ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION IN SPECIAL EDUCATION Essay - 1

ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION IN SPECIAL EDUCATION - Essay Example Everyone is not born similar. Different children have different learning patterns. Some children learn better through demonstration and diagrams, some learn better by doing things themselves while others learn just by grasping things quickly. Children with different learning abilities respond differently to what they are taught in schools. The purpose of the assessment is to help children with learning difficulty to understand their natural learning pattern and to design and create special and nurturing learning environment for them so that they find learning easy and productive. Richard and Schiefelbusch (1991) described assessment as â€Å"a multilevel process, beginning with screening procedures and continuing through diagnosis, planning of intervention, and program monitoring and evaluation† (Gargiulo & Kilgo, 2005, p.90). The assessment of a child is done with a purpose of knowing his abilities, his inherent qualities, his strengths and the areas where he faces difficulties. Assessment should not only aim at knowing why the child is finding it difficult to learn but also to provide a plan to cure his difficulties. The purpose of assessment is to help the child, his parents and his teachers to work together and create a positive environment which caters to his special needs and hence, make the process of learning easy and fun for him. This not only enhances the learning ability but also helps in encouraging the child to come out with his hidden abilities which were somehow suppressed till now because of the lack of the compatible environmental fac tors. However, purpose of the assessment is not being fulfilled as it ignores the importance of the external

Virtue Ethics Essay Example for Free

Virtue Ethics Essay Virtue Ethics and the view that ethics should be wholly concerned with a person’s attributes based on the holistic theory of Aristotle and his Golden Mean, is a newly accepted theory, which looks at a person’s virtues and not their actions. It is a view that directly contrasts with the theories of Kant and Bentham, which focus on actions as opposed to the actual person making those actions. Although the deontological nature of Kant’s theory does partially contradict the teleological constitution of Bentham’s theory, they both focus on the moral decision that a person chooses to make and these theories both clash with Virtue Ethics, in respect that Virtue Ethics looks at why and what made the person make that decision. Whilst it is important to focus on the person behind the action, a more consequentialist view of ethics is a better functioning theory in today’s society due to the emphasis placed on the result of actions and the many cultures in the world, where virtuous acts would be difficult to define. In this essay, I will explore these contrasting ethical positions to prove that ethics should be more concerned with what you do than who you are. Aristotle’s theory is ultimately based on the idea of reaching eudaimonia, and this was something which, unlike the theories of Bentham and Mill, was sought for itself rather than as a means to some other end. The virtues that lead to this â€Å"happiness† are described by Aristotle to be like a habit, they should be learnt and acquired making one a better person, meaning that they will make the correct moral decisions. Using â€Å" Virtue Ethics† as an approach to life is taken up by many parents across the globe, as they act to make the child become a better person. However, one must question whether Virtue Ethics is a logical means of moral explanation as perhaps just because a person has many desirable virtues, it doesn’t certainly follow that they will make good, ethical, moral decisions. The aim of reaching Eudaimonia highlights the teleological aspect of Virtue Ethics as it is Aristotle’s GOAL for life. However whereas in consequentialism actions are taken in order to be happy, Aristotle believes that we should be happy in order to do something else. Aristotle arrived at the answer of whether an act was virtuous or not by using his â€Å"Final Cause† argument. In this, he believed that everything has a final good, which is achieved by fulfilling the purpose for which it was designed. Aristotle claimed that we all learn to have virtues that are â€Å"good† and will help us to obtain Eudaimonia. However, a major flaw of Virtue Ethics, leads from this, as Virtues are liable to change. The attributes that Aristotle valued are not necessarily what is valued in today’s society. He also talked about the doctrine of the Golden Mean. This aspect of virtue ethics is, for me, what makes it a potentially credible theory, as it takes into account human emotions, recognising that we can sometimes be extreme. This is explained by the idea of vices versus virtues, in that we should not have extremes of virtues as they are no longer â€Å"good†. However, surely this makes virtue ethics hard to follow, as there are no clear rules of what to do in a moral dilemma, instead just telling us to be a balanced person. By being a balanced person, Aristotle concludes that people will also be moral After Aristotle Virtue ethics was dismissed until Elizabeth Anscombe revived it in 1958, criticising Kant and Bentham claiming they are in their ivory tower, with theories that are not in touch with todays society. This point made by Anscombe really highlights the changeability of ethics, as ethics can change with society. The point about morals adapting to society reflects MacIntyre’s view on Virtue Ethics as he makes it more current and recognises that virtues must operate within a community for them to be â€Å"virtuous†. Contradicting Virtue Ethics are the theories that hold that ethics and morals should be based on the actions that one takes, such as the theories of Kant and Bentham. The Teleological stance on morals, taken by relativists including Bentham and Mill believe that the consequences of an action define its ‘goodness’. By doing so, relativists ensure that the focus of ethics is on the actions that are taken, which relates to todays society. An example of this is the justice system in Britain Jury’s are not interested in your attributes, or how good a person you are; if somebody has committed a crime (a bad action) then they will be punished for that. Personally, I feel that just because you are a good, virtuous person does not defy you from making unethical decisions, a view that Virtue Ethics contradicts. Unlike consequentialism, absolutism focusses on the motives for the action. By following definite rules, absolutists believe that acts are intrinsically wrong. Kant believes that all his definite rules can be universalised and followed by anybody no matter how ‘virtuous’ they are. These rules are meant to give the best moral outcome, but circumstances occur that when these rules can contradict a deep rooted moral conscience. This is shown with the example of is a murder asked you where your friend was so they could kill them, would you be obliged to tell the truth? This problem is eradicated by consequentialism as each moral issue is treated differently and circumstances, time and place are all taken into account. This is a clear advantage of relativism as opposed to absolutism, because it can change with different societies, and is accepting of other cultures. By focussing on what people do, ethics ensures that people can be held responsible for their actions. The ends of a decision are what really matters in ethics because that is what makes the change to your life, the lives of others or society. Morals need to be based on ends in order to take into account these differences. Without basing morals on ends, the same rules would have to apply to everything, all the time which wouldn’t work. Despite this strength of the teleological argument I think it needs to be interpreted with this quote in mind â€Å"when in Rome do as the Romans do†. This way, we avoid the criticism that ‘anything would go’, as within societies people would be clear on the moral guidelines, but unlike absolutism, would not feel condemned if they felt the need to break those guidelines. Virtue Ethics is a good way of life, but I dont feel that is as good for functioning in society as consequentialism.

Acupuncture: Treatment for Stress :: Medicine Research Medical Essays

Acupuncture: Treatment for Stress Acupuncture involves the insertion of tiny needles into "acupuncture points," specific nerve endings under the skin. These needles are extremely small, so small in fact that ten to fifteen acupuncture needles can fit in a regular hypodermic needle (http.//www.acupuncture.com/Acup/Acupuncture.htm). There are three claims for why acupuncture is effective: reflexes, hormones, and energy transfer. When the needle is inserted into the skin, the nerves send signals that travel up the spinal cord, into the brain, and block the pain center in the brain. This prevents pain and other signals from entering and exiting the brain and severity of the symptoms is suppressed. This allows the body to heal itself while the individual is unaware of any pain or other distress (http://www.acupuncture.com/Acup/Works.htm). After the needle is inserted into the skin, the surrounding area becomes red. This may be a result of the release of hormones into the bloodstream. These hormones may be the body's natural pain killers, which stimulate blood circulation as well reduce pain (http://www.acupuncture.com/Acup/Works.htm). The third explanation is the ancient Chinese explanation that the acupuncture points are doors to energy channels and that by inserting the needles into these points, one can open and close these doors. This brings about energy circulation and harbors energy balance, resulting in improved health (http://www.acupuncture.com/Acup/Works.htm). Acupuncture is believed to be highly effective. In a nation-wide survey of acupuncture users, conducted by Dr. Claire M. Cassidy, 91.5% reported "disappearance" or "improvement" of symptoms after their treatment, 84% see their MDs less often, 79% use fewer prescription drugs, and 70% were able to avoid previously recommended surgery (http://www.acupuncture.com/Acup/AcuStats.htm). Said one man from San Francisco: Acupuncture had immediate effects on my levels of stress. I simply was not the same person at work. Co-workers could not believe the difference in my disposition. Clients continually comment on my relaxed nature given the stressful environment I have put myself in (CPA, working with taxes). I believe it has helped me stay healthy over the last 9 years... (http://www.acupuncture.com/Acup/AcuStats.htm). Acupuncture is a treatment with few, if any, reported side effects. The most common side effect is deep relaxation and a slight, temporary heaviness. In the treatment of stress, the side effect of deep relaxation is often a desired result. In these cases, very few side effects are noticed. Most of the information on acupuncture is circulated by acupuncture therapists and clinics, with one such therapist being Dr.

How Video Games Affect Children

How Video Games Effect Children During the last decade, attention and accusations within the media have turned more to the meteoric rise in popularity of arcade-type home computer and console games. Considerable anecdotal evidence abounds about how teenagers are affected by shoot-em-up and beat-em-up games. Zimbardo (1982) remarked that video games are so addictive to young people that they may be socially isolating and may actually encourage violence between people. Another comment came from the surgeon-general of the United States, who expressed his personal view that video games were one of the root causes of family violence in America.He was quoted as saying that children â€Å"are into the games, body and soul – everything is zapping the enemy. Children get to the point where when they see another child being molested by a third child, they just sit back† (Koop, 1982). Because most research into television violence does demonstrate a relationship between the exposu re to aggression and subsequently exhibited aggression, investigations of the effects of video game playing usually have predicted a similar relationship. However, many variables are involved, and researchers offer no clear statement on the role of game playing and aggressiveness.Parameters include, for instance, gender, age grouping, expressed hostility (feelings of aggressiveness) versus exhibited aggression (overt behavior), the behavioral measurement (e. g. , toward a life-size doll, or in terms of shocks administered from an â€Å"aggression machine†), experimental duration of exposure (time spent playing), and personality traits. Also, studies may be laboratory based or observational. I know these are reliable sources because there is an author and also research was done on the topic. #2 This is my second article and it was written in 2010 and the title of it is Pediatrics for Parents.What makes the article reliable is the fact it’s only two years old. Here are s ome facts from the article. The article stated that at a theoretical level, there are reasons to believe that violent video games may have a larger harmful effect than violent video games. But, recent studies that directly compare passive screen media to video games tend to find bigger effects of violent video games. The article also stated that a well-adjusted child who plays violent video games is going to become a school shooter.When you separate studies into those that were well conducted versus those that had major flaws, you find that a well-conducted studies found bigger average effects of violent games on aggression than did the poorly conducted studies. (Anderson, 2010) Internet Source My first internet article is from an online publication for youth and what makes it reliable is the fact is partner of Santa Fe College and University of Florida along with two newspaper companies. First, one negative influence that video games have is that they can foster violence.This means that when kids play these games and see their favorite character commit some type of violent action, they want to repeat it. Second, video games influence youth negatively by supposedly giving children a negative image of women. Women are not usually used in video games, and when they are, their purpose is usually sex appeal. Lastly, social isolation is a negative influence of video games. It causes the student not to care about grades or learning and to want to stay as far away from the real world as possible because of how much the player likes the videogame world. Smith, 2006) #2 According the American Psychological Association, violent video games can increase children's aggression. Dr. Phil explains, â€Å"The number one negative effect is they tend to inappropriately resolve anxiety by externalizing it. So when kids have anxiety, which they do, instead of soothing themselves, calming themselves, talking about it, expressing it to someone, or even expressing it emotionally by crying, they tend to externalize it. They can attack something, they can kick a wall, they can be mean to a dog or a pet. Additionally, there's an increased frequency of violent responses from children who play these kinds of video games. Dr. Phil also points out that violent video games don't teach kids moral consequences. â€Å"If you shoot somebody in one of these games, you don't go to jail, you don't get penalized in some way — you get extra points! † This doesn't mean that your child will go out into the world and shoot someone. â€Å"But they do use more aggressive language, they do use more aggressive images, they have less ability to control their anger and they externalize things in these violent ways.It's absolutely not good,† says Dr. Phil. The reason I feel that this is a reliable because source because it is from the American Psychological Association and Dr. Phil. I have read many great articles from APA. I have also watched Dr Phil shows and I k now it is all true information. References Anderson, A, C. (2010, March 01). Violent Video Games and Other Media Violence, Part II. Pediatrics for Parents, (3/4), 21, Retrieved from http://elibrary. bigchalk. com. ezp-01. lirn. net Koop, E. (1982). Surgeon general sees danger in video games.New York Times, November 10th, p. A16. Dr. Phil (2012). Children and Violent Video Games, Retrieved from http://www. drphil. com/articles/article/297 American Psychology Association www. apa. org Scott, Derek (1995, March 01). The effect of video games on feelings of aggression†¦ Journal of Psychology, ({129}) 121(12), Retrieved from http://elibrary. bigchalk. com. ezp-01. lirn. net Smith, Blake 9th grade (2006, August 17) How Video Games Affect Kids, Retrieved from http://rolemodels. jou. ufl. edu/rolemodels/entertainment/videogames. shtm

Mitochondrial Myopathy Disorder Health And Social Care Essay

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Contracting Issues Example

Contracting Issues Example Contracting Issues – Article Example Sequestration in the defense industry is thought to bring about a monumental change in the Virginia where most of its industries obtain contracts with the military from supplying the military’s nutritional needs to building armors for defense. An increase in the government spending on defense contracts was observed in 2001 until it started to decline in 2010 where a majority of the state’s companies engage in procurement contracts with the government’s defense industry. In January this year, the military will implement an automatic budget cut, which is projected to almost $500 billion worth for over a decade. Therefore, the defense industry predicts that it would greatly affect the state’s economic state as it would lead to millions of jobs lost in the entire country. Specifically the defense industry in Virginia alone may lose about 207,571 jobs, which could at the same time lose nearly $10.7 billion worth of money in labor income. Economists foresee that although Virginia falls second to California in the number of jobs that will be lost due to this defense cut, areas such as Northern Virginia and Hampton roads would remain to be those that will suffer harder due to a vast number of people who will be laid off.Shutting down of military bases is not a part of the sequestration. On the other hand, cutting down the budget for defense does not necessarily mean that companies who remain to maintain a contract with the government may not be affected. Such economic trend would indirectly affect every part of the entire defense industry that due to a situation regarded as a trickle-down effect. Suppliers of high performance materials for the military’s body armor and other products will also be ones that will be affected indirectly. The government has already been observed to deliberately reduce its spending on the raw materials that are necessary for building body armors and other military products, thus the companies no longer rel y on the defense industry for their advancement. The construction industry has also sensed cutbacks from the defense industry. Although there are no new construction contracts that will soon arise, the industry is hopeful that maintenance-related work would still keep them going in the long run.In response to this downturn in the defense contracts affecting the industries in the state of Virginia, companies have started to build a new set of customers they would soon cater in lieu to the decline in budget cut in the defense spending.Reference:Blackwell, John Reid. (2012). Defense cuts Carry Big Cost in Virginia. Stars and Stripes. Retrieved from stripes.com/news/us/defense-cuts-carry-big-cost-in-virginia-1.188012.

Boosting Your Marketing Career With Side Projects With Laura Posterick

Boosting Your Marketing Career With Side Projects With Laura Posterick As a marketer, you have a day job. Did you know that taking on freelancing clients or having a side hustle can invigorate you and help you bring more to the table when it comes to your main job? Today we are going to talk about fanning those creative fires through a side job. ’s blog manager, Ben Sailer, will be conducting the interview with Laura Posterick, the senior copywriter at Catchfire and the brains behind her own freelance business, Copy That MPLS. The conversation will be about lists, how to handle a freelancing business on the side of your day job, and how to glean inspiration from your personal life. Some of the highlights of the show include: What Laura does at both Catchfire and Copy That MPLS. How Laura keeps all of her projects organized without losing her mind. Tips on keeping your personal life separate from your professional life and not letting one encroach upon the other. How Laura handles her workflow with each company and meets her deadlines. Advice for people on how to say â€Å"no† to projects and clients you might not have the time or experience to take on. How Laura’s side projects and hobbies have helped her in her main copywriting job. How someone might convince a hesitant boss that taking on side projects won’t negatively affect their performance at their day job. The first thing someone should do if they are wanting to jump into the world of freelancing in addition to keeping their main job. Links: Catchfire Copy That MPLS Asana If you liked today’s show, please subscribe on iTunes to The Actionable Content Marketing Podcast! The podcast is also available on SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play. Quotes: â€Å"A big thing for me is having dedicated workspace at home so I can separate in my mind when it’s time to get in the zone and get work done vs. when it’s time to chill on the couch.† â€Å"One of the most important things, especially when I’m working with freelance clients, is to set expectations in the very beginning.† â€Å"You’re not going to put out good work if you’re not super excited about a project.†

50 Open Source Resources for Writers

50 Open Source Resources for Writers 50 Open Source Resources for Writers 50 Open Source Resources for Writers By Daniel Scocco Why pay for Word processors, image editing software and other tools when there are solid open source alternatives around? The guys from Job Profiles just compiled in fact a big list with 50 open source resources for writers. Below you will find my favorite ones: Open Office (office suite; forget Microsoft) NotePad++ (best notepad around, especially for editing HTML and other codes) AbiWord (very light word processor) JaLingo (desktop dictionary) Ever Note (organize your chapters and essays) Sonar (track your publishing contacts) PDF Creator (word as good as the Adobe software) Prompt (change your prompt to get inspired) GIMP (alternative to Photoshop) WordPress (if you need a website, go with WordPress) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Writing Basics category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:5 Uses of Infinitives45 Synonyms for â€Å"Old† and â€Å"Old-Fashioned†Testimony vs. Testimonial

CEOs Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

CEOs - Article Example However, the gap is mainly due to the reason that the CEOs have a far rosier view of the team performance than other members of the team. On the other hand, the team members are not able to be frank and outspoken due to their own inhibitions. It is common knowledge that good communication ishighly essential for effective leadership. A CEO has to understand how to make real conversation with his team members. But, creating a high-performance team is about a lot more than just communicating.Thoughtful CEOs realize the fact that the key contributor to overall effectiveness of the team is the team process and the right structure. Team process involves aspects such ashow the teamworks together, its decision-making patterns, how it manages conflict, andhow effective the team is in responding to changes in the environment. Structure includes the composition of the team, definition of roles, decision rights, and rewards that shape individual behavior in a team context. There is yet another important step every CEO needs to take. A CEO must analyze as to what he/she is good at when it comes to leading his/her team. What a CEO cannot do, he/she should get it done through others. For instance, a CEO who is not efficient in communication may seek outside help for the same. After all, a CEO is not promoted to such a position because he/she is an excellent coach, but due to other qualities such as achieving the desired business results, understanding external markets, being aggressive in introducing new products or expanding into new geographies. Seeking help from others may mean seeking help from consultants, may it be an external or internal consultant, but someone outside the team. Somebody who is not on the team is a great aid in making the team perform better because they have no stake in the content of any of the discussions and hence can view thingsfrom an impartial perspective. This article can mainly be related to the various steps involved in effective team building. These steps can be summarized as follows: Ensure the team goals are totally clear and completely understood by each team member. Ensure clarity in who is responsible for what and avoid overlapping authority. Build trust with team members by creating an atmosphere of honesty and openness. Recognize interpersonal issues early and deal with it in full. Ensure there are no blocked lines of communications and you and your people are kept fully informed. Involve the whole team in the decision making process. Not limit one to merely negative or positive aspects; practice fairness. Learning from George Washington's Leadership Reported by: Francesca Di Meglio Source: www.businessweek.com Link: http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/content/apr2008/bs20080422_057896.htm George Washington was notonly the first US President, but also anexcellent leaderwith amodern style of leadership. Mark McNeilly, author of'George Washington and the Art of Business: The Leadership Principles of America's First Commander-in-Chief,' in his book examines Washington's career and also points out the qualities of Washington that made him such an outstanding leader. Washington had traits like self-discipline, strong character, physical and moral courage, persistence, and integrity. Washington also was highly innovative. For

Human health and the environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Human health and the environment - Essay Example Reduced chemical use in crop management conserves the environment. They can also be genetically manipulated to contain extra nutrient s. The crops will require lower maintenance and farmers will benefit from crop-protection transgenic strategies (Wambugu, 1999). Increasing food security will stabilize their economies and quality of life. Most people in arid and semi arid countries depend on single food crops and endowing these plants with more nutrients through genetic engineering will reduce incidences of food malnutrition. Most opponents of genetic engineering state that it is ethically wrong and that it is harmful. Adequate Legislation can ensure ethical practices and strict adherence to regulations can be monitored effectively. I conquer that more research should be done to understand the long term effects of genetically engineered crops on the ecosystem and on human health. Vasil, I.K. (1998). Plant biotechnology: Achievements and Opportunities at the Threshold of the 21st Century. Paper Presented at the IX International Congress on Plant Tissue and Cell Culture, Jerusalem Israel. b. The dose-response curve illustrates the change in an organism caused by different levels of exposure in a given time. The route of administration and the exposure time is crucial in understanding the response relationship. The response curve help toxicologists determine safe and hazardous levels for the compounds under study. c. LD50 is the amount of substance required to kill 50% of the test population usually measured in mg/body weight. A substance with a high LD50 is safer because it requires higher concentration to cause 50% death to the test population. A substance with a low LD50 requires very little concentrations to cause 50% death in test population and hence is more lethal. I support the precautionary principle because it is our duty to prevent some threats of damage, particularly

Profiling Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Profiling - Essay Example What one says or does is sieved by the society through a very fine net of critical judgment, so as to analyze the flavor of racism, one-sidedness and religion in it. In such circumstances, people specially those who have close resemblance with the suspected group have to undergo immense emotional labor and have to adapt their actions and sayings as per the demand of the sensitive listeners and watchers. This does require an adjustment in the bandwidth of tolerance as (Varadarajan) has rightly depicted in his essay. People’s actions are shaped by their internal beliefs and are an outcome of their philosophies. They may or may not want to adjust their actions and reactions in accordance with the demand of the terrorism-phobic society. Emphasis on profiling is a result of spread of terrorism which has in turn, had many philosophical and spiritual impacts on the society as a whole. Thus, profiling in itself, becomes a fairly complex philosophical issue. Is profiling acceptable? If so, under what circumstances? No, profiling is not acceptable.

Why does the govrnent lock public parks when the citizens pay for them Research Paper

Why does the govrnent lock public parks when the citizens pay for them - Research Paper Example Travellers navigate with public parks as landmarks and travel routes. In the U.K., there are at least 27,000 thousand public parks that cover 143,000 hectares of land. These parks offer spaces for leisure, recreation, sports, entertainment and business. Some parks are open and very accessible while other parks are walled with gated entrances. Around 1.5 billion people visit these parks each year. With many people using parks, upkeep is necessary. The government spends ?630 million of taxpayer’s money for the upkeep of these parks. Every visit costs 42 pence. In the last 10 years, spending on public parks has decreased. (Urban Parks Forum, 2001) With decreased spending, the trend is good parks are becoming better and bad parks continue to deteriorate (Urban Parks Forum, 2001). The state of the park has a direct relationship with visits. Deteriorating parks mean lower number and frequency of visits. Decrepit public parks become spaces for antisocial activities and crime. These p arks are evaded by residents, with the effect of further facilitating the use of these parks for unwanted activities. In an effort to control the deterioration of public parks, given budget cuts, a measure being done is using gates and locking parks. The park can be accessed only during certain hours, such as from 6 am to 7 pm. All people inside will be asked to leave when the parks close. This practice has spurred the issue of limiting people’s access to public parks when they are paying for the upkeep. Importance of Public Parks Public parks are important. Public parks benefit people. These benefits justify the development of public parks and government spending on upkeep. Public parks support environmental sustainability. Green spaces facilitate the development of urban ecosystems (Zhou & Rana, 2012). Public parks support biodiversity, including plants, animals and insect that plays a role in sustaining the natural environment. At the same time, public parks are green spac es that allow people to interact with the natural environment and become part of the ecosystem. (Barbosa et al., 2007) Trees and vegetation in parks regulate temperature by providing a cooling effect. Trees provide shade in hot weather and absorb heat. This prevents the urban heat island effect from happening. Without trees and plants, heat would be absorbed by concrete, which is capable of retaining heat for long hours. When heat accumulates in concrete, temperatures in the area rises. Park greenery also lowers air pollution by absorbing carbon dioxide to create oxygen and providing barriers to noise. (Millward & Sabir, 2011) When it rains, trees and plants in public parks absorb water to prevent runoffs that cause floods (Dolesh, 2011). Public parks improve the aesthetic quality of neighbourhoods and city centres (Millward & Sabir, 2011). The greenery balances the monotonous visual effect of concrete and asphalt in cities (Salazar & Menendez, 2007). Landscaping in public parks is intended to provide a pleasant view to visitors and passersby. Public parks also promote health and safety. Interaction with nature can improve physical and psychological well-being. Public parks encourage physical activity (Salazar & Menendez, 2007). Parks provide various opportunities for physical activity as a way for people to get their required doses of physical exercise to prevent health conditions, such as heart problems and obesity (Bedimon-Rung, Mowen, & Cohen, 2005). Public parks provide social, economic and political benefits. Public parks provide a good place for social interaction (Barbosa et al., 2007). Social interaction happens when people engage in leisure, recreational or sports activities in public parks. Public parks also create employment, which ranges from the upkeep of the park to

The Triple Constraints Model of Project Management Essay - 1

The Triple Constraints Model of Project Management - Essay Example As outline above the fist dimension is that of the project itself which he defines as â€Å"an endeavour†¦designed to produce some novel, unitary objective from which we expect to derive new benefits† (p. 5).   The key is to understand what needs to be accomplished (the plan) and the amount of time to accomplish it while still ensuring quality.   Flexibility, innovation, cooperation and a sense of urgency are important characteristics.  Ã‚   Turner (1991) stresses that the project manager must focus on the results, what it is the project is to accomplish.   Focusing on anything less increases the opportunity for failure or deviation†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ensure that all work done delivers essential project objectives† (Turner, 1991: 7).   To accomplish this five essential functions are involved: â€Å"scope of the work, the organization (the people who do the work), quality, cost and duration† (Turner, 1991: 7).   The last three he stresses, although impor tant, are merely constraints; without the project or people there would be no project.     The second dimension of this theory is the management process, which takes the vision or dream and makes it the reality, the outcome.   This encompasses a four part process for successful outcome, each important and overlapping requiring process definition that looks beyond department boundaries to a seamless flow requiring cooperation and multiple, simultaneous effort by teamwork.   These for stages begin with the proposed idea and beginning of the project move onto execution and process.

Supply chain management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Supply chain management - Essay Example Big companies, for instance multinationals, normally have corporate purchasing departments and also local purchasing departments (Maskell 2003, p. 67). This implies that, at the HQs, they have a purchasing department, which directs the entire regulation to the local departments. Normally, the purchasing functions are just duplicated at every department meaning that there is a waste of resources. Some vendors, at times, even send incorrect information mistakenly because of the long flow of information from the headquarter to them. This incorrect information can also negatively affect the HQ as that make decisions based on incorrect information as it gets to them (Schonberger 2010, p. 51). What an organisation can do about this is reduce the number of levels that information takes to reach the local departments that deal one on one with the client. Like the way multinational organisations such as McDonalds have done (Schonberger 2010, p. 55). This can be done through incorporating tech nology which top decision makers can use to communicate with the locals instead of having other departments in the middle. These new technology can assist the organisation in its procurement process, for instance, technology that allows internet based buying will allow the top managers to deal straight with the client. Lean management gained recognition in the manufacturing field because this is where vital enhancement can easily be achieved. The processes of manufacturing can be enhanced to significantly decrease waste and resources whereas supporting operational performance (MacInnes 2002, p. 25). Quality is a vital element of lean manufacturing. Having absolutely zero defects in the manufacturing process decreases waste and increases efficiency in the firm all together (MacInnes 2002, p. 25). With many clients not complaining about the goods, this will be a way of building

The Triple Constraints Model of Project Management Essay - 1

The Triple Constraints Model of Project Management - Essay Example As outline above the fist dimension is that of the project itself which he defines as â€Å"an endeavour†¦designed to produce some novel, unitary objective from which we expect to derive new benefits† (p. 5).   The key is to understand what needs to be accomplished (the plan) and the amount of time to accomplish it while still ensuring quality.   Flexibility, innovation, cooperation and a sense of urgency are important characteristics.  Ã‚   Turner (1991) stresses that the project manager must focus on the results, what it is the project is to accomplish.   Focusing on anything less increases the opportunity for failure or deviation†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ensure that all work done delivers essential project objectives† (Turner, 1991: 7).   To accomplish this five essential functions are involved: â€Å"scope of the work, the organization (the people who do the work), quality, cost and duration† (Turner, 1991: 7).   The last three he stresses, although impor tant, are merely constraints; without the project or people there would be no project.     The second dimension of this theory is the management process, which takes the vision or dream and makes it the reality, the outcome.   This encompasses a four part process for successful outcome, each important and overlapping requiring process definition that looks beyond department boundaries to a seamless flow requiring cooperation and multiple, simultaneous effort by teamwork.   These for stages begin with the proposed idea and beginning of the project move onto execution and process.

E- business Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

E- business - Research Paper Example as brought in the business world, theories that govern the E- business and thereby highlighting the applications used in the computers to support E-business. The term E -business is generally used to describe any kind of business that is done on the internet, or utilizing internet technologies to improve the productivity and the profitability of a business. It is a firm which conducts most of its daily business functions over the internet and other electronic networks (BusinessDictionary, 2012). Despite E -business tracing its emergence back to 1997, it’s still on its early stages of use, especially in third world countries. The united Consensus Becan, defines it as any procedure that a business organization or company happens to conducts over a mainly computer dependent network. This process involves the production of customer satisfaction and the internal management focused on a business process. The process itself takes place online, it involves all users via internet and to specified users via extranet. The three main types of E- business include; business to customer (B2C) which is basically the exchange of information products or services that involves a business firm and a customer via internet. The other type of E- business is business to business (B2B). It involves large money transfers (Yale University, 2012). B2B is responsible for constantly changing corporate buying habits. A good example is a car company selling parts to car dealers of other companies r ather than dealing with customers directly. Business to Government (B2G) is another form of business, which is basically the online exchange of information between a business company and government agencies via electronic means as is the case where a company offering electronic task firm. Transactions that occur within the selected E business process are completed when an eventual agreement is finally reached between the two negotiating parties involved. This involves the buyer and the seller.

Organic Food - Good for you, Good for the environment Essay Example for Free

Organic Food Good for you, Good for the environment Essay Organic food has quickly gained popularity over the years. What started as a trendy method that celebrities adopted has expanded mainstream and can be found in any thriving metropolis as well as many smaller towns and cities. Organic food refers to any type of produce or meat product that has not be treated with additional chemical preservatives when it is grown and therefore is considered to be of benefit to those that choose organic produce. Yet there are those that have not jumped on the organic bandwagon as they have reservations towards this option. We will examine both sides of the argument so as to analyze and finally decode the language that is organic food and come to the clear conclusion that organic food should be an investment we make for proper nutrition and health. Understanding Organic Food One of the most basic human needs is food. We need to feed our bodies with food in order to do any of the daily tasks that we may embark on. This need used to be supplied with food that was wholesome and pure. Our ancestors ate the fruit of their labor which was food that was grown in their farms or in local surrounding areas. We have come a long way from this with the expansion and growth of not only the population but also the technology that speeds up the 2 packaging and assembly of some of the larger chains which supply millions of households with food. Our food no longer is home grown; little do we know where in fact it comes from and for that matter what is being added to our food to give it color, taste and preserve its freshness. Organic farmers are looking to close the gap between the supplier and the ultimate consumer. By buying organic produce we go back to a simpler time where we knew where our food came from and what agricultural methods the farmer used to cultivate the food we put in our mouth. Critique Skeptics and critics of the organic food movement question if buying organic produce is worth it. They believe that organic food is costly compared to commercial and industrial produced food. It can cost a consumer anywhere from a few cents to a few dollars to purchase organic products vs. commercial products. This is due to the methods that organic farmers use when they grow their produce such as crop rotation which is a method that organic farmers use to maximize the soil and land they have by alternating the type of crop they grow. This method leads to less amount of one type of product being produced and also less variety or produce being only available in particular time periods or seasons. It also means that farmer will use less of the soil and less land. This can be a big disadvantage as in the United States alone 140 hectares of farmlands have been lost in the last 30 years to make room for non-agricultural purposes such as building urban cities and highways (Cunningham Cunningham 2010 pg. 201) therefore it may seem to some that all the land given for the purpose of agriculture should be used and even exploited for maximum profit options. Another disadvantage that organic products have is their shelf life. Because no preservatives are used to keep the product fresh, organic products must be consumed within a very short time frame, which can be a big inconvenience to the consumer on a strict budget 3 looking to really expand the freshness of their products without the need to buy a large amount of groceries every few days. If we look at the economic disadvantage that buying organic food has we can see why some people are still skeptical of trying or buying organic products. With the economy still trying to recover from a period of recession and the job market being scarce, people have become savvy shoppers and want to stretch their dollars. While buying commercial products may seem like the best option when saving money, there are other ways to save and still enjoy the benefits that come from buying organic produce. When it comes to matters of health and giving your body the best nutrients, it is important to learn the facts and really analyze the options before making such an important decision. Benefits There is no denying the benefits that buying organic produce has over the conventional method and while the arguments for those opposing organic produce are valid they do not give the consumer the various methods and options they have when choosing organic products and thus it is up to the consumer to study and analyze the progress that organic farmers and retailers have taken in an effort to make organic produce more cost effective as well as various methods that can be taken to naturally preserve the freshness of the produce. Like all things when demand is high cost normally goes down, however because organic produce requires special labor, the cost of buying organic produce is also higher than the conventional method. A recent head-to-head comparison done by a group of Colby College students in 2011 was conducted surveying various commonly purchased products, comparing the prices of both non-organic and organic products and it was concluded that organic products can have a mark-up of up to 117% compared to non-organic products. According to these studies 4 organic carrots cost $1. 51/lb. while non-organic carrots cost $. 77/lb. , a difference of +96% for the consumer buying organic carrots over non-organic. (White Pillsbury, Melissa 2013). While the actual price may vary by location, it is true that organic products do cost more than their non-organic counterpart. One way to offset the cost of buying organic produce is to shop directly from the farmer. By doing this, the consumer not only can ensure that they are buying organic products, they also save money as the farmer will sell directly to the consumer and not have to spend extra money on packaging or transportation costs when selling to wholesaler. Farmers markets are growing in size and vary from city to city. If the consumer lives in an area where the resources for organic produce are scarce or they lack the time to visit a farmers market, they also have the option to subscribe to a monthly at home delivery service usually offered directly from a local farm such as Farm Fresh To You (www. farmfreshtoyou. com ) or Full Circle (www. fullcircle. com ) . These are at home delivery programs that work directly with a local farm which offer the convenience of having the products delivered to your front door, they also take the guess work off what products to buy. Each box of produce delivered weekly or bi-weekly depending on the type of membership you have signed up for, has a variety of hand-picked produce that is both fresh and in season. Another argument that is commonly brought up when discussing organic foods is that organic products lack preservatives that keep it fresh. Once again, a very valid point however, if the consumer were to investigate a little further, they would learn that farmers are great resources to look in to for special tips on how to naturally preserve food without the need for chemical preservatives. Some tips might be as simple as the storage of the produce. One such example is to keep commonly used fruits such as apples and grapes refrigerated at 32-36 degrees Fahrenheit (FarmFreshToYou. com) and away from vegetables to avoid ripening too early. Other methods 5 that have been successful in prolonging the freshness of organic produce are canning, drying, or freezing. These are also at home methods that the consumer can learn that will lock in the flavor and freshness of the produce at the time of purchase thus saving the consumer money. There are many food movements that have come and gone, some being too extreme to be adapted and adhered to permanently; the organic movement has proven not to be just another fad. Buying certified organic foods is the way to go because it helps the environment thanks to the type of natural soil the farmers use when cultivating such crops and also keeps agriculture growing. Organic farmers may seem like the winners in this deal due to the high cost of organic goods but in reality buying organic foods will be extremely beneficial for our health and wellbeing. References Associated Press. Not Quite Pesticide Free. Environment. 2002; 44:5-6 Costenbader, Carol W. The Big Book of Preserving the Harvest. North Adams, MA: Storey, 2002. Print. Cunningham, W. P. , Cunningham, M. A. (2010). Environmental Science: A Global Concern. New York, NY: Mcgraw-Hill National Rural Ecology Centre. National Rural Ecology Centre RSS. N. p. , 2009. Web. 8 Mar. 2014. Storage Use Tips. Storage Use Tips. Farm Fresh To You, n. d. Web. 12 Mar. 2014. White Pillsbury, Melissa. Price Differences: Organic Versus Non-Organic; Store Versus Farmers Market. Price Differences: Organic Versus Non-Organic; Store Versus Farmers Market. Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, 2013. Web. 12.

Elevating Man to the Level of God: Just Do It! :: Philosophy essays

Elevating Man to the Level of God: Just Do It! Deciding what to believe in was easy for Westerners before the Protestant Reformation. There was really only one option in the religion market-- Roman Catholicism. The Eastern Orthodox churches were also in existence for part of the pre-Reformation period, but they had a different geographical sphere of influence, so people in a given area had little choice of faith. The Church was a powerful force in more than people's spiritual lives; it was often involved in politics, science, art, and other secular affairs. Excommunication (exclusion from the Church) was one of the most severe punishments at that time. Before the Reformation, society was like a child. Children accept any beliefs that their parents hand them because they have no experience of their own to make judgements with. Children have no real sense of right and wrong. When they behave well, it is not out of virtuous impulses or a desire to "do the right thing," but out of fear of reprisal from their parents or an immature desire to please the people who have such a large amount of power over their lives. Finally, children need parents to tell them what to do so they don't burn their hands on the stove, drink Liquid Plumber or fall off a cliff and die. Pre-Reformation society was childlike in many ways, and Roman Catholic clergy were the parents to the pre-adolescent society. Religiously, people relied on the clergy to tell them how to act and what to believe, because they had never had to think about whether they agreed with the teachings of the Pope-- the thought of not agreeing never really entered their minds. When Martin Luther nailed his ninety-five theses to the door of the church in Wittenburg in 1517, he began more than he intended or even knew: intending to reform the Catholic church, he thrust wide open the door to freedom of thought and belief, which had been ajar since the Renaissance. With other religions in the market, people had to scrutinize what they had always been told and decide what they really believed. Some people retained their Roman Catholic beliefs, while others became Lutherans, Unitarians, Jehovah's Witnesses, Methodists, Baptists, Mormons, or joined with any of several hundred other Christian denominations. The division of the western Christian church, begun in 1517, is still continuing today.

Inca :: essays research papers

The Inca The Incas were a distinct people with a distinct language living in a highland center, Cuzco. They were an ancient people, but had been subject to the regional powers during the entire history of South American urban cultures. They began to expand their influence in the twelfth century and in the early sixteenth century, they exercised control over more territory than any other people had done in South American history. The empire consisted of over one million individuals, spanning a territory stretching from Ecuador to northern Chile. Unlike the military empires in Central America, the Incas ruled by proxy. After conquering a people, they would incorporate local rulers into their imperial system, generously reward anyone who fought for them, and treated well all those conquered people who cooperated. So, in reality, the inca">Inca "empire," as the invading Spanish called it, was not really an empire. It was more of a confederation of tribes with a single people, the Incas, more or less in control. Each of these tribes was ruled independently by a council of elders; the tribe as a whole gave its allegiance to the ruler, or "Inca." The "Inca" was divine; he was the descendant of the sun-god. The social structure of the Incas was extremely inflexible. At the top was the Inca who exercised, theoretically, absolute power. Below the Inca was the royal family which consisted of the Inca's immediate family, concubines, and all his children. This royal family was a ruling aristocracy. Each tribe had tribal heads; each clan in each tribe had clan heads. At the very bottom were the common people who were all grouped in squads of ten people each with a single "boss." The social unit, then, was primarily based on cooperation and communality. This guaranteed that there would always be enough for everyone; but the centralization of authority meant that there was no chance of individual advancement (which was not valued). It also meant that the system depended too much on the centralized authority; once the invading Spanish seized the Inca and the ruling family, they were able to conquer the Inca territories with lightening speed. Conquered people were required to pay a labo r tax (mita ) to the state; with this labor tax, the Incas built an astonishing network of roads and terraced farmlands throughout the Andes. Agriculture was tough business in the Andes. The Incas actively set about carving up mountains into terraced farmlands—so successful were they in turning steep mountainsides into terraced farms, that in 1500 there was more land in cultivation in the Andean highlands then there is today.

Heart and Stone Therapy

322 Apply stone therapy massage 322 Apply stone therapy massage By Lucy Barnett By Lucy Barnett Task 1a * The importance of carrying out a detailed body analysis & relevant tests is so that you can pick up on any posture faults, avoid any areas which may be contra indicated and you are able to give them information on ways to improve their posture. It is important to carry out relevant tests such as cold or hot and sharp and blunt so that you are sure the client can feel the difference.This also prevents you from harming your client if they can feel something within the treatment which feels painful. * The importance of positioning the client correctly so they are as comfortable as possible and you aren’t causing them any pain or injury. It is important to be positioned correctly as a therapist so you prevent yourself from pain or injury if you consistently and positioned correctly this can result in repetitive strain injury. It is important to use the correct products, tools, equipment and technique because so the client can feel the best benefit from their treatment and it will not harm the client. * It is important to complete treatment records correctly so that you have on record if the client has any contra-indications which may prevent or restrict a treatment. You will also have on record anything the client may be allergic to. * It is important to complete the treatment to the satisfaction of the client so they go away feeling happy and return to you again in the future. Task 1bHistorical and culture background of stone therapy: The stones originated from Native Americans but they did not use them in massage. Stone therapy has been around for a long time but has been modernised through the years and now we use naturally shaped basalt pebbles and marble pebbles that have been cut to shape to deliver hot and cold temperatures. Four types of stones: Basalt stones: Hot stone, made from volcanic rock used all over the body. Should be recharged once a m onth in either; a bowl of salt water, in direct sunlight/ moonlight or burying in the earth overnight.Marble stones: cold stone, made from limestone should be recharged by leaving in sunlight/moonlight or burying in the earth overnight Marine stones: cold stone, made from sedimentary rock should be recharged by leaving in sunlight/moonlight or burying in the earth overnight. Semi-precious stones: can be used hot or cold, gem stones, usually used for shakra placing. Should be recharged; with reiki energy, leaving in sunlight/moonlight and cleansing in a bowl with other crystals. Physical and physiological effects of hot and cold stones: Effects of hot stones 1 Vaso-dilation – the blood vessels widen, bringing blood to areas of the body ie skin * Increased circulation – more oxygenated blood circulating * Increased metabolism – speeds up the rate of nutrients being utilised * Increased pulse rate – helps the heart pump efficiently * Increased cell metabolis m – speeds up the process of manufacturing new cells * Increased lymph function – speeds up the removal of toxins and waste * Relaxes the muscles – enables the therapist to work on the muscles without causing discomfort to the client * Reduces muscle tension Relaxes the mind * Different emotions may cause some clients to feel upset. Effects of cold stones 1 * Vaso-constriction – the blood vessels narrow, taking blood away from areas of the body, ie skin * Analgesic effect – natural pain relief released in the body * Reduces inflammation – excess blood is taken away from the area * Reduces histamine – reduces this irritant often present in stressed muscles, causing the muscles to relax. * Body pumped to the core organs, ie heart, lungs * Relaxes the mind * Reduces headaches Task 1cOne Fungal infection that would prevent the treatment: Ringworm One Bacterial infection that would prevent the treatment: Impetigo One viral infection that w ould prevent the treatment: Shingles One severe skin condition: Severe eczema Ten contra-indications that would restrict the treatment: 1. Diabetes 2. Epilepsy 3. High/low blood pressure 4. Piercings 5. Anxiety 6. Cuts 7. Abrasions 8. Bruises 9. Metal plates or pins 10. Recent dermabrasion Bibliography Task 1a – core unit’s book Task 1b – lastone therapy book Task 1c – notes taken in class

Research Findings on Mid Day Meal Essay

Some research findings on Mid Day Meal Scheme conducted by independent agencies reported that MDM programme is a visible programme and has helped in increase in attendance and enrolment of children particularly girls. They also reported that there is an increase in retention, learning ability and achievement as well as greater social equity among caste, creed, sex and gender groups in the schools. The main research findings are as under: i) Research findings (2010) of Pratichi trust of Prof. Amartya Kumar Sen: Unlike many other Government programmes, implementation of MDM has been a success throughout the country. Though the quality of food needs to be improved, it must be said that with active participation of the beneficiaries, it has become a community programme. The quick response of the state administration in amending the shortcomings indicates that the administration is gradually becoming aware of this. ii) The major findings of the PROBE (Public Report on Basic Education) Report indicated that 84% of households reported that the children get cooked mid day meal in schools and children enjoy varied menu. Good practices like washing hands before eating, & after eating are imparted in the schools. Incentives like MDM have contributed to improving enrolment rates. iii) Mid Day Meal Scheme in Madhya Pradesh by National Institute of Public Cooperation & Child Development, Indore has reported that MDM has shown marked improvement in enrollment pattern of children in primary schools. Mid Day Meal Scheme undoubtedly resulted in increased school attendance and retention of children in schools for a longer period. The Scheme has played a crucial role in reducing drop out, especially among girls. Parents viewed that the mid day meal had reduced the burden of providing one time meal to  their children and considered it as a great support to their families. Teachers opined that mid day meal aided in active learning of children, which indirectly improved their academic performance. The Scheme has played a significant role in bringing social equity among all the sections of the society. iv) An empirical study conducted on Mid Day Meal scheme in Khurda district of Orissa, revealed that cooked mid day meal has increased socialization among the children and helped in increasing enrolment and afternoon session attendance. MDM has created new employment opportunities for underprivileged sections. v) Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2010 reported that in 83.4% schools served MDM on a day of visit and almost same percent of schools (81.3%) schools were having kitchen sheds for cooking mid day meal. A vastly improved availability of mid day meals had contributed to the increase in enrollment. vi) vii) 2. Supreme Court Commissioners undertake extensive review of various welfare schemes through field visits. They have observed that the MDM is widely acknowledged as one of the most successful schemes of GOI. Increase in enrollment and attendance of children in primary schools has been noticed after the introduction of MDM. Performance audit (2011) conducted by Centre for Environment and Food Security on food security schemes in Orissa and Uttar Pradesh; The sample survey in 130 villages spread over 12 districts of Orissa and Uttar Pradesh (Bundelkhand) was carried out and reported that performance of the MDM scheme is far better in Orissa in comparison with the Uttar Pradesh. An overwhelming 86.7 per cent of Orissa’s children were getting second best category of MDM (regular but inadequate and unsatisfactory meal), only 51.8 per cent of children in UP were getting regular but inadequate and unsatisfactory meal in their schools. Findings of Evaluation Study by Planning Commission Performance Evaluation of Cooked Mid Day Meal Scheme – study conducted by Programme Evaluation Organization of Planning Commission (2010): The highlights of the Study conducted by the Planning Commission are as under: i. The Cooked Mid Day Meal Program has been successful in addressing classroom hunger in sample schools. ii. Cooked Mid Day Meal is reported to have created a platform for children of all social and economic backgrounds to take meals together, thereby facilitating achieving the objective of social equity. iii. It has also been observed that the programme has resulted in the diversion of the attention of teachers and students on activities related to it, rather than towards teaching and learning activities, which results in loss of studies. iv. In general, visible shortage of basic infrastructural facilities and manpower (that are crucial for the success of the Cooked Mid Day Meal programme) were noted. v. Most of the states, it was observed, did not follow the guidelines of Government of India to deliver foodgrains at the school point by PDS dealer, thereby resulting in the leakage of foodgrains. There have been instances where due to long supply chain, foodgrains supplied got adulterated and pilfered. vi. While Cooked Mid-Day Meal Scheme seems to have contributed to an increase in the attendance in schools across the country, it does not seem to have any significant impact on fresh enrolments in sample schools. 3. Review of the Scheme by Supreme Court Commissioners Supreme Court Commissioners are monitoring all welfare Schemes of the Central Government including Mid Day Meal Scheme. They have monitored seven States viz. Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Nagaland, Orissa and West Bengal during 2010-11. The main recommendations of the reports are as under: i) Delay in release of funds to school / implementing agencies. ii) The mid day meal should be expected to cover all children in the school going age irrespective of whether they are enrolled in school. The location of meal served can continue to be the school; this might further encourage those out of school to join schools. iii) The provision for cooking costs under the mid day meal should be increased based on Price Index developed for Mid Day Meal Scheme to counter the effect of inflation. iv) Proper infrastructure for mid day meals should be mandatory, including cooking sheds storage space, drinking water, ventilation, utensils etc. v) Mobilization for kitchen garden in school premises should be encouraged. vi) Priority should be given to disadvantaged communities (especially Dalits and Adivasis) in the appointment of cooks and helpers. All cooks and helpers should be paid not less than statutory minimum wage. vii) Mid day meal should be linked with nutrition education and related educational activities. State Government should be encouraged to adept their text books for this purpose, as the NCERT has already done for some text books. viii) Nutritious items such as eggs and green vegetables should be provided regularly. ix) Serious action should be taken in the event of any form of social discrimination in mid day meal such as discrimination against dalit children or dalit cooks. x) Community participation in the monitoring of Mid day meal should be strengthened, particularly to prevent corruption and ensure quality. xi) Mid day meal should be integrated with school health services, including immunization, de-worming, growth monitoring, health checkups and micronutrient supplementation. xii) Grievance redressal mechanism must be within easily reachable distance of complainant and should therefore be decentralized to Panchayat level. It could also consist of mobile camps that reach out to each village. *********

Brasil & Europeans

In the colonial period of 1600, the Portuguese were the first amongst the Europeans to settle in Brazil. At that time, only native Indians and nomadic tribes were living in the area. The Portuguese came not to control, conquer or develop the country instead they wanted profitable trade and agriculture. However, three centuries later the land was exploited mostly for wood, sugarcane, coffee beans and gold mining. Man power was provided by both African and Indian slaves. Many Italians settled in Brazil after the boom in coffee production.Intermarriages between different ethnicities and cultures made Brazil one of the most multi- cultured country in the world. Most Brazilians have European, African, Amerindian, Asian and Middle Eastern ancestors. Brazil gained its independence from the Portuguese colonizers on September 7, 1822. In 1889, a military coup backed by the coffee industrialists forced the emperor to leave the country. Coffee planters had great influence in Brazil and practica lly ran the government for the next 30 years. Brazil struggled with military coups and economic instability in those years.After three decades Fernando Coller de Mello was elected in the first democratic elections. He was removed from office for his corruption. The capital of the country is Brasilia and its current President is Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The country is federal presidential representative democratic republic in which the President serves as the head of state and head of government. The currency of Brazil is the â€Å"real† (BRL). Brazil follows the Roman legal system. It is a presidential democracy since 1985. The voters of the country had decided not to restore the constititutional monarchy.Brazil is slightly smaller than the United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and located in the East of South America. It is the largest country in South America. It has boundaries meeting with all the South American countries except Chile and Ecuador. The low-lying Am azon Rainforest is to the North of Brazil and the south is home to farmers and the agricultural base. The highest peak of Brazil is Pico da Neblina. The largest river in the world, the Amazon also flows through Brazil. The climate varies in different regions from tropical to temperate.The territory of Brazil is said to cover 8,514,876. 599 km2. This wide territory is split into twenty-six states and one federal district. All states are completely independent in terms of their law-making, public security, government and taxation. Brazil has highly structured agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and service sectors and its economy prevails over the economies of the other South American countries. In 1998, Brazil received a $41. 5 billion IMF-led international support program due to its large account deficits.In 1999, the Brazilian Central Bank declared that the currency real would no longer be pegged to the US dollar. This devaluation slowed down the recession and the country witnesse d slight economic growth. The growth of the economy was less than 2% in 2001 due to the high interest rates. At the end of 2001 the country gained much investor confidence. The economy in Brazil is said to be the â€Å"ninth largest economy in the world and tenth largest at market exchange rates†. (Wikipedia). The biggest barriers to economic development are widespread bureaucracy, corruption, poverty and illiteracy within the Brazilian Government.. The government intervenes and plays the most important role in all of the country’s economic activities. Brazil is still a newly industrializing country (NIC) and most development has taken place in southeastern states such as Parana, Sao Paulo and Rio De Janeiro. The industries are producing automobiles and parts, machinery, equipment, steel, textiles, shoes, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, petrochemicals, computers, aircraft, and consumer durables. Brazil has been leading in the alternative energy sector. Electricity is be ing generated through hydropower.It is exporting oil despite its little amount of oil reserves. Within the service sector, the tourist industry is one of the biggest in Brazil. The Brazilian justice system is painfully slow and unjust. Laws are altered for the rich. The legal system has many defecicies. Many crimes commited by Brazialians are tried for only a limited time span. By the time the authorities get their act together, it is almost too late. Sentences are often reduced by 50% for the crimes commited at the age of 70. Brazil is also an important partner for the European Union.It is a charter member of the UN and contributes troops for peacekeeping efforts in Angola, East Timor, Middle East, Mozambique, Belgian Congo and Haiti. It is the leading member of the G-20 group of nations. The 170 million population of Brazil consist of a majority of 53. 7% whites and 38. 5% multiracial people. Blacks, Asians, Amerindians are in insignifiant propotions. Portuguese is the most widely spoken and understood language in Brazil. Brazil follows mostly Portuguese culture and traditions brought by the colonizers.The African Slaves inspired most of Brazil's music, dance, cuisine, religion and language. Brazil has the largest population of Roman Catholics in the world. Almost half of the output of fiction, poetry, and drama of South America comes from Brazilians. Carnaval is a popular yearly celebration and tourist attraction which is held for forty days to mark the start of Lent. The music in Brazil is richly flavored with a variety of music styles including samba, bossa nova, forro, frevo and many others. Cinema culture started in Brazil in the late 19th century.Many Brazilian films such as Cidade de Deus and Carandiru have received international critical acclaim. Sports specially football are very popular in Brazil. The Brazilain national footbal team has a huge local and interntional following. The team has won the FIFA world cup five times. Brazil’s most not able players are Pele, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. Other popular sports are capoeira and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Food is a reflection of the racial mix of Brazil. The most popular dishes of Brazil are Feijoada, Caipirinha and Pao de Queijo and rice and beans are basic to every menu.Most Brazilians are in their mid-twenties while 34% are under the age of fourteen. Brazil has rapidly urbanized and almost 75% of the population live in the urban areas. They are not enough jobs in Brazil to support such a large population which is why there is widespread unemployment. Unemployement was said to have reached 9. 8% in 2005 and 8 out of 10 are living in the highly populated urban centers. The largest population of almost 11. 016. 703 people are found in the city of Sao Paulo. A huge majority of people are often forced to resort to street vending, drug peddling and prostitution.The population in the rural areas receive fewer water and sanitation services as compared to urban areas. Many contagious d iseases like cholera, diarrheas have emerged as a result of lack of basic sanitation services. WORKS CITED: †¢ Brazil. † Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 23 Apr 2007, 11:43 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 24 Apr 2007 . †¢ Brazil. CIA_The World Factbook. 2002. http://www. umsl. edu/services/govdocs/wofact2002/geos/br. html Brazil