Martin Guerre

The book â€Å"Martin Guerre† written by Natalie Zemon Davis' is about a French peasant of the 16th century, who was at the core of an eminent case of masquerade.   Natalie Zemon Davis is a historian and an American feminist of early contemporary France. Her major interests are in cultural and social history particularly of those formerly disregarded by the historians. In her book she discusses about the peasant life because according to her the most striking think about peasant life in sixteenth century, France was that marriage was primarily an economic and business relationship. It seemed to be used simply to unite familial lands and provide continuity in the family. Even though most, if not the entire, would presume the lives of peasants are unimportant in the superior system of things, the admired tale of Martin Guerre gives details of workers or peasants creating important, life-altering verdicts founded on egotism. The individual existance of the peasants does make a distinction. The author Natalie Zemon Davis narrates the story of peasants take care of themselves and seldom do they permit others to get in the way with their own aims, ambitions and objectives. She tries to fill in the fissure of the narrative with her personal view and opinion; even though, her judgment at times opposes the contemporaries of the tale. Numerous sources utilized by Natalie Davis are reasonably sound; but, several other sources elevate queries of their own genuineness and deep feeling. The novelist also takes a cavernous look into the lives of the peasants to investigate what coerces them and what so fervently fuels their idiosyncratic desires. The book details the life of the peasants in not only one specific place, but also details the customs of numerous places such as Hendaye, Artigat, and the court at Rieux in a contrast/compare style. It builds a world of stairs where those on the lowest rung are always looking somewhere higher up, yet they are always able to keep a taut rein on their lives. The characters of this tale are brought to a startling realism and gives details of every possible thought and action that could have led them down the path that they chose, and even speculates on alternatives to the choice they made. The author shows the life of the real Martin Guerre as full of regret and disgust at things gone wrong. His wife, Bertrande de Rols, is expressed as a manipulator that is always weighing her options and scheming to rise ahead. Subsequently, there is Arnaud du Tilh; without his appearance, no story would have likely taken place because it took a man of his shrewdness and his love of vice to create such a fantastical plot. Despite the fact that Arnaud was â€Å"the man for whom [Bertrande] felt†¦a great and joyous passion† (Davis 1983), she couldn't stay contentedly with him. She was a very strong catholic who could not accept â€Å"the shadow of sin and danger which accompanied [Arnaud]†(Davis 1983), even though he made her happier than Martin ever could or would have. In an era where women were indeed oppressed in a male-dominated society, it is understandable that a woman like Bertrande would have feelings of anger towards her oppressors. It is certain that she feels anger and a kind of hatred towards Arnaud, saying that â€Å"[she] has not demanded his death, but now [she] must demand it† (Davis 1983). It is possible that Arnaud is ‘copping the brunt' of all of her hardships that came about after Martin left her. A person might think that Bertrand’s triumph would at last bestow her liberty and trustworthiness. On the contrary, she is given the opposed â€Å"harsh, solitary justice†. No one in actual fact cares that she was true, and no one tries to stop her at the time she goes away. If ethical impartiality had been attained, she (Bertrande) would not have been in the place where she ended up. Frances and Joseph Geis elucidate comprehensively the traditions of family and matrimony during the 16th century. In the middle Ages, the majority of the peasants did not have proper matrimonial vows performed in church. As an alternative, they promise (or vow) to each other to reside as ordinary and bylaw wife and husband. Ceremony was not compulsory because peasants did not possess land; they worked on the property of the aristocracy as occupant cultivators or farmers. Matrimonial customs transformed in the 16th   century due to the peasant's capability to possess property, due to which parents persevered on having further control over their progeny’s matrimonial options. â€Å"Love may do much, but money more.† This was a popular proverb among peasants in 16th century France. This quote characterizes peasant life in all aspects and the same has been described in the book. Though the world offered much to its citizens, the peasants always wanted more; they wanted more money, which would in turn, provide more power. Whatever is beneficial to them, they seek without regards as to the effects it would have on others. In this age of France, trade between villages and towns was bountiful. This emphasis put on business reveals the peasant motto â€Å"but money more†; many believed trading would bring them, greater riches and opportunity. Marriage was a major vessel used by peasants, by which they sought out power and wealth. One such example is the marriage of Bertrande de Rols and Martin Guerre. The Guerre's attempted to use their son, Martin, to make connections with a significant, prominent family in the society of Artigat. They hoped that this new bonding would help them make vital connections to a higher class of peasant. Although it was shunned by most in the Catholic Church and by attorneys consensual marriage was legal and only required the bride and groom to agree on it. It was usually eschewed because it did not give the families any voice in the matter. However, most marriages were arranged by the parents. The main purpose of the marriage was to produce children; love was not a factor. The more children (especially males) a family has, the greater fortune it will likely bring to the family. A childless marriage was grounds for a divorce at this time; without children, a marriage, in essence, has no purpose. Many people simply did not find that their present situation was going well. Many departed themselves from reality by joining the army (this was common due to the current war between France and Spain). Others did not take such a drastic step; they simply picked up everything they owned and moved to a new village to start a new life in hopes of better fortune. Around this time, as ideas moved about rather swiftly due to peasant migration, Protestantism arose to challenge the authority of Catholicism. Peasants broke into church buildings and smashed images of the saints and other artwork. Protestantism found its fuel in its central doctrines: such as scripture being open to individual interpretation. Peasants saw these doctrines as loopholes and alternatives to the harsh, Catholic teachings. The courts, at this time, were attempting to instill the public with more conservative decisions that would favor marriage to divorce and put an emphasis on the familial unit, especially the children; this they did in hopes of ending decisions based solely on self-interest. There are scenarios where execution is used as a form of punishment for adultery. Davis accentuates the generalities of medieval life in France and also provides particularities, such as the property of Pansette staying within his family instead of going to the king, as was the custom. A desire to attain one's own interests so eagerly is proven repeatedly by Davis as though she is obviously attempting to lead us in that direction by her outlook on this part of the past. BIBLIOGRAPHY Davis, Natalie, The Return of Martin Guerre, Harvard University Press, 1983, ISBN, 0 14 00,7593 3 Original Literary Source Lewis, Janet. Retour de Martin Guerre, Le      

How the Characters of Macbeth and the Duke in My Last Duchess Can Be Considered to Be Disturbed Characters Essay

I am examining the characters of the Duke and Macbeth and how they can be considered disturbed characters. The play, ‘Macbeth’ and poem, ‘My Last Duchess’ both show psychological truths and insights into the characters. While the Duke shows himself to be disturbed straight away in the poem, Macbeth’s mental deterioration takes place and develops as the play proceeds. ‘Macbeth’ written by William Shakespeare and set in 1050 contains themes of status, power and death while ‘My Last Duchess’ by Robert Browning written in 1842 shows how status, wealth and the marriage market can affect a man’s life. Macbeth at first is a well-respected and liked character. He shows himself to be ‘brave’ and is given the position of the ‘Thane of Cawdor’. However when Banquo and Macbeth meet the witches in Act 1, Scene 3, he starts to become obsessed with power, ‘The greatest is behind’. This line sugg ests that Macbeth believes that he will become more powerful in terms of his social status, establishing that he believes the witch’s predictions to be true. In this scene Shakespeare uses the weather to affect the atmosphere and tone that the scene portrays to the audience. ‘Thunder’ is used to indicate the seriousness of the scene in terms of Macbeth’s future. However the thunder could also be seen as God showing his displeasure with Macbeth’s choice to listen to and believe the witches. In 1050 people believed in witches, but believed powers to see into the future or predictions, like the prophecy from the witches, came from the devil. The belief the witches and predictions were real, led the events that take place later in the play. Macbeth’s superstition show some insight into his mind-set as it was considered unholy to believe in anything but God. People in the 11th century would see Macbeth as disturbed as he believed in a divine intervention that isn’t his God, however now society would consider Macbeth to be troubled for believing in witches. Shakespeare uses iambic pentameter to show the tension and eventual guilt that Macbeth feels in Act 2, Scene 2 during a dialogue with Lady Macbeth. The couple share lines which changes the speed and tone of their conversation. ‘Did not you speak? When? Now. As I descended?’ The playwright uses short sentences and sharing lines to show that they are having a tense argument. The dialogue also displays how Lady Macbeth can assert control over her husband. ‘You do unbend the noble, strength to think’ as she considered him to be a ‘coward.’ Lady Macbeth’s language towards Macbeth is negative as she believes her husband is too weak to fulfil the predications of the witches and make her Queen. However Macbeth’s dilemma is obvious as he is planning to kill the King and his guilt over his plan makes this a key scene in Macbeth’s mental deterioration. The monarch in the early 11th was to be respected and people believed were divine rulers picked by God. By choosing to go against God and his King, Macbeth displays his want or obsession for power. Macbeth also reveals how disturbed he is in Act 3, Scene 4 and Act 2, Scene 1. In both scenes, Macbeth sees ghosts of hallucinations of a dagger and Banquo. His soliloquy about the dagger illustrates a guilty conscience and conflicted mind. ‘I have thee not, and yet I see thee still’ expresses that Macbeth is un-nerved and feels pressured into doing what his wife wants. Act 3, Scene 4 has a dramatic irony as Macbeth and the audience know that Macbeth murdered Banquo but the Thanes do not. Banquo can be considered a physical manifestation of his guilt, worry and remorse. The ghost never speaks; Shakespeare uses Banquo to confirm the feelings of Macbeth about the murder. It shows the extent of how conflicted he is about the death of Banquo and how power has gone to his head. Shakespeare’s use of dramatic irony reveals to the audience what others can’t see. In Act 3, Scenes 3-4, it is revealed that Banquo has been killed. However the other Thanes do not know this. The scenes also reveal a symbolic fall from grace in terms of the social aspect of Macbeth’s life. When Macbeth was a Thane, he socialised with people who were above his social status. However as King, there is no-one who has a higher status than his which then leads Macbeth to associate with people of a lower class than the people he is obligated to. When talking to the murderers it is pointed out that ‘there is blood upon thy face’ which shows that Macbeth instigated the murder of a friends. The two scenes symbolise how Macbeth has become infatuated with power and is willing to do anything to keep it. This exhibits his obsessive nature. Macbeth’s use of language in Act 5, Scene 5 infers that life is pointless. He suggests that life until we die means no thing. ‘Creeps in this petty pace from day To the last syllable of recorded time.’ During this scene he finds out Lady Macbeth died, showing the extent that he relies on his wife. Shakespeare uses the scene to tell the audience that you can’t control destiny and what happens in life. This relates to his disturbed mind as he tried to control his destiny. An emphasis is put on the fact the word ‘tomorrow’ is repeated. It implies that Macbeth won’t have a ‘tomorrow.’ Shakespeare uses language to show how much Macbeth has changed throughout the play. At first he was a respected character and gradually becomes more disturbed. Thus scene suggests that he is essentially lost and resigned to his fate. The Duke however is a possessive and materialistic character. This is shown through the title ‘My Last Duchess’. ‘My’ displays how even in death his last wife belongs to him even she won’t be his ‘Last Duchess’. The title also displays a theme of the marriage market and the ownership of women. This poem is set in Victorian times when women were considered and treated as trophy and weren’t given a choice in any aspect of his life. This can be referred back to his earlier statement of Ã¢â‚¬Ë œsince none puts by the curtain I have drawn for you but I).’ Browning’s use of personal pro-nouns such as ‘I’, and ‘My’ shows how possessive the Duke is. He only drew back the curtain to show off his most prized possession, his last wife. His need to control who sees the painting and his wife demonstrates the obsessive and disturbed nature of the Duke straight away, unlike Macbeth’s who’s mental state deteriorates throughout the text. The entire poem is an example of dramatic monologue. Through this, the Duke reveals what he thought of his last wife. It is one very long conversation, show the reader insights into the Dukes personal life and feeling. ‘Who’d stoop to blame this sort of trifling?’ The Duke feels that his wife disregards his ‘gift of a nine-hundred-year old name’ and prefers insignificant gifts such as ‘the bough of cherries’ or the ‘white mule.’ Through his later statement, he tries to make excuses for killing his wife. Browning uses enjambment to give the impression of a continued speech. When read aloud, this makes it hard to read the poem without stopping and starting as well as seeming arrogant as if boasting the Dukes achievements. Browning also shows that by commenting on certain subjects; in this instance his wife, can reveal more about the person making the comments than the subject itself. The Duke is materialistic, possessive and likes to show off. ‘(Since none puts by the curtain I have drawn for you).’ He believes the envoy should be honoured to see a painting of his wife by ‘Fra Pandolf.’ The Duke displays his need to control his wife and what they are doing through his control of the curtain that hides his wife. Furthermore, he has control over whether people see the painting and it symbolises his need for control, over his life and others. He uses artwork to control the uncontrollable such as his wife’s affections and others admiration. He reveals more than he intends to when he implies that he murdered his wife. ‘Then the smiles stopped altogether.’ It develops the idea that the term disturbed, for the Duke, means that he needs to be in control or he ‘commands’ for her to be killed or disposed of. Another interpretation of this quote could be that he locked ‘Fra Pandolf’ and his ‘Last Duchess’ up because the painter may have caused the ‘half-flush that dies along her throat’ In ‘My Last Duchess,’ Browning’s use of language indicates that while the words are polite, the meanings behind them are savage. The use of caesura cuts the poetry in half and the use of dashes dictates the Dukes tone. ‘I gave commands; Then all smiles stopped.’ While the line itself seems meaningless, his earlier statements such as ‘looking as if she were alive’ and ‘blame this sort of trifling’ gives the impression that he murdered or imprisoned his wife. Browning purposely uses the next lines to show the Duke has given to much away, ‘Will’t thee please rise?’ This refers to his psychological state as he has revealed that he doesn’t care about killing his spouse but he is worried about revealing too much to an envoy. An emphasis is put on his quick change of topic through the use of caesura, ‘As if alive. Will’t thee†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ It cuts the poetry in half and shows he has revealed too much into his personal life. After quickly changing the subject the Duke goes back to showing of his wealth. The final lines of the poem show a powerful image, ‘Notice Neptune, though. Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity.’ The imagery represents a man taming a woman, which suggests to the reader that women are inferior to men. A different perspective could be that women are animals that need to be tamed. The poem was written in 1842 when women were considered inferior to men and the image of Neptun e and his sea-horse represents this. The Duke once again returns to possessions, with all his money and power, he can’t buy love. The Duke doesn’t realise how much of himself he has given away throughout the criticism of his wife. It suggests that part of his disturbed nature comes from not have affection. The Duke and Macbeth are both similar characters as they both hold a high status and money. However while the ‘Thane of Cawdor’ and eventually ‘the King of Scotland’ holds his wife in high regard, the Duke is disrespectful towards his. A theme of both the poem and the play is how women act and how they were treated. In ‘My Last Duchess,’ the wife acts like a traditional wife in the 1800’s. She seems to be modest, ‘half flush that dies along her throat’ and easily pleased, ‘She looked on and her looks went everywhere.’ Women at the time were considered possessions and trophies by their father and later their husband. In contrast, Lady Macbeth is revealed to be the dominant partner. In Act 1, Scene 5, Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are discussing murdering King Duncan. She asserts her control over him insults him and tells him not to give anything away. ‘Your face, my thane, is a book where men May read strange matters.’ Shakespeare depicts Lady Macbeth as an equal in her relationship, while Browning presents the Duchess as an obedient wife.

It's a history class (Final Exam (Take Home), 30%) Essay

It's a history class (Final Exam (Take Home), 30%) - Essay Example In his book, he claimed that Africa had no future of its own yet, but only that of Europeans in the continent (Trevor-Roper et al 72). After much research into the past of the African people before colonization, it has been found that the views of these two men were to say the least, misplaced, deceitful and unfounded. A critique of Hegel’s and Hugh’s comments Before the coming of the white man, the continent of Africa was home to the native Africans who possessed their customs, politics and economies. Through the passage of time, these factors remained of their own making. Their history was marked with events of peace, strife, ceremonies and rituals, and as barbarous or primitive as it seemed, it was their own history with no external influences (Nnoromele 43). When the Europeans arrived to Africa, they denied it a place in world history. Georg Hegel, Hugh Trevor Roper and other Western philosophers called it a land without norms that needed to be cultured. In other wo rds, they viewed Africa as a wild beast that possessed no knowledge of right and wrong or his identity and his interests. According to them, he was occupied with nothing else but the instinct of daily survival from factors like hunger and other beasts. For this reason, he needed some taming with religion and domestication with civilization, both of which, they believed he lacked (Rodney 43). To the whites, Africans had no religion and thus no idea of God. To them, their belief was fetish that is the belief in inanimate objects. For this reason, African religious objects were stashed as myths and artifacts in boxes then ferried away to the Western museums as a nagging reminder that they might never learn. Prior to the Europeans, Africans were engaged in various traditional religions. The generalization of these religions is difficult due to the diversity of Africa’s pre-colonial cultures, but they had some similar characteristics. These similarities included the belief in a su preme being, spirits and other various divinities, the use of magic, the veneration of ancestors, the use of traditional medicine and an oral basing rather than a scriptural one. Another major generalization was the belief that humanity existed to harmonize the physical world with the supernatural one. These religions were passed down from one generation to the other through art, festivals, rituals, word of mouth, songs and dances, names of people, proverbs, myths, beliefs and customs. Upon entry of the Europeans, Africans did not just sit back and allow the dissolution of their religious institutions. In southern Nigeria, for example, opposition from highly organized traditional religious institutions met the Christian missionaries. Religious societies like the Okigwe and the Obgunorie clashed with the missionaries in several occasions. Another resistance to religious colonization was the maji maji (sacred water) revolt of 1905-1907, which took place in Tanzania. The movementâ€⠄¢s leader, Kinjeketile, convinced his fighters that he possessed some sacred water, which, upon drinking, would make one invulnerable to bullets from the Europeans. However, just as many other African revolts, they lost the battle and had to adhere to the white man’s demands. To end the strife and come to a standpoint, the missionaries in many African lands sat with the indigenous leaders to come up with the African

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

Swear - Essay Example I did notice though that so many people employ profane words as part of their basic English. I find the practice in general to be offensive and also to be a sure sign of ignorance. One can walk a city street anywhere and hear phrases peppered with the "F-bomb" and what not. For example "I need cash but I can't find a F------ ATM machine". I go about my daily business without having to caution myself in cursing thus this assignment was not one that I found to be challenging. I did note however, that I was intensely alert to those cursing around me. I wonder what would happen if people actually listened to themselves speak. We have a moment, and only a fleeting one after that first impression, to alter it. After one looks at us, they hear us speak. We usually use our voices to deliver a message to others. That message can be taken as true or false. That message can be delivered by one who is deemed intelligent or intellectually challenged. Cursing by no means conveys an intelligent thought. Some think that by adding a curse word they are delivering the word to follow it with an emphasized delivery, but it is not so. People like myself do not find ourselves amused or threatened by one who curses. Curse words are nothing more than wasted air and their effect can only be described as revolting. I don't have to refrain from cursing because I find the practice to be disgusting and a sign of stupidity.

Political Activism Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Political Activism - Assignment Example This will see the current policy of the Canada revenue agency (CRA) that relate to political activities conduct by registered charities remaining unchanged. The changes arising from the Budget 2012 should not be left to deter the registered charities from engaging in political activities. Charities should get involved or continue to participate in the political activities so long as they pursue the rules applicable. The charities should as well document all their political activities involvement. There have been allegations against environmental charities in their use of donations that are claimed to be received from foreign sources. A group of politicians specifically, has raised questions concerning the foreign funding appropriateness on environmental charities in Canada, whether the funds in question were useful in lobbying the government. For instance, of significance is the initiated Senate inquiry by Senator Nicole Eaton on February 2012, based upon the claims by the Senator th at such funding were influencing policy discussions improperly in the country. This was presumed with regards to government projects like the Northern Gateway pipeline. There was no credibility in such accusations in that, the charitable sector has quite a number of segments in Canada, and each year these segments receive a large scale funding from foreign sources. Such includes hospitals, universities and religious organizations, and the federal government has not made any allegations that the funding could be used in support of a political activity. Noting the strategy of counter terrorism by the federal government released on February 2012 is so crucial since it equated white supremacy environmentalism and terrorist activities in the city of Oklahoma in 1995 (Carter & Claridge, 54). As a result of this strategy and other kinds of attacks on environmental charities, the charities have created a force to enable them engage in political activities (Carter & Man, 47). However, the ab ility of charities to get involved in political activities has not been impacted by Budget2012, through the implementation of its legislation. Engaging in alternative community services could be more effective in addressing this issue. For instance, all registered charities are needed by law to have charitable purposes that are beneficial to a community such as poverty relief, promotion of advanced education and religion, and promoting of health care for the communities. The policy statement of the CRA on political activities, CPS-022, the activities by registered charities can be categorized into three as political activity, charitable activity or prohibited activity. An activity considered charitable is normally permitted without any limit. For example, communicating with public through a charity on the issue that relates to the purposes of the charity can be, under certain circumstances, be a charitable activity. However, the sort of communication has to satisfy the following req uirements: 1. Relate to and subordinate to the charitable purposes of the charity. 2. Reasoned well. 3. Does not contain inaccurate, false, or misleading information. Involving in charitable activities in a political platform

Causes of the Civil War Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Causes of the Civil War - Research Paper Example These came to be known as the Confederate states, all of whose members were slave-owning states. Barbara Fields, however, disagrees with this assumption stating that, the United States made war on the Confederates not because of the slavery abolition, but because it wanted to preserve the Union (Rios). The Emancipation of all the slaves in the Union was simply an excuse made to start the war that would force the southern states back into the Union. According to Fields, the northern states only declared war on the Confederate states because they not only wanted to preserve the Union, but also to ensure that they did not have a powerful rival. In essence, the northern states wanted to retain their advantage as the leading states in the Union by enforcing their dominance. This situation led to the coming to prominence of two men, whose views on slavery were entirely opposite of one another. The first is Abraham Lincoln was among the biggest proponents of the eradication of slavery in al l the states within the Union as well as the preservation of the latter (Pinsker 59). The other is Jefferson Davis, who was a principal proponent of the institution of slavery and believed that it was a necessary part of the southern economy. While many in the non-slaveholding north supported the declaration, many in the south viewed it as the federal government’s attempt to interfere with their internal affairs. According to Shelby Foote, among the most prominent advocates of this viewpoint was none other than Jefferson Davis, who was a staunch believer in the right of all the states within the union to make their own decision without interference. He believed that all the states in the union had joined it voluntarily, and this gave them the independence to decide what was and what was not best for them. If the federal government were to keep interfering in the domestic dealings of the states, then these states would inevitably lose their sovereignty, defeating the purpose o f the formation of the union (Dawson 592). He is noted to have stated that since all states had joined the union of their own free will, they also had the right to leave it if they felt that their interests were not being represented in a manner to their liking. Furthermore, Davis believed that the decision to end slavery lay with the individual states themselves, and not with the federal government. It is extremely likely that it was because of this stance that when the southern states chose to leave the union, they chose him to be their leader. His vision was to maintain slavery in the Confederate states and to expand this institution south into Mexico as this new slave owning federation grew (Norton et al 384). According to Foote, therefore, the American Civil war did not take place because of the need for the southern states to retain slavery, but for them to be able to determine their own destiny without any interference from the northern states, which dominated the United Stat es at the time (Bolin 38). Many southerners at the time felt that the northern states wanted to enforce their will upon them so that they would remain a backwater and this is the reason why they chose to break from the Union. In the matter if abolition, however, many have come to believe the reasons for Lincoln going to war, who stated that maintaining slavery in the United States would be a

Catch-22 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Catch-22 - Research Paper Example He was ready to comply with the U.S. Air Force standard of twenty-five combat missions and go home. However, Colonel Cathkart dreaming of fame at any cost, patriotically increases the number of required missions and it makes Yossarian’s desire to go home unreal. Actually, in some time Yossarian begins to fight worse and worse. Going up in the air he has a single goal – to return alive, and he totally does not care where they drop bombs – on the enemy’s object, or in the sea. But the commanders fight bravely, ready to carry out the most daring operations, as long as their subordinates risk their lives. They heroically disregard the dangers borne by others. It is not a problem to bomb the Italian mountain village, even without warning civilians. They are not afraid that there will be casualties, since it will create a perfect jam for enemy equipment. They are fiercely fighting each other for a place under the sun. Thus, General Peckem is plotting the defeat of the insidious enemy, which is the other American General Dreedle. For the sake of the general’s epaulettes Cathkart mercilessly exploits his pilots. Each of the many characters in this literary mural has its own war to win in, and for the victory they would spare neither effort nor life, someone else’s life. ... , gaining freedom), it serves not only to reveal the image of the protagonist of the novel Yossarian, but also the ideological and philosophical perspectives of Catch-22. Images and perspectives are revealed step by step: with each new episode of the central themes of the novel acquire new sensual fullness and variety of interpretations: The most significant aspect of the structure of Catch-22 is its chronology. Behind what appears to be merely random events lies a careful system of time-sequences involving two distinct and mutually contradictory chronologies (Gaukroger 71). This is largely due to the multi-faceted structure of the novel, â€Å"disparate elements of its structure as the seeming chaos of its surface text and its unrelenting comedy† (Woodson 153). Chaotic at first glance, the text of the first chapters of in the end of the novel acquires a clear structure; isolated episodes are arranged into a single event line. With immersion into the atmosphere of Catch-22 a c omic element is reduced to a bitter sarcasm and almost disappears in the final chapters. According to Joseph Heller: But certainly there is nothing funny about death; there is nothing funny about the death of a young man, and the fact I often in Catch-22 present the death of somebody in a flippant or disrespectful way was not only intended to have almost a contrapuntal effect—to avoid sentimentality—but also to make it perhaps more effective by dismissing the seriousness of death briefly as well (quoted in Meredith 50) Absurdity, which at the beginning of the novel is perceived more as a literary device, is gradually revealed as an existentialist category. The same event is described repeatedly, shown through the lens of views of different characters, the same facts are presented in different

Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 4

Research Proposal Example hts refer to the moral norms or principles that generally describe some specific human behavior standards which are protected regularly as legal rights according to the set of International Law. The rights are inherent for all human beings irrespective of their age, nationality, gender, ethnicity, religion and place. However, in practice it is found that there are major sections of people who are deprived of certain human rights because of the existence of discrimination among the people based on different factors including race, gender, nationality and many more (East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project, â€Å"Defending Human Rights: A Resource Book for Human Rights Defenders†). Defending or protection of human rights has become a major challenge for the government of different countries and people are also required to defend their own human right. It is very essential for the government and legal authorities to implement effective laws and regulations that woul d help in providing the respective human right to every section of people in the society and further avoid discrimination (Freedomhouse, â€Å"Defending Regional Human Rights Protection Mechanisms: The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights under Attack†). Additionally, the human rights states that there should not be inequality among the people based on diverse discriminating factors. More awareness should be created among the people regarding the importance of defending human right so that people are equally treated and they receive what they deserve being responsible citizen of society (OSCE/ODIHR, â€Å"Guidelines on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders†). Some human rights defenders focuses on encouraging Government as a whole to fulfill human rights obligations, for example by publicizing information on the Government’s record of implementing human rights standards and monitoring progress made (OHCHR, â€Å"Human Rights Defenders: Protecting the Ri ght to Defend Human

Historical Maritime Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Historical Maritime - Research Paper Example New York harbor is the biggest harbor with most business activities in the United States. It has several boroughs including Brooklyn, Bronx, Staten Island, Queens and Manhattan. This study focuses on the Manhattan locale and evaluates various transformations that this port has undergone. Notably, it was the first to emerge while the emergence of the remaining ports was triggered by intense pressure from the civil war. Historical evidence affirms that Manhattan locale has undergone significant changes since 1800. The Manhattan port is considered one of the busiest ports in the New York harbor. It is comprised on the upper and lower Manhattan and hosts various commercial and business activities. In this regard, the gross metropolitan product from this area currently stands at close to one trillion dollars per year (Ascher 44). This is partly attributed to its location within the New York harbor. Seemingly, its centralized location increases its accessibility by business persons and ent ities. In addition, the port is comparatively popular than the rest because it is situated at the original New York harbor. The locale has an estimated 3.2 thousand hectares as office space (Ascher 44). A century ago, water transport was solely employed by the populations that bordered Manhattan. Through shipping, they were able to transport their goods and products from one continent to other (Ascher 44). In other words, the larger New York Harbor played an instrumental role in improving interactions between various populations. It is widely agreed that the Manhattan was relatively busy and supported a host of economic and commercial activities (Miller, 36). At this point in time, the populations that were both inland and those bordering the sea relied heavily on the harbor for conveyance of important commodities. Current trends indicate that activities in the port have eased. The ship traffic has also reduced considerably and seemingly and according to Rodrigue, the port is less c rowded (Rodrigue 54). Currently, statistical evidence indicates that less than 500 ships dock at the harbor on a monthly (Kellner 59). This is attributable to the technological developments that have occurred in the road and air industry. For this reason, the consumer population has shifted its perceptions and greatly appreciates the services of the road, air and rail industry as compared to the services provided by the shipping industry (Revell 38). This trend has further been enhanced by the technological advancements and especially the use of internet and mobile phones in information exchange. The mere reduction of shipping activities implies a great change in the shipping industry (Jackson and Ho 47). Arguably, this has had diverse implications for the profits and general returns of the industry. In this regard, these are less profitable than their counterparts. There have been significant demographic changes in the locale too. Likewise, these have had diverse various implicatio ns on the social and economic wellbeing of the same. In particular, the population has decreased by a significant 30% (Gannon 5). Besides indicating a change in the perceptions and attitudes of the populations about shipping, these changes also imply that the economic benefits have shifted to other areas. Most importantly, they indicate that other transport and communication options such as road and air are developing very fast (Malcom

How obamacare relates to the practice of nursing and healthcare Essay

How obamacare relates to the practice of nursing and healthcare - Essay Example The name Obamacare was ironically given to it by Mitt Romney in 2007 as a pejorative term and was readily picked by media and then by Obama and other democrats. When Obama was talking about healthcare reforms, Romney took it as a threat and warned his supporters and Republicans in an address that Obama was just doing it to earn fame and to brag about it later. Romney mockingly said that if Democrats win and implement their healthcare policies, they are going to be more about their fame and less about the public welfare and the Democrats would probably name their policies according to their own names like Obamacare and Hillarycare etc. Romney also called it â€Å"socialized medicine† (Pham, 2013). When Obama was asked about it later, he very proudly said that â€Å"Yes, Obama cares†. This reform underwent a lot of ups and downs before getting signed. A very lengthy debate was held on this topic in the Senate and the House of Representatives and a lot of media hype was gi ven to the issue. Due to all this highlighting, it became one of the popular topic of debates and discussions among all and sundry and at the same time it gave rise to bravura of confusions and myths. It became one of the most debated topics in USA and ironically, most of the people didn’t even know actually about its exact implications (Wallace, 2012). The American citizens were already having healthcare facilities and insurance under the Medicaid laws that were being practiced. Being used to the existing healthcare and insurance policies, Obamacare became a hard pill to swallow for the American citizens and especially for the elderly people. With lack of awareness and confusing debates on media no one in America exactly knows whether Obamacare is actually going to help or to add more to their sufferings. Actually Obamacare is the overhauling of the already existing policies of healthcare and insurance. It adds more to the healthcare system of the country by increasing quali ty and affordability of health insurance. This affordability and quality is aimed to be achieved by lowering the insurance rates and increasing public and private insurance. There are many provisions that are going to be practiced under the banner of Obamacare. These are specifically designed to get more and more public attracted towards the new policy and by making the conditions easier or at least apparently easier for the public. This policy ensures same premium price for everyone, despite of their existing conditions. So this is going to be affordable and available for all without any discrimination. It also prohibits denial due to pre existing conditions. This policy is going to help people with low incomes. It is going to give them equal health benefits and thus going to be very useful. It is also going to provide subsidies for low income individuals and families. These subsidies are going to be provided to people who are earning between 100% and 400% of Federal poverty level. This is a very practically helpful step for people with low incomes and thus they can have good and affordable healthcare with provision of this subsidy that covers a lot of people with low incomes. This subsidy will also encourage people to get insured because of its affordability and thus it will practically help in getting nearer to the notion of universal healthcare. There are also going to be many reforms in the Medicaid payment systems and with these reforms Obamacare will

The Darwinian revolution challenged Essay Example for Free

The Darwinian revolution challenged Essay Define evolution broadly and then give a narrower definition, as discussed in the overview. Evolution: Descent with modification; the idea that living species are descendants of ancestral species that were different from the present-day ones; also defined more narrowly as the change in the genetic composition of a population from generation to generation Concept 22.1 The Darwinian revolution challenged the traditional view of a young Earth inhabited by unchanging species This section takes a look at the historical setting and influences on Darwin, and it sets the stage for our formal study of evolution. How did each of the following sources view the origin of species? Aristotle and Scala Naturae: Aristotle viewed species as fixed. Through his observations of nature, Aristotle recognized â€Å"affinities† among organisms. He concluded that life-forms could be arranged on a ladder, or scale, of increasing complexity, called the scala naturae. Each form, perfect and permanent, had its allotted rung on this ladder. The Old Testament: The Old Testament holds that species were individually designed by God and therefore perfect. Carolus Linnaeus: Linnaeus adopted a nested classification system, grouping similar species into increasingly general categories. Linnaeus, adhering to the Old Testament belief that all species were designed by God, did not ascribe the resemblances among species to evolutionary kinship, but rather to the pattern of their creation. Explain the role of fossils in rock strata as a window to life in earlier times. Many fossils are found in sedimentary rocks formed from the sand and mud that settle to the bottom of seas, lakes, swamps, and other aquatic habitats. New layers of sediment cover older ones and compress them into superimposed layers of rock called strata. The fossils in particular strata provide a glimpse of some of the organisms that populated Earth at the time that the layer formed. How would Georges Cuvier have explained the appearance of the record of life shown in the rock strata? Cuvier opposed the idea of evolution. He advocated catastrophism, the principle that events in the past occurred suddenly and were caused by mechanisms different from those operating in the present. Copyright  © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Cuvier speculated that each boundary between strata represented a catastrophe, such as a flood, that had destroyed many of the species living at that time. James Hutton and Charles Lyell were geologists whose ideas strongly influenced Darwin’s thinking. What were the ideas each of them contributed? James Hutton : Hutton proposed that Earth’s geologic features could be explained by gradual mechanisms still operating today, such as valley formed by rivers. Charles Lyell: Lyell incorporated Hutton’s thinking into his principle of uniformitarianism, which states that mechanisms of change are constant over time. Lyell proposed that the same geologic processes are operating today as in the past, and at the same rate. What is the importance of the principle of uniformitarianism? If geologic change results from slow, continuous actions rather than from sudden events, then Earth must be much older than the widely accepted age of a few thousand years. Jean-Baptiste de Lamarck proposed a mechanism for how life changes over time. Explain the two principles of his mechanism. use and disuse: The idea that parts of the body that are used extensively become larger and stronger, while those that are not used deteriorate. inheritance of acquired characteristics: This idea states that an organism could pass these modifications of use and disuse to its offspring. Although Lamarck’s mechanism of evolution does not explain the changes in species over time, his thinking has been influential. What is considered to be the great importance of his ideas? Lamarck recognized that the match of organisms to their environments can be explained by gradual evolutionary change rather than special creation. Concept 22.2 Descent with modification by natural selection explains the adaptations of organisms and the unity and diversity of life Charles Darwin proposed that the mechanism of evolution is natural selection and that it explains how adaptations arise. What are adaptations? Give two examples of adaptations. Adaptations are inherited characteristics of organisms that enhance their survival and reproduction in specific environments. Possible examples include the mottled coloration of a fawn that allows it to blend with its environment, or the sharp talons and beaks of birds of prey so well suited for predation. Explain the process of natural selection. In the process of natural selection, individuals that have certain inherited traits tend to survive and reproduce at higher rates than other individuals because of those traits. Let’s try to summarize Darwin’s observations that drive changes in species over time: Observation 1. Variations in traits exist. Cite an Example Variation in color and spot pattern of Asian ladybird beetles 2. These variations (traits) are heritable. Variation in closely related species of elephants; offspring resemble close relatives more than other members of a population. 3. Species overproduce. Dandelions produce thousands of seeds. 4. There is competition for resources; not all offspring survive. Not all dandelion seeds germinate or survive to maturity From these four observations, what two inferences did Darwin make? 1. Individuals whose inherited traits give them a higher probability of surviving and reproducing in a given environment tend to leave more offspring than other individuals. 2. The unequal ability of individuals to survive and reproduce will lead to the accumulation of favorable traits in the population over generations. It is important to remember that differences in heritable traits can lead to differential reproductive success. This means that the individuals who have the necessary traits to promote survival in the current environment will leave the most offspring. How can this differential reproductive success affect the match between organisms and their environment? When such advantages increase the number of offspring that survive and reproduce, the traits that are favored will likely appear at a greater frequency in the next generation. To demonstrate your understanding of this section, complete the following sentences: Individuals do not evolve. Populations evolve. Now, take out your highlighter and mark the information in the box above. Hold these ideas firmly in your brain! Finally, if you are ever asked to explain Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection (a common AP essay question), do not pull out the phrase â€Å"survival of the fittest.† Instead, cite the points made in question 11 and explain the inferences that are drawn from them. Copyright  © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Concept 22.3 Evolution is supported by an overwhelming amount of scientific evidence 15. Use Figure 22.13 in your text to explain how research with soapberry bugs demonstrated observable evolutionary change. Museum specimens showed that the average beak length of soapberry bugs was comparable to that of soapberry bugs feeding on native species in southern Florida. However, contemporary data suggest that a change in the size of the soapberry bug’s food source, as seen with the introduction of the goldenrain tree, can result in evolution by natural selection for matching beak size. MRSA is in the news today because it is becoming increasingly more common. What is it? MRSA is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a flesh-eating strain How did it become so dangerous? Explain the evolution of MRSA’s resistance to methicillin. MRSA became dangerous because, over time, doctors used a variety of antibiotics, such as penicillin, to combat MRSA. Each time a new antibiotic was used to fight the disease, some S. aureus populations would develop resistance to the new drug. In 1959, doctors used the powerful antibiotic methicillin. Members of the S. aureus population that were resistant to methicillin reproduced at higher rates, leading to the spread of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Do antibiotics cause bacteria to become resistant? Explain your response. No. A drug does not create resistant pathogens; it selects for resistant individuals that are already present in the population. Let’s make a list of the four evidences for evolution that are described in this concept. Give an example of each. Evidence for Evolution Example Direct observations of evolutionary change Homology Possible examples include the evolution of MRSA or the change in beak size in soapberry bugs. Possible examples include the similarities between mammalian forelimbs. Possible examples include fossils that show ancestors of cetaceans had hind limbs. Possible examples include the creation of the evolutionary tree of horses, based on fossil locations. Fossil record Biogeography How does the fossil record give evidence for evolution? The fossil record documents the pattern of evolution, showing that past organisms differed from present-day organisms and that many species have become extinct. Copyright  © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. What is meant by each of the following terms? Give an example of each. Term Homologous structures Vestigial structures Analogous structures (see p. 465) Explanation/Example Structures in different species that are similar because of common ancestry. For example, mammalian forelimbs. A feature of an organism that is a historical remnant of a structure that served a function in the organism’s ancestors. For example, skeletons of some snakes retain vestiges of the pelvis and leg bones. Having characteristics that are similar because of convergent evolution, not homology. For example, the wing of a butterfly and wing of a bat both make flight possible. How do homologous structures give evidence for evolution? Homologous structures represent variations on a structural theme that was present in the common ancestors of a species. What is summarized in an evolutionary tree? An evolutionary tree reflects evolutionary relationships among groups of organisms. Figure 22.17 in your text shows an evolutionary tree. What is indicated by each branch point in the following figure? Mark each branch point. Each branch point represents the common ancestors of the lineage beginning there and to the right of it. Refer to Figure 22.17 on page 464. What is indicated by the hatch marks in Figure 22.17? A hatch mark represents a homologous characteristic shared by all the groups to the right of the mark. Use the tree in question 24 to answer this question: Are crocodiles more closely related to lizards or to birds? Explain your response. Based on this evolutionary tree, crocodiles are more closely related to birds than to lizards because they share a more common ancestor with the birds than with lizards. On the evolutionary tree, label the vertical lines to the right, and annotate the key feature that marks each group. See page 464 of your text for the labeled figure. Organisms that are only distantly related can resemble each other. Explain convergent evolution, and describe how analogous structures can arise. Convergent evolution is the independent evolution of similar features in different lineages. In such examples as the marsupials of Australia, in which species share features because of convergent evolution, the resemblance is said to be analogous. Analogous features share similar function, but not common ancestry. Copyright  © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Convergent evolution might be summarized like this: Similar problem, similar solution. Can you give two examples of convergent evolution? Answers will vary but may include the sugar glider and the flying squirrel, and the evolution of wings in birds and bats. Study Tip Homologous structures show evidence of relatedness (whale fin, bat wing). Analogous structures are similar solutions to similar problems but do not indicate close relatedness (bird wing, butterfly wing). What is biogeography? How is it affected by continental drift and the presence of endemic species? Biogeography is the geographic distribution of species. The geographic distribution of organisms is influenced by many factors, including continental drift, the slow movement of Earth’s movement over time, and the presence of endemic species, species that are found nowhere else in the world. Let’s wrap up all of these ideas with a final summary. ORGANIZE YOUR THOUGHTS Evolution is change in species over time. Heritable variations exist within a population. These variations can result in differential reproductive success. Over generations, this can result in changes in the genetic composition of the population. And remember: Individuals do not evolve! Populations evolve. Test Your Understanding Answers Now you should be ready to test your knowledge. Place your answers here: 1. b Copyright  © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

A Metaphor Of Postmodernism In Blade Runner

A Metaphor Of Postmodernism In Blade Runner In the film Blade Runner directed by Ridley Scott, the film embodies many important characters aspects of the postmodern cultural period. The film is mostly about what it means to be human in a controlled technological advanced world, and the struggle between humans and replicants. Which are machines that are so much like humans you cant tell them apart, but it has a deeper meaning of a world in the future and you can see this with the many symbols laid out in the film. In the film, it always rains and the sun never shines and the streets are narrow and filthy. The film revisits the past, mimics it and holds it up to ridicule. The freedom that humans give up so easily to machines so willing is the actual danger in the modern society which leads to a post-modern. The postmodernism can be noted from the architectural layout of the film to the waste all over the ground that later leads importance and connects postmodernism to industrialism. Post-modernity is on its way to the future, but then seeks shelter in the past; Blade Runner has many boundaries between past and present. The audience is told the film is set in the future in 2019, but there still happens to be a lot of evidence of the past such as; the eighties clothes and haircuts, the language and the technology looks extremely outdated. Another indication of the past is that Rachel dresses in a 50s clothes and the soundtrack of the film does not follow the normal drama movie music. The reasons why there is evidence of the past are that Blade Runner is a film based in the future that is afraid of the future. Films that are portrayed like this usually are made to warn people about the dangers around the corner. In post-modern films they present the unpresentable and what was formerly thought of as unsuitable. Blade Runner pushes into the future where the unreal becomes real and not just a fantasy or a possibility. Cars fly, and scientist can even plant memories in to machines. These are two examples of the unreal being made real. These kinds of films portray that Postmodernism tends to place the most disturbing things into the everyday living of the characters. In the film Blade Runner the replicants escape on earth and are labelled extremely dangerous. They could be anywhere and they look like anyone. This can be seen as postmodernism being pussed into the future. The film Blade Runner uses many symbols to illuminate post modernity such as the films use of the owl. The owl is not just an owl it is described in three ways a woman, an artificial creature and a product. The role of women is explored with the three lead female roles in the film which are all replicants, an artificial creature. Women in this film are label as models of pleasure and represent that they are just products that can be bought or sold. It gives a whole new meaning to the term woman being characterized by an object. These three things represent a link to the past where postmodern reveals its break with the past. These three things are the unreal made real into one thing where lines of force intersect and these are the places where modernity is transferred into post modernity to the description of a woman. The film doesnt take place in a spaceship with friendly aliens; the film takes place in Los Angeles 2019 in a city full of industries and waste placed in the postmodern period. The future which the film is set in, does not realize their technological order, but they see it as the development of the present day state of the city and the later effects of capitalism. The city is not a modern city, but a postmodern city. It is not an orderly layout of skyscrapers with comfy interiors. The high-tech buildings with high populations are set alongside abandoned buildings and neighbourhoods in decay. Due to the crowding of immigrants the middle class moves to the suburbs or off world if they choose. With a large portion of its people from other countries the melting pot effect of the culture clearly takes place the city explodes with the different cultures making the architectural work imitate the style of many previous works. In the film they have buildings that resemble Egyptian temples, Ch ina, France, and many more. The city itself is a huge Chinatown that is a large market of underground networks in all the regions of the city. With the explosion of immigrants and the moving of the middle-class results in an intercultural first world and third world in the same place. The uniqueness of the architecture and cultures in the film are lost in the postmodernism. Going forward in the future but still in the past and the structures from the past are recollected and they attempt to create an aroma of the memory of history and of the past. Between postmodernism and late capitalism the films representation of this is the industrial decay, such as waste all over the city, rather the film creates an aroma of decay exposing the dark side of technology. It is the waste that the characters of the film constantly step in, and many of the buildings are left to disintegrate. The post-industrial decay is an acceleration of the overall time of the process of the industries. The postmodern visual of Blade Runner is the result of recycling and the system only works if there is waste produced. The disconnected temporality of the replicants and the pastiche city are all an effect of a postmodern, post-industrial condition: wearing out, waste. The continuous expulsion of waste is an indexing sign of the well- functioning apparatus: waste represents its production, movement, and development at increasing speed. Post-industrialism recycles; therefore it needs all the waste. A postmodern position exposes such logic, producing a visual of recycling. The artistic form exhibits the return of the waste. Consumerism, waste and recycling meet in fashion, the wearable art of late capitalism, a sign of postmodernism. Costumes in Blade Runner are designed according to this logic. There is even the increased speed of development and process produces the diminishing of distances. Things cease to function and life is over even if it has not ended. The post-industrial city is a city of ruins. Blade Runner has one main message: that the future is hopeless. It marks a new age by showing its own end. It is shown as industrial and dark, the raining weather and no sunshine which create a moody atmosphere. Technology has progressed so rapidly but, still manages to lack the new look. The postmodernism of this film is displayed throughout this whole film. It represents the chaos of what happens when the people rejected the modern period. It embodies the present pushing forward to the future as well as holding on to the past to create post-industrialism. The more technology we gain and control always has a bad side for everything.

Marks And Spencer Is Clothing And Food Based Commerce Essay

Marks And Spencer Is Clothing And Food Based Commerce Essay Marks and Spencer is clothing and food based Company. The Company is committed towards creativity, innovation, and customer satisfaction, through enhancing quality and value of their products. Marks and Spencer enjoyed great profitability and success, due to the presence of a large market with few competitors (BBC, 2004). However, this did not last for long, and the Company, started facing many challenges, in the context of global competition and management (MS: Fighting Structural Decline, 2006). These challenges emanated from the internal and external environment. Despite these setbacks, the Company has major opportunities arising from the large market segment, increase in demand, and technological advancement (Research and Markets. 5). This paper explores the challenges, and sources of competitive advantage include knowledge management, social media marketing and the use of virtual organizations for Marks and Spencer Company. Discussion The current and future of the fashion and food industry favours the business ventures of Marks and Spencer (Company Spotlight: Marks and Spencer Group plc, 2004). The company has a well- established market positioning and brand image, which enhances its current and future advantage over other competitors (Marks Spencer Group PLC SWOT Analysis, 2007). However, these alone are not enough, as the Company has to consider other internal and external factors, useful in supplementing these attributes in order to achieve sustainability and profitability (Webster, 2006). In order to remain competitive, Marks and Spencer has to embrace change strategies, and Human Resource policies, which will enable it to gain a competitive edge (Grundy, 2005). The Company seeks to recruit worldwide talent in order to acquire competent employees (Marks and Spencer, 2012). The sources of competitive advantage are costs and differentiation, competent and capable workforce, and effective knowledge management, which serve as great assets to any organization (Chesebrough, 2006). Cost and differentiation leadership seeks competitive advantage in a broad industry, while cost and differentiation focus strategies are useful in a narrow industry (Wheelen and Hunger, 2010). Marks and Spencer Company must come up with new strategies, in order to remain competitive, and sustainable (Ogden and Wersun, 2006). Competitive advantage can be gained through offering greater value to customers, which justifies higher pricing. One of the key assets that the Company can exploit is its employees. The Company is faced with the challenge of pleasing its customers, and getting the best from its employees. Marks and Spencer can use its employees as a source of competitive advantage since it has high reputation for focusing on customer service. Competent employees can innovate and use their skills to ensure that they revive the Companyà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s lost glory (Kemp, 2012). The Human resource department can seek to attain competitive edge by strategic deployment of capable and highly committed workforce. It can use a variety of integrated structural, personnel and cultural techniques. Some of the techniques include equal employment opportunities in order to create a diverse workforce. Diversity has introduced new talent and increased the potential of the Company, which is highly required in the face of stiff global competition (DATAMONITOR: Marks and Spencer Group plc, 2011). Gaining and retention of a competitive edge is vital to success of an organization (Banfield and Kay, 2008). Competent and diverse employees are valuable assets in an organization, and can enhance profitability and sustainability of an organization. Human resource department is liable for employees within an organization. HR functions such as selection, recruitment, training, coaching and motivation, are among the methods used by the HR in order to enhance the capability, and diversity of the workforce (Luthans, 1998). Marks and Spencer can provide equal employment opportunity in order to enable the organization to overcome the impacts of past discrimination against minority groups, and gender bias, and continue to attract, recruit, employ, promote, and retain competent employees in the Company. This helps in achieving diversity goals within the organization (Le Pla, 2012). Effective human resource practices enable an organization to gain a competitive edge over other competitors. Human resource department is responsible for ensuring that the employees are adequately motivated, and qualified for their jobs, in order to achieve profitability and sustainability of an organization (Banfield and Kay, 2008). Effective management of resources enhances sustainability, and profitability of an organization. Training and employee empowerment helps to decentralize decision- making and authority delegation to the store managers (Cole, 2004). Human resource tools and techniques are potent instruments for achievement of competitive edge and sustainability of an organization (Boddy, 2005). The human resource function is closely associated with sustainability and competitive advantage of an organization. Capable employees are an important asset, and enhance the success of the organization. It is crucial for the Company to enhance the potential of their employees, through provision of equal employment opportunities, in order to remain innovative and competitive in an evolving business world (Kemp, 2012). One of the Companyà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s strategies is to regain the core customers through delivery of significant improvements in the product value, appeal, and availability (Chiang, 2011). Capable workforce explores all the opportunities, and innovate products in a bid to remain competitive and provide solutions to various challenges that arise due to the dynamic business environment (Le Pla, 2012). For instance, there is need to differentiate the different markets and come up with fashions that suit the needs of the younger and older generations. Innovative and competent workforce will be committed to delivery of trendy and fashionable clothing that suits the different markets (Kemp, 2012). Effective management of human resources results to enhanced potential to attract and retain capable employees, who are committed to performance (Banfield and Kay, 2008). This enhances profitability, sustainability, and places the organization at a competitive advantage. Knowledge is viewed as a crucial asset in an organization (Chesebrough, 2006). Effective knowledge management offers a competitive edge to an organization (Lin, 2006). The success of a business depends on its system and intellectual capabilities. Knowledge management is a widely applied technique in Marks and Spencer and the worldwide which is a key element towards innovation of new ideas and processes. Effective management of knowledge reduces operational costs significantly, especially now, when Marks and Spencer is trying to reduce its operational costs. It can significantly improve the quality of services and products and makes a remarkable contribution towards improving business excellence (Laudon and Laudon, 2002). This can be evidenced by a significant reduction in operational costs, enhanced productivity, profitability, sustainability, growth and improved product and service delivery (FSN 2007). In business, prior knowledge on the consumer needs and market dynamics helps a bu siness to be more proactive (Marks Spencer: fail fast, 2012). Knowledge on employee, customer, stakeholders and industrial needs, has a direct effect on relationship management. Effective application of knowledge improves the performance and productivity of a business significantly (Davenport and Beers, 1998). It helps to deliver the stakeholders expectations and earn their trust, which is highly applicable to the Company, especially during its recovery period. Companies practicing effective knowledge management are able to turn their ideas quickly into innovative services and products. Knowledge management of the global economy will help the business significantly. In the current business world, knowledge has become major strategic asset and organizations must acquire and develop effective strategies in the identification, development and application of knowledge in order for them to succeed in their goals (Davenport and Beers, 1998). Social media marketing via the web offers a cost effective marketing options (Gibson, 2009). A marketer can reach many people, and they too can share the information with their friends thus, creating a large social network (Kimberly, 2012). The social media marketing offers an organization, a platform to connect and communicate with the customers (ADWATCH, 2006). It helps businesses to reduce the operational costs through minimizing the publication and distribution costs (Zarrella, 2010). Effective use of social media will help the Company reach many potential consumers all over the world (Marks Spencer set to enter Egyptian retail market, 2010). Conclusion/ Recommendations To conclude, Marks and Spencer achieve the advantage it enjoyed so far by some reasons. Firstly, it was the quintessential British store since its establishment. The price of its products was always reasonable with high quality. This helps to consolidate its brand image and keeps the customers. Furthermore, the employees form a crucial element in the recovery strategy of Marks and Spencer. They are important assets in enhancing the success of the customer-based efforts, business refocusing, handling reforms, and correcting the issues that have challenged business at Marks and Spencer. Competent and dedicated workforce will help in bringing innovative fashions that will suit the older and younger generationsà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ needs. However, the Company needs to focus on its workforce in order to achieve their innovative goals for their present and future business growth and demands. It should also make a substantial amount of investment in the creation and implementat ion of the most appropriate knowledge networks, tools, processes, methods and technologies (Hibbard and Carrillo, 1998). This will enhance profitability and sustainability of the Company.

Congress And The Presidency Essay -- Political Science

The president is the foreign policy leader for the United States with an important political, military and economic role in the international arena. If there is collision between the president and congress, can congress restrain the president in foreign policy making? The era of globalization has witnessed the growing influence of a number of unconventional international actors, from non-governmental organizations, to multi-national corporations, to global political movements. Traditional, state-centric definitions of foreign policy as "the policy of a sovereign state in its interaction with other sovereign states is no longer sufficient. Several alternative definitions are more helpful at highlighting aspects of foreign policy traditionally neglected. The first views foreign policy as "those external goals for which the nation is prepared to commit its resources". By focusing on what a country does rather than what it says, this pragmatic definition usefully separates a country's rhetoric from its true intent and its material capabilities. However, lack of action can also constitute a policy-the policy of an isolationist state is defined by its very unwillingness to commit resources. A second conceptualization of foreign policy is as "the range o f actions taken by varying sections of the government of a state in its relations with other bodies similarly acting on the international stage...in order to advance the national interest". Notable here is the recognition that governments do not act as monolithic, static entities, and that non-state actors may at times be as influential as states. However, the assumption that governments always know what is in the "national interest" and always rationally work towards its realiza... ... President's interests. The number of Vice Presidents who have later become President suggests that this concern may not be entirely incomprehensible. The enormous amount of infighting and politics between (and within) departments should not be underestimated. Factions are formed, rumors spread, information leaked, and consensuses forged. When making decisions, each department "will tend to concentrate on acquiring information that protects and advances its own interests or its view of the national interest". This inevitably leads to oversimplification and a favoring of men and women of action rather than deep, strategic thinkers, whose voices tend to get lost in the fray. One of the attributes of a good President is the ability to recognize and rectify imbalances in his administration. Failure to do so can lead to an unrepresentative and irresponsible foreign policy.

Essay --

MAURICE â€Å"THE ROCKET† RICHARD Born in August 4, 1921, Maurice Richard was the eldest of eight children of Onesime and Alice Richard. Maurice’s parents moved from Gaspe region to Nouveau-Bordeaux so that his father could work as a machinist at the Canadian Pacific Railway. He started playing hockey when he was a young kid and he was good in boxing as well. In 1937, a young Maurice Richard at age16, was dropped out of school and worked with his father as a machinist and that was his only income other than some income in the winter with the senior Canadiens. The depression hits and Maurice is asked by co-workers to attend meeting to deal with issues of layoff threats but he refuses in order to play hockey instead. Management observes the conversations and tries to get information from Maurice but, he refuses to co-operate therefore was sent to garbage duty after work. Maurice was angered by this but chose to perform his duties completely and even though he used to arrive late, angry and tired for the game, he transformed his aggression into motivation and scored the winning goals that clinched the victory over their only unbeaten team. Richard got married to Lucille Norchet in 1942 against the wish of her father. Mr. Norchet felt they would be poor on a machinist salary and his injuries would ruin his chances at hockey. They married anyway and Maurice was determined to succeed without family help. Trials for the Habs went well but GM Gorman feels he is too frail for the team. But Coach Dick Irvin insists so Maurice made the team. By 1940, he had moved up to the Canadians senior team in the Quebec league. Due to his fractures, he returned and played the whole 1941-42 season for the senior Canadia... ...cted his statement. He sat out the rest of the season and playoffs, Irvin finally admits to his aggressive approach to motivate Maurice to play great hockey. Maurice goes on radio to convince French fans not to cause trouble; he will be back next year. Winters in the village of Ste. Justine were long. That time on school, church, and the hockey rink, and every boy’s hero was Montreal Canadians hockey legend Maurice Richard. Everyone wore Richard’s number 9 to honor him. They laced their skates like Richard. They even wore their hair like Richard. Maurice Richard was the hero of the French Canadian people and his dedication to his game was no different from the dedication to his family and his work and his love for the French Canadian people. He went on to win many awards in hockey and in his personal life that honored him as the role model for all French Canadian.

powmac The Power of Religion and Fate in Macbeth Essay -- Macbeth essa

The Power of Religion and Fate in Macbeth      Ã‚  Ã‚   Macbeth presents a religious view of man's existence and destiny. Shakespeare, however, did not write a religious or theological tract. He explored the meaning of human life in those terms which art uses in order to project our deepest thoughts and feelings; in broad, popular religious symbols and myths, whose meaning is as profound as it is easily recognized.    The unparalleled religious crisis, through which Europe was passing at the time of Shakespeare writing Macbeth, the first decade of the seventeenth century, shook the traditional religious heritage to its foundations. Placed between an Everyman and a Pilgrim's Progress Macbeth did not have the simple clarity of either; the former was written before the phase of violent disintegration and the latter when more settled ideas had begun to consolidate themselves. We do not see the fluency of construction in Macbeth as we see in Everyman or Pilgrim's Progress. But the religious, Christian view is intensely there to determine the nature of imagery and the significance of characters. The human problem that is the basic idea of Macbeth is the relation between evil in human nature called "sin" and the everlasting scheme of things presided over by a Deity whose justice, wisdom and benevolence could be doubted temporarily but never rejected. More abstractly, the problem was that of h uman responsibility and free will, human freedom, in a world ruled by divine necessity.       Macbeth begins with a set of supernatural figures. Witches have been always associated with darkness, night and crime. Saul, in Samuel (1), visits the Witch of Endor in order to know his destiny. Saul himself had taken seve... ...moil in Act I shows the process of perversion of reason and corruption of will. He knows the good but will not and cannot do it and there is no intercessory power for him to turn to for aid His incapacity to pray in the soliloquy in Act I, the intervention by his wife (instead of by a good angel) just when he decides not to proceed further, the promptness with which the fantasy of the deed forms itself in his mind after he hears the prophecy-all these testify that Macbeth is a reprobate predestined to damnation.          Works Cited:    Macbeth. New York: Arden Edition (New Series)    Bindoff,S.T. Sr Tudor England, Pelican Books.1959    Dyer, T. Folklore of Shakespeare. Griffith & Farren:London,1883 (First Edition)    Elliott,G.R. Dramatic Providence in Shakespeare. Princeton University Press, 1958 (out-of-print Title)

International Law and Individual Rights Essay

The international law has been undergoing some evolutions since early and mid 19th century. The original international law laid a lot of emphasis on just the state as the custodian of individual rights of its citizens. (L. Oppenheim, 1912. )However, the law deemed inadequate to address individual rights, thus, following some developments, the law has undergone some transformations, which are aimed at promoting individual rights, regardless of their country, state, race, gender or religion. The main developments which have triggered these evolutions of the international law include the Holocaust, the Second World War and the establishment of international criminal courts mainly to try the perpetrators of recent genocides like the former Yugoslavia, and Rwanda The Holocaust was a form of genocide, in which Germany, lead by Adolf Hitler, undertook the extermination of stateless Jews in Germany in which 6 million Jews were killed. Nazi Germany planned and implemented the Holocaust because of the domestic jurisdiction principle of the then international law, which prevented any other state from interfering when Hitler undertook the persecution of the Jews. This made the Geneva Convention which came into being between 1864 and 1949 as a result of efforts by Henry Dunant, realize that the law needed radical changes to enable the international community to intervene in domestic matters of a nation especially those linked to individual rights (Buergenthal, T. 978 and 1997) The need for further changes to the status of individuals under international law went a notch higher after the Second World War, in which many people lost their lives due to the state of anarchy which prevailed then. In 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt in his freedom speech called for a world order in which the world could be founded upon four freedoms namely freedom of speech and expression, International Law and Individual Rights 4 reedom of worship in any way, freedom from want and freedom from fear. This was followed by the formation of the United Nations in 1949, whose main concern, among others was to address the International law, so as to empower the international community to address large scale violations of individual rights. The international law was further to evolve with the establishment of international criminal courts mainly to try the perpetrators of recent genocides like the former Yugoslavia, and Rwanda which took place in mid 1990s. A treaty to create the new international criminal court was formed in 2002, while the international criminal court was formally constituted in 2003, about six decades after the Nuremberg trials (R. K. Woetzel 1962) and the Holocaust. The main objective of this court is to ensure that nations revise their human rights aspects in their constitutions and more importantly, prosecute the leaders who oversee the violation of human rights. It can be seen that international law has undergone all these evolutions, which are all inclined towards protecting the rights of the individual, not just the nation.

Business Trip Brussels Essay

My flight to Stockholm would be late landing. The pilot told us that we were in a ‘stack’ of planes circling above the snow clouds that were giving Brussels its first taste of winter. Air traffic control had closed the runways for a short period at dawn, and the early morning flights from all around Europe were now being allocated new landing slots along with the long-haul jumbos from the Far East and the US. After a 20-minute delay, we descended bumpily through the clouds, and landed on a recently cleared runway. Even then there was a further ‘hold’ on a taxiway; we were told that the de-icing of the apron was being completed so that planes could proceed to their allocated stands and airbridges. All around the airport I could see the scurrying flashing beacons of the snow-clearing vehicles, the catering suppliers’ vans, the aviation fuel trucks, the baggage trailers, buses transporting crews and passengers, security police cars, and an assortment of other vehicles all going purposefully about their work. Brussels airport always looks busy, with over 10 million passengers a year, but this morning the complexity and scale of the operations were particularly evident. Finally, about an hour late, we pulled up to the gate, the engines were turned off, and we disembarked into an icy-cold airbridge, leaving behind a particularly untidy plane strewn with litter from a full cabin of restless passengers. We passed the team of cleaners and maintenance staff waiting just outside. They will have a hard time this morning; more mess to clear and probably less time than usual to do it, as the airline will want a quick turnaround to get back on to schedule,’ I commented to my colleagues. We could just hear the sounds of frantic activities going on below the plane: baggage and cargo being unloaded, catering vehicles arriving, fuel being loaded, and technicians checking over the engines and control surfaces. Everyone trying to get their work completed quickly and correctly, not least so that they could get back indoors out of the biting cold wind! From the airbridge we walked past the crowded seating areas, where plane-sized groups were gathering anxiously awaiting the signal from the gate staff to board their much delayed flights. Then on to the moving walkways, conveyed leisurely past other departure lounges, equally overfilled with passengers. Anxious to get ahead of the crowd, we took to a running pace past the rows of cafes, bars and shops, hoping to avoid the usual morning queue for Passport Control. I should have remembered the old saying ‘more haste, less speed’ because my next journey was to the First Aid room! I had apparently slipped on some spilt coffee that had not been cleaned up in the haste of the morning, and had fallen awkwardly, straining my ankle and breaking my duty-free brandy. ‘At least they would clean the floor after that,’ I thought, sadly. Suitably patched up, I hobbled with my colleagues and joined the long queue for Passport Control, and eventually through to Baggage Reclaim. Even with the excellent new baggage-handling systems in Brussels, the passengers usually get there first, but the accident had changed all that! Scanning the video screens, we found no reference to our flight arrival; the remaining bags from our flight had apparently already been removed from the carousel and were stored in an adjacent office. After a simple signing ceremony, we were reunited with our belongings, and hastened (slowly in my case) to the taxi rank. Our hopes of a quick ride to the city were dispelled when we saw the long queue in the icy wind, so we made our way to the station below, where a dedicated ‘City Express’ train departs every 20 minutes for the Gare de Nord and Gare Centrale. We just missed one! After a busy and successful day at our Brussels office, a taxi was called, and we were back at the airport in the thick of the evening rush hour. The departures check-in area is the upper floor of a vast new terminal extension, and is very orderly and well equipped. Facing you on entry from the taxi drop-off point is a huge electronic display which lists all departures scheduled for the next few hours and showing the appropriate check-in desk number for each flight. The speed of the check-in systems has been improved dramatically, so there was no queue at our desk, and the three of us were issued with boarding passes in only a couple of minutes. Our baggage sped away on conveyors down to the new sorting hall two storeys below. Brochures explain that the new terminal extension was designed to make it possible to go from check-in to final boarding in only 20 minutes, which has involved investment in a state-of-the-art automated baggage-handling system. On my last visit, following traffic delays on the way to the airport, I found that this system works, but I doubt that it would if everyone arrived only 20 minutes before departure! It is no wonder that they advise checking in one hour before; it also gives passengers much more time to spend money in the duty-free shops, restaurants and bars! By this time, my injured leg had swollen up and was throbbing painfully. This seemed to be a routine situation for the check-in staff, who arranged for a wheelchair and attendant to take me through Border Control and security checks. While my colleagues travelled down to the departures hall by escalator, I took the slower route by lift, meeting just outside the duty-free shops where the attendant left them to take care of me. We had some time to spare, so we replenished the brandy, bought some Belgian chocolates and headed for a cafe-bar. While Brussels is renowned for its excellent cuisine, we didn’t expect to find high standards of food in the quick-service environment of an airport, but we were wrong! The delicious aromas of freshly prepared food attracted our custom, and we weren’t disappointed. After a welcome glass of speciality raspberry-flavoured beer to round off the meal, we headed for the airline’s executive lounge. The view across the airfield was not promising! After a bright, crisp day, more snow-laden clouds had arrived and a chill wind cut across the tarmac. De-icing crews were working on the parked aircraft and others were treating the runways, taking quick action between the aircraft movements. Concerned that we might be delayed and miss our connection at Oslo, we checked with the staff at the airline’s flight information desk. After some phoning, they confirmed that, although there could be some delays, Oslo had arranged to hold connecting flights, as many passengers originated from Brussels. Their professional and friendly advice made us feel much more at ease, and they even offered to allow us to send fax or phone messages to our destination. They couldn’t have been more helpful. Announcements of the minor delays were made over the speaker system, but it wasn’t long before we were directed to the departure lounge and were preparing to board. Outside, around the aircraft in the gloom, the baggage trucks were pulling away and the giant push-off tractor was being connected up to the nose-wheel. Ten minutes later, we were at the end of the runway, ready for take-off. ‘Today must have been a very busy one for everyone involved in keeping the airport open,’ I thought, ‘but perhaps every day has its own challenges in such a complex operation. ’

Thinspiration Discussion

Dealing with a first- and experience of an eating disorder, due to a close friend having the illness, can say for a fact that there is nothing glamorous about it and it is certainly nothing that an individual should strive to attain. I'm absolutely sickened by that fact that there are Pro- Anorexia and Pro-Bulimia websites which glorify dangerously thin bodies and post images and tips on how to achieve them.These sites provide false nutritional advice and avoid discussing the negative aspects of being too thin and having abnormal eating habits. Although eating disorders are not a new concept to our society, the deals of administration treat the disorder as if its a lifestyle choice, something acceptable. Think that it would be helpful to discuss on forums with other individuals suffering from the disorder, but only with the intentions of aiding one another in recovering and grieving.But instead, people will post pictures of skinny men or women and use that image as motivation to star ve or purge. Feel like oftentimes people don't know how to approach individuals who are obviously dealing with an eating disorder, so they just let them be and the conditions only worsen. Sometimes cases go unreported because one doesn't look too skinny, for instance; its a difficult disorder to diagnose. Sis our society would stop being so critical ad realize that individuals with such a serious disorder cannot help themselves on their own; it's a mental illness typically as the result of another disease that adds extra stress and anxiety into one's life. One of the examples given in the article was of a girl named Marimbas dealing with anorexia who would log onto Faceable to motivate herself to lose more weight as she scrolled through her News Feed of other arils posting pictures of their tin bodies and discussing how they've lost weight or have to go back to treatment.I had no idea that these individuals suffering with eating disorders saw it all as a competition, who can be the best at being anorexic or bulimic, who can get the sickest, the fastest. Someone with an eating disorder becomes so consumed and obsessed with everything revolving around it that they can't even function in their everyday life activities.

Profile of Top 5 CEO in the Philippines Essay

1.- Data show that 49-year-old Federico Lopez earns the most both in terms of monthly salary and total compensation in 2011. In the 30-company PSEi list, Lopez is head of two firms: First Gen Corporation (FGEN) and Energy Development Corporation (EDC). As Chairman and CEO of FGEN, his basic monthly salary is around P1.79 million. Yup, that’s P1.79 million basic salary per month. He receives another P1.19 million per month as bonus and additional compensation. All in all, he gets more than P3 million every month as FGEN’s chief executive. The same position in EDC gives him an additional P1.4 million every month. Considering only these two companies, Lopez earns roughly P4.4 million monthly — more than any other CEO on the list. – Federico Rufino Lopez is the incumbent Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the publicly-listed Energy Development Corporation. He also heads the First Philippine Holdings Corporation and First Generation Corporation as their Chief Executive Officer. Lopez serves as Director of other Lopez-owned companies including ABS-CBN, Lopez Holdings Corporation (formerly Benpres Corporation), and First Private Power Corporation. – Lopez serves as the Chairman and CEO of Energy Development Corporation. Within the board, he serves as Chairman of Nominations and Compensation Committee, Chairman of Corporate Social Responsibility Committee and Member of Operations Committee. He has been a Board Member since the company’s privatization in 2007. – Lopez serves as the Chairman and CEO of Energy Development Corporation. Within the board, he serves as Chairman of Nominations and Compensation Committee, Chairman of Corporate Social Responsibility Committee and Member of Operations Committee. He has been a Board Member since the company’s privatization in 2007. – Prior to that, he served Vice President of First Philippine Holdings Corporation in September 1992, and oversaw the development, financing and implementation of its energy-related projects. He then served as the Assistant Treasurer in 1993. – At present, he is also the Chairman and CEO of First Gen Corporation and First Philippine Holdings Corporation (FPHC). He is also a director of ABS-CBN, First Private Power Corp., and Bauang Private Power Corp. He also serves as director, President and CEO of FG Bukidnon Power Corp., First Gen Hydro Power Corp., First Gen Energy Solutions, Inc., Red Vulcan Holdings Corp., Prime Terracota Holdings Corp., First Gas Holdings Corp., First Gas Power Corp., FGP Corp., Unified Holdings Corp., First NatGas Power Corp., and First Gas Pipeline Corp. – Lopez has been a member of the Energy Task Force since 1993 promoting market reforms in the power industry. He is also an environmentalist, serving as the President of the First Philippine Conservation, Inc. and a Director of Conservation International. 2. The sixth richest Filipino, Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, is the second-highest paid CEO on the list. As Chairman and CEO of the conglomerate Ayala Corporation, he earns more than P2.42 million total compensation every month, inclusive of a monthly basic salary of P1.66 million. – Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala (born 1959) is a Filipino businessman. He currently serves as chairman and chief executive officerof the Ayala Corporation. His brother, Fernando Zobel de Ayala, is president of the corporation, while his father, Jaime Zobel de Ayala, was president until 1994 and currently holds the title of chairman emeritus. -In addition to his position in the Ayala Corporation, Mr. Zobel is chairman of the Board of Directors of Globe Telecom, Bank of the Philippine Islands, and Integrated Microelectronics Inc. (IMI); vice chairman of the Board of Directors and member of the Executive Committee of Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI); vice chairman of Manila Water Co.; and co-vice chairman and trustee of Ayala Foundation, Inc. He is also a member of various international and local business and socio-civic organizations including the J.P. Morgan International Council, Mitsubishi Corporation International Advisory Committee, Toshiba International Advisory Group, Harvard University Asia Center Advisory Committee, Board of Trustees of the Asian Institute of Management, National Council member of the World Wildlife Fund (US), and Chairman of World Wildlife Fund (Philippines). Honors include World Economic Forum Global Leader for Tomorrow in 1995; Emerging Markets CEO of the year in 1998 (sponsored by ING); Philippine TOYM (Ten Outstanding Young Men) Award in 1999 and Management Association of the Philippines Management Man of the Year Award in 2006. Most recently, Mr. Zobel was awarded the Presidential Medal of Merit on March 11, 2009 by Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for â€Å"enhancing the prestige and honor of the Republic of the Philippines both at home and abroad.† – On September 27, 2007, Ayala Corp. chair Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala was conferred the Harvard Business School’s highest honor, the Alumni Achievement Award, byDean Jay O. Light. The award was also given to: Donna Dubinsky, A. Malachi Mixon of Invacare, Sir Martin Sorrell of WPP Group and Hansjorg Wyss of Synthes. Zobel de Ayala received his MBA from HBS in 1987. Zobel de Ayala was cited for â€Å"his innovative, entrepreneurial style of management (that) has benefited both Ayala and an island nation that faces significant social and economic challenges. He is the first Filipino to receive this prestigious award. – The Philippine Legion of Honor with rank of Grand Commander was awarded to Mr. Zobel on June 29, 2010. This is awarded by the President of the Republic of the Philippines to recognize outstanding public service that has benefitted the republic, particularly in the preservation of the honor of the country and in nation building. – On November 25, 2010, Mr. Zobel received the Asia Talent Management Award at the 9th CNBC Asia Business Leaders Awards held in Singapore. Mr. Zobel was recognized for â€Å"his personal involvement in supporting and nurturing leadership within the company.† Zobel was quoted as saying that he and his brother Fernando Zobel de Ayala, president and COO of Ayala, consider succession planning as a critical element in ensuring the corporation’s sustainability. He was the third Filipino to be recognized by the annual program, following Globe Telecom CEO Gerardo Ablaza, Jr. who received the ABLA in 2004, and Jollibee CEO Tony Tan Caktiong for corporate citizenship in 2006. – Mr. Zobel holds a B.A. degree in economics (cum laude) from Harvard College (1981), and an MBA from the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration (1987). He is married to Elizabeth (Lizzie) Eder Zobel, a descendant of Santiago Eder. The couple have four children. -3. Manny Pangilinan or MVP is Chairman and CEO of three companies on the list, making him the third-highest paid CEO with a combined total compensation of P2.65 million per month. This is inclusive of his monthly basic salary of P1.76 million in those companies. His basic salary is P950,000 per month as head of Meralco; more than P588,000 per month as chair of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPI); and around P230,000 every month as CEO of Philex Mining Corporation. – Manuel V Pangilinan (born July 14, 1946 in Manila, Philippines), also known as Manny Pangilinan and MVP, is a Filipino businessman. He is the Chairman of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company, from 1998 up to the present. – Pangilinan spent his elementary and high school days at San Beda College. He graduated cum laude from the Ateneo de Manila University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. He received his MBA degree in 1968 from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.] He is also the owner of ABC/TV5 network, Cignal Digital TV and Smart Communications. He was the former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Ateneo de Manila University. – Pangilinan founded First Pacific in 1981 and served as its Managing Director until 1999. He was appointed as Executive Chairman until June 2003, when he was named CEO and Managing Director. Within the First Pacific Group, he holds the positions of President Commissioner of P.T. Indofood Sukses Makmur Tbk, the largest food company in Indonesia. He was named Chairman of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), after serving as its President and CEO until February 2004. He also serves as Chairman of Maynilad Water Services, Inc., Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation, Medical Doctors, Inc., Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, Landco Pacific Corporation, Pilipino Telephone Corporation, Smart Communications, Inc. and Manila Metro Rail Transit System. -4. Another highest-paid chief executive is Danding Cojuangco of San Miguel Corporation. As CEO of the diversified conglomerate SMC, he gets P1.58 million salary per month plus P746,000 additional compensation monthly, for a total of P2.33 million every month. – Eduardo Murphy Cojuangco, Jr. (born June 10, 1935), also known as Danding Cojuangco, is the chairman of San Miguel Corporation, the largest food and beverage corporation in the Philippines and Southeast Asia, former Philippine ambassador, and former governor of Tarlac. In 2005, his personal wealth was estimated at US$527 million.It was estimated that, at one time, his business empire accounted for 25% of the gross national product of the Philippines. He has been called â€Å"one of the country’s leading businessmen†. – He was a candidate for the Philippine presidency in 1992, ultimately losing in a tight election to Fidel V. Ramos. Ramos received 23.6 % of the vote. Miriam Defensor Santiago came in second with 19.7% and Cojuangco came in third with 18.2%. – He tested the political waters in 2003, planning to run in the 2004 Presidential and Local Elections, but soon withdrew. He was a close adviser and personal friend to former President Ferdinand E. Marcos, which led him to become estranged from his cousin,Corazon Aquino, who after Marcos’ ouster succeeded him as president. Cojuangco is of partial Irish, Spanish, and Chinesedescent.[citation needed] – Cojuangco was a member of the Rolex 12, a group of 12 men who were closest to Marcos and allegedly were his enforcers of Martial Law. He is also an honorary member of PMA Class 1951. Cojuangco also was accused by the military men at the scene ofBenigno Aquino, Jr.’s assassination, as the leader who orchestrated the crime. – He is currently the chairman emeritus of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, the party he founded in 1992 which served as his vehicle to further his aspirations in the 1992 presidential elections. – He was also an advocate for sports in the country through using his company as sponsors for various events. He is notable for supporting basketball in a huge way since the 1980s as a basketball godfather for President Marcos with the famed Northern Consolidated teams of coach Ron Jacobs and the three SMC owned teams currently playing in the Philippine Basketball Association (the flagship Petron Blaze Boosters, the Barangay Ginebra Kings, and the B-Meg Llamados). – He studied at San Beda College, De La Salle University, University of the Philippines, Los Baà ±os and California State College. – Besides English and Tagalog, he speaks Ilocano, the dialect of his mother and Kapampangan, the original dialect of the Cojuangcos. -5. James L Go, Chairman and CEO of JG Summit Holdings (JGS), Universal Robina Corp. (URC) and Robinsons Land (RLC) — total compensation of P1.82 million per month, roughly the same as his basic monthly salary – James L. Go, is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of JGSHI. He had been President and Chief Operating Officer of JGSHI and was elected to his current position effective January 1, 2002. As Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, he heads the Executive Committee of JGSHI. He is currently the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Robina Corporation, Robinsons Land Corporation, JG Summit Petrochemical Corporation, Robinsons Inc., and Oriental Petroleum and Minerals Corporation. In addition, he is the President and a Trustee of Gokongwei Brothers Foundation, Inc. He was elected director of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) on November 3, 2011 and was also appointed as a member of PLDT’s Technology Strategy Committee. He is also a director of Cebu Air, Inc., Panay Electric Co., United Industrial Corporation Limited, Singapore Land Limited, Marina Center Holdings, Inc., Hotel Marina City Private Limited and JG Summit Capital Markets Corporation. He received a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.