, is Just Like a Pill. While the first song represents depression and frustration, this next song takes that frustration and recognizes where the base of the anger lies. Run just as fast as I can/ To the middle of nowhere/ To the middle of my frustrated fears/ And I sw ear you're just like a pill/ Instead of makin' me better, you keep making me ill. Whomever, or whatever causes this frustration is being recognized in this song. The third of the four songs is Family Affair. Both this and the fourth song really complete ...

The History of Nitrous Oxide and its Effect on Automobiles essays

The History of Nitrous Oxide and its Effect on Automobiles essays The History of Nitrous Oxide and its Effect on Automobiles. When many automotive technicians are asked what they think would boost an engine they would answer Nitrous Oxide. Nitrous Oxide is a chemical compound that contains two nitrogen atoms for every oxygen atom. Nitrous oxide is almost always mistakenly called NOS, which is an acronym for the company, Nitrous Oxide Systems. "Nos" is the biggest manufacturer of nitrous oxide injection systems for automotive use. Nitrous oxide is a colorless, non-flammable gas with a slightly sweet taste and odor. When the gas is injested or inhaled it tends to make one laugh or experience a brief period of the chuckles. This is where the nickname laughing gas came from. Too much inhalation of nitrous oxide could cause death because the normal properties (i.e. atmospheric temperature and pressure) of the gas do not allow for the absorption of the Oxygen molecules by themselves. This often causes axfixiation and a most painful death. This is why it is important to make sure your NOS lines are hooked up good in your car because you don't want to be breathing the stuff in. The Germans were the first people to use nitrous oxide in engines when they used it in aircraft during WWII. Many other countries picked up on the idea and started injecting their own aircraft engines with the substance. In the late 1950s nitrous oxide was first used in America by stock car racers to cheat. Soon after racing organizations banned its use because of fairness and safety issues. Then again nitrous oxide was rediscovered by drag racers and hotrodders who needed the extra boost. Many funny cars run super nitrous methane gas still today to make 5's in the quarter mile. The science behind it all is quite simple. When the compound is heated to fission point (570 degrees ferenheit) the molecule splits into the pure forms of oxygen and nitrogen. This provides for ...

Asian Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Asian Business - Essay Example According to the Brewers' Association of Japan (2004), Syozaburo Shibutani started beer brewing and marketing in Osaka during 1872. Beer importation dates back to as early as the Meiji period through the foreigners who came for the development of the Hokkaido (Japanese Sake 2006) though it was only during 1886 when the quantity of domestically produced beer exceeded the level of imports. Nowadays, global brands of beer continue to target the Japanese market while local production is concentrated on breweries who are capable of manufacturing 60K1 of beer (Brewers' Association of Japan 2004). The Japanese beer industry is estimated to be 3.2 trillion yen in value (approximately US$27.3 billion, based on 2001 amounts) indicating the wide popularity of beer in the country. The large market for beer is also evidenced by the fact that beer consumption accounts for 50% of the total alcoholic beverages consumption in volume and 70% in value (The Japanese Beer Industry 2003). There is a huge market for beer in Japan as the country belongs to the biggest beer consumers in the world. During 2003, the country's annual per capita consumption reached 13.4 gallon, making Japan the fourth largest beer consumer worldwide (Impact Databank 2004). The Japanese beer industry is currently comprised of two subsectors namely, regular beer and low malt beer. The regular beer subsector constitutes beer products with 67% or more barley malt content. The low malt beer category is unique to the Japanese beer industry. The creation of this subsector is attributed to the lower tax levied on beer with lower malt content. Typically, products on the low malt subsector has a 25% or less barley malt content having a liquor tax rate which is lower by 40% and has a retail price which is cheaper by 35% relative to regular beer. The low malt subsector has captured a large market in Japan and has experienced double-digit growth since its establishment in 1994. It currently holds 44% of the total beer shipments while approximately 60% of it is consumed locally. Just recently (2003), the low malt subsector was faced with a 28% rise in taxes while regular beer's taxes remained unchanged. This together with product maturity is expected to pull demand for low malt beer (The Japanese Beer Industry 2003). The structure of the Japanese beer industry is oligopolistic in nature with the four major national brewers in Japan accounting for 97% share of the total market. There are still however, foreign brands and local microbrewers who battle for the remaining market share. The major producers of beer in the country are Asahi Breweries (38%), Kirin Brewery (36%), Sapporo Breweries (14%) and Suntory (11%). Asahi Breweries recently dislodged Kirin as market leader due to the wide popularity f its Asahi Super Dry beer. On the other hand, the second largest player Kirin is moving into the production and marketing of non-beer products and becoming an "all-round beverage player." Sapporo lacks competitive advantage while Suntory's beer business profitability is in question (The Japanese Beer Industry 2003). Problems Encountered Victoria Bitter's move of market diversification targeting Japan will surely be met by certain problems and difficulties. Some of the probable problems are cultural, while others are more business in nature. Japanese are known to be very loyal to their culture which keeps them from adopting Western ways. Instead, they maintain their own way of doing business

Democratic Capitalism and Individual Liberty 201 Essay

Democratic Capitalism and Individual Liberty 201 - Essay Example Thomas Paine in Common Sense argued North America was a â€Å"natural manufactory† where laying out money to build a navy was paramount because it would protect commerce (Paine 36). Thus, free trade and individualism go hand in hand with each other but when businesses are not allowed to fail, the result is socialism. When Alexis de Tocqueville toured the U. S. in the 1830s he was impressed with Americans’ industriousness. However, de Tocqueville also saw problems of having slaves as part of a southern workforce. The white Ohioan, as de Tocqueville put it, â€Å"is obliged to exist by his own exertions† while the â€Å"Kentuckian scorns . . . labour [and] lives in an idle independence† (Casper & Davies 117). As the nation grew, laws, such as the abolition of slavery in 1865 and the Sherman Anti-Trust Act in 1892, promoted individualism and fair play in business. The recent government bailout did not promote individualism and goes directly against Smith’s idea that when regulations are â€Å"completely taken away, the obvious and simple system of natural liberty establishes itself of its own accord† (Burton & Dworkin 145). Allowing business to fail is the natural order of supply and demand. When businesses are not allowed to fail, but propped up with a supply of government money, the system is no longer individualistic but

Moral Effects of Advertising Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Moral Effects of Advertising - Assignment Example Creativity is highly cultivated in the advertising department and organizations spend billions of money in creating them. The media, newspapers, radio, internet, and television have been commercialized and host the biggest percentage of advertisements. The media has become a platform for sales, and most of its revenue come is from advertising. Most of them have adverse effects on individuals, society, and environment. People have increased their consumption and resources have are strained due to increased demand. Advertisements falsify products through their language and create products that do not exist. Advertising exaggerates product qualities and adds non existing features, which create a hunger feeling for style in the minds of recipients. This has eroded morality of advertisers, and they use all kinds of slogans to sell their products. According to Mukesh & Ranju (2010), advertisers use terms such as government approved even on counterfeit products. These slogans are misleading and deceptive and encourage unfair trade practices. They create differences in products, which do not exist, and en up confusing consumers. Insurance advertisements are used to instill fear on people. They create insecurity in the minds of people without insurance covers due to uncertainty of the future. They are very persuasive and create a mind position of the viewers that only an insurance cover can satisfy their needs. Such advertisements force people to buy or acquire substandard products or those they do not need. According to Allan & Paul (1997), the general public beliefs’ advertising hazardous products such as cigarettes and alcohol is immoral and dangerous. The congress may have passed laws to ban such advertisements on radio and television, but these companies sponsor sports events and celebrity endorsement. Health officials urge advertising agencies such as the media to avoid such advertisements, but these agencies are beneficiaries. Cigarette advertising is misl eading and encourages children, adolescents and other individuals to smart smoking. These advertisements use attractive adventures and several youths are lured to smoking and alcohol drinking. Some of these advertisements are associated with vigorous athletics. They appear on race cars and sponsorship banners and are accompanied by slogans aimed at attracting people. Smoking has dangerous effects on health and is a leading legal killer substance in the world. Women magazines collect a lot of revenue from tobacco adverts. The use of â€Å"slim† and â€Å"thin† in these adverts illustrate weight loss in women, which attracts several women into smoking. Berger (2011) argues that advertising has affected socialization skills of people. Socialization is the process by which the society teaches individuals how to behave: rules to obey, roles to perform, and values to hold. Traditionally, this was done by parents, educators, religious leaders, and peers. Advertisements throug h the mass media have taken up this role with consequences that are mostly negative. Billboards and screens are splashed with adverts containing celebrities and role models to several people. The recipients are forced to copy the lifestyles of these people, which include using products they were advertising. Models appear in condom advertisements, and this attracts several teens to sexual activities. An advantage of such an advertisement is that, they use protection and avoid STDs and

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

Pandora - Essay Example Specifically, the company achieves this through the provision of up-to-date music, drama, and related discussion such as a live performance on the company blog. The blog and the ‘Submit your Request’ platforms within the website allow users to create free online profiles to participate in discussions. The personalized station established the Music Genome Project allows the users to edit or refine the content to fit the personal change in music taste and preferences.The interactive feature on the Pandora.com website characterizes it as a social media platform. The social media is an online phenomenon that supports connectivity and interaction, as well as encouraging contributions and feedbacks on online topics from the members and users of the virtual community. The essential features of the social media include connectedness, participation, openness, and conversation. The Pandora.com supports these characteristics through the blog where users post and contribute to the a rticles on various topics.Another unique and primary feature of the social media is the user-created and maintained an online profile that facilitate digital dialog. Although Pandora.com does not have an intensive and user-enabled profile like Facebook, it has a platform that supports online contribution and commenting on the available topics. The Pandora.com internet community has a common interest in music and comedy categorizing the website as a specified social media that confines its engagement within the entertainment industry

Long Term Effects of Social Media And Its Impact On Children's Research Paper

Long Term Effects of Social Media And Its Impact On Children's Behavioral And Mental Health - Research Paper Example It has been suggested that on average children use almost 11 hours a day using the entertainment media and as such while using other forms of entertainment i.e. TV, children also engage into activities like texting while watching TV. This however, result into division of attention and may have an impact on the learning and cognitive abilities of the children. A study on the cognitive abilities of the person suggested that those participants who were good at multi-tasking while using media performed badly as compared to the persons who could not perform better at doing multi-tasking while using the media. The study concluded that those who are quick at media multitasking can actually get distracted very easily. (Kirkorian, Wartella and Anderson) Some studies suggest that too much of the hypertexting through social media websites and use of multimedia contents can actually result into a fundamental change in the way our brains work. The hyper texting as well as the use of multimedia re sults into limited attention span in children besides child also experience poor focus, low level of comprehension as well as depression and long term memory damage. (Conley) The above study clearly identifies that a sustained use of social media and even other entertainment tools can actually damage the cognitive and behavioral abilities of the children. It is also because of this reason that new guidelines are emerging which focus on restricting the use of electronics within the rooms of the children. It is now suggested that laptops as well as smartphones shall be removed from the rooms of children especially during night time. By restricting the access of children to electronics in general actually can help reduce the number of hours children actually... This paper approves that it is also important to note that some studies have also suggested that the use of Facebook improves the verbal ability of the children. Checking the status of friends on Facebook and other activities actually result into better spelling, working memory as well as an improved verbal ability. This study however, suggested that students using Facebook only shows such improved ability as compared to the use of YouTube. This suggests that the extensive use of multi-media contents specially may further damage the verbal as well as other capabilities of the children whereas checking messages and statuses on Facebook may improve the verbal ability of children. This study however, is relatively different in nature and suggests that children using Facebook for more than one year actually show an improved performance on some of the tests however, exposure to multimedia contents may have a negative impact. This report makes a conclusion that long term use of social media may have negative as well as positive impacts on the psychological as well as mental abilities of the children. A sustained long term use of social media may result into more aggressive behavior in children including anti-social behaviors, mania as well as memory loss. Studies however, also suggest that use of Facebook may also result into improved verbal abilities. However, this advantage may not be available if children are using websites like YouTube suggesting that exposure to the multimedia contents can have further damaging effect on the children and their mental abilities.

Feminist analysis of the film pretty woman Research Paper

Feminist analysis of the film pretty woman - Research Paper Example The first wave is mainly referred to women’s suffrage, the second wave is associated with the liberation movement of women and the third one is related and can be felt through the continuation of the movement through the reaction evolved in the field of art and literature and perceived as the failure of the second-wave of feminism which began in the 1990s. The first wave of feminism is related with suffrage movements of the nineteenth and first-half of the twentieth century. This particular wave in the feminist movement was concerned with the women’s right to vote. The second wave of feminism began in 1960s and was related with the major focus on women liberation which campaigned for the equality of women in legal and social front. In cultural context, feminist film, art or literature evolves out of the movement and forms its four distinct principles pertaining to four schools of thoughts. Also sometimes pieces of art, literature or aesthetics are judged and viewed from the feminist perspective. The same perspective can be judged after giving a close introspection to the film â€Å"Pretty Woman† which appeared on the silver screen in the year 1990 as a romantic comedy written by J. F. Lawton and directed by Garry Marshall. The film stars casted Richard Gere and Julia Roberts in the leading roles along with Hector Elizondo and many others. The plot of the movie centres round the down-on-her-luck prostitute from Hollywood, Vivian Ward who acts as an escort to the rich businessman Edward Lewis for a week in his business trip. The story is all about their brief period of staying together and their growing relationships. This film can be viewed from a strong feminist bent and all the four critical theories and principles of feminism somewhere peep through the lighter plot of the film. Thesis Statement This essay tends to analyse myriad subtle and intricate feminist perspectives and interpretations entwined within the plot of the film. The essay also intends to discuss the critical role of the four principles of feminism operating throughout the film. Pretty Woman: A Feminist Discourse The plot of the film centres round seduction; love and its development of a Hollywood prostitute Vivian with a robot like multi-millionaire, Edward Lewis. At the outset of the movie we are introduced to a woman who is not doing well with her business of prostitution. The body of Vivian (played by Julia Roberts) is subjected or rather exposed for material pleasure and as a prostitute, Vivian sells her body and her body is likely to be viewed as a mere commodity. The critical theory of liberal feminism plays well here. According to the theory or principle, the parameter of gender prejudice is based on the individual ignorance. And education is seen as the key tool against the battle for gender discrimination (Sociology, â€Å"Feminism: Basic Principles†). In the film, the prostitute Vivian is not educated and so she is compelled to choos e a profession where no much brain work is needed. But during her stay with Edward Lewis we can hear few real wise statements from her which proves her intelligence. Also Vivian at the first acquaintance with any person irrespective of men or women gives the option that she is ready to be called by the name that the other person pleases. This kind of an instruction clearly indicates a threat to the existence of Vivian as an entity and creates an existential crisis for her. With Vivian,

Children The Silent Majority Social Work Essay

Children The Silent Majority Social Work Essay The purpose of this assignment is to highlight the position of children involved in parental separation disputes. Within this essay, I will include the rationale for this project, with a background of my experience gained as a Court Childrens Officer. I will also identify aims which will seek to critically analyse the role of the child during parental separation, and compare and contrast their role in both public and private legal proceedings. I will attempt to provide an analytical literature review of Northern Ireland, UK and International literature, which will demonstrate historical, psychological, sociological, legislative and policy perspectives of including or excluding the child during parental separation. I will then proceed to provide service user and service provider perspectives, with a critical basis for recommendations for future practice. Throughout my assignment I will endeavour to incorporate my learning to demonstrate anti-discriminative and anti-oppressive practice , and how these can be challenged to enhance the service further. Introduction: Evidence based practice (EBP) refers to using evidence from research to indicate the effectiveness of an outcome (Davies, 2008). It is a controversial topic which notes that professionals should only intervene in peoples lives when they can bring about change, without causing adverse consequences. EBP indicates an approach to decision-making which is accountable and based on best evidence (Davies, 2008). Within my own experience, EBP was important for refining my knowledge and practice so that the service user was provided with appropriate support for their individual needs. I used EBP to carry out research to determine what evidence supported or rejected the inclusion of children during family break down. My experience for this Evidenced Based Project was gained as a Court Childrens Officer (CCO), based at the Belfast Family Proceedings Court. This is a relatively new service provided by the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust to help courts resolve family issues, such as residence and contact for the child. There are currently seven small Court Childrens Teams working throughout Northern Ireland. As a CCO, my role was to deal with cases where assistance was needed to help parties agree on the needs of their children, as opposed to continuing the incriminations as to who was responsible for the breakdown of their relationship, through private law proceedings. I was only permitted to be involved with a case, and ascertain the wishes and feelings of the child, if a court direction was issued. Background and Rationale: It is estimated that over one half (53%) of children in the UK will experience parental divorce before they are aged 16, with two thirds of them under age 11 (Office of National Statistics, 2007). In 2005, Northern Irelands rate of divorce was 2,363 (Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, 2006). Of these 2005 divorce statistics, there were 2,052 children involved, under the age of 16. However, these statistics mask many more children who go through parental separation each year, and these are not formally recorded (www.rcpsych.ac.uk). It is well documented, within research, that some children can experience a range of complex problems socially, emotionally and economically before, during and after the breakdown of their parents relationship (Timms, 2003), and it is important to note that divorce and separation of parents can be a confusing and stressful time for children making them more vulnerable to psychological, emotional or financial short or long term difficulties (Ti mms, 2003). Numerous studies have reported on the consequences for children going through parental divorce or separation, yet the voice of the child has remained predominantly silent (Butler et al. 2003). The Children (NI) Order 1995 brought together both public and private law proceedings relating to children in Northern Ireland, into an amalgamated order, but the processes for hearing the voice of the child still remain entirely contradictory. Article 3 (3) suggests that â€Å"the wishes and feelings of the child should be taken into account, with consideration of age and level of understanding†. To address this requirement children in public proceedings have separate legal representation, in the form of a solicitor, and guardian to ascertain their wishes and feelings, and present them in court. However, children involved in private law proceedings regarding residence and contact are not included in the proceedings. In private cases the emphasis of the court is to help the parties reach agreement; therefore, the child is reliant on the parents considering and protecting their interests. This is a debatable process which will be discussed below. It is the childs lack of ‘voice throughout parental separation and private law proceedings that has provided the rationale for this project. Aims: This project will seek to examine a childs needs through family breakdown. It will seek to critically examine the childsright to participate in private law proceedings, and compare these with concerns. I will aim to address the debate of including or excluding children during private law proceedings. It will also seek to examine current gaps in support provision for children and young people involved in parental separation, and make recommendations to how these can be addressed. The project will consider the literature, which includes policy and legislation from Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom and Internationally. The literature review below will aim to critically evaluate the perspectives of including or excluding the child in the processes of parental separation. I will use historical, psychological, sociological, legislative and policy perspectives to evaluate the need to include or exclude children. I will compare and contrast the pros and cons, including an analysis of the methods of child participation, with a summary of the findings. Literature Review: With the continuing rise of children experiencing parental separation in Northern Ireland, The United Kingdom and Internationally, it has facilitated the awareness of the childs right to be heard and for their wishes and feelings to be considered. Promoting the childs participation in decision-making during parental separation is a relatively recent event. Historically, children were viewed as needing protection from parental conflict, and lacked the capability to actively participate in family matters (Graham and Fitzgerald, 2005, cited in Birnbaum, 2009). It was assumed that, if children were not informed, they would be sheltered from the major emotional impact separation brought (Smart, 2002). I was also assumed that parents knew what was in their childs best interests (Timms, 2003), and, therefore childrens views were represented by their parents. Through child psychology and social science research, the importance of the childs right to have their wishes and feelings considered has gained a greater significance (Lansdown, 2005), and more importantly, perspectives on the inclusion of children in parental separation disputes have been changing (Williams, 2006). Children are now being seen as having their own rights, rather than parental property (Lansdown, 2005). Psychological research has also increasingly indicated that not listening to children may be more detrimental to their well-being (Kelly, 2002), and that the meaningful participation of children in contact and residence disputes can actually shelter them from emotional hurt during a time when they are most vulnerable (Butler et al., 2003). Social science research also validates that the childs participation in the processes of family breakdown can draw a parallel with their ability to adapt to a new family structure in the future (Butler et al., 2003), as well as gain power and control in a confusing and stressful time (Butler et al., 2003). Research also indicates that young people themselves want to be heard through the legal process, as the outcome has a major effect on their lives (Cashmore and Parkinson, 2008). Adolescents, in particular, have expressed that they want to be involved in major decisions, and be able to make choices (Neale, 2002). A childs participation in the decision-making processes of parental divorce and separation can be largely diverse; direct or indirect. Children can voice their opinion and be involved in contact or residence arrangements that affect them, they can provide input into the development of services, or participate in the development of broader policy issues (Birnbaum, 2009). Legislative and Policy Perspective: It is evident in legislation within Northern Ireland, the UK and Internationally that children have theright to be heard. Article 12 of The United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child (1989) stipulates â€Å"children have the right to express their opinions and have their opinions considered†. The Convention encourages adults to listen to the voice of children and involve them in decision-making. The Children (NI) Order 1995 (Article 3: 3), and The Children Act 2004 (Article 54) both stipulate the need for the â€Å"childs wishes and feelings to be ascertained, and taken account of according to the childs age and understanding† (http://www.opsi.gov.uk). Yet, despite legislation, research and social trends in Northern Ireland specifically, no single government policy or strategy has been developed to indicate how best to support the needs of children experiencing parental separation (Weatherall and Duffy, 2008). Certain apprehension, within legislation and polic y, remains in respect of allowing children to participate in the decision-making process of parental separation. This apprehension is created by â€Å"attempts to balance the vulnerability of children, given their age and development, with their rights as individuals† (Smart, Wade and Neale, 1999: 152). There is also much debate about how children should be included in which circumstances and in what way. Argumentsfor the inclusion of children during parental separation: Those who are in support of including children during times of parental separation claim a number of rights-based reasons. The most significant being that the child has a right to be included, according to theConvention on the Rights of the Child (1989), and a right to have their wishes and feelings ascertained (Children (NI) Order 1995). In addition to this, theory suggests that children should be seen as active participants in decision making and not as parental property to be controlled (Atwood, 2003). The United Nations Convention also suggests that children have the right to be respected and heard, and also indicates that they have a right to full access of social, economic, and civil rights that are given to everyone else (Birnbaum, 2009). Secondly, and perhaps most significantly, those in support of including children explain that children want to be involved in decision-making during parental separation, as it affects their lives (Cashmore and Parkinson, 2008). Children understand the difference of providing input and reaching the final decision (Kelly, 2002). Smith (2007) states that by being open and honest with children, and allowing them to participate in separation processes translates into better communication and respectful listening. Research also suggests that children themselves rate their participation as important when it comes to family issues (Taylor, Smith and Nairn, 2001). Thirdly, from a policy perspective, childrens participation is linked with a wider form of social inclusion. Namely, policies, services and programs are more effective if children are included in their design, planning, delivery and implementation (Lansdown, 2005). Smart, Neale and Wade (2001: 269) suggest that â€Å"family policy issues must include childrens viewpoints if children are to be treated ethically† and respectfully. Jameson and Gilbert (2000) claim that childrens views should be incorporated into policy development, as it impacts directly on them. Without doing this decision-makers cannot benefit from childrens perspectives or suggestions about how to resolve the problem. The same argument can be made about the inclusion or exclusion of the child during parental separation. Through a legal and legislative point of view, some have argued that the inclusion of children during private law proceedings can help parents to focus on their children, as opposed to the adversarial ‘blame role. â€Å"Focusing on the needs of children early in the process of parental law proceedings can reduce both the intensity and duration of conflict† (McIntosh, 2003: 232). Goldson (2006) also suggests that focusing on the needs of the children may enhance communication between parents, as it helps them identify common ground. Gray (2002) has also indicated that the childs participation in private law proceedings can facilitate understanding their own wants and needs, and can help develop advocacy skills regarding communication and negotiation within the family. Williams (2006: 158) also suggests that â€Å"by including the child in decisions about parental separation can enhance their sense of self-esteem and control, thereby enhancing their resiliency†. Argumentsagainst the inclusion of children during parental separation: As mentioned above, there are firmly held viewpoints about children being involved in the decision-making process of their parents separation, however, there are a similar number of arguments against the inclusion of children. Firstly, from a rights-based understanding, researchers mention some concerns when adhering to childrens rights. Atwood (2003) argues that a balance needs to be found between protecting children from emotional harm and protecting their rights and Guggenheim (2003) expresses that there is a certain price associated with providing children with rights; he indicates that rights are relational. He claims that â€Å"if children have a right then someone else has a duty and childrens legal rights are always in the hands of adults† (Birnbaum, 2009). Secondly, concerns have been expressed by those who ascertain the wishes and feelings of children. Mediators suggest that children can often be manipulated by a parent, and can take sides accordingly during contact and residence disputes, creating stress and worry for children (Saposnek, 2004). Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS) is becoming increasingly significant also this is described as the child expressing unjustified hatred for one parent due to the influence (direct or indirect) of the other parent, which does not benefit the child. Garrity and Baris (1994) argue that involving children in parental disputes can also lead the child to tell each parent what they want to hear, which has no benefit to the child. The child is then seen as wanting to please both parties, rather that choose between them, which again has no benefit. Another concern in the debate of including children in disputes is that the child may not want to become involved for fear of feeling responsible for the outcome, and causing hurt to their parent. Furthermore, some children withhold theirtrue feelings as they fear their parents may get upset with what they say, and therefore should not be placed in such a position (Brown, 1996),. Thirdly, research conducted by Kelly (2003) and Saposnek (2004) indicates that not all children essentially want or need their voice to be heard. They point out that unless a child specifically makes a request to voice their opinion, there is no reason to do so. Research reported from McIntosh (2007) also claims that children would not benefit from being included in the separation process in certain circumstances where there is high conflict between the parents, including previous allegations of domestic violence, or mental health issues. This is due to the power and control issues one parent may have over the other, or the child. Involving the child; Mediation: Mediation has been used for decades as an alternative to court processes, in separation and divorce proceedings (Folberg, Milne and Salem, 2004). Mediation provides parties with an alternative to the traditional adversarial approach, by introducing a neutral third-party to assist in reaching agreement about the child(ren) (Birnbaum, 2009). Children are therefore more likely to benefit emotionally and socially from parental cooperation. However, childrens involvement in the mediation process is relatively new (Austin, Jaffe, and Hurley, 1991). A childs participation in mediation varies from country to country. Saposnek (2004) indicates that childrens direct participation in mediation only occurred in 4%-47% of cases across public and private sectors, in the United Kingdom, the US and Australia. This illustrates that despite adults finding an advantage to mediation, children continue to remain the silent majority, with their parents making decisions. It can therefore be understood that this may leave the child feeling powerless, and disempowered by the process (Birnbaum, 2009). The differing attitudes over whether to incorporate children in mediation are similar to those who debate on the overall process of including children in divorce and separation decisions the child rights versus shielding them from emotional harm (Elrod, 2007). The Child and Legal Proceedings: As mentioned above, within Northern Ireland there are contradictory principles on the inclusion of children in the public and private legal systems. Children within public law proceedings have a guardian and a separate legal representative to advocate on their behalf in court, but children within private law proceedings are not contributors to the process and have no direct involvement (Timms, 2003). â€Å"Northern Ireland stands apart from the United Kingdom for having no legislative provision for the separate representation of children in specific private law proceedings† (COAC, 2005b cited in Weatherall and Duffy, 2008: 279). According to Weatherall and Duffy (2008: 279) this is interesting considering there were â€Å"2,186 Children Order applications brought to Court between January and June 2007, of which 1,925 were private law cases and only 261 were public law cases† and public law children were represented separately. The concerns about children becoming involved in private law proceedings originate from the Human Rights Act 1998 (Article 8) which states that an adherence is needed in respect for private and family life, with minimal state intervention, unless deemednecessary for the protection of others. However, Timms (2003) argues that due to the number of children involved in private law proceedings, compared to public law proceedings, there needs to be a balance found between minimal state intervention and the protection of vulnerable children. Some researchers suggest that childrens voices are being silenced by traditional reluctance to interfere in private and family life, causing concern that some children are being forced to remain quiet in situations of violence, neglect or child abuse, due to a lack of appropriate representation (Radford et al, 1999 cited in Weatherall and Duffy, 2008). The differentiation between public and private law proceedings is not recognised in other countries, such as Scotland, Canada, and Australia with children being seen as having independent rights with an important emphasis placed on having their wishes and feelings ascertained, in legal separation disputes (Timms et al., 2007). This is worth considering in order to examine the effectiveness of our court processes compared to other systems. Child and Parental Perspective: As a Court Childrens Officer (social worker) based in Belfast Family Proceedings Court I had a range of experience working with parents and children during private law proceedings. My role was to adhere to the Children (NI) Order 1995 to provide Article 4 reports to the court, when directed to do so. This was to provide the court with any welfare concerns for the child and/or the childs wishes and feelings having contact or residing with a parent. To provide Article 4 reports the Court Childrens Team first had to receive a court direction to do so, and not all cases requested the CCO to ascertain the childs wishes and feelings separately from the parents. Other roles, through a court direction, included parental conciliation, mediation, and contact observation for the welfare of the child. In cases where there had been previous social services involvement, the article 4 request was transferred to the appropriate social work team in Belfast for further involvement. Through working with children and parents through the court process I was able to ascertain their perspectives on separation disputes and court processes. Child E (14), who had recently moved in with his father, following the separation of his parents, stipulated that he did not understand the court process and would like someone to explain how it would affect him. He continually requested that he wanted limited contact with his mother (maximum two days per week), due to frequent arguments, yet the court continually directed more contact with his mother, and he could not understand why. I feel through this case and others that children are not being listened to, despite their wishes and feelings being ascertained. Child G (12) expressed that he was told â€Å"not to interfere† by his parents, as they had already came to an agreement about contact arrangements. The child articulated that he was concerned about the arrangements, as he wanted to take part in other activities on the same days, with his friends. This is cause for concern as contact arrangements in this case suited the interests of the parents, as opposed to the child. This created anxiety for the child, and as a result the child refused to attend contact, so the case returned to court. The above cases represent just two of the children I had the privilege of working with during my practice placement, but both represent, the need for the child to be involved in court proceedings and listened to when they express their wishes. Parents, however, display relief and satisfaction with the court childrens team involvement in private law disputes. This is due to a neutral third party mediating between parties to discuss unresolved issues. Many parents have expressed thankfulness for the service, as it helped them to focus on their children, as opposed to â€Å"hear say† about one another, from other people. Thankfully, then, many parents do begin to work together to consider their childs needs, without the continual intervention of a CCO, or constant court proceedings. When asking parents how they would improve the service, most claimed they would like continuous mediation, and the opportunity to discuss issues of separation as an ongoing process, with a neutral third party. When gaining child feedback about speaking with me as a CCO, Child G expressed that it was nice to have someone to listen to whathe wanted. Service Provider Perspective: Through the help of my manager and research conducted for this project, I have identified criticisms and gaps in the court childrens service, and provided recommendations on how these can be addressed, to better facilitate service users; 1.Time restraints for involvement due to the court process In my experience, the CCO service had limited time to gather appropriate information about the families involved. Weatherall and Duffy (2008: 287) explain that â€Å"the danger for Article 4 work is that the meaningful engagement that promotes cooperation for full assessment and therapeutic potential is encroached by time pressures.† This then provides difficulties in building a relationship with a child and gaining their trust, to be able to express their wishes and feelings about contact or residence issues. Limited assessment of the child and family may also pose risks and potential significant oversights. However, due to the â€Å"no delay† principle applied to the courts through the Children (NI) Order 1995, it may not be feasible to carry out lengthy assessments that may delay proceedings. Recommendation 1: What is necessary is that decisions for children are reached through appropriate information gathering and careful consideration. A child should be assessed appropriately, but if support services are needed, CCOs should be permitted to make referrals to other organisations. 2.The majority of the court childrens officers time is spent with parents In my experience, the central role of the CCO was to mediate and conciliate between parties to help reach agreement about the child. It is assumed that by helping the parties agree, will therefore benefit the child as less conflict will occur, through better cooperation for contact arrangements. However, this leaves a critique to be made in respect of â€Å"acting in the childs best interests†, or on the agenda of the parents (Weatherall and Duffy, 2008). Child oppression can therefore be implied, if the childs feelings are assumed on the basis of their parents point of view. Recommendation 2: Children should be given the opportunity to take part in mediation. All children involved in private law proceedings should be given the opportunity to have a third party involved to represent their wishes and feelings. 3.The consideration of the welfare of all children involved in private legal proceedings Only a minority of children are involved with the court welfare service, as it is directed by the court. This indicates that the majority of children are not involved, and remain silent through their parents decisions. This poses two significant risks to these children; a) Social service safeguards are not implemented to assess child welfare i.e. to indicate previous instances of domestic violence, child abuse or neglect, in order to protect the child. â€Å"Domestic violence is present in 50% of cases whichrequire Article 4 reports† (Timms, 2003: 165) and safety needs to be addressed for children during contact. b) The child remains powerless and oppressed by not being involved in decisions made about them. Recommendation 3: Children through private legal proceedings should have the right to separate legal representation by a third party, to ensure their needs, wishes and feelings are being met, and welfare is protected. Recommendation 4: Social services should carry out checks to ensure no previous cases of child abuse or domestic violence have occurred, when the welfare of the child is questioned. 4.Lack of support services available to children following parental separation Through my own experience it is evident that any work completed with the child is for the production of an Article 4 report. This lack of time provision and nature of involvement does not supply the child with any level of intervention or understanding of parental separation. Weatherall and Duffy (2008: 288) express that â€Å"in light of research findings indicating the short-term and long-term effects of parental separation on children, it is concerning that the need for therapeutic services is seldom considered† in private law proceedings. Recommendation 5: Provide children and families with the opportunity to seek therapeutic support services, further mediation, and person centred work for parental separation. The Court Childrens Team could have the opportunity to provide these provisions with a further expansion of the service. 5.Public Law versus Private Law:As highlighted above, the Children (NI) Order 1995 amalgamated public and private legislation in relation to children, yet the processes for listening to the child still remain entirely contradictory. Children are separately represented in public law cases, despite fewer children being involved; therefore, children involved in private proceedings do not have the same rights as their counterparts, in terms of representation or service provision (Weatherall and Duffy, 2008). Recommendation 6: The conflicting rights of the child through public and private law should be addressed. Children should have equal rights to represent their views. In Northern Ireland specifically, I would recommend government policy development, and further social service provision to protect vulnerable children in private law proceedings. Recommendation 7: Involve children as participants in private law proceedings, as opposed to them remaining silent in the majority of cases. This would promote ethical practice, partnership and anti-oppressive procedures. Conclusion What I have tried to identify within this Evidence Based Project is to highlight that childrens voices are an important aspect in the separation process between parents. This is evidenced from practitioners and experts through legislation, policy, and research. Regardless ofhow childrens wishes and feelings are ascertained, what remains important is that childrenare acknowledged and listened to. This is not only good, ethical practice, but also helps to promote anti-oppressive practice and partnership with the child. The debate between researchers regarding childrens inclusion continues, but what should remain important is that parents are further encouraged to have better relationships, and helped to focus on what is important the needs of their children throughout the process of separation. The Children (NI) Order 1995 merged public and private law, but what seems to remain is its conflicting views of children. In Northern Ireland there are approximately two thousand children every year who are unrepresented through private law proceedings. To provide them with separate representation, from that of their parents, would offer an independent person to represent their feelings, not only acting in the childs best interests, but addressing some of theConventions rights of the child.The differentiation between public and private law only seems to be evident in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, so perhaps conducting research into international successes is what is needed to gain consistency locally. Throughout this project I have identified that not only does research, policy and legislation support the inclusion of children, children themselves express to be involved in the processes. In Northern Ireland there seems to be a lack of consistency in childrens law, and there is no current policy that seems to be addressing the needs of children suffering family breakdown. This needs to be tackled multi-disciplinarily if we are to protect and support children. The Court Childrens Service could address some of the childrens needs, if the service was expanded, and provided with new policy and legislation

Ageing Experience And Psychological Well Being Social Work Essay

Ageing Experience And Psychological Well Being Social Work Essay There are two potential determinates that might influence quality of life and psychological well-being of elderly people. Firstly there are the objective factors that are income, health, status and age and intuitively, usually having more of these things means greater quality of life. However, in various research based on happiness of the elderly people, objective factors are less powerful than one might expect as Lyubomirsky et al; cited in the research article titled Psychological Acceptance and quality Of Life in the Elderly,'(2007). The research suggested that objective factors account for about 8 to 15 % of the difference in happiness. So, Do people get less happy as they get older? and their well- being while ageing has been discussed by various researchers in order to define the concept of successful ageing but there is still a lack of consensus on what defines a successful ageing. The various researches on the relationship between old age and well-being have been at many time s assessed through life satisfaction, happiness and morale. 2.2 Theories of ageing In attempting to explain the ageing process and moreover the elderly experience with family support in this particular study, the theories of ageing, which describes the ageing process and what it implies will be taken into account. 2.2.1 Activity theory, developed by Havighurst and associates in 1953, asserts that remaining active and engaged with society is primordial to satisfaction in old age. The theory asserts that positive relationships in the aged individuals level of participation in social activity leads to life satisfaction as active aging equals successful aging. Activity can be physical or intellectual in nature so as to replace those interests and relationships that have been diminished or lost over time. This theory proposes that elderly people need to remain active in a variety of social spheres as for instance with family or friends because activity is preferable to inactivity as it facilitates well-being on multiple levels that is assuming that activity is vital to well-being. Activity theory proposes that social activity and involvement with others results in an increased ability to cope with aging, improved self-concept, and enhanced emotional adjustment to the aging process (Lee, 1985). 2.2.2 Disengagement theory was proposed by Cumming and Henry (1961). This theory states that aging is an inevitable, mutual withdrawal or disengagement; resulting in decreased interaction between the ageing person and others in the social system he belongs to (Cumming and Henry, 1961, p.2). Disengagement theory thus assumes that social involvement decreases with aging and that successful ageing is best achieved through abandoning social roles and relationships and by the individual reducing both activities and involvement. Proponents of this theory maintain that this separation is desired by society and older adults, and serves as such to maintain social equilibrium. While high morale is evident at the completion of the process, the transition is characterized by low morale. However, this theory has been strongly criticized by researchers who found a lack of evidence from older people disengaging from their surroundings. Whereas older people social relationships change and that they possibly have fewer ties, it was found that these relationships were often deeper and more significant. 2.2.3 The Continuity theory states that as elderly adults adapt to changes associated with the normal ageing process, they will attempt to rely on existing resources and comfortable coping strategies. This theory of aging states that older adults will actually maintain the same activities, behaviours, and relationships as they usually did in their earlier years of life. As older adults try to maintain this continuity of lifestyle by adapting strategies that are linked to their past experiences, decisions and behaviours will form the foundation for their present behaviour. Continuity of self which occurs in two domains: internal and external is thus important. Whereas internal continuity occurs when one wants to preserve some aspects of oneself from the past so that the past is sustaining and supporting ones new self, external continuity involves maintaining social relationships, roles and environments such that internal and external continuity are maintained, life satisfaction is hig h. 2.2.4 R.Weiss (1974) put forward a theory about provision of support from close relatives and relationships.  According to Weiss, these provisions reflect what we receive from relationships with other people. He maintains that the elderly require six main social provisions to maintain well-being and avoid loneliness. They are the assistance-related that is reliable person and guidance as well as non- assistance related one namely social integration, reassurance or worth, nurturance and attachment. These components provided by close relationships mainly provide and guarantee support to people as those people who lack the social support experience negative effects. He argues that individuals must maintain a number of relationships in order to maintain psychological well-being. Weiss holds that multiple needs must be satisfied by an individuals support network. In that respect, social provisions may be provided by friends but more often are provided by family members who are usually t he primary source of support in old age. 2.2.5 One of the first theoretical frameworks to focus on interpersonal relationships was proposed by Kahn and Antonucci (1980): the convoys of social relationships. They stated that social support is primordial to the individual in describing it to include attachment, roles and social support. Social support is viewed as interpersonal relationships that include these following components: affect affirmation and aid. Their basic idea is to view social connections and social support as a lifetime and ongoing set of relationships which generally serves to enrich, fortify and reassure people. The convoy model assumes that all people need social relations and that it is important because they have favourable effects on health and well-being. Despite being dynamic and lifelong in nature, Kahn and Antonucci suggest that losses and gains in convoys could have a variety of causes. It was hypothesized that social relations were more psychological than physical, and therefore, would affect psy chological or mental health, that is, depression, life satisfaction or happiness rather than physical health. (Antonucci, Fuhrer Dartigues, 1997; Fratiglioni, Wang, Ericsson, MAytan, Winblad, 2000) 2.3 Social Support My family has always been an essential part of my life, but the older you get; the more you feel how much you need each other. As long as you are together, it is like a growing tree the longer the tree is there, the stronger the branches become and the more you are knit into one. So, the more you are together, the more you realize how important it is to be together and stay together. -66 year old married father of two. (Cited in Family ties and ageing, Connidis, 2007, p3) Worldwide the family is the primary caregiver to the elderly. This reality transcends culture, politics and economic circumstances in spite of a wide variation in the way care is provided in different societies. However, almost everywhere round the world, support often flows in only one direction. Many older people receive financial help from their adult children but what about their help in terms of the social support in order to ensure healthy psychological ageing? Social support is defined as the individual belief that one is cared for and loved, esteemed and valued, and belongs to a network of communication and mutual obligations. (Cobb, 1976). Some experts suggest that social support provides a sense of connectedness to ones social group, which results in feelings of well being (Ryan. 1995). As people become old, social relationships often change and that they sometimes have fewer social ties, it was found that these relationships are often deeper and more meaningful to them, (Helmuth 2003). Maintaining relationships with their families and their friends is important to the vast majority of elderly persons. Rosenmayr (1968) found that, though they may not want to live with them, they do maintain contact with their children. Shanas (1967) found, in a study of elderly persons in three societies, that they generally live near at least one of their children. These relations seem to be at a large extent important, if not vital, to the elderly as the experience of ageing often requires them relationships and families support to evolve and adapt or cope with the challenges of the transition. Observers and various researches have showed that the loss of important relationships leads to feelings of emptiness and depression (Freud, 1917/1957; Bowlby, 1980). The interplay between relationships and various domains of life is complex as older adults reporting a greater number of social ties have been shown to have lower mortality risks, and both social integration and social support have been associated with mental and physical health outcomes (reviewed in Berkman 1995; Cohen Herbert 1996; Seeman 1996). Social support provided to the elderly parents by family members is thus proven to have positive consequences on the elderly in many ways. Moreover, a considerable number of researches show that social support is the key determinant of successful ageing (Rowe Kahn1998; Leviatan 1999; Unger et al, 1999; Seeman et al, 2001b). Persons involved with positive relationships are often less affected by everyday problems, are said to be more effective, and to act with greater sense of control or independence. Those without relationships often become isolated, cynical, mistrusting and depressed whereas those caught in poor relationships tend to dev elop and maintain negative perceptions of self, find life less satisfying. The usefulness of social support for dealing with illness has also been repeatedly shown, suggesting that a positive social environment encourages health and well- being whether or not stress is present. Social support is thus an important factor that may buffer the ill effects of stress on mental and physical health. 2.4 Lack of social support According to many researchers, the absence of social support is linked to various illness and poor quality of life in old age. Depression and loneliness are the most common in the elderly. Findings of depression and lack of social support are often interrelated due to the often inseparable nature of the two variables. There is also a clear link between chronic disease and depression, with those in nursing homes showing higher rates than those living in their own house. Depression as well as loneliness has been discussed by researchers and it was found that elderly people mostly suffer from these two major problems besides physical problems. The most firmly establishes link between of elderly parents and their psychological well-being in old age is that they basically suffer from loneliness and depression. Some research has shown that elderly individuals who have not maintained contact with family members are at a higher risk of developing depression, personality disorders and other c ognitive or behavioural issues. The physical as well as psychological state of the elderly parent is put at risk when he or she is not in contact with other individuals and especially the family. It is observed that if communication is done on a daily basis with family members, there is a better maintenance of the elderly psychological well-being as friends and family become often the sole support system for the elderly. According to American Geriatrics Society, depression can affect 40% of nursing homes residents in a given year which is often undiagnosed and untreated or treated as a normal component of ageing. A growing number of studies and articles have been published in that respect and shows how social support is beneficial to the elderly. For instance, there is a published thesis submitted in 2010 in Canada, titled Social support, loneliness and depression in the elderly. In this study, the association between loneliness and depressive symptoms was explored in 54 elderly residents living in both nursing and retirement homes out of 62 interviewed. The findings demonstrate that loneliness remained a significant risk factor for depressive symptoms, even after controlling other demographic variables such as age, gender, length of stay, time of interview and institution. This finding is consistent with a qualitative study by Barg et al. (2006), which suggests that loneliness in older adults is closely tied to depression. In this particular study, the author found that loneliness is easily mapped onto standard assessments of depression and hopelessness in the population, thus showing strong correlation between loneliness and depression. The Evaluation of depression in elderly people living in nursing homes, involving 35 people by Aribi L et al; publishes in October 2010 in Tunisia had for main aim to determine the prevalence of depression in old people living in a nursing home and to evaluate the degree of their autonomy. A descriptive and analytical survey was carried out on 35 old people at a nursing home in Sfax, Tunisia. The study was evaluated by using two scales specific to the geriatric practice: The scale of depression: GDS (geriatric depression Scale) applied to 30 items and the scale of autonomy: IADL (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living). Results were as such the examined population was composed of 35 people aged from 65 to 9, 51.4% of the residents were in a state of depression. Depression was more frequent in female subjects however (58.8% of women compared to 44.4% of men and it was concluded that depression in the elderly is related to several depressive factors particularly for patients living in institution. Anxiety and depression are thus very common in elderly living in nursing homes. Studies have shown a relatively low prevalence of anxiety disorders in older individuals but that among elderly, anxiety disorders occur two to seven times more often than depression problems. The rate of anxiety disorders may be even higher among elderly living at institutional settings. Another study which support that view is that of study Anxiety and Loneliness in Lone Elderly done by T.T.A Rahman which evaluated the prevalence of anxiety and depression in lone elderly living at their own homes and those going to geriatric clubs regularly or living at geriatric home. There was 164 lone elderly participants from geriatric clubs named group I and 168 lone elderly participants from geriatric homes, group II were included in this study. Hamilton Anxiety Scale and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale were used for detection of anxiety depression respectively. Results were as follow: The co-occurrence of anxie ty and depression is 34.1% 57.1% in group I and group II respectively, while depression is actually 22.0% 23.8% and anxiety is 2.4% 1.2% in group I group II respectively. Living at geriatric homes and age group 60 to 70 are independent risk factors for anxiety, depression or mixed anxiety and depression. It was concluded that lone elderly, living at institutional settings such as geriatric homes is an independent risk factor for anxiety, depression or mixed anxiety and depression. Mixed anxiety and depression is more prevalent than anxiety or depression per se. Another survey conducted by Agewell Research Advocacy Centre released by the Canadian Institute for Health Information recently, found that about one in four (26 per cent) seniors living in a residential care facility, such as a nursing home or long-term care home, had been diagnosed with depression. A further 18 per cent had symptoms of depression but had not been diagnosed. Many of these residents dealt with persistent anger, tearfulness and repetitive anxiety, yet had not received a diagnosis. The problem is a serious one because, as the researchers note, depression can have serious effects on a seniors medical condition, their emotional state and general quality of life as seniors with symptoms of depression are more likely to display aggressive behaviour and may be three times more likely to have sleep disturbances while having difficulty to communicate. Different factors can contribute to the development of a depressive disorder that may include feelings of hopelessness, self- blame and loneliness, possibly accompanied by physical symptoms such as poor sleep, decreased appetite and lack of energy, often leading to social withdrawal. The researchers note that there is a perception that depression is a natural part of aging. Thats because a number of factors associated with late-life, depression is common among older people, such as: illness, loss of family, friends, social support or independence. But they note that depression can shorten lives. In studies of the effects of depression on seniors, the odds of dying were 1.5 to 2 times greater in elderly people with depression compared to those without. According to  Himanshu Rath, Founder Chairman of Agewell Foundation,  Depression is quite common among many of the people, particularly in old age. It is a major social challenge that cannot and should not be ignored. However, to fight Depression in Old Age, both the suffering older persons and the family members need to join hands and work together to bring back the golden happy times, from a Survey on Depression in old age published in September 18, 2010. 2.4 Rationale of the study There are many researches as such that have examined the importance of single, close, personal relationship related to elderly people which put forward that family support acts as a buffer against psychological illness. Family support promotes higher morale and lower levels of loneliness and social isolation in old age. Older people who lack confidants report more psychological distress and higher rates of depression (Hays et al. 1998). It is thus true on one hand that relationship and especially with family is important for older adults as social isolation may be devastating especially in old age but on the other hand can social relationships have negative impacts on people? Although a great deal of research have focussed on the positive effects that social support can have on adults, recently researchers have urged greater attention to the negative side of informal relationships. Since Rook (1984) demonstrated that social relationships can adversely influence the psychological well -being of older adults, several investigators have examined the effects of both positive and negative social ties in later life. (Ingersoll-Dayton, Morgan Antonucci, 1997; Okun Keith, 1998). Furthermore, in considering that the closeness and mutually supportive relationships that many adult children and elderly parents share may make the latter happier than those who do not have children, research on this issue has consistently demonstrated that individuals who are childless are as happy and well-adjusted as are parents, even in the later years. As people who are sixty-five or older and do not have children are more likely to report advantages than disadvantages of childlessness. Individuals who have remained childless have been found to develop social networks that compensate for the absence of support from adult children in terms of friends as some studies suggest that friends are more important than family to morale and well-being of the elderly (OConner, 1995). A realatively p opular research topic has been the well-being and resources of childless elderly. It seems safe to conclude that these people are at least as happy as older parents, andthat they are able to find alternate sources of emotional and instrumental support for their need (Beckman Houser, 1882; Johnson Catalano, 1981; Keit, 1983; Kivett Learner, 1980). The research put forward that instead of presence or absence of children, factors such as marital status, health and economic well-being are more strongly linked to the morale and life satisfaction of the older people. As Hoff and Tesch- Romer ( 2007: 77) has described: the relative importance of family relations and family support in contemporary societies may have diminished, but as empirical findings of many studies into the subject have shown, family relations have remained a reliable and stable source of support. For the majority of elderly people, ties with their children represent the most important component of their family network and social support. Since ageing is becoming an important aspect in the Mauritian context and that many studies relating to old age and relationships have not been conducted at the local level, it deems to be important to infer about the contributions of family support to the older persons psychological well-being.

The Poetry and Prose of Edgar Allen Poe Essay -- Authors

Art is in everything. Artists can be experts with a paintbrush, phenomenal with piano or a master of their pen. Authors and poets have a chance to manipulate words like no other artist can. Poets in particular can use their words to encompass different kinds of art by painting a picture with lyrical rhythm and imagery. Poets may be common, but for their poetry to be timeless it must be universally relatable. Edgar Allen Poe is regarded as one of the most famous poets in American history due to his well renowned debauchery, gothic tales of terror, and poems which are taught in schools and still analyzed today. Edgar Allen Poe was born in Boston Massachusetts in the early nineteenth century. It is well known that Poe endured a difficult life, and tragedy began at an early age. At three years old, he witnessed his mother’s death (Bloom). Then, he was taken into custody of the Allen family who remained his benefactors until he attended the University of Virginia. However, Poe did not remain at the university past 1826 because his foster father would not pay off a debt that Poe had, and he also would not pay tuition (bloom). From the University, Poe traveled back to Massachusetts where he joined the army. It was in the army in 1827 that Poe published his first work, called Tamerlane and Other Poems under anonymous (Merriman). Not long after his first publication, tragedy struck again. His foster mother died in 1829, the same year his second book was published. It was only two years later that Poe met his future wife while living with his aunt and his brother. Henry, his brother, died of tuberculosis just like their mother did soon after Poe moved in (Merriman). The next few years, Poe published several works and became an editor at th... .... 117-120. EBSCOhost. Web. 11 Apr 2012. Forsythe, Robert S. "Poe's "Nevermore": A Note." American Literature 7.4 (1936): 439-452. JSTOR. Web. 15 Apr 2012. . Caputi, Anthony. "The Refrain in Poe's Poetry." American Literature 25.2 (1953): 169-178. JSTOR. Web. Moldenhauer, Joseph J. "Murder as a Fine Art: Basic Connections between Poe's Aesthetics, Psychology, and Moral Vision." Modern Language Association 83.2 May 1968. 284. JSTOR. Web. 16 Apr 2012. Broderick, John. "Poe's Revisions of "Lenore"." American Literature 35.4 January 1964. 506. JSTOR. Web. 11 Apr 2012. .

The Program of the National Socialist German Workers Party :: Nazi Germany Hitler Jewish Essays

The Program of the National Socialist German Workers' Party Germany under the rule of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party believed they were superior to the peoples of all other nations and all individual efforts were to be performed for the betterment of the German State. Germany’s loss in World War I resulted in the Peace Treaty of Versailles, which created tremendous economic and social hardships on Germany. Germany had to make reparations to the Allied and Associated Governments involved in World War I. As a result, Adolf Hitler gradually embarked upon his rise to power in Germany creating the National Socialist German Workers’ Party. As part of the surrender terms of World War I, Germany was forced to sign the Peace Treaty of Versailles, which held Germany responsible for the war. The country went bankrupt, millions of Germans were without work and food, and the nation was in despair and turmoil. Adolf Hitler’s rise to power began during these very difficult economic and social times. In the fall of 1 919, Hitler began to attend meetings of a small nationalist group called the German Workers’ Party. Hitler soon took control over the group and renamed it the National Socialist German Workers’ Party. The group later became known as the Nazi Party. The Nazis called for the union into one nation of all Germans. They demanded that citizens of non-German descent or of the Jewish religion be deprived of German citizenship and also called for the annulment of the Peace Treaty of Versailles. These demands were the primary cause for the Nazi Party to compose the document The Program of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party in 1920. Hitler blamed the Jews for the evils of the world. He believed a democracy would lead to communism. Therefore, in Hitler’s eyes, a dictatorship was the only way to save Germany from the threats of communism and Jewish treason. The Program of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party was the instrument for the Nazis to convince the German people to put Hitler into power. Point one of the document states, â€Å"We demand the union of all Germans in a great Germany on the basis of the principle of self-determination of all peoples.† 1 This point explicates the Nazi proposition that Germany will only contain German citizens and also, that these citizens would display his or her self-determination towards Germany to the fullest.

Shellac 1000 Hurts

All good things come in threes. And so the albums of Shellac – the third one is a good thing. Since 1994, when the band was formed by Steve Albini with bassist Tom Weston and drummer Todd Trainer, â€Å"1000 Hurts† is the third album confirming the status of Shellac as an original, purposefully mean-spirited band.Albini, as some sort of an underground God, his band and their album did not need any promotion on the radio or TV, there were no interviews, no free copies for the press. 1000 Hurts is Shellac’s third and by far best album, which again and again let us enjoy Albini’s guitar pirouettes and his lunatic screaming voice, Trainer’s beating the hell out of his drums, and Weston’s unmatched bass tone.In this album one will find a number of new elements which were not heard from Shellac yet: the radio in â€Å"QRT†, Todd’s singing in â€Å"New Number One† or â€Å"Guitarsolo† in â€Å"Canaveral†. But as St eve Albini says: these all this new stuff was not planned, but this is something they just came up with accidentally. May be it is hard to believe that the two monsters of the music producing (Albini and Weston) did not plan anything to make this album really good in terms of commercial success of the album. But these guys do it for fun.What also makes this album different is the quality of the songwriting. It’s not a case of clinging to the verse chorus verse structure so much as an adherence to melody. â€Å"Song Against Itself† employs Shellac’s trademark meaty riffage, but it also incorporates its most melodic vocals yet. The riffs seem even more memorable this time- to the point where you would possibly hum them later. It is impossible to hum their older songs like â€Å"Doris† or â€Å"House Full Of Garbage†.The songwriting has polarized from the easily accessible rock and roll The songs on this album switch gears from straightforward 4/4 tim e rock to bizarre arrangements/time changes more quickly and at greater extremes than their past releases. To make the contrast even more blatant, the straightforward parts are very straightforward, and the crazy parts are even more crazy.The emotional content of lyrics has remained the same, just like Albini himself: mean and sarcastic. â€Å"Prayer To God† is an hysterical plea, in which Albini asks â€Å"the one true God above† to kill two people for him. The tone of his prayer is dripping with sarcasm but the point is simple enough: â€Å"her, she can go quietly by disease or a blow/to the base of her neck where her necklaces close/where her garments come together/where I used to lay my face/that’s where you ought to kill her/in that particular place.†The music rises to meet his anger. â€Å"Squirrel Song† is a â€Å"sad fucking song† that showcases Shellac’s incredible rhythmic precision. â€Å"Song Against Itself† starts out sounding almost as straightforward as pop punk, while â€Å"Mama Gina† starts with a dissonant melody being played over a slow rhythm section which then fades out to bass pulses and guitar beeps with Steve singing/talking about a woman who likes to dance.Shellac hasn’t lost an ounce of its brutality. Pounding rhythms, sharp but sparse guitars, and repetitive bass lines bust through the speakers with exquisite production. The songs and recording on 1000 Hurts don't deviate from the sound of their other releases so much as to shock the listener. The disk doesn't really break any new ground – like its predecessors, it's a collection of angular guitar lines, hypnotically repetitive rhythms, oddball time signatures, noise-rock squalls and twisted lyrics.Frankly, it's just nice to hear a record that you know was written without even the slightest thought for commercial potential, marketing or playlists. 1000 Hurts shows Shellac in prime form who seems to have real ized that 12-minute rock songs don't rock. This record's longest track, â€Å"Mama Gina,† clocks in at an appropriate 5:44, long enough to fully flesh out the song, but not so long that the groove gets tired.

Genres of Literature Essay

Genres of literature are important to learn about. The two main categories separating the different genres of literature are fiction and nonfiction. There are several genres of literature that fall under the nonfiction category. Nonfiction sits in direct opposition to fiction. Examples from both the fiction and nonfiction genres of literature are explained in detail below. This detailed genres of literature list is a great resource to share with any scholars. Types of Nonfiction: Narrative Nonfiction is information based on fact that is presented in a format which tells a story. Essays are a short literary composition that reflects the author’s outlook or point. A short literary composition on a particular theme or subject, usually in prose and generally analytic, speculative, or interpretative. A Biography is a written account of another person’s life. An Autobiography gives the history of a person’s life, written or told by that person. Often written in Narrative form of their person’s life. Speech is the faculty or power of speaking; oral communication; ability to express one’s thoughts and emotions by speech, sounds, and gesture. Generally delivered in the form of an address or discourse. Finally there is the general genre of Nonfiction. This is Informational text dealing with an actual, real-life subject. This genre of literature offers opinions or conjectures on facts and reality. This includes biographies, history, essays, speech, and narrative non fiction. Nonfiction opposes fiction and is distinguished from those fiction genres of literature like poetry and drama which is the next section we will discuss. Genres of Fiction: Drama is the genre of literature that’s subject for compositions is dramatic art in the way it is represented. This genre is stories composed in verse or prose, usually for theatrical performance, where conflicts and emotion are expressed through dialogue and action. Poetry is verse and rhythmic writing with imagery that evokes an emotional response from the reader. The art of poetry is rhythmical in composition, written or spoken. This genre of literature is for exciting pleasure by beautiful, imaginative, or elevated thoughts. Fantasy is the forming of mental images with strange or other worldly settings or characters; fiction which invites suspension of reality. Humor is the faculty of perceiving what is amusing or comical. Fiction full of fun, fancy, and excitement which meant to entertain. This genre of literature can actually be seen and contained within all genres. A Fable is a story about supernatural or extraordinary people Usually in the form of narration that demons trates a useful truth. In Fables, animals often speak as humans that are legendary and supernatural tales. Fairy Tales or wonder tales are a kind of folktale or fable. Sometimes the stories are about fairies or other magical creatures, usually for children. Science Fiction is a story based on impact of potential science, either actual or imagined. Science fiction is one of the genres of literature that is set in the future or on other planets. Short Story is fiction of such briefness that is not able to support any subplots. Realistic Fiction is a story that can actually happen and is true to real life. Folklore are songs, stories, myths, and proverbs of a person of â€Å"folk† that was handed down by word of mouth. Folklore is a genre of literature that is widely held, but false and based on unsubstantiated beliefs. Historical Fiction is a story with fictional characters and events in a historical setting. Horror is an overwhelming and painful feeling caused by literature that is frightfully shocking, terrifying, or revolting. Fiction in which events evoke a feeling of dread in both the characters and the reader. A Tall Tale is a humorous story with blatant exaggerations, swaggering heroes who do the impossible with an here of nonchalance. Legend is a story that sometimes of a national or folk hero. Legend is based on fact but also includes imaginative material. Mystery is a genre of fiction that deals with the solution of a crime or the unraveling of secrets. Anything that is kept secret or remains unexplained or unknown. Mythology is a type of legend or traditional narrative. This is often based in part on historical events, that reveals human behavior and natural phenomena by its symbolism; often pertaining to the actions of the gods. A body of myths, as that of a particular people or that relating to a particular person. Fiction in Verse is full-length novels with plot, subplots, themes, with major and minor characters. Fiction of verse is one of thegenres of literature in which the narrative is usually presented in blank verse form. The genre of Fiction can be defined as narrative literary works whose content is produced by the imagination and is not necessarily based on fact. In fiction something is feigned, invented, or imagined; a made-up story. The Oxford English Dictionary is a great place to consult for any further definitions of the different genres of literature explained here.

Essay Vietnam War and Story

Essay Vietnam War and Story Essay Vietnam War and Story Redefining Truth in Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried By: Rose Monahan May 2011 The Pennsylvania State University In an interview with Tobey C. Herzog, Tim O’Brien discussed the merits of truth by saying, â€Å"You have to understand about life itself. There is a truth as we live it; there is a truth as we tell it. Those two are not compatible all the time. There are times when the story truth can be truer, I think, than a happening truth† (120). Many literary scholars have struggled with the â€Å"truth† in one of O’Brien’s most famous works, The Things They Carried, a collection of twenty-two tales on the Vietnam War that stand alone just as strongly as they tie together. Although O’Brien is a Vietnam War veteran, unwillingly drafted in 1968 and serving until 1970, he purposively fictionalizes the war experience throughout The Things They Carried while simultaneously insisting that the essence of the work is true, a notion that many scholars question. Teasing out which experiences O’Brien describes are true, which are folklore, and which are imagination would be a near impossible task because many of the tales mix. Rather, the importance of O’Brien’s work is his employment of metafiction narrative as a representative vehicle for the Vietnam War. Countless war stories have been published, particularly on the Vietnam War, and the impact or influence of these works greatly depends on the literary genre chosen to tell them. Although many critics1 have commented on O’Brien’s reinterpretation of â€Å"truth,† the necessity of metafiction to establish a reinterpretation has yet to be adequately explored. In this essay, I will discuss the use of metafiction and its ultimate accomplishment- redefining what is â€Å"true†- within O’Brien’s Vietnam War story, The Things They Carried. To begin, the definition of metafiction must be considered. Patricia Waugh, considered a leadin g expert on postmodernist literature, has written in her work Metafiction: the Theory and Practice of Self-Conscious Fiction, â€Å"Metafiction is a term given to fictional writing which self-consciously and systematically draws attention to its status as an artefact in order to pose questions about the relationship between fiction and reality† (2). Writers of metafiction, such as O’Brien, openly consider the relationship between fiction and memoir, often distrusting memory to accurately depict an event. While the author draws on many factual events or details, much of the work is also purely invented, and the author will frankly state that the work is not true. For example, The Things They Carried contains the warning, â€Å"This is a work of fiction. Except for a few details regarding the author’s own life, all the incidents, names, and characters are imaginary.† Yet, the true elements invoke the feeling of an autobiography, memoir, or other type of non fiction. For instance, the central character and narrator of The Things They Carried is named Tim O’Brien (like the author), is a Vietnam War veteran in his late forties who is now a writer (like the author), and has published the book Going After Cacciato (also, like the author). These are clearly more than â€Å"a few details.† The distinction between Tim O’Brien, the person, and Tim O’Brien, the character, is difficult for the reader to balance, and ultimately, raises the question of what is fiction and what is reality. As the reader attempts to untangle the intertwined relationship between fiction and nonfiction, the author of a metafiction will comment on the writing of the piece. In the case of O’Brien, his comments remind the reader that his stories are invented. For example, before divulging into a gruesome story of a soldier slowly killing a baby water buffalo, O’Brien writes, â€Å"This one does it for me. I’ve told it befo remany times, many versionsbut here’s what actually happened† (78). By admitting that the story has been told in several ways, O’Brien is admitting the story has been fictionalized. Even

The City of Baghdad Essay Example

The City of Baghdad Essay Example The City of Baghdad Essay The City of Baghdad Essay Essay Topic: City Lights Great Britain would have a mandate over the government set by the United Nations. This would end in 1932. All British power would officially be gone in 1958 when a military coup would overthrow the monarchy that Great Britain help set up. For the next ten years Baghdad would not have a stable government. Many military coups would take over the government. In 1968 the Baa oath gained power over the government. They would bring a relative stability as oil prices around the world would increase, bringing in a lot of revenue to the city. This would help increase its rate of development. For the ext eight years Iraq would go to war with Iran. Iraqs government would suffer severely from the Persian Gulf War. It would become unstable because of many of the sanctions set by the United Nations. This would also lead to many social and structural problems. Bigheads culture would change over the year as well. Its location would help contribute it to being one of the most cultural places in the past. Some of the reasons for this was its connection to trade routes, its closeness of water, the land, and the good weather. Its connection to the trade routes would attract many types of goods from all over the world. Some places that would trade with Baghdad was China, India, and parts of East Africa. Soon many more people would start to come and settle in the city. Schools would be set up as a result of the amount of people coming and making homes in the city. During this time it was estimated that one and a half million people were located in Baghdad alone. It was believed that because it was the capital of Baghdad alone, many people were attracted to the city. Writers, poets, artists, and scholars would come to Baghdad and settle down or to visit. One of the most famous books in history, The Thousand and One Nights, was set in Baghdad. Many foreign books would be translated into Arabic because of the caliph during this time period. This would result in many bookshops to be set up. It would become a from one that mainly Just spoke, to one with an actual written language. Bigheads location would also contribute to its paper production, allowing to to produce more books at a faster rate. More people would be educated to read from these books, and the citizens of Baghdad would start to follow a secular movement. They would request for more books to read for pleasure and entertainment. Because many scholars would be located in Baghdad, it would become one of the biggest educational centers during its time, being referred to the center of the world. As a result of all of these factors, Baghdad would become one of the biggest cities in the world, not Just because of its expansion, but its population as well. However, the city would undergo a lot of turmoil. As stated before, many different civilizations would take over Baghdad, weakening its population and the society. In 1907 it was reported that the population of the city was only at 185,000 people. This was obviously a major decrease from its previous one and a half million. After the Ottoman rule, the British loud have control over the city. The British citizens power would only be lesser than the governor. After officially gaining independence in 1932, the citizens would overthrow the British installed monarch in 1958, officially removing all British power. Bigheads Western population would start to decline at this point, being limited to businessmen and important diplomats. The population of the city would start to grow again. However, after the Persian Gulf War many problems would arise. The United Nations set trade sanctions limiting the oil Iraq could export. This would heavily educe the amount of money coming into Iraq, which would affect Baghdad in a very negative way. The city could not support its medical, educational, and even its sanitation systems. This would lead high rates of disease and illiteracy. As United States influence would increase, the citizens would start to detest them. They would start to rebel, but the violence would go down in 2007. All U. S. Influence would be gone by 2011. The neighborhoods in Baghdad today share many characteristics with cities. The neighborhoods themselves have schools, hospitals, and shops as well. There are also mosques in these neighborhoods. Doctors and lawyers usually focus their studies in neighborhoods such as these. The population now is estimated to be around 7. 2 million people. Many structural aspects of Baghdad have changed because of wars and other events. At the beginning of its time, Baghdad was referred to as the round city. It had circular walls surrounding the city, giving reason for its nickname. Its location near water was one of the main reasons for its location. However, because the city was so small when it was first established, Baghdad started to expand in size. Many districts would start to be built around the city. The city would continue to expand as its population grew. When the Mongols sacked Baghdad, they basically destroyed their irrigation systems. It would be very hard to restore. After centuries of political turmoil, the Ottoman ruler Amidst Pasha would affect the architecture of Baghdad. He destroyed the city walls originally set up by the first caliph of Baghdad. This would allow the expansion of the urban society. He established many things to help the city flourish for a short period of time. Some of the things he did was set up a water apply system, pave streets, set up street lights, and many other things. Many years later Baghdad would be bombed during the Persian Gulf War, ruining large parts of the United Nations. The city would not have enough money to restore its infrastructure, even though parts of it would be fixed in the late sass. After the Iraq War, one of the main goals of the United States was to restore the citys infrastructure. Parts of the infrastructure is still being rebuilt today. All of the events in Bigheads history factored in to the citys problems and strengths today. Baghdad would have been a completely different city today without hem. Its contributions to the world were very significant, and the center of knowledge of culture was unmatched during its time.