Assisted Suicide Essay Example

Assisted Suicide Essay Example Assisted Suicide Essay Assisted Suicide Essay ASSISTED SUICIDE 1 Physician Assisted Suicide Maureen Dippel PHl-103 Karan Kart October 22, 2012 ASSISTED SUICIDE 2 THEISE My thesis is about Physician Assisted Suicide (PAS). I find this subject to be very important to me. There a lot of pros and cons on the subject Physician Assisted Suicide. INTRODUCTION Physician Assisted Suicide (PAS) is perhaps the most compelling and clinically relevant mental health issue in palliative care today. The desire for death, the consideration of suicide, the interest in PAS, and the relationship of these issues to depression and other psychosocial issues appear to be a paramount importance.(Breitbart, William, MD and Rosenfeld, Barry, D.,PHD) DEFINITIONS OF ASSISTED SUICIDE Suicide accomplished with the aid of another person, especially a physician. The deliberate hastening of death by a terminally ill patient with assistance from a doctor, family member, or another individual. Assisted suicide is helping a person to end his or her life by request to end suffering. Euthanasia, is a broad, generic term meaning help with a good death.(Humphry,Derek(2006) WHERE IS IT PERMITTED In the United States assisted suicide is currently legal in the states of Oregon, Washington and Montana. Assisted suicide is specifically prohibited in many of the states including Wisconsin. ASSISTED SUICIDE 3 In 2007, major legislative attempts to legalize assisted suicide were defeated in Hawaii, Vermont and California. Some of the other countries that permit assisted suicide are, The Netherlands, Canada, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain (The Prime Minister of Spain is calling for assisted suicide to be legalized), Australia, New Zealand, Columbia and Luxembourg. OTHER COUNTRIES What is happening to elderly persons in hospitals and nursing homes has alarmed public opinion in several countries. In hundreds of cases there have been clear indications that medical personnel acted to cause or at least hasten old peopleâ„ ¢s deaths. Some of the other countries that are doing it are Britain, Austria and the Netherlands. (Fenigsen, Richard, MD, PHD). The Swiss Supreme Court recently issued a decision stating that chronically depressed and mentally ill people have the right to assisted suicide. DEPRESSION It is well known that health care professions fail to recognize depression amount of the mentally ill. In 2007, none of the forty six Oregonians who died by lethal ingestion were evaluated by a psychiatrist or a psychologist. ETHICAL ASPECTS OF PAS By making PAS available, some people will be pressured into accepting assistance in dying by their families. Some people wish to die because they are suffering from clinical ASSISTED SUICIDE 4 depression. This is another argument in for or of strict control to confirm that a patient requesting aid in dying is of sound mind. SHOULD IT BE PERMITTED When it is an issue that concerns human life is an important one deserving our attention and opportunities where the different perspectives may be herd. The question of PAS made legal by the government is a question of a citizenâ„ ¢s freedom to control when that citizen would like to end his or her life. CONCLUSION In many states here in America there has been assisted suicide even though it is illegal. I feel that is not the answer. Today with all the technological advances that doctors and hospitals use can help to make someone commutable. Opponents argue that it violates the fundamental physician duty to protect human life. (Friend, M. L., Mn.Rn). I feel if God put you here he will take you when he is ready. I do know that some religions find it to be forbidden. I have really mixed emotions on this subject. Do we really have the right to help someone to end their life or do we let them suffer ASSISTED SUICIDE 5 REFERENCE: assistedsuicide.org/definitions Author: Derek Humphry wrtl.org/assistedsuicide hospicecare.com/Ethics/physician-assisted-suicide-htm Author: William Breibart, MD., and Barry D Rosenfeld, PHD Fordham University http://proquest.ashford.com Author: Mary Louanne Friend, MN,RN. Springer Publishing Company 2011 http://debatewise.org/debates

A Sliver of Awareness essays

A Sliver of Awareness essays The first time I read The Awakening by Kate Chopin, I was frustrated and wanted to pound my fists on my thighs. I was angry with the author for denying the character Edna a right to love and happiness, as well as making her such a selfish creature that committed suicide, thus depriving her children of their mother. But on closer introspection and class discussion, I have come to see a different side to the story, and have been moved. I see in Edna what I have seen in many young women, filled with idealism, as they start their family and their "happily ever after." However, it always seems that after the glamour and bliss wears off from the wedding and gifts and new status in life, that idealism turns to boredom, tedium, and realism. This leaves the door open for someone like Robert to present themselves as a break from routineexcitement, attraction, drama, and an element of danger as well. Edna falls prey to the realization that her married life is not fulfilling her, and as confused as she is, she feels great needs and emotions that have to be addressed. Her infatuation with Robert, as well as her experimentation with art, is uncovering the same deep roots of passion within her. "She (Edna) slept but a few hours. They were troubled and feverish hours, disturbed with dreams that were intangible, that eluded her, leaving only an impression upon her half-awakened senses of something unattainable." (p. 32). This odd, almost transcendental feeling that Edna has is the result of her first recognition of desire for Robert. Chopin places passages like this in different places to remind the reader of Edna's emotional awakening. "Edna felt as if she were being borne away from some anchorage which had held her fast, whose chains had been looseninghad snapped the night before when the mystic spirit was abroad, leaving her free to drift whithersoever she chose to set her sails." (p. 33). Using these tools, Chopin sets u...

English Property Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

English Property Law - Essay Example Intellectual property is also integral to property law. One of the reasons for the promulgation of the law is the need to create distinction between real property and personal property (Worthington 2000 92). Of course, one of the most important goals of those that promulgated the law is to ensure that the conflicts that arise on the ownership of property will be reduced as much as possible. One of the instances that can be used to truly certify that the English property system is more pragmatic than theoretical is the manner in which judges give judgement in cases, precisely those that pertain to property law. Instead of strictly following what the statutes say, most judges would rather rely on logic. Locke’s theory of property also seems to reiterate this point. This is because Locke begins his arguments my stating that, at inception, property was personal—meaning that there were no individual owners. However, the persistence of this state of thing will mean that no on e would be able to use land, for example, for individual or communal benefit. Locke recognizes that there is the need to create a system in which individuals can lay claim of ownership to what was hitherto communally owned (Tully 1980 34). This aspiration would be impossible if one desires to get the assent of every member of the community. It can only happen when individuals begin to exchange something in return for what they desire. At the very inception, it was their bodily sweat; later, it was valuable property; and finally it became money. The introduction of money meant that the yardstick for separating the wealthy from the poor had been established. By interpretation, one could assume either of these two opinions. First, one could conclude that the flexibility, rather than the rigidity, of the English property law has really helped to limit the level in which every Tom, Dick and Harry who is a capitalist would be able to turn personal property into real property. Secondly, on e may conclude, on the other hand, that flexibility of the English property law (which is best established in the practical sense) has helped to materialize the desire of the capitalist to convert most of what was formerly owned communally into real property. On the whole, one would discover that Locke’s property theory favours capitalism as against communalism. What Locke defends is that money can be the solution to all problems (Tully 1980 52). Even in England, this seems to be true because if anybody is rich enough to employ the services of a proficient lawyer, the case is close to being won already even before any judgment is pronounced. The lawyer would be able to also turn the odds to favour their client. The English property is very fluid in nature. Most lawyers, hence, take advantage of this. They have been able to make the English property law, which to an average person would appear as one of the most rigid laws ever, into one that has become very flexible (Worthing ton 2000 97). For instance, there is really no clear distinction between real and personal property again. This is because lawyers have been able to interchange them, through interpretation, to suit the demands of their case. What lawyers have been able to accomplish may not really be as a result of their ingenuity but as a result of the fact that the law itself has created the lapses. For example, normally, the English statute would recognise an estate owned by a family as

Co-sleeping is natural Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Co-sleeping is natural - Research Paper Example Therefore co-sleeping is a standard practice in most parts of the world. Co-sleeping involved bed-sharing amongst infants as well and room-sharing is also based on the same tangents (Petr 2004). At times, co-sleeping is linked very closely with the ailments and health issues that children might have and thus it is best for the parents to be close to their young ones. The close proximity that co-sleeping brings with it is something that one can understand within the thick of things. There are different views on co-sleeping with regards to these healthcare professionals. Some suggest that bed-sharing techniques are against ethical standards and must not be taught to the young ones. Its effectiveness is also questioned at times but generally co-sleeping amongst parents and their young ones who are just babies is not discouraged at all (O’Mara 2007). This is a matter of immense debate because co-sleeping brings together the child with his/her parents and gives him/her the safety and security that is derived through co-sleeping. Some of the advantages related with co-sleeping include the fact that mothers get to sleep more through this phenomenon and breastfeeding than any other way. It is very effective in preventing the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Stress hormones are very less in mothers and the babies who are involved in co-sleeping with their mothers balance this stress hormone cortisol where this control plays a vital part in the healthy growth regimes of the baby (Stearns 1996). There is a good amount of research done which suggests that co-sleeping is effective for the babies and their mothers and that there are more regular heart rhythms as well as less long pauses in breathing patterns when compared to the babies who sleep alone (Carskadon 2002). Co-sleeping is effective when parents are more vigilant about their kids. They must know that their

Tourist art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Tourist art - Essay Example tourist art can also serve as the means to preserve and to revive aboriginal art, as well as to negotiate new cultural meanings with locals and visitors in the modern world (Markwick, 2001). This essay will analyze two tourist art items from Hilo Hattie and ABC Store catalogues: the plastic floral lei and the petroglyph pottery. These tourist art objects serve different purposes and targets different audiences, but they both serve economic and symbolic functions that may stereotype native cultures, and they may also help promote local history and culture to locals and visitors. The first to be analyzed is the plastic floral lei. It is a product that seems to be intended for visitors and not the locals, because locals can use their natural resources to create their own floral lei. The locals also already know enough of the culture to demand authentic or natural floral lei, unlike visitors (Graburn, 1984, p.400). Visitors may not know or are not interested in authentic materials (Graburn, 1984, p.400), especially when they want a preserved souvenir. Furthermore, the plastic floral lei is produced as a souvenir for tourists. It is not part of traditional art, because it is used as an accessory by native women. The native tribe that uses natural lei has no â€Å"cultural stake† in creating plastic floral lei (Graburn, 1984, p.400). Traditional art is part of the cultural heritage and history of the aborigines. Though floral lei can be seen as a cultural symbol, it does not have deep cultural meaning as a form of art. It is not even prepared with high cr aftsmanship in mind. This item is also a souvenir because it is evidently a â€Å"new form† of the natural lei; it is made from plastic, a modern external resource that can produce inexpensive souvenirs (Graburn, 1984, p.400). Plastic is also related to mass production of cultural items. This modern material further commoditizes the idea of flower lei, which is far from its original use, where it is â€Å"made† for

Power Issues And Case Analysis Imbalances Social Work Essay

Power Issues And Case Analysis Imbalances Social Work Essay This assignment will discuss the case study given whilst firstly looking at the issues of power as well as the risk discourse and how this can be dominant within social work practice. Further to this a task centred approach will be explained and how it could be used when approaching this case study. Finally the strengths perspective will be explored and how this could effect change, and bring about social justice principles. Thompson (2000) discusses that power can be a complex issue that operates on different levels. He further discusses that many service users who come into contact with social services are generally in a relatively low position of power, and that this could be due to, for example; social divisions such as, class, race, ethnicity, gender, or religion. When looking at issues of power, it could be said that Ms. Evans who defines herself as Asian is being oppressed by many power differentials that would need to be considered. For example; Ms. Evans is currently living in naval married quarters and feels she has not been accepted into the community. It could be argued that she is living in a predominantly male domineered, white environment. Thompson (2000:56) highlights patriarchal ideology and how male dominance serves to maintain existing power relations between men and women, he also highlights how we should resist the pressure to make people conform to white malestream norms (Thompson 2000:141). Healey (2005) discusses anti-oppressive practice and how this looks at the personal, cultural and structural objects that can shape the problems that service users experience. Healey (2005) further discusses that through anti-oppressive practice social workers aim to promote service user empowerment by encouraging them to talk about and share their feelings of powerlessness, to help them understand how cultural and structural injustices can shape their experiences of oppression. Therefore when working with Ms. Evans and her family I would need to incorporate anti-oppressive practice in order to empower, and enable her to share with me her feelings and experiences of powerlessness in order to gain a better understanding of the families situation. However Thompson (2000) highlights, social work intervention involves the exercise of power, which if used negatively can reinforce the disadvantages that service users experience. Used positively however power can help to enhance the working relationship, the outcomes, and empower the service user, as Healey (2000:202) writes postructuralists see power as an ever-present and productive feature of social relations, and Foucault cited by Healey (2000) highlights the need for us to recognise the productivity of power, and argues that by focussing on power as only being oppressive ignores the positive dimensions of power. Ms. Evans has been referred to social services via the Health Visitor; this could be making her feel disempowered and nervous about the forth coming intervention of social services. Therefore when working with Ms. Evans and her family I would have to recognise the power imbalances between us, (Thompson 2000). I would need to be sensitive to the issues of power and imbalances by being clear with Ms. Evans on my role and purpose, explaining professional boundaries and responsibilities (Trevithick 2005). I would also need to consider my use of language and how as Dalrymple (1995) cited by Healey (2000:184) explains the way in which language can reflect power differentials and have an impact on the people with whom we are working. As well as recognising power issues and imbalances, as the social worker l would also need to undertake a risk assessment. As Thompson (2000) highlights, to assess the degree and nature of any risk to which Ms. Evans and her family could be exposed to. Assessing exposure to risks or a person, who is vulnerable to it is central to assessment within social work practice (Davies 2005). Stated in the Codes of Practice, as a social care worker, you must respect the rights of service users while seeking to ensure that their behaviour does not harm themselves or other people (GSCC 2007:4). This includes following risk assessment policies and procedures to assess whether the behaviour of service users presents a risk of harm to themselves or others (GSCC 2007: 4.2). Therefore when working with Ms. Evans and her family I would need to be aware of my organisational and statutory duties as there are substantial policies, guidance, and frameworks to inform my practice on risk assessment. When working with children and families as Brayne (2005) highlights, I would need to be aware of the law, which under the Children Act 1989 states; my primary responsibility would be when working with Ms. Evans and her family to that of the child, or children. Ms. Evans has stated that on occasions she and her family have experienced verbal abuse, which would need to be investigated further to decide on any risks this may pose to the family. However she has been described by the Health Visitor as suffering from post natal depression, and finds it difficult to care for her children, aged seven, five, and a ten week old baby who has spinal bifida. Therefore it could be said that my primary statutory concern would be, to what extent is her post natal depression effecting the care and welfare of her children, and does this pose any risks that need to be identified. Risk assessment and the management of risk have become dominant in all areas of social work. Kemshall (1997:123) cited by Davies (1997:123) highlights that within social work risk assessment and risk management have become key issues and are often central in the decisions, to allocate resources, to intervene in the lives and choices of others or to limit the liberties of activities of clients. Risk assessment has become a dominant discourse within social work because social workers are employed within a risk society, which searches for ways to identify and manage risk effectively. (Higham 2005:182) However as stated in the codes of practice, social workers should also recognise that service users have the right to take risks, and help them to identify and manage potential and actual risks to themselves and others (GSCC 2007: 4.1). Higham (2006:182) discusses how service users strengths that are likely to diminish the predicted risks should be assessed in keeping with the social work value of empowerment. Pritchard (1996) cited by Davies (1997:124) discusses how service users should not be denied the opportunities to take risks or exercise choice, and states that, risk-taking is an important feature of all our lives (Davies 1997:124). However, as Thompson (2000) explains, the balance between care and control within social work can be difficult to maintain. By approaching this case with a task centred approach would as Healey (2005) explains, mean focussing on enabling Ms. Evans to make small and meaningful changes in her life, that she has recognised, acknowledged and wanted to work on. Coulshed (1998) highlights that within this approach the service user is the main change agent, helping the worker to assess what the priorities for change ought to be. She further explains that because the worker is as accountable as the service user in carrying out agreed tasks this lessens the sense of powerlessness that the service user maybe feeling. A task centred approach works on a specific set of procedures whereby the service user is helped to carry out problem-alleviating tasks (Coulshed 1998). Healey (2005) explains that it consists of the pre-intervention stage, followed by four sequential but overlapping steps. Therefore firstly I would need to understand and establish the source of referral (the Health Visitor) and negotiate with them any expectations and views. However as Healey (2005) states, by understanding the views of the referring agency does not mean that this has to be the focus of work, as I would need to work with Ms. Evans on defining the target problems. Mutual clarity between Ms. Evans and me would need to be addressed, discussing any limits or boundaries, explaining confidentiality, my role, as well as any legal or other obligations. Working in collaboration with Ms. Evans I would seek to explore and prioritise Ms. Evans views of her problems, as the service user involvement in identifying the target problems are critical to concentrating their efforts on change (Healey 2005:119). Epstein and Brown (2002) cited by Healey (2005) suggest a maximum of three target problems, as it is not necessary to address all problems identified. Success in a few can have a knock-on effect for other problems in a service users life that may enable them to live with these problems or to deal with them (Healey 2005:113). However as Healey (2005) writes, although within a task centred approach the service users definitions of their problems should prevail, in circumstances where the worker is duty bound to insist on considering certain problems, or a judgement has been made of a potential risk that the service user may pose to themselves or others, than these issues should be clearly raised. An explicit agreement (contract) would need to be mutually clarified. This would include times, location of meetings, and detailed information on the goals of intervention, whereby the service user should be responsible for deciding the order in which problems should be addressed (Healey 2005). It should also include any goals the social worker has on behalf of their agency or statutory duties. For example when working with Ms. Evans, goals for intervention might include her health status to be investigated in relation to her post natal depression. As well as this a statement of tasks would be listed to address target problems and to develop the service users problem-solving skills (Healey 2005). This is the key intention of task centred practice, hence we must resist any temptation to do for, rather than do with the service user (Healey 2005:122). An example of one task could be; Ms. Evans to gain more information on spinal bifida and then forward this to her partner, as she feels that he has not accepted their daughters condition, and this could be a fear of the unknown. In supporting Ms. Evans in her task performance I would encourage, and help build on her strengths maybe through rehearsing set tasks with her in the form of role play (Healey 2005). This would enable for any strategies necessary to be put into place to help Ms. Evans overcome any obstacles that she may feel could hinder the completion of a certain task. Task centred practice is a systematic process, therefore throughout my work with Ms. Evans I would need to regularly review performed tasks in order to acknowledge any gain made, as well as address any tasks that have not been performed. This would give me the opportunity to address any issues with Ms. Evans and to explore ways if deemed necessary to revise our contract. Finally integral to the task centred structure is the need for a well planned termination. Healey (2005:124) writes that a clear and looming deadline is vital for concentrating worker and service user efforts on change. Within the termination meeting I would review with Ms, Evans the overall progress of our work, and how in the future she might maintain any progress that has been made (Healey 2005). Healey (2005) explains that a task centred framework provides a shell in which other theoretical perspectives can be incorporated. Incorporating a strengths perspective would, like task centred practice focus on, building a service users capacity to help themselves and to promote a mutual learning partnership between workers and service users, (Healey 2005:158) keeping within the social work values of empowerment, respect and service user self-determination. According to Healey (2005) the strengths perspective concentrates on enabling service users and communities to work towards their future hopes and dreams, rather than looking at past or present problems. Saleeby (1997:4) cited by Healey (2005:152) states that the strengths perspective formula is straightforward, where workers are required to mobilise service users strengths in order to enable them to achieve their goals and objectives, which would lead to the service user having a better quality of life on their terms (Healey 2005:152). Some of the key assumptions of the strengths perspective are, all people have strengths, capacities and resources, and people generally demonstrate resilience, rather than pathology when facing adverse life events. (Healey 2005:157). Healey (2005) discusses the practice principles and how the social worker should adopt a positive and optimistic attitude towards service users, working in partnership with them so solutions to problems are developed collaboratively. Healey (2005:162) further states that the formation of a good working partnership can increase the resources available to solve the problem at hand. Therefore when working with Ms. Evans I would focus on listening to her story, identifying her capacities, strengths, and resourcefulness which could contribute to positive changes. I would clarify any strengths with her as Healey (2005:162) explains, service users can grow when others particularly helpers actively affirm and support their capacity to do so. My role as the social worker would be to facilitate Ms. Evans capacity to acknowledge, and use existing strengths and resources which would enable her to develop new ones. These strengths could be for example; the skills she has developed from parenting, most of which due to her partner being in the Navy she may have done independently. Ms. Evans defines herself as Asian and that Islam is important to her, therefore, another strength could be that of adaptability, and having the inner strength to explore new experiences, as she may have moved from an Asian community to be with her partner in the naval married quarters. According to Saleeby (1996) cited by Healey (2005:164) belonging to a community is the first step towards empowerment. Therefore by working towards social justice principles I would explore with Ms. Evans what formal and informal help was available to her within the community. For example, a mother and toddler group, which would enable her to become part of the community that she feels she has not been accepted into. Healey (2005:164) explains community support can build and draw on the capacities of service users to help themselves and to help others. I would also discuss with her the help she is already receiving in relation to her baby and her diagnosis of spinal bifida, which could mean the family are entitled to both financial and practical help. This could include a family support carer to give some respite, which would allow Ms. Evans some time to pursue her own interests, such as her religion. Further to this I would need to recognise any strengths and assets within Ms. Evans social networks, such as people she may feel can be supportive, maybe discussing with her possible personal support from family and friends (Healey 2005). In conclusion this assignment has discussed the issues of power and how social workers need to be sensitive to and recognise power imbalances. .Following this, risk discourse has been explained, as well as a task centred approach to the case study. Finally the strengths perspective was incorporated which focuses on the capacities and potentialities of the service user.

Illegal Immigration to the United States :: Economy Immigrants Work Essays

What is largely fueling the underground economy, experts say, is the nation's swelling ranks of low-wage illegal immigrants. The government puts this population at 8.5 million, but that may represent a serious undercount. Robert Justich, a senior managing director at Bear Stearns Asset Management in New York, makes a persuasive case in a forthcoming paper, "The Underground Labor Force Is Rising to the Surface," that illegal immigrants actually number 18 million to 20 million. If true, the economic implications are profound and could help shape debates slated in Washington this year over both immigration policies and tax reform. Measuring the size of the underground economy is, of course, more art than science, since most of its denizens seek to remain anonymous. But convincing anecdotal evidence and a number of credible academic studies suggest that it is expanding briskly -- probably by an average of 5.6% a year since the early 1990s, edging out the real economy. [Underground illustration] In the process, the underground economy is undermining the effectiveness of the Internal Revenue Service, which is highly dependent on employees' withholding taxes. If the IRS could collect all the taxes it says that it is owed from the underground economy in a given year, then the current budget deficit would disappear overnight. And if the IRS could collect these taxes every year, then the nation would have surpluses as far as the eye can see. The IRS has estimated that its tax gap -- the estimated amount of taxes owed minus the amount collected -- is around $311 billion in any given year. The agency will produce a new estimate in 2005, and it could be as high as $400 billion, says former IRS Commissioner Donald Alexander. Now a lawyer in Washington, he cites a rise in private contracting and the opportunities it affords for not reporting income. The gap number measures only a portion of the underground economy. Because the number is extrapolated from audited returns, it makes no allowances for criminal enterprises that report no income, and it even fails to capture some garden varieties of nonreporting. The unreported wages of illegal immigrants alone could be costing the government another $50 billion a year, says Justich. Growth of the underground economy is partly a result of corporate downsizing, which has forced many former employees to go out on their own. "We have had an 85% taxpayer compliance rate," says Nina Olson, the IRS's taxpayer advocate.

International studies-global childhood Essay

This article written about the number of children who die on daily basis from various reasons is intended to inform the general globe community of the deaths so that appropriate measures can be taken to counter the trend. Anup points out that this is a global issue as it affects everybody in the world in regard to social, political, economical and environmental aspects. According to me, child mortality or the death of children is a global issue which should be ignored but instead should be given a priority by every authority since it affects virtually everyone either directly or directly (Shah, 2010). Just as Anup states in the Article, the number of children who die on daily basis is a matter of international concern. Anup further outlines the importance of understanding the issue of child mortality. He points out that the child mortality rate is significant in that it is a gauge to assess the general wellbeing of children and specifically the child health. To begin with, Anup mentions that it evaluates the end results of the development process of a country rather than the input. It evaluates concepts like the capital calorie accessible or the ratio of medical personnel to the population which are an essential towards achieving positive child welfare (Shah, 2010). Anup notes that child mortality rate is dependent on a number of factors which include nutritional status and the mothers ‘knowledge on health matters, the degree of immunization and the accessibility of maternal and child health services. Other determinants of child mortality rate are availability of food and clean and safe drinking water. The entire safety of the child’s environment also contributes to child mortality rate (Shah, 2010). Child mortality rate is not affected by mathematical computations like average. GNI per capita for instance will be affected by average because the natural scale places the children wealth people at a 1,000 times chance of surviving as although the human-designed scale which does not place them at equal position in regard to income (Shah, 2010). This information including the figure is accurate and reliable since it has been summarized from UNICEF findings. A do agree with Anup that this is enough justification of the significance of understanding child mortality. This is particularly because UNICEF is very elaborate on child issues and usually provides relevant and accurate information concerning children issues (Shah, 2010). The writer compares the figure of the number of children who die on daily basis with well known world disasters in order to create a clear picture of the issue in question. Anup equates the figure to the number of people who succumbed to the 2010 Haiti earthquake if had to occur every 9-10 days and the 2004 Asian tsunami if it were to occur every ten days (Shah, 2010). The writer has further justified his report by quoting the sources of the data that he used for comparison. The figure of the number of the victims who died from the Haiti earthquake was taken from the reliable BBC reports (BBC, 2010). He converts the figure to various ratios in order to bring out a more concrete outline of the seriousness of the issue. For instance he mentions that the 24,000 children dying every minute is equivalent to a single child dying after every 3. 6 seconds or close to 9 million children dying in each year. According to Anup, 79 million children died between the years 2000 and 2007 (Shah, 2010). He has used various simple graphs to illustrate the trend of child mortality rate. The causes of this large number of deaths are poverty, hunger and certain diseases and illness that that can either be cured or prevented (Shah, 2010). The writer is also surprised at the manner in which this disaster is not in the headlines. He mentions that just as the global community responds to other disasters like the disastrous earthquakes, it should respond similarly to the escalating child mortality rates (Shah, 2010). I support the writer in this aspect because little has been documented on child mortality rates. This has further worsened the problem because many authorities, agencies or organizations that could offer significant help to bring this disaster under control have completely ignored the issue or have not taken it with the seriousness it deserves. This is partly because the issue is not found in the headlines (Shah, 2010). Conclusion I support Anup’s report that the issue of child mortality rate has not been taken with the magnitude that it deserves by the world’s authorities, agencies and any relevant organization. This issue should be regarded as a disaster because the number of children dying every day from the various causes is even larger than that resulting from some of the world’s worst tragedies like the Haiti earthquake (BBC, 2010). The issue is rarely placed in the headlines and thus fails to attract the appropriate attention. Child mortality rate is very important in assessing the general wellbeing of children. Child mortality rate further affects political, social, political and environmental issues in the globe either in a direct or an indirect manner (Global issues, 2010).

anne rice essays

anne rice essays Anne Rice: A Fascinating Story Because of her fascination with the supernatural, her life in New Orleans, and her daughter's death, Anne Rice exhibits powerful and dark Anne Rice's family life was not always a happy one. Her family was one of the lower middle class, struggling to make it. Katherine, her mother, became stressed over keeping a household and took to drinking. Anne's mom continued this habit throughout her life. I feel that this drinking had a major effect on Anne's writing style. Anne's books are full of vivid detail. They are written as if they were seen through the eyes of a drunk. Anne's mother continued drinking until the day of her death in 1956. Katherine's death hit her daughter very hard. Since her mother had died, Anne had to become a mother to her two younger sisters, Tamara and Karen. Anne hated to assume this role and looked for a way out. Her father gave this to her in the form of St. Joseph Academy, a boarding school. This was not a very good solution considering how much Anne hated the school. She cried every night for about a year, and would later write about her experiences an a novel, The Witching Hour. When Anne became sixteen her father remarried. Howard(Anne's father) and his new wife, Dorothy, decided to move to Texas to follow Howard's' work. This decision shocked Anne and she was very opposed; the move still took place. At her new school, Anne met a boy named Stan Rice. Stan was very involved with poetry and he and Anne instantly hit it off. Stan had an influence on Anne like no other person had. He was the first boy she kissed which was an experience she wrote about in her second novel, The Feast of All Saints- here is the excerpt. Richard had kissed Marie and she had never felt a sensation akin to what she'd experienced when he was holding her lightly, gently, as if he might break her, in his arms. His hands had spread out firmly ...

Samuel Beckett Play Essay Example

Samuel Beckett Play Essay Example The Play Not I by Samuel Beckett Essay Example The Play Not I by Samuel Beckett Essay Example The play we are going to speak about in this essay is called Not I, written in 1972. Its author Samuel Beckett has described this play as the action of the moving mouth in the darkness of the rest of the stage. This play is concerned being the part of the author’s art that is connected with the late period of his activity. Moreover, if analyzing Krapp’s Last Tape, we can notice that most of Beckett’s works of the late period of activity are connected with the researching of memory. Mostly these memories are shown through the prism of the past events that are transmitted into the present time in silence and darkness. This could be done to achieve certain level of concentration. Such plays also concern the topic of self-confidence and place in life. The plot of the play usually contains the voice that comes from the outside or through the comments in the silence (Not I). Not I is a short dramatic monologue, and its premiere took place at the â€Å"Samuel Beckett Festival† by the Repertory Theater in New York. First time this play was directed by Alan Schneider. The action of the Not I takes place in a specific place that is lighted only by a single light. It is important to mention that this light concentrates on the mouth of the actress on almost eight feet above the stage. Other elements of the play are presented in the dark space of stage. One could notice the figure of the Auditor, who makes four attempts of helpless compassion. This action appears in times, when Mouth keeps silence and listens to the voice from the outside. Mouth tells us a story presented by the huge amount of different sentences in a rather fast pace. Through this story we find the information about the woman of about seventy years old who was left by her parents after birth. That is the reason of the absence of love and understanding in her life. Moreover, most of her life experience has mechanical character. Also all this situations, happened in her early childhood, have caused huge traumatic experience as the final result. This woman has been virtually mute from the early years of her life. Sometimes the occasional progress happens. One of such situations is demonstrated by Beckett to illustrate the main sense of the play. Her silent hero shows us the importance of the thought itself. It might be significant even without becoming the idea of the entire society and hearing on every corner. Truth could be silent. There are four situations described in the play. Each of them (lying face down in the grass, in supermarket, on a mound in Croker’s Acre and at court) is connected with specific experience that makes this woman begin to talk. This event takes place in April. Probably this time of the year has some special meaning to the woman. The woman has spent a lot of time in researching the reasons of her life circumstances. She has found that her paralyzing disease may be God’s punishment for her actions. However, she underlines that she does not feel any pain and does not suffer from this disease. Nevertheless, she notices that there are no grounds to be punished so severe. Moreover, she agrees that God does not need any grounds for such kind of actions. She feels the power that leads her over her life, and she actually believes that she needs to say something very important. She is not able to say exactly what she is going to say, but points out that long lasting research may give the answer to the question of her guilty and God’s punishment. Woman has a specific light in her head, which interrupts her thoughts and becomes more intensive. This character of the presentation of ideas is rather common in Beckett’s works. His works demonstrate similar techniques in the expression of the main idea through the entire play. It is interesting to reflect on the idea of the play title. Actually, it comes from the attitude of the woman to the events in her life. She always underlines that everything in the surrounding happens not to her. The Mouth has the central position in the play. All the attention of the audience is concentrated on it. The main aim of the author is to play on nerves of the audience, but not to influence intellectual activity. The woman, described in the play, does not seem to be a concrete personage. It is more likely to speak about the image of hundreds of similar women with close destinies and stories. It is appropriate to view any woman of certain period of time. Needless to say, she is just a part of the stage, and the main part is plaid by the Mouth. Beckett underlines that the Mouth should play role of the organ of emission without intellect. That is why it serves for the transition of the information. What is more, the visual image of the Mouth was proposed by The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist. There is one more actor of this play that we need to pay extra attention. We are speaking about the Auditor. Usually, this role is played by the male. However, there are no any directions of the author concerning the gender of the Auditor. Usually, you may notice him at the left side of the stage. Beckett has faced certain problems with place that would be excellent for this actor. Later, the author allows the actor to determine suitable place on the stage up to his own opinion. Undoubtedly, the concrete situation needs the specific character of the play. Its role is determined to every new play that is performed for the audience. Beckett notices that the position of the Auditor is rather difficult to determine because of the light and shadow balance. Moreover, he underlines that play needs this character, but he could make it even without the Auditor. The function of this character has never seemed effective to Beckett. In case of any mistakes in interpretation of this character, Beckett used to speak about an error of the creative imagination. It is worth to underline that actual image of the Auditor is used for the play Not I to point out the necessity of the intense listener. This is the figure that needs to underline the plot of the story and share it with the audience. This image is rather often used in the art of that period. Moreover, the position of the Auditor is not absolutely clear, his role is abstract. Furthermore, even Beckett does not give the correct answer to the question concerning the Auditor. That is why we could consider him to be either guardian angel or the angel of death. This play has several significant productions. One of them we are going to discuss in this essay. We need to compare the vision of Beckett on the plot of the story with the vision of Neil Jordan, who created one of the most well-known productions of this play in 2000. Moreover, it is not just the production; it is a movie created, on the ground of the story mentioned above. Nail Jordan was the director of this film produced by Blue Angel Films. That is actually a unique film- based installation that was created under the control of Neil Jordan, with the participation of one of the most popular American actresses Julianne Moore. One point of view in its favour is that the main idea stays without changes, and that is why we can see similar picture of the action in the film. We could notice the actress sitting on the stage, and only her mouth is visible for the audience. The mouth plays the main role in this action. Therefore, we here a long lasting monologue, delivered by the mouth. This monologue seems to be the powerful stream of ideas and consciousness, experienced by the actress. The whole atmosphere of the play is taken into account by Jordan. That is the reason of the presence of the mouth in the total darkness of the stage. This scene could be rather terrifying, if taking into account the manner of thoughts interpretation of the mouth. Neil Jordan filmed his interpretation of the play of Beckett, and it is about thirteen minutes long. The main action is based on the paying attention to the mouth from different sides and angles, in order to get the feeling of total presence. This gives the audience more powerful connection to the situation that takes place in the installation of the play. However, Jordan has individual vision of the play presented by Beckett. He understands the unique idea and character of the play, and he considers presenting his version into a multi screen installation. Moreover, the mouth is seen on six screens that are arranged in a particular manner to surround the audience. To maximize the influence from the experienced emotions, Jordan considers using specifically large screens for his installation. We need to underline, that Not I is regarded as the part of one unique project- Beckett on Film. The idea of this project belongs to Michael Colgan (Director of the Gate Theater). At this theatre, 19 plays of Beckett are transferred to films in the period of 2000-2001. It should be mentioned that each film has different director, according to the demands on concrete play to the view of the plot and way of interpretation. Beckett is not easy to please person. However, the play we are speaking about is directed by Neil Jordan, whose concept seemed to be interesting to Beckett. There are several differences in interpretation of the story, but the plot stays without changes. Moreover, Not I, directed by Neil Jordan, has been donated to IMMA in 2001. It is important to notice that Neil Jordan begins his career as a writer. Years pass before he understands that he should connect his life with film industry and present his own vision on different pieces of art. He begins his career with the role of creative consultant in film Excalibur, by John Boorman in 1981. One year later, Jordan writes and directs his first feature film Angel. This is the begging of his career in film industry. Thus, he directs and produces more than fifteen films during his career. We need to underline that his films have been honored with different awards all over the world. We could name Oscar, Golden Globes, A Golden Lion and Silver Bear among them. His career is considered to be significant for the entire film industry and art development. Moreover, he has been awarded five honorary doctorates for his activity in this direction of film development. We have analyzed the experience of Neil Jordan in production and direction of films; and this gives us the understanding of the value of his vision of the play Not I. We consider his point of view as a bit widespread and philosophical. Nevertheless, he has used certain tools to influence minds of the audience. However, Not I has been created to play on nerves of the audience, but not to influence their intellectual development. The comments on the installation are rather different; thus, different people experience different kinds of emotions, connected with the actions and the story itself that is presented by Jordan. However, Not I is considered to be theatrical monologue, created by Beckett in the late period of his professional activity. This is the piece of art that is completed due to minimalism and attention to the main plot of the story. This makes the audience being concentrated on the main idea. This is done to achieve maximum feelings of the audience that are directed on the scene of the play. As it has been already mentioned, the stage consists of the only light that brightens the scene. However, this light serves to illuminate one visible object- mouth of the woman that tells us the story of her life. In Jordan’s production of this play the monologue of woman lasts about fifteen minute, and it seems to be the stream of variable thoughts that need to be announced to the audience. In addition, we remember that this woman is not able to speak from her early childhood. Thus, if we hear her monologue we make a conclusion that strong emotions have caused her ability to speak in the play and interpret her ideas into the words. However, Jordan does not change the text of the play at all. He has changed only the presentation of this text. His experiments concern the demonstration of the scene with rather interesting concept. Thus, the monologue is presented from six different angles that are screened in specific form of a novel set up. When the play Not I is viewed as an artwork not in comparison with the original play we should speak about specific presentation of the action in the film. Jordan makes a dynamic presentation that shows the dramatic story of the woman in a new concrete light. There are plenty of comments and critics on this play and its film installation. All of them are rather different. It is not surprising, because so many man so many minds. However, the existence of the reaction of audience on the play speaks about its value as a piece of art. Moreover, it has an influence on the minds and emotions of the audience. It is difficult to explain the main idea in fifteen minutes of monologue. However, Beckett succeeds in this process perfectly. The task to present the main idea of the play without action is not an easy one. We know that in play Not I the main role is played by the mouth of the woman. Therefore, we do not see the play we are used to imagine while thinking about it. Critics notice that the presentation might be more clear and easy for understanding. Although, if you watch the film, you will understand that there is no need to change anything. The main idea is presented in rather specific way, but in this case, it works and gives the required result. The maximum attention of the audience is paid to the only light on the scene and the movement of lips of the woman. Moreover, to have an extra feeling of presence in the story, the author gives us the opportunity to listen to comments, made up by the voice from the outside. The Audition’s role is still not absolutely clear for the audience of the play. Even Beckett prefers to keep silence about his main part and sense in this play. Even though, every person is given a unique opportunity to figure out whether the Auditor is a guardian angel or an angel of death. Hence, we can speak about the usage of personal imagination while deciding such widely argued aspects of the play. In conclusion, we need to underline that the author of the play Samuel Beckett has described this play as the action of the moving mouth in the darkness of the rest of the stage. This is one of the specific and most significant visual elements of the play. This play is supposed to be the part of art of the author that is connected with the late period of his activity. Not I is a short dramatic monologue, and its premiere takes place at the â€Å"Samuel Beckett Festival† by the Repertory Theater in New York. First time this play was directed by Alan Schneider. The action of the Not I takes place in a specific place that is lighted only by a single light. This light concentrates on the mouth of the actress on almost eight feet above the stage. Other elements of the play are presented in the dark space of stage. One could notice the figure of the Auditor. Mouth tells us a story, presented by the huge amount of different sentences announced in a rather fast pace. We find out that the woman of about seventy years old is left by her parents after birth. This is the reason of the absence of love and understanding in her life. This woman has been virtually mute from the early years of her life. Sometimes, the occasional progress happens. One of such situations is demonstrated by Beckett to illustrate the main sense of the play. As it was previously mentioned, this play has several significant productions. We have compared the vision of Beckett on the plot of the story with the vision of Neil Jordan, who has created one of the most well-known film productions of this play in 2000. Moreover, the movie has been created on the ground of the story mentioned above. Nail Jordan is the director of this film, produced by Blue Angel Films. This is, actually, a unique film, based installation that is created under the control of Neil Jordan with the participation of one of the most popular American actresses Julianne Moore. In Jordan’s production of this play the monologue of woman lasts about fifteen minute, and it seems to be the stream of variable thoughts that need to be announced to the audience, in order to help people to understand her story and feel strong emotions of her experience. Jordan does not change the text of the play at all. He has changed only the presentation of this text. His experiments concern the demonstration of the scene with rather interesting concept. Thus, the monologue is presented from six different angles that are screened in specific form of a novel set up. All things considered, the film Not I is viewed as an artwork with its specific presentation of the action, in comparison with the original play. Needless to say, Jordan has made a dynamic presentation that shows the dramatic story of the woman in a new concrete light. What is more, every person is given a unique opportunity to figure out whether the Auditor is a guardian angel or an angel of death. Hence, we could speak about the usage of personal imagination while deciding such widely argued aspects of the play.

Hansen's Disease (leprosy) Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Hansen's Disease (leprosy) - Term Paper Example The oldest civilizations of China, Egypt and India were among the first to have documentation of a disease quite similar to leprosy, forcing scholars, doctors and scientists alike to assume that that was what the disease actually was. However, leprosy today is not what people had to deal with thousands of years ago. Due to the lack of medical attention, leprosy was more common and severe, causing infected people to be forced into separate leprosy colonies. Before our common era, leprosy was feared due to people believing that it was a curse or a punishment from God. Many infected people saw death sooner than they should have because they were killed for having the infection, as people did not want them spreading the curse or punishment around. â€Å"In Europe during the Middle Ages, leprosy sufferers had to wear special clothing, ring bells to warn others that they were close, and even walk on a particular side of the road, depending on the direction of the wind (Mallac, 2001).† However, due to how contagious the disease is, patients were treated similarly in more modern times, though this was out of concern for others developing the disease. Special hospitals were created solely for patients suffering from leprosy. It was in 1873 that Henrik Armeuer Hansen, a doctor from Norway, first identified under a microscope the germ that causes leprosy, which is how leprosy received its formal name. This germ is mycobacterium leprae, and was the first bit of proof that leprosy was indeed caused by a germ, and not by a curse or from sinning. After this discovery, doctors and scientists set to work to discover cures and treatments for leprosy. Before the 1940s, leprosy patients were treated with oil from the chaulmoogra nut. Some patients benefited from the painful treatment, but very little was known about the long term effects. Between the 1920s and the 1970s, numerous medical breakthroughs took place in regard to discovering medication for leprosy

The Works of Ai Wei Wei Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Works of Ai Wei Wei - Essay Example I believe that he is trying to tell that we can create beauty out of everyday ordinary things and that they could represent a bigger and grander idea. According to Wei Wei, our respective culture is the context and â€Å"lens† by which we see and interpret the world. Thus, we assign a value to images and symbols differently. One may be important to other culture while it may be without meaning to other cultures. We can cite the example of Wei Wei’s sunflower seeds as an example. For the outsider, one may see it as a literal sunflower seed that at the beginning of the video, some of Wei Wei’s audience even tasted it to check if it is real. To the Chinese however, especially those who lived during the revolution and the time of Chairman Mao Zedong, the sunflower seeds meant something else. It is not just seeds of a sunflower but represented the number of people that supported the revolution. The seeds were so many because the ordinary people of China that supported the Chairman were also so many. As an artist, Ai Wei Wei viewed his role as someone who challenges his audience to ask new questions. He wants to create as an artist, the basic structure which can be open to possibilities. His artworks have political connotations also and Wei Wei would like his audience to engage them with his artworks as a medium to instigate curiosity that would foster understanding and hope to make it a happier place just like the seed makers in Wei Wei’s artwork who were happy to do create the porcelain sunflower seeds because it gives them livelihood and meaning. Ai Wei Wei’s artworks are not just for an aesthetic purpose that conveys beauty where its audience can appreciate the joy in the magnificence of their artwork. If one would examine closely, Wei Wei’s artwork has political significance and invites the audience to ask questions.