American International Group (AIG) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

American International Group (AIG) - Essay Example These resulted when AIG was encountered with ratings downgrades. The company underwent demands of tens of billions of dollars for cash collateral on the credit default swops that were written by financial products and assured by the investing company. Some of the world’s biggest financial institutions managed to hedge their contribution in the risky credit default swap business living AIG struggling on its own (Roth and Buchwalter, 1). AIG selected the federal office of Thrift supervision (OTS) after purchasing a saving’s loan in 1999, which was an agency charged with supervision of savings, loan banks and economy associations. OTS became the primary regulator of the company. Notably AIG financial products are not a licensed insurance agency; therefore, it was not synchronized by the states. The financial product is primarily an investment that is based in London. It managed to evade control, as provided by the British financial services authority, principally because O TS, which was an equivalent regulator of the British regulatory body, had registered the AIG holding company. Nonetheless, even though OTS accepted its part as the holding company regulator, it should be understood that credit swaps were exempted from regulation by British policies thus preventing the states from regulating these instruments (Dinallo, 4). Collateralized Death Obligations Most people buy life insurance for the profit off their family members or those that rely on their on their earnings. Banks would buy a large number of life settlements to create the collateral pool which they would expect to begin making payment as earlier as probable. However, risks arise when the insurer fails to meet the death gain claim. This policy entails that investors will persist in paying out premiums on insurance and will eventually get the payout once a person dies. If the policyholder encounters his death earlier, this will entail that the returns will be immense. However, if there is a greater increase in life expectancy for a certain segment of the populace. Companies such as AIG lose money in downturns when claims mount which at times may result in bankruptcy (Lewitt, 183). Recently AIG has sought to garner support among investors and credit ratings companies for a deal that is highly viewed as controversial. This is the sale of securities supported by insurance guidelines of the aging people. However, this has gained few customers as critics refer to these deals as death bonds because they principally pay once the insured person has demised. The giant insurer’s life-settlements portfolio overall sum is $18 billion in anticipated death benefits. This is in regard to the company’s financial filings which has witnessed an approximation of over $45 billion traded since the market started over a decade ago. The AIG activity in a way depicts the company’s entrepreneurial culture as well as exhibiting hoe the company has fallen in last few years as it strived to raise funds to repay the government bailout, thus resulting on it making little profits (Sullivan, 1). Credit Default Swaps (CDS)

Julian Assange and his impact on the communication processes and Essay

Julian Assange and his impact on the communication processes and politics - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that Julian Assange was known only as an â€Å"Australian moderator of the Legal Aspects of Computer Crime mailing list and a researcher who has written extensively about hackers† in the beginning of this century, that is, before he became a controversial celebrity who all know of. This is why calling Julian Assange, a â€Å"cypherpunk revolutionary†, Robert Manne has said, â€Å"Less than twenty years ago Julian Assange was sleeping rough. Even a year ago hardly anyone knew his name. Today he is one of the best-known and most-respected human beings on earth†. The seemingly sudden rise to the fame of this Australian individual has a socio-political context and a corresponding history. The way his actions have impacted the communication processes and the politics in the globalized world is a topic that has international implications. The geopolitics of his physical location to the ideological underpinnings of his intelle ctual landscape that he has extended to others through the internet represents a whole new world of possibilities- in communication, freedom, and democracy. Julian Assange has been a hacker since when the first generation of computer hackers started rewriting the laws of internet communication. In the book, Underground, written by Suelette Dreyfus, and for which Assange worked as a researcher, a hacker named Mendax was featured and this hacker really was none other than Assange himself. (Manne, 2011a, p.197). It was in 1988, that Assange became a hacker (Manne, 2011a, p.197). He formed a group called International Subversives along with two other hackers (Manne, 2011a, p.197). Dreyfus (2006-07) had described the politics of this group as â€Å"fiercely anti-establishment; their motive adventure and intellectual curiosity; their strict ethic not to profit by their hacking or to harm the computers they entered† (as cited in Manne, 2011a, p.197). Assange was a member of the free software movement, he participated in the creation of NetBSD, an open source computer operating system, and got involved with a movement called cypherpunks in 1993 (Manne, 2011a, p.203-204). The idea of WikiLeaks had been borne out of this movement (Manne, 2011a, p.203). Among the cypherpunk group of hackers to which he belonged, Assange was somewhat an exception to others (who were anarcho-capitalists) by keeping a left leaning though he is an â€Å"anti-communist† (Manne, 2011a, p.211). The basic philosophy of cypherpunks was again the issue whether: The state would strangle individual freedom and privacy through its capacity of electronic surveillance or whether autonomous individuals would eventually undermine and even destroy the state through their deployment of electronic weapons newly at hand (Manne, 2011a, p.204). It was rumored that a 1989 attack that was carried out â€Å"from Australia on the NASA computer system via the introduction of what was called the WANK worm in an attempt to sabotage the Jupiter launch of the Galileo rocket as part of an action of anti-nuclear activists† was the work of Assange (Manne, 2011a, p.197). A programme written by Assange was named sycophant and it allowed his hacking group to hack into the US military systems (Manne, 2011a, p.197). It was when his group hacked into the Canadian telecommunications corporation NORTEL, that his hacking was found out for the first time (Manne, 2011a, p.197). In the police action that followed, Assange was arrested in a totally devastated state of mind and admitted to a hospital (Manne, 2011a, p.198). Manne (2011a) has observed that this arrest and the time spent in jail was what shaped his politics (p.198). Suburbia Public Access Network was the next war front that Assange opened (Manne, 2011a, p.200). It was a convergi ng point for many email lists and activist groups (manne, 2011a, p.200

Asian Art Essay Example for Free

Asian Art Essay Folk arts in Azerbaijan have a long and interesting history. Works of art made from metal extracted from Nakhichevan, Migachevir, Gadanay, Gandja and other places are approximately 5000 years old. Crockery, weapons and adornments found here are not historical facts alone, but valuable sources which testify the skills of the master. Different pictures, scraped on housing implements made from copper, bronze, gold and adornments, prove existence of fine art in Azerbaijan since ancient times. Carpets were made by several separate carpet-making schools of Azerbaijan (Guba, Baku, Shirvan, Gandja, Gazakh, Nagorny Karabakh, Tabriz) in different periods. Bhutanese art Bhutanese art is similar to the art of Tibet. Both are based upon Vajrayana Buddhism, with its pantheon of divine beings. The major orders of Buddhism in Bhutan are Drukpa Kagyu and Nyingma. The former is a branch of the Kagyu School and is known for paintings documenting the lineage of Buddhist masters and the 70 Je Khenpo (leaders of the Bhutanese monastic establishment). The Nyingma order is known for images of Padmasambhava, who is credited with introducing Buddhism into Bhutan in the 7th century. According to legend, Padmasambhava hid sacred treasures for future Buddhist masters, especially Pema Lingpa, to find. The treasure finders (terton) are also frequent subjects of Nyingma art. Each divine being is assigned special shapes, colors, and/or identifying objects, such as lotus, conch-shell, thunderbolt, and begging bowl. All sacred images are made to exact specifications that have remained remarkably unchanged for centuries. Bhutanese art is particularly rich in bronzes of different kinds that are collectively known by the name Kham-so (made in Kham) even though they are made in Bhutan, because the technique of making them was originally imported from the eastern province of Tibet called Kham. Wall paintings and sculptures, in these regions, are formulated on the principal ageless ideals of Buddhist art forms. Even though their emphasis on detail is derived from Tibetan models, their origins can be discerned easily, despite the profusely embroidered garments and glittering ornaments with which these figures are lavishly covered. In the grotesque world of demons, the artists apparently had a greater freedom of action than when modeling images of divine beings. Buddhist art Buddhist art originated on the Indian subcontinent following the historical life of Siddhartha Gautama, 6th to 5th century BC, and thereafter evolved by contact with other cultures as it spread throughout Asia and the world. Buddhist art followed believers as the dharma spread, adapted, and evolved in each new host country. It developed to the north through Central Asia and into Eastern Asia to form the Northern branch of Buddhist art, and to the east as far as Southeast Asia to form the Southern branch of Buddhist art. In India, Buddhist art flourished and even influenced the development of Hindu art, until Buddhism nearly disappeared in India around the 10th century due in part to the vigorous expansion of Islam alongside Hinduism. Burmese contemporary art Burma (Myanmar) is a country in Southeast Asia which has endured isolation for the last four decades. It is also a country with deep rooted Buddhist beliefs. The contemporary art scene in the country reflects these facts, and the art is often related to Buddhism and the difficult socio-political situation. In this age of globalization, Burmese contemporary art has developed rather on its own terms. Chinese Art Chinese art has varied throughout its ancient history, divided into periods by the ruling dynasties of China and changing technology. Great philosophers, teachers, religious figures and even political leaders have influenced different forms of art. Chinese art encompasses fine arts, folk arts and performance arts. Eastern Art Eastern art history is devoted to the arts of the Far East and includes a vast range of influences from various cultures and religions. The emphasis is on art history amongst many diverse cultures in Asia. Developments in Eastern art historically parallel those in Western art, in general a few centuries earlier. African art, Islamic art, Indian art, Chinese art, and Japanese art each had significant influence on Western art, and, vice-versa. Indian art Indian Art is the art produced on the Indian subcontinent from about the 3rd millennium BC to modern times. To viewers schooled in the Western tradition, Indian art may seem overly ornate and sensuous; appreciation of its refinement comes only gradually, as a rule. Voluptuous feeling is given unusually free expression in Indian culture. A strong sense of design is also characteristic of Indian art and can be observed in its modern as well as in its traditional forms. Persian art The Iranian cultural region consisting of the modern nations of Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and surrounding regions is home to one of the richest art heritages in world history and encompasses many disciplines including architecture, painting, weaving, pottery, calligraphy, metalworking and stone masonry.

The Amphawa Floating Market Of Benefit Tourism Essay

The Amphawa Floating Market Of Benefit Tourism Essay Heritage cultural tourism defined as the nostalgia tourism that places special emphasis on heritage and cultural attractions. Cultural tourism began to be recognized as a distinct product category in the late 1970s when tourism marketers realized that some people traveled specially to gain a deeper understanding of the culture or a heritage destination This paper concentrates on the area of Amphawa community. This community is composed of many cultural characteristics and themes which relate to the history of the area, cultures and lifestyle of Amphawa community, current situation problems and effects of tourism. Even though the benefits from tourism brought the development of infrastructure and the income from tourists expenditure, rapid development of community tourism may led to troubles and conflicts. Many people who came from Bangkok and neighbor had been interested in this area, so the local community had been adapted for new tourism. Cultural tourism with local people participating would make them realize the tourism management which could lead the community to real cultural tourism. Tourism has become the worlds largest industry as the tourism marketplace has become increasing dramatically, there has been a trend toward increased specialization among tourists with cultural tourism has becoming the fastest growing segment of the industry (Huh, Uysal, and McCleary, 2006). Cultural tourism began to be recognized as a distinct product category in the late 1970s when tourism marketers realized that some people traveled specially to gain a deeper understanding of the culture or a heritage destination (McKercher and du Cros, 2002). Sigala and Leslie (2005) define heritage and cultural tourism as the segment of the tourism industry that places special emphasis on heritage and cultural attractions The Travel Industry Association of America (Domestic Travel Market Report, 2003) also listed visiting historic destinations as one of the top five activities for tourists in North America. Furthermore, Andersen, Prentice and Guerin (1997) identified the important attributes of cultural tourism in Denmark as being castles, gardens, museums, and historical buildings, when tourists made a decision to visit the country. In a similar in China, Sofield (1998) identified history, culture, traditional festivals, historical events, beautiful scenic heritage, historical sites, architecture, folk arts (music, dancing, craftwork) and folk culture villages as the attributes of significance. Therefore, the increasing number of tourists and the corresponding trend towards cultural tourism that action must be taken to deal with the issues associated with quality tourism and the protection of a countrys cultural heritage places from improper and over-use. Moreover, the cultural tourism need to awareness of the variety of cultural heritage places and the preservation of environmental equilibrium in order to develop a compatible tourism (An Ethics Charter for Cultural Tourism, 2000). Tourism may strengthen some aspect by using culture and diminish others, even to the point of disappearance. The changing has relationship between cultural expressions under the influence of a change causing agent, such as tourism. However, it is possible that under the influence of an agent of cultural change, an expression will be substituted or adopted. The result can be no effect on other cultural expressions or varying degrees of effect (Carter and Beeton, 2004). In this paper, Amphawa community is located in Samutsongkhram province. It is an interesting case to study because of its real attributes of local settlement and community and their evolution through time from the early Rattanakosin period (the late 17th century) to the present. This community is composed of many cultural characteristics and themes which relate to the history of the area, ways of life, and ways of living. The aims of this paper are to study and analyze both positive and negative impacts of cultural tourism to Amphawa floating market destinations in areas of local history, attractions, economy and community. In additions, the paper looks for some solutions to resolve problems of cultural tourism to push tourism will become real cultural tourism that offer a lot of benefits to local community. Cultural Tourism For cultural tourism in India, it is prevailing factor of the tourism segment, because India has the land of ancient history, heritage, and culture. The government of India has launched the Incredible India campaign and this has led to the growth of culture tourism in India. One can see the influence of various cultures in dance, music, festivities, architecture, traditional customs, food, and languages. This richness in culture goes a long way in projecting India as the ultimate cultural tourism destination given boost to tourism in culture in India. Rajasthan is the most popular. The reason for this is that Rajasthan is famous for its rich cultural heritage. The state is renowned for many magnificent palaces and forts which showcase the rich cultural heritage of Rajasthan. The various folk songs and music also reflect the cultural heritage of Rajasthan. A large number of festivals and fairs are held in Rajasthan such as the camel festival, Marwar festival, and Pushkar festival (Cultural Tourism India). For cultural tourism in New Zealand, it provides tourists a unique experience into the indigenous people of New Zealand. Maori people live throughout New Zealand, and many are actively involved with keeping their culture and language alive. Within Maori community has focus on social, cultural and spiritual life. Traditional carvers also help to keep Maori culture alive by creating intricate works that pay respect to the past. Every pieces carved tells a story, which can be read by those who know how. Maori Tourism in New Zealand started over 130 years ago with local Maori guiding visitors through the Central Plateau region of (Aotearoa) New Zealand. Tourists can enjoy a Maori experience with a variety of options. The Maori people are the indigenous people of Aotearoa (New Zealand) and first arrived here in waka hourua (voyaging canoes) from their ancestral homeland of Hawaiki over 1000 years ago. Today, Maori has over 14 percent of the population. Their language and culture has a major impact on all facets of New Zealand life (NewZealand Tourism Guide). The Maoris mask is shown in the figure 1. Figure 1 The Maoris mask Source: http://www.tourism.net.nz/new-zealand/about-new-zealand/maori-culture.html For Thailand, it is a country of scenic diversity and ancient traditions, of tranquil temples and Thai rural style excitement. With independent history, it has managed to absorb a variety of cultural influences and blend them into something uniquely and memorably Thai. Each region of Thailand offers a distinctive experience for the traveler in search of discovery. In this case concentrate on the area of Amphawa community located on Samutsongkhram province. History of Samutsongkhram Figure 2 Samutsongkhram provincial Logo Figure 3 Samutsongkhram tourist map Source: http://www.tour.co.th/th/map.php Samutsongkhram province is located in the lower part of the central region of Thailand. The former name of Samutsongkhram province is Maeklong. Its name comes from the attribution of geography, which is the location that Maeklong River runs through. This river is very important to this province. Samutsongkhram province is around 72 kilometers west of Bangkok. It is assumed that Samutsongkhram might have been established in the Ayuddhaya period. The modern Samutsongkham province is a little province, 416 square kilometers, and is divided into 3 administrative districts. There are Muang, Bangkhonthi and Amphawa districts. There are around 200,000 people in this province which is composed of 36 sub-districts or 278 villages (Samutsongkhram). History of Amphawa community This paper concentrates on the area of Amphawa community. Originally, Amphawa area was named Kwang Bang Chang. There is no evidence to prove that when Kwang Bang Chang was formed. Even though it was a small community in the past, it was prosperous with commercial and agricultural activities. There was rich traditional riverside living and classical architecture. It could be said that it was an important source of food and commodity for the capital city as Krung Thonburi and Bangkok. Most settlements are established near a waterway, which is the traditional settlement style of gardener communities, although, in the present, there is more convenient transportation systems such as main roads and sub roads. This style of settlement has been preserved as a unique characteristic of gardener communities showing that their way of living depended on rivers and canals. There was a cluster of structures at the side of Amphawa canal. The densest settlement was in the business area, which was the center part of the town. This was located near the Amphawa canal mouth. Usually, a community settlement was spread two-sides along the banks of the Mae Klong River, which is a major water route. In addition, there are small canals, creeks and irrigation canals such as the Amphawa canal, Bangjak canal and Dow-dung canal, which all join the Mae Klong River. As in many Thai provinces the spiritual center for Thais in this community has always been the temple. On the Amphawa canal there were plenty of boats which sold local fruits, vegetables, clothes, food and products necessary for living. At the mouth of the Amphawa canal there was a riverside single house having its cultivatable area along the canal. The Amphawa community was established at the intersection of Mae Klong River and Amphawa canal which is about 20 Km. from the Gulf of Thailand (Tourism Thailand). Characteristic of Amphawa floating market Amphawa floating market is located in SamutSongkram Province. Amphawa floating market  is an afternoon floating market by the canal near Wat Amphawan Chetiyaram and brings visitors back to a rural Thai lifestyle of years gone by. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, during 12.00 p.m. 8.00 p.m., the Amphawa Canal is occupied by vendors who pack their boats with food and drinks, such as fried sea mussel, noodles, coffee, O-liang (iced black coffee), sweets, etc. Visitors can enjoy a comfortable atmosphere and music broadcast by the community members, explores the market, have food, and hire a boat to see fireflies at night (Amphawa Floating Market, Thailand). Figure 4 Amphawa Floating Market, Thailand Source: http://www.amphawafloatingmarket.com/ Amphawa is the most significant community in Samut Songkharm province in terms of role model for the local communitys involvement in the community-based tourism that had beginning of community-based tourism (CBT) in Thailand since early 1990s (Richards, 2009). In 2008, there were 558,326 visitors who traveled to Samut Songkharm. Being short distance from Bangkok, tourists can make one day trip to travel to the Amphawa. The most preferred activities for tourist, was to stay in home stay and an evening trip to watch fireflies. The length of stay was average 2.63 days for Thais and 4.40 days for foreigners. The Expenditures per day were approximately 2,866 Thai baht. There were 96 homes stay and resorts that increased by 75% from 2007 (Office of Tourism Department, 2008). In addition, diverse biodiversity attracts tourists to come and travel about the nature such as fireflies that live in Lam Poo Tree along the canal of Amphawa. These natural and environment has been created as a tour program for tourists to visit and have sightseeing. Tourist can contact the counter to book the tour at the floating market themselves which cost 60 Baht per person (Amphawa Floating Market, Thailand). This community is also significant artists of traditional Thai arts and musical instruments prosper. In particular, it is generally acknowledged that the best coconuts for making fiddle are grown in this area. This is also a renowned center of excellent handicrafts made in time-honored fashion. The best way to get around in Ampawa is to walk or ride a bike because the roads and bridges are narrow. Most home stays have bikes available for hiring to guests at a nominal fee. Most of tourists are Thais, and ages under 25years. The main transportation is personal car. The purpose of visit is holiday, and they are independent tourists (TAT, 2008). This is playing as the heart of CBT, both as a movement and a shared their cultures for hosts and guests (Richards, 2009). According to UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award (2008) Amphawa canal community has successfully achieved public-private cooperation in the preservation of heritage structures in Thailand. This award demonstrates recognition of the cultural significance of Amphawa and an appreciation of both the architectural and living heritage of the historic canal community. Figure 5 Amphawa canal community Source: http://www.unescobkk.org/index.php?id=8109 All tourism involves the consumption of experiences and products (McKercher and du Cros, 2002). Cultural tourists want to consume a variety of cultural experience therefore cultural heritage assets must be converted into cultural tourism products that tourist can utilize. The transformation process should be sustainable management of the cultural product. Cultural heritage places are usually designated by communities for tourism potential. However, it is undeniable that cultural attractions are also for cultural tourism. However, since the Amphawa floating market has prospered progressively and reputation. The number of the home stay increased each year to support demand of tourists. Even though the benefits from tourism brought the development of infrastructure and the income from tourists expenditure, rapid development of community tourism may led to troubles and conflicts. The advantage impact by tourism Social Advantages According to ATTA (2010) tourism can help communities as tourism industry provides high standard of local people living. As a result of causing the income distribution and distribution of employment opportunities to local people directly such as employment in various business tourism industries as hotel staffs, transport staffs and local guides etc. Including creating career indirectly as people who delivering newspapers to the hotel, textile workers, banker etc. Also it provides a comfort and convenient from the development of infrastructure tourism. This is an important outgrowth that the local people will be able more comfort and convenient along with tourism such as main road, electricity, water supply and buses etc. Furthermore, more and more tourists come that are inspiration of local people for preservation and cherish their owe culture as immaculate condition. All of Developing, managing and operating CBT (Richards, 2009) helps local people to develop new skills and knowledge which can assist them to communicate and to support effectively in support of their traditional cultures and ways of life. Economic Advantages The local tourism industry help reduce migration of population flows to capital that the nature of the local people if they could make money from the settlement and occupation of their hometown, they will not immigrate to another one. Also tourism gives the career opportunities in retail shop with local people. This may be an independent career such as local restaurant, souvenir shop and household industry. Moreover, the plentiful resources within community can bring to apply convert into souvenirs and also support folk wisdom. Include making another new career in local community. There are many tourist attractions that gain economical benefits from tourism. As a local resident of Plai-Pong-Pang Thai house tourism village, Samutsongkram province has been increased their revenue and job opportunities from tourism industry after applying cultural and eco tourism to promote their village (Wattanasukchai, 2002 and Sungwarn, 2003). The disadvantage impact by tourism Environmental disadvantages The number visitors have grown to more than 10,000 a week and the local environment is suffering as a result. Most of wastewater problem caused by effluent from hotel or home stays accommodation, followed by wastewater from restaurants and places of tourist attractions. Some places discharge wastewater directly to local river or cannel without any treatment before. This is causing water pollution. Moreover, the problems of rotting garbage, annoying noise levels and an increase in the cost of living in Amphawa (The Nation travel, 2008). All attractions have waste problems as garbage in different levels. That depends on cooperation between a host community and tourists who travel in reasonable way. Furthermore, Thai farming and fishing families who rely on earth, forest and water to survive often have to compete with the tourism industry for access to land, sea and other essential resources. This makes life even more challenging (Richards, 2009). Traveling receive a large number of tourists, mostly Westerners whove taken a motor-boat ride from the Chao Phraya River to see the exotic lifestyle of those living along Amphawa canal, which has served as a scene for the famous classic. This is bringing a great economic opportunity for the local community. However, this is the biggest problem right now for local people by deafening motor-boat noise that continues all day long from morning till evening for sightseeing firefly, in addition to the deprivation of privacy. A few years ago some angry villagers chose to chop down some nearby trees to dispel the fireflies (Bangkok Post, 2010). Economic disadvantages The career opportunity has changing from farmers to work in hotels, merchants or tour operators. That generate agriculture production will decrease dramatically while a demand increased. Due to the agriculture less profitable than business travels or hotels consistent with more number of tourists come to Amphawa. That makes people turn more interest to businesses hotels or home stay. This is a cause produces cost of living increase. Social disadvantages Many host communities, especially indigenous communities, trade cultural expressions for benefits that tourism can provide. As such, cultural expressions are a direct and observable link between a host culture and the tourist. Tourism may act on cultural character to effect change the community. Cultural attractions have a role in a community and provide benefits such as healing economy, spiritual enrichment and maintenance of social order (Carter and Beeton, 2004). However, there are people feel tourists have privileged that cause produce decrease friendly attitude to tourists and also increasing social conflict within community. Such as some people are against for sightseeing firefly tourism between boat operators that cause by tourism that could make money from tourists. This result show local people lack the voice and influence needed to negotiate a fair deal from tourism development (Richards, 2009). Also there is decrease local awareness of the need for sustainable development because even more visitors that means more income too. In addition, the success in home stay business has the impact for the community management. Increasing number of tourists caused the demand for the construction of home stay. Land-use pattern changed to serve for tourism, and caused increase in real property price in Amphawa. Without the awareness from stakeholder, purity of Amphawa will be destroyed. No control and standard makes community lost direction to use tourism as a tool to improve the quality of life. Environment and natural resources will be destroyed for commercial exploitation without concerning and restoration as well. Living Style Change Amphawa is crowded with people and cars on Friday-Sunday. Amphawa community is going to change and its integrity is threatened by tourism. However, this community still has living, prosperous entity to interpret for, and present to, visitors. It is in effect on outdoor living museum and cultural landscape. It represents living history with all its attractions for visitors which is full of cultural collective things related to Amphawa people and the prosperous time in the past. The issue facing the community is that of encouraging tourism and change without destroying or overwhelming the heritage value of what is there. The inclusive and cooperation of the local community is vital in future planning (Amphawa District, 2006). Some residents are eager to be part of tourism development and gain some of the benefits they are entitled to. Some owners modified their homes to serve as souvenir shops. There is an art gallery and cafe, such as Baan Silapin, which is affiliated to the Association of Siamese Architects and other conservation agencies (Bangkok Post, 2010). However, improvement of sustainable tourism wont happen if the dwellers refuse to abandon Thai-style submission and have no faith in their basic rights. Somehow, they also need help from the law leaders by leading the way as local community development plan. Solving way for problems and conflicts Before its too late, local community and local entrepreneurs should get together to come up with a common plan and agreement on what they wish to see their communities grow into. They must draw up a list of problems that need to be mentioning both long-short term challenges. Some order is needed to save these sites from becoming too freely developed, which would set a threat to the very structure of the uniqueness and charm of these places. On the other hand, tourists must be sensitive while visiting such sites and try, as much as possible, to support genuine local products and services (Bangkok Post, 2010) It would be encouraging if these tourists learn more about the unique history of the place they visit and bring back whatever aspects they see as positive to apply to their own city environment. Eventually, all places develop and its a challenge to ensure these unique markets or community evolves in a way that is sympathetic to way of ancestor living. Local community will benefit from encourage tourists more sensitive cultural tourism. Conclusions Cultural tourism as nostalgia for the past grows, many tourists lead to places like Suphan Buris Samchuk market, or the Amphawa floating market as the houses have architectural value for studying and travelling for the next generation. They are traditional wooden Thai style houses. An architecture style reflects way of life of people in Amphawa as river and canal since long time up to present based community. It is a uniqueness of riverside settlement of people in the past. Therefore, it is understandable why the yearning for something less efficient and retrospective is growing. Tourism provides a benefic to local community as high standard of local people living and also all of developing, managing encourage local people to develop new skills and knowledge which can assist them to support effectively in support of their traditional cultures and ways of life. The growth in the community also helps reduce the population in the capital due to they can own living by themselves. However, mostly of Thai framing communities who rely on earth and water to survive often have to compete with the tourism industry progressively for preserving to land and other essential resources. This makes life even more challenging if no control and standard makes community lost direction to use tourism as a tool to improve the quality of life. Environment and natural resources will be destroyed for trade exploitation without concerning and restoration as well. Therefore, this paper may make foreign and Thai visitors come to know and value cultural significance of historic setting in Amphawa community and protect traditional way of life as well as cultural structure from the past to present of riverside people.

Terminator Technology :: Agriculture Agricultural Technological Papers

Terminator Technology Introduction: What is Terminator Technology? Terminator Technology is a reality that threatens the very existence of traditional agriculture. Where in previous times farmers depended on saving seeds from year to year in order to subsist, we are ebbing upon a time where genetically modified organisms, or GMO's as they are commonly referred to, have become a commercial reality and venture in agriculture. This commercial venture was surely the focus of a seed company Delta and Pine Land Company. In March of 1998, the DPL (Delta PineLand) company along with the cooperation of the United States Department of Agriculture acquired a patent for the control of plant gene expression. One such application of this patent is the plan to engineer crops to kill their own seeds in the second generation of its life. After the second generation, it would be impossible for farmers to save and replant their seeds for the next crop. Hence, the adoption of the name "Terminator Technology." Such technology has not only economic and environmental impl ications, but secular ones as well. There were most likely other reasons for developing Terminator Technology. One reason may be the way in which Terminator's effect differs from hybridization. In Terminator technology the second generation of the seed is killed. With hybridization, although with unpredictable combinations any genes present in the hybrid will be present in the second generation and at least the second generation is alive. One argumentation that supports the use of Terminator technology centers on the fact that if you use Terminator in combination with a genetically engineered variety it will help to cease any release of GMO's into the environment. If GMO's escape into the environment then the consequences are hard to predict, but if the repercussions were dangerous then having the entire second-generation seeds die would take away this hazard. Basically, to sum it up succinctly, the implications of such technology are not understood until we look into just how the science of these self-terminating orga nisms works. How Does Terminator Technology Work? To delve into the clockwork of this technology we must start from the beginning. A plant starts its life as a single celled organism; the sperm within pollen fertilizes an egg. This egg (cell) divides to form the tissues and organs of a species. As development proceeds cells grow unique of one another and change. Different cells make up different things (ex cells in the stalk of the plant are much different than those of the piston) and these differences are attributed to the fact the different amounts of proteins in each cell.

Integration of Evidence-Based Practice Into Professional Nursing Practice Essay

In this paper we will discuss the integration of evidence based practice into professional nursing practice. Scott & McSherry (2008) define evidence based practice as the combination of individual, clinical, or professional expertise with the best available external evidence to produce practice that is most likely to lead to positive outcomes for a patient. Despite literature surrounding what evidence based nursing is and isn’t, nurses struggle to get evidence into practice. Many reasons have been reported including a lack of understanding about evidence based nursing means. Scott & McSherry (2008) also define evidence based nursing is a process by which nurses make clinical decisions using the best available research evidence, their clinical expertise and patient outcomes. We will also discuss nursing’s simultaneous reliance on and critique of EBP in the context of critical reasoning. There will also be discussion of a study done that examined the effects of integrating evidence based practice into clinical practicum among RN-BSN students and the limitations of evidence based practice and an alternate view of decision making. Lastly we will discuss evidence that challenges the traditional practice regarding injection sites (Cocoman & Murray 2010). According to Guem et al. (2010) evidenced based practice is a problem solving approach to clinical care that incorporates the conscious us of the current best available evidence, a clinician’s expertise, and the patient values. Evidence for evidence based practice does not always rely on research findings. Sources used can include research findings, clinical experience, quality improvement data, logical reasoning, recognized authority, and client satisfaction, situation, experience, and value (Leddy & Pepper 2008 p. 66). On the contrary evidence based nursing is essential because of its potential to save time and money and improve patient outcomes by decreasing costs, through standardizing and streamlining costs (Scott & McSherry 2008). It is important o understand the difference between evidence based practice and evidence based nursing because at times they are used interchangeably. Scott & McSherry (2008) state that the nursing practice has welcomed EBP but when it comes to EBN, it is still yet to come reality because the concept is much unsophisticated and can lead to problems associated with its use and misuse. EBN is merely a construct and has yet to be successfully implemented (Scott & McSherry 2008). In essence the dilemma with EBN is that we don’t really know the definition of nursing. Although there are problems with the definition we know that clinical judgment is one of the major concepts used in nursing thus it reinforces the notion of EBP and ultimately EBP. To advance the profession and ensure solid standards of practice, we should look beyond evidence based practice, while useful in implementation it is just one of many other component parts (Jutel 2008). Evidence based practice is like the new black in nursing practice and already occupies a prominent position, several international nursing organizations support its use as a strategic action in the advancement of the profession. Despite the emphasis on EBP, there is also a strong opposition to it, not with the actual use of EBP being a problem but with the fundamentals on which it stands. These arguments complain of the veracity of the criteria used in EBP which simultaneously undermines and cannot support EBP (Jutel 2008). If it had not been for the cultural turn which recognized that things are not always as they seem or that power, society, and culture contribute as much as science to generating knowledge, the debate about EBP would have never surfaced (Jutel 2008). Although nurses argue against EBP, they lack important tools necessary to replace EBP. â€Å"Nursing education places high value on authority and adherence to clinical protocols, rather than on skills† (Jutel, 2008. P. 419). Opponents of EBP suggests that development of clinical practice guidelines, critical care pathways, and protocols may actually interfere and entice practitioners to develop somewhat of a cookbook recipe attitude to client care (Leddy & Pepper 2010). With quality improvement being rooted in industrial production, perhaps standardization may not be as desirable because patients have unique needs and characteristics the may be overlooked when adhering to strict clinical practice guidelines. Nursing adopts a devoted and somewhat naive trust when assessing information, we are quick to accept the truths of a peer reviewed article, drug company propaganda, and quick to accept an argument on inconsistencies of EBP. The tools EBP claims to own, are incredibly useful, however, are not tools of EBP; they are critical skills of information appraisal. As evidence based practice rapidly replaces the traditional paradigm of healthcare decision making, health care members have an obligation to access knowledge, apply it in practice, and lead others to use it appropriately (Geum et al. 010 p. 387). For example RN-BSN programs; these are adult students who have clinical knowledge and skill, structured background and educational preparation and employment experience but have not taken a formal research course, thus they show less confidence to include evidence based practice in their practices because these are courses that are not common outside a baccalaureate curriculum. To examine the effectiveness of the integration of EBP into a clinical practicum a study was done among Korean RN-BSN students. The main goals were to enhance students’ competencies for EBP knowledge skills and attitudes and to expose students to opportunities that would encourage the use of best evidence (Geum et al. 2008). Each student was instructed to define patients nursing problems for their individually assigned patient and to formulate nursing problems using the EBP question format, PICO, which we discussed earlier in the semester, to select the nursing intervention for the problems posed. Before the EBP practicum, the overall and individual scores for EBP efficacy among RN-BSN students indicated that students were â€Å"a little confident† regarding the EBP process (Geum et al. 2008, p. 389). Results of this study indicate that integration of EBP into an RN-BSN clinical practicum had a positive effect on EBP efficacy and decreased barriers to research utilization among students in Korea, which also corroborates with studies conducted in other countries. Evidence based practice is a learned set of skills thus critical thinking is vital in developing evidence based nursing practice (Geum et al. 2008). Regardless if the evidence on complications, nurses in clinical settings still continue to use and instruct nursing students on the use of dorsogluteal injection sites as the site of choice for intramuscular injections (Cocoman & Murray 2010). So, where should an intramuscular (IM) injection be given? Nurses have traditionally used the dorsogluteal, but recent literature has advocated the ventrogluteal site. Choosing sites has been a matter of personal preference, rather than the results of evidence based practice. Slow uptake of medications, major nerves and blood vessels present make this site problematic. A British study suggests â€Å"as previous studies have shown the low efficacy of gluteal intramuscular injections, this route should be avoided for most drugs† (Cocoman & Murray, 2010. P. 1171). As the sciatic nerve lies only a few centimeters from the injection site, injuries pose a significant threat, making the need for accurately identifying landmarks especially important. An alternative site is the ventrogluteal, seen by many as the preferred site. This site provides the greatest thickness of gluteal muscle and is free from penetrating nerves and blood vessels (Cocoman & Murray 2010). Despite evidence favoring the ventrogluteal site, nurses are slow to use it, relying on the much taught and used dorsogluteal site. â€Å"Studies show that only 12% of American nursing staff uses the ventrogluteal site† (Cocoman & Murray 2010. P. 1172). Studies suggest that some reasons the site is not used is because of nurses’ unfamiliarity in locating the site and potential needle stick injury. Unfortunately, nurses have not come to realize that when using the V method, the non injecting hand is to be removed, as it’s only used for visual land marking (Cocoman & Murray 2010). Throughout this paper we have discussed the integration of evidence based practice into nursing from various articles. In the various articles the authors talked about evidence based practice compared to evidence based nursing, the integration of evidence based practice in RN-BSN programs. We also discussed the article on a clinical example which suggested that the ventrogluteal intramuscular injection site over the dorsogluteal site is preferred when it comes to positive patient outcomes.

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle Book Review

Eckhart Tolle's book, The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment, is a self help book that is a shortened route to spiritual enlightenment. One needs to become aware of the present moment in order to experience joy in life. It's important to live in the present in life because the current moment is all we have. This can be done by controlling the mind in order to become untangled from it. The unconscious mind, the egoic mind, and the â€Å"pain bodies† all need to be addressed and dealt with for enjoyment of life to it's fullest potential. Our mind is our worst enemy, according to Tolle. This is because it loves to get itself into problems. The unconscious mind is always thinking. It is constantly looking back on the past, or ahead into the future, and ignore's the focus on enjoying the current moment. â€Å"When thought isn't connected with consciousness, it becomes insane and destructive† (24). Your unconscious mind will always be reflected in the body as an emotion, which has a strong physical component that is felt in the body. This emotion should be felt in the body, without it controlling you. Emotional pain is the main cause of physical pain. â€Å"The more you are identified with your mind, the more you suffer†(33). By accepting the â€Å"now†, you are more free from pain and suffering. This enables you to experience joy in life by being satisfied with the current state in which you are in. This means you are free from the emotions that arise from the unconscious mind thinking compulsively. The egoic mind that focuses on the past and future does not exist because nothing ever happened in the past or the future. Everything happened in the â€Å"now†. Past and future obviously have no reality of their own† (50). There has never been a time in your life that there was not the now, nor will there ever be. Many of us are ruled by our thoughts, emotions, reactions and desires. Often we feel a lack of completeness, a wanting, needing, or craving for something more. This could be money, success, power, recognition, or even a special relationship. Our n ormal state becomes focused through thought on these things, which need to be out of our focus in order to get full pleasure out of life. â€Å"Don't let your egoic mind take over your whole life† (49). Awareness of the present moment and allowing ourselves to enjoy living in it will contribute to our enjoyment of life. There are negative emotions, or â€Å"pain bodies† that our mind brings up which can interfere with our enjoyment of living in the present moment. Some forms of this pain include resentment, hatred, self-pity, guilt, anger, depression, and jealousy. Negativity can be stopped from arising by being fully present. This negativity is resistance that triggers the emotional pain-body. This is when minor situations result in intense negativity. The ego thinks that it can manipulate reality to get what it wants through negativity. Once we have got our hands on something negative, we don't want to let go. â€Å"Negativity is totally unnatural. It is a psychic pollutant, and there is a deep link between the poisoning and destruction of nature and the vast negativity that has accumulated in the collective human psyche† (189). When we notice negativity has risen within us, we need to use it as a signal to â€Å"be present† and get out of our minds. By doing so, we can increase our enjoyment of life because we are living in the â€Å"now† and dealing with whatever it may bring before us. In the current world, some of us are chasing after temporary pleasures, such as success, fortune, and things we desire. All this stress and worry over these things are not worth it at all. What's more important is to live in the current moment. It's important to realize that Tolle's teachings can apply to anyone who seeks to increase their enjoyment of life. Focusing on the present moment allows us to enjoy the life we are living, instead of being trapped in a non-existent world of reoccurring thoughts of the past and future.