Analysis of Program Prevent Diabetes Live Life Well

Analysis of Program Prevent Diabetes Live Life Well Introduction Live Life Well program is a health program that New South Wales Ministry of Health uses in preventing or delaying the onset of type II diabetes mellitus among adults.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Analysis of Program â€Å"Prevent Diabetes Live Life Well† specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Since the incidences of diabetes in Australia are very high, it necessitates health promotion program, which helps people to prevent and manage their diabetic conditions with the objective of living a healthy and a happy life. Statistics show that, in Australia, diabetes mellitus accounts for about 5.5% of health burden, prevalent rates is approximately 8% among adults with ages of 16 and above, and 275 adults develop it daily in Australia. These figures show that type II diabetes mellitus is a serious health condition in Australia, which has led to the establishment of Live Life Well program. Given that type I I diabetes is common among adults, the program targets Australians aged between 50 to 65 years, who are likely to develop the diabetes. In this view, the report analyses Live Life Well program, a program that aims at preventing or delaying the occurrence of type II diabetes mellitus among adult Australians. Description of the Program Live Life Well is a preventive health program, which aims at preventing type II diabetes among adult Australians with ages between 50 and 65. The programs enable adults, who are risk of developing type II diabetes, to prevent or delay the occurrence of the diabetes in their lives.Advertising Looking for report on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In selection of participants, the program uses the Australian Type II Diabetes Risk Assessment Tool (AUSDRISK), which assesses the diabetic risk of adults between the ages of 50 and 65 years. Once assessed for the risk of develop ing type II diabetes, the participants go through a one-year program that guides them to perform a number lifestyle changes and monitors their progress. The lifestyle changes that the participants perform are reducing intakes of total and saturated fats, reducing weight, increasing physical activity, increasing intake of fibre, moderating alcohol, quitting smoking, and managing stress well (New South Wales Ministry of Health 2014). During the course of the program, general practitioners assess the progress of participants in line with the lifestyle changes that programs aim to achieve. Therefore, Live Life Well is a preventive program that focuses on lifestyle changes among adults in preventing or delaying the occurrence type II diabetes. Analysis of the programs indicates that it employs both primary and secondary preventive strategies, which aims at preventing or delaying the occurrence of type II diabetes among Australian adults with ages 50 and 65 years. National Public Health P artnership (2006) defines primary prevention as a strategy that reduces or eliminates risk factors that cause certain diseases and promote factors protect or sustain human health. Since Live Life Well program aims to reduce intakes of total and saturated fats, reduce weight, reduce alcohol consumption, eliminate smoking, and promote healthy lifestyles such as increasing fibre intake and physical exercise, it qualifies to be a primary preventive program.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Analysis of Program â€Å"Prevent Diabetes Live Life Well† specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Furthermore, Live Life Well qualifies to be a secondary preventive program because it employs the strategies of secondary prevention. National Public Health Partnership (2006) also defines secondary prevention as a prevention strategy, which â€Å"aims to reduce the progression of disease through early detection, usually screening at an asymptomatic stage and early intervention† (p. 3). Live Life Well applies secondary prevention strategy because it assesses the risk of Australian adults to type II diabetes using AUSDRISK, a sensitive too, that detects type II diabetes at an asymptomatic stage. Moreover, the program applies comprehensive intervention measures to prevent or delay the onset of the type II diabetes among Australian adults, who have high risks. Characteristics of the Program Live Life Well is a prevention program that relies on behavioural changes among Australian adults. The program relies on behavioural changes in terms of lifestyles because type II diabetes is a lifestyle disease. Sharma and Majumdar (2009) state that type II diabetes is a lifestyle disease that emanates from physical inactivity and poor eating habits, which constitute behavioural factors. Excessive intake of total and saturated fats, smoking, lack of enough physical activity, overweight and obese, and excessive consumption o f alcohol are some of the behavioural factors that predispose people to type II diabetes.Advertising Looking for report on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Since Live Life Well aims to reduce or eliminate these factors, it employs behavioural interventions. Vermunt et al. (2013) argue that behavioural change is a complex process because it requires the application of numerous interventions, which focus one health issue. This explains why Live Life Well program utilizes diet and major interventions of preventing or delaying the onset of type II diabetes. The analysis of the behavioural approach that the program uses indicates that it complies with health promotion values and principles. The values and principles of health promotion usually focus on the general population, the population at risk, or focus on both, depending on the determinants of health and target disease (Lardon et al. 2011). In this case, since the program focuses on the population at risk of developing type II diabetes, it applies health promotion values and principles that aim to prevent or delay the occurrence of the diabetes among Australian adults. Gregg and Oâ₠¬â„¢Hara (2007) assert that in health promotion, the overarching principles that are applicable among the populations, which are at risk of developing certain diseases, are empowerment and participation. Empowerment of the population at risk enables them to understand healthy and unhealthy lifestyles that predispose them to certain diseases and thus provide the basis for them to make informed choices about their lifestyles and behaviours. According to Heritage and Dooris (2009), participation is an important principle in health promotion because it â€Å"emphasizes on the necessity of participation, with actions being carried out by and with people, not to the people† (p. 45). In this view, the program applies participation the principle participation because the participants perform virtually all activities while lifestyle officers and general practitioners merely guides and monitors the progress of the participants. Appraisal of the Program Live Life Well has two strengths, which make it an effective health promotion program. The first strength is that Live Life Well program applies the principle of empowerment in enabling and strengthening Australian adults to prevent or delay the onset of type II diabetes despite their susceptibility. World Health Organization (2010) states that the health promotion principle seeks to enable the target population to enhance control of their lives and their health choices. Fundamentally, the program empowers Australian adults, who are at risk of developing type II diabetes to prevent and delay the diabetes. The second strength is that Live Life Well supports participation of Australian adults in the prevention or delay of the onset of type II diabetes. Fienieg et al. (2012) state that for health promotion program to be effective, it must have purposeful action and personal development. Appraisal shows that Live Life Well has clear action and personal development milestones, which drive Australian adults to participat e actively for a period of one year. The weakness of the program in relation to the principles of empowerment and participation is insufficiency of the time to conduct the program. Geense et al. (2013) assert that time is a barrier that reduces the effectiveness of health promotion programs because public health officers do not have ample time to educate and monitor progress of participants appropriately. Appraisal of Live Life Well reveals that general practitioners and lifestyle officers can interest with the participants for a period of about 10 hours per year, which is quite negligible when compare to the period of the program. Such a short period of education and monitoring reduces empowerment and participation, which are central principles of health promotion. Thus, the amount of time that the program allocates to the participants is not sufficient for education, monitoring, and assessment. Enhancement of the Program Since type II diabetes does not only affect the old adults, the program needs to reduce the threshold for young adults from 45 to 35 years. Song and Hardisty (2009) early onset of type II diabetes at the age of below 40 years result in serious complications. Centres for Disease Control (2014) has made a significant impact in the prevention of diabetes among Americans because it incorporates numerous stakeholders such as healthcare professionals, insurers, community-based organizations, employers, and federal agencies in promoting behavioural changes that prevent or delay the occurrence of type II diabetes. In this view, Live Life Well should enhance its impact in the prevention and delay of type diabetes by incorporating additional stakeholders and increasing the amount of time it provides for teaching, monitoring, and assessment of participants. Conclusion Analysis of Live Life Well indicates that it is an effective program in the prevention and delay of type II diabetes among Australian adults because it employs both primary and secondary preventive strategies. Live Life Well is a preventive program that relies on behavioural changes in reducing or eliminating risk factors of type II diabetes or promoting healthy lifestyle among Australian adults. References Centers for Disease Control 2014, National Diabetes Prevention Program. Web. Fienieg, B., Nierkens, V, Tokens, E, Plochq, T, Stronks, K 2012, ‘Why play an active role? A qualitative examination of lay citizens’ main motives for participation in health promotion’, Health Promotion International, vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 416-426. Geense, W, Glind, I, Visscher, T, Achterberg, T 2013, ‘Barriers, facilitators and attitudes influencing health promotion activities in general practice: An explorative pilot study’, BMC Family Practice, vol. 14, no. 20, pp. 1-10. Gregg, J, O’Hara, L 2007, ‘Value and principles evident in current health promotion practice’, Health Promotion Journal of Australia, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 7-11. Her itage, Z, Dooris, M 2009, ‘Community participation and empowerment’, Health Promotion International, vol. 24, no. 1, pp. 45-55. Lardon, C, Soule, S, Kernak, D, Lupie, H 2011, ‘Using strategic planning, and organizational development principle for health promotion in an Alaska Native community’, Journal of Prevention Intervention in the Community, vol. 39, no. 1, pp. 65-76. National Public Health Partnership 2006, The language of Prevention. Web. New South Wales Ministry of Health 2014, Live Life Well. Web. Sharma, M, Majumdar, P 2009. Occupational lifestyle diseases: An emerging issue. Indian Journal of Occupational Environmental Medicine, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 109-112. Song, S, Hardisty, C 2009, ‘Early onset type 2 diabetes mellitus: a harbinger for complications in later years: Clinical observation from a secondary care cohort’, International Journal of Medicine, vol. 102, no. 11, pp. 799-806. Vermunt, P, Milder, I, Wielaard, F, Baan, C, Schelfhout, J, Westert, G, Oers, H 2013, ‘Behavior change in a lifestyle intervention for type 2 diabetes prevention in Dutch primary care: opportunities for intervention content’, BMC Family Practice, vo. 14, no. 78, pp. 1-8. World Health Organization 2010, Milestones in Health Promotion: Statement from Global Conferences. Web.

Emily Dickinson - Continuing Enigma

Emily Dickinson - Continuing Enigma Known for:  inventive poetry, mostly published after her deathOccupation:  poetDates:  December 10, 1830 - May 15, 1886Also known as:  Emily Elizabeth Dickinson, E.D Emily Dickinson, whose odd and inventive poems helped to initiate modern poetry, is a continuing enigma.   Only ten of her poems were published in her lifetime. We know of her work only because her sister and two of her long-time friends brought them to public attention. Most of the poems we have were written in just six years, between 1858 and 1864. She bound them into small volumes she called fascicles, and forty of these were found in her room at her death. She also shared poems with friends in letters. From the few drafts of letters that were not destroyed, at her instruction, when she died, its apparent that she worked on each letter as a piece of artwork in itself, often picking phrases that shed used years before. Sometimes she changed little, sometimes she changed a lot. Its hard to even tell for sure what a poem by Dickinson really is, because she changed and edited and reworked so many, writing them differently to different correspondents. Emily Dickinson Biography Emily Dickinson was born in Amherst, Massachusetts. Her father and mother were both what we would today call distant. Her brother, Austin, was bossy but ineffective; her sister, Lavinia, never married, and lived with Emily and was protective of the much shyer Emily. Emily at School While signs of her introspective and introverted nature were apparent early, she traveled from home to attend Mount Holyoke Female Seminary, an institution of higher education founded by Mary Lyons. Lyons was a pioneer in womens education, and envisioned Mount Holyoke as training young women for active roles in life. She saw that many women could be trained as missionary teachers, especially to bring the Christian message to American Indians. A religious crisis seems to have been behind young Emilys decision to leave Mount Holyoke after a year, as she found herself unable to fully accept the religious orientation of those at the school. But beyond religious differences, Emily also apparently found the social life at Mount Holyoke difficult. Withdrawn Into Writing Emily Dickinson returned home to Amherst. She traveled a few times after that once, notably, to Washington, DC, with her father during a term he served in the U.S. Congress. But gradually, she withdrew into her writing and her home, and became reclusive. She began to wear dresses exclusively in white. In her later years, she did not leave her homes property, living in her home and garden. Her writing did include letters to many friends, and while she became more eccentric about visitors and correspondence as she aged, she had many visitors: women like Helen Hunt Jackson, a popular writer of the time, among them. She shared letters with friends and family, even those who lived nearby and could visit easily. Emily Dickinsons Relationships From the evidence, Emily Dickinson fell in love with several men over time, though apparently never even considered marriage. Her close friend, Susan Huntington, later married Emilys brother Austin, and Susan and Austin Dickinson moved to a home next door. Emily and Susan exchanged ardent and passionate letters over many years; scholars are divided today on the nature of the relationship. (Some say that the passionate language between women was simply an acceptable norm between friends in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries; others find evidence that the Emily/Susan friendship was a lesbian relationship. I find the evidence ambiguous at best.) Mabel Loomis Todd, a descendent of John and Priscilla Alden of Plymouth colony, moved to Amherst in 1881 when her astronomer husband, David Peck Todd, was appointed to the faculty of Amherst College. Mabel was twenty-five at the time. Both the Todds became friends of Austin and Susan in fact, Austin and Mabel had an affair. Through Susan and Austin, Mabel met Lavinia and Emily. Met Emily is not exactly the right description: they never met face-to-face. Mabel Todd read and was impressed by some of Emilys poems, read to her by Susan. Later, Mabel and Emily exchanged some letters, and Emily occasionally invited Mabel to play music for her while Emily observed out of sight. When Emily died in 1886, Lavinia invited Todd to attempt to edit and publish the poems Lavinia had discovered in manuscript form. A Young Contributor and Her Friend The story of Emily Dickinsons poems, with their interesting relationship to womens history, is highlighted by the most fertile period of Emily Dickinsons writing, the early 1860s. A key character in this story is better known in American history for his support of abolition, woman suffrage, and transcendentalist religion: Thomas Wentworth Higginson. Hes also known in history as the commander of a regiment of black troops in the American Civil War; for this accomplishment he proudly used the title Colonel Higginson to the end of his life. He was the minister at the wedding of Lucy Stone and Henry Blackwell, at which he read their statement renouncing any strictures that the law placed on the woman when she married, and stating why Stone would keep her last name rather than assuming Blackwells. Higginson was part of the American literary Renaissance known as the Transcendentalist movement. He was already an recognized writer when he published in 1862, in The Atlantic Monthly, a short notice titled Letter to a Young Contributor. In this notice, he solicited young men and women to submit their work, adding, every editor is always hungering and thirsting after novelties. Higginson told the story later (in The Atlantic Monthly, after her death), that on April 16, 1862, he picked up a letter at the post office. Opening it, he found a handwriting so peculiar that it seemed as if the writer might have taken her first lessons by studying the famous fossil bird-tracks in the museum of that college town. It began with these words: Are you too deeply occupied to say if my verse is alive? With that letter began a decades-long correspondence that ended only at her death. Higginson, in their long friendship (they seem only to have met in person once or twice, it was mostly by mail), urged her not to publish her poetry. Why? He doesnt say, at least not clearly. My own guess? He expected that her poems would be considered too odd by the general public to be accepted as she wrote them. And he also concluded that she would not be amenable to the changes that he thought necessary to make the poems acceptable. Fortunately for literary history, the story doesnt end there. Editing Emily After Emily Dickinson died, her sister, Lavinia, contacted two friends of Emilys when she discovered the forty fascicles in Emilys rooms: Mabel Loomis Todd and Thomas Wentworth Higginson. First Todd began to work on the editing; then Higginson joined her, persuaded by Lavinia. Together, they reworked the poems for publication. Over some years, they published three volumes of Emily Dickinsons poems. The extensive editing changes they made regularized Emilys odd spellings, word usage, and especially punctuation. Emily Dickinson was, for instance, very fond of dashes. Yet the Todd/Higginson volumes have included few of them. Todd was sole editor of the third volume of poems, but kept to the editing principles theyd worked out together. Higginson and Todd were likely correct in their judgment, that the public could not accept the poems as they were. The daughter of Austin and Susan Dickinson, Martha Dickinson Bianchi, published her own edition of Emily Dickinsons poems in 1914. It remained until the 1950s, when Thomas Johnson un-edited Dickinsons poetry, for the general public to experience her poems more as shed written them, and as her correspondents had received them. He compared versions in the fascicles, in her many remaining letters, and published his own edition of 1,775 poems. He also edited and published a volume of Dickinson letters, themselves literary gems. More recently, William Shurr has edited a volume of new poems, by gleaning poetic and prose fragments from Dickinsons letters. Today, scholars still discuss and argue over the paradoxes and ambiguities of Dickinsons life and work. Her work is now included in the humanities education of most American students. Her place in the history of American literature is secure, even if the enigma of her life is still mysterious.. Family Father: Edward Dickinson (treasurer of Amherst College, state legislator, U.S. Congressman)Mother: Emily NorcrossTwo siblings: William Austin 1829-1895, Lavinia 1833-1899 Education Amherst Academy (seven years)Mount Holyoke Female Seminary  (one year)

The Impact of Transportation on the Environment Essay

The Impact of Transportation on the Environment - Essay Example From this paper it is clear that  the impact of the transportation industry on the environment can be classified into three categories such as direct impact, indirect impact and cumulative impact. Direct impact deals with immediate consequences of transportation activities on the environment where the cause and effect relationship is clearly specified or explained. Indirect impact explains the secondary   impact or effect of the transportation activities on the environment.This essay discusses that  the consequences of the indirect impact are higher as compared to the consequences of direct impact of transportation on the environment but the relationship between the direct and the indirect impact of the transportation on the environment is difficult to establish. Cumulative impact can be considered as the multiplicative, additive or synergic consequences of transportation activities on the environment. The cumulative impacts take into consideration the varied or different impac ts of the transportation on the ecosystem which are generally unpredictable in nature.   The transportation industry selected for discussion in this paper is trucking industry.   The trucking industry is often subsidized by public sector especially through the maintenance and construction of road infrastructure which is generally free of access. In developed countries the environmental regulations have been imposed by the government to reduce the emission of individual vehicles.

Political Parties and the Electorial Process Assignment

Political Parties and the Electorial Process - Assignment Example On the other hand, Democrats have favored interventions that intervene closely on the lives of individuals in a manner that may be seen to alter local authority (Peress, 2011). On economy, Republicans favor a policy of free enterprise where the government only encourages a free business environment. They focus on letting the people act independently within a free market with little government interference. For example, Republican policy may not so easily favor bailing out an enterprise that is facing financial woes. Democrats on their part, Democrats hold that the economy is a sensitive area that the government should monitor closely. They tend to favor government support of economic institutions in the event they are threatened with issues of performance. For example, the Obama administration bailed out Ford Company to save millions of jobs for Americans. The other difference between Republicans and Democrats ideologies is that whereas Republicans favor limited government spending, Democrats believe in federal tax control. Democrats hold that it is the business of the federal government to design tax policies and regulations. Republicans do not agree with this position, favoring controlled government spending and tax increases. ... On the other hand, Democrats have favored a controlled military spending. Even so, the current administration was not keen on that. It could be probably because of terror threat, which has been a serious issue in the last 10 years (Peress, 2011). Analyze Key Reasons Why Third Parties Have Ever Been Successful At the Presidential Level The nature of party system in the US is such that representatives are first elected at district level. Election at the district level is such that only one candidate with the most votes is declared the winner. This system has seen many candidates from third parties who lose at the district level since the major parties are usually out to make the best out of the districts elections. One can say that the level of political competition that the district level explains why it has always been difficult for third parties to be successful. Besides, the fact that there has been the trend that majorities of the electorates identify with the bigger parties has a lso posed a political challenge for candidates who prefer to run on third parties. It is a fear or concern of the psychological power of the big two parties on the minds of the electorates (Snyder and Ting, 2011). Besides, there is no big historical success for third parties. Probably Roosevelt was the only lucky candidate of third parties when he scooped 88% of the Electoral College votes, but he also reversed and joined the Republican Party. Therefore, it appears that history does not serve third parties a fair share of the competitive platform against Democrats and Republicans. They may be seen as political underdogs who cannot bark so loudly enough on matters of interest to the electorates. Lastly, third parties have also suffered the blow of

Charles Darwin and the Theory of Evolution Essay Example for Free

Charles Darwin and the Theory of Evolution Essay In the 1850s, Charles Darwin proposed his theory of evolution. His theory proposed that species evolved gradually through subtle changes from one generation to the next by means of natural selection. By natural selection, the most desirable hereditary traits become more common from one generation to the next while the less desirable, weaker traits die out. This gives rise to an organism that is more capable—fitted to—of surviving in the surrounding environment. At the time Darwin formulated his idea beginning with his trip on the HMS Beagle in the 1830s, some scientists resorted to the idea that God had preordained life by natural laws rather than by miraculous feats. While logical and correct, the idea still refers to a divine power, indicating a religious bent, so perhaps it was obvious that the ideas addressed could lead to religious controversy. As is common in science, Darwin’s concept arose from ideas garnered from a number of scientists of his time. Some researchers of the time believed that natural laws were responsible for life. While Darwin’s ideas did not account for the processes believed to account for life at the time, there was a theory at the time thought to account for life. Most thought that species were transmuted from one species into another. The problem with transmutation, an idea that is similar to evolution in some respects, is that a species may change through transmutation, but it will still be the same species. A dog may change into a different type of dog, but it will still be a dog; likewise, for a cat or any other species. Evolution dictates that the entire animal kingdom can grow through stages from one species into another over time. Birds came from reptiles, mammals came from birds and humans came from non-humans. (Lewontin, 1981) The data is unequivocal. During his voyage on HMS Beagle, Darwin found fossil remains of gigantic mammals that were recently extinct with no indication that their extinction had been caused by climate changes or catastrophic events. Although he believed that the remains he found were related to species in Africa or Europe, examination of the remains Darwin found showed that they were only related to other species found only in the Americas. Creationists insist that life came about from God in six days. While most evolutionists attack creationism on the grounds of scientific facts, there is another line of evidence virtually unnoticed by those who support evolution theory. Historians and archeologists have learned that the biblical story of creation came from the myths of another culture. Stories presented in the Bible evolved slowly over time, long before religions existed, and incorporated tales from many cultures. The story of the Garden of Eden, the serpent and the Tree of Life, for example, are said to have been depicted on an Akkadian Cylinder Seal nearly 2500 years before Christ. The serpent itself was viewed as a deity. Notice: No one familiar with the mythologies of the primitive, ancient, and Oriental worlds can turn to the Bible without recognizing counterparts on every page, transformed, however, to render an argument contrary to the older faiths. In Eves scene at the tree, for example, nothing is said to indicate that the serpent who appeared and spoke to her was a deity in his own right, who had been revered in the Levant for at least seven thousand years before the composition of the Book of Genesis. There is in the Louvre a carved green steatite vase, inscribed c. 025 BC by King Gudaea of Lagash, dedicated to a late Sumerian manifestation of this consort of the goddess, under his title Ningizzida, Lord of the Tree of Truth. p. 9. The Serpents Bride. Joseph Campbell. Occidental Mythology, The Masks of God. Arkana. New York. Viking Penguin Books. 1964, 1991 reprint The information in the Old Testament dates from about 1450 BC until 200 BC. This means that, contrary to the strongly held beliefs of most Christians, the creation story of Genesis is actually derived from the myths of ancient Sumerians. Therefore, the story is a myth. This means that those who against Darwin’s ideas on religious grounds based on their beliefs in the accuracy of the story in Genesis have unknowingly chosen to accept myth over facts. While they believe the myth to be factual, archeological evidence demonstrates otherwise. The scientific evidence leans heavily in support of Darwin’s ideas. While we may not fully understand some aspects behind the mechanism of evolution, we are continuously learning more about those mechanisms. (Dobzhansky, 1973) Dobzhansky states: Let me try to make crystal clear what is established beyond reasonable doubt, and what needs further study, about evolution. Evolution as a process that has always gone on in the history of the earth can be doubted only by those who are ignorant of the evidence or are resistant to evidence, owing to emotional blocks or to plain bigotry. By contrast, the mechanisms that bring evolution about certainly need study and clarification. There are no alternatives to evolution as history that can withstand critical examination. Yet we are constantly learning new and important facts about evolutionary mechanisms. Theodosius Dobzhansky, â€Å"Nothing in Biology Makes Sense Except in Light of Evolution†, American Biology Teacher vol. 35 (March 1973) reprinted in Evolution versus Creationism, J. Peter Zetterberg ed. , ORYX Press, Phoenix AZ 1983. Darwin (1859) believed that whales evolved from bears based on a scenario where selective pressures might cause this evolution, but he was criticized for this idea and removed the suggestion. Gould, 1995) Today, there is much more fossil evidence for the evolution of many species thus supporting the idea of evolution as a general biological principle, including the evolution of whales from lower animals. Evidence in support of evolution exists at many levels. There is paleontological evidence based on fossils, morphological evidence that relate the body morphology of higher animals to lower animals, evidence from molecular biology and from embryology. Added to this, the chronological picture that results is consistent with other lines of evidence. For example, the evidence for the evolution of whales from lower animals is convincing. Whales have been closely studied with respect to evolution. If evolution is valid, transitional stages from one level of evolution to another should exist. Although the fossil remains of whales spotty for a long time, recent fossil discoveries have more than adequately lent support to the concept of evolution for whales. Researchers state that independent lines of evidence from different disciplines confirm the pattern of evolution in whales. John Ray recognized that whales were mammals rather than fish in 1693 based on their similarity to terrestrial mammals. (Barnes, 1984) In 1883, Flower (see Barnes, 1984) found that whales had vestigial characteristics in common with terrestrial mammals just as humans have vestigial tails, the coccyx. Findings similar to these led to the concept of ‘ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny. ’ This concept is briefly explained in further detail below. Flower (1883) recognized that the whales have persistent rudimentary and vestigial features characteristic of terrestrial mammals, thus confirming that the direction of descent was from terrestrial to marine species. On the basis of morphology, Flower also linked whales with the ungulates; he seems to have been the first person to do so. Today, we know that whales have vestigial features in common with lower animals. For example, they have vestigial olfactory nerve, protruding hind limbs, pelvic fins and diaphragms. Like humans, during embryological development, whales develop features similar to lower animals and abandon them as development progresses. During their development, there is also evidence that whales have terrestrial ancestors. Some whales even develop hair while in the womb although they do not retain it. In 1985, Goodman et al. demonstrated that whales are more closely related to ungulates than to other animals. (Goodman, 1985; Miyamoto and Goodman, 1986) Some studies have identified genes, enzymes and other proteins that connect whales to extinct animals. (Irwin et al. 991; Irwin and Arnason, 1994; Milinkovitch, 1992; Graur and Higgins, 1994; Gatesy et al, 1996; Shimamura et al. , 1997) We have already noted above that the creation story in the Bible was taken from the text of an ancient culture that predates the Hebrew account. Rather than to openly acknowledge that the Bible’s story of creation is a mythical legend that explains evolution and the appearance of life on ea rth, some religious groups resort to far-fetched, fictitious, generally ridiculous concepts such as ‘creationism’, ‘creation science’ and ‘intelligent design’ to dismiss or explain away the science and replace it with fantasy. Embryology and developmental biology have a concept, ‘ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny’, that simplifies and briefly but succinctly expresses the concepts presented in the first chapter of Genesis. This is like explaining a complicated scientific concept, take conception and birth for example, to a little child by using a fairy tale rather than detailed research information. The fairy tale is not accurate, but the general information it communicates is true. With this single phrase, the first chapter of Genesis is summarized and explained. The phrase means that the embryological processes of development, ontogeny, depict and encapsulate the evolutionary history of the species, phylogeny. For example, during development of the human embryo, the fetus briefly has gills and a tail like its phylogenetic ancestors. In other words, during development, the developing embryo goes through some of the same stages that humans went through as the species developed from lower animals to humans. The concept makes perfect sense and explains many aspects of human development. Obviously, we cannot provide a comprehensive review of the evidence support evolution in a few pages, and we certainly cannot provide realistic evidence against it in light of all that exists to support it. While the evidence in support of the evolution of whales is plentiful, much evidence exists for evolution in general, including in humans. As has been reported here, the evidence is not just from scientific research, but also from archeology and history. That evidence shows, among other things, that the biblical story of creation in Genesis predates the Bible by hundreds of years. Despite all the evidence in support of evolution and against the idea of the biblical creation as being anything more than a myth, we can be certain that the argument in support of the biblical creation as being the real story and representing the real facts will not go away. Humans being what we are, we will always be faced with living with the Genesis myth as if it were fact, and coping with those who insist that the earth all the universe was created in six literal days. That concept certainly will never go away no matter what facts exist to disprove it.

Dolly and the New Age of Cloning :: Genetic Engineering Essays

Dolly and the New Age of Cloning The concept of cloning is not new. Organisms ranging from microbes (for example bacteria) and animals (such as aphids and even certain species of shrimp and snails) have practiced asexual reproduction for millions of years, where the offspring are exact duplicates of the parents. It is also not uncommon to encounter identical twins among the more complex life forms like mammals. Twins are in essence clones as they share the same genetic blueprint. What then is so significant about Dolly? In the research paper published by I. Wilmut, W.A. Ritchie, J. McWhir and K.H.S. Campbell (1), Dolly was described as the first known mammal to be cloned by nuclear transfer from a cultured cell line. This technique is revolutionary as it dispelled a dogma in biology that upholds the notion of differentiated cells, being highly specialized, are irreversibly altered to an extent that would render them unable to inter-convert between cell forms (i.e a lymphocyte is not able to produce a nerve cell and vice versa). Dolly is living proof that a differentiated cell, such as one in the udder of sheep, has not only the potential of creating other tissue forms, but the entire living being. The evidence gathered from Dolly also went one step further to establish that organisms produced in such a way were not disadvantaged in their general physiological or reproductive function. Thus the new age of cloning was born with Dolly as its flagship. The success of Dr Ian Wilmut and his team in creating Dolly sparked global interest. This has greatly benefitted science as it has accelerated the rate at which knowledge is assimilated in the field of cloning. Many attempts have been to clone other mammals (for example cows or pigs). However they do not always yield fruitful results. Dolly can be considered to be a success among 277 failures. Indeed of the 277 oocytes used in the experiment, only one yielded a success. The techniques used in cloning would have to be refined before it can be universally applied. We have now uncovered other interesting facts about Dolly and cloning. For example, Dolly is considered to be "older" than her natural counterparts by a measure of the length of her telomeres that was found to be relatively shorter. However Advanced Cell Technology (ACT) of Worcester, Massachusetts, using different techniques than Dr Ian Wilmut and his team, pro duced calves that were found to have longer telomeres (2).

Are Iphones Making Us Stupid?

Bridgett Goss English 101 MWF 11-11:50 September 23, 2012 Dr. Barko Are IPhones Making Us Stupid? Have we become too depended on our portable technology? Some people, not just teenage girls, cannot function without having their phone in hand constantly. Technology is not a just product anymore, it is a lifestyle, and without it people honestly do not think that they will not make it. These smart phones have everything on them; you can access internet search sites, shopping net works, public networks, and so much more.People are so into their phones that they will look like complete idiots by running into things and sometimes seriously hurting themselves because they are so taken into by their phones. I know I am a person that depends on my phone for everything, even simple things like telling the time. My phone is my access to my family all the way back in Louisiana, that is how I not only get to talk to them but also get to see them by using Skype and other camera products.Without t exting and being able to communicate with other people that are across the country from me I will go crazy. I think that technology, especially smart phones, like the IPhone, they are an addiction. Like the article with Google, we are dependent on them, we do not retain information because all we have to do is type it in our phone or even talk to and ask our phone and we get a quick response.People’s phones are their source of work also, they have their entire work career on their phone, and in some cases also their personal lives. Is there anything we can do to fix our addiction to our phones? Hopefully it will not become much more of a problem than it already is, as a whole our civilization needs to understand that technology is a resource not a life solution.

Things that affect the human body and attack its defence systems

There are many things that affect the human body and attack its defence systems,they can be naturally occouring in the environment or self inflicted or caused by societys pollution of our planet. Below are some conditions, with the effects that they cause to the human body and its defence mechanisms. Alcohol consumption is a health issue which affects the vast majority. A great many people drink alcohol regularly. Although they may not be alcoholic in the sense of being addicted to alcohol, they neverthelesss expose themselves to health risks. The alcohol in wines, beers and spirits is a depressant of the central nervous system. Small amounts gives a sense of well-being, with a realease from anxiety. However, this is accompanied by a fall-of in performance in any activity requiring skill. It also gives a misleading sense of confidence. The drunken driver usually thinks he or she is driving very well. Even a small amount of alcohol in the blood increases our reaction time. In some people, the reaction time is doubled even when the alcohol in the blood is well below the legal limit laid down for car drivers. This can make a big differenece in the time needed for a driver to apply the brakes after seeing a hazard. Read this Ch. 22 Respiratory System Alcohol reduces inhibitations and it can lead to irresponsible behaviour such as vandalism and aggression. Alcohol causes vaso-dilation in the skin, giving sense of warmth but in fact leading to a greater loss of body heat. A concentration of 500mg of alcohol in 100 cubic cm of blood results unconsciousness. More than this will kill, by stopping the action of the breathing centre in the brain. High doses of alcohol can harm virtually every organ in humans body. Many of these effects are reversible with abstinence, others are not. (2) Esophagus. Alcohol is associated with nearly half of the cancers of the esophagus, mouth, and larynx. Peole who vomit too intensely after getting drunk can cause tears in their esophagus. Brain. Alcohol depresses the central nervous system and contracts brain tissue. It destroys brain cells – which unlike many other types of cells in the body, do not regenerate. Taken in large amounts over a long period of time, alcohol can cause serious problems with cognition and memory. Heart. Heavy drinking can cause heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and heart failure. Even social drinkers who binge on special occasions can sometimes get bouts of irregular heartbeats. Lungs. Heavy drinkers have more pulmonary infections and can be more susceptible to pneumonia and lung collapse. As intoxicated person loses his reflexses and can't clear his airway when he vomits. Stomach contents may get sucked into the lungs, which can lead to choking or pneumonia. Liver. Liver damage often begins with a fatty liver, and may progress to alcoholic hepatitis. That may be followed by the buidup of scar tissue known as cirrhosis. Cirrhosis can change the structure of the liver and choke off blood flow. This can cause varicose veins, which can rupture, triggering catastrophic bleeding. Stomach. Alcohol irritates the stomach, and can cause gastritis, ulcers and acid reflux. Gastritis is an inflamation of the mucous membrane that lines the stomach. Erosion in that lining can cause constant oozing of blood into the stomach or, if a vessel ruptures, major bleeding. Kidneys. Alcohol is a diuretic that increases urine output. Prolonged heavy drinking can cause kidney failure. Small intestines ; pancreas. Alcohol blocks the absorption and breakdown of nutrients by damaging the cells lining the stomach and intestines, and by decreasing the amount of digestive enzymes secreted by the pancreas. The pancreas can become inflamed and leak digestive enzymes, which then attackthe pancreas itself. Reproductive system. In men, it impairs the production of sperm and testosterone, and can lead to interfility and impotance. In women, the effect can be decreased estrogen metabolism in the liver which increases the amount of estrogen circulating the body, which can contribute to menstrual irregularities and even interfility. Blood. Prolonged alcohol abuse can cause anemias and abnormal blood clotting, which results in excessive bleeding and easy bruising. It also impairs the functionof white blood cells, increasing susceptibility to infection. Joints ; muscles. Alcohol dependence can cause osteoporosis ; arthritis, and deform the joints. It can atrphy muscles and cause acute muscle pain and weakness. Skin. Alcohol causes the small blood vessels in the skin to dilate(open), which results in a rush of warm blood to the surface. This makes the skin look flushed and gives the person a false feeling of â€Å"being hot†. (13) Heavy drinking during pregnancy can lead to deformed babies. Alcohol can cross the placenta and damage the foetus. Pregnant women who take as little as one alcoholic drink a day are at risk of having babies with lower than average birth weights. These under-weight babies are more likely to become ill. All levels of drinking are thought to increase the risk of miscariage. (1) The affects of alcohol vary with different people. Alcohol is a drug and must be handled with care. Knowing its uses and abuses is just imporatnt as reading the instructions on a bottle of pills. It is basic preventive medicine to know how your body handlers alcohol, how much is safe to drink, and, finally, how your body gets rid of it. When people drink small of alcohol enters directly into bloodstream through the lining of the mouth and throat. The remaining amount of alcohol is absorbed by the stomach or intestine. At this point the alcohol is then dispersed uniformly throughout the body. Its effects are similar to ether or chloroform, affecting all part of the body controlled by the brain. The ability to make appropriate judgements and to exercise self-control is affected. Alcohol must be broken down in order to leave the system. More than 90 percent of the alcohol is oxidized in the liver and the remainder is discharged through the lungs and kidneys. It takes just as long for the experienced drinker to eliminate alcohol as it does for the inexperienced drinker. (15) Ultraviolet light is a part of the light spectrum that is invisible to the human eye. Part of sunlight is UV light, which creates warmth, light, photosynthesis in plants, and vitamin D synthesis in the body. The sun produces about three types of UV lights: UVA, UVB, UVC. The ozone layer filters out UVC. UVA, however, has a long wavelenght light, so a certain amount reaches the earth's surface. UVA is the predominant light to reach earth. UVA causes damage to cellular membranes and DNA, and has been implicated in ageing of the skin and the development of skin cancer. Scientists believe it is UVB lights that are the paramount cause of premature ageing of skin, sunburn, skin cancers and other skin problems, despite the fact that UVB lights constitute for only 1% of UV lights that reach our skin. (4) UV light is beneficial for people and essential in the production of vitamin D, which is absorbed into the bloodstream and nourishes and helps to maintain bone tissue. Also UV light activates the pigment melanin in the skin, and thereby creates a tan. Many people feel better when they have a tan, as it gives a healthy appearance. It is also used to treat several diseases, including rickets, psoriasis, eczema and jaundice. This takes place under medical supervision and the benefits of treatment versus the risk of UV light exposure are matter of clinical judgement. Ultraviolet light can be harmful to humans. Prolonged human exposure to UV light may result in acute and chronic health effects on the skin, eye and immune system. (3) Sunburn (erythema) is the best known acute effect of excessive UV light exposure. Over the longer term, UV light induces degenerative changes in the cells of the skin, fibrous tissues and blood vessels leading to premature skin ageing, photodamage and actinic keratoses. Sun-damaged skin develops a thickened epidermis. This is caused by faster cell renewal, which is part of the immediate defence mechanism of the skin. The epidermis will return to normal provided the skin is not repeatedly over- exposed. Constant exposure to sunlight causes the melanocytes to become chronically over-active, resulting areas of excessive melanin in the skin. Eventually, areas of damaged skin made up of increased numbers of melanocytes and increased melanin synthesis develop. Up to around 85% of the overall appearance of ageing makes photoageing. It is a slow process and proceeds for several decates before it becomes obvious. The degree of photoageing is determined by the skin type and by the total lifetime sun exposure. People who spend their lives almost entirely indooors show very little skin damage. The degree of damage to tissues in different regions of the body is directly propotional to the amount of sunlight received. In chronically sun-damaged skin the epidermis as a whole becomes thicker, and loses some of its undulations. This is probably because marginally more daugter cells are produced by the basal layer, and produced more quickly. The effect is that the spiny layer and the dranular layer thicken up. The speed at which cells are replaced slows down, and some of the function of skin, including controlling water loss, may become less efficient. There is less elasticity and increased fragility. Skin becomes dry, flaky and less reflective of light. As photoageing begins, the small blood capillaries in the dermis decrease in number and the remaining blood vessels become tortous and dilated. The elastic fibres degenerate, producing a thickened mass that replaces the collagen. Seriously photoaged skin is dry, deeply wrinkled, yellow and rough. It may be marked with darkly pigmented or whitish spots, which respectively show where levels of pigment are higher or lower than normal. With increasing sun damage small blood vessels in the dermis will become more obvious and will form the red, finely branching, spider-like marks (â€Å"broken veins†). These blood vessels are easily damaged, resulting in greater fragility of the skin, with the development of spots. Loss of elastic fibres around the blood vessels of the lower lips and ears – areas especially sensitive to chronic sun damage – may result in dilated veins. On the other hand, in protected skin the vessels tend not to be so dilated or damaged. As its worst, skin that has been over-exposed to the sun for many years looks like old leather. Constant exposure to UV light over many years can result in warty spots on the skin, called actinic keratoses. The appearance of actinic keratoses means that the skin has received far too much sun and could develop a skin cancer eventually. (4) There are three main types of cancer: Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer. The skin is formed of three layers. The deepest, the subcutaneous layer, is composed of fat and connective tissue and connects the skin to the underlying muscle. Above that is the dermis, the layer that containssweat glands, oil glands, and other structures of the skin. The third layer, on the surface is called the epidermis; it is there that most skin cancers arise. Basal cell carcinomas arise in the lowest of the epidermis, the basal cell layer. This type of cancer can have many different appearances: a red patch or irritated area; a small, pink pearly bump, a white or yellow scar-like area; a smooth growth with a dent in the center, or an open sore that bleeds or oozes. Basal cell carcinomas rarely spread throughout the body and death from them very rare; however, because they often occur on the face, their locally destructive effects can result in serious cosmetic deformity if not diagnosed and treated early. Squamous cell carcinoma arise from the upper levels of the epidermis, usually on places that have been exposed to the sun. Squamous cell carcinomas are most commonly found on the ears, the face, and the mouth. This type of skin cancer often arises from a precancerous lesion known as an actinic keratosis, a type of lesion that appears as a rough, flat pink spot. If the lesion becomes cancerous, it's usually raised above the normal skin surface and is firmer to the touch. Squamous cell tumour tend to be more aggresive than basal cell tumours, and are slightly more likely to spread to other parts of the body. Melanoma, the most serious form of cancer, is not as common as the other two major types of skin cancer (basal cell and squamous cell cardinomas). Melanoma begins in melanocytes, the cells in the epidermal layer of the skin that produce the pigment melanin. Melanin in normal melanocytes produces â€Å"tan† skin as a response to damage from UV light. Melanoma can arise by several routes. Sometimes it arises directly from a melanocyte. Sometimes, the melanocyte first turns into a normal mole or irregular mole, and then becomes cancerous. Melanocytes can also be found in the eye and internal organs, where they also become cancerous on occasion. Melanomas are cancerous, but the large majority do not spread right away. Many begins as a â€Å"melanoma in situ†. During that stage, the growth does not venture beyond the very most superficial layer of skin, the epidermis. In a second stage, melanoma can penetrate the lower layer of the skin, the dermis. If the melanoma penetrates very deeply into the dermis, it may progress to a vertical growth phase – in which it can metastasize, or spread throughout body. Melanoma more often shows up on the trunk of the body and on the arms and legs, it can develop on any part of the body – including those never exposed to the sun. 14) A large proportion of skin cancers can be prevented and, if not prevented, they are curable if recognised and treated when at early stage of development. UV can also damage the surface of the eye, called the cornea, and cause cataracts, macular degeneration, scarring on the cornea and skin cancer of the eyelids and area around the eye. UVB can cause a sunburn on the cornea, the clear membrane that covers the front of your eyes. Corneal sunburn, called photokerastitis, can occur after long hours at the beach or on the ski slopes without sunglasses or goggles. It is not permanent, but it can be painful and cause temporary vision loss. Sun damage can also cause scars on the surface of the eye, called pinquecula, which are raised, yellowish, benings lumps that grow near the nose. These can be removed wity surgery. (8) More serious effects of UV are cataracts and macular degeneration. Cataracts – the clouding of the lens of the eye, the number one cause of reversible blindness – and macular degeneration are the leading causes of decreased vision among people older then 60. Cataracts can be treated with surgery. The UV damage to the eye is cumulative and much of it is preventable by wearing quality sunglasses or contact lenses to make sure they block UV light. They are a sunscreen for our eyes. (10) All people regardless of skin pigmentation, are susceptible to damage to their immune system as a result of UV light. The absorbtion of UV light leads to immunosuppresion. As UV light are absorbed by a human being, there is a decreased immune response. This reaction is favourable because there is no excessive swelling and damage to the skin as result of sun exposure. The drawback of decreased immune response is that when infection diseases do attack the body, a significant forceful immune reaction is needed. As a result, cancer often developes and spreads in the body because the immune systems has not the strenght to fight it due its suppresion by damage UV light. Other immune system damage is seen in the form of skin hypersensitivity and reactions to certain medications. UV light is very dangerous to the human immune system and should be avoided to prevent cancer and other infectious, life-threatening diseases. (16) Cold injuries result from overxposure to cold air or water and occur in two major forms: localised injuries (such as frostbite) and systemic injuries (such as hypothermia). (4) The risk of serious cold injuries, especially hyporthermia, is increased by youth, lack of insulating body fat, wet or inadequate clothing, old age, drug abuse, cardiac disease, smoking, fatigue, hunger and depletion of caloric reserves, and excessive alcohol intake (which draws blood into capilaries and away from body organs). (1) Frostbite is a medical condition that can happen to anyone. It is when the skin and/or tissue under the skin freezes and causes cell damage. This is caused by exposure to cold, either through the air or through a chemical exposure. When people are exposed to cold with the extremities including their feet, hands, nose, ears, and face being at the highest risk, the blood vessels constrict. This is a natural reaction to prevent body heat loss and hyporthermia. With the loss of warming blood flow the fluid within cells and tissues start to freeze forming ice crystals. These ice crystals take up more room within the cells then when in a fluid state, and cause the cells to rupture. Also, sudden warming can cause the cells rupture. Under extreme conditions frostbite can occur in seconds. Factors like wind chill, alcohol consumption, getting wet or being damp and how long you are exposed to the cold all impact how quickly and how severe frostbite can be. The elderly, young children, people with circulation disorders, and people from tropical climates have a higher risk factor of getting frostbite. People who have had previous cold injuries are also particularly at risk of getting injuries again in the same places. Frostbite comes in three levels of severity or degrees: *First degree, also called frost nip. It presents itself as numbed skin that has turned white in colour. The skin may feel stiff to the touch, but the tissue under is still warm and soft. There is very little chance of blistering, infection or permanent scarring as long as it is treated properly. *Second degree, superficial frostbite. It is a serious medical condition that needs to be treated by a trained medical professional. The skin will be white or blue and will feel hard or frozen. The tissue underneath is still undamaged. Blistering is likely which is why medical treatment should be sought out. Proper treatment is critical to prevent severe or permanent injuries. *Third degree, deep frostbite. The skin is white, blotchy and/or blue. The tissue underneath is hard and cold to the touch. This is a life threatening injury. Deep frostbite needs to be treated by a trained medical professional. The tissue underneath has been damaged, in severe cases amputation may be the final resource to prevent severe infection. Blistering will happen. Proper medical treatment in a medical facility with personnel trained to deal with severe frostbite injuries is required to aid in the prevention of severe or permanent injury. (9) Prevention of frostbite is actually very simple and for the most part is based on common sense. Hypothermia is heat loss at the body core, and it results from exposure to cold with the addition of other heat loss mechanisms. A healthy person's body temperature can fluctuate between 36. 1 degrees and 37. 8 degrees. Hypothermia is considered to begin once the body temperature reaches 35 degrees, thought even smaller drops in temperature can have an adverse effects. Hypothermia is divided into two types: primary and secondary. Primary hypothermia occurs when the body's heat-balancing mechanisms are working properly but are subjected to extreme cold, whereas secondary hypothermia affects people whose heat-balancing mechanisms are impaired in some way and cannot respond adequtely to moderate or perhaps even mild cold. Primary hypothermia typically involves exposure to cold air or immension in cold water. The cold air variety usually takes at least several hours to develop, but immersion hyporthermia will occur within about an hour of entering the water, since water draws heat away from the body much faster than air does. In secondary hyporthermia, the body's heat-balancing mechanisms can fail for any numbers of reasons, including strokes, diabetes, malnutrition, bacterial infection, thyroid disease, spinal cord injuries, and the use of medications and other substances that affect the brain or spinal cord. Alcohol is one such substance. In smaller amounts it can put people at risk by interfering with their ability to recognize and avoid cold-weather dangers. In larger amounts it shuts the body's heat-balancing mechanisms. Secondary hypothermia is often a threat to the elderly, who may be on medications or suffering from illnesses that affect their ability to conserve heat. Malnutrition and immobility can also put the elderly at risk. (12) The signs and symptomps of hypothermia follow a typical course, thought the body temperatures at which they occur vary from person to person depending on age, health, and other factors. The impact of hypothermia on the nervous system often becomes apparent quite early. Coordination may begin to suffer as soon as body temperature reaches 35 degrees. The early signs of hypothermia also include cold and pale skin and intensive shivering; the latter stops between 32. 2 and 30 degrees. As body temperature continues to fall, speech becomes slurred, the muscles go rigid, and the victim becomes disoriented and experiences eyesight problems. Other harmful consequences include dehydration as well as liver and kidney failure. Heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure rise during the first stages of hypothermia, but fall once the 32. 2 degrees mark is passed. Below 30 degrees most victims are comatose, and below 27. 8 degrees the heart's rhythm becomes dangerously disordered. Yet even at very low body temperatures, people can survive for several hours and be succesfully revived, thought they may be appear to be dead. (12) People who spend time outdoors in cold weather can reduce heat loss by wearing their clothing loosely and in layers and by keepimg their hands, feet, and head well covered. Because water draws heat away from the body so easily, staying dry is important. Alcohol should be avoided because it promotes heat loss by expanding the blood vessels that carry body blood to the skin. Alcohol consumption, exposure to ultra violet light and cold injurys have harmful effects on our body and its defence mechanisms. It affects virtually all areas of a person's life; socially, psychologically, physiologically and mentally. It can be easily avoided by using just a little common sense.

Civic Engagement Essay Example

Civic Engagement Essay Example Civic Engagement Essay Civic Engagement Essay Civic Engagement and Political Awareness in the Youth of America Change is inevitable and the popular one hit wonder, Video Killed the Radio Star, echoes a nostalgic desire to appreciate the past. The simple, yet meaningful verse, â€Å"we can’t rewind we’ve gone too far,† drives home the notion that the past is in the past, and one can only move forward. The song directly relates to technological changes in music at that time period. The lyrics give the impression radio will be replaced by visually stimulating music videos; however, the future has proved that radio has not been replaced; music has merely been enhanced by the continuous change of technological advancements. Political scientist and professor, Robert Putnam illustrates in his book, Bowling Alone: America’s Declining Social Capital, how one of the primary culprits in the decline of political awareness and civic engagement is the new media, for example, the Internet. Further studies suggest this is not necessarily the case. Video Killed the Radio Star mirrors the relentless argument of whether the mass media has hindered or assisted in political awareness and civic activity in adolescents and young adults. The radio made people famous, and even after music videos became popular, music was still streamed through a radio and continues to be used to this day. Studies have shown that civic engagement and political awareness has declined, at all age levels, and yet there is evidence that the mass media can have a positive effect on cultivating social capital, especially in the interest of young voters in America. The issue at hand is not mass media, but how mass media can be used as a means to stay informed on community issues and how it can create a sense of community. In the article, America’s Youth and Community Engagement: How Use of Mass Media is Related to Civic Activity and Political Awareness in 14- to 22-Year-Olds, the authors begin by providing troubling evidence, â€Å"Voter turnout in congressional and presidential elections has dropped since 1960†¦ Americans are less involved in political activities ranging from signing petitions to attending rallies† (Pasek, Kenski, Romer, and Jamieson 115). Putnam compares the decline in civic engagement to the massive decline of bowling leagues; however, as bowling memberships are declining, the number of people bowling has increased. He explains the concept of a bonding capital and a bridging capital within the social capital as a whole. The theory of bonding and bridging can also be described in terms of strong ties and weak ties of networking. Professors Homero Gil de Zuniga and Sebastian Valenzuela explored Putnam’s research further in their article, The Mediating Path to a Stronger Citizenship: Online and Offline Networks, Weak Ties and Civic Engagement, finding it inclusive that bridging, or associating with weak ties provide one with a greater networking base, and therefore more information and resources. Bridging and weak ties are when an individual socializes with people who are different from themselves. Bonding and strong ties are individuals who are linked to each other on varying levels of intimacy; for example, one’s inner circle of friends and family. Putnam additionally points out that bonding and bridging strengthen each other. Because of the decline of bonding, there is a decline in bridging, which he links to the drop of organizational forms of capital due to the mass media. Like Putnam, authors Zuniga and Valenzuela agree that â€Å"larger networks foster civic participation so long as they provide access to weak ties,† yet they take into consideration that the internet is vast with diversity and is not â€Å"geographically bounded,† and therefore â€Å"argue that the online context should be more strongly associated with weak-tie communication than the offline context† (405). According to Zuniga and Valenzuela, this connection shows that internet based networks and weak ties will be more effective than the relationship between personal, offline networking and weak ties. The authors mentioned earlier, Josh Pasek, Kate Kenski, Daniel Romer, and Kathleen Hall Jamieson conducted a telephone survey to assess â€Å"12 different uses of mass media as well as awareness of current national politics and time spent in civic activities† in respect to the youth and how mass media is related to political awareness and civic activity (115). If the conclusion made by Zuniga and Valenzuela is accurate, then the new media will have a positive effect on the younger population’s role in developing social capital. Historically, when print media flourished, it served as a way to stay in touch with the community of readers with no face-to-face interaction and â€Å"made possible the development of the modern nation state† (117). Internet is just another mechanism to build social networks, in which interpersonal communication is absent, like the newspaper. However, unlike the newspaper, internet provides individuals with an extensive opportunity to network with people who are not in their inner circle, thus weak ties are created. Furthermore, Pasek, Kenski, Romer, and Jamieson examine how some forms of media are more effective than others, and explain how media that solely exists to entertain adolescents and young adults can aid in promoting group activities with individuals that can share their experiences and develop a sense of community. They are still experiencing social participation, even if the activity is not directly associated with civic activities. The authors evaluated the 12 different uses of mass media and assessed each media variable based on if it improved political awareness or civic engagement, or both. The researchers also included demographic predictors that would correspond with the study: age, race, gender, and socioeconomic status. It is apparent that adults would have a higher amount of political knowledge. â€Å"The average education level in our sample was 10. years of schooling†¦ Of respondents, 78. 9 percent were currently students,† which would give them the edge since there are more opportunities to become involved in community service activities and clubs the schools have to offer. Some schools require community service to graduate. Socioeconomic status also plays a role in political awareness and civic engagement. This correlates directly to the fact that individuals who are w ealthier have the resources and means to educate their children and are probably highly educated as well. Race and gender is yet another factor in evaluating political knowledge and civic engagement, whereas â€Å"whites appear more politically aware than Blacks, Hispanics, and other non-Whites†¦ however, race has not been as strongly related in one direction or the other [in regards to civic engagement, and]†¦ women, on average, belong to more associations and organizations than men but tend to exhibit less political knowledge† (123). The results of How Use of Mass Media is Related to Civic Activity and Political Awareness in 14- to 22- Year-Olds, revealed that if media usage increased in frequency, it had a negative impact on political awareness and civic engagement, which is to be expected. Although reading remained positive, the results showed individuals took longer to develop a well-rounded political knowledge base if their reading increased. This is the cause of a decrease in active engagement with others. The authors could not predict if newspapers increased civic activity, however, it was evident that it increased political awareness. Civic activity was strongly related to political awareness, and the findings also concluded that the Internet increased civic engagement, along with listening to news on the radio, following shows on television, and reading magazines. Not only were civic activities found to be directly related to political awareness, but the media had an overall positive effect on civic engagement and political knowledge. In his research, Putnam fails to assess new ways to approach civic engagement and political awareness, and instead looks to the old. Relating civic engagement to the decline of bowling leagues seems futile to the reader, especially to a young adult. As society changes, activities change; people change. The youth of today are more interested in modern technology, which is why more candidates should reevaluate how they approach the younger generation in regards to the elections and make use of the Internet during elections. Because young voters are growing up in a time when technology is usually readily available to them, they look mostly to the web for political information. Youth turnout for the 2004 elections showed â€Å"marked increases. † Most likely prompted by the war in Iraq, intense efforts were made to ensure younger generations were actively engaged throughout the campaigns. New media tools were also used, with websites put up that focused on attracting the younger population to politics; â€Å"an estimated 28 percent of 18- 29-year-olds received most of their information about the campaigns via the Internet in 2004, making them the age group most reliant on new media for political information about the election† (Xenos and Bennett 444). However, in the article The Disconnection in Online Politics, Michael Xenos and W. Lance Bennett stress the fact that although younger voters are participating online, they are less likely to visit a site that is sponsored by a specific party or electoral candidate. Unfortunately, politicians are very slow when adapting to the modern world of technology, and do not make use of the web to attract young voters. On sites like Rock the Vote, they give young voters access to interactive features, and yet links to websites with related political information and resources are not easily accessible. Young voters only attain a morsel of information from youth engagement websites. Between 2002 and 2004, Xenos and Bennett conducted an extensive analysis of political sites that focused on youth involvement, as well as electoral sites, and they found the â€Å"overall pattern is one of overlap† (456). The candidates’ websites were not designed to attract young voters. They merely addressed the same issues on their sites as seen on the youth sites; however, on the electoral sites they clearly were not reaching out to the younger population of voters. Professional consultants correlate politicians’ indifference to youth voters because senior citizens have a higher voting rate. Xenos and Bennett express their disappointment, â€Å"younger voters who ignore politicians largely do so because politicians largely ignore them† (457). It is ironic because voters are less involved in politics due to politicians’ lack of interest in their appeals, and politicians show disregard for the youth because of their low voting turnout and vice versa. If politicians, our leaders, are putting the youth aside, who is going to devote the time to inform the younger generation of the importance on civic activities and political awareness? In correlation with the decline of adult involvement in social participation and volunteering, people simply do not have the time or energy to devote to their own needs, let alone join a civic organization. In today’s society, both parents work to make ends meet. There are usually a higher percentage of female volunteers to male volunteers, but now that women are taking on raising children, housework, and working an additional 15 hours per week than men, the idea of becoming involved in community activities is overwhelming. The economy is in a stale state, and since the 1970s, the percentage of single mothers has increased dramatically (Freedman 246). Children are being isolated more often than not, which can also result in the disregard for community and civic engagement. Mentoring programs are unreliable, and many adolescents and young adults are left in the dark without an adult role model: â€Å"In his essay â€Å"Building Community, John Gardner [Miriam and Peter Haas Centennial Professor at Stanford Business School] offers both consolation and wisdom about the historical process of community erosion and renewal†¦ â€Å"disintegration of human communities is as old as human history†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ â€Å"We can’t know all the forms community will take, but we know the values and the kinds of supporting structures we want to preserve. We are a community building species. We might become remarkably ingenious at creating new forms of community for a swiftly changing world. †Ã¢â‚¬  (Freedman 248) Robert Putnam insists on looking to the old, and if he must, he should look at the potential of civic renewal in the volunteering of senior citizens. Over the past thirty years, the population of Americans over the age of 65 has doubled and will continue to increase. Marc Freedman, the author of the article, Towards Civic Renewal, Journal of Gerontological Social Work, expresses his faith in the nation’s retirees to change the deterioration of volunteerism in the U. S. , where children are in need of the most help. If children at an earlier age gained better insight into what it means to have a sense of community and belonging, they would have a better awareness of civic engagement and a broader knowledge base of politics on the state, local, and national level. Senior citizens also have the time, and there is evidence that implies older adults are looking to stay active in their communities; â€Å"As one recent U. S Administration on Aging-sponsored survey reveals, a full 37. percent of older Americans say they would volunteer if asked, while an additional 25. 6 percent already volunteering indicate that they would like to devote more time to service,† and they prefer to work with the younger generation (Freedman 249). Not only will it help the children, but it will also help the senior citizens. 55 percent of seniors feel a sense of uselessness when they retire†¦ a 25-yr National Institute of Mental Health study finds, for example, that â€Å"highly organized activity is the single strongest predictor, other than not smoking, of longevity and vitality† (Freedman 250). The local and federal government is known for lost proposals. Perhaps some of them would have been successfully planned out and put into action if accepted, and Freedman makes the idea of senior involvement seem feasible. Freedman provides the reader with examples of effective programs in community involvement created by the older population; one example is a â€Å"union-sponsored initiative that helps nonviolent juvenile offenders find and keep blue-collar jobs. Freedman goes onto explain to doubtful readers that are thinking, where is this money going to come from? America’s budget is steadily falling into a rabbit hole, and yet the author is confident in the â€Å"†talent, experience and commitment† of older adults,† and their ability to organize well and get tasks completed quickly and effectively (252). Civic engagement and political awareness is declining because of the absence of an inspiring role model in the youth of today, and this program shows r omise of creating a healthier sense of community for the older and the younger generations. Reiterating authors’, Homero Gil de Zuniga and SebastianValenzuela’s earlier consensus, the decline in civic engagement is not the consequence of the mass media and modern age of technology. The importance of weak ties through the Internet is actually seen through the web of networking that people from all over the world create, which ignites a stronger relationship in civic participation than networking face-to-face with weak ties. This finding was reinforced by the study on various media uses in the article; How Use of Mass Media is Related to Civic Activity and Political Awareness in 14- to 22- Year-Olds, where the end result is conclusive with Zuniga and Valenzuela’s evidence. The media can enhance civic engagement and political awareness if used sparingly and in the right context. â€Å"The mind is a double edged sword. It has immense power and it is capable of accomplishing both useful and destructive feats. † (Atharva Veda http://thinkexist. com/quotes/atharva_veda/). It is not the media that is destructive. The minds of the populace are ignoring the real issue at hand. The mind could be used more effectively in developing new ideas to encourage civic engagement and political awareness in the younger population. The media actually promotes civic participation and therefore is directly related to political awareness; overall the media has a positive effect on social capital. It is the communities’ job to instill these values on the children so they can grow into informed adults and have their own opinions and ideas, passing those values onto their children and so on. Bibliography Freedom, Mark. Towards Civic Renewal. Journal of Gerontological Social Work 28. 3 (1997): 243-63. EBSCOhost. The Haworth Press, Inc. , 11 Oct. 2008. Web. 1 Oct. 2011. tandfonline. com/doi/abs/10. 1300/J083v28n03_08. Pasek, Josh, Kate Kenski, Daniel Romer, and Kathleen H. Jamieson. Americas Youth andCommunity Engagement: How Use of Mass Media Is Related to Civic Activity andPolitical Awareness in 14- to 22-Year-Olds | DeepDyve. DeepDyve Millions ofArticles At Your Fingertips. Sage, 27

Discover the Ancient Chinese Gods and Goddesses

Discover the Ancient Chinese Gods and Goddesses Chinese gods and goddesses have changed over the millennia-long period we recognize as the history of China today. Scholars recognize four different types of Chinese gods, but the categories have a considerable overlap: Mythological or heavenly deitiesNature spirits, such as gods of rain, wind, trees, water bodies, mountainsDeified humans both legendary and historicalDeities specific to the three religions: Confucianism, institutional or clerical Buddhism and institutional or philosophical Taoism Additionally, some of the best-known gods have changed over time, or are shared with other groups in China or in other countries. Its not clear that god has the same meaning in western minds as it does in China since the word English speakers translate as god is shen which means closer to soul or spirit. The Eight Immortals Ba Xian or the Eight Immortals is a group of eight deities who were partly historical figures and partly legendary, and their names and attributes are figured in lucky charms. They are often depicted in vernacular novels and plays as lascivious drunkards, holy fools, and saints in disguise. Their individual names are Cao Guo-jiu, Han Xiang-zi, He Xian-gu, Lan Cai-he, Li Tie-guai, LÃ ¼ Dong-bin, Zhang Guo- lao, and Zhong-li Quan. One of the Ba Xian is LÃ ¼ Dong-bin, a historical figure who lived during the Tang Dynasty. In life, he was an itinerant religious specialist and now that he is immortal, he takes a wide variety of different shapes and forms. He is a patron god of several tradespeople from ink makers to prostitutes. Mother Goddesses Bixie Yuanjun is a Chinese goddess of childbirth, the dawn, and destiny. She is known as the First Princess of Purple and Azure Clouds, Mount Tai Mother, or Jade Maiden, and she is significantly potent in matters of pregnancy and childbirth. The Bodhisattva Guanyin or Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara or Bodhisattva Kuan-yin is a Buddhist mother goddess, who sometimes appears in a male guise. Bodhisattva is the term used in the Buddhist religion for someone who could be a Buddha and stop having to be reincarnated but has decided to stay until the rest of us are enlightened enough to make the trip. Bodhisattva Guanyin is shared by Buddhists in Japan and India. When she was incarnated as the Princess Miaoshan, she refused to be wed despite her fathers explicit order, defying a Confucian ethos. She is by far the most popular Chinese deity, worshipped by those wanting children and a patron of merchants. Heavenly Bureaucrats The Stove God (Zaojun) is a heavenly bureaucrat who watches people and is perceived as a voyeur who enjoys watching women unrobe in front of the stove, and in one story was once a gossipy old woman. In some tales, he is thought to represent foreign soldiers stationed among Chinese homes as spies. On New Years Eve, the Stove God ascends to heaven to report on the behavior of the families he oversees to the Jade Emperor, the chief god among some Chinese societies who can inflict a threat of apocalyptic violence. General Yin Chiao (or Tai Sui), is a historical hero and a Taoist god with a number of associated legends appearing as a mythical being in Chinese folklore. He is a deity most often connected with the planet Jupiter. If one plans to move, build, or disturb the ground, the fierce Tai Sui must be placated and worshipped to avert potential calamities. Historical and Legendary Figures Fa Chu Kung or the Controlling Duke was probably a historical person but now appears as legendary. He is able to stop and start rain at will, cure any illness, and can transform himself into anyone or anything. His goodwill and agreement are necessary before any petition or prayers are submitted to any other god except the Jade Emperor. He is readily identifiable with his shiny black face and body, unkempt hair and protruding eyes. He carries an unsheathed sword at his right and a red snake curls over his neck. Cheng Ho was an explorer in the 15th century CE and a eunuch from the imperial palace. Also known as San Po Kung or the Three Jewelled Eunuch, his last expedition was in 1420 and he is a patron god for Chinese sailors and junk crews.

Ways of Knowing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Ways of Knowing - Assignment Example Nevertheless, enlightenment cannot be exactly known without discussing it in the context of ignorance. When one is ignorant, one is pictured as extremely sensitive and vehemently opposing something without even realizing why. For example, one is into anarchism, or the condition where one is â€Å"unrestricted by man-made law† and believes that â€Å"all forms of government rest on violence† (Goldman 583). This is actually such a negative standpoint from which to proceed. Nevertheless, the ignorant are relentless in believing that â€Å"God, the State, and society are non-existent† (584). This they proclaim while contending that â€Å"the individual is the heart of the society† and that â€Å"society is the lungs which†¦keep the life essence† (584). How then can society be the â€Å"lungs† that keep the individual alive when in fact it had previously been declared that the society is â€Å"non-existent†? Thus, the ignorant do not realize that their principles are actually contradictory. Moreover, if the great French anarchist Proud hon states that â€Å"Property is robbery,† then I am not even entitled to own my physical body lest I be called a robber (584). Why then should anarchism be the solution to all the ills of the world when anarchism can in fact totally annihilate everything? The ignorant stops here and cannot answer such a question. This is the problem of having contradictions. Such contradictions may have only been a theory by Goldman but they made up the entire philosophy of Marx and Engels – the philosophy of communism, which was loosely based on opposition. Judging only from their own limited or ignorant points of view, the authors contend that opposition exists among the social classes: â€Å"†¦every form of society has been based†¦on the antagonism of oppressing and oppressed classes† (Marx & Engels 487). If such oppression did exist in

Understanding Vietnam Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Understanding Vietnam - Assignment Example Another war broke, and this time other nations also joined the war. Many Vietnamese had taken refuge in other countries when the fight intensified Jamieson. It was late 1950s and early 1960s that the Americans started getting into Vietnam slowly by slowly and by 1970s, they were already too many in Vietnam. The Americans poured money, equipment, and even facilities in Vietnam to aid them in their mission (Westheider 50). As the war continued in late 1968, which is termed as the year of death, the numbers of orphans increased, crippled people were all over, the widowed not to mention the amputees and paraplegics. This became so astonishing, and the Americans, although they had not well understood the values of tradition for the Vietnamese which remained in their hearts, decided to bring a change in the nation. The Vietnams embraced the idea though they were not sure of what plan the Americans exactly had and for the sake of their suffering to end (Westheider 82). This are helicopter wars used by the Americans troops to fight Vietnam whereby troops were moved to any location in the nation, confirming the amount of combat seen by soldiers during an annual tour were far higher than during world war II. During Viet Cong Camp, the helicopters poured machine gun fire as a form of attack. The Americans on seeing how the war had so much impacted on them and also to the Vietnamese, they decided to in turn advocate for an end to the war. The Vietnamese responded quite well to this and in return the Americans introduced education system to the nation and Vietnamese had right to get access to classrooms together with the Americans. They could also catch planes to various destinations of their choice. Through out the whole of Vietnam, everyone shifted to a flexible and less exacting behavioural traditional values (Jamieson 301). The black market boomed again by 1970s in Saigon, and the government moved further in their