Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Sherman Alexie s `` Green World `` - 1195 Words

Sherman Alexie’s â€Å"Green World† recounts his experience with twelve windmills during the Second Great Depression. An old man acquired a grotesque job on an Indian reservation. His job consisted of him driving to the windmills and cleaning up the dead birds. When the first snow occurred, he witnessed quite a sight with twelve distinct bloody circles of dead birds caused by the windmills. While caught in his gaze at the reservation, an Indian approached him, and he was held at gunpoint. The Indian shot the windmill with his shotgun, only to be discouraged and walk off (16-21). In Sherman Alexie’s â€Å"Green World†, I would argue that the main intellectual conflict with the old man beckons the question is the advancement in technology worth the severe impact with the environment or should society strive for the preservation of the environment. This struggle resonates with Robert Sapolsky’s â€Å"Super Humanity† theme of it is human nature t o be unconstrained by nature because society strived to produce alternative forms of energy to help preserve nature, but society also harmed nature in the pursuit of protection. While non-reusable natural resources diminish, scientists have created engineering marvels, such as the Hoover Dam and hybrid cars, to preserve what little resources remain. Windmills are one such creation that utilizes the ever powerful wind to power generators to supply electricity, and the old man is mesmerized by them: â€Å"those windmills were rather simple and lovely butShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Sherman Alexie s The Lone Ranger And Tonto Fistfight 1233 Words   |  5 Pagespresented. Native Americans past and present continue to face stifling issues such as racism, alcoholism, isolation and suicide. Sherman Alexie makes it his obligation in his stories and poems to show Native American resiliency through humor. By using his characters to show resiliency through humor Alexie presents humor as an i ntegral part of Native American survival. In Sherman Alexie’s best work to date The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fist Fight in Heaven† humor allows his characters to display strengthRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of Sherman Alexie s The Lone Ranger And Tonto Fistfight 1116 Words   |  5 PagesRebecca Edwards Newman 10/26/14 Essay 2 ENC 1102 (Green 2) In his stories Sherman Alexie’s humor, portays a role that helps bring people together,Alexie s sophisticated use of humor unsettles conventional ways of thinking and helps brain growth, which allows Indian characters to connect to their heritage in ways and forces non-Indian readers to reconsider their ideas on them. â€Å"The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven† by Sherman Alexie is a humorously told, short story detailing the struggleRead MoreAnalysis Of The Absolute True Diary Of A Part Time Indian1919 Words   |  8 PagesFalse Believes of Reservation Indians In the late 1400’s a navigator by the name Christopher Columbus was sent in search of a new trade route to the west indies from the motherland of Spain, but was accidentally sent off course during the excursion. As a result, him and his crew members discovered an entirely new land mass that eventually became one of the most famous discoveries of all time. Christopher Columbus and his crew had found a new land inhabited by multiple different cultures and peopleRead MoreThe Reservation Land For Native Americans980 Words   |  4 Pagesneeded income for impoverished tribal communities (Forbes). In Sherman Alexie’s book, â€Å"The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,† the reader experiences firsthand the overwhelming devastation poverty wreaks on the lives of those living on a reservation. The story’s awkward teenage narrator, Arnold, expresses frustration when he shares how he lives â€Å"with his poor-ass family on the poor-ass Spokane Indian Reservation (Alexie 7). In what is undoubtedly the most heart-wrenching passage in theRead More Pocahontas and the Mythical Indian Woman Essay5406 Words   |  22 Pages Pocahontas. Americans know her as the beautiful, Indian woman who fell in love with the white settler John Smith and then threw her body upon the poor white captive to protect him from being brutally executed by her own savage tribe. The magical world of Walt Disney came out with their own movie version several years ago portraying Pocahontas as a tan, sexy Barbie doll figure and John Smith as a blond-haired, blue-eyed muscular Ken doll. Although Disney attempts to instill racial tolerance, inter-racialRead MoreLiterary Criticism : The Free Encyclopedia 7351 Words   |  30 Pagesusually wider and less technical. The birth of the Bildungsroman is normally dated to the publication of Wilhelm Meister s Apprenticeship by Johann Wolfgang Goethe in 1795–96,[8] or, sometimes, to Christoph Martin Wieland s Geschichte des Agathon of 1767.[9] Although the Bildungsroman arose in Germany, it has had extensive influence first in Europe and later throughout the world. Thomas Carlyle translated Goethe’s novel into English, and after its publication in 1824, many British authors wrote novels

Monday, December 16, 2019

Entrepreneurship And Business Skills Free Essays

Question 1 I consider an entrepreneurial individual to be a person that exercises initiative through organizing a venture with the aim of taking benefit of the opportunity presented. In addition, this individual is not afraid to make decisions regarding their venture and always accepts full responsibility of the outcome that results from their decisions (Caird, 1990). Referring to myself as entrepreneurial means I do not just wait to be given directions on my tasks but rather I set out to look for information that other people do not have and I proceed to use it appropriately. We will write a custom essay sample on Entrepreneurship And Business Skills or any similar topic only for you Order Now I can fit in any department because I focus my attention on the set goals, strive to learn quickly enough and develop new ideas. My ideas, energy, and vision would remain theoretical until I get that opportunity to practice what I do best. Brockhaus regards the entrepreneur’s dedication, talent and commitment to be valuable traits that would go to waste if the individual lacks the necessary resources, an equally talented team, and the opportunity to put their ideas into practice (Brockhaus, 1982). Once the opportunity presents itself, the entrepreneur is always prepared to utilize it appropriately. Whenever I was engaged in a group project, I always carried out my research thoroughly, focused all my efforts on the given assignment, and coordinated my group members with the aim of ensuring the project was performed in the most organized manner possible. My group members always relied on me because I am always accountable for the decision I make regarding the task at hand. However, often the decision I made turned out correct because prior to making the decision, I prefer to gather the necessary information, and then proceed to use it appropriately. In a diner that I used to work part-time in while in school, I recommended having a special dish for the customers on a particular day every week. This suggestion resulted from an observation that I had made whereby the customers often had a specific meal they consumed frequently but on occasion they preferred a change. On this occasion, I would recommend the alternative meal. I figured that a special dish once every week would create that alternative meal option. The idea worked amazingly and every Wednesdays when the special dish was offered, the diner would always be full. My entrepreneurial skills would be beneficial to the company because I place priority on achieving the set goal therefore every task assigned to me would always be performed in an exemplary manner. Because I am responsible and accountable, supervision would not be required because I never waste my time while working and instead I focus all my efforts on achieving my goal. I am willing to take risks because I consider the risky, different, or even controversial things to have an underlying opportunity that is mostly unexploited (Caird, 1990). The entrepreneur does not just look at the idea and wait for directions on how to proceed but rather develops a plan of action which will create a road map which will raise the venture from the idea stage and set in on the course of growth and materialization (Gunther and MacMillan, 2000). The position I would be assigned would present me with the necessary resources, technology and capability to focus on achieving the goals of the company. The conclusions that I come to in the Company would be reliable since I conduct thorough researches and make decisions based on comprehensive information. The Company would therefore not have to worry about reckless decisions or question the validity of my recommendations and strategies. Question 2 Every successful individual often has a story to tell regarding the challenges and obstacles that they had to overcome on their long road to success (Hauser, 2012). The biggest obstacle that I have had to face is the negative traits that I posses. However, over time I have come to the conclusion that what one lacks on one side, they compensate for it on the other. I am for instance a poor networker. The network of contacts that I started off with was very narrow and since I am not so good at connecting with people, the situation did not get any better. What I lacked in network skills, I made up for in commitment and determination. The important thing is to match the strength that compensates for your weakness and apply it (Hauser, 2012). Although, I could not connect with people easily, I could rely on myself to get the job done. The feeling that I was an ‘outsider’ reduced my reliance on other people’s help and I immersed myself in the mission that I worked towar ds. Failure was not a letdown but rather an opportunity to learn and avoid a similar mistake in the future. As a result of my commitment and determination, prospective partners sought me and my network grew not because I was good at connecting with other people but because of my drive to succeed that appealed to them. It is important to find one’s weaknesses and strengths followed by strategies to turn the weaknesses around. Every business is an entire system that contains numerous tasks which cannot be accomplished by a single individual no matter how strong that individual is. As a result, the best strategy is to focus an individual’s energy on those areas that they are strong therefore compensating for the weaknesses (Collins and Lazier, 1995). I applied the recommended strategy by Collins and Lazier in my weakness regarding poor communication skills by maximizing on my ability to think of the big picture. Although I could not persuade people to support my views, ideas and business as a whole, I could see the patterns and relationships in the environment I traded in. These patterns and relationships made me an excellent predictor of market as well as competitor moves. As a result, I did not have to persuade anyone to follow my lead, adopt my ideas, or engage in transactions with me because the statistics talked on my behalf. The consistent positive results made others to gain confidence in me. The other trait that disadvantaged me was my strong action orientation that caused me to sometimes desire to act prior to comprehensive contemplation. There are several occasions that my ventures failed resulting from my immediate actions that were based on incomplete information. These ventures failed but I did not give up on them and instead kept on trying until they succeeded. My strong action orientation was my weakness but the motivation to excel is the strength that avoided my downfall. Every time I went into a venture because I felt the need to act, my goal and result orientation pushed me until the goal was achieved. I overcame my weaknesses through the strengths that compensated for what I lacked. I would recommend such an approach to every individual who desires to overcome or turn their weaknesses into strengths. Question 3 I would choose the role of either an organizer or a moderator. Often the group is split over which is the right and the wrong approach to an activity or task (Adeak, 2010). Every individual in the group seems to think that their idea, suggestion, or plan is the correct one. However, the best plan, strategy, and organization come from extensive preparation, assessment, and consideration. I prioritize these three elements because I do not like to undertake a task while unprepared and I set my mind to achieving the goal therefore the approach used, the organization chosen and the strategy formulated all have to be centered on the goal. Since this is a group activity, achieving the goal is not only dependent on my effort but on each group member’s effort. It is therefore my responsibility to organize the team and ensure that the plan that I have formulated to achieve the goal is integrated into the whole team. Team organization is a critical component of long-term success of any b usiness therefore ensuring the team’s procedures and plans are formulated and each team member is assigned a role that they will perform effectively would guarantee positive results (Collins and Lazier, 1995). A particular occasion that I played this role was in a research project on advertising where I divided the group into sub-groups so that every sub-group could research on a sub-topic which would then be followed by consolidation of all the sub-topics. The role of a moderator would also be an appropriate role for me because I am impartial and maintain an open mind at all times. Through such an approach I believe the interests of every group member would be addressed therefore ensuring that no member is dissatisfied. One hurdle that often arises in group activities is the allocation of resources and resolution of internal disagreements (Adeak, 2010). I believe in fair treatment and therefore would ensure the resources are coordinated and allocated fairly. This step would also help reduce disagreements in the group. This quality is an indication that the moderator is an appropriate role for me. The role that I would least play in a group is that of a critic. This is majorly because I choose to look at things positively whereas the critic searches for the flaw in order to expose it. A team needs to be motivated in order to perform well but criticism often dampens the motivation of the team (Adeak, 2010). This role is therefore not appropriate for me at all. References Brockhaus, R. H. (1982), The Psychology of the Entrepreneur. In Encyclopedia of Entrepreneurship , edited by Calvin A. Kent, Donald L. Sexton, and Karl H. Vesper, Prentice Hall, New Jersey. Collins, J. C. and Lazier, W. C. (1995), Beyond Entrepreneurship: Turning Your Business into an Enduring Great Company, Prentice Hall, New Jersey. Caird, S. (1990), What does it mean to be EnterprisingBritish Journal of Management, vol. 1, Issue 3, pp. 37–145. Gunther, M., R. and MacMillan, I. (2000), The Entrepreneurial Mindset, Harvard Business School Press, Boston. Hauser, A. (2012), How to Overcome Business Weaknesses, Resources for entrepreneurs, viewed May 2, 2012, http://www.gaebler.com/Small-Business-Administration-SBA-Advice.htm What is a Team Role StructureAdeak. 2010, viewed May 2, 2012, http://www.adeak.com/2010/02/what-is-a-team-role-structure/ How to cite Entrepreneurship And Business Skills, Essay examples

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Environmental And Sustainability Reporting In India

Question: Describe about the Environmental And Sustainability Reporting In India. Answer: Introduction The globalization has turned into large paradigm of facilitating ad triggering rapid change integrations worldwide. This has impacted the domain of finance in a manner that financial globalization resulted combining the standards of auditing and financial standards together forming into an instruments of finance that can be integrated. Sustainability reporting communicates the performance elements and measures of the organization in legal and ethical manner (Ahmed et al 2013). The sustainability reporting is considered as strong communication component existing among the organizational potential stakeholders and management within standards of finance that illustrates the company performance in correlation with strategic core goals. It is evident that the sustainability reporting implementation results in enabling the organization to achieve competitive advantage along with considerable impact of the shareholders value providing benefits to stakeholders which are internal and external in nature. Hence, the increasing consideration of sustainability reporting implementation within business along with accounting and financial standards appropriate contribution, the core purpose is of analysis and discussion of IFRS role in supporting and contributing sustainability reporting in this report. Part A: International Financial Reporting Standards role within the support of Sustainability reporting Sustainability Reportings concept It is clear and evident that the obstacles in organizational implementation of sustainability is increasing continuously within each industry which has led to sustainability reporting addressing by the organizations of public and private domain, citizens and taxpayers due to the significant need arising (Alfredson et al 2006). According to various researchers the concept of sustainability reporting implies report development that presets the current needs which are either met or in the process of meeting without the future constituents, practices and standards being compromised as its needed to fulfill the demands of future. Sustainability reporting is viewed as the instrument of potential at national and organizational level as per the standards of ACCA that not only offers advantage to the companies but also offers opportunities to the government due to the incorporated communication standard, assists in consideration while making decision related to the broad level of social, envi ronment and economy. The economical characteristics of interdependence is recognized by the sustainability reporting. The concept holds macroeconomic significance at the global level (Apergis et al 2013). As mentioned by Constancio (2014), suitability reportings implementation, articulation and publication is correlated with the international and national accounting along with the GDPs use limitation as factor of criticality in indicating the progress of social and economy. Organizational sustainability reporting should incorporate the standards of accounting that are appropriate in measuring the issues of environment as per the IFRS. This might be inclusive of financial constituents exposure that are linked with the assets tangible and intangible valuation, managing inventory, retirement elements, provisions and issues of transparency which hold strengthened impact on the management of environmental sustainability. It is further asserted by the researchers Benn and Griffiths (2014) that the present approach of sustainability has turned in behavioral posture that is implemented by organization significantly in dealing with increasing obstacles and associated risk with the accountable and competitive arena of business (Ball 2006). The support and initial contribution is made by Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) and Sustainable Accounting Standards Board (SASB) in responsibilities measurement and organizational sustainability efforts. IFRS standards are found to be reliable and better in support of determining the organizational sustainability under the international context. However, the key issues lies in time frame needed in integration and construction of IFRS The issues and the standards of sustainability takes time to overcome at the international level as perceived within real context. Even through the IFRS integration possess prolonged time frame, the IFRS is being implemented by the organizations and corporations continuously due to the national legislation and economic levels influence, illustrates the IFRS significance at global level (Barbu et al 2014a). This is primarily due to the IFRS contributing the economical sustainable growth with the use of standards of accounting that focus particularly on the sustainable and ethical manner of transactions reporting within organizational financial statements. Hence, it results in maintenance of transparency and stability of economy across the globe. Part B: Standards of Accounting in India Potential and present use of accounting standards in support of sustainability reporting International Accounting Standards Council (IASC) reported the International Accounting Standards (IAS) that was changed further by International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) (Barbu et al 2014b). Accountancy is an art form wherein the financial information sharing and communicating facilitates in regards to any corporation. This communicating is undertaken in the financial statements form which illustrated the entities state and depicts whether the management is able to control the resources of economic nature or not. The reliability, relevance and validity of the information shared is determined by the responsible accountants. Most of the organizations have considered integration of sustainability as one of the effective practices worldwide. The growing integration and acceptance of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as reporting of finance has facilitated various changes of significance and articulation within the industry of India accounting (Botzem 2012). The process of international standard setting is used in development of standards which can control the activities and functionalities of business corporations for several years. The consolidated financial statements are required to be prepared by all the state members of the European Union (EU) as per the standards of international financial reporting. IFRS has been implemented by various nations as their standards of country. The corporations are utilizing the reporting of integrated nature for communication and sharing the business scenario of clear and integrated kind for presenting the manner in which the resources are used for value creation in the region of India. Informed decisions can be made by the organizations by following this process and articulate strategies along with plans for increasing the risk management ability. Integrated reporting enables the organizations to construct the stakeholder and investors trust and confidence through ensuring the progress of future and further development of the corporation. Standards of accounting being standardized facilitates various nations and corporations as it hold lower risk levels and offers various advantages at varied levels (Brown and Tarca 2005). Organizations and societies are considering the issue of sustainability of central significant within India. Various range of initiatives are being taken by the organizations that can enable them to eff ectively move towards the world of sustainability. Organizations within the India are increasingly implementing and supporting the International Financial Reporting Standards. It is reported by Eccles and Saltzman (2011) that organizations worldwide are experiencing various types of risks and obstacles at varied levels. The financial statements and reporting has become far easier for the organizations through consideration of International Accounting Standards. It is of high importance that standards, strategies and implemented policies in accordance with this. The international standards and guidelines for reporting of corporate sustainability has been approved by the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) (Brown 2011). Such guidelines are utilized as the organizational framework within the nation of India that assists in generation of sustainability reporting that meets the standards of globe. The concerned reporting is published publically for the investors and stakeholders to make decisions that are appropriately informed on the basis of publicly shared information. Implementation of international standards and according act of the organization has become imminent due to the organizational necessity of acting responsibly towards society and environment. This will not only assist in success assurance and organizational growth but it will also provide support to numerous processes and activities which will further result in obtaining competitive edge. Standards of International Financial Reporting and Sustainability Reporting Instruments of auditing and standards of financial reporting have become highly crucial with the movement of globalization (Chen et al 2010). IFRS was accepted and implemented by over 100 nations by the end of year 2008. Suitable and appropriate measures for environmental asset monitoring, expenditures and liabilities are provided by IFRS from the perspective of environment. Responsibility of environment is bought in the frameworks that are regulatory and market of finance is considered to be another exceptional advantage offered by IFRS. Accountability of economic, social and environmental issues must be effectively performed by the accountants as per the present and potential accounting standards usage in India for sustainability reporting support as per the investigation. It is further stated by Mariam (2012) that nearly all organizational aspects hold an impact over the environment (Darke and Gebhardy 2006). It is considered to be organizational responsibility to address concerns of emissions to land, water and air, disposal of water and planning. Their act to the environment needs to be in responsible manner by making sure that the organizational operations, processes, activities and products does not cause any societal harm in a negative manner. The sustainability reporting is primarily based on the manner in which corporations act responsibly to the environment and focus on the practices of sustainability as presented by Ruslanovna (2013). It is organizational entitys response towards the problems and issues of sustainability. The focus of the organization must be on increasing the capital of five sorts of capital with the impact consideration of long term on the influence and wealth of the organization on the environment (Epstein et al 2008). Such five capitals involve social, natural, human, manufactures and financial. The capital of natural is correlated with the performance of environment and it is necessary for the organizations to make sure that natural resources are utilized in an effective manner for the production of their services and products without any manner of environmental harm. The capital of social and human drives the organizational social performance and the concentration on articulating effective social and human relations for sustainability achievement is essential for the organizations management (Epstein et al 2010). The economic performance is linked with the organizations performance of finance which influences the broad economy in a strong manner. The accountants role previously was limited within sustainability to concentrate on articulation and publishing the reports of sustainability. The India based profession of accountancy in particular emphasizes on the identification of latest opportunities in market and availing them. The accountants that are professionally qualified presently are focused on the societal needs in order to accordingly respond to it. These accountants are responsible behind capital maintenance and ensuring adequate management of sustainability. The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is a framework of detailed reporting as highlighted by Eccles and Saltzman (2011) that directs the qualified accounts to articulate the financial reporting in consideration of economic, social and environmental problem (Fontes et al 2005). This not only offers principles of reporting but also focuses on standard disclosure with the indicators of performance. It is stated by the IFRS that there are no standards which are accepted in general and accountants approve throughout the globe. Standards such as these are specifically designed with the objective of increased transparency and developing the act of corporation towards more responsibility. Information and factual data availability is the basis of sustainability reporting which can be utilized by the stakeholders as well as investors to take business decision that are appropriate for the organizations future. The IFRS utilization can assist in management and maintenance of financial reportings effectiveness and efficiency. Sustainable economic growth is ensured by the implementation of IFRS even through the process of implementation is prolonged (Iatridis and Rouvolis 2010). Benefit of the varied standards of accounting is taken which particularly promotes the transaction reporting and financial reporting generation in sustainable and ethical manner (Ven et al 2011). All the corporations operating in any subjective domain across the globe must act in a responsible way to society by adopting ways for resource utilization with efficiency and ensuring that social wellbeing as well as environment is protected. Certain standards were highlighted by the researcher named Lusher (2012) that are present for identification and report of sustainability related issues (Iatridis 2010). International accepted and followed standards of corporate sustainable reporting has been articulated and approved by the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB). Sustainability reporting is guided by the GRI that is to be followed by qualified and professional accountants for ensuring integrated reporting development. It is important that reports provide understanding of social, financial and environmental issues for the concerned stakeholders including appropriate analysis of the involved costs. A framework of sustainability is generated by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) that delivers defined guidelines to the accountants within the profession (Kent and Stewart 2008). The framework of sustainability focuses on the accountants role as the drivers of change which will influenc e the corporation to implement sustainability within various activities. The organizational objectives and mission should involve sustainability as an integral component. It is challenging for the corporations to implement sustainability and consider it throughout all processes and in each of the domain while addressing the sustainability reporting need. Barriers and Opportunities for Accountants articulating reports of sustainability It is claimed by Lange (2012) that sustainability reporting involve certain key barriers and opportunities for the professional accountants. The importance of sustainability reporting is to be kept in view by the accountants that are professionally qualified. The focus must remain on growing transparency and setting clear policies of corporate to protect the reputation and brand name of the organizations and obtain edge in competition by the accountants. In development of financial reports and policies, the various issues within economy, social and environment needs to be considered within account (Li 2010). The risks of business linked with these issues and factors can be removed through addressing these certain issues. It is considered to be an obstacle for organizations to conduct their operation and achievement of objectives while giving priority to the problems and issues of environment, social and economy. It is mentioned by Habek (2013) that it is of grave importance that International Standards of Accounting are considered while the accountants develop statements of finance for any organization. There is presence of extreme pressure by the stakeholders of internal and external nature for the corporations to concentrate on effective measures implementation for reporting the issues of social and environmental kind along with the measures related to reporting of finance (Nobes 2014). There is an influence from the stakeholders on the organizations that involve such information within the reports of finance to make sure that the actions of corporations are responsible towards the environment as well as society. Various elements of the corporation are presented in the financial reports due to the increased emphasis of organizations utilization of framework of integrated reporting. Decisions as well as perception in regards to an organization is formed by the stakeholders and investors thr ough this information. It has become growingly imminent for the corporations to play an essential part in improving the environment through focus on various issue and problems of environment. It is also stated by the Swarr (2011) that integrated reporting offers an opportunity to the accountants with growing transparency and evidently presenting all the procedures and transactions of financial nature. There is awareness among the managers for the need of widening their objectives and goals above the expectations of finance (Pacter 2014). It is essential to provide importance to development of business model and sustainability that focuses on the societal and environmental goals. The strategies of the organization should be designed to develop a holistic, balanced and long term manner to provide the advantage to the stakeholders that are present and will associate in future. Ten sustainable forces are indicated by the standards of IFRC which influence the organizations globally and possess an impact of its development and growth. Such forces involve decline in ecosystem, scarcity of nutritional goods, and change in climate, deforestation, fuel and energy along with growth of population, less water, urbanization and management of wealth (Shroff et al 2013). The corporations are held accountable for the issues of environment and major support is provided by the IFRS for sustainable supporting that offers the corporations with opportunity of implementing activities which can assist in sustainability influence. IFRS are implemented in major India corporations and has assisted these corporation in obtaining competitive advantage by integrated reporting and suitability reporting publishing. Conclusion This report is based on the essential two parts. It is concluded that Part A presents the increased implementation of sustainability reporting that is based primarily on achievement of advantage in competition and results in effective growth of corporation as compared to the competitive organizations (Tyrrall et al 2007). However, it is identified through the analysis that organizations concern of sustainability and associated practices extremely contribute toward the organizations successful growth apart from the profitability. Moreover, international bodies are found to be most supportive of sustainability reporting apart from the interventions of national government. Furthermore, considerable existence of accounting standards within India is discussed in Part B. It is found that the entire region hold profound usage of integrated reporting. Implementation of IFRS is effective within the nation, as the framework is increasingly implementing within the organizations for increased levels of competitiveness. It is further concluded that the accountants are focusing on the societal needs in order to accordingly respond to it as they are responsible in capital maintenance and enforcing the practices that are sustainable. However, obstacles for the accountants lies within articulation and integration of IFRS within their frameworks and reports of accounting and finance (Wang 2014). The contributions of IFRS will assist in overcoming the issues of sustainability within international context through continual progression. References Ahmed, A.S., Neel, M. and Wang, D., 2013. Does mandatory adoption of IFRS improve accounting quality? Preliminary evidence.Contemporary Accounting Research,30(4), pp.1344-1372. Alfredson, K., Leo, K., Picker, P., Procter, P., Radford, J. and Wise, V., 2006. Applying international financial reporting standards. Al-Najjar, B., 2013. The financial determinants of corporate cash holdings: Evidence from some emerging markets.International Business Review,22(1), pp.77-88. Apergis, N., Eleftheriou, S. and Payne, J.E., 2013. The relationship between international financial reporting standards, carbon emissions, and RD expenditures: Evidence from European manufacturing firms.Ecological Economics,88, pp.57-66. Ball, R., 2006. International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS): pros and cons for investors.Accounting and business research,36(sup1), pp.5-27. Barbu, E.M., Dumontier, P., Feleaga, N. and Feleaga, L., 2014. A proposal of an international environmental reporting grid: What interest for policymakers, regulatory bodies, companies, and researchers?: Reply to discussion of mandatory environmental disclosures by companies complying with IAS/IFRS: The Case of France, Germany and the UK.The International Journal of Accounting,49(2), pp.253-262. Barbu, E.M., Dumontier, P., Feleagă, N. and Feleagă, L., 2014. Mandatory environmental disclosures by companies complying with IASs/IFRSs: The cases of France, Germany, and the UK.The International Journal of Accounting,49(2), pp.231-247. Botzem, S., 2012.The politics of accounting regulation: Organizing transnational standard setting in financial reporting. Edward Elgar Publishing. Brown, P. and Tarca, A., 2005. A commentary on issues relating to the enforcement of International Financial Reporting Standards in the EU.European Accounting Review,14(1), pp.181-212. Brown, P., 2011. International Financial Reporting Standards: what are the benefits?.Accounting and business research,41(3), pp.269-285. Chen, H., Tang, Q., Jiang, Y. and Lin, Z., 2010. The role of international financial reporting standards in accounting quality: Evidence from the European Union.Journal of International Financial Management Accounting,21(3), pp.220-278. Daske, H. and Gebhardt, G., 2006. International financial reporting standards and experts perceptions of disclosure quality.Abacus,42(3à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ 4), pp.461-498. Epstein, B.J. and Jermakowicz, E.K., 2008.Wiley IFRS 2008: Interpretation and Application of International Accounting and Financial Reporting Standards 2008. John Wiley Sons. Epstein, B.J. and Jermakowicz, E.K., 2010.WILEY Interpretation and Application of International Financial Reporting Standards 2010. John Wiley Sons. Fontes, A., Rodrigues, L.L. and Craig, R., 2005, December. Measuring convergence of national accounting standards with international financial reporting standards. InAccounting forum(Vol. 29, No. 4, pp. 415-436). Elsevier. Iatridis, G. and Rouvolis, S., 2010. The post-adoption effects of the implementation of International Financial Reporting Standards in Greece.Journal of international accounting, auditing and taxation,19(1), pp.55-65. Iatridis, G., 2010. International Financial Reporting Standards and the quality of financial statement information.International Review of Financial Analysis,19(3), pp.193-204. Kent, P. and Stewart, J., 2008. Corporate governance and disclosures on the transition to international financial reporting standards.Accounting Finance,48(4), pp.649-671. Li, S., 2010. Does mandatory adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards in the European Union reduce the cost of equity capital?.The accounting review,85(2), pp.607-636. Nobes, C., 2014.International Classification of Financial Reporting 3e. Routledge. Pacter, P., 2014. Global Accounting Standards-From Vision to Reality.The CPA Journal,84(1), p.6. Shroff, N., Verdi, R.S. and Yu, G., 2013. Information environment and the investment decisions of multinational corporations.The Accounting Review,89(2), pp.759-790. Tyrrall, D., Woodward, D. and Rakhimbekova, A., 2007. The relevance of International Financial Reporting Standards to a developing country: Evidence from Kazakhstan.The International Journal of Accounting,42(1), pp.82-110. Van Greuning, H., Scott, D. and Terblanche, S., 2011.International financial reporting standards: a practical guide. World Bank Publications. Wang, C., 2014. Accounting standards harmonization and financial statement comparability: Evidence from transnational information transfer.Journal of Accounting Research,52(4), pp.955-992.

Saturday, November 30, 2019

Mexican Immigrants in Carolina

Introduction Immigration by Mexicans into the US has led to a large demographic change in some States. While the US is made up of immigrants from countries all over the world, Mexico deserves special attention since it contributes to 30% of all immigrants making them the largest group of foreign-born immigrants (Jimenez, 2007). North Carolina has experienced an influx of people who identify themselves as Hispanic or Latino.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Mexican Immigrants in Carolina specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More With a 400% increase in the Latino population between 1990 and 2000, the US Census Bureau has identified North Carolina as the state with the fastest growing Latino population (U.S. Census, 2001). At the onset, the influx of immigrants in North Carolina was necessitated by the labor demands of the State. However, this flow of immigrant has reached high levels and the citizens of the State a re divided as to the value of Mexican Immigrants. While supporters of the immigrants state that they provide valuable services to the State, opponents argue that these immigrants are responsible for a myriad of negative outcomes including increased violence and social insecurity. In light of these conflicting views, this paper will set out to conduct a research on Mexican immigrants in the US in order to illustrate that while they have both positive and negative aspects, the negative far outweigh the positive. Negative Aspects of Mexican Immigrants Mexican immigrants make the streets unsafe by engaging in practices such as drug dealing. Morris (2000) notes that â€Å"a disproportionate number of those charged with drug crimes are men of Hispanic descent† (p.116). Mexico has established itself as the country that provides most of the illegal drugs that get into the US. The immigrant Mexicans play a significant role in this drug industry and Morris (2000) asserts that the amoun t of drugs entering the American boarders through Mexicans immigrants is overwhelming. This has negative and dire impacts on the American economy as well as the citizens themselves. Drug traffic is suppressing other business from thriving while creating an environment that favors economic stress such as inflation. As a matter of fact, most of these drugs end up in the hands of the minority communities. These drugs are sold to the youth with negative consequences on their future lives. In addition to this, the volume of drug-related violence is on the rise due to Mexican immigrants. Opponents of Mexican immigrants argue that this group poses additional strain to the social facilities provided to the country’s citizens. Specifically, Mexicans engage in habits that increase their chances of suffering from lifestyle diseases. Latino men consume alcohol at a rate that is significantly higher than that of men of other races in the US.Advertising Looking for research paper on s ocial sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The CDC (2006) reports that 23% of Latino men engage in binge drinking which is the overconsumption of alcohol at single occasion. The percentage of Mexicans who smoke tobacco is also significantly high with the CDC (2006) reporting that 23% of Mexican men are smokers. These habits are detrimental to the well being of the individual. Tobacco and alcohol use are the major causes of preventable deaths in the use with tobacco contributing 445,000 and alcohol use 85,000 deaths annually (Mokdad, 2004). These substances also lead to many negative health consequences. Critics of immigration argue that the Mexicans overburden the health care system since alcohol and tobacco uses have serious health consequences. Mexican immigrants add a strain to the already burdened welfare system in the US. Most of the Mexicans are attracted to the US by the higher earning power that is available in the US. However, the cost of living in the US is much higher than in Mexico and many immigrants living in poverty. Camarota (2001) observes that there is an overrepresentation of Mexican immigrants in the number of uninsured and poor Americans with 50% of the immigrants living in poverty and 33% of them having no health insurance. This group of immigrants ends up depending on the government because they experience job insecurity problems (Lacy, 2007). As such, the infiltration of Mexican immigrants into the country has greatly strained the social amenities meant for the native US citizens. Mexicans immigrants are involved in high-level crimes and their presence therefore increases the security risk in the State. Due to the low levels of income and job insecurities experienced by many Mexican immigrants, the levels of crime in majority Mexican neighborhoods are high. Further reinforcing the idea that Mexican’s are involved in criminal activity is the fact that Mexican immigrants are disproportionately represented in the list of most wanted criminals in the country (Jimenez 2007).This high rate of crime has led to the criminal justice department being involved with the Mexican population at a significantly high rate. Perhaps the most significant issue with Mexican immigrants is that most of them enter into the US without authorization. Jimenez (2007) states that the large numbers of illegal Mexican immigrants has led to numerous policy debates about immigration. The problem of illegal Mexican immigration has led the US government to invest significant amounts of money to try mitigate the problem.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Mexican Immigrants in Carolina specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More For example, the government has established a Secure Border Initiative that is aimed at controlling the immigration problem by closing off all non-ports of entry used by Mexicans to come to the U S. The government has deployed national guards to protect the border and employed more border patrol agents. The money required to carry out this deterrence exercises if provided by the taxpayers. Mexican Immigrants have reduced the earning power of Americans especially in the non-skilled market. Most of the immigrants work in the state’s secondary labor market, most of them filling jobs in restaurants, construction, landscaping, and agriculture. The immigrants provide cheap labor due to the lack of professional skills. The alternative population of Americans is quite educated which makes their labor a bit expensive compared to the Mexican immigrants. Odem and Lacy (2009) notes that Mexican workers are preferred by some employers since they are highly productive and willing to work for low wages. This trend lowers the wage rates and this is detrimental to the native-born labor force. Positive Aspects of Mexican Immigrants In spite of the many ills attributed to Mexican immigr ants, the US gains enjoys some major benefits because of these group. Most notably, the Mexican immigrants have contributed to the growth of the economy (Griswold, 2012). As was previously noted, the major motivation for immigrating is to seek better job opportunities. The immigrants take on jobs that the Americans cannot take and in addition to that, they are willing to work with a very low wage reward. This has boosted the US economy and has led to more production with the cheap and efficient labor that these immigrants provide. By employing the unskilled immigrants, employers keep the cost of operation down hence enhancing productivity, which is an advantage to the US economy. The unskilled workers are mainly employed in the hospitality industry and transport. These are low-income jobs that locals are unwilling to take. The immigrants do not mind these kinds of jobs and hence they come in handy in such industries and the greater good is that the economy grows. Mexicans immigrants contribute to the cultural diversity for which the US is well known. Most immigrants come to the US and continue to practice their cultures and traditions including taste in food and music.Advertising Looking for research paper on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This has a positive effect as more people are exposed to the cultural practices of Mexico. Jimenez (2007) observes that the huge influx of Mexican immigrants has â€Å"facilitated the entrance of Mexican popular culture into mainstream popular culture† (p.613). Mexican immigrants therefore contribute to the enrichment of the American culture. Mexican immigrants contribute to the growth of the American economy by using their money to buy consumer goods that are taxed and pay rent for their houses. Even though most immigrants move to the US with the hope of making money and sending it back to their mother country, the major portion of their money is used in the US. Lacy (2007) notes that the cost of living in the US is high and most immigrants end up sending very little money home. The immigrants therefore fuel economic growth by making money and using it in the US. Discussion and Conclusion Immigration is an important issue that has attracted the attention of most Americans. M exican immigrants have been singled out due to their huge numbers in states such as North Carolina. Most Immigrants consider their presence in the US as temporary and they intend to move back to Mexico once they have saved up enough money. The major advantage of Mexican immigrants is the economic value that they add to the country. Even so, the immigrants cause some significant negative social and economic outcomes during their stay in the US. For this reason, there has been a rise in anti-Mexican sentiments in most border line States and North Carolina. These sentiments have been fueled by the substantial financial and economic costs associated with Mexican immigrants. A solution therefore needs to be developed to deal with this problem that poses significant social and economic costs for the country. This paper set out to discuss the merits and demerits of Mexican immigrants in the US. It began by noting that Mexico has provided the highest number of immigrants to the US. It then proceeded to outline some of the problems that arise because of immigrants in the State. These problems include high rates of crime and drug dealing, an overburden of the health care system, and increased load on the social welfare system in the US. However, there are also advantages accrued from Mexican immigrants and this includes economic growth, and cultural diversity in the US. From this paper, it can be concluded that while Mexican immigration to the US has some positive results, it has mostly led to many serious problems. Policy makers therefore need to take action to mitigate the growing population of Mexican Immigrants in the US. References Camarota, S.A. (2001). Immigration from Mexico: Study Examines Costs and Benefits for the United States. Retrieved from: https://cis.org/Immigration-Mexico Griswold, T.D. (2012). Introduction Is Immigration Good for America? Cato Journal, 32 (1), 1-4. Jimenez, T. (2007). Weighing the Costs and Benefits of Mexican Immigration: The Mexican - American Perspective. Social Science Quarterly, 88(3), 599-618. Lacy, E. (2007). Mexican immigrants in South Carolina: a Profile. Retrieved from: http://www.asph.sc.edu/cli/pdfs/final_final%5b1%5d.pdf Mokdad, A. (2004). Actual causes of death in the United States, 2000. JAMA, 291(10), 1238-1245. Morris, M. (2000). Translation and the Law. NY: John Benjamins Publishing. Odem, E., Lacy, C. (2009). Latino Immigrants and the Transformation of the U.S. South. Georgia: University of Georgia Press. U.S. Census. (2001). United States census bureau interactive census database. Web. This research paper on Mexican Immigrants in Carolina was written and submitted by user Kenneth Horn to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

All About the Rise and Fall of the Berlin Wall

All About the Rise and Fall of the Berlin Wall Erected in the dead of night on August 13, 1961, the Berlin Wall (known as Berliner Mauer in German) was a physical division between West Berlin and East Germany. Its purpose was to keep disaffected East Germans from fleeing to the West. When the Berlin Wall fell on November 9, 1989, its destruction was nearly as instantaneous as its creation. For 28 years, the Berlin Wall had been a symbol of the Cold War and the Iron Curtain between Soviet-led Communism and the democracies of the West. When it fell, it was celebrated around the world. A Divided Germany and Berlin At the end of World War II, the Allied powers divided conquered Germany into four zones. As agreed at the  Potsdam Conference, each was occupied by either the United States, Great Britain, France, or the Soviet Union. The same was done in Germanys capital city, Berlin.   The relationship between the Soviet Union and the other three Allied powers quickly disintegrated. As a result, the cooperative atmosphere of the occupation of Germany turned competitive and aggressive. One of the best-known incidents was the Berlin Blockade in June of 1948  during which the Soviet Union stopped all supplies from reaching West Berlin. Although an eventual reunification of Germany had been intended, the new relationship between the Allied powers turned Germany into West versus East and democracy versus Communism. In 1949, this new organization of Germany became official when the three zones occupied by the United States, Great Britain, and France combined to form West Germany (the Federal Republic of Germany, or FRG). The zone occupied by the Soviet Union quickly followed by forming East Germany (the German Democratic Republic, or GDR). This same division into West and East occurred in Berlin.  Since the city of Berlin had been situated entirely within the Soviet Zone of Occupation, West Berlin became an island of democracy within Communist East Germany. The Economic Differences Within a short period of time after the war, living conditions in West Germany and East Germany became distinctly different. With the help and support of its occupying powers, West Germany set up a capitalist society. The economy experienced such a rapid growth that it became known as the economic miracle. With hard work, individuals living in West Germany were able to live well, buy gadgets and appliances, and travel as they wished. Nearly the opposite was true in East Germany. The Soviet Union had viewed their zone as a spoil of war. They had pilfered factory equipment and other valuable assets from their zone and shipped them back to the Soviet Union. When East Germany became its own country in 1949, it was under the direct influence of the Soviet Union and a Communist society was established. The economy of East Germany dragged and individual freedoms were severely restricted. Mass EmigrationFrom the East Outside of Berlin, East Germany had been fortified in 1952. By the late 1950s, many people living in East Germany wanted out. No longer able to stand the repressive living conditions, they would head to West Berlin. Although some of them would be stopped on their way, hundreds of thousands made it across the border. Once across, these refugees were housed in warehouses and then flown to West Germany. Many of those who escaped were young, trained professionals. By the early 1960s, East Germany was rapidly losing both its labor force and its population. Between 1949 and 1961, its estimated that nearly 2.7 million people fled East Germany. The government was desperate to stop this mass exodus. The obvious leak was the easy access East Germans had to West Berlin. With the support of the Soviet Union, there had been several attempts to simply take over West Berlin. Although the Soviet Union even threatened the United States with the use of nuclear weapons over this issue, the United States and other Western countries were committed to defending West Berlin. Desperate to keep its citizens, East Germany knew that something needed to be done. Famously, two months before the Berlin Wall appeared, Walter Ulbricht, Head of the State Council of the GDR (1960–1973) said, Niemand hat die Absicht, eine Mauer zu errichten. These iconic words mean, No one intended to build a wall. After this statement, the exodus of East Germans only increased. Over those next two months of 1961, nearly 20,000 people fled to the West. The Berlin Wall Goes Up Rumors had spread that something might happen to tighten the border of East and West Berlin. No one was expecting the speed nor the absoluteness of the Berlin Wall. Just past midnight on the night of August 12-13, 1961, trucks with soldiers and construction workers rumbled through East Berlin. While most Berliners were sleeping, these crews began tearing up streets that entered into West Berlin. They dug holes to put up concrete posts and strung barbed wire all across the border between East and West Berlin. Telephone wires between East and West Berlin were also cut and railroad lines were blocked. Soldiers closing off East Berlin with barbed wire fences. Keystone / Getty Images Berliners were shocked when they woke up that morning. What had once been a very fluid border was now rigid. No longer could East Berliners cross the border for operas, plays, soccer games, or any other activity. No longer could the approximately 60,000 commuters head to West Berlin for well-paying jobs. No longer could families, friends, and lovers cross the border to meet their loved ones.   Whichever side of the border one went to sleep on during the night of August 12, they were stuck on that side for decades. The Size and Scope of the Berlin Wall The total length of the Berlin Wall was 91 miles (155 kilometers). It can not only through the center of Berlin, but also wrapped around West Berlin, entirely cutting it off from the rest of East Germany. The wall itself went through four major transformations during its 28-year history. It started out as a barbed-wire fence with concrete posts. Just days later, on August 15, it was quickly replaced with a sturdier, more permanent structure. This one was made out of concrete blocks and topped with barbed wire. The first two versions of the wall were replaced by the third version in 1965. This consisted of a concrete wall supported by steel girders. The fourth version of the Berlin Wall, constructed from 1975 to 1980, was the most complicated and thorough. It consisted of concrete slabs reaching nearly 12-feet high (3.6 meters) and 4-feet wide (1.2 meters). It also had a smooth pipe running across the top to hinder people from scaling it. Bettmann Archive / Getty Images By the time the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, there was a 300-foot No Mans Land and  an additional inner wall. Soldiers patrolled with dogs and a raked ground showed footprints. The East Germans also installed anti-vehicle trenches, electric fences, massive light systems, 302 watchtowers, 20 bunkers, and even minefields. Over the years, propaganda from the East German government would say that the people of East Germany welcomed the Wall. In reality, the oppression they suffered and the potential consequences they faced kept many from speaking out to the contrary. The Checkpoints of the Wall Although most of the border between East and West consisted of layers of preventative measures, there were little more than a handful of official openings along the Berlin Wall. These checkpoints were for the infrequent use of officials and others with special permission to cross the border. Checkpoint Charlie. Express / Getty Images The most famous of these was Checkpoint Charlie, located on the border between East and West Berlin at Friedrichstrasse. Checkpoint Charlie was the main access point for Allied personnel and Westerners to cross the border. Soon after the Berlin Wall was built, Checkpoint Charlie became an icon of the Cold War. It has frequently been featured in movies and books set during this time period. Escape Attempts and the Death Line The Berlin Wall did prevent the majority of East Germans from emigrating to the West, but it did not deter everyone. During the history of the Berlin Wall, it is estimated that about 5,000 people made it safely across. Soldiers investigating a tunnel dug beneath the Berlin wall. Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images Some early successful attempts were simple, like throwing a rope over the Berlin Wall and climbing up. Others were brash, like ramming a truck or bus into the Berlin Wall and making a run for it. Still, others were suicidal as some people jumped from the upper-story windows of apartment buildings that bordered the Berlin Wall.   Soldiers patrolling the Death Strip. KEENPRESS / Getty Images In September 1961, the windows of these buildings were boarded up and the sewers connecting East and West were shut off. Other buildings were torn down to clear space for what would become known as the Todeslinie, the Death Line or Death Strip. This open area allowed a direct line of fire so East German soldiers could carry out  Shiessbefehl, a 1960 order that they were to shoot anyone trying escape. Twenty-nine people were killed within the first year. As the Berlin Wall became stronger and larger, the escape attempts became more elaborately planned. Some people dug tunnels from the basements of buildings in East Berlin, under the Berlin Wall, and into West Berlin. Another group saved scraps of cloth and built a hot air balloon and flew over the Wall. Unfortunately, not all escape attempts were successful. Since the East German guards were allowed to shoot anyone nearing the eastern side without warning, there was always a chance of death in any and all escape plots. It is estimated that somewhere between 192 and 239 people died at the Berlin Wall. The 50th Victim of the Berlin Wall One of the most infamous cases of a failed attempt occurred on August 17, 1962. In the early afternoon, two 18-year-old men ran toward the Wall with the intention of scaling it. The first of the young men to reach it was successful. The second one, Peter Fechter, was not. West Berliners Protesting at Berlin Wall with pictures of Peter Fechters body. Corbis / Getty Images As he was about to scale the Wall, a border guard opened fire. Fechter continued to climb but ran out of energy just as he reached the top. He then tumbled back onto the East German side. To the shock of the world, Fechter was just left there. The East German guards did not shoot him again nor did they go to his aid. Fechter shouted in agony for nearly an hour. Once he had bled to death, East German guards carried off his body. He became the 50th person to die at the Berlin Wall and a permanent symbol of the struggle for freedom. Communism Is Dismantled The fall of the Berlin Wall happened nearly as suddenly as its rise. There had been signs that the Communist bloc was weakening, but the East German Communist leaders insisted that East Germany just needed a moderate change rather than a drastic revolution. East German citizens did not agree. Russian leader Mikhail Gorbachev (1985–1991) was attempting to save his country and decided to break off from many of its satellites. As Communism began to falter in Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia in 1988 and 1989, new exodus points were opened to East Germans who wanted to flee to the West.   In East Germany, protests against the government were countered by threats of violence from its leader, Erich Honecker. In October 1989, Honecker was forced to resign after losing support from Gorbachev. He was replaced by Egon Krenz who decided that violence was not going to solve the countrys problems. Krenz also loosened travel restrictions from East Germany. The Fall of the Berlin Wall Suddenly, on the evening of November 9, 1989, East German government official Gà ¼nter Schabowski blundered by stating in an announcement, Permanent relocations can be done through all border checkpoints between the GDR [East Germany] into the FRG [West Germany] or West Berlin. People were in shock. Were the borders really open? East Germans tentatively approached the border and indeed found that the border guards were letting people cross. Corbis  / Getty Images Very quickly, the Berlin Wall was inundated with people from both sides. Some began chipping at the Berlin Wall with hammers and chisels. There was an impromptu and massive celebration along the Berlin Wall, with people hugging, kissing, singing, cheering, and crying. Corbis  / Getty Images The Berlin Wall was eventually chipped away into smaller pieces (some the size of a coin and others in big slabs). The pieces have become collectibles and are stored in both homes and museums. There is also now a Berlin Wall Memorial at the site on Bernauer Strasse. Luis Davilla / Getty Images After the Berlin Wall came down, East and West Germany reunified into a single German state on October 3, 1990.

Friday, November 22, 2019

Role and Importance of Children in the Middle Ages

Role and Importance of Children in the Middle Ages Of all the misconceptions about the Middle Ages, some of the most difficult to overcome involve life for medieval children and their place in society. It is a popular notion that there was no recognition of childhood in medieval society and children were treated like miniature adults as soon as they could walk and talk. However, scholarship on the topic by medievalists provides a different account of children in the Middle Ages. Of course, it is not correct to assume that medieval attitudes were identical or even similar to modern ones. But, it can be argued that childhood was recognized as a phase of life, and one that had value, at that time. Concept of Childhood One of the most frequently mentioned arguments for the non-existence of childhood in the Middle Ages is that representative of children in medieval artwork depicts them in adult clothing. If they wore grown-up clothes, the theory goes, they must have been expected to behave like grown-ups. However, while there certainly isnt a great deal of medieval artwork that depicted children other than the Christ Child, the examples that survive do not universally display them in adult garb. Additionally, medieval laws existed to protect the rights of orphans. For example, in medieval London, laws were careful to place an orphaned child with someone who could not benefit from his or her death. Also, medieval medicine approached the treatment of children separately from adults. In general, children were recognized as vulnerable, and in need of special protection. Concept of Adolescence   The idea that adolescence was not recognized as a category of development separate from both childhood and adulthood is a more subtle distinction. The primary evidence concerning this outlook is the lack of any term for the modern-day word adolescence. If they didnt have a word for it, they didnt comprehend it as a stage in life. This argument also leaves something to be desired, especially as medieval people did not use the terms feudalism or courtly love though those practices definitely existed at the time. Inheritance laws set the age of majority at 21, expecting a certain level of maturity before entrusting a young individual with financial responsibility.   Importance of Children There is a general perception that, in the Middle Ages, children were not valued by their families or by society as a whole. Perhaps no time in history has sentimentalized infants,  toddlers, and waifs as has modern culture, but it doesnt necessarily follow that children were undervalued in earlier times. In part, a lack of representation in medieval popular culture is responsible for this perception. Contemporary chronicles and biographies that include childhood details are few and far between. Literature of the times rarely touched on the heros tender years, and medieval artwork offering visual clues about children other than the Christ Child is almost nonexistent. This lack of representation in and of itself has led some observers to conclude that children were of limited interest, and therefore of limited importance, to medieval society at large. On the other hand, it is important to remember that medieval society was primarily an agrarian one. And the family unit made the agrarian economy work. From an economic standpoint, nothing was more valuable to a peasant family than sons to help with the plowing and daughters to help with the household. To have children were, essentially, one of the primary reason to marry.   Among the nobility, children would perpetuate the family name and increase the familys holdings through advancement in service to their liege lords and through advantageous marriages. Some of these unions were planned while the bride and groom-to-be were still in the cradle. In the face of these  facts,  it is difficult to argue that people of the Middle Ages were any less aware that children were their future then people are aware today that children are the future of the modern world.   Question of Affection Few aspects of life in the  Middle Ages  can be more difficult to determine than the nature and depth of the emotional attachments made among family members. It is perhaps natural for us to assume that in a society that placed a high value on its younger members, most parents loved their children. Biology alone would suggest a bond between a child and the mother who nursed him or her. And yet, it has been theorized that affection was largely lacking in the medieval household. Some of the reasons that have been put forward to support this notion include rampant infanticide, high infant mortality, the use of child labor and extreme discipline.   Further Reading If you are interested in the topic of childhood in medieval times,  Growing Up in Medieval London: The Experience of Childhood in History  by Barbara A. Hanawalt,  Medieval Children  by Nicholas Orme, Marriage and the Family in the Middle Ages by Joseph Gies and Frances Gies and The Ties that Bound by Barbara Hanawalt may be good reads for you.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Blogs Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Blogs - Article Example The consumer knowledge leads to active role of the consumers in putting forward relevant queries on the products sold and also clears any confusion that may be present in the minds of the purchasers. China, for example has overtaken the US in the automobile market sales in 2009. This is due to the fact that with the spread of globalization, the Chinese consumers have become increasingly knowledgeable and aware about the automobile products. The tastes and preferences in the market have become rationale due to the aspect of consumer knowledge. The availability of information with the customers prior to the point of transaction provides an idea on the value of the product and also judges the aspects of price, economy, efficiency and product safety. Thus consumer knowledge enables to take informed decisions and influences the purchase behavior. Is impulse buying really impulsive? There are many instances happening around us where it could be observed that customers take decisions of pur chase just by looking at the product. It apparently looks as if the customer had no intentions of purchase just a few moments back but suddenly decides to buy the product. Researches on impulse buying suggest that these impulses exhibited by the customers are primarily the effects of underlying emotions and feelings or sentiments that are instigated at the occurrence of a specific event. This means that the intentions of obtaining the product features are hidden which comes out due to the impulse of a certain incident. It would be unreasonable to think that the customers have never experienced such emotions or feelings before and that sudden flow of emotion and feeling has led to the purchase of the product. The marketing specialists look to utilize the impulse buying behavior of the consumers in order to increase the sell of their products. For example, a customer going to purchase clothes and garments is not likely to buy cakes and chocolates. However, marketers adopt the techniqu es to bring out the basic needs and desires of the customers in order to influence impulse buying. The chocolates, cakes, fashionable toys are displayed in the counters. The electronic items and accessories may be wrapped up with national flags of a particular country. By looking at these items, some customers experience sudden flow of emotions and passion. This leads to the intent of purchase and thus influences the purchase decision. Market segmentation methods vary from one company to another The companies are better off in targeting a segment of the market rather than focusing on the entire market. This would lead to a more profitable and sustainable business as the product and services offered by a company may not fulfill the needs of the broader market (Kotler 15). In order to narrow down on the market segment whose needs are fulfilled by its products and services, an analysis of the target market segment is necessary. The cost of the marketing and promotion of its products an d services are reduced and increased revenues are earned by the company from the identified market segment. The companies undertake market segmentation based on the features of their offered products. For example, a merchant selling umbrellas and water-proof jackets may divide the market based on

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Movie crash Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Movie crash - Essay Example Racist families inculcate racial believes in their children too and thus throughout their growing period they are trained to become racist however this believe is rejected in the Movie crash where Dillon who was extremely close to his father, whereas his father was not racist at all. Dillon became racist due to the negative experiences he had with his father along with him being a member of LAPD which actually gave birth to his negativity against blacks. There is another scene in the movie depicting the general behavior of US people where a Persian family went to purchase a gun, and the person selling the gun made some racist comments and also spoke about the twin towers and 9/11 incident blaming the Middle Eastern people for that and calling all of them racist. Generally people use such events like 9/11 in order to show their own personal anger and frustration towards different ethnic groups. Sandra Bullock’s character also spoke about the relationship which is shared between the white and black people, where she says that generally if women see black men coming, they will change their way and be called racist however when Sandra did not do that she was caught up with a gun in his head. It is the general concept which is in the heads of US people where all the black men are suppose to be criminals, drug dealers and also thugs. This stereotyping has affected many innocent African Americans as well. Another important black character in the movie was of Ludacris who use to steal cars from white people. Movie also reveals that the stereotyping is not restricted to skin tones only , it is also an integral part of the social class of the people of the US. Cameron is another black character who achieved a lot of success and he was a hardworking man however he was also badly treated by his wife and also his white producer. Cameron was earning a lot of money but for that he was suppose to live a life like a black man but still he always remembered this in

Saturday, November 16, 2019

The Vinland Voyages Essay Example for Free

The Vinland Voyages Essay The Vikings history refers to sagas, which are the old stories written in the Norwegian language that read more like fairy tales than history books. The Vikings these sagas refer to are larger than life, more caricature or super hero than historical figure. This has left many people wondering if Vikings were real or if the stories are just fictional tales written by authors with wonderful imaginations. Twentieth century historians began to recognize that this saga’s held valuable information about the history of the past and were more than simple stories (Brooks 1986). Americans celebrates Columbus Day and it is well accepted but the general population, that Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492. However, historical and archeological research shows clearly that there were explorers in America long before Columbus. Scholars agree, that the Vikings were the first Europeans to arrive in North America, and did so centuries before Christopher Columbus (Jones 2001). Half a century before Christopher Columbus is said to have discovered America, Viking sea captain and explorer, Leif Erickson and his crew, landed is what is thought to be Newfoundland, Canada. Eriksson called the new land Vinland (Nichol 2003). While there is some debate as to the meaning of the name, a quote form a saga indicates that the name is related to the native grapes. † So is said, that their aft-boat was filled with grapes. Now was hewn a lading for the ship. And when spring came, they made ready and sailed away; and gave Leif name to the land after the lands products and called it Wineland† (The Flatey Book, Translation of the Saga of Eric the Rd). The first written documentation of Vinland was found in a work by historian Adam of Bremen and was written in the year 1075 (Bolls 1986). Another major source of information regarding Vinland comes from two well known sagas; the Saga of Eric the Red and from the Saga of the Greenlanders. These works were not written until the 13th century, hundreds of years after the actual events so there is some question of their reliability or accuracy (Jones 2001). However, they are the main written documentation for this period and historians have relied on the saga’s to paint the picture of the Viking voyage to North America and discovery of Vinland (Jones 2001). Though the Vikings did not make Vinland a permanent home, the Viking influence is clearly documented in North America (Brooks 1986). There has been substantial research into the Viking history and contribution to North America and it is surprising to learn of the discoveries by archeologists now, more than 1000 years later (Jones 2001). Moving from their Scandinavian roots of Norway, Denmark and Sweden was no small feat. The Vikings plodded along that journey to North America over the course of about 200 years (Jones 2001). History of the Vikings Vikings developed into a clearly defined faction of people in approximately the year 780. Vikings can be traced to their roots in Denmark, Norway and Sweden, though it is primarily the Norwegian faction that made the choice to travel west. Their language had Germanic roots. The Viking Age is considered to be the period from approximately 800 – 1050 AD (Fitzhigh 2000)The time period from the earliest recorded raids in the 790s until the Norman Conquest of England d in 1066 is commonly called the Viking Age (Jones 2001). During the Viking Age, Scandinavia expansion was at its height. Historians point to a variety of reasons that he Vikings might have moved from their Scandinavian countries. The expansion in ship construction and the ability to go to sea opened up explorations opportunities. At that time, they were able to go beyond the boundaries of their small countries. With the abilities to build large ships that could hold large numbers of people and plenty of goods to trade with other colonies, came a desire to explore the larger world. The Vikings developed an expertise, now legendary, for navigating the seas (Fitzhugh). The first Vikings ships are dated back to the years between 800-900 AD in Norway and appeared to be much more advanced that those made throughout the rest of Europe. Originally, the ships were powered by rows but later, sails were developed. The Vikings were the first group to utilize sail to power their vessels (Fitzhugh). Vikings developed excellent navigational skills. They relied on the sun, moon and the stars and learned how to note wave patterns in the sea as well as the particular fish or birds in the areas to help find their way across the seas. . Vikings also honed skills as traders and entrepreneurs (Fitzhugh). Vikings lived in Scandinavia for longer than one thousand years. With the increase in population the people had a natural desire to explore and began to develop the skills and means to do so. The Vikings were a vibrant community with a strong culture of myths, and the gods in which they believed. The Viking belief in gods was similar to that of Greeks mythology. The stories of the gods had them appear quite humanlike. Viking culture consisted of the nobles, and the freeman in addition to slaves. The nobles became the leader and kings. The freeman were the tradesman, farmers and craftsmen. They were landowners. The slaves were the people the Vikings captured on their explorations to other areas and then brought home with them. Historically, Viking lived in long wooden structures called longhouses. They often added on to these structures and one longhouse could include several generations of family. Women in the Viking era were free to choose their own husbands and could leave their husbands if they choose to. The women were respected for their ability to care for farms and homes. During this time of seafaring exploration and cultural expansion is when the Vikings earned the reputation of raiders and pirates. They were reported to frequent the unlocked churches that they came across along the costal towns of French, Germany and England and steel from them. Vikings as Seafarers Much of what is now known about Viking ship building was learned as a result of the discovery of ancient burial groups in Norway. This find included ships that were well enough preserved to provide insight to the Viking technology. Additional discoveries have since been made that provide even more detail. As the ships were made of wood, archaeologist are able to use tree rings to date the ships. The Viking ships were manufactured with iron, which allowed the ships to withstand the salt water of the sea and made long ravel possible. The iron was what made the difference from previous boats, to Viking ships. The Vikings were able to build large ships that could haul large numbers of people and livestock as well as other goods to trade. It took the people of the region to new areas where they could explore and trade goods. The men of this region learned ship building as a matter of course, as women learned weaving. With the availability of wood and iron and the skills to build, larger number of people had access to ship building and trade. The Vikings that traveled west were primarily Norwegian and began with settlements in Britain. These Vikings came with farming skills as well as goods to trade. The goods they brought included fur, wool and ivory. The Vikings then landed in Iceland in approximately 870 and they grew in population to over 30,000 in that area during the first 50 years. The Norwegian exploration resulted in an ongoing relationship of trade and communication as emigration between Norway, Britain and Iceland. The exploration to Greenland began around the year 982. The story of the Vikings in Vineland begins with the ongoing desire of the Vikings for more land and the banishment of Eric Thorvaldson or Eric the Red from Norway. Thorvald and his son Eric the Red were forced to leave Norway due to involvement in apparent murders They found themselves in Iceland and Eric the Red married a woman named Thjohild . Eric and Thjohild had a son, the very well known historical figure, Leif Eriksson. Eventually Eric was expelled from Iceland as a result of more violence and in 982 headed west, settling his family in Greenland (Fitzhugh). The Vikings at that time, had control over areas in England, Ireland, Scotland and France before moving on to Iceland and Greenland. Old Viking stories claim that Eric enticed people to Greenland with the name, which implied warmer weather and a positive place to settle. He was able to recruit more than 450 people for the original settlement. According to records of the climate at that time, this was a warmer period for Greenland and the colonies that developed were successful raising livestock, trading walrus tusks as well as farming (Fitzhugh 2000). Another Viking captain, Bjarni Herjolfsson was lost at sea when on a trip to visit his father in Greenland and it is thought that he may have landed in North America for a time. He eventually did find his way to Greenland and told everyone about the land he had discovered while he was off course Leif Eriksson was curious and decided that he would plan an expedition to the new land and was able to recruit a group of men to come with him. When Leif Erikson and his crew found the new land, he named it Vineland, because the land was covered in vines. He enjoyed Vineland and stayed there for a several months. Leif along with his sister Freydis and brother Thorvals, are thought to be perhaps the first Europeans in North America in approximately 1000 A. D. The Vineland Leif Erickson visited, was already establish as a colony by another group. The Vikings called them barbarians. The Vikings left as they were so clearly outnumbered and not prepared to battle The Vikings of the time continued to visit Vinland for goods and resources that were not as plentiful in Greenland. Eric the Red ruled Greenland until his death in 1003, at which time his son Leif Ericsson took over the leadership of Greenland. In approximately 1020 A. D. , Leifs son. Thorgills Leifsson took over as the ruler of Greenland. Leif Erickson, or â€Å"Leif the Lucky â€Å"as he later became know as a result of his successful voyages, is responsible for bringing Christian missionaries to Greenland. While the stories we hear of Vikings lead one to believe that they were violent and aggressive warriors, there is also a history of assimilating with the new lands and of embracing new cultures and ideas. Leif Ericsson Leif Ericsson is the central figure n all stories and histories regarding the Vikings and North America. He was the oldest of four children. Leif was probably thirty years old when he took his crew on the trip west in the year 1001 and found Vinland. Historians today believe that Ericsson probably landed first on Baffin Islands, Markland and Labrador before settling in Vinland for a period of several years. The settlement they established became known as Leifrsbudir. The term Leifsbudir likely refers to Leif’s booths. Leif accepted Christianity during a year long trip to Norway on an earlier voyage where he went to visit the King Olav with the goal of improving his power and reputation. When he returned back to Greenland his father refused Christianity though his mother converted quickly. She was responsible for the building of the first Christian church in Greenland. The exploration led by Leif Ericsson to North America is documented primarily in the Vinland Saga, which include the Saga of Greenland and he Saga of Eric the Red. These stories were written in the 13th centaury as the result of history passed down through the years. In the twentieth century, when the stories were linked with ht e actual archeological discoveries in Newfoundland, Viking history began to take shape and gain acceptance as actual history and not just tales. Leif Ericsson’s interest in exploring further west began with the stories he heard earlier from Bjarni Herjolfsson, who told Leif of the land he saw while going off course during his travel to Greenland. Leif Ericsson purchased the boat from Herjollllfsson and with a crew of 35, set sail to find he land he had heard about (Vesilind 2000). They found the new land to be an easier lifestyle, with easier winters and plentiful timber, lakes to fish and good land to farm. The land he named Vinland was referred to as Vinland the Good. Leif Ericssons brother Thorvald returned to Vinland in 1003 ands was killed during a fight with the native people. Leif’s other brother sailed to Vinland in 1005, but dies in a storms while at sea. His sister, Freydis later went to Vinland with plans to set up a trade arrangement. She was less than honest with her partners and then had them murdered. She returned to Greenland and went unpunished, as her brother Leif was the leader of Greenland at the time (Vesilind 2000). Location The exact location of Vineland has not been established by archaeologists. The Viking stories talked about long days of mild weather and wild grapes. Artifacts from the Vikings have been found in a number of locations including Cape Cod and in Virginia. Newfoundland, in Canada has established the remnants of a Viking community but, Newfoundland does not have the abundance of grapes growing wild. Some historian believe that Vineland was not actually named for grapes, but that â€Å"vin† had a different meaning to the Vikings, possibly referring to grazing lands (Jones 2001). It has also been suggested that what the stories refer to, were not grapes, but possibly berries. However, research on the climate at that time show that though there are not wild grapes growing in New Foundland today, the climate up until the 17th century would have sustained wild grapes, and in fact did (Vesilind 2000). In the search by historians to determine where exactly the land known as Vineland was located, there was some skepticism that Vikings could have crossed the Atlantic Ocean in those days, with their ship technology. It is estimated that the voyage between Greenland and Vineland would have taken up to two weeks. However, findings of he historic ships in Norway give credibility to the idea that the Viking ships could withstand the journey (Vesilind 2000). In the 1950’s, an historian named Munn provided an argument stating that the areas of L’Anse-aux-Meadows in Newfoundland is the actual site of the Vikings Vinland. Fifty years later, archeological digs would confirm his theory with evidence in the way of Viking artifacts that confirm a settlement in that area. Helge Ingstadd was a Norwegian researcher who had dedicated much of his career to Viking explorations (Jones 2001). He completed the most thorough review of the Vinland Voyages available and was meticulous in his research. Before coming to Newfoundland, he researched areas of Rhode Island, Cape Cod, and Nova Scotia. When he determined that Newfoundland held the best possibility of being the actual Viking landing spot, he brought in an exploration party. Ingstadd noted some faint lines on the contours of land in that area that made curious about what might lie below (Fitzhugh 2000). Ingstad found the wall of a longhouse and other remnants during that first dig and then returned again a couple of years later to uncover more evidence. Helge Ingstad found the remnants of a Viking settlement in Newfoundland. He discovered proof that what stood on the ground around the year 1000 AD were sod longhouses. The houses did not have foundations, which led Ingstad to the conclusion hat they were meant as temporary structures rather than permanent housing. One of the houses contained evidence of an iron smith setup. Ingstad’s discovery also included evidence that women had accompanied the Viking men on the voyages to Vinland as there were weaving tools used by women in that day. There have been additional discoveries since the time of Helge Ingstad’s discovery that further support the Viking contact with North America long before Christopher Columbus.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

The Hunger Games Trilogy Essay -- The Hunger Games Essays

â€Å"Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor.†, a very well known quote from the book series The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, Pg 19). The Hunger Games Trilogy written by Suzeanne Collins has become enormously popular. The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay are the three works that make up the series. A major motion picture was released titled The Hunger Games, after the first book in the series, and it instantly became a box office hit. Those who have not read the books may be left wondering why a book series focused on kids ages 12-18 are put into an arena and fight to the death is creating such a commotion. Not only are the books popular among adolescents, many adults have also found the series captivating as well. With books so focused on violence, there must be an underlying factor that draws readers in and makes them feel so passionately about the characters in these books. In all three books, but particularly in the first, Suzeanne Colli ns captivates readers by creating such vivid and emotional relationships between the characters. Suspense is created by the anticipation of not knowing what will happen between the characters. A strong bond between sisters, a broken mother-daughter relationship, and a love triangle are some of the main relationships built and focused upon throughout the book that draw readers in. The main character Katniss Everdeen has a very strong and powerful relationship with her younger sister, Prim. When their father died in a mining accident and their mother slipped into depression, Katniss took responsibility for Prim and became her main source of protection and stability. It is very apparent from the very beginning of the book that Katniss is extremely protective of Pri... ...ident Snow; newcomer Amanda Stenberg as Katniss' young ally, Rue; or the various other young tributes who die one by one, gives their all to this captivating commentary on government, entertainment, and self-identity. The Hunger Games is violent, but in a heartbreaking way that will both make audiences think and count the days until Catching Fire is in theaters (Hunger Games Tops Average April). Works Cited Collins, Suzanne. Catching Fire. New York: Scholastic, 2009. Print. Collins, Suzanne. Mockingjay. New York: Scholastic, 2010. Print. Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games. New York: Scholastic, 2008. Print. "The Hunger Games." Commonsensemedia.org. Web. 04 May 2012. . "'Hunger Games' Tops Average April." Boxofficemojo.com. Web. 04 May 2012. .

Monday, November 11, 2019

Marriage boundaries Essay

Important boundary principles helps couples build a strong marriage for the goodness of the family without compromising on their freedom, truth or integrity. Marriage boundaries may either be physical or emotional depending on how they are drafted by the two individuals. The physical boundaries entail the protection of the marriage from intruders (parents, in-laws, other people, external affairs or even children to some extent) who might disrupt the normal activities within the marriage. Emotional boundaries are complex to define and are usually confined to personal feelings, sexual satisfaction and how to deal with issues that may affect the family. In any perspective, marriage boundaries help to ensure that ea thriving family is achieved. There is other various marriage boundaries which dictate the extent to which the couple in the marriage are suppose to meet. These boundaries might range from sexual, family or societal relations which explain that married couples should remain as faithful as possible to each other. Unfaithfulness is believed to be the main contributor to marriage breakups and high divorce rates currently being experienced. Marriage identity Marriage identity is the legal aspect of the union between the two couples. Married people identify themselves as one and are related through love. Partners usually identify themselves as a family when children come to the scene . People marry either in a religious, social or judicial system and are awarded a marriage certificate. This is the legal identity in a marriage setting that identifies two people-husband and wife. Some societies also use children as an identity of their marriage and the family at large. These groups of people name their children after their parents. This will ensure that there is continuity of the family values and history for the generations to come Alliances Alliances in a marriage are very common these days due to increased collaboration of couples through religious, educational or geographical groupings. These alliances are can be good or bad for the family. Alliances can also be through corporations with the grandparents, extended family members and the community in general. Depending on the type of alliance developed in the marriage, good values or norms may be possible to be obtained. Some people in the alliance might use it as a weapon to ‘kill’ the morale of the other couple assuming that couples form alliances with one another (group marriage). There is always the issue of mistrust and spreading of propaganda among people in an alliance and the consequences are usually dire to the existence of a marriage Spouse differences Differences between the spouses may lead to family breakups . Spouse differences may come as a result of financial misappropriations or lack of it. In many societies, the spouses are taught to remain together as a couple despite the challenges that might be faced. Other wide and complicated factors have recently contributed to the emergence of spouse differences especially if they are not sorted out during courtship. Family differences and cultural disparities are the most common ones. It is also possible that the each partner in the marriage could associate himself or herself with a specific political group which may not be meaningful to the other partner. Such simple issues may result in huge misunderstandings in the marriage and by default the family at large. Many and more parents are increasingly incorporation their married children to their own settings so that they may be taught how to handle each other. Although this may be considered interference from the parents and the fact that those marrying are already grownups and can take care of them, it is important for the development of the family marriage Marriage economics Marriage economics is an issue that may in one way or another affect the family. Most cultures, historically makes sure that the family of the husband pays dowry to the family of the wife. Dowry is considered a token or gift for the wife’s family in order to allow the parents of the lady to have a ‘compensation’. Other cultures require that the family of the bride pays dowry to the family of the man marrying their daughter. But in both cases, the family of the groom and the family of the bride do the financial transactions without involving the bride. Recently issues of financial management between a husband and a wife have become a subject of discussion. People argue that the couple should have a joint account in order to make any financial decisions together. Excessive perfectionism Any marriage ensures that the families resulting from it benefit squarely. Children are the ‘fruits’ of the marriage and with that, the couple may want the children to live happily in future by investing in their good upbringing, education, behaviors, financial investments etc. In that process, there is a temptation of the parents to be over protective. Each of the partners would want to play their part in the child protection, upbringing and other roles of within the marital boundaries. Studies have shown that irresponsible children will most likely become irresponsible parents in future Marriage roles Marriage roles are dependent on the kind family it is considered. In a polygamous family, the father is the sole provider of the whole family and gets support from the wives. But in a monogamous marriage, the husband and wife share most of the roles. The husband in a traditional society is given more roles; security, provision of basic needs, building the houses among others. The wife on the other hand sires the children, prepare food and ensure that all household work is perfectly done. With increased levels of education, modernization and equality activists, things are changing and the roles of each member of the family is becoming insignificant. Marriage rules Depending on the two married partners, rules may differ from one marriage setting to the other. A marriage counselor once said that ‘the Dutch soccer principle’ applies in marriage. This principle means that any player can attack when an opportunity strikes and any player can defend when there is need to. The same applies in married where the husband or the wife can do the ‘attacking’ and ‘defending’ when necessary. Marriage rules are defined religiously, socially or legally through set policies by the government. Religious groups believe that the bible outlines how a husband and a wife must live together in harmony. One of the ten commandments of the bible clearly describes how one shall not covet his or her neighbor’s wife or practice any form of adultery, it is considered to be sin. Individuals also set their own marriage rules when they are beginning their married life i. e. to be faithful, committed, loving and considerate to each other.