Is the term ‘Just War’ now outdated? Essay

Debates about what we now call ‘Just War’ go back as far as the Greek philosophers Aristotle and Cicero. In Christian understanding, the theory was developed by St Ambrose, the Bishop of Milan in 374, and his student Augustine. Drawing on Roman ideas and the Old Testament, they marked out that only a legitimate governmental authority has the right to declare war; it must be aimed at restoring peace and ideally should be a last resort. The political situation was such that war was constant, and there was a need for a set of principles in order for the state to support the Church. Pacifism was declared for the clergy and monks only, and it became permissible to wage war on certain grounds, for instance if unjustly attacked. However war for revenge and to get reparations was also allowed, which questions whether it is at all possible to ever fulfill the criteria of either ‘jus ad bellum’ (the six requirements that must be satisfied by the heads of state) or ‘jus in bello’ (justice in the conduct of battle). Later, Thomas Aquinas connected and organized the theory; in the Summa Theologicae he discussed the justifications for going to war. The legitimate authority principle prevented civil uprisings and feudal wars. Originally, the King was anointed and seen as responsible before God for his military actions; thus only the King had the right to wage war on God’s enemies. However throughout history this has been challenged; for instance, the Communist revolution violently established new authority over the previously existing autocratic ruler. Furthermore, in a democratic country, where the prime minister has been elected, the concept of the governmental leader having some sort of a connection with God is inappropriate. The atrocities of the First World War, although declared by legitimate authorities, are clearly not what the Just War Theory ever intended. Thus it seems reasonable to suggest that the theory is outdated, for technological advancements magnified the potential violent impact of war. However, supporters of the United Nations Security Council would say that the Just War theory evolves overtime and adapts to pressing needs; for instance after the Second World War much authority was give to the UN in order to minimise countries waging war in order to satisfy their own demands and pursue their own aims and reactions. Approaching the end of the war at the Yalta Conference (1945) it was decided to ensure a third party could regulate the military affairs of the superpowers. However the UN could not prevent further military conflicts; between the 1980s and 90s the Eastern superpower weakened and the USA, as the remaining paymaster of the UN, gained a lot of support. For instance the carnage committed by Israel, America’s ally, has been largely overlooked, whereas the pre-emptive strike on Iraq was approved. Thus the concept of ‘Just War’ remains impracticable. The issue of terrorism has also proved to be a challenge for the Just War theory. Terrorists are essentially illegitimate authorities trying to bring about political change through violent means; their conduct is often extreme, including the use of shakhids in Chechnya (female suicide bombers, often very young). In the light of 09/11 it is fair to say that when such brutal and inhuman methods are being used, a proportionate response by definition will not be a just one either. This puts certain states in a difficult position in terms of following the Just War principles. The organization identified as responsible, Al-Qa’ida, are not representative of any one country. The members are hard to track and the US cannot cope with its strategy, despite the military and nuclear powers at its disposal. It is particularly difficult to satisfy the demands of ‘jus in bello’ when the threat of Nuclear warfare is apparent once more since the Cold War. Back then the American Roman Catholic bishops condemned the use of nuclear weapons because they are indiscriminate and disproportionate. But even if it is possible to maintain diplomacy between countries and avoid NBC (nuclear, biological and chemical weaponry) it is impossible to control non-governmental sources and rogue states that may obtain NBC and use it to threaten and blackmail. The just war theory cannot provide a clear cut response to the problem of proportionality with regards to nuclear weaponry. The above problems are characteristic of our time; the term ‘Just War’ seems out of keeping with the scale and nature of modern warfare. Resources are growing scarce, world economy is unstable, and political differences drive nations to extreme military measures – no cause is fully just and no major state can be ‘innocent’. However, there are other issues that are not discussed as often in terms of just war – such as the division between the rich and the poor countries, and whether the latter would be justified in waging war to establish a fairer system than the one existing right now. Overall, the Just War theory can be modified and updated; it should not be dismissed because there is a desperate need for peace and justice in the world today.

A man to be admired Essay

Looking at the â€Å"holy† concept, the fact that Proctor’s death was part of the reason why it stopped steadily, it seems as Miller depicts him as a 17th century version of Jesus. How Christians believe he died for their sins; Proctor dies for the welfare of those accused and the stop of this fundamental accusations. He did do wrong: he committed a sin. But doesn’t religion teach us about the road to redemption? Religious morals even allow sinners into heaven or paradise if in salvation. So therefore Proctor should be admired as he knows he has done wrong and which leads him to becoming a better man.. All throughout the play, there is friction between Proctor and Elizabeth, obviously due to the incident between Proctor and Abigail, but hope is at the horizon because funnily enough, the worst case scenario brings their relationship and marriage to its strongest point. Proctor attempts all that he can to regain her trust and forgiveness; even bribing her with land is attempted. Elizabeth, being supremely virtuous but with a flair of coldness, tries to forgive but the sense of Christian judgment still lays in her mind. Pride, revenge, fear, honesty, puritan ethics, and honesty are some of the themes in The Crucible, but these are the ones that apply to Proctor. Revenge had put Proctor in fear of losing his beloved wife, Elizabeth, by Abigail. Abigail had seen Elizabeth from more than an inconvenience to a threat. Proctor restricted himself from his feelings and even the subject, when spoken to her. This now showed her only vulnerability, her feelings for him, which is ultimately the reason for this havoc. Self-interest. Fear is what drove the hysteria on; the risk of facing the devil had put people in positions of self-interest and paranoia. How can a man of such caliber be down played? He had raised a family, even though he divorced his 1st wife and married Elizabeth, brought them up in religious fashion, tend his land, helped those in need, is respected by the village and does good deeds. To conclude, John Proctor’s integrity has such a overcoming substance, and the way Miller captures it is just admirable. He faces death, just to keep his name clean, to live or die with respect. For him to go through so many calamities and distress that the only time he feels at peace is when he dies. And he still remains as an admirable figure after he’s public confession of being an adulterer. He put his own wife in front of himself, just to receive her forgiveness and trust. â€Å"He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him! † Elizabeth accepts it, the only way; his death is the answer to all their problems. His Christian morals and beliefs lead him to becoming a better man; a man with faith is a man to be admired in my opinion. He knows that even if he confesses a lie, he can not base the remainder of his life on another lie, which will then jeopardize his relationship; other innocent people will die and will evidently never forgive himself. Overall, Proctor is a: religious, emancipated, loving, family, integrity-filled and respected man, and if these are not the quality of being admirable then I do not know what is. John Proctor, a man to be admired. Discuss. By Ranja Faraj Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Arthur Miller section.

Productivity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Productivity - Essay Example define productivity as a measure of performance as compared to the ratio of output produced in relation to the input inserted into any task or project. This definition, however, shouldn’t tie any other opinion down as various knowledge bases would come up with various definitions given their respective contexts. Many factors have been brought to the forefront in a bid to expound the basis that productivity is defined. Leonhard and Simaan consider productivity as a function derived from quality of work, time, and the initial budget. On the other hand, Young groups factors that affect productivity such as the human resource management, work environment, and the particular job in context (Young, 2010). This report will consider some of those factors that affect productivity, especially in construction-related projects, therefore, trying to see points in which productivity could be improved. The structure of the paper will have a literature review section, an analysis of the relevant aspects that surround productivity, and a conclusion summed up from the entire work (Leonhard and Simaan, 2010). This section will sample two case studies of construction projects where analyses were performed to measure the productivity levels at each scenario using various techniques, and the conclusion summed up from the analyses. The undertaken steps to rectify the factors that lowered productivity will be discussed. All these discussions will be aligned with the factors that affect productivity and the refinement will help us see some ways to improve productivity; these aspects will be expounded more in the next section of this report. Construction of the Commercial Bank Headquarters in Edinburgh was undertaken as a case study to see some of the factors that affected productivity. The managers in charge of this big project took the initiative to check up on their employee productivity. The main participants were the top-level project managers and the onsite workers who were used

OUGHTS IN ANCIENT CULTURES Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

OUGHTS IN ANCIENT CULTURES - Essay Example d by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.† It also states that it is the people who empower the government and as such have certain rights and duties which they could perform free of will. But looking at the present state of affairs it makes one wonder if our founding fathers were intelligent personalities or if they were foolish and irresponsible individuals. Though the documents such as the Declaration of Independence, the U.S Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the Preamble that were presented by them are universally regarded as timeless and safeguarding moral obligations, yet how far these good intentions are actually workable leaves a lot to question. In the same way the Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations states that â€Å"human rights should be protected by the rule of law† and human beings should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood†, but does these high ideals cater to or satisfy what is taking place today? Though some may be convinced, the majority are not. The first article of the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity (UNESCO, 2002) proposes that it must be recognized and affirmed for the benefit of present and future generations, for it is a continuous source of exchange, innovation and creativity †¦ as necessary for humankind as biodiversity is for nature. However, another document by the UNESCO (UNESCO (2003). points out that, globalization †¦ by highlighting the culture of economically powerful nations has created new forms of inequality, thereby fostering cultural conflict rather than cultural pluralism thereby portraying conflicting views. Romans – They believe that –â€Å"Death is to be chosen before slavery and basic deeds.† In other words it is better to die that stoop to lowly deeds. In the teaching of morals the Romans feel that â€Å"Nature and Reason command that nothing uncomely†¦.and â€Å"nothing lascivious be done or

Comment To Peer Response Dq1 AND dQ2jb Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Comment To Peer Response Dq1 AND dQ2jb - Essay Example A branding strategy is build through the passage of times by investing in marketing and public relations initiatives. It takes time to build a brand value. Coca-Cola has tremendous brand value because it has been in existence for over 100 years. Two factors that help develop a brand strategy are effective communications with stakeholder groups and effective use of distribution channels (Williams, 2012). Diversifying is a great strategy to remain competitive during tough economic times. Companies with greater product variety will attract more customers. I agree with you that diversifying can help boost profits. Two types of diversification strategies are related and unrelated diversification (Scribd, 2012). A second strategy that you mentioned in your response was mergers and acquisitions. Mergers and acquisitions help companies increase their market share in an industry. Some of the benefits of mergers and acquisitions include access to new market segments, new innovation opportunities, access to new revenue streams, and maximization of return on investment (Frost). I also liked your idea of seeking expansion by taking advantage of the internet. Customers are purchasing more goods and services online than in the past. In 2011 the e-commerce sales in the United States reach $188.1 billion (Plunkettresearchonline, 2012). Some of the most successful online businesses are EBay, Amazon, and

Press Release Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Press Release - Essay Example A prototype design was worked out on Linux, and evaluation so far shoes great potential. Traces can help detect intrusions, as well as check how bad the damage was. It was also narrow down on a certain suspected user, file, or program. Traces can also put the file system back to where it was prior to the security intrusion. Also, traces can help debug other systems. You can use one to locate bugs and other possible points of problems. A tracing file can easily be piled on top of other programs, without any modifications made to the file system or the operation system. The team also wanted to make sure the performance of the system was up to snuff, and used buffering to balance out the performance issues that might have arisen. Convenience, security, privacy, and portability were other issues the team made sure to keep on the top of their priority list. The implications of this system can be used in several different areas. It can be implemented into system cell based filtering Using Tracefs, the group was able to filter based on the system call number, as well as being able to record the system call number for each.

Evaluate the continuing professional development opportunities I have Essay

Evaluate the continuing professional development opportunities I have engaged in which have influenced my generic teaching skills - Essay Example Secondly, I wrote lesson plans which guided me not to change the duration of my activities, or foregoing them altogether; as well as schemes of work, which guided me on what to do in the course of the semester. Thirdly, I took part in an in-house training that gave me an opportunity to develop teaching skills, and emphasized the need to understand the principles of education. Lastly, theories of reflection made me build knowledge on bridging the gap between theory and practical world. Though development opportunities are a great way to grow professionally, evaluating development programs is crucial too. Collins (2000), states that evaluation can help in choosing the right program, adopting it to your local text and to fine-tune the program once in use. He continues to say that evaluation ensures that one avoids the popular innovations that are more opinion-based and promoted by people who are more concerned of what sells than what works. In view of the above discussion, though development is important, the process can be pricey because it requires sophisticated methods of evaluation to ensure quality

Week 6 Moral Distress and Moral Integrity Assignment

Week 6 Moral Distress and Moral Integrity - Assignment Example safe and poorer quality of the care being received by the patients, along with decreasing job satisfaction.(Pauly, Varcoe & Storch, 2012) One key that is very important is not to â€Å"bottle up† the moral distress that one is feeling; addressing the sources quickly will lead to better practices in dealing with the phenomena for the betterment of a strong healthcare workforce, of which nurses play a huge part.(Epstein & Delgado, 2010) Ethics and morality can be such difficult to issues to address, because we live in a diverse world, with varying ideologies of what â€Å"ethics and morality† are. In healthcare it can be even harder because it involves the lives of patients. The phenomenon of nurses leaving their positions is a serious one. According to one study 25% of nurses, as well as social workers, are experiencing â€Å"moral distress† badly enough to consider leaving their jobs, while 40% claim that given the option they would not choose the same profession.("Nurses want to," 2013) Many Researchers feel that much more in-depth research is called for and there is a necessity to redefine what the goal of healthcare is; the message, â€Å"†¦that doing the right thing is an organizational and a political as well as an individual responsibility, is one that needs to be emphasized.(Gallagher,

Raylicious Snack Social media Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Raylicious Snack Social media - Assignment Example The following research paper analyzes the case of the Raylicious Snack Company, a business that does not have an online marketing campaign besides its website. The paper argues for why a business should adopt an online presence while also improving its present website. It looks at the merit of engaging in such a campaign and how it will help achieve its business objective of doing things right and becoming a leading snack retailer in the United States. It also looks at how those strategies will enable the company to attract a different customer base. The advent and convergence of technology have reduced communication and the cost of doing business. Such technology includes the use of the internet that has reduced the barriers between businesses and their customers. Therefore, it calls for the company to devote its time in creating a possible online marketing campaign that includes having a presence on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook among other social media websites (Norton 6). It is obvious that social networks and media affect our lives in all and every possible aspect. For example, they serve in spreading ideas, product marketing and promotion and brand visibility among others. Building an online presence and marketing strategy is an imperative move by any business that wishes to stay competitive while using technology to deliver products and services to its customers. The prospect of social media and having an online marketing campaign for the family owned business will avail access to the mass market, and it will enable the business to undertake a personalized approach towards product marketing. The fact that it is flexible and does not cost much to implement should particularly appeal to such small and medium sized business such as Raylicious. Therefore, the business should not be left behind and implement the approach because of its benefits. Thus far, an online marketing campaign involves the

Third Set of Figures Essay Example for Free

Third Set of Figures Essay Participant Ds errors are the following: The first is with regard to the use of has or have: Mr. Browns have two sons. Second error pertains to the use of verb tenses wherein difference between past and present tenses are appears to be unknown to the participant: They’re call Tom and John; and Tom like reads in the holiday. Participant E has problems in terms of using conjunctions such as: Tom and John they are the twin brothers . In addition with this, there is also an error in terms of using articles: Tom he is a good student, he is a first in his class . Also, there is a problem in terms of the participants spelling: but he dent play ball. Finally, there is also a problem in terms of using punctuations such as the apostrophe: but he dont study, they are special. Participant Fs first problem is with regard to the use of the singular or plural use of auxilliary verbs: Tom and John is brother. Second, is the problem with regard to the use of prepositions such as: They are different have surface; and . Elder brother like study, but younger brother like play basketball†. The third set of figures is a phone conversation among two boys depicting a planned trip to a restaurant and a KTV bar (see Appendix 3 to view the instrument). Participant G: â€Å"At eight oclock , Sams friend calling him up to inviting him out . According to their plan . On the first ,they are going to sing at a KTV . then they going to eat a dinner at a fast food restaurant . They eat fast food ,such as hamburgers ,cola and fries. † Participant H: â€Å"Today morning, Sam’s friend call he go to play. Sam and his friend talk on the phone at a. m. 8:00. Sam said he want go to KTV sing and we can eat dinner in night. But his friend said not eat breakfast. So Sam propose to meet in BigMaclndex Then go to play†. Participant Gs first error could be seen on the proper use of verb tenses: friend calling him up to inviting him out; and They eat fast food . There are also problems in terms of their use of articles: then they going to eat a dinner . On the other hand hand, Participant H also have problems in terms of prepositions: Today morning and Sam and his friend talk on the phone . There are also problems in terms of using articles: Sam said he want go to KTV. There are also problems in terms of using proper verb tenses: So Sam propose to meet in BigMaclndex The fourth set of figures depicts a family composed of a mother, a father and a little boy who went out to eat in a pastry shop. After which, the boy went to a store called W. C. and his mother and father went to the supermarket. The final figure on the set depicts of how well the boy enjoyed his stay on a store called W. C. while his parents listen appears to be listening to his stories while carrying a bag of groceries. Participant I: â€Å"Last Friday, I with my parents want to the big shopping mall to go shopping . First , we bought some milk and read in the basement . then we took the elevator to the second floor . I went to w. c , my parents were wait outside . Finally we bought some fruit and vegetables and we were go home. â€Å" Participant J: â€Å"I went to supermarket with my Dad and Mom last Friday. Maybe was holiday supermarket crowd campany. I with my Dad and Mom choose my breakfast last Saturday. Mom bought two baker and one milk for me. I went to W. C. before away. Aftermost we bought a lot article then get home. † Participant Is errors are with regard to spelling: I with my parents want to the big shopping mall There are also problems in terms of capitalizations: First , we bought some milk and read in the basement   then we took the elevator to the second floor. Errors in terms of the use of linking verbs are seen: I went to w. c , my parents were wait outside. Finally, there are still errors in terms of the verb tenses: Finally we bought some fruit and vegetables and we were go home. Participant Js errors are on the lack of use of pronouns: Maybe was holiday supermarket crowd campany. Also there is a perceived problem in terms of using appropriate nouns for a sentence: Mom bought two baker and one milk for me.

How Does Mauritius Deal With Solid Waste Environmental Sciences Essay

How Does Mauritius Deal With Solid Waste Environmental Sciences Essay Being an important ecological, economic and social or cultural resource, which is fundamental to the sustainable development, the environment has a positive impact on the standard of living of the local residents (Nautiyal.S and Kaedrele.H; 2007). Since the last two centuries, industrialization has supported a mushrooming and voracious population and have created massive prosperity; however, this growth has often been detrimental to the environment (Daily.B.F and Huang.S; 2001). The growing up of environmental problems that is associated to the rise in production and consumption of the population have resulted to the development of sustainability (Fortunski.B; 2008). The concept of sustainability is considered as being normative since it describes the way things should be done instead of describing how they are actually being done (Byrch et al; 2007). Sustainability or sustainable development is defined as an economic pillar that sustains the needs of the present population without p utting constraints on the next generations to meet their needs and is based on its three fundamentals which are namely economic, social and environmental (Sarkis.J; Meade.L; Presley.A; 2006). Since Mauritius is aiming towards Maurice Ile Durable it is very important for both private and public organizations to adopt and implement Environmental Management System (EMS). Environmental management is not only a fact of awareness or public image, but beyond that; it is the way through which the performance and competitiveness of organizations are secured (Bahmed.L; Djebabra.M Boubaker.L; Boukhalfa.A; 2009). It is not only the duty of private or public enterprises to ensure that the environment is sustainably managed, but also the responsibility of each and every individual to adopt the good practice of managing the environment sustainably. Waste of natural resources and creation of all types of pollution are generally areas that urgently need to be considered. Waste management is one of the prior conditions for the sustainability of any country (Schneider.D.R Bogdan.Z; 2011). The inappropriate link between consumers demand for goods (and the consequence of generated waste) and the ability of the local authorities to collect and handle this waste (Cardinali.R; 2001), has resulted into a heavily disturbed environment. Solid waste can be considered as the universal pollutant. It has always contributed to the human condition as long as man has been a biological species. Most of the consequences resulted from solid waste are similar to those of air and water pollution. They are aesthetically displeasing, they can pose threat to human health and they represent a loss of useful resources. Only recently with the concept of sustainability and the rising awareness on the consequences of ineffective waste management, that the concern of local authorities on environmental health demands the effective management and disposal of waste, in order to reduce and where possible eradicate its capacity to cause harm to humans, plants, animals and natural resources (Ayotamuno.M.J Gobo.E.A; 2004). Aim The aim of this assignment is to analyze the extent to which municipal solid waste is sustainably managed in Mauritius. 1.2 Objectives The objectives behind this study are: to assess the impacts of wastes and waste disposal methods on humans and the environment, to assess how far solid waste management is leading to Mauritius Green Island to assess the health and safety aspect in solid waste management Chapter 2 Literature Review 2.0 Introduction Waste management which has always formed part of the human society consists of waste prevention, reuse, recycling of materials, composting, energy recovery and final disposal. The mushrooming of the worlds population, increasing industrialization, improving quality of life, and developments in technology have all resulted in an increase in both the quantity and the different types of solid wastes generated by industries, households and other activities (UNEP,1991). The problems of dealing with large amount of waste materials arise specially in developing countries where these changes have not been met by developments in waste-management technologies (Wilson Balkau, 1990). Domestic solid waste has become a health and environmental hazard in many developing countries as a result of careless handling and a failure to make arrangement for appropriate solid waste collection techniques. It is a common belief that improving solid waste management (SWM) implies making waste collection and d isposal systems more efficient, raising residents awareness and enforcing SWM laws and regulations (Obeng.P.A; Donkor.A.E Mensah.A; 2009). 2.1 Definition of solid waste Solid waste can be defined as a different types of solid materials and also some liquids in cans, that are disposed as being spent, useless, worthless or in excess (Nemerow.L.N, Gardy.A.J.F, Sullivan.P and Salvato.A.J; 2009) 2.2 Classification of solid waste The classification of solid waste is based on the content, moisture and heating value. An example of classification is as follows: Garbage refers to the biodegradable solid waste constituents, obtained during the preparation or storage of food (meat, fruits, and vegetables). These wastes water content of about 70% and a heating value of around 6ooooookg (Rao,1991) Rubbish refers to non-putrecible solid waste constituents either combustible (paper, wood, scrap) or non-combustible (metals, glasses ceramics). These wastes contain about 25% of water and the heating value of the waste is around 15000000kg (Rao, 1991). Solid waste can be further classified based on the source of the solid waste: Domestic waste Commercial waste Institutional waste Industrial waste Agricultural waste 2.3 Sources and Types of solid wastes Table 1.0 below shows different source types of solid wastes produced Sources Typical locations where wastes are generated Types of solid wastes Municipal wastes (domestic, commercial, institutional) Residential, open areas (street) Food wastes, rubbish, paper Industrial wastes Factory wastes Organic wastes from food processing, metallic sludges Agricultural wastes Forestry wastes Crop residues, animal manure Mining Quarrying wastes Mining minerals Rock, topsoil Energy generation wastes Thermal power plants Fly ash Source: Peavy, Rowe Tchobanoglous (1985) Since, domestic waste, commercial waste and institutional wastes are collected and transported by similar authorities, that is the municipal council or district council, they are usually group together and called Municipal Solid Waste (MSW). 2.4 What is solid waste management? Solid waste management is considered as a serious matter in different parts of the world. The unexpected increase of waste production emphasizes on the necessity of a right balance in the various technological facilities for the collection and treatment of waste, taking into consideration the existing regulations, economic constraints, environmental issues and also public acceptance, (Caputo.C.A, Pelagagge.M.P and Scacchia.F; 2002). Solid waste management can be defined as practical measures that ensure the proper functioning of collection, transport, processing, treatment and disposal of solid waste. The global concern about environmental health suggests that wastes be managed in an efficient manner and disposed of in an acceptable way, in order to reduce and or where possible get rid of its potential dangers that are posed to human beings and the environment as a whole, (Robinson 1986). 2.5 The need for municipal solid waste management The need for municipal solid waste management arose since the effects of solid waste in the environment outweigh the benefits. The following illustrate some examples of improper solid waste management. Public Health Problems and Diseases The uncontrolled fermentation of garbage provides the food source and habitat for bacterial growth. Furthermore, there is proliferation of insects, flies, mosquitoes and some birds which act as passive vectors in the transmission of some infectious diseases. Aesthetic consideration Dumping of solid waste everywhere and failure to collect those wastes in a proper way, not only provide rooms for the growth and spreading of mosquitoes and insects, but also give rise to strong odour and lead to an unsightly and unpleasant environment. Air Pollution Uncontrolled and incomplete combustion of solid waste materials can result in a number of unwanted air pollutants including particulate matter, smoke, sulphur dioxide and other noxious gases from the burning of plastic materials. Thus by analyzing the few health hazards and environmental impacts of solid waste, we conclude that a safe and environmentally and economically sustainable solid waste management plan is indispensable. 2.6 General solid waste management in Mauritius In Mauritius, it is the local authorities which consist of five municipalities for urban areas and four district councils for rural regions, private sectors such as Securiclean, Maxiclean, Atics among others, and the Ministry of Local Government which carry out waste collection. The Chief Health Inspector in all the five municipalities controls the operation of collection, disposal and street cleaning. The officer is also responsible for transport allocation and operation, including control of drivers, except in Port-Louis where transport and drivers are on the establishment of the City Engineers department. There exist a similar structure in the three district councils concerning the management and operational transport. However since the labour force is small, employees from the government are supplemented to perform the work. The frequency of collection regarding domestic refuse varies from twice a week to once monthly between local authorities. The collection of commercial or trade waste in urban and rural areas is treated as a main concern and a daily service is provided. With respect to storage, some municipalities have provided plastic bins and plastic bags to the residents. This has facilitated the collection process. All waste collected by the district and municipal council and the private contractors are disposed of directly to a dump site or to a transfer station where the waste is processed and compacted before dumping. (Source: http://localgovernment.gov.mu) Chapter 3 3.0 Profile of the study area http://www.gov.mu/portal/goc/mlge/images/map.gif Figure 2.0 Municipalities District Councils of Mauritius Source: (http://www.gov.mu/portal/site/mlge/menuitem.f9c1c444c628df3cb3347524e2b521ca/) Key: Municipality of Port-Louis Municipality of Beau-Bassin/ Rose-Hill Municipality of Quatre-Bornes Municipality of Vacoas/ Phoenix Municipality of Curepipe Pamplemousses/ Riviere du Rempart District Council Moka/ Flacq District Council Grand Port / Savanne District Council Black River District Council Chapter 4 4.0 Findings and Discussions 4.1 Findings On our visit to the municipality of Beau Bassin / Rose- Hill, we found that municipal solid wastes are not sustainably managed. As we have been told by a senior Health Inspector Mr. Beefnah Kishan, the true reason why the proper management is not being done is because there is a lack of willingness from the local authorities, and that the municipality alone cannot take this initiative since it is a very costly project. We found that the municipality is only trying to sensitize the people about living in a clean environment. We have been told that even with the sensitization campaign, the local inhabitants are not abiding by the basic elementary principles which according to the authorities, is a demarcation line for sustainable solid waste management. For instance, during our visit we noticed that though people are aware that there are two separate bins available (at plaza) for waste disposal, that is, one for plastic wastes only and the other for any other kind of wastes, they throw their waste carelessly. We have been told that as far as the municipality is concerned, their duties and responsibilities are being respected they are maintaining their efforts to preserve the environment. Furthermore, from the findings we got at the municipality of Vacoas/ Phoenix, we found that the idea of managing municipal solid wastes in Mauritius has not yet come into existence. As we were told by the Chief Health Inspector Mr. Lobin, there is a lack of mindset on behalf of the local authorities. The authorities take only the cost factor into consideration, they missed the point that investing in this project will be a long term benefits. During our meeting with the Chief Health Inspector, he also pointed out clearly that collection and disposal of wastes is the only responsibilities of the municipalities, and managing wastes is the responsibility of the local authorities. Moreover, we also had a visit at the Moka/ Flacq District Council, where again we found that the idea of sustainable solid waste management is only an idea. We were told by two assistant Health Inspectors, Mr. Aumeer Imteaz and Mr. Chitbauhaal Foorkhan, that the District Council at present is only working towards keeping the environment clean, by maintaining their responsibilities and duties, and by organizing different awareness campaign programmes. But concerning the sustainable management of solid waste, nothing yet has been done. According to these persons, in order to realize the project of managing solid waste sustainably, first and foremost the local authorities should have the willingness and afterwards others will follow. Finally, during our visit to the Ministry of Local Government, we have met with the Senior Project Officer Mr. Dookee Ganesh, who confirmed that municipal solid wastes are not sustainably managed in Mauritius. According to the project officer, managing municipal solid waste sustainably is a big and costly project and it will take time. He however pointed out that to some extent wastes are being managed though not sustainably, in the sense that some wastes (plastics) are being recycled, some other types of wastes are being incinerated and the rests are sent to the landfill site at Mare Chicose. 4.2 Overall Discussions Efficient waste management is one of the best ways for sustainable development of any country, (Schneider.D.R Bogdan, 2011). Sustainable and effective planning on waste management is lacking, although many initiatives are in progress, notably in the area of legislation (Mohee.R, 2002). We do agree that managing municipal solid wastes sustainably is a big and costly project, but the government needs to realize that managing municipal solid waste sustainably is an investment and not a cost. In the long run, the results will reflect the investment; the benefits will outweigh the cost. From the findings we obtained, we have understood that wastes that are not being recycled are either incinerated or sent to the landfill site. Some types of wastes such as metals, glass, paper and plastics are not to be burnt since they can be recycled, but unfortunately not 100% of the recyclable wastes that are sent to the recycling industries. Since organic wastes consist of large amount of water, therefore the quantity of energy that is needed to dehumidify these might be more than what the incinerator produces. Furthermore, incinerators release huge amount of smoke. Similarly, landfill is not an option. Like we have at Mare Chicose, it seems to be worse than incinerators. It does not only result in visual impact, but it is also very polluting. Critically speaking, municipal solid wastes are not sustainably managed in Mauritius. The ways or techniques used in Mauritius to manage municipal solid wastes seem to be an irony, since the reason behind managing wastes is first and forem ost to protect the environment and human beings by preventing pollution, but the reality is that the means that are being used to manage these wastes are sources of pollution. One of the major issues in Mauritius is ignorance. People are not enough aware of the fragility of the environment. If fines are not imposed, people will not change their habits of throwing wastes everywhere. It must be realized that it may be the responsibility of the authorities to manage wastes, but the wastes producers are the inhabitants. Large amount of solid wastes are generated from households, therefore people should be made aware that wastes as such do not exist, it is only when not in use that the resources become wastes. Furthermore, tourists produce huge amounts of wastes, mainly during the peak tourism period, making it difficult for the local authorities to manage waste with their limited capacities, (Mohee.R, 2002). We believe that managing municipal solid wastes sustainably cannot be done at one go. However, there exist some effective techniques that can be adopted to ensure that solid waste is properly managed and thus making a way for the sustainable management. For instance, waste management hierarchy which includes the effective techniques can be adopted by the local people. The waste management hierarchy is a widely accepted order of waste management options. The European Council in its Waste Directive of 1991 sets the hierarchy of waste management options as follows: Waste prevention Recovery Safe disposal Chapter 5 5.0 Recommendation Conclusion 5.1 Recommendation Mauritius is a small island and due to land scarcity, it can neither have many landfills nor have all its wastes recycled. But it should be noted that incineration is not the ideal solution to this problem; it will rather encourage more wastes to be produced. First of all the Government should try to implement a zero waste policy. The use of plastics bags should be forbidden. Sorting of wastes should be encouraged to be done at home or onsite itself (plastics/organic/metals). Electronic gadgets should be made in such a way that they can be processed for parts that can be recycled and the toxic elements disposed of in the proper way and not burnt. If some of the steps are implemented, there will be nothing to get incinerated or a minimum amount of wastes would be burnt. Therefore, the followings are some of the proposed ideas towards sustainable municipal solid waste management: Policy planning and Strategy Solid waste management plans First of all there should be solid waste management plans in place. Waste management plans have essential roles to play towards sustainable waste management. Their primary purpose is to provide an outline of sources of wastes and treatment options. Waste management plans, national as well as local/regional are essential tools helping in the implementation and achievement of policies and targets that have been set up. Furthermore, the plans give an outline of the amount of wastes to be managed. Also, they contribute to ensuring that the capacity and the way of collection and treatment systems are coherent with the waste to be managed. The plans also identify areas in which technological measures should be taken to get rid of or minimize certain types of waste. Moreover, waste management plans make way for a statement of financial requirements for the operation of collection schemes and treatment of waste among others. On this basis, the needs for further investments in waste treatment plans may be determined. As a solution to many waste management problems, the involvement of several participants/authorities are required and coherent planning helps to avoid unnecessary duplication of effort and thus benefits all participants, (EU Commission, Environment, 2003). Zero-waste policy The aim of this policy should be geared towards a sustainable economy. The purpose is to minimize consumption to a reasonable extent by using design-for-environment in every product and their packaging, and to make them all recyclable. The determining factors to achieve Zero Waste are the products designs and industrial processes, that is, their components should be made in such a way that they can be easily disassemble, repaired and/or converted into reusable materials. Zero Waste implies merging communities, businesses and industries such that ones waste becomes anothers feedstock, which results in preventing pollution at its source. By implementing the Zero waste policy, the discharge of highly toxic materials to land, water, or air that threaten the planetary, human, animal or plant health can be eliminated, (Recycling Council of British Columbia, 2009). Management of Municipal Solid Waste Waste Minimization Waste minimization is considered as a waste management approach that emphasizes on decreasing the amount and toxicity of hazardous waste that is generated. It is believed that waste minimization methods that focus on avoiding waste from ever being created, (source reduction) and recycling is encouraged. There are three general methods of waste minimization: source reduction, recycling, and treatment, (Scott.W.D, 2005). Waste minimization can be achieved by reusing materials. In doing so, materials which were bound to become waste can be used again and there will be no need for recycling, combustion for energy purpose and disposal of waste materials to landfill. This can lead to a reduction in waste management costs. However this can effectively be done by planning, fabricating, buying, or making use of materials in a way that reduce the amount of trash created, less waste is created and fewer natural resources are used. Waste Sorting Waste sorting should be done at home and this can be achieved by the help of the local authorities, in the sense that, the three bins system should be implemented and there should be continual training and education awareness programmes. People should be taught how to use this system effectively and the reason behind using it. The three bins can either be coloured differently or labelled in order to facilitate the users to dispose their wastes in the corrective way. Waste sorting helps in achieving a sustainable environment, in the sense that recyclable wastes will be disposed separately and thus can be sent directly to the recycling industries and other wastes can be processed accordingly. This will save time and cost of labour also. Composting Composting is the decomposition of organic matter by microorganism in warm, moist, aerobic and anaerobic environment. There are different ways to do composting. It varies from simple and cheap backyard or onsite composting methods to more costly and sophisticated methods such as in-vessel composting. For materials such as food scraps and other materials which are degradable, adoption of proven technologies for processing such waste as backyard composting can be used; as this can reduce the amount of waste destined for disposal. Inhabitants can then sell the compost to nearby farmers and other users. Government should favour and stimulate the development and acceptance of appropriate technologies for the conversion of municipal solid waste to compost and promote markets for its use as a soil amendment. It can also be noted that inhabitant can use the soil conditioner obtained from composting to grow their own vegetables and crops. This is a good path towards sustainability and it dema nds patience and cooperation. However this project may take time to develop in Mauritius because there is lack of willingness on the part of communities, local authorities and other parties such as the informal sector and the formal waste collector. Best practices Enforcing Law To achieve a sustainable waste management, the Government must take actions against those who by-pass the law by throwing wastes haphazardly. The pay- as -you -throw program should be put in place and the local authorities must ensure that the legal duty to abide by this particular program is imposed on all people in the country, including tourists. The government should enforce a law for the purchase of recycled products such as paper, re-refined oil, and retread tires by recycling companies all over the island. Companies who are willing to do recycling, should be subsidised to provide a special bin for recyclable materials and also for the collection purpose. This will encourage people not to throw those materials which can be transformed in valued resources once more, hence reducing the waste which was bound to be incinerated or landfilled. Education and awareness There should be a continuous awareness programme in place, so that every person gets well accustomed to the new techniques of municipal solid waste management. There should also be public education so that people are not only made aware of the new techniques, but also that they can understand the reasons behind managing municipal solid wastes sustainably. The public should know and understand the importance of sustainable development. For example, when doing shopping, people should always look for the labels of a product to ascertain its recyclability. This will encourage the production of recycled-content products. People, can practice bulk buying and make greater use of plastics containers for refillable products. People should be made aware of the benefits of buying products refillable in containers and also bulk buying. They can save money and also reduce packaging waste in so doing. They should avoid products of unnecessary packaging when choosing between two similar one. Close neighbours or family should be willing to share recent newspapers or magazines. This can maximise the use of such items and lead to a reduction in the generation of wastes. Even for old tools, equipments or other materials which can still be used, willingness on the part of people should exist to ask friends, relatives, neighbours or community groups if they can use them before it is discarded. Inhabitants of communities should be willing organise a special day for donating or reselling goods to organisation in need such as clothes, furnitures and reading materials. Local or regional programs to collect compostable material should be set up with the help of public officials or community leaders. If people cannot do composting at their places, they must collect all the compostable materials and give it to their neighbours who are involved in gardening or crop growing. These values should be inculcated at school itself. Environmental education should be introduces at schools, where students will learn how to do source reduction, reuse or recycling and composting. 5.2 Conclusion The severity of waste management problems in Mauritius has long been recognized. The impact of municipal solid waste on the environment is greatly determined by the way this waste is handled, (Ludwig et al., 2004). The lack of suitable disposal sites has affected the environment. New technologies have been developed in order to help in the treatment of waste and in safe disposal. Other technologies will be set up for the recovery of material and energy in the near future. There are key issues that need to be considered in sustainable management, such as the environmental performance of technologies and the economic costs. After subsequent analysis of the whole solid waste management system in Mauritius, it has been found that the actual system is not enough to manage municipal solid waste effectively. To manage municipal solid waste sustainably in Mauritius, the existing system should be reviewed and problems should be tackled preferably at source, and if not possible, then appropriate mechanisms for safe disposal should be installed in an effort to combat the increasing volume of untreated solid waste dumped into canals and drains or any other open dumping sites, (United States Agency for International Development, 2005).

Biography of Martin Luther :: Protestant Reformation World History Essays

Biography of Martin Luther Martin Luther , who was born in 1483,remains in history known as on of the few unique forces that changed the world fundamentally by force of will and by his ideas. The people who support him call him the â€Å"Protestant hero, a freedom fighter, and a wise insightful church leader.† But there are many people who do not like and the names they call him are a â€Å"heretic, an apostate, and a profane ecclesiastical terrorist.† Often Luther called himself a simple monk or a simple Christian. He was glad that a straight-forward stand of sense of right and wrong had turned him into one of the most talked about people of his time. Little did he know that, that simple Christian and that simple stand for what is right and what is wrong changed the course of World History. I will explain Martin Luther in four main parts of his life. First, his early years; second, Luther’s struggle to find peace and his discovery of grace; third, his problems with the sell of indulg ences; and finally, Luther’s death and legacy. First of all, Martin Luther’s early years of his life. Martin Luther was born to Hans and Margaretta Luther on November 10, 1483 in Eisleben, Germany. He was baptized on the feast day of St. Martin of Tours , of which he was named of. His father owned and worked a copper mine in the nearby town of Mansfeld. Having come from peasantry, his father was determined to see his son rise up to civil service and bring more honor to the family. To achieve this goal Hans sent Martin Luther to schools in Mansfeld, Magdeburg, and Eisenach. When he was seventeen, in 1501, he entered the University of Erfurt. There he received a Bachelors degree in 1502 and a masters degree in 1505. Trying to fulfill his fathers wishes he enrolled in the law school of that university. Little did he know that all that was about to change. While riding a horse during a thunderstorm in the summer of 1505 a lightning bolt struck near him while returning to school. Being in a terrified state he cried out, â €Å"Help, St. Anne I’ll become a monk † Luther was spared his life and so he kept his promise and entered the monastery at his law school.

First Impressions Essay example -- essays research papers

First impressions are very important to your every day life. They are the basis of how relationships start and how you are seen by other people. People, based on first impressions, form opinions. The opinions could begin many things and lead towards success or these opinions could be ones that are misleading and have a negative impact on how people relate to you. First impression are very important on people’s social life, in your education and in employment. In your social life, first impressions come from your friends, family, and even new people who come into your life. First impressions for your education consists of your teachers or classmates when you are taking a class. First impressions on employment go from your current co-workers, boss, and former employers. The are very significant in job interviews. First impressions are important, but are not always the final word. First impressions from the social perspective is the issue at hand, when viewing the importance of first impressions, and then taking in account the environment that one is in, then lastly viewing the important role that first impressions play throughout the course of a relationship such a friendship. The importance of first impressions is essential to the development of relationships be it for a friendship or just merely business acquaintances, the role of first impressions is resounded throughout the course of that relationships. How you are perceived has a very basic bearing as to how you are treated. Your outward appearance plays a pivotal role in the compiling of a first impression, when you are viewed by others, a snap decision is made about you that people will hold in their minds whether subconsciously, or conscientiously that first moment that they laid eyes on you. Also the way that you portray yourself comes into play at this point, your social skills are the main focus of the first impression after the mental image of you is implanted in the person’s mind. Your social skills would reflect how you wish to present yourself to the people that you are meeting, if you wish to get along then you take a route that would help you get along in your company of the people that you are meeting. How you present yourself in this situation has a direct reflection to the type of environment that you are in. Depending on the environment that you are in, this will reflect your actions, i... ... and that could all be because of the initial impression we may have left with the interviewer. There have been studies of what types of people have what types of jobs in this country. Educational first impressions are very important also. These first impressions are the ones that you make on your teachers and other classmates. For example, when you start a new class at a school, you want to have a good first impression on your teacher so that they respect you and give you the attention and value that you need. With you classmates, you want to make a lasting first impression on them. The first impressions is important because you can develop relationships from this. If you come in to class late on the first day and look messy and have an attitude, peoples first impression on you would be negative and treat you differently then you deserve to be treated. Finally, as you can see, first impressions do have a great affect on people who meet you. They are the base of all relationships. First impressions are very important socially, educationally, and employment wise. Impressions on people usually last forever. Although people have second impressions, the first ones are very important.

Chemistry (Redox)

Experiment 1 : Redox Titration Using Sodium Thiosulphate Abstract This experiment is to determine the concentration of oxidizing solution using the iodine/ thiosulphate titration where the reducing solution is potassium iodate solution and the oxidizing solution is sodium thiosulphate solution. Potassium iodate solution which is an oxidizing agent is added into an excess solution of acidified potassium iodide. This reaction will release iodine. Potassium iodide is acidified with sulphuric acid and the iodine released quickly titrated with sodium thiosulphate until it become light yellow.The iodine then detected with starch solution and it turn into dark blue solution and titrated again with sodium thiosulphate until colourless. From the reaction occur, the amount of the iodine can be determined and based on this amount, the concentration of oxidizing agent which released iodine can be determined. Introduction Redox titration using sodium thiosulphate as a reducing agent is also known as iodometric titration. The reaction is:- I2(aq) + 2NA2S2O3(aq) 2Nal(aq) + 2Na2S4O6(aq) I2(aq) + 2S2O32-(aq)2I-(aq) + S4O62-(aq) In this equation, I2 has been reduced to I-: S2O32-(aq)S4O62-(aq) + 2e- I2(aq) + 2e- 2I-(aq) The iodine/ thiosulphate titration is a general method for determining the concentration of oxidizing solution. A known volume of an oxidizing agent is added into an excess solution of acidified potassium iodide. The reaction will release iodine:- Example: a. With KMnO4 2MnO4-(aq) + 16H+ (aq)+ 10I-(aq) 2Mn2+(aq) + 5I2(aq) + 8H2O(I) b. With KIO3 O3-(aq) + 5I-(aq) + 6H (aq) 3I2(aq) + 3H2O(aq) The iodine that is released is titrated with a standard thiosulphate solution.From the stoichiometry of the reaction, the amount of iodine can be determined and from this the concentration of the oxidizing agent, which released the iodine, can be calculated. Aims a. To prepare a standard solution of potassium iodate use in determining the concentration of a sodium thiosulphate solution accurately. b. To learn the proper technique for titration. Theory In an iodometric titration, starch solution is used as an indicator as it absorbs the iodine that is released. This absorption will cause the solution to change to a dark blue colour.When this dark blue solution is titrated with the standard thiosulphate, iodine will react with the thiosulphate solution, the dark blue will disappear. So the end point of the titration is when the dark blue solour disappear. It is difficult for iodine to dissolve in water. Iodine is usually dissolves in water by adding an excess of KI so that KI3, which has similar properties to iodine, is formed. I2(aq) + KI(aq)KI3 .I3-(aq) + 2e-3I-(aq) APPARATUS AND CHEMICALS 50-mL beaker250-mL volumetric flask Glass rodBurette 25-mL pipettePipette filler 3 ? 250-mL conical flaskMagnetic fleaPotassium iodate crystals (KIO3)Potassium iodide (KI) 1M H2SO4Starch solution ca. 0. 1M sodium thiosulphate solution Level of miniscus Pull the stopcoc k in against the taper each time you turn it. A sheet of white paper or towel below the flask will help in recognizing the colour change at the end point. Swirl the flask continuosly until one drop of titrant causes a colour change throughout the entire solution. Swirl the flask continuously until the drop of titrant causes a colour change throughout the entire solution. METHODOLOGY : A. Preparation of potassium iodate solution . 0. 75 g of potassium iodate crystals is weighed accurately in 50-mL beaker. 2. 25 mL distilled water are added into beaker and stirred with glass rod to dissolve all the potassium iodate. 3. The potassium iodate solution is poured into a 250-mL volumetric flask. The beaker is rinsed with distilled water and the washings are poured into the volumetric flask. 4. Distilled water is added to the volumetric flask up to the graduated level. The volumetric flask is stoppered and shook well in order to get a homogeneous solution. B. Standardization of 0. M sodium t hiosulphate solution 1. A burette is filled with the 0. 1M sodium thiosulphate solution to be standardized. There are no air bubbles in the burette. 2. The initial reading of the burette is recorded in table 1. 1. 3. 25-mL of standard potassium iodate solution prepared in part A are pipetted into a 250-mL conical flask and a magnetic flea is added into conical flask. 4. 1 g of potassium iodide, KI, is weighed approximately and it is placed in a 50-mL beaker. 5. 10. 0 mL of 1. 0M sulphuric acid solution are added and are swirled until all the KI dissolved. . This solution is added to the conical flask containing the potassium iodate solution and it is immediately titrated with the sodium thiosulphate solution, while it is stirred using a stirrer hot plate, until a ligth yellow solution is obtained. Then, the solution is diluted with distilled water until the total volume is about 100 mL. Then, 1. 0 mL of starch solution is added and the titration is continued until the blue colour di sappears and the solution become colourless. . The final reading of the burette is recorded in the table 1. 1 . The procedures are repeated twice as the results is more accurate. CALCULATIONS : 1. Complete chemical reaction equation for reaction between ; i. iodate and iodide ions, IO3- + 5I-+ 6H+ >3I2 + 3H2O ii. iodine and thiosulphate ions, [ I2 + S2 O32- > 2I- + S4O62-]? 3 > 3I2 + 6S2 O32- > 6I- + 3S4O62- 2. Calculate the molarity of the KIO3 solution. Mass of KIO3 = 0. 75 g Volume of KIO3 = 250 mL Relative molecular mass of KIO3, = 39. 0983+126. 9045+3(15. 994) = 214. 001 g mol-1 Number of mole KIO3, = 0. 75 g ? 214. 001 g mol-1 = 0. 0035 mol Thus, Molarity of KIO3, = 0. 0035 mol ? 0. 25 L = 0. 014 mol L-1 3. The mole ratio between the iodate and thiosulphate ions is determine from the equation given are IO3- + 5I-+ 6H+ >3I2 + 3H2O [ I2 + S2 O32- > 2I- + S4O62-]? 3 3I2 + 6S2O32-> 6I- + 3S4O62- IO- : 6S4O62- 1:6 4. The molarity of the sodium thiosulphate bM1V1 = aM2V2 6(0. 014)(0 . 50) = 1(M2)(0. 021) M2= 2 M2= 0. 0210. 0211 = 0. 995 mol 5. The molarity of potassium iodide solution IO3- + 5I-+ 6H+ >3I2 + 3H2O Moles of KI- = 1g ? 1 mole of KI39+127 Molarity of KI3 = aM2V2bV2 = 1(21. 14100L)(0. 1008M)6101000L =0. 0355 M KIO3 Moles of KI3 = MV1000 =0. 003? 101000 =0. 00036 mol KIO3 Excess mole of I- = 0. 0060 – 0. 0018 =0. 0042 mol I- 0. 0060 mol0. 0042 mol = 250 mlx X =17. 5 mL 3I2 + 6S2O32-> 6I- + 3S4O62- Ratio of iodide to thiosulphate 5 : 6 bM1V1 = aM2V2 Molarity of KI = 50. 1008g(21. 141000l)6(17. 51000l) =0. 1014 M KI DISCUSSIONRedox titration using sodium thiosulphate is also known as iodometric titration. Sodium thiosulphate acts as reducing agent an at the same time it undergoes oxidation and release electron. In this titration, potassium iodate, KIO3, is used as an oxidizing agent. Potassium iodate solution is added into an excess solution of acidified potassium. This reaction release iodine. Iodine reacts with sodium thiosulphate. The reaction is: I2 (aq) + 2Na2S2O3 (aq) 2NaI (aq) +Na2S4O6 (aq) I2 (aq) + 2S2O32- (aq) 2I- (aq) + N4O62- (aq)In this equation I2 has been reduced to I- 2S2O32- (aq) S4O62- (aq) + 2e- I2 (aq) + 2e- 2I- (aq) In this iodometric titration, we use starch solution as an indicator as it absorbs the iodine that is released. The absorption causes the solution to change to dark blue colour. When the dark blue solution is titrated with the standard thiosulphate, iodine react with the thiosulphate solution. When all the iodine has reacted with the thiosulphate solution, the dark blue colour disappear. So, it is the end point of the titration when the dark blue colour disappear.However, there are a few aspects that need to be considered during the experiment. Firstly, the indicator should only be added after the titration has begun. This is because it is difficult to release the iodine while titrating with the thiosulphate. This will affect the end point. Hence, the addition of the starch should only be do ne when the colour of the solution is light yellow. Secondly, to avoid the iodine from evaporating, the solution must be titrated immediately with the sodium thiosulphate after the solution is mixed with potassium iodide,KI. The precaution taken: Wear safety goggles in the laboratory during the experiment. * Washed the effected skin immediately when in contact with chemicals * Wear gloves when taken the chemical substances. CONCLUSION The experiment was performed in order to determine the concentration of oxidizing solution. Potassium iodate, KIO3, as an oxidizing agent is added into an excess solution of acidified potassium iodide and from the reaction, iodine is released. The iodine that is released is titrated with a standard sodium thiosulphate. From the calculation, the molarity of potassium iodate is 0. 014g/cm3.

Coefficient of Restitution

In lab 8 of coefficient in restriction both potential and kinetic energies is used, however energy cannot be made or destroyed. In doing this lab you will get a better understanding individual perspective of the starting point and finishing point of the drop (maximum height). You also get familiar here by finding the answer using formulas. By the end of the lab we should be able to understand with the coefficient of restriction is, in be able to locate where energy is lost.Procedure: After buying the correct supplies and equipment I set up the reoccurred using a chair, a measuring tape, a scale, a plastic Ping-Pong ball, and a tennis rubber ball. Started by weighing each ball in ounces and converted to kilograms and finding the initial drop by, which was all the same. The first ball used was the tennis ball after five trials were done the maximum height was recorded in inches.The same process was done for the plastic Ping-Pong ball five trials were with the maximum height taken, meas ured in inches. For both the Ping-Pong ball and tennis ball I used a slow-motion camera in order to create a more accurate maximum height measurement. Conclusion: In this lab I thought it interesting that the tennis ball did not bounce as high as I imagined/ expected it would. Found that the Ping-Pong ball is .

Nature vs. Nurture Essay

Over recent years the nature vs. nurture debate has been extensively discussed and researched. Should human characteristics such as intelligence, personality, behavior and ability be attributed to our genetics or our environment? One problem with this is how to pin a trait down to either an inherited or learned characteristic, or perhaps itÂ’s both. Are we to blame for our behavior or is inevitable due to our genetics? This question and others seems to be part of the controversy over the subject. Also, these questions play a factor in how to change and adapt behavior. Different techniques would be more effective depending on the cause of a particular behavior or characteristic. When analyzing the causes of behavior problems in children the question of nature vs. nurture is a legitimate question. One recent study conducted by the University of Virginia and several others including one in Australia studied 1,045 twins and their 2,051 children. Some of the parents were identical twins with others being fraternal. This affected the amount of genes that were shared among the siblings. Participants were twins from a volunteer twin registry and information was gathered through a series of phone interviews beginning in 1993 and ending in 2003. The study discovered that spousal fighting wasnÂ’t to blame for behavioral problems in their children. Rather, it was the genes that influenced how often they argued with spouses. These genes when passed to their children caused more conduct problems. The conclusion of the study was that in family therapy, more focus on the child rather than the parents would be more effective (Society for Research in Child Development, 2007). This conclusion supports the theory that it is nature or our genetics that influence this particular behavior. On the other end of the spectrum another study involved observing children in different childcare settings. Researchers from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development studied the children beginning in 1991 from the age of one month until they were school age. These 1,364 participants were selected at birth and were studied through phone and personal interviews at three month intervals. The childrenÂ’s cognitive and social functioning was measured at certain intervals and followed up to the  children on sixth grade. It was concluded that center based care yielded more aggression and disobedience than other types of childcare, with the quality of childcare was also found to be a factor (Society for Research in Child Development, 2007). This conclusion supports the theory that it is nurture or our environment that influences this particular behavior and the type of care children receive is an important factor in a childÂ’s development. Both of these studies posed the question of whether the cause of a particular problem, this one being behavioral issues, is genetic or ones environment. Both of these studies looked exclusively at one cause or the other with little being discussed about the other possibilities. The differences in the studies was the length of time given to each study with the genetic study being short term and the childcare study involving observations over a period of time. Another difference is the twin study looked at parents of a specific group, that being twins. The child care study looked at the children of many different types of parents. While both of these studies have their merits, neither study was able to conclusively determine the cause of behavioral problems observed as being attributed solely to genetics or the environment. The question of which one plays a greater role will likely continue to be asked. Hopefully this leads to more research and answers that will further our understanding of human behavior. References Society for Research in Child Development (2007, March 26). Center-based Care Yields More Behavior Problems; In Other Types Of Care, Problems Short-lived. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 31, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com ¬ /releases/2007/03/070326095340.htm. Society for Research in Child Development (2007, February 7). Parents’ Genes, Not Parents’ Arguing, May Cause Children’s Conduct Problems. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 31, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com ¬ /releases/2007/02/070207090943.htm.

Questionnaire on fashion brands Essay

Factors Affecting Consumer Preference of International Brands over Local Brands Zeenat Ismail1âˆâ€", Sarah Masood2 and Zainab Mehmood Tawab2 1 Department of Social Sciences, Institute of Business Administration – Karachi 2 Students of Institute of Business Administration – Karachi Abstract: This study was conducted in order to determine the consumer preferences of global brands instead of local ones. It is also designed to find out the buying behavior patterns of young Pakistani consumers Consumer evaluates products based on information cues, which are intrinsic and extrinsic. A number of factors affect the consumer purchase decisions. The results suggest that most important factors that influence a consumer’s final decision are the price and quality of the product in question. Since the consumers usually associate the price of the brand with its quality, a brand priced too low is generally perceived as a low quality product. Similarly, a product priced too high may not be affordable by many. Other factors that have an impact on the consumer preferences are: consumer ethnocentrism, country of origin, social status, price relativity with the competing brands and family and friends. The research was conducted in Karachi and the samples selected included 200 people of age 16-24. The data collected for the research was through a questionnaire and was conducted in two popular shopping malls of the city and two universities since the target audience was largely the youth. Calculations were then analyzed and interpreted using a percentage of respondents and through frequency distribution tables and charts. Keywords: Consumer preference, International brands, Local brands 1. Introduction Globalization is an inevitable phenomenon that is leading the entire world towards becoming one market, a global village. Not only has the process of globalization aided immensely in the exchange of goods and services, information and knowledge through the reductions in international barriers, but it has also led the world into becoming a real single universal community comprising of people from different cultures, thus resulting in the shrinkage of the world. With the world becoming a single market, globalization has had a major contribution in enabling the organizations worldwide to step out of the restricted domestic markets and to set up their operations across the globe with confidence. This has largely led to a decline in the importance in national borders and a greater emphasis on what the consumers actually demand; be the consumers located in the very country in which the organization exists or an entirely different part of the world. Moreover, with the rapid increase in global competition, companies that strictly adhere to and cater to the needs of the local markets are finding themselves at a disadvantage and gradually loosing the competitive advantage that they so much strived to achieve. However, for some products and services â€Å"the tastes and preferences of consumers in different nations are beginning to converge on some global norm† (Holt 2002). From a consumer perspective, however, reactions to the prevalence of global brands seem to vary among the different customers. On the one hand, consumers seem to value and admire global brands and regard such brands as a status symbol. On the other hand, global brands are often criticized for threatening the local differences and imposing the western cultures on our society, leading to a loss of cultural identity. 2. Purpose of the study: âˆâ€" Email: zismail@iba.edu.pk Tel #:+92(333) 3775545 Fax #:+92(21) 38103008 54 This study is aimed at determining consumer preference of the youth of international brands instead of national or local brands in Pakistan. There are various factors which influence consumer purchase decision. Such as  Country of origin, price of the brand fashion, family and friends, brand name, availability, advertising campaigns, consumers’ ethnocentrism etc. The study is also designed to find out the buying behaviour patterns of the young Pakistani consumers, attitudes towards global and local brands and the preference for foreign brands. 3. Literature review Brands have been constantly reviewed and redefined in the marketing literature and there are numerous definitions for ‘brand’. A definition of a brand by The American Marketing Association (AMA) in the 1960s (Keller, 1998:2) is â€Å"a name, term, sign, symbol, or design, or a combination of them, intended to identify the goods and services of one seller or group of sellers and differentiate them from those of competitors.† For consumers, when deciding between brands which are in the marketplace will include brands as an element to determine the qualities of the product rather than employing their time to enhance their knowledge of the product in information searching activities. Therefore, consumers use brands as cues to make decisions to purchase or try products (Ger et al., 1993). 4. Quality Perceived quality is defined as the consumers’ judgment about an entity’s (service’s) overall excellence or superiority (Zeithaml, 1988 and Rowley, 1998). Research also indicates that consumers value global brands especially for their assumed high quality and prestigious image (e.g., Nguyen, Barrett and Miller 2005; Steenkamp, Batra and Alden 2003). An internationally well-established brand name can act as a â€Å"halo† constructs that effects quality beliefs (Han 1989). If a brand is perceived as globally available, consumers are likely to attribute a superior quality to the brand, since such quality is thought of as a prerequisite for international acceptance. 5. Country of origin The country of origin effect has been defined as â€Å"the positive and negative influence that a product’s country of manufacture may have on consumers’ decision making processes or subsequent behavior (Elliott and Cameron, 1994). 1991). Infact in the words of Nagashima (1970), COE can be defined as  Ã¢â‚¬Å"the picture, the reputation, and the stereotype that businessmen and consumers attach to products or brands of a specific country. This image is created by such variables as representative products, national characteristics, economic and political background, history, and traditions†. The literature on country-of-origin effects is quite rich and covers the topic from different perspectives in different countries. Some studies have shown that country of origin also has symbolic and emotional meaning to consumes, and it plays an important role along with other attributes such as quality and reliability in shaping consumers attitudes toward products. Moreover, attitudes and perceptions of consumers toward brands and products will depend on categories, for instance, electronic goods from Italy may be perceived as a poor quality but Italian clothing would be perceive as fashionable and high quality (Bikey and Nes, 1982). This would be differently perceived with Japanese brands as Japanese electronic goods would be perceive with positive attitudes and Japanese clothing will be negatively perceived. 6. Price Researchers found out that once consumers perceive a price difference between local-owned and foreignowned brands, price dissimilarities begin to affect their preference for local-owned brands. Therefore, since price is also one of the most important extrinsic cues that consumers use when evaluating the product/brand (Hansen, 2005), we test the impact of price against consumer’s ethnocentric tendencies to determine at what point consumers are willing to forsake preference for local products for a greater price discount with foreignowned products. 7. Social status 55 Authors have stressed that consumers may prefer global brands because of associations of higher prestige (Schuiling & Kapferer, 2004; Shocker, Srivastava, & Rueckert, 1994; Steenkamp, et. al., 2003). Global brands may have a higher prestige than local brands due to their relative scarcity and higher price. Furthermore, global brands may also stand for cosmopolitanism. Some consumers prefer global brands because they enhance their selfimage as being cosmopolitan, sophisticated, and modern. Conversely, according to Ger (1999), local brands tend to be targeted and positioned based on a deep cultural understanding and therefore create â€Å"a sustainable unique value and offer the symbolism of authenticity and prestige†. Still, consumers have been found to have no intrinsic preference for global brands (De Mooij, 1998). 8. Friends and family Reference groups include groups or people whom one can look up for guidance and ask for opinion. These are important source of influencing the brand purchases. Reference group include friends and family who influence ones buying decisions due to special skills, knowledge, personality. If a friend had a bad experience with a product, it is more likely that one will refrain from buying it. However many studies found out that, knowledge that consumers obtain through direct personal experience will be perceived to be more trustworthy than information from other communications. This results in more strongly held beliefs (Swaminathan et al., 2001). 9. Research Questions The reasons for consumer preference of global brands over the local ones. The product attributes that are mostly considered by consumers when buying a brand. The demographic characteristic of consumers who buy foreign brands more frequently. 10. Research methodology This study is a descriptive study and more of a qualitative nature and was conducted to identify and analyze the reasons why consumers prefer international brands to national brands when purchasing consumer goods. The sample for this research included the 200 consumers whose ages ranged from 16-24 years from Karachi. Simple random sampling was used for this study. Questionnaires were used to collect primary data. The questionnaire included closed ended questions and Likert scale is used in most of the questions. These questionnaires were distributed to collect data from the students of  Institute of Business Administration itself as well as the students of Institute of Business Management. Apart from this, we also visited Park Towers shopping mall and The Forum, the two leading shopping malls in Karachi, with the aim of collecting data for our research from the shoppers there. 50 questionnaires were distributed to each of the universities and shopping malls in equal proportion to males and females. We mainly classified our population according to gender. Frequency distribution and bar charts have been used to evaluate the results. In addition to this, the means of different factors that influence consumers’ preferences of the local and global brands were used to determine which factors are considered the most by consumers when purchasing different brands. 11. Findings and Discussion 11.1. Question 1: Do you use international brands products? 56 According to the data collected, 72.5% of the people used international brands of which 60 were male and 85 were females. 18.5% of the people questioned claimed to use international brands occasionally, whereas, 9.1% of the people claimed not to use global brands at all. As indicated in the pie charts above,18.5% of the people who used the global brands sometimes included 28 males and 9 females, and those who did not use the global brands consisted of 12 males and 6 females. 11.2. Question 2 If an international brand and a national brand are priced same, would you prefer the international brand? The purpose of this question was to evaluate and discover how important a factor such as price is in determining whether the consumers would go for the domestic brand or stick to the global one if both the products were in  the same price range. The results found out that 76% of the consumers would go for the international brands whereas 24% would still purchase the domestic ones. 11.3. Question 3 Do you consider where a product is manufactured when purchasing it? F r e q u e n c y d i s Responses This question was asked to discover how much importance the youth lay on the country of origin as a factor when making a purchase. The results revealed far different results compared to what had been stated by the review of previous researches done. As indicated in the graph, the youth was found to be mailnly ignorant of the country in which the brand was manufactured. Majority of the consumers (76% males and 88% females) did not consider it as significant a factor as to affect his or her purchase decision. 11.4. Question 4 It is said that people buy international products so that they can be accepted in a particular social group. Do you agree? 57 The results to these two questions confirmed the general perception that exists in our society, that is, the global are purchased as a status symbol. The youth mainly bought foreign branded products to be able to fit in a particular social group. This occurs largely because peer pressure tends to be high at this age, and most of the people find themselves being victims of inferiority complexes. The results to the first of these questions indicated that on average 75% of the youth (71 males and 79 females) purchased the international and local brands as a status symbol. These results were further enhanced by the results to the next question, which showed that 72% of the males and 68% of the females did, infact, believe that the people purchased the international brands to be able to fit in a particular social group. The table above compares the means of the different factors in influencing consumer preferences of the global brands over the local ones. The means, expressed in percentages, indicates that amongst all the factors, the quality of the branded product was considered the most important factor in shaping the consumers’ purchase decision. The current trends and fashion were found to be just as important, but the price of the product was not found to be more important than the prevailing fashion and styles. The reason why 85% of the people decide to buy a particular brand was mainly because it was reflective of the ongoing fashion and there were only 5% people on average, who did not give importance to the ongoing fashion when purchasing a product. The results revealed that price was rated as the third most important factor in influencing consumer choice, whereas the quality of the product was considered the most significant, followed by the current trends and fashion. Mean number of people ( in percentages) Yes Sometimes 76% 16.5% Price of the product 4.5% 13.5% Country of origin 87.5% 7.5% Quality of the product 75% 15.5% Status symbol 85% 10% Current fashion and trends 64.5% 17.55% Family and friends 60% 20.5% Ethnocentrism No 7.5% 82% 5% 9.5% 5% 18% 19.5% Country of origin, as a factor in influencing consumers’ choice of the brand was hardly a significant factor, since 82% of the people, on, average claimed that they did not consider which country a product is manufactured in when making purchase decisions. Only 4.5% people, on average, claimed that they do consider the country of origin when purchasing a brand. The ethnocentrism factor was considered by 60% of the people questioned. This indicates that most of the people believed that as a Pakistani we should buy our local brands rather than giving preference to the global brands, however, this was what they believed to be the ideal scenario. In practice, our people, especially the females were found to be extremely prone to the global brands. According to our findings, 78% of the females were not willing to even substitute the global brand with a domestic if the foreign  brand is not available. The males, however, were not found to be that prone to the foreign brand. The results also show that status symbol is also perceived to be a major factor in shaping consumer purchase decisions. The above table reveals that 75% of the people linked the branded product with their social status when actually purchasing it. The table provides a summary and ratings of the factors influencing consumer preferences of the national or international brand. 12. References 58 [1] Balabanis, G., Diamantopoulos, A., Mueller, R. and Melewar, T.C. (2001), â€Å"The impact of Nationalism, patriotism and internationalism on consumer ethnocentric tendencies†, Journal of International Business Studies, Volume 32, pp. 157-75. [2] Batra, R., Ramaswamy, V., Alden, D.L., Steenkamp, J.-B.E.M., Ramachander, S., 2000. Effects of Brand Local and Nonlocal Origin on Consumer Attitudes in Developing Countries. Journal of Consumer Psychology 9 (2), 8395. [3] Bilkey, W.J. and Nes, E. (1982), â€Å"Country-of-origin effects on product evaluations†, Journal of International Business Studies, Volume 13, pp. 89-99. [4] Crawford, J. and Lamb, C. (1981), â€Å"Source preferences for imported products†, Journal of Purchasing and Materials Management, Volume 17, Winter, pp. 28-33. [5] De Mooij, M. (2004). Consumer behavior and culture. Thousand Oaks: Sage. [6] Elliott, G.R. and Camoron, R.C. (1994), â€Å"Consumer perception of product quality and the country of origin effect†, Journal of International Marketing, Volume 2(2), pp. 49-62. [7] Han, C. M., 1989. Country Image: Country Image: Halo or Summary Construct? Journal of Marketing Research, 26(May), 222-229. [8] Hansen, T., 2005. Perspectives on consumer decision making: An integrated approach. Journal of Consumer Behaviour 4 (6), 420-437 [9] Heslop, L.A. and Papadopoulos, N. (1993), â€Å"‘But who knows where or when’: reflections on the images of countries and their products†, in Papadopoulos, L.A. and Heslop, N. (Eds), Product-Country Images: Impact and Role in International Marketing, International Business Press, New York, NY, pp. 39-75. [10] Heslop, L.A., Papadopolous, N. and Bourk, M. (1998), â€Å"An interregional and intercultural perspective on subcultural differences in product evaluations†, Canadian Journal of Administrative Sciences, Volume 15(2), pp. 113-127. [11] Keller, K., (1998), â€Å"Strategic Brand Management†, Prentice-Hall, New Jersey. [12] Kinra, N. (2006), â€Å"The effect of country-of-origin on foreign brand names in the Indian market†, Marketing Intelligence & Planning, Volume 24 (1), pp.15-30. [13] Lantz, G. and Loeb, S. (1996), â€Å"Country of origin and ethnocentrism: an analysis of Canadian and American preferences using social identity theory†, Advances in Consumer Research, Volume. 23, pp. 374-8. [14] Mazumdar, T., Papatla, P., 2000. An Investigation of Reference Price Segments. Journal of Marketing Research (JMR) 37 (2), 246-258. [15] Nagashima, A. (1970), â€Å"A Comparison of Japanese and U.S. Attitudes Towards Foreign Products†, Journal of Marketing, Volume 34, January, pp. 68-74. [16] Netemeyer, R.G., Durvasula, S. and Lichtenstein, D.R. (1991), â€Å"A cross-national assessment of the reliability and validity of the CETSCALE†, Journal of Marketing Research, Volume 28, pp. 320-7. [17] Nguyen, T., Barrett, N., Miller, K., 2005. Perceived Brand Globalness: Antecedents and Out-come – The Case of Vietnamese Consumers. Proceedings of the 34th EMAC Conference, 24-27 Mai 2005, Università   Commerciale Luigi Bocconi, Milan, Italy. [18] Shocker, A. D., Srivastava, R. K., & Ruekert, R. W. (1994): Challenges and opportunities facing brand management: an introduction to the special  issue. J. Marketing Res., 31(2), pp. 149-158. [19] Steenkamp, J-B., Batra, R., & Alden, D. L. (2003): How perceived brand globalness creates brand value. J. Int. Bus. Stud., 34, pp. 53-65. [20] Summer, W.G. (1906), Folkways: The Sociological Importance of usages, Manners, Customs, Mores and Morals. New York: Ginn & Co. [21] Wang, C.K. and Lamb, C.W. (1983), â€Å"The impact of selected environmental forces on consumers willingness to buy foreign products†, Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Volume 11(2), pp. 71-84. http://amcy5.com/projects/marketing/amcy20.htm

Against racism Essay

Racism dates back thousands and thousands of years back to the caveman times. In the short story â€Å"Desiree’s Baby†, Kate Chopin shows how discrimination by skin color can affect people. Desiree was abandoned and raised by Madame Valmonde. Armand, the father of the baby, was a member of the most notable families in Louisiana. He falls in love with Desiree and marries her. After they have a baby, their relationship quickly corrodes. A few months later, Armand realizes the baby’s skin has a darker tint than usual. He accuses Desiree of being black. Armand tells Desiree he wants her to leave so Desiree takes the baby and â€Å"disappears among the reeds and willows that grew thick along the banks of the deep, sluggish bayou† (Chopin 91) and never returns. Armand finds out that Desiree is black when he reads a letter that her mother sent her that read â€Å"she belongs to the race which is cursed with the brand of slavery† (Chopin 92). The story†™s ironic ending has a connection with the story’s setting, imagery, and Chopin’s use of similies. The setting has a major role to the ironic ending because it takes place in antembellum South where blacks are not treated equally to whites. There are several hints at where and when the story takes place. First, Armand’s last name, Aubigny, was â€Å"one of the oldest and proudest in Louisiana† (Chopin 89) which tells us it takes place in Louisiana. Also, Chopin says that Armand owns a plantation and many slaves which wouldn’t have been possible after the Civil War times showing that the story takes place during the antebellum period. The name of Armand’s plantation, L’Abri, is also ironic because it means â€Å"the shelter† in French which is ironic for Desiree because it is a bad place for her not a good place. Chopin explains how â€Å"there was something in the air menacing her peace†. The story wouldn’t take place in any other time period or location because if it did, Desiree wouldn’t be discriminated for being black, therefore wouldn’t of run of into the bayou along with the baby. Chopin’s use of imagery leads up to the irony at the end of the story the greatest because Chopin contrasts black and white skin colors. First, Chopin explains how Armand’s plantation is all full of dark colors. â€Å"The roof came down steep and black†¦branches shadowed it like a pall† (Chopin 89). This initial imagery shows Armand’s control. When Armand’s father ran the plantation, he was very nice to the slaves and treated them humanly, but when Armand took the plantation over he was very harsh and cruel, â€Å"under it, his negroes had forgotten how to be gay† (Chopin 89). Armand has a â€Å"dark, handsome face† (Chopin 90). This symbolizes Armand’s hatred and is a foreshadow to the end when it turns out Armand is black. Desiree, on the other hand, is always surrounded by light colors. For example, when she is leaving the plantation towards her death, she was still wearing a thin, white garment, and, â€Å"her hair was uncovered and the sun’s rays brought a golden glean from its brown meshes† (Chopin 91). The colors they are surrounded by also illustrate their personalities. While Desiree, who is â€Å"beautiful and gentle, af fectionate and sincere† (Chopin 88) is surrounded by light, Armand, is â€Å"imperious and exacting† (Chopin 90) is surrounded by dark. The similes that Chopin uses also leads up to support the ironic ending by showing Armand’s emotional changes and Desiree’s feelings of rejection. Most of the similes to describe Armand’s actions happen when he falls in love with Desiree. Even though they knew each other since he was eight years old, he didn’t fall in love with her until they were in their twenties. Chopin explains that sudden love, â€Å"as if struck by a pistol shot† (Chopin 88) was the way everyone in Armand’s family fell in love. Two similes that explain Desiree’s shock add to the ironic twist at the end of the story. First, Desiree realizes her baby is not white and her blood, â€Å"turned like ice in her veins† (Chopin 90). Later, Armand tells Desiree he wants her to leave and Desiree turns away â€Å"like o ne stunned by a blow† (Chopin 91). This is how Chopin’s use of similes connect to the ironic ending. The main conflict in â€Å"Desiree’s Baby† is ultimately race. This story’s use of similes and imagery, along with the setitng, make for a good ironic ending in which Armand is really black not Desiree. Therefore, racism kills. Racism dates back thousands and thousands of years back to the caveman times. In the short story â€Å"Desiree’s Baby†, Kate Chopin shows how discrimination by skin color can affect people. Desiree was abandoned and raised by Madame Valmonde. Armand, the father of the baby, was a member of the most notable families in Louisiana. He falls in love with Desiree and marries her. After they have a baby, their relationship quickly corrodes. A few months later, Armand realizes the baby’s skin has a darker tint than usual. He accuses Desiree of being black. Armand tells Desiree he wants her to leave so Desiree takes the baby and â€Å"disappears among the reeds and willows that grew thick along the banks of the deep, sluggish bayou† (Chopin 91) and never returns. Armand finds out that Desiree is black when he reads a letter that her mother sent her that read â€Å"she belongs to the race which is cursed with the brand of slavery† (Chopin 92). The story’s ironic ending has a connection with the story’s setting, imagery, and Chopin’s use of similies. The setting has a major role to the ironic ending because it takes place in antembellum South where blacks are not treated equally to whites. There are several hints at where and when the story takes place. First, Armand’s last name, Aubigny, was â€Å"one of the oldest and proudest in Louisiana† (Chopin 89) which tells us it takes place in Louisiana. Also, Chopin says that Armand owns a plantation and many sl aves which wouldn’t have been possible after the Civil War times showing that the story takes place during the antebellum period. The name of Armand’s plantation, L’Abri, is also ironic because it means â€Å"the shelter† in French which is ironic for Desiree because it is a bad place for her not a good place. Chopin explains how â€Å"there was something in the air menacing her peace†. The story wouldn’t take place in any other time period or location because if it did, Desiree wouldn’t be discriminated for being black, therefore wouldn’t of run of into the bayou along with the baby. Chopin’s use of imagery leads up to the irony at the end of the story the greatest because Chopin contrasts black and white skin colors. First, Chopin explains how Armand’s plantation is all full of dark colors. â€Å"The roof came down steep and black†¦branches shadowed it like a pall† (Chopin 89). This initial imagery s hows Armand’s control. When Armand’s father ran the plantation, he was very nice to the slaves and treated them humanly, but when Armand took the plantation over he was very harsh and cruel, â€Å"under it, his negroes had forgotten how to be gay† (Chopin 89). Armand has a â€Å"dark, handsome face† (Chopin 90). This symbolizes Armand’s hatred and is a foreshadow to the end when it turns out Armand is black. Desiree, on the other hand, is always surrounded by light colors. For example, when she is leaving the plantation towards her death, she was still wearing a thin, white garment, and, â€Å"her hair was uncovered and the sun’s rays brought a golden glean from its brown meshes† (Chopin 91). The colors they are surrounded by also illustrate their personalities. While Desiree, who is â€Å"beautiful and gentle, affectionate and sincere† (Chopin 88) is surrounded by light, Armand, is â€Å"imperious and exacting† (Chopin 90) is surrounded by dark. The similes that Chopin uses also leads up to support the ironic ending by showing Armand’s emotional changes and Desiree’s feelings of rejection. Most of the similes to describe Armand’s actions happen when he falls in love with Desir ee. Even though they knew each other since he was eight years old, he didn’t fall in love with her until they were in their twenties. Chopin explains that sudden love, â€Å"as if struck by a pistol shot† (Chopin 88) was the way everyone in Armand’s family fell in love. Two similes that explain Desiree’s shock add to the ironic twist at the end of the story. First, Desiree realizes her baby is not white and her blood, â€Å"turned like ice in her veins† (Chopin 90). Later, Armand tells Desiree he wants her to leave and Desiree turns away â€Å"like one stunned by a blow† (Chopin 91). This is how Chopin’s use of similes connect to the ironic ending. The main conflict in â€Å"Desiree’s Baby† is ultimately race. This story’s use of similes and imagery, along with the setitng, make for a good ironic ending in which Armand is really black not Desiree. Therefore, racism kills.