Green Building Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Green Building - Research Paper Example Without appropriate accommodation, the performance of the student may deteriorate due to varying factors an example being health. Most of the buildings in the city are pre-modern and thus the importance of giving or rather outlining a new design in which a building can get remodeled through. The contemporary world is faced with numerous problems one of them being pollution, it is important to go through a green design that can assist the students in having a conducive living environment while still the design maintaining environmental preservation which is effective for the community around. Client and Mentor In choosing of the means to reconstruct with regard to the client’s precision, it is important to understand the setting of the area. In the provided setting, looking out for all the environmental impacts comes in handy. The building is located in a busy location with a lot of traffic. It is thus important to understand that the cars passing by the building do not spend a lot of time at the location because the ground is rather weak. It is a requirement that the building uses rather tough tiles and the most recommended is the ceramic tiles. The client in this case is the expected occupant and since they are students, it is important to ensure that the building is not very complicated but just ideal. For an ideal contemporary building, it is important to use Ceramic. Ceramic is harder than stone and hence effective enough to use in places with clay soil and having many people around. In the making of such buildings, it is important to ensure that there is minimal use of space while still providing satisfactory area for people to use. The surrounding environment to the building should not have any building around it and should provide ample space for some form of field with grass. Grass is necessary seeing as the ground beneath is clay provides a rather smooth setting and environment for growth. Moreover, research has shown that having chemicals sprayed over the grass eventually leads to the clay soil beneath the foundation of the building stronger and can assist during the rainy season (Vasil, 2009, 77). Clearly, having ample grass space is not an aspect to conform to because it is a town setting but leaving space for it nevertheless is advisable in the setting. The mentor who i s the architect in this case should ensure that they pick the right type of soil for the job. Clay soil is strong and provides a great support for the foundation and the basement. This is from the way its particles join to form one large compact Substance. This substance leaves no space for air and thus makes it even harder. However, during the dry periods, the soil gets wet and the particles, having not supported themselves alone, end up breaking into pieces. This consequently has the building developing cracks and eventually falling to the ground, which is a hazard needless to state. Below is an example of a building in the initial stages of construction just before the pouring of concrete. An inspector is a vital mentor in the analysis of the already set foundation for the building. Most precisely an engineer ought to observe the already set foundation for the determination of the stability position that the building will have. Failure to analyze this may lead to the contractors and the builders carrying on with their work with no idea whatsoever of the sensitivity of the issue (Pearon, 2011, 102). The surveyor then comes in after this stage and determines the kind of footing to put depending on the type of building that the owner requires. In this case, a green building would require a rather high footing provided the soil formation and characteristics at the area. This is also

Nestle and Enterprise Resource Planning Assignment

Nestle and Enterprise Resource Planning - Assignment Example The present research has identified that in June 2000, Nestle halted the project in mid-rollout. The company regrouped, starting from scratch and jettisoning a predetermined end date. It conducted regular surveys of user reactions to changes, delaying implementation when feedback indicated the need for further training. Now close to the finish line, Nestle CIO Jeri Dunn says she has learned a number of hard lessons, such as "no major software implementation is really about the software†. But has Nestle really learned its lesson? And how can their successes and failures be illustrative to the rest of the industry? The reasons for ERP are fairly simple: They can increase coordination, decrease overhead, increase the speed at which customer service complaints are resolved and prevent those complaints from getting lost amidst the bureaucratic shuffle, increase data access in real time and consolidate data into a central database. But Dieringer cautions that nothing is free: â€Å" Of course, these opportunities come at a high price in terms of financial cost, implementation nightmares, and human issues. Often these implementations fail miserably as they run behind schedule and over budget; other times they are successful. Regardless of the outcome, each ERP implementation holds valuable lessons to be learned for companies considering their own ERP implementation†. ERPWire defines both industry-wide and business-specific advantages. ERP can help increase the manufacturing group's efficiency. Having one single software program with unified access to company databases lets supply chains be leaner, managers predict what will be needed to be produced and do so ahead of time to keep things on the shelf and anticipate demand so as to avoid shortfalls, give workers access to production goals and allow coordination among plants so as to avoid duplication of resources. Distribution and retail is facilitated by letting retailers get much better ideas of real inven tory, make their orders automated or contingent on information on their end without slowing down production, have real-time status updates so they can spend less time monitoring shipments, and coordinating with the producer on a much more holistic level. The transport sector benefits because some things can be sent online such as forms and communications, reducing their overhead, and other things can be set up for lean shipment. And the project service sector benefits because reports can be made more quickly, more accurately and with data that is updated in real time instead of having substantial institutional lag. Similarly, the accounts department can record transactions themselves instead of waiting for the financial group to do so. Paperwork is reduced, which reduces cost of purchasing paper, ecological footprint (which is useful for PR purposes), trash and recycling costs, and storage costs. Information is also processed and stored faster, indeed nearly instantaneously, allowin g customers, suppliers, distributors and shareholders to get information more quickly and not have to be told that their data is still being processed. Customer service is made more efficient and less onerous: There's a unified accounting of the customer's purchases, customer service history and tickets, and other factors.

AIDS Epidemic Increase And African Countries Economies Essay Example for Free

AIDS Epidemic Increase And African Countries Economies Essay The countries of the developing world most seriously affected by AIDS thus far are in sub-Saharan Africa. Accordingly, much of the social research on AIDS in the developing world is concerned with Africa, as is much of the research reviewed in this chapter. But many of the behavior patterns described and the conclusions reached apply elsewhere. AIDS is primarily a sexually transmitted disease, and the escalating epidemics in the developing world are principally the result of sexual encounters with an infected partner. In all countries AIDS is also transmitted by the use of contaminated needles in intravenous drug injections, by blood transfusions of infected blood, and perinatally from infected mothers to their unborn children. But sexual transmission is everywhere the predominant mode, and, internationally, heterosexual transmission accounts for some 70 percent of all new AIDS cases (Mann et al. 1992:33). In the regions of Asia, Latin America, and sub-Saharan Africa, one of three different modes of sexual transmission of the AIDS virus predominatesalthough all modes occur with some frequency in all three regions. In Asia, prostitution plays the key role; in Latin America, homosexual and bisexual behavior; and in Africa, heterosexual transmission. The majority of African countries are experiencing a serious economic crisis. That crisis, though showing signs of moderation in some countries, has resulted in development eluding most of the others, with far-reaching negative consequences on their populaces. When there is no development, there is hopelessness; and where there is hopelessness, there is no effort to work toward development. The circle becomes complete and reinforcing. Unfortunately, in most of Africa, the economic crisis has made life an endless series of vicious circles that are now spreading economic suffering in a concentrated fashion. The economic crisis in Africa represents a historical tragedy, and the historical evidence now suggests that such a crisis need not have occurred. Despite some views to the contrary, the overwhelming opinion is that this economic crisis is primarily the inevitable outcome of the failure of postindependence development policy formulation and implementation in the majority of the African countries. In most of Africa, postindependence development policy was formulated through a statist ideological framework, which was then implemented by experimentation. Moreover, some, if not all, of the countries had to contend with an adverse international economic environment. That combination produced disastrous results. Among other things, poverty and socioeconomic inequalities increased, the external debt burden became heavier, the brain drain intensified, capital flight deepened, the balance of payments weakened, the physical infrastructure deteriorated, unemployment and crime escalated, famine and malnutrition became more pronounced, budget deficits soared, agricultural productivity declined, urbanization burgeoned, environmental degradation expanded, political and civil strife worsened, and corruption became more rampant. These disastrous development results were, in turn, the catalyst behind the deepening economic crisis in Africa, and consequently provided the imperative for policy reform in those countries. Policy reform can be defined as changes in government policy, institutional structure, or administrative procedures that are designed to alter economic activity and improve performance (Roemer and Radelet 1991). Put more succinctly, it is policy change, across the board, to effect sustained economic progress that will lead to a more desirable economic outcome than current practice permits.

Personal Paper on Euthanasia Essay Example for Free

Personal Paper on Euthanasia Essay A life is ending. Losing a life is tragic enough within its own right. Euthanasia appears to be the best option for a patient. Though the family and patient have suffered immensely, they must continue to suffer mentally and physically through the passive euthanasia process. This particular patient’s death was tragic and slow. The body had broken down, and only a shadow of who the person once was laid in bed as the last breath was taken. If another form of euthanasia, called active euthanasia had been legal, a large amount of pain and suffering could have been spared. If passive euthanasia is legal, then active euthanasia should be legal too. Passive Euthanasia, is when a physician determines that death is unavoidably close, that rather than prolong suffering, to stop whatever treatment is keeping the patient alive. An example would be, if a person is being kept alive by a machine that breathes for them, a decision is made to turn off the machine, indirectly ending the person’s life. Also, there are many cases that are not as simple as that. Often times, passive euthanasia can be performed on a conscious person. If a person is alive, but barely capable of living, a tube that feeds the patient is removed. This leads to the patient starving to death, which led to the patient dying in great pain. My father was diagnosed with terminal colo-rectal cancer, and instead of trying surgeries that would lengthen his life by a few months, he chose not to. My father was passively euthanized. He died a much different man that I have known my whole life. He, once a large burly man had lost around a hundred pounds, and was bedridden. All of his muscles were slowly disintegrating because of atrophy since he was unable to get out of bed. He was in major pain despite the medication he was given, and in the last month of his life the cancer had gone into the blood and to his brain, making him hallucinate,

Life Is But A Choice Essays -- essays research papers

Life Is But A Choice Beginning with the time of birth until the time of death, people have to make choices everyday on how to achieve the goals in their lives. One can imagine life as a long winding road with millions of other roads branching off in many directions. The only problem is that life is too short to explore every single road. In addition, the essence of time will not allow anyone to go back to a road that was passed. Everyone must choose his/her own roads through life regardless of what other people might think. Robert Frost wrote in The Road Not Taken, " I took the one less traveled by And that has made all the difference "(Frost 423). By managing ones time efficiently and making clear rational choices, one can achieve a healthy mind, body and spirit. One important choice in life is having a healthy mind. The key to achieving a healthy mind is to be open minded. Since the day we are born, we are bombarded with information from television, radios, books, magazines, and what we observe personally. The world is filled with a vast amount of information and each individual is responsible for obtaining, understanding, and making value judgments on this information. One must understand the world around him before he can understand himself. Making the choice of obtaining a college education is extremely important in the world today. There are so many different areas which ro choose. Each individual must find w...

The Ups And Downs Of Love :: essays research papers

The Ups And Downs of Love Love is a constant. Although it comes in many forms and many different ways love cannot be changed and has existed since the dawn of time. No matter where you are in the world, love is still the same thing, it is universal and is experienced by everyone in their lifetime. Poetry has been used for centuries to express feelings and emotions and is the most effective way to express love. Poets have been able to show all aspects of love, the ups and the downs throughout time. â€Å"Lucy Poems† by William Wordsworth, portray both sides of love in his â€Å"Lucy Poems†. He describes the contrasting feelings that come with love both the, brilliant ups of being in love when the poet describes his love for Lucy, and the deep depressing loss of losing a loved one. Wordsworth is was one of the first romantic poets, having a new, modern approach towards poetry which in his time was unheard of, he felt poetry should be about emotions and feelings, it shouldn’t be inhibited or stifled by politics or city social life and this is reflected in all of his poems. â€Å"She Dwelt Among Untrodden Ways† is the last in the â€Å"Lucy Poems Series† in which Lucy dies. The poet describes Lucy as A Maid whom there were none to praise ; And very few to love† and that â€Å"She lived unknown† however, despite the fact that she was not renowned, he still felt great loss and grief over her death, which is a sign of true love. Wordswo rth says â€Å"But she is in her grave, and oh, The difference to me!† and his life would never be the same after this one single event. Robert Browning with â€Å"Porphyria’s Lover† shows another side of love, desire and how quickly this desire can lead to madness. The poem is written in a more methodical, less emotional manner, being a characteristic of the Victorian Era in which Browning was writing. It tells the story of Porphyria who returns home to her love. Browning has portrayed a very different mindset in this poem, with the subject of the poem not being in a secure frame of mind, but on the edge of insanity. Porphyria worshipped him and he thought of he obviously felt the same emotions towards her â€Å"Porphyria worshiped me: surprise Made my heart swell, and still it grew† However, his actions do not correspond to love in a traditional sense in the paragraph:

The Impact of Divorce on a Teenager :: Impact of Divorce on Children

All over the world, parents decide to divorce and this leaves children hurt and confused. The children may lose contact with one parent or they might decide to makes some bad decisions in their life due to the feeling of neglect. Some of the bad choices could be mental health disorders and struggling in academics. There are impacts on teens that could be short term but there are also long term effects too, because most of them look up to their parents as role models. (decent statement of theme) Family clearly impacts teenagers, especially a divorce. [Why this last sentence? This is a â€Å"no duh† comment=you knew it before you started. Maybe it works as a 1st sentence, but not a last one.] In the book The House on Mango Street, written by Sandra Cisneros, the main character, Esperanza, was affected by many external forces, including family. Esperanza is a young teen who just moved to Mango Street, and she doesn’t like her house because it’s ugly, and she dreams of another house that her family has promised one day. â€Å"I have inherited her name, but I don’t want to inherit her place by the window (Cisneros 11). This was in reference to her great grandmother who didn’t want to marry, but Esperanza’s great grandfather kidnapped her and forced her to marry, where Esperanza’s great grandmother never forgave him and looked out a window for the rest of her life. Esperanza didn’t chose her name, her family did, and she didn’t chose who her family is either. The external force of family is an issue in real life just as it is in this novel, and the teens learn to either love it or hate it. [Whoa! Where’s the divorce here? Why not use the mothers who are single parents? Isn’t that closer to divorce?] Adolescents tend to find ways to let out their emotions and try to escape their problems, and this unfortunately leads them to make poor decisions that hurt them more than they know that it would be. Alcohol actually is a depressant because it slows down the function of the central nervous system and it cause people to lose coordination and not be able to think straight. [Again, whoa! Where’s the divorce here? Why start with drinking? Suggestion: if this is what some teens do when faced with divorce, then maybe this should go as your 2nd or 3rd comment, not your 1st.

The Host Chapter 10: Turned

The electric bell rang, announcing another visitor to the convenience store. I started guiltily and ducked my head behind the shelf of goods we were examining. Stop acting like a criminal, Melanie advised. I'm not acting, I replied tersely. The palms of my hands felt cold under a thin sheen of sweat, though the small room was quite hot. The wide windows let in too much sun for the loud and laboring air-conditioning unit to keep up. Which one? I demanded. The bigger one, she told me. I grabbed the larger pack of the two available, a canvas sling that looked well able to hold more than I could carry. Then I walked around the corner to where the bottled water was shelved. We can carry three gallons, she decided. That gives us three days to find them. I took a deep breath, trying to tell myself that I wasn't going along with this. I was simply trying to get more coordinates from her, that was all. When I had the whole story, I would find someone-a different Seeker, maybe, one less repulsive than the one assigned to me-and pass the information along. I was just being thorough, I promised myself. My awkward attempt to lie to myself was so pathetic that Melanie didn't pay any attention to it, felt no worry at all. It must be too late for me, as the Seeker had warned. Maybe I should have taken the shuttle. Too late? I wish! Melanie grumbled. I can't make you do anything you don't want to do. I can't even raise my hand! Her thought was a moan of frustration. I looked down at my hand, resting against my thigh rather than reaching for the water as she wanted to do so badly. I could feel her impatience, her almost desperate desire to be on the move. On the run again, just as if my existence were no more than a short interruption, a wasted season now behind her. She gave the mental equivalent of a snort at that, and then she was back to business. C'mon, she urged me. Let's get going! It will be dark soon. With a sigh, I pulled the largest shrink-wrapped flat of water bottles from the shelf. It nearly hit the floor before I caught it against a lower shelf edge. My arms felt as though they'd popped halfway out of their sockets. â€Å"You're kidding me!† I exclaimed aloud. Shut up! â€Å"Excuse me?† a short, stooped man, the other customer, asked from the end of the aisle. â€Å"Uh-nothing,† I mumbled, not meeting his gaze. â€Å"This is heavier than I expected.† â€Å"Would you like some help?† he offered. â€Å"No, no,† I answered hastily. â€Å"I'll just take a smaller one.† He turned back to the selection of potato chips. No, you will not, Melanie assured me. I've carried heavier loads than this. You've let us get all soft, Wanderer, she added in irritation. Sorry, I responded absently, bemused by the fact that she had used my name for the first time. Lift with your legs. I struggled with the flat of water, wondering how far I could possibly be expected to carry it. I managed to get it to the front register, at least. With great relief, I edged its weight onto the counter. I put the bag on top of the water, and then added a box of granola bars, a roll of doughnuts, and a bag of chips from the closest display. Water is way more important than food in the desert, and we can only carry so much – I'm hungry, I interrupted. And these are light. It's your back, I guess, she said grudgingly, and then she ordered, Get a map. I placed the one she wanted, a topographical map of the county, on the counter with the rest. It was no more than a prop in her charade. The cashier, a white-haired man with a ready smile, scanned the bar codes. â€Å"Doing some hiking?† he asked pleasantly. â€Å"The mountain is very beautiful.† â€Å"The trailhead is just up that -† he said, starting to gesture. â€Å"I'll find it,† I promised quickly, pulling the heavy, badly balanced load back off the counter. â€Å"Head down before it gets dark, sweetie. You don't want to get lost.† â€Å"I will.† Melanie was thinking sulfurous thoughts about the kind old man. He was being nice. He's sincerely concerned about my welfare, I reminded her. You're all very creepy, she told me acidly. Didn't anyone ever tell you not to talk to strangers? I felt a deep tug of guilt as I answered. There are no strangers among my kind. I can't get used to not paying for things, she said, changing the subject. What's the point of scanning them? Inventory, of course. Is he supposed to remember everything we took when he needs to order more? Besides, what's the point of money when everyone is perfectly honest? I paused, feeling the guilt again so strongly that it was an actual pain. Everyone but me, of course. Melanie shied away from my feelings, worried by the depth of them, worried that I might change my mind. Instead she focused on her raging desire to be away from here, to be moving toward her objective. Her anxiety leaked through to me, and I walked faster. I carried the stack to the car and set it on the ground beside the passenger door. â€Å"Let me help you with that.† I jerked up to see the other man from the store, a plastic bag in his hand, standing beside me. â€Å"Ah†¦ thank you,† I finally managed, my pulse thudding behind my ears. We waited, Melanie tensed as if to run, while he lifted our acquisitions into the car. There's nothing to fear. He's being kind, too. She continued to watch him distrustfully. â€Å"Thank you,† I said again as he shut the door. â€Å"My pleasure.† He walked off to his own vehicle without a backward glance at us. I climbed into my seat and grabbed the bag of potato chips. Look at the map, she said. Wait till he's out of sight. No one is watching us, I promised her. But, with a sigh, I unfolded the map and ate with one hand. It was probably a good idea to have some sense of where we were headed. Where are we headed? I asked her. We've found the starting point, so what now? Look around, she commanded. If we can't see it here, we'll try the south side of the peak. See what? She placed the memorized image before me: a ragged zigzagging line, four tight switchbacks, the fifth point strangely blunt, like it was broken. Now I saw it as I should, a jagged range of four pointed mountain peaks with the broken-looking fifth†¦ I scanned the skyline, east to west across the northern horizon. It was so easy it felt false, as though I'd made the image up only after seeing the mountain silhouette that created the northeast line of the horizon. That's it, Melanie almost sang in her excitement. Let's go! She wanted me to be out of the car, on my feet, moving. I shook my head, bending over the map again. The mountain ridge was so far in the distance I couldn't guess at the miles between us and it. There was no way I was walking out of this parking lot and into the empty desert unless I had no other option. Let's be rational, I suggested, tracing my finger along a thin ribbon on the map, an unnamed road that connected to the freeway a few miles east and then continued in the general direction of the range. Sure, she agreed complacently. The faster the better. We found the unpaved road easily. It was just a pale scar of flat dirt through the sparse shrubbery, barely wide enough for one vehicle. I had a feeling that the road would be overgrown with lack of use in a different region-some place with more vital vegetation, unlike the desert plants that needed decades to recover from such a violation. There was a rusted chain stretched across the entrance, screwed into a wooden post on one end, looped loosely around another post at the other. I moved quickly, pulling the chain free and piling it at the base of the first post, hurrying back to my running car, hoping no one would pass and stop to offer me help. The highway stayed clear as I drove onto the dirt and then rushed back to refasten the chain. We both relaxed when the pavement disappeared behind us. I was glad that there was apparently no one left I would have to lie to, whether with words or silence. Alone, I felt less of a renegade. Melanie was perfectly at home here in the middle of nothing. She knew the names of all the spiny plants around us. She hummed their names to herself, greeting them like old friends. Creosote, ocotillo, cholla, prickly pear, mesquite†¦ Away from the highway, the trappings of civilization, the desert seemed to take on a new life for Melanie. Though she appreciated the speed of the jolting car-our vehicle didn't have the ground clearance necessary for this off-road trip, as the shocks reminded me with every pit in the dirt-she itched to be on her feet, loping through the safety of the baking desert. We would probably have to walk, and all too soon for my taste, but when that time came, I doubted it would satisfy her. I could feel the real desire beneath the surface. Freedom. To move her body to the familiar rhythm of her long stride with only her will for guidance. For a moment, I allowed myself to see the prison that was life without a body. To be carried inside but unable to influence the shape around you. To be trapped. To have no choices. I shuddered and refocused on the rough road, trying to stave off the mingled pity and horror. No other host had made me feel such guilt for what I was. Of course, none of the others had stuck around to complain about the situation. The sun was close to the tips of the western hills when we had our first disagreement. The long shadows created strange patterns across the road, making it hard to avoid the rocks and craters. There it is! Melanie crowed as we caught sight of another formation farther east: a smooth wave of rock, interrupted by a sudden spur that swung a thin, long finger out against the sky. She was all for turning immediately into the brush, no matter what that did to the car. Maybe we're supposed to go all the way to the first landmark, I pointed out. The little dirt road continued to wind in more or less the right direction, and I was terrified to leave it. How else would I find my way back to civilization? Wasn't I going back? I imagined the Seeker right at this moment, as the sun touched the dark, zigzagging line of the western horizon. What would she think when I didn't arrive in Tucson? A spasm of glee made me laugh out loud. Melanie also enjoyed the picture of the Seeker's furious irritation. How long would it take her to go back to San Diego to see if this had all been a ploy to get rid of her? And then what steps would she take when I wasn't there? When I wasn't anywhere? I just couldn't picture very clearly where I would be at that point. Look, a dry wash. It's wide enough for the car-let's follow it, Melanie insisted. I'm not sure we're supposed to go that way yet. It will be dark soon and we'll have to stop. You're wasting time! She was silently shouting in her frustration. Or saving time, if I'm right. Besides, it's my time, isn't it? She didn't answer in words. She seemed to stretch inside my mind, reaching back toward the convenient wash. I'm the one doing this, so I'm doing it my way. Melanie fumed wordlessly in response. Why don't you show me the rest of the lines? I suggested. We could see if anything is visible before night falls. No, she snapped. I'll do that part my way. You're being childish. Again she refused to answer. I continued toward the four sharp peaks, and she sulked. When the sun disappeared behind the hills, night washed across the landscape abruptly; one minute the desert was sunset orange, and then it was black. I slowed, my hand fumbling around the dashboard, searching for the switch for the headlights. Have you lost your mind? Melanie hissed. Do you have any idea how visible headlights would be out here? Someone is sure to see us. So what do we do now? Hope the seat reclines. I let the engine idle as I tried to think of options besides sleeping in the car, surrounded by the black emptiness of the desert night. Melanie waited patiently, knowing I would find none. This is crazy, you know, I told her, throwing the car into park and twisting the keys out of the ignition. The whole thing. There can't really be anyone out here. We won't find anything. And we're going to get hopelessly lost trying. I had an abstract sense of the physical danger in what we were planning-wandering out into the heat with no backup plan, no way to return. I knew Melanie understood the danger far more clearly, but she held the specifics back. She didn't respond to my accusations. None of these problems bothered her. I could see that she'd rather wander alone in the desert for the rest of her life than go back to the life I'd had before. Even without the threat of the Seeker, this was preferable to her. I leaned the seat back as far as it would go. It wasn't close to far enough for comfort. I doubted that I would be able to sleep, but there were so many things I wasn't allowing myself to think about that my mind was vacant and uninteresting. Melanie was silent, too. I closed my eyes, finding little difference between my lids and the moonless night, and drifted into unconsciousness with unexpected ease.

Analysis of a Dream of China by Ovidia Yu

Task 2: Written Assignment A Dream of China by Ovidia Yu A Dream of China is written by Ovidia Yu, a Singaporean writer during the 1980s. This story talks about a woman who grew up with many stories revolving around China. The stories were told by her father who was from a wealthy family. He and his brother joined the army to fight off the Japanese in Singapore and were disowned by their father for doing so. After the war ended, the narrator’s father decides to stay in China while the brother chose otherwise. For this choice, the father feels extremely guilty throughout the years.Being convinced that China was amazing, the narrator grabs the opportunity to visit China and finds out for herself many things that differ from her father’s stories. According to Oxford Dictionary (2010), criticism is defined as the analysis and judgement of the merits and faults of a literary or artistic work. Literary criticism therefore, means judging of literary works for both the good and bad. According to a handout of Twentieth-Century Literary Theories, there are many different kinds of literary criticism which include Formalism, Reader-Response, Sociological, Historicism, Structuralism and Psychoanalytic.Several of the mentioned theories are applicable to this text by Ovidia Yu while the others are not very suitable. One of the literary theories that are applicable to A Dream of China would be Reader-Response Criticism. As the handout describes, reader-response criticism is a critical view that sees the reader’s interaction with the text as central to interpretation. This criticism involves the reader’s elucidation and opinion towards the text because as different readers read it, they will have expectations.From those expectations, there lies a perfect explanation in the back of the reader’s mind. The beauty of it is, nobody has the exact same opinion and that is where variety of interpretations could be established. Collaboratively, these r esponses could be put together to criticise a text completely from the inside out, covering all aspects of the text. My response towards this text will be regarding the theme of the text which is an unnecessary guilt of a father. The narrator’s father’s choice of staying in Singapore after the war is a rational one ecause he has already settled down unlike his brother who was still unmarried then. â€Å"He had a wife and my eldest sister, who was already born,† (p163) perfectly justifies that the father’s choice of staying was a rational one. I believe that any man caught in that situation would make the exact same choice he did as it was the best choice available. Besides that, after the Japanese left Singapore and China, staying in Singapore was a smarter choice as it was much smaller thus, suffered less damage compared to China which is many times bigger and of course, more severely damaged.Furthermore, Singapore remains the trading hub of overseas tra ders which gives the place that much more advantage in its nation’s recovery and growth compared to China. With such advantage in the nation and a weight of responsibility towards the family, I would not see how one father would choose otherwise. This is proven the right choice again by the narrator during her expedition to China when she finally meets her nobly described uncle who turns out to be a ‘drab old man’ (p173), ‘barely tolerated by people’ and ‘children throw names at him’ (p170).All in all, they contribute and directly support the theme ‘unnecessary guilt of a father’. Another suitable literary criticism theory would be historicism. Historicism focuses on a text in relation to the historical and cultural contexts of the period in which it was created and critically evaluated. In the case of this text, it is written in the 1980s. During this time, Singapore has already made great progress with their countryâ€℠¢s development and is far more organised and modernised compared to China then in which some parts still live in extremely poor conditions.The narrator’s father however, settled in Singapore around 1945 as that was the year the Japanese left Singapore. At that point of time, Singapore as mentioned above stands a greater chance of recovering their loss and move on with development of their tiny country whereas China is so vast and was undergoing post-war clashes politically at that time. In 1946, civil war in China erupted yet again. With such circumstances, it is of no doubt that the narrator’s father, who was married and had a family living in a peaceful developing country, chooses to stay.Going back to China at such times would only be asking for trouble. This is also one of the reasons why the father feels guilty. It would be because he let his own brother make the unwise choice without trying to make him stay as stated in (p170) ‘If my father had only given h im a word of warning he would now be in Singapore living in the lap of luxury†¦ ’ In the 80s when the narrator finally visits China, which was then undergoing another reform related to communism of Mao-Zedong, she met her noble uncle who turned out to be dull, arrogant, rude and living in poverty, hated by most of the villagers.Seeing such sight would make anyone compare with their own home, in this case, Singapore, which was far more modernised and civilised where husbands treat their wives as equal in status and power unlike in Sechuan where the narrator’s uncle still ‘swore continuously at his wife’ (p169). Even now, we can still see how staying in Singapore would be the best choice at that time. In this 21st century, Singapore has become one of the most modernised countries competing alongside Japan as well as America.While in mainland China, some parts are much modernised, but many other parts are still, till this day, without electricity and wat er what more to say, education. In conclusion, both theories of literary criticism has their unique own way of approach towards literary works. The choice of theories is still ultimately up to the readers to choose which is most suitable. Without literary criticism, literature would have lost their art form that has been appealing to linguists for centuries, similar to how art would lose its value if nobody cares to analyse and evaluate it. ReferencesOxford (2010) â€Å"criticism†. Oxford Dictionaries. April 2010. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 21 March 2012 from: http://oxforddictionaries. com/definition/criticism N. A (N. D) Twentieth-Century Literary Theories. Appendix C. Pg 1940-1961. Retrieved 21 March 2012 Gay, Kathlyn. (2008). 21st Century Books. Mao Zedong's China. ISBN 0-8225-7285-0. pg 7. Retrieved 21 March 2012 from: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Chinese_Civil_War Hutchings, Graham. (2001). Modern China: A Guide to a Century of Change. Harvard University Press . ISBN 0-674-00658-5. Retrieved 21 March 2012 from: http://en. wikipedia. rg/wiki/Chinese_Civil_War March, G. Patrick. (1996). Eastern Destiny: Russia in Asia and the North Pacific. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 0-275-95566-4. pg 205. Retrieved 21 March 2012 from: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Chinese_Civil_War Fairbank, John King. (1994). China: A New History. Harvard University Press. ISBN 0-674-11673-9. Retrieved 21 March 2012 from: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Chinese_Civil_War Zarrow, Peter Gue. (2005). China in War and Revolution, 1895–1949. Routledge. ISBN 0-415-36447-7. pg 338. Retrieved 21 March 2012 from: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Chinese_Civil_War

Christian and Secular Counseling with a Bible Word Study Basis Essay

Abstract In order to arrive at a clearer view of Christian counseling, this paper examines the similarities and differences between secular and Christian counseling. It begins with a biblical word study to establish a basis for Christian counseling. The words counsel, comfort, and wisdom are examined in both the Old and New Testament. The Biblical view of counseling is compared and contrasted with the secular view. Relevant ethical considerations are examined, specifically related to the _Bruff v. North Mississippi Health Services, Inc.,_ 2001 case. The paper concludes with a discussion regarding future endeavors in professional counseling including how to integrate the best Christian and secular practices. Christian counseling has been difficult to define because there are two distinct kinds of counseling: spiritual counseling and mental health counseling (Bufford, 1997). Thus, there are many approaches for the practice of Christian counseling that range from the integrationist to the nouthetic position, which has made identifying distinctive features of Christian counseling a complex task. Counselors of the nouthetic approach claim that  truth can only be found in the Bible, all counseling models must be exclusively from the Bible, and any integration of psychological theories must be rejected. The integrationists state that God reveals his truth universally. Hence, they accept and utilize both the techniques and the theories of psychology with Scriptural truth to help their clients heal (Carter, 1999). Realizing the need for both spiritual counseling and mental health counseling, Bufford (1997) defined seven distinctives of Christian counseling. Clinton and Ohlschlager (2002) propo sed ideas for Christian counseling that they describe as a paracentric focus that seems to more accurately convey the essence of Christian counseling. In view of all this effort to define Christian counseling, there is still much diversity of practice among Christian counselors. In an effort to understand the biblical views of counseling, and create a more distinctive picture of what is and is not biblical counseling, a word study on a variety of counsel terms is presented in this paper. Next, the conclusions from the word study are compared to the professional views of counseling including an examination of relevant ethical considerations. This paper will conclude with a discussion regarding future endeavors in professional counseling. Biblical Words Related to Counseling In this section, a word study was conducted to understand the biblical views of counseling. The words counsel, wisdom, and comfort were researched by first using the _Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible_ (Strong, 1996). The range of situations in which these concepts were used in the Old and New Testaments were researched using Richards’ (1985) _Expository Dictionary of Bible Words,_ Vine’s (1940) _Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words,_ and the _Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology_ (Elwell, 1996). Several Bible commentaries were used to illustrate how these concepts were used in the Old and the New Testaments. _Counsel_ The Hebrew words that best communicate â€Å"to counsel† or â€Å"to advise† are ya`ats  and its derivative `etsah. Both words mean advice, counsel, purpose or plan. In the Old Testament, these words are used to describe both the counsel of God and the counsel of man. Ya`ats is used 80 times in the King James Version (KJV) of the Old Testament and `etsah is used 88 times to convey the concept of counsel or advice (Blue Letter Bible (BLB), 1996-2008). When ya`ats and `etsah are used as human counsel, it is usually in the context of counsel being given to kings (1 Chronicles 13:1; 2 Chronicles 25:17). Proverbs suggests that one should seek the counsel of many (Proverbs 11:14; 15:22) because human beings and their counsel are both fallible. However, God’s counsel is infallible, firm, and purposed (Psalms 33:10-11) which is conveyed as such in the Old Testament when ya`ats and `etsah are used. (Richards, 1985). In the New Testament, boule comes from the root word boulomai which means â€Å"to will.† Bouleuo is used 8 times in the New Testament and can mean â€Å"to take counsel, to resolve† (Vine, 1940). The root word boule translates â€Å"to will† or â€Å"to purpose† when God is the context. Its derivative, bouleuo, means â€Å"to take counsel, to resolve† and together with boule is used 20 times in the New Testament. Like the Old Testament, boule is used both to express the counsel of God (Luke 7:30; Acts 2:23) and the counsel of man (Ephesians 1:11; Hebrews 6:17). The compound symbouleuo refers to counsel taken together (John 11:53). One other word used in the New Testament that communicates â€Å"to counsel† is gnome. Whereas boule is counsel as a result of determination, gnome is used as judgment, opinion, or counsel as a result of knowledge (2 Corinthians 8:10). Gnome is used 9 times and symbouleuo is used 5 times (Vine, 1940). _Old Testament usage_. Both God’s counsel and human counsel are reflected through the use of ya`ats and `etsah in the Old Testament. The incidents of Absalom in Samuel 17:11-21 and Rehoboam in 1 Kings 12:1-15 illustrate how ya`ats is used for human counsel and suggests some plan of action to deal with a specific situation. Ultimately, both Rehoboam and Absalom choose a course of action, but there is no certainty in human plans. However, perfect counsel is found in God’s plans (Richards, 1985). Psalms 33:10-11 declares, â€Å"The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the  peoples. But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations† (NIV). God’s counsel is inerrant, sufficient, and unchangeable and is at the center of Christian counseling. _New Testament usage._ The New Testament depicts the different ways in which human counsel is given. Symbouleuo is often used when advice is given by one person to another and is usually in reference to plots against Jesus or the early church (Matthew 26:4; Acts 9:23). Gnome is used in an example of sound advice based on maturity and knowledge given by Paul to the Corinth church (2 Corinthians 8:10) and boule is used in the sound advice given by the highly esteemed teacher of the Pharisees, Gamaliel (Acts 5:33-39). Although Gamaliel gave good advice, it was not tested by the standard of God’s word. Nonetheless, God used Gamaliel’s advice to give a needed respite to the young church (Guzik, 2001, Acts 5, D.2). The inconsistent advice given by man contrasts the immutable counsel of God. His truth is the primary source by which Christian counselors test all counseling methods, techniques, and principles in order to offer sound counsel to their clients. _Comfort_ Naham is the Hebrew word most often translated â€Å"to give comfort† in the Old Testament. It is used 108 times in the Old Testament. Many times naham means â€Å"to console† (Psalms 71:21; Isaiah 49:13). Its derivative, tanchuwm, means consolation (Job 15:11; 21:2) and is translated 5 times. Other meanings used in the Old Testament are support, relief, cheer up, and exhort. The last 26 chapters of Isaiah express God’s comfort (Isaiah 40:1) and the future promise of the Redeemer (Baker, 1996). In the New Testament, the words parakaleo (verb) and paraklesis (noun) come from kaleo which means â€Å"to call,† and para meaning, â€Å"alongside of.† Parakaleo means â€Å"to call to one’s side or to summon to one’s aid, but this word and its various forms can mean many other things. This word group can be translated as invite, call, exhort, beseech, encourage, summon, instruct, comfort, and console. Parakaleo is found 109 times in the New Testament. Nine of the NIV’s 17 translations of this word group meaning â€Å"comfort† are  found in 2 Corinthians 1:3-7. In these passages, Paul addresses God’s comfort during times of trouble. _Old Testament usage_. Jerusalem is discouraged over the announcement about the coming Babylonian conquest and future exile. In Isaiah 40:1-2, God tells Isaiah to â€Å"comfort, comfort my people† (NIV) and speak tenderly as you comfort. The people of Jerusalem were broken-hearted and needed comfort. God offered that comfort through Isaiah by instructing him to speak comfort, literally â€Å"speak to the heart† (Guzik, 2006, Isaiah 40, A.1.c.i). The goal of the therapeutic process is to restore the broken-hearted person to a whole life. Clients must believe that healing is possible, but counselors must first comfort their anxious souls (Clinton & Ohlschlager, 2002). The process of change begins with the Christian counselor speaking tenderly to his or her clients’ hearts and reassuring them of God’s omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence. Healing begins when a sense of comfort and encouragement grows from knowing that God knows everything, is in control of everything, is perfectly good, and is _on my side_ (Johnson, 2003). _New Testament usage._ Clinton and Ohlschlager (2002) proposed a Paracentric focus that describes the Christian counselor as single-mindedly focused on Christ and the client. In 2 Corinthians 1:3-7, Paul models this idea. Paul’s life is not on focused on himself, but on the Lord and on others. Paul opens his letter to the church in Corinth praising God for his mercy and comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3). Paul uses the Greek word paraklesis that expresses a comfort that strengthens, encourages, and helps one deal with distressful times. In verse four, Paul explains that God â€Å"comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God† (NIV). Paul is thankful that he can experience God’s comfort during times of trouble and use that experience to help and comfort those in similar circumstances (Guzik, 2001, 2 Corinthians, A.2.a.i). In the same way, the Christian counselor, yielded to the Holy Spirit, can meet the client at his or her point of need, and begin to create a strong working alliance (Clinton & Ohlschlager, 2002). The broken-hearted can be comforted, the weak can be supported, the discouraged can be encouraged, and the misdirected can be guided (1 Thessalonians 5:14). _Wisdom_ The basic word group expressing the idea of wisdom includes chakam and its derivatives chokmah and chokmowth. Together they occur over 150 times in the Old Testament. This word group can mean to be skillful, to instruct, or to be prudent. Biyn and sekel are also closely related and usually means understanding or discernment. Biyn is used 170 times and sekel is used 16 times in the Old Testament. Throughout the Old Testament, wisdom is expressed in godly living that is most represented in the book of Proverbs (Proverbs 2:6, 9-10, 12). Wisdom can fit into two categories. Practical wisdom, which is usually found in Proverbs, deals with the issues of an individual’s life, such as family relations (Proverbs 22:6) and personal industry (Proverbs 8:15). Reflective wisdom focuses on theological issues, such as the suffering of the innocent Job and the meaning of life in Ecclesiastes (Elwell, 1996). The Greek word sophia is the word that expresses wisdom in the New Testament. Sophia is translated 51 times, and focuses on the same practice of godly living as described in the Old Testament. The exception is in 1 Corinthians 1-3 where Paul compares the wisdom of men to the â€Å"hidden wisdom of God† or God’s plan of salvation. Other words used are sunesis which means knowledge or understanding (Mark 12:33) and phronesis which can mean wisdom or prudence (Luke 1:17; Ephesians 1:8). Sunesis is used seven times and phronesis is used twice in the New Testament (BLB). _Old Testament Usage._ In Ecclesiastes, Solomon demonstrates how wisdom must be used when teaching or counseling those who are suffering. In Ecclesiastes 12:8-14, Solomon focused on the immediate needs of the people (vs. 8). He â€Å"sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth† (Ecclesiastes 12:9-10; KJV). Solomon understood that divine wisdom would be required to respond to the needs of the people (1 Kings 3:5-14). He also knew that he must offer truth found in Scriptures to direct them towards wellness (Ecclesiastes 12:10) for â€Å"what good will acceptable words do us if they be not upright and words of truth?†Ã‚  (Henry, 1996). Solomon pondered, sought, and used God’s Word to meet the immediate needs of the individual. This is the essence of Christian counseling. _New Testament usage._ James reflects Old Testament sentiments in his advice to appeal to God when one lacks wisdom (James 1:5-7). James is not just talking about knowledge, but about the ability to discern right from wrong. Later, James contrasts personal character that comes from divine wisdom and traits that are destructive and not of God (James 3:13-18). Wisdom that comes from God is â€Å"peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere† (James 3:17). These traits should define competent Christian counselors. Both the Old Testament and the New Testament emphasize the importance to appeal to God for his divine wisdom. Comparison of Biblical Views with Professional Views This section begins by identifying similarities in function and approach between Christian and secular counseling. Differences are defined by examining three different areas: Philosophy of life, counseling goals, and source of truth. In the final section, conclusions are drawn regarding the implications to future counseling endeavors based on the conclusions from the word study, comparisons to professional counseling, and relevant ethical considerations. _Similarities between Biblical and Professional Views of Counseling_ _Code of Ethics._ Christian counseling and secular counseling have much in common, more so in the process than in the content. One area of commonality is illustrated in the American Counseling Association’s (2005) _ACA Code of Ethics_ and the American Association of Christian Counselors’ (2004) _AACC Code of Ethics._ Both ethics codes address basic moral principles – nonmaleficence, beneficence, justice, fidelity – that form the framework for ethical behavior and decision making for the professional counselor (Meara, Schmidt, & Day, 1996). Both ethics codes begin by addressing the primary responsibility of the counselor to _do no harm_ to those they serve (ACA,  2005, A.4.a; AACC, 2004, 1-102). Both ethics codes also address the counselor’s responsibility to â€Å"respect the dignity and to promote the welfare of clients† (ACA, 2005, A.1.a). Providing verbal and written informed consent, ensuring that â€Å"the client reasonably understand s the nature and process of counseling† (AACC, 2004, 1-310), as well as respecting client diversity (ACA, 2005, C.5; AACC, 2004, 1-101) are included in both ethics codes to protect the welfare of the client. _Common elements._ Christian counseling and secular counseling also share many common elements in their approach. First, both counseling systems are goal-oriented. Although goals such as spiritual maturity and discipleship are clearly distinctive to Christian counseling, many of the immediate goals, such as alleviation of depression, reduction of anxiety, and control over substance abuse are common goals in both secular and Christian counseling. Second, Christian and secular counselors use many of the same strategies, techniques, and methods to offer hope to the counselee, build a strong therapeutic relationship, develop competencies in social living, provide support, and change destructive cognitive or behavioral patterns (Bufford, 1997). Lastly, effective counselors in both Christian and secular counseling are characterized by warmth, sensitivity, understanding, genuine concern, trustworthiness, and competence (Clinton & Ohlschlager, 2002). _Differences between Biblical and Professional Views of Counseling_ _Philosophies of life (View of man)._ Everyone has a philosophy of life, a way in which one views the world. Generally, secular counseling views are man-centered (anthropocentric) and biblical counseling views are God-centered (theocentric). The worldview of a counselor determines how he or she thinks about human nature, evaluates and assesses the client, and decides on treatment strategies (Clinton & Ohlschlager, 2002). In secular counseling, the reason for man’s existence and the goals to be achieved are centered upon, and revolve around man. Secular counseling relies on theories influenced by behavioral, humanistic, and existential thought, but those theories have little to offer the client except the  advice that they should care about and love themselves (Carter, 1999). These theories emphasize a basic goodness or a basic depravity in the soul, and focuses on what will make the individual happy, adaptive, and successful. This is their basis for self-evaluation. â€Å"Humanistic psychotherapy has always been hampered by the contradiction of encouraging unlovable selves to love themselves† (Johnson, 2003, p. 84). In contrast, biblical counseling is God-centered. Christian counseling does not place humans at the center of the universe as humanism does. In Genesis, it states that God is the creator, and he created man in his image and likeness to live and rule in a perfect world (1:26-2:25). In spite of the corruption of the fall, man still bears the image and likeness of God and still has authority in the world as dependent creatures who desire to have a relationship with God and other people (Averbeck, 2006). It is this God-revealed concept of the nature of man that biblical counseling, both as a system and as a process of doing counseling, bases its work. Christian counselors understand that all biblical care giving falls within the larger plans and purposes of the Creator. It is comforting to know that in the midst of a contingent, unpredictable life, God, the creator, is always there to meet every need and pour out his comfort to all who seek him (Johnson, 1997). Christian counseling offers what secular counseling cannot: â€Å"the father of compassion and the God of all comfort† (2 Corinthians 1:3; NIV). As man searches for meaning and contentment, God comforts and heals. _Goals._ Though easing the suffering of the client is a goal in both Christian and secular counseling, it is not the ultimate goal of the Christian counselor. All counseling systems have goals of bringing about changes in the counselee, whether they are changes in feelings, beliefs, thinking or behavior. The goals of a counseling system are largely determined by the philosophy of life held. A man-centered viewpoint will yield goals that focus on the relief of suffering and the fulfillment of personal happiness. Secular counseling holds such views. The main goals of secular counseling in treating clients are to help the client alleviate anxiety, guilt, depression, anger and to achieve personal happiness, contentment and self-fulfillment. Secular counselors also give counselees  methods of self-assessment to help them continue to live life with minimal anxiety and hostility (Clinton & Ohlschlager, 2002). Like the secular counselor, Christian counselors seek to change behaviors and attitudes that will bring about happiness, contentment, and greater well-being; however, Christian counseling goes much deeper than changing behavior and helping clients find happiness (Bufford, 1997). The ultimate goals of Christian counseling are to help the counselee experience intimacy with God and maturity in Christ (Ephesians 4:20-24). Placing an emphasis on discipleship and introducing spiritual disciplines in the Christian counseling practice helps achieve these goals. Although both share similar thoughts in techniques and theories, the practice of spiritual disciplines is uniquely Christian and is an important factor in achieving the goals of intimacy and maturity (Willard, 2000). Collins (1996) states, â€Å"Helping that leaves out the spiritual dimension ultimately has something missing. It may stimulate good feelings and help people cope with stress, but it does nothing to prepare people for eternity or help them experience the abundant life here on earth† (p. 15). Though the ultimate goals of Christian counseling are intimacy with God and maturity in Christ, the heart of Christian counseling is the good news of Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:26-27). The power of Jesus makes change, redemption, and new life possible. In the Great Commission, Jesus commands Christians to make disciples and to teach them to how to live as disciples and experience abundant life. The Great Commission differentiates Christian counseling from secular counseling. The work of Christian counselors is incomplete until they have helped the counselee put off the old self and put on the new by teaching and training them to live like Christ (Willard, 2000). _Source of truth_. There are more than 400 different therapy models available today. â€Å"Effective counselors scrutinize theories for proven effectiveness and match them to personal beliefs and realities about the nature of people and change† (Gladding, 2007, p. 190). Never before has it been so important to have a source of absolute truth. Christian counselors believe that the Bible is the authoritative word of God against which they can assess their  beliefs, practices, ideas, and actions. They believe that â€Å"all Scripture is God-breathed† (2 Timothy 2:16-17, NIV) and fully equips them for every good work. Thus, although both Christian counselors and secular counselors use many of the same counseling techniques, the Christian counselor does not use counseling techniques that are inconsistent with biblical teaching. Recent studies on therapeutic outcome encouraged the present emphasis on an eclectic approach in professional counseling. That is, most counselors today are using various theories and techniques to meet their clients’ unique needs. Whiston and Sexton (1993) concluded that a strong therapeutic relationship is significantly related to positive client outcome. Tan (2003a) reported that empirically supported treatments (ESRs) and empirically supported therapy relationships (ESTs) that are specifically tailored to a client’s needs produced the best therapeutic outcomes. Like Solomon (1 Kings 3:5-14), it is crucial that a Christian counselor be a biblically informed and responsible eclectic who prays for the discernment needed to â€Å"fit the right therapy with the right client at the right time and the right stage of living† (Clinton and Ohlschlager, 2002, p. 176). However, the Bible is the authoritative source of truth, and an effective Christian counselor will evaluate the moral and spiritual quality of every theory and method they use in his or her clinical practice. _Ethical Considerations_ Value conflicts between clients and therapists are inevitable, especially for Christian counselors working within a secular environment. Although Christian counselors may not always agree with the values of their clients, it is essential that they respect the rights of their clients to hold a different set of values (Hermann & Herlihy, 2006). It is also essential for Christian counselors to inform potential clients in writing, as part of the informed consent document, about their religious beliefs and values to avoid certain ethical and legal issues as described in the following court case. _Bruff v. North Mississippi Health Services, Inc., 2001_ is an interesting case that illustrates the complexity counselors confront when their value  system and religious beliefs conflict with the client’s presenting problem. In 2001, the United States Court of Appeals â€Å"upheld the job termination of a counselor who requested being excused from counseling a lesbian client on relationship issues because homosexuality conflicted with the counselor’s religious beliefs† (Hermann & Herlihy, 2006, p. 414). This case illustrates both legal and ethical issues related to value imposition and conflict of values between client and counselor. The American Counseling Association’s (ACA, 2005) _ACA_ _Code of Ethics_ states that counselors need to be â€Å"aware of their own values, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors and avoid imposing values that are inconsistent with counseling goals† (A.4.b). Working with clients who hold different values can be challenging for counselors. It can be especially difficult for Christian counselors if those values challenge their religious values and beliefs. However, counselors must respect these differing values of clients and take care not to impose their values in the counseling relationship (Hermann & Herlihy, 2006). This case has particular implications for Christian counselors who find it difficult to reconcile their religious values regarding certain client issues. It is important for Christian counselors to include Christ and to incorporate Christian principles into the therapy process. However, Christian counselors’ primary responsibility is to â€Å"uphold the inherent, God-given dignity of every human person† (AACC, 2004, 1-101). Because it is unrealistic to assume that counselors will not incorporate certain value orientations into their therapeutic approaches and methods, Christian counselors have an ethical duty to clarify their assumptions, core beliefs, and values with the client during the intake session. â€Å"It is vital to be open about values but not coercive, to be a competent professional and not a missionary for a particular belief, and at the same time to be honest enough to recognize how one’s value commitments may not promote health† (Bergin, 199 1, p. 399). Personal Applications Current data indicates that no single theory or model adequately accounts for the complexity of human behavior. Counselors will have to learn and apply an eclectic mix of therapy models and techniques to accommodate the complexity of these modern times. Christian counselors will need to consider biological, psychological, spiritual, social, cultural, economic, and environmental factors when assessing, diagnosing, and treating the unique needs of the client (Clinton & Ohlschlager, 2002). Integrating spiritual direction into psychotherapy and counseling enables the counselee to focus on increasing awareness of God and facilitating surrender to God’s will (Willard, 2000). The conclusions I have made from what I have learned about the biblical views and professional views of counseling are that there is a place for employing both psychotherapeutic techniques and spiritual direction in the counseling process, but it is essential to practice such integration in a ethical, helpful, and wise manner. Christian counselors must use discernment when incorporating secular theories and techniques into their practice and they must be wise when incorporating spiritual disciplines into the therapy relationship. The Bible is our resource, it is the foundation for truth by which everything else is evaluated, and it is sufficient in what we need to instruct one another on how to live an abundant life (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Thessalonians 5:13). Christian counselors must refer to the Bible to distinguish good counseling from bad counseling. Both appropriate and inappropriate counsel is illustrated in the story of Rehoboam, who chose to ignore the advice (etsah) of the older counselors, and instead listened to his young and immature peers. Their counsel lacked a careful examination of the situation, and resulted in disastrous consequences (1 Kings 12:1-15). Wise Christian counselors are careful to gather information and examine a situation as they help their clients. It is imperative that Christian counselors consistently ask God for the wisdom (James 1:5) to choose the godly path (Proverbs (19:21). The ultimate goal of Christian counseling is to facilitate the spiritual  growth of clients, rather than simply alleviating symptoms and finding a resolution to problems. Integrating spiritual disciplines into psychotherapy can be an effective tool in achieving these goals in the therapy process (Tan, 2003b). However, as seen in the _Bruff_ case, counselors must take care not to impose their religious beliefs or values on the client. The client’s autonomy must be respected. Counselors must provide sufficient information regarding therapy to the client, and should include spiritual religious goals and interventions only when proper informed consent is obtained from clients who have expressed interest in pursuing and participating in such goals and interventions. Effective Christian counselors must keep informed of the latest and best information on ESRs and ESTs in order to provide the most effective and efficient forms of psychotherapy and spiritual direction to the client (Tan, 2003a). In addition, Christian counselors should, with the consent of the client, integrate spiritual disciplines into psychotherapy. Effective Christian counselors’ primary focus is on meeting the needs of the client. To meet these needs Christian counselors must first comfort the broken-hearted with a comfort (nacham, parakeleo) that consoles while imparting strength, to encourage while offering a hope for a future (Isaiah 61:1-2). According to Grencavage and Norcross (1990), â€Å"the therapist’s ability to cultivate hope and enhance positive expectancies within the client† (p.374) was one commonality found in the qualities of effective therapists. Recent emphasis on ESRs shows the importance of a strong therapy relationship and is in line with the conclusion that healing occurs when we model the God of comfort and love. â€Å"It is ultimately God who is love who brings wholeness and healing to the hurting people that we minister to through psychotherapy and counseling, using the best ESRs and ESTs available, as long as they are consistent with biblical, Christian truth, ethics, and morality† (Tan, 2003a, 2003). References American Association of Christian Counselors. (2004). _ACA_ _Code of ethics_. Retrieved February 27, 2008, from http://aacc.net/about-us/code-of-ethics/. American Counseling Association. (2005). _AACC Code of ethics._ Retrieved February 27, 2008, from http://www.counseling.org/Resources/CodeOfEthics/TP/Home/CT2.aspx. Averbeck, R. E. (2006). Creation and corruption, redemption and wisdom: A biblical theology foundation for counseling psychology. _Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 25(2),_ 111-126. Retrieved February 23, 2008 from PsycINFO database. Bergin, A. E. (1991) Values and religious issues in psychotherapy and mental health. _American Psychologist_, 46(4), 394-403. Retrieved February 25, 2008 from PsycINFO database. Blue Letter Bible. 20 April 2007. Retrieved February 24, 2008 from: http://www.blueletterbible.org/index.html. Bruff v. North Mississippi Health Services, Inc., 244 F.3d 495 (5th Cir. 2001). Bufford, R. (1997). Consecrated counseling: Reflections on the distinctives of Christian counseling. _Journal of Psychology and Theology_, _25(1),_ 111-122. Retrieved February 23, 2008 from PsycINFO database. Carter, R. (1999). Christian Counseling: An Emerging Specialty. _Counseling & Values_, _43_(3), 189. Retrieved February 25, 2008, from Academic Search Premier database. Clinton, T., & Ohlschlager, G. (Eds.). (2002). _Competent Christian counseling: Foundations and practice of compassionate soul care (Vol. 1)_. Colorado Springs: Waterbrook Press. Collins, G. R. (1996). _How to be a people helper._ Wheaton, IL: Tyndale. Elwell, W. A. (Ed.) (1996). _Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology._ Grand Rapids: Baker Books. Retrieved February 24, 2008 from: http://bible.christianity.com/References/DescriptionSearch.aspx?refid=88117&l=174731 §ion=Dictionaries&type=Dictionary. Gladding, S. T. (2007). _Counseling: A comprehensive profession_ (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. Grencavage, L. M., Norcross, J. C. (1990). Where are the commonalities among the therapeutic common factors? _Professional Psychology: Research and Practice 21(5),_ 372-378. Guzik, D. â€Å"David Guzik’s Commentary on Acts.† 2001. Retrieved February 24, 2008, from: http://enduringword.com/commentaries/44.html. Guzik, D. â€Å"David Guzik’s Commentary on 2 Corinthians.† 2001. Retrieved February 24, 2008, from: http://www.enduringword.com/commentaries/47.html. Guzik, D. â€Å"David Guzik’s Commentary on Isaiah.† 2006. Retrieved February 24, 2008, from: http://www.enduringword.com/commentaries/23.html. Henry, M. (2006). â€Å"Commentary on Ecclesiastes 12.† _Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible_. Blue Letter Bible. Retrieved February 24, 2008 from: http://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/mhc/Ecc/Ecc012.htm. Hermann, M. A., Herlihy, B. R. (2006). Legal and ethical implications of refusing to counsel homosexual clients. _Journal of Counseling & Development, 84(4)_, 414-418. Retrieved February 23, 2008, from PsycINFO database. Johnson, E. L. (2003). How god is good for the soul. _Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 22(1)_, 78-88. Retrieved February 23, 2008 from Academic Search Premier database. Meara, N. M., Schmidt, L. D., & Day, J. D. (1996). Principles and virtues: A foundation for ethical decisions, policies, and character. _The Counseling Psychologist, 24(1),_ 4-77. Retrieved February 23, 2008 from PsycINFO database. Richards, L. O. (1985). _Expository Dictionary of Bible Words_. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. Strong, J. (1996). _Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible._ Nashville: Thomas Nelson Reference. Retrieved February 24, 2008 from: http://www.blueletterbible.org/index.html. Tan, S. (2003a). Empirically supported therapy relationships: Psychotherapy relationships that work. _Journal of Psychology and Christianity_, _22(1)_, 64-67. Retrieved February 23, 2008 from PsycINFO database. Tan, S. (2003b). Integrating spiritual direction into psychotherapy: Ethical issues and guidelines. _Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 31(1)_, 14-23. Retrieved February 23, 2008 from PsycINFO database. Vine, W. E. (1940). _Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words._ Unpublished manuscript. Retrieved February 24, 2008 from: http://www.tgm.org/bible.htm. Whiston, S, C., & Sexton, T. L. (1993). An overview of psychotherapy outcome research: Implications for practice. _Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 24(1),_ 43-51. Retrieved February 23, 2008 from PsycINFO database. Willard, D. (2000). Spiritual formation in Christ: A perspective on what it is and how it might be done. _Journal of Psychology and Theology_, 28(4), 254-258. Retrieved February 23, 2008 from PsycINFO database.

Free Essays on Night

The author purpose of the book was to tell his life experiences with the holocaust, and a terrifying account of the nazi death camps. The book led into how the nazi’s fed the Jews little or no food how if they were not doing their job they’ll get struck down. Families were separated at the concentration camp in Auschwitz the women were killed in the informatory where you go in and never come out. The category of nonfiction is drama because of the struggles of what happened to this boy losing his mom dad and his sister. The author has organized this perfectly the book started when his family was living in the town of sighet until the they were called all the Jews were going to the concentration camp. The structure of the story fit the story people wish they were somewhere else, some wanted to die, people waited for the U.S. army to come and defeat the Ss and free them from the concentration camp. The information the author convey that would be relevant to me and my peers kids don’t want their parents to give up something positive the dad was sick and couldn’t go on like people can’t go if they have cancer. The concentration camps made people weak and go into deep depression. It just like when my peers lose a close family member you maybe wanted to tell that someone something before he or she died and that would be relevant to us like it was in the book. The effectiveness of the nonfiction text is that the vocabulary was excellent, the structure of the text had the pyramid told the plot, the high point in the story and then the resolution. The accuracy of the information was good enough they told specific dates and told when the Jewish new year came and Christmas. Jews were set on fire, beaten, hang, and frozen to death. Like the many Jews told when the war was over.... Free Essays on Night Free Essays on Night Shame The novel Night, by Elie Wiesel has many tragedies and losses suffered by the prisoners in concentration camps. One major loss was the deterioration of father-son relationships. Due to the inhumane conditions in the concentration camps, it is every man for himself and family ties no longer matter. Therefore, one must abandon his father or his son in order to survive. In the novel, Elie sometimes thinks of how his weak father is such a burden and how it would be a relief for own father to just die. More so, there are other incidents where father-son relationships are deteriorated. To begin, in the episode where the S.S soldiers throw bread into the train, the prisoners are so focused on getting the food, that even their closest relations aren’t in their minds. "Wild beasts of prey, with animal hatred in their eyes; an extraordinary vitality had seized them, sharpening their teeth and nails", shows how the prisoners have become predatory animals. After being starved for ten days, the prisoners are willing to kill each other for bread. In this scene, a young man fights his own father for a piece of bread and eventually, they kill each other off. For they are no longer living in a world of social responsibility and morality, it makes sense for them to behave like animals. The Nazis have created this inhumane environment, and the prisoners have no choice but to take on their ways for survival. Moreover, at one point in the novel, Elie, his father, and the rest of the prisoners were to transfer to another camp named Gleiwits; they were forced to run around forty miles in painfully cold weather, with stragglers shot. A scene that secured itself in Elie's memory is that of Rabbi Eliahou: â€Å"his son had seen him losing ground, limping, staggering back to the rear of the column. He had seen him. And his had continued to run on in front, letting the distance between them grow greater†. In this heartbreaking scene, Rabbi Eliahou’... Free Essays on Night In Night, Elie Wiesel brings to life his abhorrent account as a prisoner in a Nazi concentration camp in World War II. The experiences he describes are horrifying, but true. The book was well written and had excellent historical detail. Because of this, I found book was difficult to put down. The book begins during World War II in Transylvania, where the Wiesel family lived a pleasant life. One day in nineteen-forty-two the Germans invaded their city and expelled all Jews, including the Wiesel family. Eliezer and his father were separated from his mother and sisters. He and his father were sent to work in Nazi concentration camps until the end of the War. He found that life in these camps was difficult. He had to work all day just to get small portions of food. If he did not work he would be shot or burned in a furnace. The main character in this story is the author, Eliezer Wiesel. Elie was a fifteen year-old boy at the time. He frequently questioned why God would punish the ! Jews in this way, but never received an answer. In the concentration camps, Eliezer worked hard and tried to do the best he could so he would not be killed. Sometimes he and his work group were directed to travel to different camps because the Russians were closing in on the Germans. During these movements they would march and sometimes even run to these far away camps. Whoever could not keep up would be shot. Eliezer's ordeal ended with the liberation of his camp by the Americans in nineteen-forty-five. At the time of the liberation he was the lone survivor of his family. Like thousands of others, his mother, father, and sisters were victimized by the cruel Nazi policy. As a teenager living in Sault Ste. Marie, MI., it is difficult for me to imagine living in a concentration camp like Eliezer Wiesel. I can understand why he would question his faith in God. It is important for young people to learn about the cruelty that was inflicted against the Jewish people d... Free Essays on Night The author purpose of the book was to tell his life experiences with the holocaust, and a terrifying account of the nazi death camps. The book led into how the nazi’s fed the Jews little or no food how if they were not doing their job they’ll get struck down. Families were separated at the concentration camp in Auschwitz the women were killed in the informatory where you go in and never come out. The category of nonfiction is drama because of the struggles of what happened to this boy losing his mom dad and his sister. The author has organized this perfectly the book started when his family was living in the town of sighet until the they were called all the Jews were going to the concentration camp. The structure of the story fit the story people wish they were somewhere else, some wanted to die, people waited for the U.S. army to come and defeat the Ss and free them from the concentration camp. The information the author convey that would be relevant to me and my peers kids don’t want their parents to give up something positive the dad was sick and couldn’t go on like people can’t go if they have cancer. The concentration camps made people weak and go into deep depression. It just like when my peers lose a close family member you maybe wanted to tell that someone something before he or she died and that would be relevant to us like it was in the book. The effectiveness of the nonfiction text is that the vocabulary was excellent, the structure of the text had the pyramid told the plot, the high point in the story and then the resolution. The accuracy of the information was good enough they told specific dates and told when the Jewish new year came and Christmas. Jews were set on fire, beaten, hang, and frozen to death. Like the many Jews told when the war was over.... Free Essays on Night Night (A Book Report) "For more than half an hour he stayed there, struggling between life and death, dying in slow agony under our eyes. And we had to look him full in the face. He was still alive when I passed in front of him. His tongue was still red, his eyes were not yet glazed. Behind me I heard [a] man asking: Where is God now?" The suffering of this child being hanged is comparable to the suffering endured by many Jews during the holocaust. This quotation is found in just one of many heart wrenching scenes found in Night, a biography of the holocaust survivor, Elie Wiesel. Wiesel stayed quiet about the holocaust for ten years and his reasoning for this was, "I didn't want to use the wrong words. I was afraid the words might betray it." This also may account for the fact that some of the sentences found in Night are very wordy and often are overwhelming to the reader because of the amount of significance found in each. This flaw, though, is very forgivable under the circumstances. Besides for the brilliant descriptions found in Night and the feeling that you were walking in Elie's shoes, if he literally had any, Night opens the readers mind to the atrocities of the holocaust and concentration camps. We take for granted, today, our knowledge of knowing how many Jews were killed by the Nazi's and having a general idea of the kind of life people led in the concentration camps. People never really stop to think about what it must have felt like not knowing what was going on or what was going to happen next. Wiesel illustrates this very clearly at the beginning of his autobiography. He shows the reaction of the townspeople when they first heard of Hitler and German troops and the optimistic approach they ecided to take on life. This technique of taking the reader to life before the ghettos and the concentration camps is very interesting and unique. Before reaching a... Free Essays on Night Night: Critical Analysis Essay on Elie’s Relationship with his Father The Book Night begins in a small town, Sighet, in Transylvania. The narrator/author of the book is Elie Wiesel. Elie is a child and a fairly devout Orthodox Jew during the time of World War 2. Night occurs in the 1940s when Hitler has begun to invade Hungry and slowly takes over Sighet and deports Elie and his family. Elie and his father have a very strong relationship in the beginning and throughout the book, although this relationship does transform as the two go through more and more. Towards the end of the book Elie begins to feel that his father is a burden and consequently feel’s guilt because of this. In the beginning of the book Elie looks up to his father because his father is a respected member of the Jewish community in Sighet. His father was not in favor of Elie’s decision to study mysticism and therefore refused to be his mentor. As his father said, â€Å"Your to young for that. Maimonides said it was only at thirty that one had the right to venture into the perilous world of mysticism. You must first study the basic subjects within your understanding (1-2).† His father was not sentimental, ever as the book states. This tells us that Elie and his father at this point had a relationship based on respect as so many Orthodox Jewish families had between fathers and sons. When the two arrive at the camp there is a change in the way that Elie and his father relate. His father said that he would have rather Elie to go with his mother rather than have to see what they were going to do to Elie. Then his father began to weep. This was probably one of if not the only time that Elie ever saw his father cry. In this part of the book Elie begins to feel his father’s love for him and his father begins to show emotion toward him. Elie and his father become more like a father and son with more based on love and emotion than respect and obedience. As the bo...

How to Write LGBT Romance Stories

How to Write LGBT Romance Stories According to the first large-scale government survey on sexual orientation and gender identity, reported in 2014 With millions of Americans belonging to a sexual minority, romance novels and stories with LGBT characters have become increasingly common. Publishing houses such as Bold Strokes and Bella Books specialize in LGBT romances. Prominent lesbian romance novelists include Melissa Brayden, Kristen Zimmer, and Georgia Beers, while romance novelists that write gay male characters include Madeleine Urban and J.L. Langley. While writing, researching markets, and submitting manuscripts is the same across all genres, there are some pitfalls to avoid when writing LGBT romance stories. What if youre straight and writing LGBT characters? Avoiding cliches when creating characters is vital in LGBT fiction. Do any of your characters fit these stereotypes? = The effeminate gay man. While some gay men do tend to emphasize their feminine qualities, too often the effeminate stereotype is used to denigrate gay and bisexual men, with terrible real-life consequences. = The mannish lesbian. While some lesbian, bisexual, and straight women prefer to emphasize their masculine qualities, this is another stereotype used to denigrate women who dont meet the heterosexual standard. = The sexually promiscuous bisexual. Bisexuality is still a poorly understood concept, leading too many writers to write bisexual characters who sleep around, are unfaithful; or in the case of bisexual men, spread HIV/AIDS to their female partners. If youre straight, and you write a gay, lesbian, or bisexual character, try to find fellow writers who are themselves a sexual minority. Have them read a draft of your story. If your reader finds something that they consider questionable, believe them. If youre writing for the LGBT market, its not a good idea to offend people who will buy your book or short story. Once youve polished your manuscript, research markets that accept LGBT romances. Note that LGBT markets are just as diverse as the markets for heterosexual romances. Some markets specialize in romances featuring gays and lesbians of color. Some markets are not too keen on explicit sex and violence. Other markets emphasize more explicitly erotic stories. Read books and short stories Here are seven publishers that accept LGBT romance stories. Body Parts Magazine bodypartsmagazine.com/submissions.html Accepts erotic LGBT fiction with dark and fantasic themes. Headmaster headmastermagazine.com/ Accepts erotic gay fiction with serious/literary elements. The Letters Page theletterspage.ac.uk/ English literary magazine that accepts LGBT love stories. Sequestrum sequestrum.org/submissions Accepts erotic, romantic, and serious/literary stories with LGBT themes. SHARKPACK Poetry Review Annual http://spr.submittable.com/ Accepts sincere LGBT flash fiction without explicit sexual content or violence. The Tishman Review http://tishmanreview.com/submission-guidelines/ Accepts LGBT love stories. Vine Leaves Literary Journal vineleavesliteraryjournal.com/submissions.html Accepts LGBT flash fiction with romantic themes.

monsoon wedding essays

monsoon wedding essays Essay on the movie Monsoon Wedding The movie Monsoon Wedding is quite purely about a typical Indian style wedding, showing us the random mistakes and mishaps that occur during this festive period. Although the wedding dominates much of the movie, Nair seems to be more interested in exploring the conflict between tradition and modernity, as well as the effects of the ever-encroaching Western culture on Indian life. Nair, who studied at Harvard University, obviously views that struggle through bittersweet eyes, something that must be embraced, but warily. Monsoon Wedding puts its characters on that same path of discovery, and this ebullient, joyous film lets you share the highs and lows of their journey. The idea of hardly knowing a person and be willing to commit the rest of your life to them is a concept that most people in todays society wouldnt even have thought twice about. Thats exactly what Monsoon Wedding is based upon, a traditional Indian pre-arranged marriage. This movie highlights the differences between North American culture and a traditional Indian culture. Throughout the entire movie there was instances that showed how a pre-arranged marriage could be just as successful as what we would consider a normal marriage. This is achieved through displaying a very traditional setting and wedding process, how close a family can stay although geographically distant, and that in Indian culture, no dating period is needed before getting married. Its amazing that India and many other countries can still stick to this tradition and continual making it as special as it very well is. From the flowers to the wedding dresses, the entire engagement and marriage process are traditionally Indian. In the opening scene of the movie the father of the bride, Lalit Verma, is holding a fallen marriage shrine. Marigolds were a main theme of the movie, considered a sacred ...

Tamarisk - the Noxious Western Tree

Tamarisk - the Noxious Western Tree Saltcedar is one of several common names for an invasive non-native tree that is spreading rapidly through the intermountain region of the western United States, through the Colorado River Canyons, the Great Basin, California, and Texas. Other common names include tamarisk and salt cedar. The tamarisk is degrading the rarest of habitats in the desert southwest - the wetlands. Salt cedar invades springs, ditches, and streambanks. The tree has taken over more than 1 million acres of the precious Western riparian resource. Rapid Growth Rate Under good conditions, the opportunistic tamarisk can grow 9 to 12 feet in a single season. Under drought conditions, saltcedar survives by dropping its leaves. This ability to survive under harsh desert conditions has given the tree an edge over more desirable native species and causing a sharp decline in cottonwood populations. Regenerative Ability Mature plants can survive flooding for up to 70 days and can quickly colonize moist areas due to the constant availability of seeds. The plants ability to exploit suitable germinating conditions over a long time period gives saltcedar a considerable advantage over native riparian species. Habitat Mature tamarisk can also resprout vegetatively after fire, flood, or treatment with herbicides and can adapt to wide variations in soil condition. Saltcedar will grow at elevations up to 5,400 feet and prefers saline soils. They typically occupy sites with intermediate moisture, high water tables, and minimal erosion. Adverse Impacts The serious direct impacts of saltcedar are numerous. This invasive tree is now taking over and displacing native plants, specifically cottonwood, using its aggressive growth advantage in areas where natural native communities have been damaged by fire, flood or some other disturbance. Native plants have proven to be more valuable in retaining moisture on wetlands than tamarisk. The loss of these native species to tamarisk eventually leads to a net loss of water. A Water Hog The tamarisk has an extremely rapid evapotranspiration rate. There is a fear that this rapid loss of moisture could possibly cause serious depletion of groundwater. There is also an increased deposition of sediments in tamarisk-infested streams which causes a blockage. These sediment deposits encourage dense clumps of saltcedar growth which then promotes flooding during periods of heavy rain. Controls There are essentially 4 methods to control tamarisk - mechanical, biological, competition, and chemical. The complete success of any management program depends on the integration of all methods. Mechanical control, including hand-pulling, digging, use of weed eaters, axes, machetes, bulldozers, and fire, may not be the most efficient method for removal of saltcedar. Hand labor is not always available and is costly unless it is volunteered. When heavy equipment is used, the soil is often disturbed with consequences that may be worse than having the plant. In many situations, control with herbicides is the most efficient and effective method of control for removal of tamarisk. The chemical method allows regeneration and/or re-population of natives or re-vegetation with native species. The use of herbicides can be specific, selective and fast. Insects are being investigated as potential biological control agents for saltcedar. Two of these, a mealybug (Trabutina mannipara) and a leaf beetle (Diorhabda elongata), have preliminary approval for release. There is some concern over the possibility that, due to the environmental damage caused by tamarisk, native plant species may not be able to replace it if the biological control agents succeed in eliminating it.

Downfall of Spain and France essays

Downfall of Spain and France essays Critics who claim that Europes wealth was built on the exploitation of people overseas have some justification, but the experiences of Spain and France demonstrate that exploitation alone was not enough. To build and sustain wealth, countries must be able to use wealth effectively. Spain and France are two countries that mastered the art of using people overseas to benefit themselves, and gain power. But with so much success overseas, how did two of the worlds most powerful nations of their time essentially lose their places as world leaders, and dig such insurmountable trenches for themselves that may never be completely filled? Are there any similarities in the downfall of these two once great world powers? The two major regional areas of Spain came together in 1469 when Ferdinand of Aragon married Isabella of Castile, and more territory was added yet again, or re-won, in 1492 with the completion of the reconquista when all Muslims and Jews were run out of Spain. Another renowned event of the same year was the accidental discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus who had sought to establish a route to the Indies. Following this remarkable discovery, colonists from Spain began to settle the islands of the Caribbean, and northern coast of South America. In 1519, Hernan Cortes began his expedition from Vera Cruz with 600 Spaniards to overthrow the powerful Aztec empire at Tenochtitlan, modern day Mexico City. They conquered the capital city in 1521. In the next few years, they captured the Yucatan and most of Central America. In South America, the Inca Empire of the west coast and Andes Mountains became accessible to Spanish conquistadors after Vasco Nunez de Balboa found a portage across the Isthmus of Panama in 1513. In 1532, Francisco Pizarro, leading a force of some two hundred men, captured the Inca Emperor Atahualpa. It appears that the reconquista, with its crusading spirit a...

Biography of Edward Low, English Pirate

Biography of Edward Low, English Pirate Edward Ned Low (1690–1724) was an English criminal, sailor, and pirate. He took up piracy sometime around 1722 and was very successful, plundering dozens if not hundreds of ships over the course of his criminal career. Low was known for his cruelty to his prisoners and was greatly feared on both sides of the Atlantic. Fast Facts: Edward Low Known For: Low was an English pirate known for his viciousness and brutality.Also Known As: Edward Lowe, Edward LoeBorn: 1690 in Westminster, London, EnglandDied: 1724 (place of death unknown) Early Life Low was born in Westminster, London, probably sometime around 1690. As a youth, he was a thief and a gambler. He was a strong young man and would often beat up other boys for their money. Later, as a gambler, he would cheat brazenly: if anyone called him on it, he would fight them and usually win. When he was a teenager, he went to sea and worked for a few years in a rigging house (where he made and repaired ships ropes and rigging) in Boston. Piracy Tiring of life on land, Low signed on board a small vessel that was headed to the Bay of Honduras to cut logwood. Such missions were risky, as the Spanish coastal patrol would attack them if they were sighted. One day, after a long days work cutting logwood, the captain ordered Low and the other men to make one more trip, so as to fill the ship faster and get out of there. Low became enraged and fired a musket at the captain. He missed but killed another sailor. Low was marooned and the captain took the opportunity to rid himself of a dozen or so other malcontents as well. The marooned men soon captured a small boat and turned pirate. The new pirates went to Grand Cayman Island, where they met a pirate force under the command of George Lowther on board the ship Happy Delivery. Lowther was in need of men and offered to let Low and his men join. They did happily, and Low was made lieutenant. Within a couple of weeks, the Happy Delivery had taken a big prize: the 200-ton ship Greyhound, which they burned. They took several other ships in the Bay of Honduras over the next few weeks, and Low was promoted to captain of a captured sloop, which was outfitted with 18 cannons. It was a quick rise for Low, who had been a junior officer on board the logwood ship only weeks before. Not long after, as the pirates refitted their ships on an isolated beach, they were attacked by a large group of angry natives. The men had been resting on the shore, and although they were able to escape, they lost much of their loot and the Happy Delivery was burned. Setting out in the remaining ships, they resumed piracy once more with great success, capturing many merchant and trading vessels. In May 1722, Low and Lowther decided to part ways. Low was then in charge of a Brigantine with two cannons and four swivel guns, and there were some 44 men serving under him. Over the next two years, Low became one of the most successful and feared pirates in the world. He and his men captured and robbed dozens of vessels over a wide area, ranging from the western coast of Africa to the southeastern United States. His flag, which was well-known and feared, consisted of a red skeleton on a black field. Tactics Low was a clever pirate who would use brute force only when necessary. His ships collected a variety of flags and he would often approach targets while flying the flag of Spain, England, or whatever other nation they thought their prey might be from. Once close, they would run up the Jolly Roger and begin firing, which was usually enough to demoralize the other ship into surrendering. Low preferred to use a small fleet of two to four pirate ships to better outmaneuver his victims. He could also use the threat of force. On more than one occasion, he sent messengers to coastal towns threatening an attack if they were not given food, water, or whatever else he wanted. In some cases, he held hostages. More often than not, the threat of force worked and Low was able to get his provisions without firing a shot. Nevertheless, Low developed a reputation for cruelty and ruthlessness. On one occasion, as he prepared to burn a ship he had recently captured and no longer needed, he ordered the ships cook tied to the mast to perish in the fire. The reason was that the man was a greasy fellow who would sizzle- this proved amusing to Low and his men. On another occasion, they caught a galley with some Portuguese aboard. Two friars were hung from the Fore-Yard and jerked up and down until they died, and another Portuguese passenger- who had made the mistake of looking sorrowful at the fate of his friends- was cut to pieces by one of Lows men. Death In June 1723, Low was sailing in his flagship Fancy and was accompanied by the Ranger, under the command of Charles Harris, a loyal lieutenant. After successfully seizing and plundering several ships off of the Carolinas, they ran into the 20-gun Greyhound, a Royal Navy ship on the lookout for pirates. The Greyhound pinned down the Ranger and shot down its mast, effectively crippling it. Low decided to run, leaving Harris and the other pirates to their fate. All of the hands on board the Ranger were captured and brought to trial in Newport, Rhode Island. Twenty-five men (including Harris) were found guilty and hung, two more were found not guilty and sent to prison, and eight more were found not guilty on the grounds that they had been forced into piracy. Historians are not quite sure what happened to Low. According to the National Maritime Museum in London, the pirate was never captured and spent the rest of his life in Brazil. Another history suggests that his crew tired of his cruelty (he supposedly shot a sleeping man he had fought with, causing the crew to despise him as a coward). Set adrift in a small ship, he was found by the French and brought to Martinique for trial and hanged. This seems the most likely account, although there is little in the way of documentation to prove it. In any event, by 1725 Low was no longer active in piracy. Legacy Edward Low  was the real deal: a ruthless, cruel, clever pirate who terrorized transatlantic shipping for about two years during the so-called Golden Age of Piracy. He brought commerce to a halt and had naval vessels searching the Caribbean for him. He became, in a sense, the poster boy for the need to control piracy. Before Low, many pirates were either cruel or successful, but Low was a sadist with a well-armed and organized fleet. He was hugely successful in pirate terms, plundering well over 100 ships in his career. Only  Black Bart Roberts  was more successful in the same area and time. Low was also a good teacher- his lieutenant Francis Spriggs had a successful pirate career after absconding with one of Lows ships in 1723. Sources Defoe, Daniel, and Manuel Schonhorn. A General History of the Pyrates. Dover Publications, 1999.Konstam, Angus. World Atlas of Pirates: Treasures And Treachery On The Seven Seas- In Maps, Tall Tales, And Pictures. The Lyons Press, October 1, 2009.Woodard, Colin. The Republic of Pirates: Being the True and Surprising Story of the Caribbean Pirates and the Man Who Brought Them Down. First edition, Mariner Books, June 30, 2008.