Hamlet, The Prince of Denmark Essay

Much of the dramatic irony and dramatic tension in Shakespeare’s â€Å"Hamlet, The Prince of Denmark† derives from the interplay between the characters’ public and private personas. The face that each of the characters shows to the public contrasts with, in most cases, the private persona of the same character. Similarly, the private â€Å"face† or motives of the characters usually stands in diametric opposition to their public persona. The most obvious examples of this dynamic is, are course, the characters of Claudius and Gertrude who must, by necessity, keep up a fraudulent set of public perceptions to cover their crimes of infidelity and murder. These obvious examples, however, are no more profound or integral to the play’s thematic impact than the likewise hypocrisies which afflict nearly every other character of the play. The almost universal nature of social mendacity is represented in â€Å"Hamlet† as being,in fact, the source of what is â€Å"rotten† in Denmark. The brilliance of the play exists, in part, in Shakespeare’s ability to demonstrate the way in which hypocrisy and being â€Å"two-faced† can impact all levels of society and corrupt even friendship and love. In many ways, the cast of characters in â€Å"Hamlet† reflect a social microcosm, with Hamlet, the young Prince, and Ophelia, representing the youth of society and the ghost of Hamlet’s father, Gertrude, Claudius, and Polonius representing the social establishment and cultural traditions which have fostered ongoing mendacity. From the very opening scene of the play, Shakespeare, with a knack for amazing subtlety, writes the following exchange between Bernardo and Horatio: BERNARDO Say, What, is Horatio there? HORATIO A piece of him. (Hamlet, 1. 1 25-28) Horatio’s reply indicates, according to critics of the play, that he is referring to the cold night air which has reduced him to a shivering semblance of his former self. However, the line can also be read as a subtle extension of the theme of mendacity adn meant to indicate that even Horatio, who will be revealed throughout the course of the play as a true friend to Hamlet, has been impacted by the â€Å"rottenness† in Denmark, the social hypocrisy which holds all in its sway. Similarly, Polonius, who represents the religious and spiritual aspects of society in the social microcosm of the play, dispenses words of wisdom to Laertes, acting the part of the wise and compassionate patriarch, a man of morals and God. Among his words of wisdom in Act One, Scene Three are the following observations: â€Å"Beware/ Of entrance to a quarrel, but being in,/ Bear’t that the opposed may beware of thee. / Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice;/ Take each man’s censure, but reserve thy judgment† (Hamlet 1. 3, 69-73). Obviously, Polonius fails to live by his own words. He openly intrigues against Hamlet, immersing himself into a quarrel which was not his own, and after doing so, fails to â€Å"Bear’t that the opposed may beware of thee† (Hamlet 1. 3, 71), but ends up being killed by Hamlet on accident. Key to all of the ironies which are associated with Shakespeare’s them of social mendacity is the character of Hamlet himself. If the reader or audience member who is experiencing Hamlet believes in the heart that Hamlet is, indeed, mad, then much of Hamlet’s behavior can be explained by madness. If, on the other hand, the reader or audience member believes that Hamlet is simply presenting yet another social â€Å"face† — this one in order to disrupt the hypocrisy of society — then Hamlet’s behavior becomes a method by which Shakespeare examines the heavy toll which is exacted on the individual in a hypocritical society. There is every reason to believe that the latter context is the one which Shakespeare hope to achieve in the play. One good bit of evidence for this supposition is in Act 2, Scene One, when Ophelia, stricken by the state which Hamlet has allowed himself to get into, she voices her concerns to her father, Polonius. Ophelia describes Hamlet â€Å"with his doublet all unbraced† (Shakespeare, 2. 1, 85) and â€Å"No hat upon his head† (Shakespeare 2. 1, 86). His appearance is taken to be an indication of his inner-state, propelling the sense of social facade as serving in place of truth in society. Ophelia concludes that Hamlet appeared as though â€Å"he had been loosed out of hell/ To speak of horrors,–he comes before me† (Shakespeare 2. 1, 90-91). The implication is that Hamlet’s disheveled state must indicate that he is, in fact, mad. Obviously, while Hamlet appears mad to others, he is plotting with great, rational precision to expose what he fears is the crime committed by his mother and his uncle. The sub-text of this is that Hamlet should be mad given the reality of the dilemma he faces. The great irony is, in fact, that he is not mad, but sane which will not allow him to live in a world of lies and hypocrisy. When Claudius and Gertrude react with horror to the â€Å"play within a play† Hamlet’s response is â€Å"What, frighted with false fire! † (Shakespeare 3. 2, 262) indicating his very rational understanding of the situation and of the reality of social mendacity. At this point, it seems that merely knowing of the hypocrisy is enough for Hamlet because when Claudius responds â€Å"Give me some light: away! † (Shakespeare 3. 2, 265) it is an admission that he, the King, and by association the whole of Denmark exists in â€Å"darkness† which is the darkness of social hypocrisy. Although hypocrisy is never actually justified in â€Å"Hamlet,† there is an interesting â€Å"reason† which is given in Act 4 of the play as to why people may be so easily led into hypocrisy and self-deception and that reason is: human mortality. When Hamlet observes of the dead that â€Å"There’s another: why may not that be the skull of a / lawyer? Where be his quiddities now, his quillets,/ his cases, his tenures, and his tricks? † (Shakespeare, 4. 1, 94-98) the reader or audience member realizes that the human hypocrisy portrayed throughout the play represents not only the lies and deceit necessary to facilitate human ambition in a corrupted society, but the human tendency to reject â€Å"cosmic† issues such as life and death and human spirituality in favor of materialism and worldly power. Works Cited Shakespeare, William. The Works of William Shakespeare Gathered into One Volume. New York: Oxford University Press, 1938.

Pope

The text under analysis â€Å"Doreen Pope† is a type of publicistic writing, feature article. The author M. Loudon managed to make this text informative and entertaining for the reader. The article concentrates on an Interesting theme. The theme of the article is about the role of a teacher in the system of education in GB. The author embodies the theme into incomparable character. The story reveals the image of ideal teacher. M. Loudon convinces us of the importance of the teacher's role for children.This important idea that the author expresses in the process of developing the theme is he message of the story. The theme is organically connected with the message. And M. Loudon places the maln point very appropriately. It has a complex character Is created with the help of interaction of implications and develops further. Sufficient arguments, details and examples support the main idea. â€Å"Miss Pope was an enormous success with the children because she had a genuine affini ty with them.She also had an unpretentious disregard for the formal†. The author uses references effectively and her reasoning sounds very logically and convincing. â€Å"Miss Pope believed that children only learnt self-worth and corporate responslblllty through ecognition of their gifts, however insignificant they might have seemed in scholastic terms: so while she was appreciate of talent and enthusiasm, it was those who were shy. or obstreperous. or who found reading or writing Is difficult, which whom she spent the most time. Such cohesive devices as â€Å"practically, so, also, indeed, Just, however† within the paragraphs and the repetition the main character's name between them catch the reader's attention, give more prominence to the words. Implication is conveyed by different techniques, artistic details, arrangement of plot structure and images. With the help of it the writer achieved her main purpose. M. Loudon Informs the reader about educational system In GB, convinces us of the importance of the role of a teacher. She makes us feel sympathy to the main character and respect her strong personality.M. Loudon reminds us about eternal values and morals In our life. The style of presentation of these ideas Is appealing and appropriate for the situation. â€Å"Practically, no one reading this will have of Miss Pope. Her greatness is no obvious and it has never been documented. † using not very formal style the writer involves us to the situation, Invites to an open dialog, creates ree and trust atmosphere. The author's attitude to the character determines the tone of the story. Tone expresses the relationship between the author and the character.It Is sympathetic, cheerful, and enthusiastic. M. Loudon resorts to emotionally colored words, such as â€Å"cheerful†, â€Å"Jolly†, â€Å"brisk†, â€Å"great†. An extensive Image of the character Is created by similes â€Å"Miss Pope and Sheena as the Madonna and Child in Renaissance Europe† epithets: â€Å"wholesome woman†, â€Å"unobtrusive clothes†, â€Å"sensible shoes†, â€Å"affectionate woman†, â€Å"Insatiable sense of humor†. Metaphors: â€Å"she never lost her cool†, antitheses: â€Å"from sunny hildhood to dark adolescence† Intensifiers, such as: â€Å"completely different tot us†, â€Å"such an aloof dog†.Polysyndeton: â€Å"she had an insatiable sense of humor and a nuge, rotund laugn, ana sne never Tallea to reward even tne dullest anecdote. † I use of low-colloquial words intensifies the contrast; make a parallel between primary and secondary school: â€Å"fuck off, posh bitch† The writer applies contrast, parallel structure, framing to visualize the article. The use of these means produces a humorous effect and testifies to the inventiveness and wit of the author. The title of the article catches our attention, gives prominence o the main c haracter due to capitalization.The title is the name of the character that emphasizes its importance in the article, defines sympathetic feelings of the author, and arouses reader's interest to it. The article raises important and interesting themes. It forces us to be involved in the problem of the role of a teacher. Teacher is a guide, is an inspirer, is a monitor, is a friend, is a second mother, and is a mentor, who teaches simple, but timeless and good values. And M. Loudon was succeeded in paying tribute to an inspirational teacher and created a hymn to a teacher.

How to Write a Legislative Bill

How to Write a Legislative Bill Have you ever had the urge to want to change someone’s perspective? Did you ever think you could make a difference? Were you aware that even students between the ages of eleven to twenty create bills that can become laws? According to the 2012 Youth in Government Student Manuel, more than 100 current West Virginia laws were first considered in the Youth in Government (YG) program. So, how are bills created? Step 1- Choose a bill topic.The most important part of writing a Legislative bill is choosing a comfortable topic that you can relate to or make your own, as well as making it personal or influential to others too. Step 2- Search for a topic that will improve the state. Be creative and original; do not repeatedly write a bill someone else has already tried and failed in the previous years. Step 3- Prepare a preliminary draft of the bill. A. Search the library and internet for resources and materials to support your bill. Seek out authorities and ask their views and opinions of your bill.Authorities can include representatives from Public Health, Education, Government, Law Enforcement, Economic Development, Business, Labor, Community Organizations, and Faith Groups, Etc. B. Weigh your proposed bill against the Constitution, using both State and Federal standards and consult with practiced law professionals, such as a lawyer or judge. C. State-oriented legislation must be within the constitutional authority of the State Government†¦ not Federal Government. D. Select a section of the state code where your proposed bill â€Å"fits. † Cite or (write) that section number in the Preamble of your bill.Step 4- Ask peers or others to critique the bill to highlight arguments both for and against, as well as make suggestions for improvement. Step 5- Draft your bill in its correct format. Bills are typed as received, so make sure there are no grammatical errors; check your spelling, sentence structure, and code citations for correctness. Step 6- Research the bill topic for presentations to the Committee, Legislature, Lobbyists, the Governor and his or her Cabinet. Step 7- Now, your bill is ready for submission. Be sure to meet the proper deadline.Never attempt to write a last minute bill, so you can make sure you feel confident and completely prepared when presenting. When deciding on a topic for your bill, you want to make it your own, and not what someone else created. People have similar ideas for bills, but may not have the proper wording; therefore, their bills are often voted down. Anyone can make a difference; you just have to be willing to go the extra mile to make it happen. I surely enjoyed the experience of stepping out from my comfort zone to participate in the amazing learning process of writing a Legislative Bill.

Summarize the Article Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Summarize the Article - Essay Example The authors found that sleep difficulty are common in older individuals and are significantly associated with more severe and disseminated pain. This study rather did not find that pain severity was associated with age but recognized that more research is needed to develop effective interactions for these prevalent and co-occurring disabling conditions. Furthermore Dysfunction of the hypothalamic pituitary- adrenal axis was found to be associated with greater risk of developing chronic widespread pain (Qian, 2011). This study showed that, after adjustment for use of psychotherapeutic medications and the daily anesthetics, the connotation between pain and sleep difficulties decreased modestly A number of mechanisms like Chronic pain characteristics maybe an important factor contributing to the sleep difficulties amongst aged and may need to be added to pain assessment in older persons. The medications prescribed for chronic pain and promting sleep have analgesic and sedating effects. Chen, Qian, et al. "Characteristics of chronic pain associated with sleep difficulty in older adults: The Maintenance of Balance, Independent Living, Intellect, and Zest in the Elderly (MOBILIZE) Boston study." Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 59.8 (2011):

MIH548 - Theory Based Research - Mod 5 SLP Essay

MIH548 - Theory Based Research - Mod 5 SLP - Essay Example The US spends billions of dollars on food assistance that is meant to provide healthy meals and subsidize present food purchases. The study that we will look at in this paper compares the Federal Assistance and the average BMI of those children who are receiving assistance. The current policy is meant to adhere to nutritional guidelines and assure that children are getting all of the basic nutrients that are needed for health (Kimbro, & Rigby, 2010). Recent studies have shown that in cities with high food prices, subsidizing purchases at the store may actually increase the purchase of high energy low cost foods while subsidizing school meals may provide the children with more healthy meals. As we think about this problem it has to be ask, is the higher energy low cost food always used by those on food stamps etc and if not what predicts healthy food? There is a scoring system that can determine how healthy food intake is. This is called the NuVal scoring system where each kind of food is given a value. This study should be a correlational study that is time dimensional. It is a Quantitative Research Design. The hypothesis for this study is that it is not income that relates to obesity but increased high energy foods and decreased exercise. . There will be two comparative groups that will receive a questionnaire with a food diary and then a follow up in 6 months with another questionnaire and food diary. The two groups will include one that is low income and one that is middle income. All of the participant children will be scored with a BMI in the beginning and a waist measurement. Parents will write in the food journal everything eaten each day for 6 months. The origi nal questionnaire will include questions about lifestyle such as exercise and TV time. Those foods eaten throughout the 6 months will be given a NuVal score and evaluated in the two groups. This will definitely need to be a

Corporate social responsibility plan. Royal Dutch Shell Corporation Research Paper

Corporate social responsibility plan. Royal Dutch Shell Corporation - Research Paper Example In exploring this subject, I wish to shed light on the significance of creating a timely and strategic corporate social responsibility program that strengthens and nourishes the corporate identity and image of Shell. I like to end this paper by presenting specific executions for the CSR program. Company Background: As a corporation that positions itself as the â€Å"leading innovator for the energy future†, Royal Dutch Shell or Shell aims to maintain sustainable development by delivering its short-term and long-term business interests with economic, environmental, and social considerations (Royal Dutch Shell A, 2009). Through sustainable development, Shell believes that it is able to: firstly, govern the way it develops new oil explorations and projects on alternative energy; secondly, manage its downstream supply chains; and lastly, share its benefits to society by delivering quality products and by spearheading community projects. Shell is present in more than 90 countries worldwide, has 93,000 full-time employees, and maintains a fuel retail network of around 43,000 service stations. In 2010, Shell was able to produce 3.3 million barrels of oil equivalent per day while it generated earnings of $20.5 billion. It spent $23.7 billion on net capital investment while it spent over $1.0 billion on research and development (R&D). The business operations of Shell are classified under three major categories—upstream, downstream, and projects and technology. Firstly, Shell Upstream is involved in the search and recovery of oil and natural gas; and the extraction of heavy oil from oil sands for conversion into synthetic crudes. (Royal Dutch Shell C, 2001). Secondly, Shell Downstream is involved in the manufacturing, supplying, and marketing of oil products and chemicals worldwide. Businesses under manufacturing and supply include refineries, chemical plants, and the supply and distribution of feedstock and other products. On the other hand, businesses under marketing sell a range of products including fuels, lubricants, bitumen, and liquefied petroleum gas for home, transport, and industrial use. Lastly, Shell Projects and Technology manages and drives the research and technology development programs for major projects of Shell. It provides technical services and technology capability to the Upstream and Downstream businesses. At this point, it is crucial to highlight that the company engages in business activities that have direct impact on the environment. For one, most Shell upstream operations need elaborate technologies that would guide the extraction of oil from the sea bed. As for its downstream arm , Shell recognizes the volume of carbon dioxide being emitted by its refining plants. Therefore, there is a strong and direct link between profitable business and responsible waste management. II. Climate Change and Managing Carbon Dioxide Emissions. Shell recognizes its significant role in halving the carbon dioxide emissions by 2050 to avoid the worst effects of climate change. However, the company believes that the actions needed to alleviate the impacts of climate cha

Sex Offenders Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Sex Offenders - Essay Example Robinson E.H. (1989:23) observes that cases of sexual abuse are rampant in poor communities and they often go unnoticed or reported. The lack of proper education coupled with the absence of a complete family unit in some cases in the African context, is cause for serious concern with regards to the increasing cases of sexual abuse. The family unit should form the basis for a conducive atmosphere which is morally and intellectually sound to develop the full potential of the child and give it a sense of belonging and values. It is against this background that the protection of the rights of children is given due prominence internationally. Principle 2 of The Declaration of The Rights of The Child proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 20 November 1959 states that: The child shall enjoy special protection and shall be given opportunities and facilities, by law and by other means to enable him to develop physically, mentally, morally, spiritually and socially in a healthy and normal manner and in conditions of freedom and dignity. In this regard it can be noted that the issue of especially child sexual abuse is given priority by international bodies hence the enactment of laws shall always be in the best interest of the child. There are varying jail terms for sexual offenders depending on the magnitude of the offence. Sexual offenders usually commit these crimes under the influence of alcohol. Excessive consumption weakens the person’s ability to have self control and in some cases increases aggression. Unmarried man usually commit sexual offences more frequently than married men who are able to satisfy their sexual urge. According to the United Nations report based on the study of â€Å"Violence Against Children† (2006), more than 200 million children have been sexually abused the world over and it blames this

Summary of Section 754 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Summary of Section 754 - Research Paper Example Hence, now the owners and managers who pay tax and their advisers now advance towards the transactions with the same concern, as those stated in the historic decrees of subchapter K that the partnerships concerned with tax have been asking for years: why incorporate The substantial increase in the use of partnerships has led to increasing frustration with the obsolete subchapter K regulations (most of which were spread in 1955). Among the most troublesome laws are those which govern the basis for adjustments on the sale or swap (exchange) of a partnership stake (Orbach, 2004). In fact, the laws --which allow the purchaser of a partnership stake to reflect the purchaser's acquiring cost in partnership resources, are among the most perplexed and highly defective aspects of partnership taxation. At the start of the year 1998, to address these problems, the Internal Revenue Service in collaboration with the Treasury issued proposed laws and policies u/s734(b) (basis adjustments on some distributions), section743(b) (basis adjustments on transfers of partnership interests),section 751(a) (the "collapsible partnership rule" requiring recognition of ordinary income on the disposition of certain partnership interests), andsection754 (Depreciation Adjustment). (Internal Revenue Code) The origin of partnership property is usually not affected when a partner sells or exchanges its interest in the business. As a result, if a person buys or ventures into a partnership stake or interest by sale or exchange for a sum that exceeds the transferee's allocation of the adjusted basis of partnership property, the purchase price in excess, is not reflected in the partnership's asset basis, i.e., the purchaser is not able to "push down" its purchase price to the partnership's assets When the business (partnership) makes a an election u/s754 within the stipulated time, however, a transferee partner's share of the partnership's adjusted basis in its assets ("inside basis") is stepped up or stepped down to reflect the partner's basis in the acquired business interest ("outside basis"). Bottom of Form We would proceed by considering an example, in relation to the partnership business, the various transactions that take place in the form of sale and exchange. More importantly, we would focus on the implications of Section 754 of the IRS, which has a major impact with respect to taxation in shaping up these transactions (Orbach, 2004). When an interested party, buys a stake or share of an existing partner's partnership interest, or the interest of a member of a limited liability corporation (LLC) taxed as a partnership, at a value which is said to be its fair value in the market the amount that the purchaser of the interest pays becomes the base for the purchaser's business interest (outside basis). In this transaction at fair market value, the buyer (new partner) assumes the seller's pro rata share of the business partnership's adjusted basis in its assets (inside basis). If the partnership's property or asset value has appreciated sufficiently, the variation between the new partne r's inside and outside basis can be

Labor Market Effects of Immigrants in UAE Essay

Labor Market Effects of Immigrants in UAE - Essay Example This essay declares that statistical figures and theoretical statements are used in establishing the relationship between immigrants and labor market in the United Arab Emirates. A personal account of the positive and negative impacts of immigrants in the nation’s labor market is provided. This pape makes a conclusion that immigration, which entails moving into a new country with the sole purpose of setting up permanent residence, affects the economy. For illustration purpose, the movement of Europeans from Britain, Italy and Spain into America was the largest form of immigration in human history. Despite having citizenship in their native countries, European settlers moved into America with the sole purpose of establishing permanent residence in the new nation. Presently, immigration still occurs. Middle East nations like the United Arab Emirates receive thousands of immigrants annually from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh among other countries. Some of these immigrants have legal status, which means they have been cleared to enter and reside in the UAE awaiting citizenship. However, others are illegal immigrants entering the nation without receiving clearance from relevant authorities. Of all the Middle East nations, the United Arab Emirates receives the largest numbe r of immigrants. Based on UN statistics, 43% of immigrants in the Middle East reside in the UAE, while the remaining percentage is evenly distributed among nations like Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

Use of neologisms in legal translation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Use of neologisms in legal translation - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that the difficulties in legal translation from one original term to another in consideration of â€Å"cultural asymmetry† between different legal systems of which one country or group of nations’ legal concepts as well as courtroom procedures have been formed by their own history and experience. Likewise, these established legal concepts are not always, if at all, shared by other countries or nations and states of which target language for translation may be necessary. Once specific observation was that of Stern where there are acknowledgment and accommodation of other cultures in the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia (ICTY) but these â€Å"other cultures† were not able to experience equal status with the Anglo-Saxon legal and communicative culture dominating the Tribunal. While it is generally understood that legal language is accepted by the precision of its legal terms predominantly generic and c onnotative so that they are not decoded by a simple process of one-to-one relationship in linguistics, Newmark and Baker also pointed out that the relative accuracy of legal or lexical equivalent was problematic in the translation and interpretation process. Local courts may employ the essential capabilities of legal professionals and the judiciary, but there are growing occurrences and instances that foreign as well as internationally accepted laws are a necessity in order to provide legal solutions to local cases, and vice versa. The quality of interpretation, then, as well as the exigency of justice becomes dependent on the interpreter, or how legal translation is undergone, presented and used. This paper will try to explore the use of neologism in legal translation with close reference to Rene de Groot's article "Title" and (year, PLEASE SUPPLY, ALSO UNDER REFERENCE) as well as to other available resources. Discussion: Whereas Swiss linguist Ferdinand de Saussure argued that "Language is a system of interdependent terms in which the value of each term results solely from the simultaneous presence of the others ... Content is really fixed only by the concurrence of everything that exists outside it. Being part of a system, it is endowed not only with a signification but also and especially with a value," (qtd. Noth, 1990, p 61), we are then presented with technical connection of words between and amongst themselves which altogether changes when used with other words. This alone as well as cultural differences provide a difficulty in the manner of translating legal terms which this paper explores. Already, in a study conducted by Stern (2004), it was acknowledged that the lack of exact legal equivalents between languages, in this context English and French or Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian (BCS), was an obstacle and a very difficult aspect of translation. Given examples "for everyday terms and concepts, such as allegations, cross-examination, pre-trial, to plead guilty/not guilty, beyond any reasonable doubt or balance of probability (and) cognates such as appeal, charges, objection," (Stern, 2004) proved to have different significance in the target language/s and presented discrepancies in the translation of official legal documents, as well as judgments. Weston (1983 p 207), himself pointed out that, "It is no business of the translator's to create a new word or expression if the SL [source language] expression can be adequately and conveniently translated by using one of the foregoing methods" of which methods were enumerated as: 1. equivalent notions 2. literal translations 3. leaving the term un-translated. De Groot, nevertheless, presented three solutions as: 1. Do not translate and use the target language the original or transcribed term from the source language. If necessary one explains the notion between brackets or in a foot-note by using a 'literal translation' or by using a remark as 'comparable with

History Civil War Movie - Lincoln (2012) Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

History Civil War - Lincoln (2012) - Movie Review Example The movie appreciates the most remarkable historical event in the American history. The movie displays the efforts put forward by Abraham Lincoln during his last years in power to pass the 13th Amendment in the U.S. Constitution with the help of the House of Representatives. In this sense, some social issues like the rights to vote by the African Americans and women and slavery are among the contributors to its amendment. In Lincoln (2012), a key issue revolves around social class and not race. Lincoln used the North Industrialists to fund most of his campaigns because it gave them the power to levy heavy taxes on people living in the South so that the companies in the North can grow. Through this, there seems to be a divide between the two regions. The North was keen about economic prowess, land ownership, free markets and owning the bank of the United States. Since the South did not have a good representation, it underwent oppression through taxes. Regarding interests, the North wa s a racist hub with slavery being dominant in the South. Through this Abraham Lincoln, while relating to the movie, the Unite States was able to enforce the Thirteenth Amendment in her constitution. In the amendment, the senate abolished the widespread slavery and involuntary servitude. The only exception in this amendment is when slavery is used as a corrective measure especially when punishing criminals. Though the movie carries a good message, its storyline has no concrete documentation. Critics term the Lincoln (2012) movie as a misleading historical movie. For instance, in this movie, Lincoln, who is the President of the United States orders two of his congressional representatives to use all means to pass the 13th amendment. The President in the movie uses this phrase to show authority: Critics in some way agree with the quote because historical documentation proves so. However, the tone in the command, the facial expression as well as the context in which it

A History of Journalism in the Philippines Essay Example for Free

A History of Journalism in the Philippines Essay Revolution, the press, which plays a potent role in the promotion of truth, justice, and democracy, and of peace, progress, and prosperity, was liberated from dictatorship. During this period, crony newspapers were closed and the National Press Club and the Philippine Press Institute were revived to professionalize mass media in the country. During this period, significant changes, advances, and developments have taken place in Philippine journalism. Newspapers and periodicals have expanded in pages, sections, coverages, and circulations. They have become venues of sensitive issues like death penalty, charter change, juetengate scandal, and visiting forces agreement, and of diverse issues about the civil society, land reform, human rights, genders issues, and other areas that before the 1986 EDSA Revolution were previously ignored or minimally covered. Some investigative reports have led to further investigations, have enhanced transparency, and have reduced corruption in the judiciary, executive, and legislative branches of the government. These developments are attributed to the continuing efforts of the newspaper and the periodical industry and their research and academic organizations: the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, which conducts rigorous research in the affairs of the state; the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, which upgrades professionalism and responsibility of media practitioners through seminars, workshops, and publications; the Philippine Press Institute, which conducts trainings and sponsors the Annual Community Press Awards that recognizes excellence among provincial newspapers and periodicals; and the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication, which offers graduate studies in journalism and in communication management and conducts media research, interim training, and policy advocacy. In 1998, there are 14 daily broadsheets and 19 tabloids published in Metro  Manila. Among the broadsheets with the biggest circulations include the Manila Bulletin with a claimed circulation of 280 000 on weekdays and 300 000 on weekends and the Philippine Daily Inquirer with a claimed circulation of 260 000 on weekdays and 280 000 on weekends. Among the tabloids with the biggest circulations include the Abante with a claimed circulation of 417 600 and the People’s Journal with a claimed circulation of 382 000. Out of the 408 provincial newspapers and periodicals, 30 are printed daily, 292 are published weekly, and the rest are circulated either monthly or quarterly. Today, based from the 2000 Philippine Media Fact Book, there are 559 print publications, 475 broadsheets, 45 magazines, and 39 tabloids and comics; 22 percent are published in the National Capital Region, 12 broadsheets, 17 tabloids, 32 magazines, 39 comics, and 5 Chinese newspapers. Among the broadsheets with the biggest circulations include the Philippine Daily Inquirer with a daily circulation of 257 416, followed by the Philippine Star, 251 000, and the Manila Bulletin, 240 000. Other broadsheets with their daily circulation are as follows: Today, 152 268; Kabayan, 150 000; Malaya, 135 193; Manila Standard, 96 310; Sun Star Manila, 87 000; Philippine Post, 78 218; The Manila Times, 75 000; Business World, 61 283; and The Daily Tribune, 50 000. Among the tabloids with the biggest circulations include Bulgar with a daily circulation of 448 450, followed by the People’s Journal, 382 200, and the People’s Tonight, 365 811. Other tabloids with their daily circulation are as follows: Remate, 310 000; Abante, 260 000; Bandera, 253 523; Pilipino Star Ngayon, 250 200, People’s Bagong Taliba, 210 000; Balita, 175 725; Tempo, 160 000; Abante Tonight, 150 000; Isyu, 126 835; Saksi Ngayon, 100 000; Remate Tonight, 90 000; Balita sa Hapon, 35 000; and Sun Star Bulilit, 30 000. Among the Sunday supplements of daily newspapers, Panorama of the Manila Bulletin has the highest number of circulation, 300 000, followed by the Sunday Inquirer Magazine of the Philippine daily Inquirer, 268 575, and the Starweek Magazine of the Philippine Star, 268 000. Among the entertainment magazines, Glitter has the highest number of circulation with 300 000, followed by the Pilipino Reporter News Magazine, 188 192, and the Woman Today, 184 900. __________________________________________________________ Inquiry, Dissent, and Struggle Javier Flores and Ava Vivian Gonzales Though the Philippine Collegian retains the singular distinction of being the most illustrious campus paper in the country, there is no single Collegian. A rummage through the archives, through pages crumbling with age, reveals an impermanence of its character. There are indeed as many versions of the Collegian as there are batches of writers and students, and passing crises peculiar to different times. Each generation names its own foes. The process of writing, subversive as it is, fords the inter-generational divide. Such exercise puts one upon inquiry, the starting point of advocacy. When one writes, one requires breathing space: the right to dissect any topic under the sun and in the domain of heaven, and the right not to be interfered with in so doing. The practice of interrogating accepted modes of thinking and overturning paradigms breeds criticism of the powers that be. In the Collegians storied past, this criticism, coming at times when to be informed was an offense, was not always welcome. There were issues which came out with white spaces where editorials should have been. Homobono Adaza, then editor in chief (EIC), was removed from office for writing an editorial against the UP Administration. During the Martial Law years, staffers were threatened that they would not graduate if they persisted in  attacking the government. The bright lives of some of its editors: Abraham Sarmiento Jr., Antonio Tagamolila, and Enrique Voltaire Garcia III, among a host of others, were snuffed out. The history of the Collegian is likewise replete with struggles against those who desired to shackle the freedom of writers: the fight against vague provisions on the selection of judges for the editorial exam; the battle to abolish the position of a faculty adviser who had to sign every page proof of the paper; and the endeavor to take care of its own coffers without the Administration holding its finances hostage. Since the birth of Collegian in 1922, generations of writers have dipped their pens into the inkwell of society racked with vicissitudes. The Collegian was a party in their efforts to resolve the varied inequities of the times with articles that seared, and commentaries that burned. It is imperative that we turn the page to remind us of the efforts of those who came before us. Perfection lies not behind us, but ahead of us. It is not a forsaken paradise, but a territory we must one day conquer, a city we must one day build. Nevertheless, it is not a mortal sin to occasionally contemplate the cornerstones that have been placed by those before us to show us what is possible.

Role of carbon credits and carbon footprints in the Middle East

Role of carbon credits and carbon footprints in the Middle East Introduction Many organizations across the world have improved efforts geared towards ensuring social responsibility and business ethics are followed when undertaking organizational activities. Consumers are now aware of the ethical and social responsibility which business organizations have towards society. Due to the effects of environmental destruction, consumers are inclined to associate themselves with firms which manufacture products while following environmental conservation criteria. Recently, adverse effects of environmental destruction such as climate change and global warming has increased demand for green products or firms which observe environmental regulations. In the Middle East and especially the UAE, there is a demand for products which conserve energy and which are reusable or can be recycled (Anderson et. al., 2006). This explains the increased demand in the UAE for products such as hybrid cars, green building materials, recyclable bags and others. Carbon footprints and credits are two common forms of measuring the impacts which organizations have on the environment. Carbon footprints are emissions of greenhouse gases which are attributed to a product or an organization (Wiedmann Minx, 2008). These gases are emitted due to consumption of fuel and fuel products, materials, manufactured goods and fuel sources such as coal and wood. Carbon credit on the other hand represents permits or certificates by business organizations allowing them to emit carbon dioxide or carbon equivalent to one tonne. It is a form of mitigating carbon emissions by international and national markets. Already, Qatar and the UAE implement the carbon credits as a form of reducing carbon emissions. This paper will discuss carbon footprints and emissions as far as the social responsibility and ethical role of business is concerned. The paper will also discuss how carbon footprints and credits work in order to understand their benefits. Their relevance to business planning for sustainability and environment in the Middle East will also be analyzed. The paper will restrict research to the UAE and other countries in the Middle East. The discussed issues will be summarized at the end of the paper. Carbon footprints Carbon footprints have been defined as emissions of greenhouse gases which are attributed to a product or an organization (Wiedmann Minx, 2008). Greenhouse gases arise from consumption of fuel and fuel products, materials, manufactured goods and fuel sources such as coal and wood. The term originated from ecological footprints in environmental studies. In order to measure the carbon footprints of organizations, an assessment on emissions known as the GHG is undertaken. This measurement determines the levels of carbon emitted by businesses in a region. Once this information is known, it is possible to develop a strategy aimed at mitigating carbon footprint levels (Wiedmann Minx, 2008). Such strategies include use of alternative energy sources such as wind and solar or implementation of strategies to conserve the environment such as planting trees. In the Middle East economies, there are certain factors which affect the levels of carbon footprints. These include economic output, population, carbon intensity and energy in the economy (Beaumont et. al., 2008). Businesses and regions which aim at reducing carbon footprints target these factors. Generally, in order to effectively reduce carbon footprints, countries and businesses should either strive to reduce reliance on carbon fuels or reduce energy levels used in production. Carbon credits Carbon credits have been defined as permits or certificates by business organizations allowing them to emit carbon dioxide or carbon equivalent to one tonne (Wiedmann Minx, 2008). It has been recognized that carbon emissions are some of the most harmful gases to the environment and carbon credits aim at mitigating their release into the atmosphere. Carbon trading is form of trading in emissions. In order to implement carbon credits, carbon levels in the atmosphere are measured and capped to determine the most sustainable levels which will lead to minimal damage to the environment. After this is performed, the capped levels are allocated to regulated sources in the various markets. The major objective of carbon credits is to encourage markets to emit less carbon emissions when undertaking commercial and industrial processes. Since the carbon credits are sold, the revenue generated can also be used to fund environmental conservation efforts, including carbon emission reduction indifferent parts of the world. There are many firms which have specialized in selling carbon credits. These credits are sold to businesses voluntarily and these businesses strive to reduce carbon emissions in their activities. Demand for carbon credits in the Middle East has begun to rise and there is an increase in firms selling carbon credits to businesses. This has seen positive impacts as far as reduction of carbon emissions is involved. Further analysis of the effects of carbon credits and carbon footprints in the Middle East will be discussed in the following section of the paper. Kyoto protocol and the Middle East The Kyoto protocol is an agreement amongst some countries which are members of the UN to take measures to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change. The major goal of this framework is to stabilize greenhouse gases and reduce their effects on the environment. There are over 190 states which have ratified and signed the protocol including Middle East countries such as Yemen, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait and others (Daya Carr, 2010). Various countries have undertaken to reduce these emissions by more than 5% as at the levels present in 1990. Middle East countries such as UEA, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are some of these countries. Several initiatives are taken to achieve the objectives of climate change by member countries and these include clean development mechanism and emissions trading. Each of the Middle East countries which ratified the Kyoto Protocol has some assigned units of carbon emissions which are entered in individual country registries (Daya Carr, 2010). In line with the protocol, these countries including Qatar and the UAE have assigned the allowed emissions to businesses and organizations and put quotas on the emissions which each business should release into the atmosphere. This is undertaken through the sale of carbon credits where businesses in these Middle East countries are allowed one tonne of carbon emission. Businesses which have not exhausted their quotas near the end of their financial year may sell their remaining quotas to those which are about to exhaust their limits in order to ensure that all businesses observe the allowable limit in emissions. Businesses which have exhausted their quotas are also allowed purchase extra quotas in open markets or private enterprises. Although there is an increased demand for energy from consumers, business organizations and countries such as Qatar and UAE which have ratified the Kyoto Protocol, have to ensure that the carbon emissions do not exceed the allowable limits. Business owners are therefore forced to invest in alternative energy sources in order to meet the demand for limiting emissions. Others prefer purchasing modern machinery which has lower emission rates. This will ensure that adverse effects of climate change are mitigated not only in the Middle East but across the world. Flexible mechanisms The challenges of maintaining the agreed carbon emissions by countries which have ratified the Kyoto Protocol have been recognized by member countries. There are certain countries or businesses which may be unable to retain the allowable limits and achieve their growth and development objectives and goals. There are also countries and businesses which use resources which have high level of carbon emissions and which make it difficult to remain within the allowable levels. For instance, Saudi Arabia is an oil producing country which releases high levels of carbon emissions when processing oil. Due to these challenges, the Kyoto Protocol members have introduced certain flexible mechanisms which may help these countries deal with the challenges. These are tradable credits which may be traded within countries or regions. There are three ways in which such countries may trade their carbon credits regionally (Daya Carr, 2010). The first is the joint implementation strategy where countries which are about to undertake projects which would lead to high level of carbon emissions are allowed to undertake these projects in other countries. Such an agreement allows countries with higher emission to transfer these emissions to countries with lower emission for a consideration. Both countries would mutually benefit and the global environmental conservation efforts are achieved. Few countries in the Middle East have taken advantage of this approach. The second strategy is the clean development mechanism. Under this strategy, developed countries are allowed to fund carbon emission reduction efforts in developing countries at lower costs. Countries such as Saudi Arabia may use this strategy to fund developing countries such as African countries in carbon reduction efforts. This would cost lower amounts compared to the cost of such a strategy in developed countries. However, the benefits of environmental conservation in such cases would not only be enjoyed by the developing countries but by the world at large. The developed countries would benefit from increased credits due to achievement of its emission reduction initiatives while developed countries would benefit from clean technology and capital investment. The UAE currently is developing plans to implement this strategy in developing countries. Finally, the third strategy aimed at meeting the challenges of carbon emission strategies is emission trading between countries. Just as how businesses can trade emission credits, countries are also able to trade these credits. Countries which are about to exhaust their allowable limits may trade credits with those with sufficient allocations and vice verse. In most of these cases, operators are licensed by individual countries to sell such carbon credits as opposed to direct government to government transactions Carbon footprints and credits in Middle East Due to the effects of environmental destruction including carbon emissions, climate change and global warming, consumers in the Middle East have began associating themselves with firms which manufacture products in environmentally friendly ways. There has been an increase in reusable products and energy saving products including hybrid vehicles (Daya Carr, 2010). This move has forced many manufacturers to adapt to the needs of the market in order to maximize sales revenues. Retailers who have not embraced environmentally friendly ways of producing goods have begun experiencing shrinking sales volumes and a decrease in consumer goodwill. Qatar There are many businesses in the Middle East and especially in Qatar and the UAE which have embraced the use of carbon credits to reduce their carbon footprints. One of these businesses is a renewable energy company called Masdar which is based in the UAE. Masdar has plans to acquire carbon credits for waste heat and solar projects from the UN in order to conform to the goals of the Kyoto Protocol of which the UAE is a member. Another firm which is keen on acquiring carbon credits is the Qatar Petroleum which is the national oil firm run by the Qatar government. The UAE and Qatar are the largest carbon emitters in the world per capita and their strive to join the Kyoto Protocol and apply for carbon credits makes them the first countries in the Middle East to take such initiatives. Qatar also has a project at Al-Shaheen, a natural gas manufacturing plant, and it is intending at applying for carbon credits for this plant. Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi has already been granted access to carbon credits by UN in the form of offsets which are initiatives which encourage developed countries to support carbon reduction initiatives in developing countries. This is similar to the clean development mechanism earlier discussed as one of the Kyoto Protocolà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s attempts to deal with challenges facing implementation of the carbon reduction efforts. Already, two projects commissioned in Abu Dhabi will receive 2.5 million credits between the current year and 2018. Currently, the credits which have been advanced to the UAE are valued at over 29 million euro. In addition, Abu Dhabi is in the process of constructing nuclear and solar plants which will meet power demands and by 2015, the Abu Dhabi is targeting its renewable energy sources to form over 7% of its overall energy source. Challenges of acquiring carbon credits in the Middle East Business people in the Middle East are acknowledging that a serious challenge facing many oil firms is justifying the need for carbon credits. Although most firms which manufacture oil and its products in the Middle East have high carbon footprint emissions, it is challenging to prove that oil projects require carbon credits and additional income earned from it. The UAE is among the countries making the greatest efforts to reduce carbon emissions in the Middle East and the development of carbon capture technology is a milestone towards attaining the goals of reducing emissions. Carbon capture technology is technology which captures carbon emissions and directs them underground before they are released into the atmosphere. Another challenge faced by firms in Middle East relating to acquiring carbon credit relates to cost. There is a high cost which is incurred upfront before a firm can register for carbon credits (Hansen, 2000). For small firms in the Middle East, this cost may be prohibited towards registering for carbon credits and reducing the carbon footprints. A solution to this problem lies with the bundling of many small projects to form a larger one. When many small firms bring together their projects and form a larger one, they may jointly incur the cost of carbon credits thereby reducing their overall costs. They will also be able to reduce their carbon emissions. Relevance to business planning for sustainability and environment in Middle East Carbon footprints and credits are very useful to the modern business environment not only in the Middle East but across the world. There is a move towards environmental conservation efforts and businesses which support this cause have been seen to attract goodwill form consumers. Those which do not have recorded lower sales revenues due to their inability to be in touch with causes which the market relates to. In the Middle East, it has been discussed that consumers are moving towards environmental conservation efforts by purchasing energy saving products, reusable products and supporting firms which produce goods in environmentally friendly means. It is therefore clear that for any business to meet its objectives, it has to operate within environmentally friendly ways. It also has to support causes which are similar to those supported by consumers including corporate social responsibility and ethical practices. The relevance which carbon footprints and carbon credit has on the Middl e East business environment regarding sustainability will be briefly discussed below; Consumer behavior It has been discussed that due to the adverse effects of environmental destruction, consumers are aware of the need to carry out environmental conservation. The effects of destruction of the environment including global warming, climate change, shrinking of ice caps and others have become a reality which threatens the survival of mankind (Changnon Bell, 2000). Most consumers have therefore embraced environmental conservation concerns and demand products which are produced through environmentally friendly ways. In the Middle East, there are many environmental groups which lobby for firms to embrace environmental conservation strategies which manufacturing goods. These groups which include the Global Footprint Network encourage consumers to shun products which are developed by firms which pollute the environment. As a result, firms are forced to adopt the use of clean technology and carbon emission reduction strategies such as carbon credits. Manufacturers in the Middle East and other parts of the world have therefore been forced by the changes in consumer behavior and market trends to embrace carbon credits strategy. Consumers have access to a wide variety of products due to technological change and innovation and they therefore have a bargaining power. Middle East firms which do not produce goods in environmentally friendly ways such as through use of carbon credits risk being shunned by consumers who will opt to purchase substitutes from manufacturers who support their cause for environmental conservation. Carbon credit strategies are therefore very relevant to the business environment in the Middle East for firms keen on increasing sales revenues and developing customer goodwill and loyalty. Businesses which are keen on developing long term sustainable practices should therefore develop an environmental conservation plan which may include the carbon credit strategy in order to meet their objectives. Kyoto Protocol The Kyoto Protocol is another initiative which makes carbon credit strategy relevant to the business environment in the Middle East. It has been discussed that several Middle East countries have ratified the Kyoto Protocol and these include Yemen, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait and others. These countries are bound by resolutions made to reduce their carbon emissions by more than 5% of their 1990 emission levels. Since the countries voluntarily ratified the protocol, many are keen to follow it. The most effective way of reducing these emissions is reducing emissions by firms, particularly those in the manufacturing industry. Countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE are some of the largest global emitters and the only way they can achieve the goals of the Kyoto Protocol is to ensure that firms and particularly those in the oil industry reduce their emissions. Businesses which operate in the Middle East are therefore forced by the government to reduce their emissions in order to ac hieve the goals of the Kyoto Protocol. The Middle East governments are bound by the ratification of the Protocol and they have begun introducing carbon credits to businesses as strategies aimed at reducing carbon emissions. Countries including Qatar and the UAE have assigned the allowed emissions to businesses and organizations and put quotas on the emissions which each business should release into the atmosphere. Many other countries in the Middle East are likely to follow the trends taken by Qatar and the UAE. Businesses therefore have no choice if they are to operate in the Middle East business environment. They are bound by any international agreements which their countries enter into. Failure to observe carbon reduction strategies such as purchase of carbon credits may be deemed as unethical practices which may be punished by the governments, environmental protection agencies or financial regulators. The Kyoto protocol has therefore made carbon credits an essential part of business operation since firms have been forced to purchase them and be in line with the desired objective of Middle East and global governments of reducing carbon emissions into the atmosphere. Corporate social responsibility Businesses have corporate social responsibility towards communities and the society at large. Any business has a social responsibility of empowering local communities through corporate responsibility programs which use different strategies to achieve this objective. Consumers are also aware of the social responsibility which firms have towards them and their local communities and they have begun associating themselves with firms which play important social roles in the community. In line with this, the business organizations which operate in the Middle East and other countries have a responsibility of socially empowering communities and operating in environmentally friendly ways (Ruddiman, 2005). This duty is not vested in the Kyoto Protocol, it is a duty expected from corporate bodies across the world. Firms are expected to operate in ways which do not pollute the environment and which socially uplift the standards of living of local communities. Due to the importance of corporate social responsibility and operating in environmentally friendly ways, many firms have strived to achieve these objectives. One of the common strategies include funding community projects, research and increasing awareness on social concerns. Other strategies include funding education, training, offering employment, sponsorships and donations. In addition, the goals of environmental conservation are achieved through use of clean technology, reducing energy use and reducing carbon and other harmful emissions to the environment. Carbon credits have gained demand for achieving the environmental conservation goals. The demand for social responsibility by consumers has therefore made carbon credits relevant to the business environment in the Middle East. Firms which do not observe this social responsibility role risk losing customers to competitors who embrace these causes. Reduction in production costs Recent research has shown that the use of clean technology can help reduce the production costs by as much as 20% in firms in the manufacturing industry. Research in developed countries such as China has shown that if used effectively, clean technology reduces the production cost by 20% for capital intensive activities (Lerner Wilmoth, 2006). Reduction of the production cost is a major goal for any business. This is because reduction in production leads to reduction in the overall product price and this attracts consumers to these relatively cheaper products. The benefits of clean technology apply to firms in the manufacturing industry. In the Middle East, there are many firms which operate in this industry and especially due to the presence of oil manufacturing firms. The use of clean technology would offer massive benefits to this industry. Although not many firms in the Middle East have realized the potential benefits of cost reduction due to embracing clean technology, there has been increased demand for this technology over recent months. Firms which have benefited from the clean technology have acted as case studies and more and more Middle East firms have begun embracing clean technology in order to reduce production costs. Such firmsd have embraced carbon credits as some forms of implementing the clean technology strategy. For instance, a renewable energy company called Masdar which is based in the UAE has plans to acquire carbon credits for waste heat and solar projects in order to reduce production costs and gain other benefits. Two projects commissioned in Abu Dhabi will receive 2.5 million credits between the current year and 2018. the potential benefits of production cost reduction will therefore make carbon credits popular clean technology strategies in the Middle East in the near future according to the cur rent trends by Middle East firms. Summary and conclusion The role of carbon credits and carbon footprints in the Middle East business environment has been discussed in detail. Carbon footprints have been defined as emissions of greenhouse gases which are attributed to a product or an organization while carbon credit on the other hand represents permits or certificates by business organizations allowing them to emit carbon dioxide or carbon equivalent to one tonne. Carbon footprints determine the levels of carbon emitted by businesses in a region. Once this information is known, it is possible to develop a strategy aimed at mitigating carbon footprint levels. Such strategies include use of alternative energy sources such as wind and solar or implementation of strategies to conserve the environment such as planting trees. Carbon credits aim at reducing carbon emissions. Carbon trading is form of trading in emissions. In order to implement carbon credits, carbon levels in the atmosphere are measured and capped to determine the most sustainabl e levels which will lead to minimal damage to the environment. After this is performed, the capped levels are allocated to regulated sources in the various markets. The carbon credit strategies are implemented under the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol. The Kyoto protocol is an agreement amongst some countries which are members of the UN to take measures to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change. The major goal of this framework is to stabilize greenhouse gases and reduce their effects on the environment. There are over 190 states which have ratified and signed the protocol including Middle East countries such as Yemen, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait and others. Each of the Middle East countries which ratified the Kyoto Protocol has some assigned units of carbon emissions which are entered in individual country registries. The challenges of maintaining the agreed carbon emissions by countries which have ratified the Kyoto Protocol have been recognized by member countries. The joint implementation strategy allows countries which are about to undertake projects which would lead to high level of carbon emissions are allowed to undertake these projects in other countries. The clean development mechanism allows developed countries to fund carbon emission reduction efforts in developing countries at lower costs while emission trading allows countries which are about to exhaust their allowable limits to trade credits with those with sufficient allocations and vice verse. Due to the effects of environmental destruction including carbon emissions, climate change and global warming, consumers in the Middle East have began associating themselves with firms which manufacture products in environmentally friendly ways. Other factors which have contributed to the increase of use of carbon credit strategies by UAE firms include the Kyoto Protocol which forces businesses to undertake carbon reduction strategies, corporate social responsibility roles which dictate for operation of firms in environmentally friendly ways and reduction in production costs attributed to use of clean technology. Although not many firms in the Middle East have realized the potential benefits of cost reduction due to embracing clean technology, there has been increased demand for this technology over recent months. It is important for UAE firms to embrace reduction of carbon emission through carbon credit strategies among other environmentally conservation strategies in order to devel op customer loyalty and reduce the global emission of carbon into the atmosphere. This will be beneficial to the businesses as well as to humanity whose survival is threatened by environmental destruction.

The Woman In Black Sound Analysis

The Woman In Black Sound Analysis How Sound is Used in The Woman In Black I saw a production of the play The Woman In Black at the Theatre Royal in Windsor. The play is set in England in Victorian times. This play really put me on the edge of my seat in some scenes and terrified the life out of me in others, the sound in the play really did go a long way to achieving this. Sound is very important in this production as it creates tension, makes the play nerve-shredding and really helps to tell the story as the stage is set as a minimalistic stage so the sound is vital to the story telling. The director (Robin Hearford) hired Rod Mead as the designer of sound. One scene Rod Mead uses sound effectively is where Kipps was sleeping at Eel Marsh house. The sound used here was non-diegetic and was a low rhythmical thudding. Thiss was a very good use of sound as it created an eerie atmosphere. This sound was played from speakers positioned around the audience to make the audience feel involved in the play. I thought this was a great use of sound as it really created a sense mystery and the audience didnt know what would happen next. Rod Mead used sound effectively in many ways. Often he used it to legitimise the location of a scene for example in the graveyard where Jerome and Kipps are paying their respects to Mrs. Drablow. There was a recorded sound of ravens which is a noise associated with death and hauntings. The non-diegetic sound was played from speakers which were behind the actors. This makes it realistic for the audience because Rod Mead is making us use our senses to make us more in depth and into the story, its making the audience experience what The Actor, who in this scene is playing Kipps, experienced. This is clever as it builds tension because it is bringing the audience deeper and deeper into the story and is enhancing the separation from the real world and as it was a minimalistic stage setting the sound was really important as it was the main sense the audience had to picture the scene.I thought this was a brilliant use of choosing to place the sound and it really supported the action that wa s going on, onstage. Also there is a reverb on the vicars voice. This is implying that the church was mostly empty and makes the audience wonder about why Mrs. Drablow was so unpopular. Another way sound is used effectively is in the office scene where Kipps and Jerome are talking at Jeromes desk. In this scene Rod Mead uses non-diegetic sound really well to create an extremely clear atmosphere. In the background there was the sound of the busy market place, which include the voices of traders, the footsteps of people walking through the market and in the office there were sounds of light murmuring from employees and chairs being moved etc. This was very smart from Rod Mead as it gave the sense that the audience were really in an office scene and it drew the audience in to the story. These distant sound effects had been mixed cleverly to create a background and atmosphere for the scene. I think this was a very good way of supporting the action of this scene and I think it really helped the audience paint a picture in their heads. Near the start of the play when Kipps and Sam Dailey are in the train, Rod Mead creatively uses non-diegetic to give real sense of the atmosphere of the train carriage. If you listened, you could hear sound effects that had been mixed cleverly to create a background for the scene. There were sounds of the steam puffing out of the steam engine, the clickety clack of the wheels rolling away on the track, and the gentle hum of the engine. These sounds were amplified around the room with a speaker at the front.This was a very clever technique as it gave the impression that we were really in a train carriage in these scenes. I thought this was a brilliant use of choosing where to place the sound. It also gave a brilliant atmosphere for the upcoming jump scare because it involved you in the play and it felt as if you were actually there on the train and it seemed normal. So when the climax, a loud train horn (which was recorded sound coming out from the speakers), accompanied by a straw ge lled rotating gobo, which simulated a passing train, actually came it was extremely scary because it came from nowhere and was a sudden unexpected shock. Also there was very little on so the location and the atmosphere was created through sound. So in conclusion, I can see how recorded music as well as live and recorded sound effects are all used together to communicate and tell the story of The Woman In Black, Robin Hearford and Rod Mead clearly worked together well to help one another and the overall effect was fantastic.

The Fairytale of Alice Walkers Color Purple Essay -- Color Purple Ess

The Fairytale of The Color Purple It is important for one to distinguish between the "real" outcome of economic achievement as described in The Color Purple by the lynching of Celie's father, and its "alternative" economic view presented at the end of the novel depicting Celie's happiness and entrepreneurial success. To distinguish between these outcomes it is necessary to relate the novel to two Models (Historical and Empirical Data, Manners and Customs) of representation in the "real" and "alternative" worlds of The Color Purple. By focusing on the letters describing the lynching of Celie's father, and the letter describing Celie's economic stability and happiness (found in last letter), we will have established a clear distinction between the real and alternative worlds in relation to the economic situations presented throughout the novel. Manners and customs in the "real" generally work to maintain order, decorum, and stability. Within the novel the reality was that blacks had to work for whites on whatever terms were available. When using manners and customs to depict the real world of the novel, it is evident we are examining an external world based in a society where the white oppressor governs the oppressed black populace. The economic realities of white land ownership, near-monopoly of technical and business skills and control of financial institutions was in fact the accepted norm (Sowell 48). When presenting the term fact - we must account for the introduction of a second model, "historical and empirical data" in representing the real world of The Color Purple. As illustrated in the pages of American history books, it is evide... ...ntity with which the novel leaves us uses fairytale explanations of social relations to represent an alternative world. This fairy tale embraces America for providing the black nation with the right and the opportunity to own land, to participate in the free market, and to profit from it. Indeed The Color Purple is a fairytale; a world in which sexual exploitation can easily be overcome; and a world of unlimited access to material well-being (Hooks 223). By emphasizing on the letter dealing with the lynching of Celie's father and the last letter of the novel establishing Celie's economic independence we have illustrated the real and alternative worlds in relation to the economic prosperity of the black individual. Thus creating an illusionary fantasy world by combining or mediating between the novel's social realism and its alternative.

The Teaching Profession Essay -- careers jobs education educator teach

The Teaching Profession Becoming an educator, especially in recent years has been considered one of the most demanding yet rewarding professions in the work force today. Teaching, with its benefits and intellectual motives has risen to become one of the most sought after jobs in society. But even after taking such rewards into consideration, one might want to analyze how time consuming and emotionally draining teaching young people may turn out to be. Along with its rewards and demands, teaching is not only a potentially prestigious profession but also a very unique and sometimes life long career opportunity. Exploring teaching has become a popular tactic in recent years for people to make a better decision on whether or not teaching is a career for them. Individuals, especially in today’s society, tend to choose their professions based on a variety of different reasons. For many, the opportunity to do something they enjoy in life attracts them to that particular area of work. For many people, young and old, having the skills to teach an individual and being able to properly use these skills has proven to lead to some of the most exhilarating experiences anyone could ever have on any given day. Although some people choose teaching as a career because they want to follow in the footsteps of former admired teachers or family members, the main reason usually is to be able to work with young people. Interaction with children on a day to day basis in or out of the classroom not only helps them, but also gives the teacher that needed sense of accomplishment. It feels good knowing you were able to help and guide someone through not only schoolwork but also life, as is true with young people. Being needed by young people gives teach... ... a career, one can then make the important decision of whether teaching is really for them or not. If being able to communicate with young people and knowing that you are needed on a day to day basis is enjoyable for an individual, then teaching may be something to get involved in. As far as a challenging career is concerned, teaching requires patience, flexibility and knowledge. If way above average salaries and a non-complex profession are what someone is seeking, teaching may not be a career to get too serious about. More or less, teaching is quite the prestigious job and is looked highly upon by many which has over the years, put a very high value on teaching and education. With all of the many good and poor aspects of teaching available to people, now they are able to make a solid judgment on whether or not they are capable or willing to get into such a career.

Rage Against Machine Three Rebels Essay

The protagonists of the novels Emma by Jane Austen, My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok, and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain all share a rebellious streak that both serves them well and causes them trouble in their respective novels. However, these protagonists didn’t operate with a wild disregard to the rules of their society and times. Rather, all three characters are constrained in the end by the mores of Victorian England, Orthodox Jewish society and 19th century Southern values respectively. Exploring such aspects of Emma, My Name is Asher Lev, and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, as theme, historical context, and psychological traits, it will be shown that despite Emma Woodhouse’s disdain for the institution of marriage, Asher Lev’s living in the two seemingly opposite worlds of art and Jewish society, and Huckelberry Finn’s lack of respect for social refinement and rules, the three protagonists did not entirely succeed in their goals of living lives that went against the grain of their societies. Emma Woodhouse was described in the pages of Emma as a â€Å"†¦ handsome, clever, and rich†¦ † (Austen, p. 1, 1816) young woman who was the apple of her doting father’s eye and the mistress of Hartfield, their family estate. Taking credit for the union of her former governess and a Mr. Weston, Emma decided to further hone her â€Å"matchmaking† skills by setting up her friend Harriet Smith with various men of higher social status. This interest in Harriet Smith’s marriage prospects directly contradicts Emma’s own quest to remain single in a society that offered women only bleak alternatives to marriage. Despite Emma’s twin resolves to remain single and find Harriet a suitable mate, Emma eventually caved into the demands that were made on women of high social status when she gets engaged and realized that Harriet marrying a farmer named Robert Martin would forever alter their relationship. Asher Lev, the protagonist of My Name is Asher Lev, had loved to draw ever since he was small. His father, an important figure in the Ladover community, tried to discourage his son from getting too serious about his art while his mother implored Asher to draw pictures that were â€Å"pretty†, an assault to her son’s melancholy artistic temperment. Despite reading in an art book that an artist should be free of religion, country, etc, Asher decides that he will try to balance being a devout Jew with being a passionate artist. Under the guidance of Jacob Kahn, a non-practicing Jewish artist, Asher’s art and his knowledge flourishes as he explores the use of crucifixes in his work. Asher is uneasy about showing the crucifixion pictures in a show, but he goes through with it, being true to his calling as an artist. The crucifixes ultimately prove to be Asher Lev’s undoing as he is shunned by his parents and the Ladover community in general. Huckleberry Finn, the protagonist in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, is an adolescent boy who enjoys looking for trouble with his friend Tom Sawyer way more than trying to become a civilized boy at the hands of the widow and Miss Watson. After running away from his drunkard father, he decides to travel with Jim, who left Miss Watson’s house after he found out that Miss Watson was thinking of selling him. Even though Huckleberry Fin grows attached to Jim, he harbors doubts throughout the story about hiding a runaway slave. He even thinks about turning Jim in before deciding that having a conscience just wasn’t worth the mental agony of losing his friend. In the end, the protagonist’s rebellious act of helping a slave escape his captors prove to be for nothing as Miss Watson, his former master, decides to set him free. All three novels have themes that somehow relate back to rebellion or freedom. In Emma, the protagonist told her friend Harriet Smith that she never intended on getting married, a bold pronouncement in Victorian England. Her reasons are simple: â€Å"Fortune I do not want; employment I do not want; consequence I do not want; I believe few married women are half as much mistress of their husband’s house as I am of Hartfield†¦ † (Austen, p. 74, 1816) What Emma was saying was that her social status allowed her the freedom to chart her own course throughout life, an option given to few women at the time. Another way that Emma tried to rebel against the social customs of Victorian England was to find her friend Harriet a mate of high social status. Since Harriet’s bloodline was unknown, most people would have scoffed at a pairing of Harriet with a man like Mr. Elton or Frank Churchill. Mr. Knightley echoes this sentiment when talking to Mrs. Weston: â€Å"Hartfield will only put her out of conceit with all the other places she belongs to. She will grow just refined enough to be uncomfortable with those among whom birth and circumstances have placed her home. † (Austen, p. 31,1816) Freedom is the overarching theme of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. At the beginning and end of the novel, the protagonist yearns to be free from the rules and civilization of 19th century polite Southern society. For a boy that seemed to be hemmed in by clean clothes and spelling lessons, floating on a raft must have seemed like heaven: â€Å"Other places do seem so cramped up and smothery, but a raft don’t. You feel mighty free and easy and comfortable on a raft. † (Twain, p. 134, 1985) The novel even ends with Huckleberry Finn promising to run away looking for more adventures, claiming that he â€Å"been there before† (Twain, p. 296, 1985) with the civilized life. One of the themes of My Name is Asher Lev is the protagonist’s struggle between life as a devout Jew and life as an artist dedicated to his craft. This battle is evident on the first page as Asher Lev introduces himself to a reader that is already familiar with his work. In this passage, Asher tears himself apart yet defends himself at the same time, showing uncertainty years later with his decision to show the crucifixes: I am an observant Jew. Yes, of course, observant Jews do not paint crucifixions. As a matter of fact, observant Jews do not paint at all-in the way that I am painting†¦ I am a traitor, an apostate, a self-hater, an inflicter of shame upon my family†¦ Well, I am none of those things. And yet, in all honesty, I confess that my accusers are not altogether wrong; I am indeed, in some way, all of those things. (Potok, p. 1, 1972) It was established earlier that Emma rebelled against Victorian society by resolving to stay single and fix up her friend Harriet with a man above her social status. As the novel ended with Emma’s engagement to Mr. Knightley and Harriet’s engagement to Robert Martin, Emma realized that rebellion wasn’t quite her cup of tea, deciding to let her friendship with Harriet fall to that of social goodwill: â€Å"The intimacy between her and Emma must sink; their friendship must change into a calmer sort of goodwill†¦ † (Austen, p. 435, 1816) At the start of the novel, Emma wanted to live her life according to her rules, but by the end became caught up in the social mores of Victorian England. Sharing the psychological trait of rebelliousness with Emma Woodhouse, Huckleberry Finn did everything he could to escape the stifling life of rules and convention, even traveling the length of the Mississippi River with a runaway slave. However, the protagonist almost gave in to social conventions several times when he seriously thought about turning Jim in to the authorities. Huckleberry Finn even wrote a letter to Miss Watson telling her of Jim’s whereabouts, feeling better afterward. However, as Huckleberry Finn thought of all the things that Jim had done for him, he tears up the letter, saying â€Å"All right, then, I’ll go to hell† (Twain, p. 223, 1985) The rebellious streak in Asher Lev started early. Even at a young age, Asher was willing to defend his gift, no matter the situation. For example, when Asher was called into the mashpia’s office for drawing a sinister picture of the Rebbe, Asher boldly stood up for his art to his disapproving father, something a polite Orthodox Jewish kid did not do in those times: â€Å"Foolishness is something that’s stupid†¦ Foolishness is something a person shouldn’t do. Foolishness is something that brings harm to the world. Foolishness is a waste of time. Please don’t call it foolishness any more, Papa. † (Potok, p. 129, 1972) Like Huckleberry Finn, Asher Lev knew how he wanted to live his life at a very young age. Also like Huck Finn, Asher was willing to thwart social conventions in order to communicate this. Despite the rebellious streaks of Emma Woodhouse, Huckleberry Finn, and Asher Lev, the time periods in which the three novels take place largely serve to mute the three protagonists’ individuality. In Emma, for example, women of her class were expected to be married. Those who didn’t were largely seen as pathetic beings on which to take pity. The character of Miss Bates was presented as a ridiculous character, seen as a clown-like figure by Emma and others, and seen as an object of sympathy such characters as Mr. Knightley. Even Harriet Smith saw Miss Bates as someone to be pitied. However, Emma, Harriet, and even Jane Fairfax, thought to be doomed to a governess position, escaped Miss Bates’ fate by marrying according to the social customs of Victorian England. Rebellious in her youth, Emma realizes the â€Å"error† of her ways and did her womanly duty. The vile tradition of slavery provided a subtle color to The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Yes, the protagonist became close friends with a runaway slave. However, it was obvious that Huckleberry Finn was conflicted about this friendship. One example of this conflict occurred when the protagonist meets his friend Tom Sawyer , who was on his way to visit relatives. When Tom suggests that they steal Jim away from the Phelps’ farm, Huckleberry Finn is flabbergasted: â€Å"Well, I let go all holts, then, like I was shot. It was the most astonishing speech I had ever heard-and I’m bound to say Tom Sawyer fell, considerable, in my estimation. † (Twain, p. 235, 1985) In other words, it was ok for Jim to travel with Huck when they were in no danger of getting caught. Once caught, Jim was no longer Huck’s problem. He was even surprised that anyone would go to the trouble of breaking the law to help a slave escape. Huckleberry Finn wasn’t a bad person. He was just a victim of pre-Civil War America. Growing up an Orthodox Jew who was also a gifted artist in the mid 20th century was a unique situation for Asher Lev. Throughout My Name is Asher Lev, the protagonist had tried valiantly to combine being a devout Jew with being an even more devout artist. He observed the Jewish faith despite studying under a non-practicing Jewish artist and living in Europe for a while. At the end, something had to give in Asher’s struggle between Judaism and art, and it ended up being his place in the Ladover community. As Asher walked down the street after the Rebbe cast him out of the community, he contemplates his life thus far: â€Å"I was demonic and devine†¦ Asher Lev†¦ was the child of the Master of the Universe and the Other Side. Asher Lev paints good pictures and hurts people he loves. † (Potok, 367, 1972) From this passage, one can see how Asher Lev wondered whether the sacrifice was actually worth the love of his parents and his community. The protagonists of Emma, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and My Name is Asher Lev all sought to do things that were not really done in their times. Emma Woodhouse sought to raise the social status of her friend by marriage while remaining single herself in a time when both acts were looked down upon. Huckleberry Finn wanted to escape civilization while bringing along a runaway slave for company. Asher Lev wanted to combine the life of faith with the life of art in a time when no one would even think about the two concepts together. Ultimately, the times of the three rebel protagonists proved to be too much, dulling their mutinous acts.

Research Analysis: ‘Adult Drug Courts’

The General Accountability Office (GAO) did the study on Adult Drug Courts. GAO is an agency, operating independently and without any partisan agenda, that works for the U.S. Congress. Its role is to investigate how the federal government appropriates public revenue to aid Congress in deciding over approval of the budget allocation of the federal government and ensure the accountability of the federal government for approved budget allocation.The drug court programs that started in the latter part of the 1980s (GAO 1) comprise one area of budget allocation by the federal government. The purpose of the drug court programs is to prevent recidivism of inmates involved in drug-related crimes. This served as a solution to the exploding prison population and escalating costs to the criminal justice system.The federal government commenced awards or grants to these programs in 1994 through the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act.By September of 2004, there were already 1,200 progra ms established in the different states and 500 more programs are in the planning stage. (GAO 1) GAO conducted the study to determine the achievement of the purpose of the federal awards by considering the outcomes of drug court programs as mandated by the appropriations authorization law for the Department of Justice (GAO 2).The independent and non-partisan character of GAO as well as conducting the evaluations based on a legal mandate contributed to the objectivity of the results.What was the study about?The study is a systematic evaluation of previous researches done on drug court programs. GAO initially selected 117 studies assessing drug court programs conducted between May 1997 and January 2004 that made reports on recidivism, relapse of drug use, and outcomes of program completion (GAO 2). Of this number, GAO selected 27 studies that compared a group undergoing the drug court program and a group not part of any drug court program.Five of the 27 studies were experiments with an experimental and control groups with members assigned at random. The 27 studies covered 39 drug court programs for adults. (GAO 9-10) The aim of the GAO evaluation was to obtain systematically information on drug court programs, specifically the components of drug court programs, the outcomes of these programs, and costs of these programs.The evaluation also conducted a cost-benefit analysis of 8 studies providing information on costs and benefits. Four of the 8 studies even enabled the determination of net benefits. (GAO 9-10)To augment the evaluation of studies on drug court programs, GAO also interviewed key respondents from three government agencies with direct involvement in the implementation of the drug court programs, including the Department of Justice, National Institute on Drug Abuse, and Office of National Drug Control Policy (GAO 3).The combined evaluations and interviews supported conclusions based on multiple perspectives of the effectiveness of drug court programs t o aid legislative decision-making.What is the time-period of the study?The evaluation commenced in October 2003 and concluded in February 2005 in compliance with auditing standards (GAO 3). Although the research process involved a period of 1 year and 4 months, the study is a cross-sectional study because the focus is results over a given period, specifically studies done between May 1997 and January 2004 and interviews over the operations of drug court programs during the same period.The evaluation did not intend to trace developments in drug court programs or study specific individuals involved in drug court programs over an extended period. Doing cross-sectional study allows the comparative and collative evaluation of studies on drug court programs. However, this also creates the limitation of the results by not covering developmental issues or problems emerging from the programs.What is the research design of the study (planning)?The research design employed in the evaluative st udy is the mixed methods research that integrates both quantitative and qualitative aspects to derive better results when compared to using only one aspect or the other. The mixed method research requires the derivation of both quantitative and qualitative data and integrative analysis of both types of data.The study by GAO collected quantitative data by using statistical analysis of the data derived from the 27 studies. The presentation of results was through comparative and summative tables. It also derived qualitative data based on the results of the 27 studies and interviews with three government agencies (GAO 3) directly involved in the implementation of the programs. The presentation of results was through tables and text discussions.The planning of the evaluative study by GAO involved secondary research and interviews as data collection techniques. Secondary research is a three-stage process. First stage is searching for studies on drug court programs from research databases using key words such as drug court program and recidivism as well as drug court websites of research institutions or organizations that are likely to have made studies on drug court programs.GAO also considered previous studies it made on drug court programs. It also requested for drug court studies from research agencies. Second stage is review of the studies found to determine those that qualify for its criteria of study coverage including recidivism, drug use, and program completion.Third stage is in-depth review to determine the studies that employed group comparison methods such as those using experiment and control groups in experiment and quasi-experiments, which employed either historical comparison group or contemporaneous comparison group (GAO 17). The studies selected also employed a number of statistical methods to address individual differences and allow for comparison and collation as well as address selection bias (GAO 19).Interviews with three agencies yielded backgr ound information on the drug court programs including the characteristics of the drug court programs and the participants of these programs. (GAO 9-10) The analytical techniques also combined statistical with document or text analysis.The combination of data collection methods and use of multiple analyses addressed selection bias arising from differences in the methodological approaches of the studies evaluated and derivation of as much information as available to support generalizations.What are the results of the study?The results of the study had strong and weak points. These showed reduction in recidivism during the course of the program, lower percentage of re-arrests or re-convictions for participants of the program relative to non-participants, there was also relatively lower re-arrests or re-conviction across program participants, recidivism reduction was uniform regardless of the severity of the drug-related offence.However, there was no conclusive data to support the link between specific characteristics of the program to within-program recidivism. Recidivism rates within one-year after program completion were similar with recidivism during the program to indicate maintained low level of recidivism. (GAO 5-6) However, this only covers the immediate year following program completion.Data on drug use during the program was inconclusive. Drug tests showed a decline but self-reported use indicated no change (GAO 6). This could be due to the limitation of drug testing as the means of determining drug use within the program. This could also be due to methodological issues such as insufficient data or lack of comparative measures.Completion rates that depended on compliance with activities and responsibilities varied between 27 to 66 percent. Factors such as age and severity of offence are explanations of the variance in completion rates with older participants more inclined to complete the program. (GAO 6) There were no definitive explanations for the vari ance in completion rates.Cost benefit analysis showed a greater cost per individual program participant when compared to cost per individual non-participant of the program. Results of four studies covering seven drug court programs indicated net benefits because of the decline in recidivism that meant decline in costs to the judicial system and avoidance of costs to potential victims of recidivism.Nevertheless, these did not consider indirect benefits. Only two drug court programs reported actual data on cost savings of the criminal justice system. (GAO 6-7) More data is necessary to support generalizations on the comparative costs and benefits of drug court programs.What are opinions of the study?The study holds beneficial value but it also has limitations. Its beneficial value comes from providing an overview of the state of knowledge over the effectiveness of drug court programs. Decline in recidivism, at least during the program and one-year immediately following program complet ion, reflected the extent of effectiveness of drug court programs.Some of the drug court programs also led to financial net benefits. This implies the contribution of the drug court programs in lowering drug-related recidivism. As such, Congress could decide to continue approving federal appropriations to drug court programs.However, the study also has limitations as a preliminary study that requires follow-ups. The use of secondary research meant that data relied on the results of existing studies, which is not sufficient to inform on the overall effectiveness of drug court programs.The use of interviews provided characteristics of the drug court programs and the participants but was underutilized. The interviews could have yielded more data such as on implementation issues, best practice, areas for improvement, and other pertinent information to support the evaluation.Work CitedGovernment Accountability Office (GAO). Adult Drug Courts: Evidence Indicates RecidivismReductions and M ixed Results for Other Outcomes. Washington, DC: GAO,