Interactive Training of Hospitality Operations Personnel Essay

Interactive Training of Hospitality Operations Personnel - Essay Example The rise in employee turnover costs and the increased use of technology in the industry further emphasizes the need for training (Sheldon and Gee, 1987). Internet based 'interactive training' programs (an umbrella term that includes both computer based and multi-media training) of hospitality operations staff provides access to on-demand training, tracking of each trainees' progress, as well as in-depth reporting of each trainee (hotelonline.com, 2000). The training is provided with an interactive format that includes text, animation and audio. A successful interactive training program in the hospitality sector ensures consistency in providing a quality environment for employees, guests and visitors. It is a cost effective way of upgrading skills of hospitality personnel, the benefit of which can be visible from consistent and quality delivery of essential guest services and avoidance of any litigious situation. In the present age of IT dominance, interactive training of hospitality personnel is an integral part of the industry without which introduction of technologies in the hospitality sector would not have the desired result. ... With new innovations in the IT sector, more and more hotels are equipping themselves with the tools of modern technology to ensure global connectivity to their customers, particularly corporate executives. Without upgrading, the knowledge and skills of hospitality personnel rapidly gets outdated. In the competitive atmosphere of modern day hotels it is crucial to satisfy and win the loyalty of each customer. A satisfied customer apart from becoming prospective customer for the future may also bring in more customers through positive multiplier effect (Duprey & Kearsley, 2005). In the new e-economy, the value of human capital, meaning mainly employees' skills, competencies, and knowledge is greater than any other form of business capital and can crucially drive competitive advantage (Cohen & Levinthal, 1990). Increase in skills leads to improved performance which enables the employer to meet the needs of the employees also helping in retention of the precious talent. "No hotels can have excellent operations without excellent employees and that requires excellent human resource practices" (Siguaw & Enz, 2000, p.48). Human resource skills have always been an important element in the hospitality industry. "Friendliness and a willingness to serve others are the tools of the hotel trade, and training is the sharpener that refines the tools into hospitality machines" (Higley, 2004). Proper attitude starts with management and ends with diffusing it to all the staff of the hotel. It is of utmost importance to make right impression at the front desk which is reflected through a positive, outgoing and friendly attitude and also through efficient service. Increasingly intense competition, high customer expectations and retaining

New Museum of Contemporary Art Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

New Museum of Contemporary Art - Research Paper Example In the article, Holland describes the new works of art under exhibition assembled by Ryan Inouye. The works of art described are a clear indication that the traditional and appealing work that was adorned in the museum were slowly being replaced by modern and young artworks which neglect most of the art principles. The assembly is mainly centered at attracting human megaphone through formal gestures, social engagements and conveys an emphatic tone. This has been associated with the global reach target that has resulted in most of the artists to come from outside the United States. Only four of the fifty artists in this exercise came from the United States. This was evident before the ‘American Whitney Biennial’ when the lobby gallery of the museum had two collections; one from the Middle East and the other from Africa. The occasion also had only one artist and was from Colombia, Gabriel Sierra. Thus ‘The Ungovernables’ article by Holland supports the argumen t that the ‘New Museum’ has been transformed and is now characterized by political commentary coming from young artists below the age of 30 years(Holland 120). On the emerging survey trends and the artists recognized by the media, the article by Vogel Carol, titled ‘Whitney Museum’s Survey of Contemporary Art’ published on February 17, 2002, featured the climax of this trend that had never been witnessed before. Vogel argues that contemporary art planet in New York had never witnessed any alignment like this and this will take some years before it is witnessed again.

The Strengths And Weaknesses Of Swot Analysis

The Strengths And Weaknesses Of Swot Analysis This store which was known as Block Quayle, and was later abbreviated to BQ. This main store later developed and spread across the UK; by 1979 there were 26 stores in United Kingdom. During this period, the first of the co-founders already left the business. They both left the business in 1976 and 1982 respectively. BQ sprung up very well during this period through business combination methods which include mergers, acquisitions and expansions. In 1980, BQ bought over the Scottish company Dodge City, and was itself acquired by F. W. Woolworth Company. F. W. Woolworths UK subsidiary (Woolworth) and BQ were bought, two years later, by Paternoster, who are now known as Kingfisher plc and are still BQs parent company. OBJECTIVE The objective of this project is to produce a proposal on a new project that an organisation is about to start. The following are the objectives to be achieved: The title and nature of the project. The business case and tangible outcomes of the project. Competitive advantage of the organisation. 1.1 THE TITLE AND NATURE OF THE PROJECT BQ is planning an expansionary project which is the establishment of five (5) more stores in the Republic of Ireland. This will bring the number of its stores in Ireland to fourteen (14). These stores as planned would be in the central areas and in the interior so as to meet the needs of its customers and also bringing the store closer to the customers. This project would involve a huge finance base as it is a project expected to be completed within one (1) year. The management is looking into the various ways of getting finance to carry out this project in order to improve the services of the company. THE BUSINESS CASE AND TANGIBLE OUTCOMES OF THE PROJECT The start of project management starts from the construction industry. This day there are quite a lot of project management requirements which are even more outside the construction industry as project needs cut across every business segments. Current construction firms now uses a new model of project management, using visual equipments and software to help in managing the movement of materials delivery and consumption alongside equipment usage. This project will bring about numerous benefits in addition to the existing benefits of and in the organisation. Amongst this includes: Increase in profitability. Shareholders wealth would increase and there would be more income to put in for more dividend and expansionary development in the company. Value of shares may increase as there would be more sales. Creation of job opportunities. Achieving the objectives, goals and vision of the organisation. A better local environment An increase in access to quality local spaces An increase in people actively involved in a practical environmental project An improvement in partnership between support organisations, communities and authorities. 1.2 OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT PROPOSAL BQ is planning an expansionary project which is the establishment of five (5) more stores in the Republic of Ireland. This will bring the number of its stores in Ireland to fourteen (14). These stores as planned would be in the central areas and in the interior so as to meet the needs of its customers and also bringing the store closer to the customers. To effectively analyze the viability of the project, B Q need to examine its SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) and also using PORTERS FIVE FORCES to examine the success of the project. SWOT ANALYSIS OF BQ SWOT is a tool which is used in strategic and marketing analysis of a business. It can be used to confirm the level of readiness and conformity between the organisations strategies and its business environment, and to find ways in which the organisation can utilize its strengths to checkmate its weaknesses while it uses its opportunities to checkmate its threats (Adams, 2005). Strengths Strength determines the capability of an organization. The strengths of BQ lie in its ability to provide the desired goods of its customers at relatively cheap prices and at the same time quality goods. BQ is widely known for the quality goods it sells to various customers. Weaknesses This determines a companys weaknesses. This should be not only from its own point of view, but also more importantly, from those of the customers. BQ has received quite a lot of complaints from customers about the prices of its goods which according to the company is as result of the quality of the materials used in the production. However, compared to some of its competitors it still has a better bargain price for its products. Opportunities Opportunities are everywhere, such as the changes in technology, government policy, social patterns, and so on. Opportunities for BQ lie in the structure of the general market segment and its environment. The world market and individual with corporate needs enormous for BQ to see and utilise the opportunities at its disposal. Having the financial strength and the backup of major stakeholders to open up more branches in strategic locations is an opportunity to the organisation is another sense of opportunity for BQ. Threats Threats expresses the weaknesses and incapacitation of an organization. It entails those fears which the company may be nursing and which could affect the company haphazardly. Parts of BQs threat is their competitors in the market that can win over some of their customers. Also here is the threat from suppliers and others. PORTERS FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS Five Forces Analysis will help BQ to contrast a competitive environment. It has likeness with other tools for environmental analysis, such as PESTLE analysis, but tends to focus on the single, stand alone, business or SBU (Strategic Business Unit) rather than a single product or range of products. Bargaining Power of Suppliers The term suppliers include all sources for inputs that are required so as to provide goods or services. Supplier bargaining power is likely to be high in BQ when: In such situations, BQ will face a high pressure on margins from their suppliers. The relationship to powerful suppliers can potentially reduce strategic options for the organization. Bargaining Power of Customers Customers of BQ bargaining power is likely to be high when there are substitutes to the products in the market, much more when the substitutes are of more or same quality than that of BQ. Threat of New Entrants BQ will also keep up threat of new retailers in the store. Every moment in the market there comes in new set of sellers which definitely will share the market with the existing sellers in the market. Threat of Substitutes Consumers all have different taste and can change from the use of one item to the other. Substituted items definitely will cause a loophole in the market which have been dropped, therefore, BQ may face the challenge of its products being substituted for another. Competitive Rivalry between Existing Players Michael Porter (2005) also explained that in a monopolistic or general open market where there exist many sellers especially of the same product there would exist rivalry which can affect the market sales and profitability at the other end. 1.3 COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE OF THE ORGANISATION This is seen as the benefit a company has over its rivals in the market which can be with its ability to outshine its competitors in the market/industry. BQ have a competitive advantage when it has the strength or ability to overturn its rivals in getting the face of customers. This applies to both services and products. Michael Porter (Theory of Management) (1990) explains that, though not all nations are at the peak of competition, the home nation which shapes the competitive advantage is the starting point for a firms competitive advantage and also from which it must be upheld. Therefore, BQ has a lot of competitive advantages which made it a leader in the market. It should be take in account that competitive advantage can be checked to one of three forms: Superior resources, superior skills and superior positions. TASK 2 2.0 INTRODUCTION Project Management is about organising and managing resources in a form that they deliver the desired mind to complete a project within the agreed scope, quality, and time and cost constraints. It covers the planning, monitoring and control of the project as well as the motivation of those involved in order to achieve the project objectives as set. Each project is expected to have a Project Manager to maintain project progress and integrate stakeholders to make sure that the risk of failure is reduced and also to intimate the m on the progress of the project. As a successful project manager you must be able to visualize the project from beginning to ending and to have the ability to ensure that this vision is achieved. The following are the methodologies which can be used in common principles to manage a project development: Define the project detail Involve the right people Estimate the resources, time and costs Break the project into manageable sections Define how change will be managed Agree on performance/acceptance criteria OBJECTIVES This task is to cover some areas in this project which are as listed below: To identify all resources required for the project and the benefits to the organisation. To identify all costs associated with the project. To set up a budget for the project. To carryout costs benefit analysis for the project. Staff development and training costs. 2.1 REPORT FROM: Management Consultant TO: Board of Directors/Management DATE: 22nd July, 2010. SUBJECT: RESOURCES REQUIRED FOR THE PROJECT ESTABLISHMENT INTRODUCTION BQ with its quest to satisfy all their customers by bringing services closer to them has decided to build more stores in the Republic of Ireland as this will also improve the profitability of the entire business. This is a project which will definitely require the company to establish a technical committee on the work to be done as this will require a large sum of investment for the success of the project. The budget show that the total sum  £15 million would be required. However, to furnish the stores with the items for sale would be handled by the procurement department and so the cost for this transaction is not included. The analysis of the  £15m cost plan (budget) is as follows:  £ Contract sum ( £2.5m x 5 stores) 12,500,000 Planning service cost (for the 5 stores) 1,500,000 Training cost (recruitment retraining of existing staff) 500,000 Other related cost 500,000 15,000,000 SOURCES OF RESOURCES The resources that would be required as clearly stated above would be financed by partly bank borrowing and partly using part of the banks investment income from the reserve. Noteworthy is the fact that the contract sum as mentioned above would be paid to a building contractor. The amount specified above represent the contract sum quoted by the building contractor. The training cost would be paid to PWC consultants for the training which will be in two phases; one for the new recruits that would start work in the new stores after the completion and some of the present staffs that would be transferred to the new sites. The training cost is as follows:  £ Facilitators (one year contract) 400,000 Refreshments (1 week) 20,000 Training materials 10,000 Accommodation for trainees (Scheduled quarterly) 50,000 Transportation expenses 20,000 500,000 COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS A cost benefit analysis is done to determine how well, or how poorly, a planned action will turn out and how this would be applicable to BQ. Although a cost benefit analysis can be used for almost anything, it is most commonly done on financial issues. Since the cost benefit analysis relies on the plus or minus of financial issues concerning a project to determine a net result. A cost benefit analysis finds, quantifies, and adds all the positive factors. These are the benefits. Then it identifies, quantifies, and subtracts all the negatives, the costs. The difference between the two indicates whether the planned action is advisable. The real trick to doing a cost benefit analysis well is making sure you include all the costs and all the benefits and properly quantify them. To achieve this, I will use the pay back period to check the time the project would pay back as there is a policy in the company that any investment that would not be recouped within the first five years of establishment will not be seen as being viable. The inflows are projected inflows for the new stores as a group i.e. the stores would be analysed collectively not individually. Year Cash flow Balance  £  £ 0 (15,000,000) (15,000,000) 1 2,500,000 (13,000,000) 2 3,175,000 (9,825,000) 3 5,220,000 (4,605,000) 4 6,725,000 5 6,875,000 3 + 4,605,000 = 3 + 0.685 6,725,000 = 3years, 7 months. From the above, the project would have a pay back period of less than 4 years which according to the policy of the company, the project is seen to be viable as the pay back period is less than 5 years. 2.2 STAFF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT Want to keep members of staff motivated about learning new ideas, the quality and variety of the employee training provided is major for motivation for consideration. Whatever the reason for conducting an employee training session, there is need to develop the employee training within the framework of a comprehensive, ongoing, and consistent employee training program. This quality employee training program is essential to keep the staff motivated about learning new concepts and your department profitable which definitely will help in the new outlets to be built by BQ. This training will serve the new and existing members of staff. Beneficial Components of Employee Training Skills To make a complete training of employees either new or existing staffs, there need be a balance with the companys expectation about the employer and the expectations of the employees. This training will give a detailed understanding on how and what the company is all about, individual and general expectation of both parties at the short and long run. New Hire Training This has to do with training of new recruits in the organization. They are new employees that need to understand the basis, rules and norms of the organization, either with or without previous experience in a related job exposure. On the Job Training Many organizations make good use of this system to train staffs. On the job training is so essential and can be seen as a continuous system of training for employees. During the course of the job, new styles of work are being learnt which help to progress more on the job being carried out. This involves the supervisory and the operational level of work. Managers go round during the course of work or work colleagues who are more experienced are used to train the especially the new recruits. (http://humanresources.about.com/od/coachingmentorin1/a/trainmotivation.htm) However, for this project, the type of training that would be used is contracted to PWC consultants. This is to prepare the staff ready for the new stores when they are completed in the Republic of Ireland. The training cost has been analysed above. TASK 3 3.0 INTRODUCTION Implementing strategy needs more strength and it requires effort for a lot of organizations, knowledge from emotional feedbacks on time during the implementation process, which shows the impact of any force placed alongside the quest for the use of strategy which would lead or give the basis for the realization of strategy for proper implementation. Many businesses fail to achieve strategic objectives of the organization as highlighted at the planning stage of the company because they do not successfully attach operations with goals. Effective communication among all stakeholders is critical in jumping this critical issue. The performance gap drawn between strategy creation and benefit realization is frequently a companys inability to put in place the strategies they define. Potential hazards may be grouped into four basic categories: Clarification, Communication, Alignment and Measurement. The above mentioned issues would be discussed alongside the milestones to be put in place to achieve the implementation of this project by BQ in the Republic of Ireland. Thus must emphasis would also be laid on the involvement of stakeholders in the achievement of this project. OBJECTIVES Use suitable tools and techniques to plan the implementation of the chosen project: Develop a milestone for the project. Analyse the involvement of stakeholders in the implementation of the project. Develop a set of measure that would enable you monitor and evaluate progress of the project and ensure relevant feedback procedures have been put in place to inform stakeholders of the projects progress. 3.1 MILESTONE FORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF 5 STORES IN THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND BY BQ. Many managers during the course of project management would think projects would be near completion from information given to then by subordinates and or people working with then and only to find that project over-runs by weeks or even months more than expected. This is because the last part of the work takes longer than planned. If youve ever been in this situation and have been affected by this disturbing situation, then, youll know why experienced managers carefully monitor how actual completion dates checked against planned completion dates at certain milestones within projects. This gives the managers room to take corrective action, or manage peoples expectations appropriately, and this is where Project Milestone Reporting becomes evidently important. A real life milestone is a table that tells you how far you are from a certain point so you know how far you have come, or how much effort you have to put so as to reach your realization goal. Project Milestones perform exactly this role in a project plan. They mark significant events, deliverables or interdependencies that need to be monitored to keep the project on track. Project Milestone Reports show you what has been achieved and what else needs to be done to successfully complete your project. The milestone for this project is reflected in the table below: ISSUES EXPLANATIONS The project in focus The project in focus is the construction of five (5) more stores for BQ strategically in the Republic of Ireland. Construction site. Development plan has been received in respect of the construction from the government for the development which will be at strategic locations in the country. Quality measures The quality of materials to be used for the construction is standard checked and guaranteed materials for the building. Target date The project is expected to span through twelve months as it is handled by the same contractor and would be time effective during the construction. The above represents the milestone that would serve as guide to the construction of the projects. However, the stakeholders of the company would also be involved in the development stage. This can also be represented using the Gantt Chart. ISSUE EXPLANATIONS 2010 2011 JAN.- JUNE. JUL.-DEC. JAN.- JUNE. JUL.-DEC. The project in focus Construction of five (5) more stores for in the Republic of Ireland. construction site Development plan has been received in respect of the construction from the government for the development which will be at strategic locations in the country. Quality measure The quality of materials to be used for the construction is standard checked and guaranteed materials for the building. Target date The project is expected to span through twelve months as it is handled by the same contractor and would be time effective during the construction. 3.2 STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVEMENT IN THE PROJECT A stakeholder is someone who has something to gain or lose in the result of a planning of process or project or business. These are known as interest groups and which have a powerful bearing on the outcomes of business dealings. It finds normally beneficial for research projects to analyse the needs and concerns of different stakeholders, particularly when these projects are set out to achieve a particular goal. Stakeholders, who have high interest and high power with the project, are the organisations or the people are generally fully engage with it. At the time of policy change or new campaign these people are target. Decision makers are on top of power list which are normally member of government. After that there are opinion leader whose opinion matters. This creates pyramid which known as influence map. Stakeholders with low power but high interest need to be updated all the time, and if they are properly organised they form coalition which can lobby for change. If these people are satisfied they are the main supporter at the time of policy change. If time and resources permits, detailed analysis can be carried out which give detail knowledge of (i) the nature of the power and its position and (ii) the interests that give it that position. By doing this one can get the better t understanding of the project that why people take certain stands and how they can work together. The final stage is to create a strategy for how to involve different stakeholders in a one project, how to distribute information which is useful to them, and maintaining a relationship with them. Identify who will make each contact and how, what message they will communicate and how they will do the follow-up and most importantly who will do that that how they will do. The diagram above represents the level of the stakeholders of BQ. The following are the major stakeholders of the company: The investors (shareholders) The customers The suppliers The creditors/debtors The government The competitors These represent the summary or compressed version of the companys stakeholders. All the stakeholders would be kept abreast of the happenings in the organisation so as to be able to achieve a successful implementation of the project. 3.3 PROJECT IMPLENTATION Most projects share a common life cycle as seen in the project of BQ. Define (1. Initiation) 2. PLAN The project IMPLEMENTATION (3. Executing) (4. Controlling) MONITOR ADJUST EVALUATE (5. Closing) CELEBRATE (Source:http://informationr.net/ir/8-1/paper144.html) Monitoring As the project managers of BQ will start this project, they will need to develop a work schedule for the many activities that would be done and would be expected to monitor the project from the start i.e. the initiation period down to the completion of the project as this will aid the success of the project. Managers of BQ need to check the time table written or built for this project so as to have a good grip on the monitoring of the project. They also have to consider the budget and the resources available for the completion of the project. In order to have a successful project monitoring the following should be considered: The use of the set up note for the project to monitor the growth of the project. Checking on the plan time table regularly. Quality must be checked and emphasized on. Progress should be checked on a regular basis. The full involvement of managers and project supervisors. The project time table should be followed regularly to avoid drift from the original plan. Changes during the construction should be communicated to the members of the team. Reasons why project should be monitored: To check planned work to actual work done. To know level of job completion. To know the quality of work done. Compare budgeted cost to actual spending. To check on attitude of everyone involved in the project. To know the level of commitment given in by team members. Ways to express the project development events Formal and informal Formal: Reports Level of job completion form/reports should be completed by all those involved so that progress and problems that occurred during the project work can be identified on time. Audits are used mostly to identify these issues when they arise. Project review meetings Meetings should be carried out by the managers and the project managers with the management so that periodic review could be carried out on the project so as to know the level of job completed and the requirements needed by the rest of the area not completed in the building of the project. Informal: Interaction with the members involved in the building project. Involvement of the other stakeholders of the company. Strict observation during the project design. Reports and guidelines for small and large projects to be used for the BQ project: Action Daily Weekly Monthly Quarterly Informal interaction with members Small Large Staff interaction with managers Both Meeting to review project Small Large Level of work report Small Large Project audit Large Team development practice Both Final report to the directors/mgt. Both SIMPLE FORMS TO CREATE USEFUL REPORTS (THE FINAL REPORT) The final report is a form of writing that deals on the whole history of the building work carried out during the designated period of time. This has to do with keeping of record of the initial stage build ups, every action that took place during the course of the project and the final report. Schedule on informal meeting with key players is important as to know their opinions and ask them about the project and what they would do next time. The final report of the project can be written using the form format written below: Summary of the project to include revisions to the original project plan Summary of major successes achieved. Analysis of planned requirements to actual achieved. Final financial analysis considering the difference that exists. Evaluation of administrative and management issues. Team performance should also be included in the report. Any other issue that require further investigation Recommendations on the project which can be used as a guide for the future. Acknowledgement of all those involved in the project work. CONCLUSION Project development is important and requires the development of end-to-end concepts for The construction of any project especially the construction of the stores for BQ in the Republic of Ireland which is part of the developmental plans of the company and as this will improve the profitability stage of the company. The reason for asset management is to maintain a ful set of investments, properties and fund which will in turn help in maximising the wealth of the shareholder. In property management, the duty of improving the status of the company so as to achieve profits for the business which would be carried on in the building as expected to be done by the management of BQ. This is a big organisation that has a great investment and any further investment that would be made would require the involvement of its major stakeholders. The extension would definitely call for an improvement in the state and status of BQ in the Republic of Ireland and as well the profitability of the company as a whole.

Technological Impact :: essays research papers

Technological Impact.  · Changes in market demand  · Marketing strategy: - As a company devpelopes and matures it will have to changes it's marketing strategy to compete and grow with other companies that are challenging the present company. I will take the car industry for an example. In the industry group there are many different competitors. Weather large or small they are all fighting for a piece of the nation and international market. The larger companies will have just as much trouble adjusting to change as a smaller company. This is because a small car company that does not produce many cars will find that to advertise a car on a small scale will probably take the same percentage of profit as a large company that needs to advertise on a large scale to keep the company going. In the car industry, manufactureres will be bringing out new models and varieties of cars all the time due to the intense competition to be at the top. There are seasonal changes in market demand; these become apparent when looking at car sales figures. There are highest sales of cars when the new registration plates for cars used to come out in August. This large demand for new cars was due to people wanting to have the newest cars available to them and they can show them off as people tend to notice the new letter at the beginning of the registration. The government has tried to stop this large demand for cars with new registrations by changing the registration twice a year, the letter also changes in March of each year as well as August . This may in theory have been a good idea but in practice it does not seemed to have paid of as most people that are buying a new car will tend to have it for a year before changing it for a different car. This is mainly because of the large amounts of money that is needed for road tax and car insurance and so people will not want top fork out more money for a new car as well as tax and insurance. As new models come out onto the market from other companies, this will cause demand for the present models of cars to be reduced because of the interest in the new model that not many other people have.

Death of a salesman explication Essay

This passage allows us to make several assumptions about the main character, Willy, in a psychiatric way. Obviously irony is a major component of how Arthur Miller hints to these mental characteristics, but he also alludes to other concepts in the details of the stage directions and the seemingly unimportant lines of supporting characters. Upon examining the passage on pages 38 and 39 in the book, (25 and 26 in the pdf) it has become clear that most of WIlly’s problems can be traced back not to how he raised his own children, but back to his own childhood. The three key points of Willy’s youth are subtly given to us in this passage and  highlighted with Miller’s use of irony. This may just be an opinion, but Willy is pretty weak, and not just physically. In this passage he is seemingly dependant on people’s praise and of seeming important. The irony is that he is thriving off the praise of both his wife and mistress, although the two women could not be be more different in their temperament. His wife Linda assures Willy of his handsomeness and his excellent parenting, in her eyes, and The Woman, although her compliments are far less sincere, assures Willy of how she picked him of all the possible  salesmen This is key because one of the main points of the entire play is Willy’s struggle with the fact that he is indeed not important anymore. This is ironic because it leads us to believe Willy to be this successful salesman, and we soon find that not to be true in the present day of the play. Willy’s need for reassurance of his importance is foreshadowing his lack of necessity in his future, and his lack of deserving praise in his future. The Woman, being more manipulative, sees Willy’s weakness for compliments and used them to keep him addicted in a way to their affair. In the start of the passage Willy complains of being alone on the road, so what better way to subdue that loneliness than to acquire someone to fawn over him and make him feel good about himself. This leads us to assume Willy has some self esteem issues. This concept also supports Willy’s affair because cheating often springs from people with poor self images because of the craving for the assurance of the cheating people’s greatness. This self hate can come from many places but most often comes from something deep rooted like, well, the person’s roots. Mother’s are important, something about the presence or absence of a mother can  make or break those of weaker spirits. Willy being one of those weak ones was emotionally stunted by his lack of mother. Or even lack of any family to establish healthy social skills. But commonly in psych cases, a lack of a mother or mother figure results in a perpetual longing for physical connections. In the stage directions Miller illustrates throughout this passage how purely physical Willy and The Woman’s relationship is. The passage begins with Willy discussing his longing for physical contact when he is on the road. Like Willy’s addiction to praise, he needs the physical contact because he just isn’t capable of making deeper  relationship connections from his early social handicap. The beginning confession for physical relations is ironic because he describes how he wants it to be with Linda, but it ends up happening with a mistress. This lack of ability to connect is part of the reason for Willy’s struggle with Biff. Willy cannot figure out how to communicate with Biff simply because he is socially inept. This in turn comes to stunt Biff as well as Willy makes the same mistakes with Biff that Willy’s own father did with Willy. Willy is haunted by his childhood, his decisions and his family. Miller never specifically writes how important this is, but he hints at it in one intense way in the stage directions. Willy hearing the flute music of his father. This flute music narrates the entire play in it’s own way. Like most people, Willy is terrified of ending up like his father. Everyone is told they end up like their parents and everyone vows that they will be different. But the thick irony is that Willy ends up just like his father, making the same vital mistakes. Just as Willy’s father abandoned Willy as a child and added another psychiatric problem to Willy’s list of mental  issues, Willy abandons his own family in what he thinks is a seemingly innocent act. A clear example of this is when The Woman thanks Willy for the stockings, and then it cuts to Linda repairing her stockings (which she is constantly doing throughout the play). This irony is that instead of taking care of his actual family by doing things like spending money on his wife to replace her old, ripped stockings, he turns his back on them to buy a gift for his mistress. Just like his father he put off the needs of his family for his own needs. This may seem harmless but in doing this Willy demonstrates who he is putting first n his priorities. These issues all lead to some serious mental issues that result in an endless cycle. Willy is unhappy with himself and longs to make connections and receive praise, but his only way to make connections is physically, which leads to poor choices, which leads to making his longed for connections worse which makes him even more unhappy with himself. Some people just don’t know how to stop the cycle and just work on their communication skills. Miller lays the irony on so thickly throughout this book to show how despite all Willy’s struggles he continues to do the exact things he is trying to prevent. Truly a tragedy.

Project Management Tools/Methods Essay

Over the years, Information Technology (I. T) projects has been known to fail, that is, they are either completed with over budget or not completed within time and budget. Information Technology projects are often complex and detailed in nature and require cognitive knowledge and skills for its accomplishment. I. T projects are often difficult to estimate and manage as some projects are either cancelled or reduced in scope because of over budgeting and time overruns or failure to produce anticipated benefits (Kumar, 2001). Failure of I. T projects is often characterised by the inability to meet the customer’s requirement or change in requirements during the project. To achieve a successful project, monitoring and control process performance is important, that is, control of Information Technology projects involves the use of appropriate management frameworks/methodologies and planning tools. In this report, we are going to look at the various ways of we can monitor and manage I. T projects, evaluating some management frameworks/methodologies and planning tools used with critical analysis on their functions, benefits as well as their weaknesses. Project monitoring and control are steps taking to keep track of a project process to ensure its success. Project monitoring is the gathering of information to determine the current state and progress of a Project in relation to its expected state and success (McBride, 2008; Aljibouri, 2003). Despite efforts put into project planning, things do change or occur that cause our project to derail. At this point, an effective monitoring and control process is useful and required to get the project back on course. It is in the control and monitoring process that we keep track of the project process, identify deviations, and determine and implement corrective actions. Many Organisations tend to manage I. T projects in an unstructured or ad hoc manner throughout its life cycle with limited understanding of the relationship between I. T project implementation and traditional business performance metrics (Stewart, 2008). The attention to schedule and cost are of utmost relevance in project monitoring and control as well as the scope of the project, risk and change control plus the overall performance measurement and reporting. The essential purpose of project monitoring and control is to alert the project manager to any project inter-dependencies that are becoming critical in terms of delivery date, resource allocation, cost or benefits (Lycett et. al, 2002). The basic challenge of project management in achieving its goals it based on managing effectively its typical constraints which include time, scope, budget. The following activities are involved in monitoring and control of I. T Projects; * The adoption of appropriate management framework/methodology – reporting structure, assessing progress, communication. Use of Planning and scheduling tools/techniques e. g. Gantt chart, PERT, CPA, WBS e. t. c * Data control – reporting progress of risk or staff activities MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORKS/METHODOLOGIES Project management methodologies can be said to be a set of principles or guidelines that can be defined and applied in monitoring and control of projects. Project management framework defines and determines how to initiate and run a project. These various methodologies ensure; * Clearly visible and defined management process for project execution * Defined line of reporting and decision making Risk management * Staff are appropriately trained and suitable to handle and run projects * Commitment to the proposed project. There so many various methodologies available as it all depends which suits the organisation practice. Here are a few of some well known ones below: PRINCE 2 – It is an acronym for Project IN Controlled Environment. PRINCE 2 is a structured project management methodology and a widely used standard for managing I. T projects. It significantly provides assistance with the optimal usage of resources with risk management initiatives to manage projects. Elkington and smallman (2000), argues that though the PRINCE 2 method has greatly increased the success rate of projects, but it has little in the way of directing project managers in handling project risk. It offers no advice to project managers on risk estimation. PRINCE 2 promotes consistency of project work and also facilitates staff mobility, reduction of personnel change impact. The method also provides for the absolute recognition of project responsibilities in order for participants to understand each other’s role. The Prince 2 method helps you work out who should be involved and their responsibility. Due to the numerous changes attached to I. T projects, PRINCE 2 has a technique of controlling the impact of change in a project so as to prevent the project from derailing from the right direction. SSADM – Structured System Analysis and Design Method is a method widely used in information system development in the U. K. it is based on data flow diagram. SSADM divides a system development project into stages, steps and tasks and provides a framework for analysing projects in a defined way to manage project. It aims at improving project management and control, develop quality systems, and establish a framework for good communication among personnel in a project team. It also ensures project continuity if there is a loss of staff without any effect on the project success (Middleton and McCollum, 2001). However, some limitations occur in the use of SSADM as it puts much emphasis on the analysis of the system and its documentation. This causes the impact of over-analysing, and can be cost and time consuming. Also, due to various types of description method, consistency checks cannot be carried out. The outline diagram can become very unclear, especially with large systems because all relevant data flow have to be included. Agile Methodology – Agile Development is a term that covers several iterative and incremental software development methodologies. This agile methodologies includes Scrum, Extreme Programming (XP), Dynamic systems development method (DSDM), Crystal, Feature-Driven development (FDD) e. t. c â€Å"Agile Software development represents a major departure from traditional plan –based approaches to software engineering â€Å"(Dyba and Dingsoyr, 2008). Each of these Agile methods is unique in its specific approach, but they all share a common core values and vision. Agile method is a new system development methodology which is used by software development teams to improve the software development process in terms of increased productivity of I. T personnel and higher quality of the final I. T solutions (Chan and Thong, 2008). According to Chan and Thong, (2008); Reifer, (2002), agile methodologies, such as Extreme programming (XP) and Scrum have received praise from practitioners because of their abilities to deal with volatile requirements. Although the deployment of these agile methodologies by I. T personnel is still resistance, industry surveys have indicated that its acceptance in I. T organisations is still at an early phase with many respondents indicating a limited knowledge (Chan and Tong, 2008). Also, in as much as the agile method have generated quite a bit of controversy, but since its entrance into the software community, most projects have continued to deliver high quality software systems within time than the traditional processes. BASIC I. T PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLANNING AND SCHEDULING TOOLS Different types of planning and scheduling tools exists, but we are going to discuss some of the basic one used in managing Information technology projects like Gantt Charts, CPM, PERT, WBS Gantt chart and Critical path Analysis flow diagrams are two commonly used tools for detailed project management planning, scheduling, costing and budgeting. Gantt chart is a typical scheduling method for most types of projects. A Gantt chart provides a graphical illustration of a schedule which helps in planning, co-ordinating and tracking specific tasks in a project. A key feature of Gantt charts is its focus on systemic rather than algorithmic solutions to utilisation problems† (Wilson, 2003). It specifies complex task sequence, that is, a task or more can be required to be completed before other tasks can start. According to Maylor, (2001), he emphasizes that the use of Gantt chart in controlling information systems projects is beneficial as it shows clearly the overlap of scheduled task s, which commonly occurs in system development. Gantt chart supports modification of task dependencies, creation of new task connector as well as re-scheduling individual tasks. It also helps to evaluate the progress of a project. Although, Gantt chart is a widely used and beneficial tool which gives clear illustration of project status, it also has some limitations. Gantt chart do not show task dependencies of one task to another, that is, it is difficult for you to see or tell the effect of a task falling behind schedule of which PERT chart does. Also, Gantt chart does not show the necessity of completing one task before the start of another as Critical Path Analysis will do. Gantt chart is also often used as a reporting tool. PERT and CPM Type Program Evaluation and Review Techniques (PERT) and Critical Path Method (CPM) are useful tools that help to manage and schedule complex projects. Activities of a complex projects can be performed parallel and some sequentially. The collection of these activities can be modelled as a network. PERT type network looks for the schedule to minimize the objective function of the total elapsed project time, that is, it determines the start and the finish times of each activity or task. CPM type is based on the critical path method. It looks for the schedule with the minimum cost in a definite period of time (a case where the cost is associated with each task). CPM provides a graphical view of a project, helps predict the time required for project completion and shows which activities are critical to maintaining the schedule and which are not. â€Å"CPM execution can enable monitoring and control over various topics uniquely related to software projects† (Gelbard et al, 2002). The CPM considers a set of precedence relations between the tasks of a project, that is, some tasks must be finished before other tasks can be started (Conde, 2009). CPM helps to plan all tasks that must be completed as part of a project. When managing I. T projects, CPM helps to get a project back on course by showing you where remedial actions need to be taken as in the case of Gantt Charts. CPM type is deterministic as it uses a fixed time estimate for each activity. According to Chanas and Zielinski, (2001); Yakhchali et al (2009), they emphasizes that the importance of CPM is that the activities duration time are deterministic and known, but the assumption cannot always be fulfilled with satisfying accuracy. Therefore, in order to deal with imprecise durations, they suggested that PERT method be used, which has conception of random variable with beta distribution to model the activity times. However, CPM is simple and easy to understand, but it does not consider the time variations that can have a huge impact on complex project completion time. For less routine projects, there is more uncertainty in the completion times of which PERT network is an alternative as it allows a range of durations to be indicated for each activity. The reduction of time and cost required for project completion is one of the capabilities of a PERT network. PERT assumes that the time estimate for an activity lies within the range of earliest time and latest time. It uses a three time estimates (optimistic, most likely, pessimistic) to compute the expected average time. However, PERT technique provides less benefit if the uncertainty of time estimates is relatively small and irrelevant. Chanas et al, (2001) and Conde, (2008) agrees that the PERT assumes beta distributions for the individual task completion times but also that the assumption and some other conditions are not exempt for criticism. â€Å" Apart from that, PERT provides a scheduling mechanism that is based on resource reallocation and ordering the project activities for cognitively driven task like software projects and research/development projects. â€Å"The main drawback of PERT technique is the difficulty of obtaining the time estimates† Changes do occur in I. T development projects, of which most often result to failure of the overall project. Controlling changes provides stability to projects. Changes to project agreement must be evaluated and recorded accordingly. According to Wang et al, (2008), change control facilitates software flexibility by controlling risks due to unstable scope and run-away requirements. Change control is necessary in project monitoring as it ensures; * Prevention of unauthorized use of resources * Proper update of project plan, its scope, budget expectations, schedule and quality * That the recommended change is consistent with external agreements. Monitoring and control process is no doubt necessary in project development by use and application of methodologies, tools and techniques. However, evaluating the various ways, their functions and characteristics, it can be said that there is no better of f methods as they have their benefits and weaknesses in various areas which other encompasses and vice versa, in other words, there is no-one –fits-all methodology. In practice, project managers have found out that it is difficult to simply use a methodology or tool exactly as it stands. But, it can be said that a good and successful project which delivers quality result, within time and budget are generally dependant on the quality and effort of participants from the project board down to the individual team members.

Argumentative Essay on Dog Fighting

Argumentative Essay on Dog Fighting Argumentative Essay on Dog Fighting Dog fighting is a sadistic practice that should be banned because of the many inhumane events that this practice entails. This practice entails breeding dogs specifically to make them fight. Such dogs are usually enclosed in small pits very early in their lives and, as they grow, are made to fight with other dogs to satisfy their owner’s gambling appetites. One of the main reasons why dog fighting should be illegal is because of the high level of suffering that these fights put the dog through. Given that the average dog fight lasts anywhere between one and two hours, the dogs that are participating in dog fights often suffer severe injuries that sometimes result in fatalities. Unlike other animals that naturally flee when they sense they cannot win a fight, the dogs that participate in dog fights are trained not to run away but to continue fighting regardless of the amount of injuries they sustain. It is only when the gambling appetites of their owners have been satisfied that the dogs are allowed to stop fighting. One of the most commonly used dogs in dog fights are pit bulls, which have powerful jaws and given that they rarely let go once they bite, the victim dog could end up suffering severe injuries, broken bones, and may even die just so their owner can have a chance of winning a bet. Some of the common injuries experienced by dogs that engage in dog fights include extreme blood loss, dehydration, extreme exhaustion, and even infections in the wounds they sustain. To make things even worse for these dogs, those that lose fights one too many times are often sacrificed for being weak and the same fate follows those dogs that are deemed old or those that do not fight as viciously as their owners expect them to. The injuries suffered by dogs that engage in fights have raised concerns in many authorities and in many places; this form of sadist sport has been classified as an illegal sport. Some individuals have even faced felony charges in courts of law. However, this seems not to have stopped some individuals from continuing to breed dogs so they can reap benefits from dog fighting. Interestingly enough, illegalizing this sport seems to have turned into a fortune for those who own dogs that engage in these fights because of the massive profits they get from those who are willing to pay large amounts of money so they can watch the illegal fights. It appears the authorities still need to do much more to deter people from willingly participating in dog fights. The minor penalties and convictions given to those found to have participated in dog fighting is not doing much to discourage this sport. The profits the dog fighters receive from the fights make the punishment, according to them; seem li ke a drop in the ocean. Perhaps it is time more severe penalties were enforced. Some tips on writing an argumentative essay: Make sure your thesis statement is clearly defined. Use transition words between paragraphs and make sure that your paragraphs are logically connected. Use facts and statistical data to support your arguments. Visit to buy argumentative essay on  Dog Fighting which will be written from scratch by highly qualified writers. You can get a free quote now!

Jaundice Disease Essay Example

Jaundice Disease Essay Example Jaundice Disease Essay Jaundice Disease Essay The word jaundice is derived from a French word called as jaune, which means yellow. It is a very common condition which is seen in newborn babies which can be treated by exposing them to sunlight. It is also known as yellow skin or eyes disease. It turns your skin, mucous membranes, sclera (the white of your eyes) into a single yellow color. This yellow pigment which is seen on your skin is due to bilirubin which is a byproduct of old red blood cells. If you are affected by jaundice consider it to be a serious problem which cannot to be taken lightly. Nearly 1% red blood cells retire everyday and those are replaced by fresh blood cells. These old blood cells are processed in the liver and later disposed. If there happens to be too many old red blood cells the yellow pigment builds up in the body, which results in the first stages of jaundice. Even though jaundice is not a disease but it is a sign for many other diseases. Jaundice is very common among babies due to the immature functioning of the liver. It is not equipped to deal with the removal of bilirubin from the bloodstream. Jaundice occurs mainly due to liver failure but there are many other reasons by which it is affected. Bilirubin is a natural product arising from the normal breakdown of red blood cells in the body and is excreted in the bile, through the actions of the liver. Jaundice is most often the result of a disorder affecting the liver it can be caused by a variety of other conditions affecting for example the blood or spleen. It should be thoroughly investigated so that the underlying cause can be identified and treated. The red blood cells in our circulation carry oxygen to all parts of the body and have a life span of about 120 days. At the end of their life they are broken down and removed from the circulation by special cells called phagocytes, which are found within the bone marrow, spleen and liver. New red cells are of course continually manufactured and this also takes place within the bone marrow. Following breakdown of the red cells some of their component parts such as amino acids and iron can be re-used by the body. Other components such as bilirubin need to be removed. Knowing how this removal pathway works is the key to understanding how jaundice occurs. Most waste products of the body are excreted in the urine via the kidneys but the liver and bile system is the other main physical route out of the body for these substances. By waste products we mean the many compounds that arise in the course of the bodys metabolism but almost all forms of drugs must also be eliminated either via the urine or bile routes. In the case of bilirubin released from old red cells, it passes through the bloodstream to the liver, where the liver cells process it. These cells carry out many complex chemical functions and also produce the liquid bile, which is the vehicle by which the cells discharge their output to the bile duct system. This is a branching network of tiny tubes throughout the liver, which merge in the same way as the branches of a tree. Ultimately a single main bile duct comes out of the liver and joins the first part of the small intestine (duodenum). Bile (and therefore bilirubin) then passes out through the small and large intestines and is excreted in the stool (feces). Bile is green in colour, but bacteria in the large bowel act to change the bilirubin to substances that are brown, which gives stool its characteristic colour. Some of the bilirubin is reabsorbed back into the body through the bowel wall, eventually appearing in the urine as a substance called urobilinogen (although the typical yellow/orange colour of urine is in fact due a different pigment called urochrome). Therefore, any failure of the bilirubin removal pathway will lead to a build-up of bilirubin in the blood. When this happens the individuals skin turns yellow, causing jaundice. There are many conditions that could be associated with jaundice, such as: An excessive breakdown of red blood cells The balance between manufacture and breakdown of red cells is normally precisely balanced and equal but there are several conditions in which the rate of breakdown increases. If the amount of bilirubin thus released exceeds the livers capacity to remove it, then jaundice will develop. The medical term for excessive red cell breakdown is haemolysis, and within the developed world it is a fairly rare condition. Malaria is however a major cause in tropical climates as the malaria parasites live within the red cells and shorten their life. Similarly the condition in which a foetus develops haemolysis due to incompatibility of its Rhesus blood group with that of its mother is now rarely seen in the UK where we routinely check for Rhesus antibodies in the mothers blood. In parts of the world where antenatal care is not as good haemolytic disease of the newborn is much more common. A temporary jaundice of newborn babies is however quite common, due to the relative immaturity of the babys liver cells and the higher than normal rate of cell breakdown that occurs in the first few weeks of life. It improves rapidly without treatment although when too high it can be speeded up by exposing the baby to ultraviolet light. Jaundice of the newborn is commoner in premature babies as their liver is even more immature than a baby born at term. Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia is a rare disease in which the bodys immune system seems to attack the red cells. It usually affects adults. Haemolysis can also be a side effect of some drugs, eg dapsone. Impairment of liver cell function The commonest cause is a viral infection of the liver cells (hepatitis). Many different types of infection including glandular fever (mononucleosis) can also be responsible for this. Alcohol abuse and subsequent scarring of the liver (cirrhosis) can cause significant cell damage leading to jaundice. Other less common conditions causing liver cell damage include haemochromatosis, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and primary biliary cirrhosis. Tumours of the liver either primary liver cancers (arising from the liver tissue itself) or more commonly, the secondary spread of a tumour from elsewhere in the body into the liver can lead to cell failure and jaundice. Blockage of the bile ducts This can occur as a result of abnormality inside or outside the ducts. The commonest example of an internal blockage is a gallstone. Tumours of the bile duct are rare but if large enough, or situated just where the bile duct meets the duodenum, then they can block the flow of bile. At this junction point, known as the ampulla of Vater, the tube from the pancreas gland also joins to the duodenum. Cancer of the pancreas tends to arise in the part of the pancreas nearest to the ampulla of Vater, so is another potential cause of obstructive jaundice. Any external organ or mass lying nearby that becomes large enough to press on the bile duct could be responsible. Examples include swollen internal lymph glands, a cyst (perhaps of the pancreas) or scar tissue following a previous infection or surgery. Symptoms of Jaundice, other than that of the jaundice itself, will relate to the underlying cause. For example someone with haemolysis might also be anaemic and tired. If a gallstone were responsible there would probably have been a preceding history of pain in the abdomen. A cancer might be accompanied by weight loss, and so on. When jaundice is due to obstruction of the bile duct the person will often notice that their urine becomes dark and stools become pale, as the excess bilirubin spills over into the urine and no longer colours the stool. Obstructive jaundice is also often accompanied by intense itching. The diagnosis is made by recognition of the patients appearance and accompanying symptoms. A blood test will confirm the raised bilirubin level and other tests such as those for hepatitis and haemolysis are also done on the blood. Ultrasound is a good way to inspect the liver and bile ducts for signs of obstruction, and often can give useful information on the pancreas gland. CT scanning also helps diagnose obstructive jaundice accurately. Treatment will depend upon the diagnosis behind the symptom of jaundice. For example, if the problem is one of gallstones, then removal of the gallbladder may be required. Jaundice comes in several other types, I will elaborate briefly about some of those types as follows: Neonatal jaundice is usually harmless: this condition is often seen in infants around the second day after birth, lasting until day 8 in normal births, or to around day 14 in premature births. Serum bilirubin normally drops to a low level without any intervention required: the jaundice is presumably a consequence of metabolic and physiological adjustments after birth. In extreme cases, a brain-damaging condition known as kernicterus can occur; there are concerns that this condition has been rising in recent years due to inadequate detection and treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Neonatal jaundice is a risk factor for hearing loss. Jaundiced eye, It was once believed persons suffering from the medical condition jaundice saw everything as yellow. By extension, the jaundiced eye came to mean a prejudiced view, usually rather negative or critical. Alexander Pope, in An Essay on Criticism (1711), wrote: All seems infected that the infected spy, As all looks yellow to the jaundiced eye. Similarly in the mid 19th century the English poet Lord Alfred Tennyson wrote in the poem Locksley Hall: So I triumphed ere my passion sweeping thro me left me dry, left me with the palsied heart, and left me with a jaundiced eye. In conclusion, if you or one of your friends or relatives suspect that you may have jaundice, it is essential that you arrange to see your doctor in order that the underlying cause is identified and any possible treatment initiated as soon as possible.

The Devil in the White City - Discussion Questions

'The Devil in the White City' - Discussion Questions The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson is a true story that takes place at the 1893 Chicago Worlds Fair. Spoiler Warning: These book club discussion questions reveal important details about the story. Finish the book before reading on. Why do you think Erik Larson chose to tell Burnham and Holmes stories together? How did the juxtaposition affect the narrative? Do you think they worked well together or would you have preferred to read about just Holmes or just Burnham?What did you learn about architecture? What do you think the fair contributed to the architectural landscape in the United States?How did the Chicago Worlds Fair change Chicago? America? The world? Discuss some of the inventions and ideas that were introduced at the fair that still impact life today.How was Holmes able to get away with so many murders without becoming suspect? Were you surprised by how easy it was for him to commit crimes without being caught?What ultimately led to Holmes capture and the discovery of his crime? Was this inevitable?How did Holmes hotel contrast with the buildings of the Worlds Fair? Can architecture reflect goodness or evil, or are buildings neutral until used?How did the White City contract with Chicago, the Black Cit y? What do you think of Holmes claim that he was the devil? Can people be inherently evil? How would you explain his strange allure and cold-hearted behavior?Burnham, Olmsted, Ferris and Holmes were all visionaries in their own ways. Discuss what drove each of these men, whether they were ever truly satisfied, and how their lives ultimately ended.Rate The Devil in the White City on a scale of 1 to 5.

Ray Ban Sunglasses Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Ray Ban Sunglasses - Essay Example It is important to bring to your notice that these designer wear prescription glasses help improve not only your vision but also ameliorate the eye strains. This is the forte of this brand as they offer Glass or polycarbonate lenses offer 100% UV protection. Ray Ban glasses always attract the customers without a second thought. Their new strategic media campaign for Spring/Summer 2007 "NEVER HIDE," is full of thought provoking innovativeness which happens to be the brand's benchmark. In its every form, the RAY-BAN campaign portrays regular guys and girls living their day to day lives with authenticity, with the courage to express themselves and their unique individuality, because the most fashionable thing to be is your self. Recently the company launched its campaign in New York and briefed its customers through a press release and said: "Ray-Ban has a rich history and an iconic personality that is authentic, real, bold and stylish. Ray-Ban has always created trends not followed them: authenticity and legacy mean something while flash and sparkle will come and go. But Ray-Ban is forever."(1) It speaks of timeless nostalgia. The elegance and subtlety of its design makes it an all time collector's item. For instance: the heavy metal Aviator series are unisex and look well proportioned on any face. Likewise the brand does not pose off cheap ritzy glasses that become dated after a while. The beauty of possessing a Ray Ban is the endorsement of its simplicity in design. Real trendsetters, real opinion leaders, real individuals believe the most fashionable thing you can be is yourself; to be authentic, real, bold and stylish. So to reclaim its rightful place as the legitimate leader of sunglasses, Ray-Ban has to only speak and act like their maverick selves. No wonder why all stylish models and celebrities put them because these glasses epitomize class and breed. Ray-Ban has adorned thousands of famous faces in international films, helping create the myth that it is today. To further explicate the proposition of purchasing only and only Ray Ban can be evaluated and gauged through the following review by one of its customers: "They are the ones to rock n roll. They speak of the 70s-80s style. They are perfect for my face. I think it looks good on anyone. There is a big difference buying sunglasses in streets. You could feel the quality and comfort because they are 100% authentic ray-bans, made in Italy. So, therefore I recommend for the people to get it if you could handle this hot item!"(2) This clearly proves that these designer wear glasses are every style conscious person's dream wear and imply the rich aesthetic sense of its wearer as well. Their supreme quality construction, sophisticated designs, and premier features like polarized lenses and durable frames make them ideal for activities ranging from heavy duty sports to driving. Appearing in hundreds of inspiring Hollywood films and beloved by fashion fans worldwide, the name "Ray-Ban" has become an icon in eyewear. Therefore, the Company's much coveted motto endorses its high claims and makes it the world's undisputed top notch designer wear brand-making it a worthwhile purchase. "Never pretend. Never be afraid. Never give up. Never Hide."

Middle Childhood Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Middle Childhood - Research Paper Example Prenatal as well as postnatal biological attentions of the infant dictate much the functional development of the infant’s brain as noted by Benson and Haith (2009). Structural brain development takes place mostly during the prenatal period of the infant’s growth. Biologically, the prenatal experiences of the infant are likely to affect their brain growth directly. These experiences include poor nutrition and poor maternal health. For instance, exposure to pharmacological agents at the prenatal stage may result in the infant showing symptoms of withdrawal in their behavior. The infant may also experience changes in their stress-regulating capabilities which are associated with prenatal maternal stress. Physical health effects include the care needs of the child, the caregiver’s response to the needs of the infant, the infant’s capacity for mental growth and development as well as normal physic of the infant. The temperament factors include behavioral inhibi tions and their physical attributes. Both physical and temperament factors may affect the interaction between the caregivers and the infant thus affecting the caregiver’s response to the infant’s behavior. For instance the caregiver may feel disconnected from the infant, protective of him/her or even drawn to him/her. The physical as well as behavioral attributes of the infant may trigger either negative or positive interactions, or later have exacerbating interactions which are negative. In studying biological effects during infancy it is good to focus on the infant’s behavior and hormonal response. For instance, immature sensory development in infancy is associated with the infant’s social world. Immature limb systems are associated with locomotion at infancy while immature cortex is associated with the search behavior of the infant according to Freedheim (2003). Social/Cultural Issues Related to Infancy Social issues affecting infancy revolve around ac cess to resources as well as support provided by those around the infant’s life. The environment in which the infant lives affects the infant’s needs depending on the availability, prioritization and type of resources. Lower social class leads to a probability of the infant being faced with environmental risks as noted by Benson and Haith (2009). For instance, frequent experiences with poverty negatively influence the infant development at the early stages of life. This is due to the association between psychological and environmental stress. The risks associated with this type of stress such as community violence may affect the infant’s social behavior like being rude or rough in facing life issues. Social factors associated with crowded areas, rural areas and unhealthy living situations limit the infant’s access to necessary resources for development. This is because each of these social environments is characterized with competition for available resou rces. In the context of child development, culture is concerned with the norms used in parenting practices and beliefs. Cultural factors impact the way the infant is taken care of and influence the role of the family in molding the infant’s behavior and beliefs. According to Benson and Haith (2009), despite the fact that there are different cultural backgrounds, there are certain cultural values which are found common across the world. These include, providing safety and good health to the infant, ensuring that the infant

Is gender equality achievable in a Muslim society Research Paper

Is gender equality achievable in a Muslim society - Research Paper Example Since the pre-modern era, Muslim society has maintained a strong stand regarding gender-based issues that seemed to bring confusion in the community (Razack 23). This entailed specifying clearly diverse rights encompassing both genders coupled with certain areas and rituals where they best applied. Islam mainly draws its guidance from Qur’an whose teachings normally regard men and women as equal before God and no one is a derivative of the other (Keshavjee 113). However, during prayers, the worship doctrines disregard the service of a woman being an Imam. For the past 150 years, Muslim society has undergone tremendous changes fueled by the emergence of modernity in their states. Moreover, the western culture, like other global communities, has influenced Muslim society towards esteeming of women to the extent of allowing them into the political arena (Fadel). For instance, within the 150-year span, Muslim women have shown excellence in politics and other varied areas like educ ation where some of them are prominent scholars. This is evident in states like Pakistan where Benazir Bhutto held a post of prime minister. These manifestations backed by some religion liberties foresee the achievable gender equality in Muslim society. Islam is particularly amusing in the context how it defines gender equality. For instance, contrary to other societies, at certain incidences women have the privilege of inheritance when even the most influential people do not encompass any mandate to question (Abdullah). This is evident in the case of the husband’s demise or when the father willingly offers to give inheritance. Muslim society defines gender equality in diverse contexts that encompass ritual, family and public. In the family with the man being the head, a woman is liable for the family’s upbringing in the absence of the husband when she becomes the one in charge (Keshavjee 109). Other contexts, except religious services, do not hold strict guidelines wh ich pave more way for women to exercise diverse privileges that will uplift equality. Globally, women activists, especially the political figures, continue to exact pressure regarding Muslim female gender recognition (Abdullah). This aspect acts a motivation to the upcoming female generation who will be vibrant in ensuring that their presence and dignity receive necessary esteem. Hence, they contribute to gender equality even in the most cultured states that currently fail to accept feminine political leadership. Contrary to the pre-modern theologians, who advocated against women holding certain posts in the society, the current situation has changed (Keshavjee 112). Numerous states have permitted women to venture in the political arena where, according to their excellence, they can assume varied posts at which their competence can allow them serve best. This is evident in states like Pakistan, Turkey and Bangladesh (Feryal). Modern religion theologians are not anti-female concernin g their serving in elevated posts so long they observe norms of modesty. Education has also contributed immensely to the emancipation of females from the strict cultures of various states, especially those that entail extremism and enhancement of gender equality (Abdullah). This has offered a woman an upper hand and revolutionized her against certain weird practices, for instance, public canning of women lawbreakers. The action emanates from modern theology that offers room to women since some are becoming independent due to education status, thus, some becoming scholars (Keshavjee 110). This renders them being cosmopolitans and encountering west modernity that continues revolutionizing women further (Feryal). For illustration, an English-speaking Muslim does not apply family law that the Middle East states advocate and emphasize. This depicts a revolutionized society that has disregarded some practices that degrade women and adopt those which will try to enhance equality due to ove rwhelming family

Reading journal about a book Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Reading journal about a book - Essay Example ookie’s character, illustrating a deep need for emotional and sexual gratification by others which confuses her identity and how she should be perceived in the story. While others are deeply concerned about her well-being, which Sookie clearly appreciates, she questions herself regularly and over-analyzes scenarios with a deep concern that she might betray, offend or otherwise harm others. Sex is a major theme which Sookie seems to equate with acceptance and approval, yet in some ways it seems to be a mockery to this character. She is duplicitous, for sure, and this impacts what she chooses to give to others when describing death, friendship, betrayal and other concepts. From a gender perspective, there is little method by which to clearly classify what type of gender persona she really is enacted; or desires to enact. Her obsession with cuddling and physical embrace seems to be the only method by which she finds comfort in her own identity. When she is more aggressive and assertive, she keeps it to her thoughts, such as stating that she is mad at another person, but chooses not to express this openly. She seems to internalize many of her conflicts, making it so that others in her social environment remain unaware that she is so duplicitous and complex. In one situation, she says of Alcide, â€Å"screw him† to show indifference, yet she dreams of making love to Alcide secretly. It seems she wants others to believe she is self-sufficient, confident and strong, but in reality it is the need for romance that drives the majority of her motivations. Far from discussing the storyline in-depth, it is Sookie’s complexity of character and personality and how it chooses to present itself to others that makes the story so compelling in terms of gender identity and gender

Best source for Expo Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Best source for Expo - Essay Example From the article, one can tell that it was the second year for the event and it was like a combination show of trade that gathered fans and made a big party with some music festival in it. How well the author elaborates on the activities that were carried out in the expo makes it a good source of expo. Through reading this article, a reader can tell what to expect in a penny arcade expo. The author analyses the expo in a way that anyone who reads the article can tell every detail of the Expo. The article explains that in the Penny Arcade expo there were more than 10,000 attendees. According to the article, the expo involved console and computer game tournaments (Penny, 2005). I chose this source because it elaborates on every session that took place in the expo. For example, it gives the activities that took place in the show such as the question and answer sessions with penny arcade creators, pro-player challenges, and performances by music rockers. The article gives the highlight of the show as Omegathon, which is a gaming decathlon with six events. The author makes the expo activities look exciting to the reader. Even for individuals who did not attend the expo, through reading this article they can get a clear picture of the activities that took place and how exciting they were. The article also names its sponsors as sonny, Microsoft, Ncsoft, and Nintendo (Penny, 56). By naming the sponsors of the expo, the source makes the reader grasp an idea of corporations that work hand in hand with the Penny arcade Expo. The performances that were made in the expo give the reader an idea of the activities of an expo. Through using this source, an individual can compare how the 2005 expo was different from other expos that have been held since then in different places. One can compare the events and be able to tell the most common events that take place in such expos. The source gives information of the expo through

As a senior partner in a marketing consultancy,short business report Assignment

As a senior partner in a marketing consultancy,short business report advising this client - Assignment Example The  troupe  of non-marketing  will have an influence on the marketing executives of the company and in their victory  to maintain good and long term  relationships  with old and new customers. The market environment for an organization or  business  is consist of the  macro environment  that includes external issues of the company or business like political, social, legal aspect with nation and local market and in other hand the  micro environment  which includes the internal issues of company like strength, weakness and opportunities of the company or business which influence in running an organization and its functional departments like finance, production, marketing etc. It will assist the Samsung Company to determine the external and internal forces that influence the company’s potential to fulfill the desire needs of their customers. The Samsung company will able to know that how to change their decisions regarding the economic factors and demographic, so they can implement better marketing strategy to engage more their customers. It also aids the company to analyze the current trend of the market and the requirement of the population of the market via technological and other natural’s factors. Through the help of marketing environment the Samsung company will able to deal with political and legal factors of nations. The marketing environment can be done through with the help of PESTLE analysis and SWOT analysis. PESTLE analysis aids the Samsung to know about of external force which may influence on their work, whereas SWOT analysis will aids to indentify the internal factors and capacity of the Samsung Company. Through this analysis the Samsung Company will capable to know the political, economical, social, technological, legal and environmental forces, these are external factors. In other hand, strength,

Best source for Expo Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Best source for Expo - Essay Example From the article, one can tell that it was the second year for the event and it was like a combination show of trade that gathered fans and made a big party with some music festival in it. How well the author elaborates on the activities that were carried out in the expo makes it a good source of expo. Through reading this article, a reader can tell what to expect in a penny arcade expo. The author analyses the expo in a way that anyone who reads the article can tell every detail of the Expo. The article explains that in the Penny Arcade expo there were more than 10,000 attendees. According to the article, the expo involved console and computer game tournaments (Penny, 2005). I chose this source because it elaborates on every session that took place in the expo. For example, it gives the activities that took place in the show such as the question and answer sessions with penny arcade creators, pro-player challenges, and performances by music rockers. The article gives the highlight of the show as Omegathon, which is a gaming decathlon with six events. The author makes the expo activities look exciting to the reader. Even for individuals who did not attend the expo, through reading this article they can get a clear picture of the activities that took place and how exciting they were. The article also names its sponsors as sonny, Microsoft, Ncsoft, and Nintendo (Penny, 56). By naming the sponsors of the expo, the source makes the reader grasp an idea of corporations that work hand in hand with the Penny arcade Expo. The performances that were made in the expo give the reader an idea of the activities of an expo. Through using this source, an individual can compare how the 2005 expo was different from other expos that have been held since then in different places. One can compare the events and be able to tell the most common events that take place in such expos. The source gives information of the expo through

A Poem from Aeon Entelechy Evangelion by Earthscorpion Essay Example for Free

A Poem from Aeon Entelechy Evangelion by Earthscorpion Essay Many a star must have been there for you so you might feel it. A wave lifted towards you out of the past, or, as you walked past an open window, a violin gave of itself. All this was their mission. But could you handle it? Were you not always, still, distracted by expectation, as if all you experienced, like a Beloved, came near to you? (Where could you contain her, with all the vast strange thoughts in you going in and out, and often staying the night. ) But if you are yearning, then sing the lovers: for long heir notorious feelings have not been immortal enough. Those, you almost envied them, the forsaken, that you found as loving as those who were satisfied. Begin, always as new, the unattainable praising: think: the hero prolongs himself, even his falling was only a pretext for being, his latest rebirth. But lovers are taken back by exhausted Nature into herself, as if there were not the power to make them again. Have you remembered Gastara Stampa sufficiently yet, that any girl, whose lover has gone, might feel from that intenser example of love: Could I only become like her? Should not these ancient sufferings be finally fruitful for us? Isnt it time that, loving, we freed ourselves from the beloved, and, trembling, endured as the arrow endures the bow, so as to be, in its flight, something more than itself? For staying is nowhere. Voices, voices. Hear then, my heart, as only saints have heard: so that the mighty call raised them from the earth: they, though, knelt on impossibly and paid no attention: such was their listening. Not that you could withstand Gods voice: far from it. But listen to the breath, the unbroken message that creates itself from the silence. It rushes towards you now, from those youthfully dead. Whenever you entered, didnt their fate speak to you, quietly, in churches in Naples or Rome? Or else an inscription exaltedly impressed itself on you, as lately the tablet in Santa Maria Formosa. What do they will of me? That I should gently remove the semblance of injustice, that slightly, at times, hinders their spirits from a pure moving-on. It is truly strange to no longer inhabit the earth, to no longer practice customs barely acquired, not to give a meaning of human futurity to roses, and other expressly promising things: o longer to be what one was in endlessly anxious hands, and to set aside even ones own proper name like a broken plaything. Strange: not to go on wishing ones wishes. Strange to see all that was once in place, floating so loosely in space. And its hard being dead, and full of retrieval, before one gradually feels a little eternity. Though the living all make the error of drawing too sharp a distinction. An gels (they say) would often not know whether they moved among living or dead. The eternal current sweeps all the ages, within it, through both the spheres, forever, and resounds above them in both. Finally they have no more need of us, the early-departed, weaned gently from earthly things, as one outgrows the mothers mild breast. But we, needing such great secrets, for whom sadness is often the source of a blessed progress, could we exist without them? Is it a meaningless story how once, in the grieving for Linos, first music ventured to penetrate arid rigidity, so that, in startled space, which an almost godlike youth suddenly left forever, the emptiness first felt the quivering that now enraptures us, and comforts, and helps.

Role of the Photographer in Preserving Wilderness

Role of the Photographer in Preserving Wilderness Wildlife Photography Synopsis This dissertation addresses the relationship between people and the environment, specifically that which is now described as the wild. The term wilderness is applied to both the land and the marine environments and looks at how the wilderness came to be defined as such. It looks at the difficulties in determining protective measures and ensuring they are effective and fit for purpose. Fit for purpose obviously begs the question as to fit for whose purpose and this pivotal question exposes the delicate balance between allowing access to the wild and protecting the wild from mans access. In the face of this tension, and conflict of interest, many agencies across the world have tried various ways to balance the needs and desires of mans subsistence and recreational activities in the wild. When successful, they achieve public support to help preserve the wilderness and raise revenue to help fund the monitoring and policing of management policies to those areas. This dissertation looks at the measures that have been introduced to protect and preserve the wild. It also explores the problems facing the trusts and agencies charged with defining land and marine management policies and the importance of engaging the various publics with their vested interests. It is in the capacity of promoting the beauty and the diversity of life in the wilds of the lands and waters,and their importance to the ecosystems and food chains, that the photographer is able to play a role in helping protect these threatened regions of the earth. The photographers role in helping educate and disseminate information to raise the profile of the fragility of the wild is an important one. Their pictures speak to the range of stakeholders provide visual messages vital in securing public support and that of their respective governments to secure long-term protection of these ever-decreasing regions. Introduction This study explores the concept of wilderness, how it, and nature in general, is depicted by advertisers, the mass-media, e.g., books, television, magazines etc. and how, in turn, this depiction may influence the ways people then relate to and interact with nature. I then look at the influence of photography and the role of the photographer specialising in nature photography to help preserve what is loosely called wilderness in a world dominated by industry, tourism, transportation and consumerism all ever greedy for natural resources. The tension between the demand for access to, and usage of, unspoiled or wild environments and the negative impact that such access has on those environments is a difficult land/marine management problem. Britain and America both have conservation and wilderness protection legislation, as do some other countries, but have had to accept that people want to interact with nature itself. Part of their solution has been to define the concept of wilderness, define the levels of access and type of interaction and manage the area to ensure it is being used responsibly and respectfully. Naturally, the definition of wilderness itself is subject to debate and the rigour with which responsible access and usage of the wild environments is policed depends on many factors. There can be economic drivers that actively promote poaching and habitat destruction, e.g., the ivory trade, illegal but extremely lucrative or traditional Chinese medicine that uses parts from animals, including endangered species in its practise. If people are poor and face a life of hardship it is easy to see how making a lot of money from poaching or illegal animal trading, for example, could tempt them. Patrolling and protecting lands, waters and indigenous life requires funding. It requires a government to value them and enshrine the values in laws and legislation. It requires foreign governments to outlaw the import or trade of exotic plant and animal life and in doing so, stop funding the poachers and hunters. It requires money to provide wardens or patrols. It requires education. It may not be possible to educate people to value their lands and animals above their own survival but it might be possible to educate them into thinking of ways to make money from the environment, by showcasing nature in its natural environment. But how much interaction? And what forms can such interaction take? These are the dilemmas facing many countries around the world. The photographer can play an educative role. This role can be one of raising awareness of the value of the habitats, ecosystems and the sheer beauty of the diversity of life on earth. In this way, they can play a part in promoting a public, even global, consciousness and value of the planet, not just for the needs of today but also for that of successive generations. Many photographers specialising in photography of the wild are actively involved in campaigning for conservation or preserving such wilderness as is left on earth and work with various agencies aligned to common goals. I hope to demonstrate that photographers working in alliance with other agencies make a positive difference that help persuade public opinion and governmental response into valuing what is left of our unspoiled environments. The Role of the Human in Environmental Change As a species, our environmental impacts have increased, and intensified at an almost exponential rate. Mans ability to adapt and modify and shape the environment, changing its natural state to make it suitable to accommodate our needs, demands and desires is unparalleled by any other species. It is this ability to master and dominate nature, accepted almost as an entitlement, that constitutes an ideology which is shared by practically every society on the planet, through the means of globalisation (Goudie, 2000). For example, tribal societies hunt and gather food and resources, post-Neolithic groups began the domestication of livestock, and sowed the first seeds of agriculture. Even the construction of the grand canal in ancient China are all examples of the anthropogenic shaping and control over nature throughout early human history. The impetus driving these developments has generally been the necessity to provide for the needs of a growing and successful population, be it food, clothing, shelter or to further the spiritual expression of the people. (Ponting 1991). And still, Homo Sapiens is the only species which has created its own nature calling it culture, or civilisation. This â€Å"second nature† maybe started as a gradual, progressive alienation and divergence from the natural biosphere as a seemingly â€Å"natural† progression on mans evolutionary path. However, as mans skills in developing tools for agriculture, hunting and industrialisation grew, the rate of change intensified. Mans power to consume, appropriate and exploit nature to fulfil ever diversifying â€Å"needs† from driving the Huia, an Australasian wattle bird, to extinction for the sole purpose of decorating Europeans hats (CNN, 1999), to clearing rainforest to make space for grazing and crop growing is virtually unchecked and unchallenged. While these are just two unrelated and isolated examples, the demands of supplying and servicing global requirements for resources are seemingly endless. The message that the German Advisory Council for Global Environmental Change (Wissenschaftlicher Beirat der Bundesregierung Globale Umweltverà ¤nderungen, WBGU) placed at the beginning of its annual assessment for the year 2000 was Breathless and fragmented, the world rushes into the new millennium. Ten years on, there has been no slow down. (WBGU, 2001) According to Mongabay (2009), over eighty percent of cleared forest land from created between 1996 and 2006 has been used to create pasture for cattle. If this prolific rate of deforestation over the last decade wasnt enough, the Brazilian government intends to double its share of the world beef market to 60% by 2018. Such decimation and destruction cannot be justified by only a clear business rationale. For example, the practise of clearing rainforest to enable cattle grazing, etc., is worth economically less than the cleared forest originally was. Yet mans desire to trade one of the largest biologically diverse, in many ways unique, and visually stunning ecosystems for cheap burgers and hot coffee continues. Despite the many organisations, campaign groups and societies all working for the protection, conservation and re-naturalisation of the Earths environs, the WBGU presented the worlds environment as one in constant crisis. Total global fossil fuel consumption (coal, oil and natural gas) rose to 7,956 million metric tons. Carbon dioxide emissions reached 6,553 million tons in 2001, amounting to a record concentration of 384 ppm carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (measured at the Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii, 2007). The capacity of the 436 nuclear reactors operating in over 35 countries reached 351 gigawatts and the economic mega-machine on which all these achievements rested, produced a record annual gross world product of US $40.5 trillion in 1999 (1998 prices). (WGBU, 2001) These high profits come at the expense of the health of the environment, accelerating its deterioration. Franz Broswimmer (2001) coined the term ecocide, for his book â€Å"Ecocide: A Short History of the Mass Extinction of Species† In it, he writes about the destructive processes, the ways in which human beings have constructed their relation to their surrounding environments, being responsible for, as well as legitimising, negative human impact on global ecosystems, which he claims date back over 5000 years, though others claim that this â€Å"ecocide† began long before this, for instance, the extinction of the Woolly Mammoth is arguably attributed to human hunters some 11000 years ago, according to Martin (2005). Conservation Conservation is a means of managing the resources of an ecosystem while protecting it from depletion and destruction, avoiding change and accumulation of man-made artefacts. This allows us to benefit from the ecosystem indefinitely. Long into the future, managed use and sensible precautions will prevent the degradation of a habitat, protecting the species within it. There are countless reasons for natural conservation, not only can our continued survival depend on its existence (the natural processes of plant life provide us with oxygen, recycle carbon dioxide from the air, insects and fungi help decompose biological litter and waste, which in turn fertilize plants, which then grow more efficiently, providing more and better fruits and crops, which then feed us or animals which we hunt or eat). Each of these processes is reliant on other variables being maintained, a concept key to that of conservation. If the biological resources are managed properly, they are effectively renewable; resources which will become ever more important as fossil fuel reserves become increasing expensive and rare. Conservation of Species Many geographically remote islands and peninsulas are rich in endemic species plants and animals that are found nowhere else. Due to their geographic isolation, and the millions of years since life has had a chance to populate it, small populations have gradually adapted and evolved to their environment. This genetic isolation is important as it contains a wealth of genetic information that is unique, these genes may hold futures cures and manufacturing processes that we have yet to realise. Unfortunately these island populations are relatively small, and with such little habitat available to them, they are susceptible to habitat loss, and since they originally formed from small populations, they are genetically very similar, the introduction of a disease can cause large proportions to die, and the resulting lack of genetic diversity can lead to the eventual extinction as mutations become more and more common. Introduced species like rats and even cats are responsible for causing the extinction of species. Many extinctions from the last century have been those of endemic island species, even more are now endangered. The protection of these genetic reserves should be one of an island peoples highest priorities, while this is often difficult to balance with the populations needs, which conflict with those of the habitat, such as water sewage, agriculture and transport infrastructure. Protecting these endemic species is a difficult task, the high level diversity, and the fact the entire population is in one place, coupled with the fact that the population has needs, this results in islands having far higher ratios of endangered species per head of the population than anywhere else. If a balance is not struck in time, these species are gone forever. Protected Areas for Conservation Every country or island has at least some area that needs to be protected, the habitat in question varies, coral reef, bog-land, forest, sand dune, within these areas may be rare or endangered species of plant or animal, or these may be complete and important ecosystems as yet untouched by development. These areas may serve a variety of purposes, from being historic importance, tourism, or refuge for species harvested outside of that area, or protecting against bad weather- for instance, sand dunes and wetlands protect against storm surges by dissipating wave energy over those lands, without damaging coastal towns. These spaces often have laws protecting individual species, from While there is some legislation which protects certain species against hunting, interference, or a closed season for them to breed and recover, these laws do not protect species or the habitat these species rely on in many cases, and among the best protection we can offer them is to set aside their habitat, and minimise human interaction to avoid disturbance. Because of this most countries, provinces and islands create reserves, or national parks. Reserves by their nature tend to have a smaller purpose, where the national parks are large open areas, available to the public for recreational activities that do not damage. These areas act as safe places for multitudes of animals and plants, encourage tourism- providing income for peoples, or for protecting natural resources that may pass through that area, such as drinkable water. While it is governments who usually have the land and the power to be able to actually designate reserves and National Parks, public awareness needs to be raised concerning the reason these lands have been protected This will help to ensure that the visiting public respect them, ensuring that they last for future generations. The governments of developing nations do not often have the resources to fully protect and police these places, and rely on the public and outside assistance, either from charities or tourism money to help protect them. There are cases where these reserves are not treated properly, with harvesting and poaching taking place, causing these areas to fail. Other than protecting the natural world, these places allow scientific research to be conducted helping us to understand what makes these species and lands special, as well as providing a context in which the public can be educated in the importance of the natural world. This is especially important when so many people use supermarkets for their food, distancing them from the origins of their food. This education can also be useful in helping people understand their own history, as well as their national and cultural heritage. Individual Conservation Actions If we are to keep as much of our resources as renewable as possible, there is a necessity to keep conservation at the heart of any initiative. Maintaining all the elements of the ecosystem allows these initiatives to be most productive, as everybody uses these resources in some way to some degree. There are ways that everybody can give something back, contributing to conservation as a whole. Governments alone will generally find it difficult to set enough land aside to include large expanses of varying habitats. From forest and reef, to wetlands and savannah, especially considering the differing needs of both the land itself and society as a whole. From conservation and research to recreation and sustainable harvesting. However, with the aid of local groups and land owners (especially in those countries that are governed regionally, or by tribal groups) people can organise their own resources. In protecting these resources and by extension the habitat and biodiversity, they protect their own interests, whether they are economic or cultural. Farmers, along with other land owners have the opportunity to manage their land so that they are able to protect their resources, allowing their soil to remain fertile, firewood and other woodland etc. produce to be gathered regularly, as well as ensuring water is kept clean for drinking and gardens etc. On top of this, on difficult or unused areas trees can be planted, allowing for extra diversity and extra resources over the medium to long term, when a tree is finally cut down, another can be replanted to ensure supplies for the future. Traditional Conservation While it is always the case, many peoples living in remote areas and islands, who have and still practice their traditional way of life, live in harmony with their surroundings, knowing when a resource is available, and how much can readily be used. Plants taken for food, medicine or any other reason often have a seed placed where the previous plant grew, ensuring that not only is diversity maintained, but that the resource is effectively renewable. This intimate knowledge of their own surroundings was passed down from generation to generation, but as development and modernisation encroach on those remote areas in ways previously impossible, this knowledge is not maintained, and ways of life are forgotten in favour of the luxuries modern life brings. What is the Wilderness? Where does the man-made landscape end and nature begin? First, we must begin by looking at the definition of â€Å"wilderness†, and whether any definitions for it is fixed in meaning or looser and therefore able to accommodate shifts in societies perception of the relative states between urban and nature. We can start by looking at some definitions of wilderness. (n) a region uncultivated and uninhabited; a pathless, unfrequented or unexplored region; such a region deliberately preserved from the inroads of tourism; a desolate waste of any kind e.g. an extent of open sea (poetic); a part of a garden or estate allowed to run wild, or cultivated in imitation of natural woodland; an overgrown tangle of weeds, etc.; conditions of life, or a place, in which the spirit feels desolate; the situation of being without public office or influence, or of being forgotten by the public, after playing a leading role; the present world; a large confused or confusing assemblage; wildness (obs). -Chambers (2008) â€Å"Wilderness is the landscape which contains only the plants and animals native to it. Where man is alone with the living earth. Where there is neither fixed nor mechanical artefact. Once this environment was everywhere, now only relics remain. Yet in these places are the original bonds between man and the earth. In these are the roots of all religion, history, art, and science. In renewing these links lies the enduring value of wilderness to man.† (Feely, 2008) It is difficult to fit either definition to any area on earth today. Pollution, mass transportation, the introduction of non-native insects, plant or animal, into alien habitats (sometimes accidental, sometimes deliberate), the effects of acid rain, radioactive and chemical contamination, the effects of the depletion of the ozone layer on the Earths waters, air, soil and seabed, amongst other things, all contaminate and despoil that which we would call wild and render these definitions void. How do we relate to wilderness? The media regularly portrays nature as mans bounty, there for the taking, as and when we want, with ever more exotic fruits and ingredients are used in the production of shampoos and beauty creams. This type of portrayal promotes an abundance of nature; that there is plenty of everything, there is no deficit. Another interesting depiction of nature is that of a challenge to man. Programmes such as The Deadliest Catch shows man battling with the forces of nature, in this case, the harsh extremes of the Bering Sea while crab fishing (The Deadliest Catch, 2005). These portrayals serve to promote a certain mythos about the planet. That it is still wild, unspoilt, untouched. However, these depictions are inaccurate. According to some reports, just 17% of the worlds landmass is still considered unspoiled or wild [8] and that is only in relative terms. There is no absolute wilderness left. But how can this depiction be countered. How do we educate and promote conservation? Boyd Norton is a photographer and ardent campaigner for the preservation of the wild. In an extract from his soon-to-be-released book Serengeti: the stillness of the eternal beginning (Norton, 2008) he talks about the wealth of wildlife and the spirit of place that the Serengeti has. The Serengeti has a large preserved area, some 10,000 sq miles when the protected areas around it are included. Yet, he states how small it is, an island in a sea of man. For Norton, the Serengeti is the land of our beginnings. He states that we are all Africans, that paeleo-anthropologists and DNA sleuths can trace the origin of our species to the Serengeti ecosystem. He says it is there we became more human as a species; transformed from quadrupeds to bipeds and man was still an intricate part of the wilderness. He talks of how man lived within zones, probably dictated by how much ground could be covered in one day or the range that was sufficiently safe for man to travel on a hunting foray, etc. However, the wilderness also offered temptations to encroach further. Other foods, plants, berries, animals etc., that could sustain and support human life lay out there. That range probably changed with seasons and weather patterns. Norton claims that it all started with the Serengeti. He refers to a quote from Carl Jung, visiting the Serengeti for the first time: â€Å"A most intense sentiment of returning to the land of my youth†. Norton relates to this and believes something resonates, perhaps in the molecules of our DNA or our genes, that trigger occasional memories of our origins. What some might call an organic memory.He feels that same sense of returning home whenever he travels to the Serengeti and explains his passion for that wild land. He maintains that it remains the stillness of the eternal beginning. He campaigns vigorously for the protection of the Serengeti and other wild lands across the world. (Norton, 2008) Ed Burtynsky (Nickel Tailings No. 31,Sudbury, Ontario 1996) Contrasting the works of many environmental photographers is Burtynsky, his images are always evidence of human activities, often taken on a scale that seems to defy belief, often the subject of the image is opposite to nature, a polluting force in the landscape, whether these are marble quarries, mountains of used car tyres or oil derricks, the concept of a pristine habitat does not occur in his images, but the concept of wilderness is embodied, of landscapes so transformed by our actions that they go beyond urban, and are once again wild. Unlike Adams who never included humans or human activity in his images, Burtynsky always references human activity in some way, often in subtle ways, with only the caption or title of the image giving up the secret of how we have disfigured the landscape. These images are very deliberate, often creating beauty from polluted and sick land. This kind of disfigurement does not intrinsically attract the same kind of support that photographers like Ada ms or Peschak did or has, though as his website demonstrates, he considers himself a fine art photographer, and has a large number of corporate clients, including those most likely to create this landscapes including Oil and Construction companies. Suggesting that his images are aesthetically pleasing enough for those companies to display them with disregard to the obvious environmental damage they have caused in creating them. The 1964 Wilderness Act Ansel Adams (Lake Macdonald 1942) The United States was the first country in the world to define, designate and protect large ecologically important tracts of land as wilderness. It not only created a working definition of wilderness but also enshrined it in the 1964 Wilderness Act, as â€Å"lands designated for preservation and protection in their natural condition† and â€Å"generally appears to have been affected primarily by the forces of nature, with the imprint of mans work substantially unnoticeable â€Å"(Zahniser, 1964). It allowed for the understanding and acknowledgement that any wild area would still be affected by human activities â€Å"the imprint of mans work substantially unnoticeable†. The Wilderness Act of 1964 was a landmark event in ecological terms, it was the institutionalisation of a concept, it described the wilderness as â€Å"an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammelled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain†. Its very definition then, was a place where vehicles would not be allowed to traverse, where no permanent camps or structures would be allowed and resources could not be harvested or exploited. Wildlife and its habitat would be maintained as unspoiled as humanly possible. (Zahniser, 1964) Ansel Adams was a 20th century photographer and also a tireless worker and activist for protection of the wilderness and the environment. He was the force behind the 1964 Wilderness Act in the USA. His passion for nature saw him almost constantly travelling through the United States, photographing the natural beauty. As a photographer his images become iconic not only for their beauty, but also for representing the wilderness of America. Adams had stated that he never consciously taken an image for environmental purposes, but his work with the Sierra Club, and the many thousands of letters he wrote and meetings he was involved in support for conservation, and the creation of national parks were in no doubt related to his passion for nature and his belief it should be preserved, his images may not have been taken for those purposes but in his beliefs were embodied within them, Even today people think of the national parks with the epic beauty and magnificence that Adams infused within his images. Adams biography entry in the American National Biography mentions that his images did not simply record and document the environment but â€Å"sought an intensification and purification of the psychological experience of natural beauty†, the purpose these images had no doubt made them powerful tools for changing perceptions of nature and the environment for the American public and government officials. The Act helped to create the National Wilderness Preservation System, and raised American awareness regarding the nations National parks and wild lands. This legislative act created a new and novel way of preserving not only land and visual beauty, but also habitat, ensuring that rare plants and animals were protected. Its creation led to millions of acres designated as the newly protected wilderness. Instead of barring all human interaction, recreational activities like hiking, camping, kayaking and other outdoor activities are provided for. These areas, therefore, are protected from industrial exploitation but sustain leisure, tourism and recreation industries, which are much smaller in scale, with less ecological damage than heavy industry. It gives the land back, not only to the people of today but also future generations. It provides opportunities to experience nature as natural as possible the â€Å"great outdoors† and escape the ever increasing hustle and bustle of a m odern industrial and mechanised lifestyle. The Act allows for a man-managed or man-sustained wilderness as opposed to a natural wilderness. But does this definition go far enough? Is it realistic and sustainable? Roz McClellan the director of the Rocky Mountain Recreation Initiative (NTTP, 2007) asserts that a workable definition needs to accept mans interaction AND the management of the environment. She asserts that any definition of wilderness has to incorporate reasonable interaction from man, in such a way that would uphold American principles of multiple use, providing access within defined parameters. This can mean, for example, prohibiting certain activities during mating seasons or when weather conditions have left the environment more vulnerable than usual. McClellan argues that any new definition should provide for the â€Å"widest possible range of mutually compatible, sustainable services and outputs†. These could include outputs such as potable water, control of soil erosion, water table control, study and research, fishing as well as including leisure activities. To be sustainable, however, these must not interfere with or reduce the long term capacity of any of the ecosystems restorative abilities. The key term here is not compromise. This is where the concept of land management starts to creep in. Without some form of monitoring and control the potential for destructive behaviours and interactions would go unchecked. So, the opportunities to experience natural earth present administrative challenges that lie outside of the definition of wilderness. The Wilderness Foundation UK The Wilderness Foundation UK (Wilderness Foundation, 2008) is a UK-based organisation which operates over a number of countries, including UK, South America and the United States. It is an organisation which promotes the benefits of wild areas and creates a connection between people and nature without the use of permanent or mechanic artefacts. They promote a return to nature and oppose large scale destructive building plans, such as the expansion of airports, for example. Their approach is holistic and all-embracing of man as part of nature. As Albert Einstein reflected: A human being is a part of a whole, called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. (Einstein, 1932) Measuring the effectiveness of land management The problem of defining the wilderness in order to protect it is problematic enough but is compounded by the added complexity of then understanding how the relationships generated between people and protected lands affect, and are affected by, the management policies, actions and plans put into place to manage them. After all, defining and protecting nature is, ultimately, on mans terms. But which men? The terms may not be entirely appropriate, however well-intentioned, and may preclude the activities of native tribes and their land. Managing the land effectively, then, includes identifying any sources of conflict between the varying and different demands placed on the wilderness. This is important for understanding the influences the management policies may have on any conflicts of interest. The type of factors to be considered include the contrasting values of wilderness for visitors and natives, as well as local, rural and distant urban stakeholders. The understanding of these relationships is especially relevant to those groups who have used the wilderness for subsistence Role of the Photographer in Preserving Wilderness Role of the Photographer in Preserving Wilderness Wildlife Photography Synopsis This dissertation addresses the relationship between people and the environment, specifically that which is now described as the wild. The term wilderness is applied to both the land and the marine environments and looks at how the wilderness came to be defined as such. It looks at the difficulties in determining protective measures and ensuring they are effective and fit for purpose. Fit for purpose obviously begs the question as to fit for whose purpose and this pivotal question exposes the delicate balance between allowing access to the wild and protecting the wild from mans access. In the face of this tension, and conflict of interest, many agencies across the world have tried various ways to balance the needs and desires of mans subsistence and recreational activities in the wild. When successful, they achieve public support to help preserve the wilderness and raise revenue to help fund the monitoring and policing of management policies to those areas. This dissertation looks at the measures that have been introduced to protect and preserve the wild. It also explores the problems facing the trusts and agencies charged with defining land and marine management policies and the importance of engaging the various publics with their vested interests. It is in the capacity of promoting the beauty and the diversity of life in the wilds of the lands and waters,and their importance to the ecosystems and food chains, that the photographer is able to play a role in helping protect these threatened regions of the earth. The photographers role in helping educate and disseminate information to raise the profile of the fragility of the wild is an important one. Their pictures speak to the range of stakeholders provide visual messages vital in securing public support and that of their respective governments to secure long-term protection of these ever-decreasing regions. Introduction This study explores the concept of wilderness, how it, and nature in general, is depicted by advertisers, the mass-media, e.g., books, television, magazines etc. and how, in turn, this depiction may influence the ways people then relate to and interact with nature. I then look at the influence of photography and the role of the photographer specialising in nature photography to help preserve what is loosely called wilderness in a world dominated by industry, tourism, transportation and consumerism all ever greedy for natural resources. The tension between the demand for access to, and usage of, unspoiled or wild environments and the negative impact that such access has on those environments is a difficult land/marine management problem. Britain and America both have conservation and wilderness protection legislation, as do some other countries, but have had to accept that people want to interact with nature itself. Part of their solution has been to define the concept of wilderness, define the levels of access and type of interaction and manage the area to ensure it is being used responsibly and respectfully. Naturally, the definition of wilderness itself is subject to debate and the rigour with which responsible access and usage of the wild environments is policed depends on many factors. There can be economic drivers that actively promote poaching and habitat destruction, e.g., the ivory trade, illegal but extremely lucrative or traditional Chinese medicine that uses parts from animals, including endangered species in its practise. If people are poor and face a life of hardship it is easy to see how making a lot of money from poaching or illegal animal trading, for example, could tempt them. Patrolling and protecting lands, waters and indigenous life requires funding. It requires a government to value them and enshrine the values in laws and legislation. It requires foreign governments to outlaw the import or trade of exotic plant and animal life and in doing so, stop funding the poachers and hunters. It requires money to provide wardens or patrols. It requires education. It may not be possible to educate people to value their lands and animals above their own survival but it might be possible to educate them into thinking of ways to make money from the environment, by showcasing nature in its natural environment. But how much interaction? And what forms can such interaction take? These are the dilemmas facing many countries around the world. The photographer can play an educative role. This role can be one of raising awareness of the value of the habitats, ecosystems and the sheer beauty of the diversity of life on earth. In this way, they can play a part in promoting a public, even global, consciousness and value of the planet, not just for the needs of today but also for that of successive generations. Many photographers specialising in photography of the wild are actively involved in campaigning for conservation or preserving such wilderness as is left on earth and work with various agencies aligned to common goals. I hope to demonstrate that photographers working in alliance with other agencies make a positive difference that help persuade public opinion and governmental response into valuing what is left of our unspoiled environments. The Role of the Human in Environmental Change As a species, our environmental impacts have increased, and intensified at an almost exponential rate. Mans ability to adapt and modify and shape the environment, changing its natural state to make it suitable to accommodate our needs, demands and desires is unparalleled by any other species. It is this ability to master and dominate nature, accepted almost as an entitlement, that constitutes an ideology which is shared by practically every society on the planet, through the means of globalisation (Goudie, 2000). For example, tribal societies hunt and gather food and resources, post-Neolithic groups began the domestication of livestock, and sowed the first seeds of agriculture. Even the construction of the grand canal in ancient China are all examples of the anthropogenic shaping and control over nature throughout early human history. The impetus driving these developments has generally been the necessity to provide for the needs of a growing and successful population, be it food, clothing, shelter or to further the spiritual expression of the people. (Ponting 1991). And still, Homo Sapiens is the only species which has created its own nature calling it culture, or civilisation. This â€Å"second nature† maybe started as a gradual, progressive alienation and divergence from the natural biosphere as a seemingly â€Å"natural† progression on mans evolutionary path. However, as mans skills in developing tools for agriculture, hunting and industrialisation grew, the rate of change intensified. Mans power to consume, appropriate and exploit nature to fulfil ever diversifying â€Å"needs† from driving the Huia, an Australasian wattle bird, to extinction for the sole purpose of decorating Europeans hats (CNN, 1999), to clearing rainforest to make space for grazing and crop growing is virtually unchecked and unchallenged. While these are just two unrelated and isolated examples, the demands of supplying and servicing global requirements for resources are seemingly endless. The message that the German Advisory Council for Global Environmental Change (Wissenschaftlicher Beirat der Bundesregierung Globale Umweltverà ¤nderungen, WBGU) placed at the beginning of its annual assessment for the year 2000 was Breathless and fragmented, the world rushes into the new millennium. Ten years on, there has been no slow down. (WBGU, 2001) According to Mongabay (2009), over eighty percent of cleared forest land from created between 1996 and 2006 has been used to create pasture for cattle. If this prolific rate of deforestation over the last decade wasnt enough, the Brazilian government intends to double its share of the world beef market to 60% by 2018. Such decimation and destruction cannot be justified by only a clear business rationale. For example, the practise of clearing rainforest to enable cattle grazing, etc., is worth economically less than the cleared forest originally was. Yet mans desire to trade one of the largest biologically diverse, in many ways unique, and visually stunning ecosystems for cheap burgers and hot coffee continues. Despite the many organisations, campaign groups and societies all working for the protection, conservation and re-naturalisation of the Earths environs, the WBGU presented the worlds environment as one in constant crisis. Total global fossil fuel consumption (coal, oil and natural gas) rose to 7,956 million metric tons. Carbon dioxide emissions reached 6,553 million tons in 2001, amounting to a record concentration of 384 ppm carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (measured at the Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii, 2007). The capacity of the 436 nuclear reactors operating in over 35 countries reached 351 gigawatts and the economic mega-machine on which all these achievements rested, produced a record annual gross world product of US $40.5 trillion in 1999 (1998 prices). (WGBU, 2001) These high profits come at the expense of the health of the environment, accelerating its deterioration. Franz Broswimmer (2001) coined the term ecocide, for his book â€Å"Ecocide: A Short History of the Mass Extinction of Species† In it, he writes about the destructive processes, the ways in which human beings have constructed their relation to their surrounding environments, being responsible for, as well as legitimising, negative human impact on global ecosystems, which he claims date back over 5000 years, though others claim that this â€Å"ecocide† began long before this, for instance, the extinction of the Woolly Mammoth is arguably attributed to human hunters some 11000 years ago, according to Martin (2005). Conservation Conservation is a means of managing the resources of an ecosystem while protecting it from depletion and destruction, avoiding change and accumulation of man-made artefacts. This allows us to benefit from the ecosystem indefinitely. Long into the future, managed use and sensible precautions will prevent the degradation of a habitat, protecting the species within it. There are countless reasons for natural conservation, not only can our continued survival depend on its existence (the natural processes of plant life provide us with oxygen, recycle carbon dioxide from the air, insects and fungi help decompose biological litter and waste, which in turn fertilize plants, which then grow more efficiently, providing more and better fruits and crops, which then feed us or animals which we hunt or eat). Each of these processes is reliant on other variables being maintained, a concept key to that of conservation. If the biological resources are managed properly, they are effectively renewable; resources which will become ever more important as fossil fuel reserves become increasing expensive and rare. Conservation of Species Many geographically remote islands and peninsulas are rich in endemic species plants and animals that are found nowhere else. Due to their geographic isolation, and the millions of years since life has had a chance to populate it, small populations have gradually adapted and evolved to their environment. This genetic isolation is important as it contains a wealth of genetic information that is unique, these genes may hold futures cures and manufacturing processes that we have yet to realise. Unfortunately these island populations are relatively small, and with such little habitat available to them, they are susceptible to habitat loss, and since they originally formed from small populations, they are genetically very similar, the introduction of a disease can cause large proportions to die, and the resulting lack of genetic diversity can lead to the eventual extinction as mutations become more and more common. Introduced species like rats and even cats are responsible for causing the extinction of species. Many extinctions from the last century have been those of endemic island species, even more are now endangered. The protection of these genetic reserves should be one of an island peoples highest priorities, while this is often difficult to balance with the populations needs, which conflict with those of the habitat, such as water sewage, agriculture and transport infrastructure. Protecting these endemic species is a difficult task, the high level diversity, and the fact the entire population is in one place, coupled with the fact that the population has needs, this results in islands having far higher ratios of endangered species per head of the population than anywhere else. If a balance is not struck in time, these species are gone forever. Protected Areas for Conservation Every country or island has at least some area that needs to be protected, the habitat in question varies, coral reef, bog-land, forest, sand dune, within these areas may be rare or endangered species of plant or animal, or these may be complete and important ecosystems as yet untouched by development. These areas may serve a variety of purposes, from being historic importance, tourism, or refuge for species harvested outside of that area, or protecting against bad weather- for instance, sand dunes and wetlands protect against storm surges by dissipating wave energy over those lands, without damaging coastal towns. These spaces often have laws protecting individual species, from While there is some legislation which protects certain species against hunting, interference, or a closed season for them to breed and recover, these laws do not protect species or the habitat these species rely on in many cases, and among the best protection we can offer them is to set aside their habitat, and minimise human interaction to avoid disturbance. Because of this most countries, provinces and islands create reserves, or national parks. Reserves by their nature tend to have a smaller purpose, where the national parks are large open areas, available to the public for recreational activities that do not damage. These areas act as safe places for multitudes of animals and plants, encourage tourism- providing income for peoples, or for protecting natural resources that may pass through that area, such as drinkable water. While it is governments who usually have the land and the power to be able to actually designate reserves and National Parks, public awareness needs to be raised concerning the reason these lands have been protected This will help to ensure that the visiting public respect them, ensuring that they last for future generations. The governments of developing nations do not often have the resources to fully protect and police these places, and rely on the public and outside assistance, either from charities or tourism money to help protect them. There are cases where these reserves are not treated properly, with harvesting and poaching taking place, causing these areas to fail. Other than protecting the natural world, these places allow scientific research to be conducted helping us to understand what makes these species and lands special, as well as providing a context in which the public can be educated in the importance of the natural world. This is especially important when so many people use supermarkets for their food, distancing them from the origins of their food. This education can also be useful in helping people understand their own history, as well as their national and cultural heritage. Individual Conservation Actions If we are to keep as much of our resources as renewable as possible, there is a necessity to keep conservation at the heart of any initiative. Maintaining all the elements of the ecosystem allows these initiatives to be most productive, as everybody uses these resources in some way to some degree. There are ways that everybody can give something back, contributing to conservation as a whole. Governments alone will generally find it difficult to set enough land aside to include large expanses of varying habitats. From forest and reef, to wetlands and savannah, especially considering the differing needs of both the land itself and society as a whole. From conservation and research to recreation and sustainable harvesting. However, with the aid of local groups and land owners (especially in those countries that are governed regionally, or by tribal groups) people can organise their own resources. In protecting these resources and by extension the habitat and biodiversity, they protect their own interests, whether they are economic or cultural. Farmers, along with other land owners have the opportunity to manage their land so that they are able to protect their resources, allowing their soil to remain fertile, firewood and other woodland etc. produce to be gathered regularly, as well as ensuring water is kept clean for drinking and gardens etc. On top of this, on difficult or unused areas trees can be planted, allowing for extra diversity and extra resources over the medium to long term, when a tree is finally cut down, another can be replanted to ensure supplies for the future. Traditional Conservation While it is always the case, many peoples living in remote areas and islands, who have and still practice their traditional way of life, live in harmony with their surroundings, knowing when a resource is available, and how much can readily be used. Plants taken for food, medicine or any other reason often have a seed placed where the previous plant grew, ensuring that not only is diversity maintained, but that the resource is effectively renewable. This intimate knowledge of their own surroundings was passed down from generation to generation, but as development and modernisation encroach on those remote areas in ways previously impossible, this knowledge is not maintained, and ways of life are forgotten in favour of the luxuries modern life brings. What is the Wilderness? Where does the man-made landscape end and nature begin? First, we must begin by looking at the definition of â€Å"wilderness†, and whether any definitions for it is fixed in meaning or looser and therefore able to accommodate shifts in societies perception of the relative states between urban and nature. We can start by looking at some definitions of wilderness. (n) a region uncultivated and uninhabited; a pathless, unfrequented or unexplored region; such a region deliberately preserved from the inroads of tourism; a desolate waste of any kind e.g. an extent of open sea (poetic); a part of a garden or estate allowed to run wild, or cultivated in imitation of natural woodland; an overgrown tangle of weeds, etc.; conditions of life, or a place, in which the spirit feels desolate; the situation of being without public office or influence, or of being forgotten by the public, after playing a leading role; the present world; a large confused or confusing assemblage; wildness (obs). -Chambers (2008) â€Å"Wilderness is the landscape which contains only the plants and animals native to it. Where man is alone with the living earth. Where there is neither fixed nor mechanical artefact. Once this environment was everywhere, now only relics remain. Yet in these places are the original bonds between man and the earth. In these are the roots of all religion, history, art, and science. In renewing these links lies the enduring value of wilderness to man.† (Feely, 2008) It is difficult to fit either definition to any area on earth today. Pollution, mass transportation, the introduction of non-native insects, plant or animal, into alien habitats (sometimes accidental, sometimes deliberate), the effects of acid rain, radioactive and chemical contamination, the effects of the depletion of the ozone layer on the Earths waters, air, soil and seabed, amongst other things, all contaminate and despoil that which we would call wild and render these definitions void. How do we relate to wilderness? The media regularly portrays nature as mans bounty, there for the taking, as and when we want, with ever more exotic fruits and ingredients are used in the production of shampoos and beauty creams. This type of portrayal promotes an abundance of nature; that there is plenty of everything, there is no deficit. Another interesting depiction of nature is that of a challenge to man. Programmes such as The Deadliest Catch shows man battling with the forces of nature, in this case, the harsh extremes of the Bering Sea while crab fishing (The Deadliest Catch, 2005). These portrayals serve to promote a certain mythos about the planet. That it is still wild, unspoilt, untouched. However, these depictions are inaccurate. According to some reports, just 17% of the worlds landmass is still considered unspoiled or wild [8] and that is only in relative terms. There is no absolute wilderness left. But how can this depiction be countered. How do we educate and promote conservation? Boyd Norton is a photographer and ardent campaigner for the preservation of the wild. In an extract from his soon-to-be-released book Serengeti: the stillness of the eternal beginning (Norton, 2008) he talks about the wealth of wildlife and the spirit of place that the Serengeti has. The Serengeti has a large preserved area, some 10,000 sq miles when the protected areas around it are included. Yet, he states how small it is, an island in a sea of man. For Norton, the Serengeti is the land of our beginnings. He states that we are all Africans, that paeleo-anthropologists and DNA sleuths can trace the origin of our species to the Serengeti ecosystem. He says it is there we became more human as a species; transformed from quadrupeds to bipeds and man was still an intricate part of the wilderness. He talks of how man lived within zones, probably dictated by how much ground could be covered in one day or the range that was sufficiently safe for man to travel on a hunting foray, etc. However, the wilderness also offered temptations to encroach further. Other foods, plants, berries, animals etc., that could sustain and support human life lay out there. That range probably changed with seasons and weather patterns. Norton claims that it all started with the Serengeti. He refers to a quote from Carl Jung, visiting the Serengeti for the first time: â€Å"A most intense sentiment of returning to the land of my youth†. Norton relates to this and believes something resonates, perhaps in the molecules of our DNA or our genes, that trigger occasional memories of our origins. What some might call an organic memory.He feels that same sense of returning home whenever he travels to the Serengeti and explains his passion for that wild land. He maintains that it remains the stillness of the eternal beginning. He campaigns vigorously for the protection of the Serengeti and other wild lands across the world. (Norton, 2008) Ed Burtynsky (Nickel Tailings No. 31,Sudbury, Ontario 1996) Contrasting the works of many environmental photographers is Burtynsky, his images are always evidence of human activities, often taken on a scale that seems to defy belief, often the subject of the image is opposite to nature, a polluting force in the landscape, whether these are marble quarries, mountains of used car tyres or oil derricks, the concept of a pristine habitat does not occur in his images, but the concept of wilderness is embodied, of landscapes so transformed by our actions that they go beyond urban, and are once again wild. Unlike Adams who never included humans or human activity in his images, Burtynsky always references human activity in some way, often in subtle ways, with only the caption or title of the image giving up the secret of how we have disfigured the landscape. These images are very deliberate, often creating beauty from polluted and sick land. This kind of disfigurement does not intrinsically attract the same kind of support that photographers like Ada ms or Peschak did or has, though as his website demonstrates, he considers himself a fine art photographer, and has a large number of corporate clients, including those most likely to create this landscapes including Oil and Construction companies. Suggesting that his images are aesthetically pleasing enough for those companies to display them with disregard to the obvious environmental damage they have caused in creating them. The 1964 Wilderness Act Ansel Adams (Lake Macdonald 1942) The United States was the first country in the world to define, designate and protect large ecologically important tracts of land as wilderness. It not only created a working definition of wilderness but also enshrined it in the 1964 Wilderness Act, as â€Å"lands designated for preservation and protection in their natural condition† and â€Å"generally appears to have been affected primarily by the forces of nature, with the imprint of mans work substantially unnoticeable â€Å"(Zahniser, 1964). It allowed for the understanding and acknowledgement that any wild area would still be affected by human activities â€Å"the imprint of mans work substantially unnoticeable†. The Wilderness Act of 1964 was a landmark event in ecological terms, it was the institutionalisation of a concept, it described the wilderness as â€Å"an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammelled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain†. Its very definition then, was a place where vehicles would not be allowed to traverse, where no permanent camps or structures would be allowed and resources could not be harvested or exploited. Wildlife and its habitat would be maintained as unspoiled as humanly possible. (Zahniser, 1964) Ansel Adams was a 20th century photographer and also a tireless worker and activist for protection of the wilderness and the environment. He was the force behind the 1964 Wilderness Act in the USA. His passion for nature saw him almost constantly travelling through the United States, photographing the natural beauty. As a photographer his images become iconic not only for their beauty, but also for representing the wilderness of America. Adams had stated that he never consciously taken an image for environmental purposes, but his work with the Sierra Club, and the many thousands of letters he wrote and meetings he was involved in support for conservation, and the creation of national parks were in no doubt related to his passion for nature and his belief it should be preserved, his images may not have been taken for those purposes but in his beliefs were embodied within them, Even today people think of the national parks with the epic beauty and magnificence that Adams infused within his images. Adams biography entry in the American National Biography mentions that his images did not simply record and document the environment but â€Å"sought an intensification and purification of the psychological experience of natural beauty†, the purpose these images had no doubt made them powerful tools for changing perceptions of nature and the environment for the American public and government officials. The Act helped to create the National Wilderness Preservation System, and raised American awareness regarding the nations National parks and wild lands. This legislative act created a new and novel way of preserving not only land and visual beauty, but also habitat, ensuring that rare plants and animals were protected. Its creation led to millions of acres designated as the newly protected wilderness. Instead of barring all human interaction, recreational activities like hiking, camping, kayaking and other outdoor activities are provided for. These areas, therefore, are protected from industrial exploitation but sustain leisure, tourism and recreation industries, which are much smaller in scale, with less ecological damage than heavy industry. It gives the land back, not only to the people of today but also future generations. It provides opportunities to experience nature as natural as possible the â€Å"great outdoors† and escape the ever increasing hustle and bustle of a m odern industrial and mechanised lifestyle. The Act allows for a man-managed or man-sustained wilderness as opposed to a natural wilderness. But does this definition go far enough? Is it realistic and sustainable? Roz McClellan the director of the Rocky Mountain Recreation Initiative (NTTP, 2007) asserts that a workable definition needs to accept mans interaction AND the management of the environment. She asserts that any definition of wilderness has to incorporate reasonable interaction from man, in such a way that would uphold American principles of multiple use, providing access within defined parameters. This can mean, for example, prohibiting certain activities during mating seasons or when weather conditions have left the environment more vulnerable than usual. McClellan argues that any new definition should provide for the â€Å"widest possible range of mutually compatible, sustainable services and outputs†. These could include outputs such as potable water, control of soil erosion, water table control, study and research, fishing as well as including leisure activities. To be sustainable, however, these must not interfere with or reduce the long term capacity of any of the ecosystems restorative abilities. The key term here is not compromise. This is where the concept of land management starts to creep in. Without some form of monitoring and control the potential for destructive behaviours and interactions would go unchecked. So, the opportunities to experience natural earth present administrative challenges that lie outside of the definition of wilderness. The Wilderness Foundation UK The Wilderness Foundation UK (Wilderness Foundation, 2008) is a UK-based organisation which operates over a number of countries, including UK, South America and the United States. It is an organisation which promotes the benefits of wild areas and creates a connection between people and nature without the use of permanent or mechanic artefacts. They promote a return to nature and oppose large scale destructive building plans, such as the expansion of airports, for example. Their approach is holistic and all-embracing of man as part of nature. As Albert Einstein reflected: A human being is a part of a whole, called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. (Einstein, 1932) Measuring the effectiveness of land management The problem of defining the wilderness in order to protect it is problematic enough but is compounded by the added complexity of then understanding how the relationships generated between people and protected lands affect, and are affected by, the management policies, actions and plans put into place to manage them. After all, defining and protecting nature is, ultimately, on mans terms. But which men? The terms may not be entirely appropriate, however well-intentioned, and may preclude the activities of native tribes and their land. Managing the land effectively, then, includes identifying any sources of conflict between the varying and different demands placed on the wilderness. This is important for understanding the influences the management policies may have on any conflicts of interest. The type of factors to be considered include the contrasting values of wilderness for visitors and natives, as well as local, rural and distant urban stakeholders. The understanding of these relationships is especially relevant to those groups who have used the wilderness for subsistence