Vampires

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The Cultured Vampire

A dark figure stands concealed among the shadows of a young girl's room.He peers at the beautiful young woman lying there across the room so innocently, completely defenseless.Suddenly, he lunges forward with ease and stealth to the girl.He leans over the unsuspecting body and sinks his pearly white fangs into an artery in her exposed neck.This dramatization is the typical scene associated with vampires today.When we first got this assignment, I had no clue what I was going to choose for my topic.I decided to use Vampires as my topic because I already knew a little bit about them, but I was curious about their origin and history.Before I began I had no idea about where they came from and figured they were merely part of an exciting story made up to entertain and appeal to others.However, legends of vampirism and vampire-like creatures have been passed on through cultures around the world for centuries for various reasons.I was able to uncover the beliefs of different peoples across the globe and find out different theories about the vampire's origin.Yet, the ultimate question prevailed, whether vampires truly existed.Some sources said yes while others said know, but I looked deeper into vampire folklore to form my own opinion about the existence of vampires in our world.

At the start of the project, I already knew the basics concerning vampires.I knew that a stereotypical vampire was a creature that rose from the dead and drank blood.Also, they had two fangs and a pale complexion, not surprising considering they were dead.To my knowledge they had an aversion to garlic, crosses, holy water, and sunlight.I also knew that vampires had no reflection in mirrors, I didn't know why though.Count Dracula was the vampire's leader and creator, and he would travel to towns during the twilight and would attack young women, biting them and making them vampires.As far as I knew, the only way a vampire could be killed was by impalement through the heart with a wooden stake; this I found to be untrue.I also knew that vampires slept in their coffins and had the ability to transform into wolves, mist, and even bats.

Even though I probably knew more about vampires then the average person, I still didn't comprehend half of the truths concerning vampire folklore.As I researched, I discovered that there are three main theories on the origins of vampires in mythology.The first theory involves the one and only dark lord himself, Dracula.However, the Dracula that is known by most people is a fictional character created by Bram Stoker, an author of the early 100's.Stoker used ideas from European folklore about vampires and a fifteenth century prince of Wallachia to model his story of an evil dark lord named Dracula (Sterling 14).The prince's that he modeled his story after was Vlad Tepes, more commonly known as Dracula.

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Vlad Tepes was the prince of a province of modern day Romania called Wallachia.I had heard of Vlad previously, but I didn't comprehend what an evil man he was.He was born around 141 in Transylvania as the second son of his father Vlad Dracul.Dracul lead his country in hopes f keeping peace with both the Christian nations in the north and the Turks in the south.However, while conducting trade among the Christian nations he broke a treaty he had made with the Turks.In order to keep peace between them, Dracul was obligated to send two of his sons, Dracula and Radu, as hostages to the Turkish land.In captivity at the Turkish palace Vlad was kept in the dungeons where he experienced the harshness that would form his future cruelty.As time passed on, his father died, and Dracula and his brother Radu were released.Dracula joined the Turkish army and quickly grew in stature due to his obvious leadership skills.Soon he commanded his own group of followers and with them was able to fulfill his hunger for revenge against his elder brother who was allowed to stay behind while he was sent as a prisoner to the Turks.His brother had become the new crowned prince and Dracula and his army quickly overthrew him, and claimed the throne for his own.His power only lasted a few months, for he was overthrown by another nation only a couple months after he had taken control.Yet, he regrouped and with the help of his Turkish allies claimed the throne once again.His evil reign had begun.It was easy for me to see why Stoker had chosen Vlad Tepes Dracula as a model for his novel.Dracula was one of the most evil rulers that ever lived.Even though he was only in power a few years, he killed hundreds of thousands of people.In his kingdom, Vlad emphasized the honesty and loyalty of his people, and those who broke these laws paid dearly for it.No matter if they were nobility, men, women, or children Dracula would torture them mercilessly.He earned himself the nickname Vlad the Impaler due to his favorite way of punishing those who defied him.By impalement, a long wooden stake about 15 feet long and sharpened on one end was inserted usually between the buttocks.Then, the pole was set upright so that the victim slid down slowly until the stake finally protruded from the victim's mouth or chest.During such executions, Vlad would sit at a table and feast while watching the suffering of his victims.When I read this, I could hardly believe how cruel and evil Vlad Tepes actually was.I even read that he would impale entire villages at a time in order to strike fear into the hearts of his enemies (McNally 150-17).I thought that such an evil man could have easily given birth to a race of vampires, but the vampiric Dracula was merely a story made up by an author so I decided that this could not be the origin of vampires in folklore.

The second theory of the origin of vampires came from Hebrew mythology.In some Hebrew texts a woman named Lillith was spoken of as the first woman of earth.She was supposedly Adam's first wife, and was a rebellious woman who fought over the dominant position in their sex life.I know it sounds crazy, but that's what the books said.Anyway, when God heard this he cast her out of Eden.She fled to the Red Sea where she became more and more evil.Time passed and Cain, the biblical character who killed his brother Able, wandered to the Red Sea in his exile.There he met Lillith and together gave birth to evil, demonic children who would form the vampire race.However, nothing of a Lillith is spoken of in the Bible and if there was such a woman, it would contradict the teachings of it; this lead me to realize that this myth was unreasonable as well.

The final and most believable of the theories of the origin of vampires, in my opinion, involved Judas Iscariot.Judas Iscariot was one of Jesus Christ's twelve disciples.However, he betrayed his master to the Roman's for 0 silver pieces.Afterward, he was overwhelmed with guilt and tried to return the money he had received for his deeds.However, they would not accept the silver so he cast it away and committed suicide.The story of Judas lead the Greeks to believe that Judas began vampirism for a number of reasons.Since vampires fear crucifixes, holy water, and other relics related to Christianity it relates to how Judas feared what he had done to Jesus Christ.Also, because Judas' hatred for the silver pieces he received for his betrayal, it was believed that this may have caused the vampires aversion to silver.The last reason that Judas Iscariot is suggested as the creator of the vampire race is because he committed suicide, and suicide was a very common attribute to vampirism (www.angelfire.com/tn/vampires/).Even though this seemed the most believable of the theories, I still was not convince and decided that all the theories were about as realistic as vampires themselves.So far, my research told me that vampires were but mere made up fantasies.

As I researched more, I found that myths and legends about vampires existed all over the world.From Asian countries like China and Japan to European nations like Romania and Greece there is folklore concerning creatures of the night that feast upon human blood.In order to get a better understanding of how the vampire existed in these different cultures I researched a few of the countries who held strong beliefs in vampires.In countries like Africa and Australia, vampire-like creatures existed in mythology merely as tales to pass from one generation to the next.For example, in Africa, the Ashanti people told stories of a creature called the Asasabunsam, a humanoid creature that had a set of iron teeth.It would sit on treetops with its legs dangling downward and use its hook shaped feet to scoop up unsuspecting children.The Ashanti people used this tale to warn children not to travel in the jungle alone.If I lived in that area I'd be sure to always look at the tree tops while I walked under the canopy of trees.In Australia s similar tale was present among the aboriginal tribes involving a creature called the yara-ma-yha-who.The yara-ma-yha-who was described as a little red man about four feet tall that had a large head and mouth.It had no teeth and would swallow its victims whole and drain them of their blood.Children were warned not to travel by streams and rivers alone, for the yara-ma-yha-who may be lurking near by, ready to pick off lone travelers (Melton ).

Unlike the vampires of African and Australian folklore, I discovered that vampires in European beliefs were much more popular.Vampires were believed to often be the results of immoral behavior and any problems surrounding childbirth.In many Slavic countries vampires were of what I had pictured them as with their pale complexions and fangs. The vampire was the product of an irregularity in the community life, usually a problem with the process of either death, burial, or of birth (Summers 7).Also, those who had a very violent death which cut their life shorter then the normal completion were also likely to become vampires.These beliefs were very much the same in Romania and Greece as well.In Bulgaria, if I child died before it was baptized, it was likely for it to become an ustrel, a vampire that would attack and drink the blood of cows and sheep.In many cases, it was likely for vampires to attack family, neighbors, friends, and any people that it had unfinished business with during its lifetime (Auerbach 8).It became clear to me that in European folklore vampires were often used as a warning, a sort of consequence that is presented to those who do not follow the teachings of the society, as shown by how those who committed crimes were likely to become vampires.

Chinese mythology was very similar to that of Europe's.The Chinese vampire, the chiang-shih, was an evil soul called a p'o that would animate the corpse of a deceased person in order to fulfill its own ends.During the evening when it searched for prey, it became a fluorescent green color and grew serrated teeth and talons.As with European vampires, they originated as a means of explaining problems surrounding death (Summers 185).I began to see a pattern regarding what kind of people were likely candidates for becoming vampires and came up with a theory of my own on why cultures created myths about vampires.It seemed to me that those who committed evil deeds, died an untimely death, or had problems at childbirth were likely to be explained as the work of vampires.I was able to find a text that supported my ideas.In The Vampire Book by J. Melton, it's said that vampires were used as an answer to otherwise unsolvable problems within culture.It was seen as the cause of certain unexplainable evils including the death of a loved one, suicide, and the end product of an immoral behavior.I was able to conclude that vampires were used as a sort of blame and punishment for those things that happened in life that are hard to bear.

In conclusion, I think that vampires were merely created as a blame for all the cruelty and evil in the world.From my research and hard work I was able to uncover the many different aspects of vampires including their origin, history, purpose, and characteristics.This kind of research may be hard work and time consuming, but it was a great way for me to increase my knowledge and expand my learning experience.If I ever wanted to research something again, I would do it using these techniques.Vampire folklore has been around for centuries, and I believe it will continue to be researched and questioned until one day the truth is uncovered.

Auerbach, Nina.Our Vampires, Ourselves.The University of Chicago PressChicago, 14.

Florescu, Radu."http//www.opa.com/vampire/Dracula.html" 16 April 00.

"http// www.sacred-texts.com/goth/vkk/."Montague Summers.4 April 00.

Jobes, Getabe."Vampires."Dictionary of Mythology, Folklore, and Symbols.Scarecrow PressNew York, 16.

McNally, Raymond.DraculaA Biography of Vlad the Impaler.Hawthorn PublishersNew York, 17.

Melton, J.The Vampire BookThe Encyclopedia of the Dead.Visible Inc. Press Michigan, 14.

Moshie, Keri."http//www.angelfire.com/tn/vampires."Vampires.15 April 00

Sterling, Mandy.The Dracula Book.Dark PublishersMassachusetts 184.

Summers, Montague.The VampireHis Kith and Kin.London, K. Paul Trench, Trubner18.

Summers, Montague.The Vampire in Europe.University Books, Inc.New York.

"Vampires."Man, Myth, and Magic, 185 ed.

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An obese generation of children

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An Obese Generation of Children

About one in five American kids is overweight enough to be considered obese (Parr 45). Obesity being 0% or more overweight, is considered a disease because it is associated with so many health problems, like heart disease and diabetes. Being obese as a child usually leads into being obese through adulthood. "One third of adults are obese, and a third of these got that way in childhood" (Parr 5). That is why it is so important to keep kids from becoming overweight and to help obese kids lose weight. The increasing number of obeseparents, technology, children having no supervision after school, and the unhealthy content of school lunches are to blame for the increasing number of overweight kids in the United States. A majority of the information used in writing this paper came from obesity source books, magazine articles, and websites devoted to helping children lose weight.

Decades ago children would play tag, ride bikes, and participate in other outdoor after school activities following a nutritious snack prepared for them by one oftheir parents. Today, most children come home to an empty house, snack on any junk they can find, and watch television or play video games until their parents get home hours later.With no supervision, who can blame them? The foods offered at schools have changed as well. Candy, chips, and soda are a favorite of most children when eating their school lunch. Vending machines are now in most cafeterias today too, making it even easier for children to snack before and after lunch. America is one of the most overweight populations in the world, and we all wonder why. The following paper examines the root causes of this public health problem, answers the question of "why", and offers possible solutions, to this crisis.

Society as a whole is more overweight than ever before, causing their poor eating and exercising habits to be passed down onto their children. Of course genetics plays a part in some cases of obesity children, but for the most part, it is really more an issue of the habits that kids pick up from their parents. "If both parents are obese, their child has an 80% chance of being obese, if one parent is obese, their child has a 40% chance of being obese, and if neither parent is obese, their child has only a 5% chance of being obese" (Bray 68).Shared family behaviors such as eating and activity habits influence a childs body weight. When a child sees their mom or dad eating unhealthy foods all the time, and snacking throughout the day, that child will get used to that eating pattern and follow in the footsteps of their parents. Overweight parents also tend to cook high calorie foods and order out more than thinner parents. This is bad because not only does that child eat foods high in fat throughout their whole childhood, but they also pick up the high-fat style of cooking as well.If a parent is overweight, it might not be ashuge of a priority for them to get their child into shape. Even if it is, the extent to which they can exercise with them is limited. Order custom research paper on An obese generation of children

It is a key factor when your child is overweight to get them active as well as to cut down the amount of fat in their diet. But you must carefully cut down the fat in their diet. Reducing fat is a good way to cut calories without depriving your child of nutrients. Simple ways to cut the fat in your family's diet include eating low-fat or even better, non-fat dairy products, poultry without the skin, and lean meats, and low-fat or fat-free breads and cereals. Making small changes to your family's diet is a good, healthy way to help your child lose weight. It is also good to involve your child in food shopping and preparing meals. This teaches children about nutrition, and gives them a feeling of accomplishment.

Physical education is only part of the solution. "Just as parents reinforce good reading habits, they also should encourage their children to incorporate physical activity into their daily lives" according to Judy Young, executive director of NASPE.The national Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) in Reston, Va., recently issued guidelines recommending that children ages six to eleven exercise a minimum of thirty to sixty minutes per day.The problem with this is that in today's lifestyle, it is the norm for both parents to have careersand work full time. This means that they're children will come home to an empty house after school.

Our society consists of households where both parents work and their children are left to fend for and feed themselves after school. According to a new Urban Institute report, "An estimated four million grade-school age children are regularly without adult supervision." Another shocking fact is that in California, six percent of 6- year olds and thirty two percent of 10 - 1 year olds average five hours unsupervised each week, or with a sibling under the age of 1. Research shows that children who spend a lot of time alone are more likely tohave social and academic problems (HHS Press Office). When children come home from school the first thing on their agenda is food. What does the normal everyday child reach for when mom and dad aren't around? A nutritious snack, or the cookie jar and a bag of Doritos. Marvin Moss, Capital-Journalcolumnist, states that "To many of you, This may not seem like a major event, but put yourself in a kid's shoes." "I know when mine come home from school, the first thing they want is food." "I call their after school eating habit pre-dinner." "If one of us parents wasn't home when they arrived home from school, how would they be made to eat a healthy pre-diner snack?" Snacks take up most of the calories in children's diets and lead to them becoming overweight. "Total daily intake from snacks among children has risen from an average of 450 to 600 in the last two decades" ,according to researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While some snacks are healthy for children and give them nutrients and energy, most snacks are usually a source of high-calorie, low-nutrient foods like soda, potato chips, and cookies.

After they have picked out their snack, they go for the television and sit on the couch while all of their favorite shows come on. Its either the television or the computer or multiple video games. There are so many alternative choices for kids nowadaysother than physical activities. There is always a new video game or an upgraded computer toy, and not to mention all of the new shows that come out every season. Along with the hundreds of shows that kids watch after school come the numerous food commercials advertising pizza, soda, and candy making kids minds turn to food yet again. Technology has advanced so much in the last few decades coming out with many new high-tech, entertainingthings for kids to play with. All of the new technology is fascinating, but is it a coincidence that America's weight problem is expanding along side all the new technology coming out?NO. It is no coincidence. "In America, kids spend an average of 1 hours per week in front of the television, and if a child adds 5 hours to that per week, he or she is ten percent more likely to become obese" (Parr 7). Children are larger because American life has changed. More children sit in front of video monitors than on bicycles or playing sports. According to a Nielsen Media Research Report, "Aside from the time kids spend watching television ,they spend another three to four hours daily with the internet and video games" (Karas 47). According to The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Center for Health Statistics, in 1 overmillion --or 15 percent-- of American children and adolescents between the ages of 6 and 18 were overweight, or triple what the percentage was in 10" (Parenting Today ). This problem is going to continue to rise over the years if our country doesn't put more effort into stopping it. Leaving your child unattended after school and during the summer is a factor not as harmless as everyone thought. Lois Salsbury, president of Children Now, states that "While the United States has restructured its economy, analysis of the impact on working families is still in its infancy." "Hundreds of thousands of children are spending time alone." "Is this what we want in terms of safety and developing our children?" Our nation is developing as our parenting skills are deteriorating. We want so much to be wealthy and powerful that we neglect to realize what it is doing to our children. Parents need to realize what is happening to their children and gain control over what their kids eat and how much time they spend sitting around if this problem is going to be reversed. Another area that needs focusing on is the food available for kids to buy while at school.

U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona, has declared childhood obesity a national epidemic (Mayer ). The Oakland School District banned the sale of sugary drinks and candy in vending machines. The Los Angeles Unified School District, the second largest in the country, followed several weeks later (7).School lunches are not meeting up to the nutritious standards that they should. Vending machines are in almost every elementary school offering kids the opportunity to eat candy, chips, and soda at any time of the school day. The lunches offered usually have one healthy meal and the rest consist of things like pizza, cheese steaks, and mozzarella sticks. Is this what we want our kids eating all day? Legislators introduced several bills aimed at beefing up physical education requirements and fixing up school lunch programs. Gov. Gray Davis signed a bill in October that prohibits the sale of junk food in elementary schools and bans soda at middle schools ().

This needs to be done everywhere. There is no questions that school meal programs have a powerful influence on children's future food choices." More than half of youth in the United States eat one to three major meals in school" (Owl 7). Adequate nutrition throughout the day plays an important performance at school and enables children to make wise choices when eating. Kids who go hungry or are only allowed a hurried meal through the morning or afternoon are likely to arrive at home after school extremely hungry. This can lead to overeating particularly high-fat, easy to prepare snack foods. This pattern of behavior is difficult to change and can lead to obesity. "Providing healthy meals at a pleasant environment at school is an important part of obesity prevention" (). Many school lunch programs offerfast food as an alternative. Limit your childs participation in unhealthy school lunch programs. Parents should ban together and speak with their school boards about improving school lunch programs. School districts should remove the vending machines from their schools and make the lunches offered healthier. So much money is spent every year on obesity programs for children and all that money could be saved if schools would just do their part in solving the problem. "There is no more compelling reminder of the health implications than the $17 million spent each year in hospital costs related to childhood obesity", according to the Centers for Disease control and Prevention. Some things are being done to start solving the problem but not enough.

There is a conference on childhood obesity next month in San Diego. The country's largest state conference ever conducted on the issue will unite nearly 1,000 health professionals, educators, doctors, and social service experts from around the world. So this is one of the first steps into correcting the problem. Some experts don't agree that this issue can be solved with a few changes though such as Kathy Love, a nutritioist at Children's Hospital. "What we're trying to do now is the Band-Aid approach." "We're trying to change behavior, but the older the kid, the harder it gets to do that. It isn't changing one or two things, it's trying to change an entire way of life." The solution lies in a collective approach involving everyone from parents and teachers to park planners, lawmakers, fast-food operators and even advertisers. The reason children are making unhealthy choices is often the environment they are living in. "Everywhere are pressures promoting the consumption of large portions of high-fat, high-sugar foods," said Harold Golstein, director of the California Center for Public Health Advocacy." " That, coupled with less physical activity, especially in schools where physical education classes have been cut to the bone, makes the problem larger than just a family issue" (Murphy 17).

If everyone works together this battle can be overcome. The increasing number of obese parents, technology, unsupervised children after school, and unhealthy school lunches are to blame for the increasing number of overweight kids in the United States. These factors can all be helped and prevented. This problem must be fixed before it gets worse.Our nation must united and work together for the sake and well being of our children.

Please note that this sample paper on An obese generation of children is for your review only. In order to eliminate any of the plagiarism issues, it is highly recommended that you do not use it for you own writing purposes. In case you experience difficulties with writing a well structured and accurately composed paper on An obese generation of children, we are here to assist you.Yourpersuasive essay on An obese generation of children will be written from scratch, so you do not have to worry about its originality.

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Minimum Wage in Brazil

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The Minimum Wage in Brazil

Brazil has a population of 16 million people - is the country with the highest inequality index in the world, according to the 1 Human Development Report of UNDP. About 80 percent of the population in the world have an average income below the average income of Brazil. Nevertheless, the richest 10% of Brazils population receive 48% of the total income and the poorest 40% have a share of only 7% of the total income. This means that the average income of the rich is more than 0 times the average income of the poor. In most Latin American countries this factor remains around 10, whereas in the highly industrialised European countries it does not even reach 4. In Brazil, there are therefore a lot of very poor people surrounded by sufficient resources to eliminate their poverty. According to the governmental Institute of Applied Research (IPEA),percent of the Brazilian population is considered poor, that is 50.1 million people. The big pockets of poverty in Brazil are the children. 46 percent of the persons below 16 years of age are poor, againstpercent of the total population. Another pocket of poverty is the informal sector. About 56 percent of the poor are members of families headed by a person working in the informal sector. Moreover, poverty affects women in particular Even though women receive more schooling than men, their income is on average 60% of the male income.

In such a context the State has to urgently meet its obligation to fulfil the right to an adequate standard of living for the population by using the maximum of available resources.Never in the Brazilian history was there any national plan aiming at the eradication of poverty and hunger. Development has always been geared more to economic growth than to the sharing of income. The consolidation of democratic mechanisms, however, led to an increasing debate about the need for action by the State and the whole Brazilian society to secure the sharing of income. This debate develops along three lines of action Traditional social policies to combat poverty, a guaranteed minimum wage, and the minimum income programmes. This paper will focus on the effect of the minimum wage since there are many controversies regarding this topic.

In Brazil, as in other countries, the purpose of the minimum wage legislation is to redistribute earning to low- paid workers in order to assure the satisfaction of their basic needs.Determining the level of the minimum wage that best accomplishes this goal is not, however, an easy task, as there are a number of trade offs and indirect effects involved.

The necessity of ensuring that all workers receive a satisfactory living wage was first accepted by the 14 Constitution in Brazil.In 16, the legislation adopted a law establishing a national minimum wage system, and in 140 this law was introduced.Since then the minimum wage system has been modified several times, but its main objective has remained unchanged to provide protection for almost all workers against improperly low wages.

The 14 Constitution referred to the minimum wage as a level of earnings which is sufficient to meet the basic needs of workers, taking into account the cost-of-living in the respective regions. To determine minimum wage levels, the Government set up regional Minimum Wage Commissions in 18, one for each of the 0 states andterritories. The commissions consisted of an equal number of employer members and worker members, and they were headed by government representatives. The commissions developed their proposals on the basis of empirical studies, including a household budget survey of low-income families and the analysis of the wage levels of low-paid workers in different sectors. The criteria used to calculate the needs of workers was a basket of goods and services, including food, clothing and transportation. The proposals of the commissions served as reference for fixing initial minimum wages.

Since the introduction of minimum wage regulation, the notion of basic needs has been reconsidered twice. First in 146 when, instead of the individual worker, the household became the new reference for considering basic needs so that the minimum wage should be sufficient to enable household heads to provide for the entire needs of their families. Then in 188, the new Constitution defined a wider coverage of goods and services considered essential for meeting worker needs. However, both modifications in the concept of basic needs have remained on paper and have not affected minimum wage fixing.

In 188 the federal constitution in Brazil established new parameters to define a new political definition to the minimum wage salary.In one hand the economy at the time had to revise the minimum wage salary as well as its value.It was created the "basic basket, which is a added benefit to the minimum wage worker in Brazil.The " basic basket it was a way that the federal government and the employers could add a value gain to the worker and not translate that into fiscal gain, meaning that the employer could assist their worker sin giving them another benefit that would translate directly into their basic need and not have to add new expenses in the form of taxes, social security and insurance benefits.

The " basic basket" was just that, a basket with the basic foods of the typical Brazilian worker with some variation of some local and regional tastes, the basket included a bag of beans, rice, spices and a starch flour which is a delicatessen in Brazil to accompany the rice and beans meal.That was a clever way that an employer could help itself, meaning the bottom line of the company and not compromise with a higher payment of taxes and employee benefits, and also have a added value in the relationship they had with their employees and their family therefore creating an image and straighten the relationship between boss and employees.

Ironically the creation of this "basic basket" has become the symbol of charity in Brazil; an easier way that a person could make a donation to any institution that deals with poverty and the poor.The Brazilian society adopted this benefit that was created specially for the worker and brought it to the Brazilian social scene.Today is very common that any donation to charitable institutions be made in the form of a b" basic basket" even though is not directly for a worker, but in most of the cases is for a family of a family of a minimum wage worker.

The creativity of the Brazilian employer and the necessity of the big companies to create a way to augment the life and earrings of the minimum wage worker, translated into the " basic basket" and the gains form that were directly felt in the economy, the employers need not to expend more of their bottom line gains and have to pay more taxes with employees.The results of the creation of the " basic basket" is still felt today in the economy and it has become a success in assisting mainly the minimum wage worker and their families.

The value of the goods in the " basic basket, were directly related to the economy, meaning that the basic foods needed to create this basket, was derived from costs of goods and how these goods were priced, therefore somehow keep a tab on the whole process of cultivation, industrialization, handling, transport and the final stage of commercialization the foods included in this basket, this was an added benefit not foreseen in the creation of the this benefit, but that was very welcomed by the both sectors the government and private sector.

The new constitution of 188 had a new article 5 of the article number 15, that assured the minimum wage worker a guarantee of a preservation of living standards and to also preserve the buying power of the minimum wage, and the direct affect that any increase can have in the preservation of the benefits of this class of workers.

This article has been the pillar of the negotiations between the workers and employers as in how to fixate the minimum wage amount, and how this amount directly affects the poverty and the unemployment numbers in Brazil.

Since it was introduced by a federal article of law, the minimum wage in Brazil has had many oscillations in relation of the inflation and standards of living for the Brazilian workers, President Vargas vision of the minimum wage for Brazil has been transformed in a political tool that is used to contain, control and direct the economy in Brazil and that affect is most felt in presidential elections years.

The minimum wage has had a few adjusts and most in a sensible amount on percentage of growth, but even though these adjustments has translated in somewhat high numbers with an average of 5 % a year, the direct affect in the pocket of the minimum wage worker has not been felt, and as mentioned as an editorial I believe that these increases have been mostly been a result of political tactics and bargain between political parties in Brazil.

The real gains in increases of the minimum wage, no pun intended, was really felt and observed after the introduction of "The Real Plan" or the new money in Brazil.This was a result of the lower and more estable economy.The lower inflation is the primary reason of the real gains received in the minimum wage adjustments, the government was able to analyze two months with low inflation and then be able to analyze an average of that inflation and therefore stabilize and correct any adjustments necessary to comply with wage negotiations and really have an positive affect in the fixation and adjustments necessary.

I have read that a very interesting data gathered form many studies on the minimum wage in Brazil, is that the most beneficial and actual result of the fixation and stabilization of the minimum wage were not even for the traditional worker, and to the informal sector.The informal sector is the poorest of the segments in the Brazilian economy, these workers have used and set parameters for the their labor in the minimum wage.The informal sector before this stabilization could have any type of bargain chip to charge for the services. And even though is an economy totally formed of unregulated workers, it has a tremendous affect in the economy, especially in the poorest fractions of the Brazilian war against poverty.

Another very strong unperceived and unforeseen result of the fixation of economic parameters and the adjustments made to the minimum wage is that many sectors of the economy, starting with public sector and government, have set the standards for living and the method of compensation of the Brazilian workers in the number of minimum wage salaries received.

The creation of this scale directly related to the minimum wage have brought the attention form the poor worker to the low and mid level economic class, any worker that have their salary directly connected with the minimum wage have paid a lot more attention to the negotiations and to the adjustments made by the government.

Most of the federal and state workers have their salaries and bonuses directly tied to the minimum wage, they receive their salaries and in numbers of minimum wage, meaning that the set minimum wage is the multiplied by the number of minimum wage salaries they receive, therefore those who a great numbers and those with minimum number ofsalaries to receive have a great interest in what that number is set, and all the benefits and bonuses are also set by that index..

The direct benefit of minimum wage in Brazil is felt in 65% of the Brazilian homes, it is a huge impact in the economy as it fluctuates.

The present situation of the Brazilian economy is one to be watched closely, the new ruling party the Party of workers have always proposed a much higher minimum wage that the one now.The new political scene is one to be very well observed, the power struggle between the right and left wing will in no doubt result in a extreme change of the minimum wage, the new president Lula and his party that have always asked for wages reform and a policy to be directed to the Brazilian workers, will now feel the pressures related to the necessary changes.

The private sector will definitely pressure the president and the congress to maintain the status quo, and the supportive voters of the many workers unions will definitely ask the new president to reform and increase the minimum wage.

The events that will follow the negotiations between the public and private sectors and the government will certainly shake the economy in Brazil.The negotiations will certainly involve a power struggle and all the dealings and concessions will have a direct affect on the economy and the workers, this is a long waiting campaign that the Brazilian worker has been waiting for, to have a president that in their eyes will give them the redemption of many years of suffering.

The new president has in his hand a huge challenge, one that will take a while to be resolved and one that can certainly divide his political party, the new negotiations about the minimum wage will have the eyes of the country and most Brazilian are in one way of another affected by any changes made to the actual minimum wage.

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Marketing research on ice cream

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Marketing Research

Introduction

Ice Cream is one of the most popular deserts anywhere in the world. A lot of people favor ice cream particularly on a hot summer day. People from all ages and from all walks of life indulge in this delightful and delectable snack. Even health-conscious individuals prefer to eat ice cream because of its nutritious, calcium-rich content.

In Assumption College school cafeteria, ice cream is one of the few deserts they offer to students. Although students buy it, it is not as 'saleable' as expected. Probably, one of the reasons is because there are only a few options for the consumers to choose from. There are only two brands sold in the school canteen, namely Magnolia and Selecta. This is a matter that led to the topic of this research study.

Help with essay on marketing research on ice cream

The significance of this study is to make suggestions to the school cafeteria head on how they can better serve the students, faculty and other school personnel as their consumers. Likewise, the consumers demand to be provided of their wants and needs in terms of the food being served, particularly of their favored ice cream desert. On the other hand, this research only covers a study on what brands of ice cream most Assumption students prefer, as well as their opinions and recommendations about their satisfaction and needs from the cafeteria service.

Marketing Research Process

I.Marketing Problems and Research Objectives

The marketing problem of this study is the inadequate sales of ice cream sold in the school cafeteria. This problem results from the infrequent consumption of ice cream in the cafeteria. An observation that not many Assumptionists purchase ice cream in the school led the researchers to come up with their research objective, which is to determine what brands of ice cream are most preferred by the Assumption students.

In conducting the research, a research plan was organized and devised in order to determine the respondents' opinion regarding the marketing problem. These opinions will serve as the researchers' guide to discern the answer to their marketing problem.

II.Research Design

1. Types/Sources of Data

The type of data that was used in this research is primary data. A data in the form of a questionnaire was presented to 57 Sophomore Business students.

The researchers found it a little difficult to obtain response from the respondents but after a thorough survey and inquiry cooperation was acquired.

Secondary data was also used in reference to the statistical treatment of the study.

.Research Approach

On the other hand, the researchers employed an approach through a survey. Fifty-seven (57) survey forms were given to fifty-seven (57) Assumption Sophomore Business students. They were asked to answer the questionnaire with their honest opinions so as to enable the researchers to know what brands of ice cream most Assumption students prefer, as well as the reasons that make them choose said brands.

.Research Instruments

In this study, the research instrument used is a questionnaire. A set of questions was handed out to respondents for their answers. The types of questions were both closed-end and open-end questions in order to obtain the information needed and thus better comprehend their viewpoint and recommendations.

4. Sample Plan

a.Sampling Units

The researchers conducted a survey with sophomore BSC students of Assumption College as respondents.

b.Sample Size

The researchers asked the opinions of fifty-seven (57) respondents regarding the survey. Using the Sloven Formula, the total number of respondents was derived

______N______

1 + Ne

= _____15______

1 + (15) (10%)

= 57

where

nsample size

N- total number of sophomore BSC students

emargin of error

c.Sampling Procedure

The researchers used a probability sampling procedure in order to have equal samples and to avoid biases. Under probability sampling, cluster random sample was used. The survey was taken by year level and by majors.

5.Contact Method

The research was conducted through personal distribution of the survey form to the respondents.

III.Gathering of Data

In gathering the needed information, a method of 'Do it Yourself' was done. The researchers, as a pair, relied on themselves in conducting the study. Since a primary data was needed, the researchers personally presented the questionnaires to the respondents, tabulated survey results and analyzed research findings. However, it is important to note that this research study is limited only to the school cafeteria of Assumption College.

IV.Interpretation of Data

•Tabulation

•Statistical Treatment

Table 1 Number of Students who like and who don't like to eat Ice Cream

MajorsNumber of Students who eat Ice CreamFrequencyPercentage (%)Number of Students who don't eat Ice CreamFrequencyPercentage

AgesAges

18 1 0

18 1 0

Marketing7 4 111.40 0 000

International Business6 7 11450 0 000

Entrepreneurship 5 1814.0 0 000

Accountancy 0 05.41 0 01100

Management Information Systems 1 158.0 0 000

Management7 6 11450 0 000

TOTAL85561000 0 01100

TableHow frequently respondents buy and eat Ice Cream

MajorsAlways%Often%Sometimes%Occasionally%Rarely%

Marketing46.750.8111.1.00

International Business5.416.7444.4116.700

Entrepreneurship16.71.5.116.7150

Accountancy008.00116.700

Management Information System1.8.111.10000

Management08.111.1116.7150

TOTAL1510041001006100100

Table A Brands of Ice Cream respondents prefer

MajorsSelecta%Magnolia%Arce%Dirty Ice Cream%Dryers%

Marketing18718.1.4414.5

International Business1610748.668.65.4

Entrepreneurship714718.1.414.17.6

Accountancy65.4000000

Management Information System488.117.1414.00

Management14881.61.45.85.4

TOTAL50100710014100110017100

Table B Brands of Ice Cream respondents prefer

MajorsDippin-Dots%Haagen Daaz%Dairy Queen%Baskin Robbins%Others%

Marketing5550.876.1.666.7

International Business4065415.467.1.

Entrepreneurship15416.7415.467.00

Accountancy00001.814.500

Management Information System158.11.51.600

Management757.76.1.600

TOTAL010041006100100100

Table 4A Product Attributes

MajorsTaste%Quality%Texture%Price%Packaging%

Marketing11.475.8.714.0

International Business145518.566.148.60

Entrepreneurship814.518.5417.414.00

Accountancy5.40014.1.4110

Management Information System58.11.1417.414.0

Management14575.66.117.10

TOTAL5610071001001410010100

Table 4B Product Attributes

MajorsNutritional Facts%Advertisement%Word of Mouth%

Marketing116.78.6150

International Business.114.00

Entrepreneurship116.7114.00

Accountancy116.70000

Management Information System116.78.6150

Management00114.00

TOTAL61007100100

Table 5 Place where respondents usually buy Ice Cream

MajorsSupermarket%Sari-Sari Store%Ice Cream Vendor%Others%

Marketing81.6007.51.1

International Business1070011.57.

Entrepreneurship410.8000046.4

Accountancy8.1000000

Management Information System1.70011.57.

Management11.7007.500

TOTAL710000810011100

Table 6 Time of the day respondents often buy or eat ice cream

MajorsBreakfast%Lunch%Dinner%Snack%Others%

Marketing000000844.441.8

International Business0060504.517.

Entrepreneurship00100 11.1517.

Accountancy00001515.61.4

Management Information System00000 0 517.

Management00101516.71

TOTAL005100410018100100

Table 7 Price range respondents are willing to spend in buying ice cream

MajorsP8-P15%P16-P5%P6-P50%Others%

Marketing1.4.516.150

International Business0057.885.815

Entrepreneurship0016.741.15

Accountancy0016.70000

Management Information System0015.641.00

Management66.711.110.00

TOTAL1001810011004100

Table 8 Ice Cream size respondents prefer most

MajorsCone%½ Gallon%Pint%Ice Drop%Cup%

Marketing11.157.87.50018.

International Business78.57.8000018.

Entrepreneurship11.115.600110046.4

Accountancy11.115.6000000

Management Information System15.611.150000

Management4.4.7.5007.

TOTAL18100181008100110011100

TableSatisfaction of respondents with the brands of Ice Cream that are sold in the canteen

MajorsYes%No%Not Applicable%

Marketing158.150

International Business608500

Entrepreneurship556.15

Accountancy101.100

Management Information System156.00

Management15101.15

TOTAL01001004100

Table 10 Respondents' opinion if there is a need for the school cafeteria to acquire more brands of Ice Cream

MajorsYes%No%No Comment%

Marketing10.000

International Business18.11000

Entrepreneurship511.1000

Accountancy1.000

Management Information System511.10000

Management114.401100

TOTAL45100101001100

Table 11 Whether to agree to pay a higher price if suggested brands will be available in the cafeteria

MajorsYes%No%No Comment%

Marketing75.415.41.

International Business1140.711.500

Entrepreneurship7.46.100

Accountancy0011.500

Management Information System7.411.500

Management518.76.66.7

TOTAL71006100100

V. Presentation of Research Findings

In this research study, the researchers have gathered several responses from the opinions and suggestions of Assumption Sophomore Business students regarding the marketing problem. The researchers found out that Assumption students, particularly the sampling units (Sophomore Business students), are not satisfied with the brands of ice cream sold in the cafeteria. As a result, there is an inadequate sale of ice cream in the school cafeteria.

Out of 57 respondents, 56 students have answered 'yes' to the question whether they like ice cream or not, while only 1 answered 'no'. In the Business course, Marketing, there were 1 respondents who like to buy and eat ice cream often. The Management course, with 14 respondents and Entrepreneurship students likewise often consume ice cream, while the International Business students, which comprised of 14 respondents, always buy and eat ice cream. On one hand, the 5 respondents from the Management Information System course resulted to a tie of 'always' and 'often' in terms of frequent buying of ice cream. However, the 4 Accounting respondents withice cream lovers (1 has terminated the survey), had chosen 'often' in purchasing ice cream.

In the survey conducted, the 5 leading brands most respondents prefer are the following

•Selecta, which gained 50 responses from the sample size

•Magnolia, gained 7 responses

•Dairy Queen, with 6 responses

•Haagen Daaz, obtained 4 responses

•Baskin Robbins, withresponses

In spite of themost favored brands that resulted in the survey, and are also sold in the cafeteria, doesn't mean that the cafeteria satisfies the needs and wants of the students.

The topproduct attributes of ice cream looked for by the respondents

oTaste, which obtained 56 responses

oQuality, with 7 responses

oTexture,responses

The students buy ice cream based on their personal choice. They consider the

contents of an ice cream more than the influence of advertisements, nutritional facts and other similar factors.

In the aspect of the place where the respondents usually buy ice cream other than at the school canteen is the supermarket which had 7 answers. In fact, some don't even buy ice cream in the school cafeteria since the choice of brands is too limited.

On the other hand, it really doesn't matter on what time of the day the respondents buy or eat ice cream since most have answered that they only do so when they feel like eating or craving for ice cream.

With regards to the price, the amount the respondents are willing to spend in buying ice cream is ranging from P6.00-P50.00. Moreover, there are those who disregard the price as long as they are satisfied with the product. In fact, the study showed that if suggested brands would be available in the cafeteria, they would agree to pay a higher price.

The ice cream sizes that the students prefer most are ½ gallon and ice cream cone. This is a factor that the cafeteria should consider in order to improve their sales since it is the consumers' choice.

Basically, majority of the respondents are not satisfied with the brands of ice cream sold in the canteen. To enumerate some reasons why they are not satisfied are

•"What I prefer is not sold"

•"I need more choices"; "limited/few choices"

•"Few choices & too expensive"; "costs too much"

•"they only acquire a certain brand of ice cream"

•"it all tastes the same, they should add more"

Respondents have suggested different brands of ice cream to be sold in the cafeteria such as Haagen Daaz, Dairy Queen, Baskin Robbins and Arce.

Lastly, the comments respondents have about ice cream are

•"Ice Cream adds to my bulges"

•"" ; "Sarap"

•"Ice Cream, I like"; "I love Ice Cream & besides I love Dess & Mel"---julie

•"It's a good source of calcium so it's a healthy alternative for milk"

•"Ice cream, though it is a desert, is high in nutrients because it contains milk. And milk is a good source of calcium. I think that ice cream is the healthiest snack." 

Respondents also feel that locally made ice creams compared to imported ones are cheaper, less authentic and innovative. Although local ice cream could be as competent and delicious because it almost reaches the same quality and taste. 

Bibliography

Lehmann, Donald R. (18). Market Research & Analysis.rd Ed. USA R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co.

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Conflict Prevention in Africa: expectations with regard to the African Union

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Essay State Building

State Building and the Role of International Organizations

Conflict Prevention in Africa expectations with regard to the African Union.

Jorrit Rosema (006800)

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June 00

Introduction

Africa has known many conflicts on its soil, and many conflicts are present today. Last year the African Union (AU) became effective as the successor of the African Organization for Unity (AOU). In this essay two arguments will be made 1. Regional organizations and especially the AU are forced to focus more and more on conflict prevention in their region. . In order to function effectively in conflict prevention, the AU needs to expand and secure its funding. The argumentation will be followed by concluding remarks and a few recommendations.

Analysis

During the cold war the African continent was diveded up into spheres of influence between the United States and the Soviet Union. Conflicts between and within African countries were dealt with mostly by these superpowers, with or without the help of the United Nations. Today the cold war is over and Africa is no longer the ideological battlefield it used to be. The Soviet Union has collapsed and the only interests of the United States in relation to Africa nowadays are matters regarding the 'war against terrorism'.

As a result there has been a growing importance of international organizations in conflict management. They have been given extra tasks that were before performed by the two superpowers. These tasks cost a lot of money, which is scarce in most international organizations, especially the African ones (Van Walraven In Van Walraven 18 44).

One would expect that the United Nations would have taken over those conflict preventing and conflict managing tasks which were 'performed' by the two superpowers before. However, the past ten years most UN missions in Africa came too late and/or have failed. Especially the early warning system of the United Nations has not functioned as it sometimes does and as it is capable of elsewhere in the world. There are two factors that are responsible for this malfunctioning.

First, according to African affairs, there is a continuous disinterest. We have to realise that the UN, especially in its functioning in security matters, is dependent on its members. It needs political will from the powerful and wealthy western countries within the UN organization to effectively prevent or de-escalate conflict situations. This political will lacks when it concerns (domestic) conflicts in regions like most parts of Africa with no major western interests (ibid. 5). A recent example can been seen in Congo. The Security Council has been very slow with putting the current situation in Congo on the agenda. As a result grave violations of human rights continue to go on, there is a risk that several countries are being involved and unauthorised intervention by French troops has taken place.

Second, the UN early warning system does not work effectively for Africa. Mainly public media present information, needed for analysis. The absence of an intelligence service, the resistance of states to report on their internal affairs and the reluctance of UN field-specialist to report on affairs beyond their functional speciality results in little information on Africa. Just because global media do not pay a lot of attention to the 'black continent' (Sutterlin In Van Walraven 18 1-1). It has been suggested that Non Governmental Organizations and Regional Organizations could play a bigger role in providing the UN with information. This is true and the UN should indeed consult more often NGO's and maybe give them an observer status in the General Assembly or one of the other more specialised organs of the UN. Regional Organizations themselves could however, especially for Africa,function as institutions for conflict prevention andthey should create an effective early warning system (ibid. 16, 18, 1).

Before examining the role the Organization of African Unity has played and the role the African Union could play in preventing conflicts on the African continent, we will look at a few advantages and disadvantages for a regional organization like the AU in taking responsibility for the prevention of conflicts in Africa. These are based on comments of James Sutterlin (In Van Walraven 18 18-1) but altered to the African case and to my own insight.

A first advantage can be found in the fact that a regional organization is likely to be more familiar with the root causes and is closer to the information needed for the effective functioning of an early warning system. Of the same importance is the fact that the AU is only dealing with Africa, while the UN is dealing with the whole world. In effect African matters could get a 'second importance' within de bureaucratic UN system when another part of the world is 'burning'. A third advantage is that mediation or even intervention by an African organization in a conflictis more likely to be accepted than mediation or intervention by a more 'foreign' organizationas the United Nations. Related to this is the presumption that diplomats of the AU are better 'cultural communicators' in for example silent diplomacy. This last argument can also be applied upon possible peace-keeping forces who share a similar culture and language. This cultural argument has to be put in perspective, realising that Africa is a huge continent with many different languages and cultural identities (see Sutterlin In Van Walraven 18 18).

At the other hand there are also disadvantages. First, the objectivity of a regional organization can be questioned if some of their members are too close to the problem and therefore mediation or intervention by the UN could be seen as more 'neutral'.Second, most regional organizations do not have the institutional instruments necessary to take effective measures when necessary. Related to this is the lack of sufficient funds to create an adequate early warning system, to back diplomatic and military activities and with which can be assisted to social and economic development as a form of long term conflict prevention (ibid. 1).

The disadvantages that have been mentioned above have been very clearly visible in the functioning ofthe OAU since its foundation in 16. While conflict prevention was a formal policy goal of the Organization of African Unity, there has been no operational and effective early warning system during its existence. Most of the times the organization was confronted with conflict and violence and busy with conflict management. With a lack of staff and funds the organization could not respond to all conflicts and concentrated on the most serious ones. Also the OAU has faced a structural lack of leadership and was confronted with obstructions by African state elites. Moreover, mediation and intervention could not take place without the permission of the state in conflict (Van Walraven In Van Walraven 18 , 6, 0).

With the launching of the African Union onJuly 00, the peoples of Africa have made a big step towards an Africa that is capable of taking effective measures to ensure peace and stability and prevent the eruption of conflict. Or so it seems. At least the institutional provisons are there. The constitutive act of the organization foresees in the creation of a parliament, a court of justice and several financial institutions (see appendix I). At this moment a lot of the provisions are still in a phase of being studied, prepared or ratified.This last process can take a very long time, as we have learned from events before.

The provisions that are foreseen in the Constitutive Act look very promising and seem to be inspired by those of the European Union.According to conflict prevention and conflict managment the African Union goes even further in its objectives. Like in Europe the principles of democracy, good governance and respect for human rights are inserted in its constitutive act. But with the establishing of the AU it will be possible for the organization to intervene in member states without the permission of the state in conflict. As stated as one of the principles of the Union in article 4 (h) of the act (h) the right of the Union to intervene in a Member State pursuant to a decision of the Assembly in respect of grave circumstances, namely war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity; (Constitutive Act of the African Union).

Of great importance for the prevention and management of conflicts is the protocol relating to the establishment of a Peace and Security Council, which is under ratification at the moment. The protocol foresees in an effective early warning system and its organizational structure should make it possible to act fast (see appendixes II and III). However at this moment (as of 1 June 00) the protocol has been ratifiedand acceded by only 6 states. An other structural problem is finance. The resources that will be made available to the AU will be crucial for the implementation of its arrangements. For its resources the Union depend on its member states. Most of these countries are poor. With the result that they can not pay enough contribution or do not pay at all. This is a problem that also the United Nations have. Provisions for alternative funding are not present in the Constitutive Act (Cilliers 00). Extra necessary funding has until now been provided by several western countries and organizations as the EU and the UN. Last month, May 00, the AU received support in the form of a $6.4 million project, called 'Support for the implementation of the Peace and Security Agenda of the African Union'.

For an effective functioning the AU can not be dependent on the political will of non-African countries and organizations. Therefore it is very important that solutions are found for the provision of a constant and sufficient financing for the organization.

Conclusion and recommendations

First, we can conclude that with the end of the Cold War the importance of international organizations in preventing and managing conflicts has grown. Second, I have argued that the United Nations is perhaps not the best help regarding conflict prevention in Africa. This due to a continuous desinterest for African affairs and an early warning system that does not work effectively for Africa. For a better functioning of this early warning system ofthe United Nations I recommend the following

-The UN should provide better access for Non Governmental Organizations to its early warning system.

-The UN should fully support regional organizations like the AU in gathering early warning information and should perfect the communication lines with these organizations.

-The UN should encourage global media to report more on Africa.

Further, I argued that the African Union has some advantages and disadvantages when dealing with conflict prevention. The main advantage was found in the fact that a regional organization is 'closer' to the conflict. The most important disadvantage was a lack of funds.

The Organization for African Unity has during its existence been overrun by the events of the day and has not been capable of creating an effective program for the prevention of conflicts. With the launching of the African Union progress seems to have been made. However, for an effective functioning the Union depends on the contribution of its members and on foreign aid. So far no measures have been taken to provide the Union with a constant and sufficient flow of money. Therefore I recommend the following

-Research in the possible establishment of an alternative and independent fundingsystem for the African Union. For example, an African tax system, which taxes civilians instead of states.

Unfortunately there is not enough space in this essay to ellaborate further on this problem. Maybe this can be done in a next one.

Appendixes

I Structure of the African Union as provided in the Constitutive Act

Source Institute for Security Studies / Cilliers 00

II Structure of the Peace and Security Council

Source Institute for Security Studies / Cilliers 00

III Provisions of the Peace and Security Council structure

Source Institute for Security Studies / Cilliers 00

Literature

Adedeji, Adebayo (ed.)

1Comprehending and Mastering African Conflicts. The search for sustainable

peace & good governance. London Zed Books.

Cilliers, Jakkie

00Peace, security and democracy in Africa? A summary of outcomes form the

00 OAU/AU summits in Durban. Institute for Security Studies. Gedownload van http//www.iss.co.za/PUBS/PAPERS/60/Paper60.html

Kemp, W

001Quiet Diplomacy in Action.

Sutherlin, James S.

18Early Warning and Conflict Prevention The Role of the United Nations. In Klaas van Walraven (ed.), Early Warning and Conflict Prevention. Clingendael. pp. 11-1.

Walraven, Klaas van

18Inter-governmental Organizations and Preventing Conflicts Political Practice

Since the End of the Cold War. In Klaas van Walraven (ed.), Early Warning and Conflict Prevention. Clingendael. pp. 1-44.

Walraven, Klaas van (ed .)

18Early Warning and Conflict Prevention. Clingendael.

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Jewett

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A White Heron, by Sarah Jewett is a story of a girl turned womans spirit being set free. Sylvia, a young girl who was raised in a crowded manufacturing town seems to come alive with the move to the farm to live with her grandmother. The narrator shows her innate feministic side when she describes the hunters whistle as determined and somewhat aggressive, unlike a friendly birds whistle. The narrator first refers to this man as as the enemy and states that the young girl dare not to look boldly at the man. This is representative of how repressed women felt and were at that time. Another example of this was the grandmothers remark about her son being able to wander off to explore the world. She expresses that if she could have, she would have done it too. But of course women have their roles and places in society and that social order is not to be messed with. The hunter offers Sylvia $10 in exchange for locating his next hunting prize, the white heron. She wonders what treasures $10 would bring her. The next day she went with him to hunt for the birds, although she cant understand why her new found friend would kill the very thing he proclaims to love and admires so much. The author states,

Sylvia would have liked him vastly better without his gun; she could not understand why he killed the very birds he seemed to likes so much. But as the day waned, Sylvia still watched the young man with loving admiration. She had never seen anybody so charming and delightful; the womans heart, asleep in the child, was vaguely thrilled by a dream of love.

At this moment Slyvia has the need and desire to be loved by this man and makes the decision to help him find the white heron. If she chooses to help this young hunter win his prize then she will be going along with societys norms for a young lady, and lose her own identiy. In order to locate this bird she has to climb the tallest tree around, a feat in itself. The climb up the massive tree was decidedly the turning point for Sylvia. She became so close to nature and felt its existence all around. When she finally saw the white heron, something inside changed. She saw herself in the white heron and knew that if she divulged the white herons location, she would not only be helping to the destruction of the birds spirit but her own as well. This power she now has is something that will comfort her because now she is alone; alone with nature. And as one must have an identity to survive in nature, the narrator must save own identity in order to survive.

The most important task a reader has in reading Sarah Orne Jewetts A White Heron is that of recognizing and deciphering its sexual, especially phallic, symbology. Jewett uses phallic symbols to demonstrate the creative and destructive potential embodied in the phallus. Jewett, however creates an experience in her story wherein a woman is able to discover and experience her sexuality without the violent penetrative act of intercourse, and the ecstasy of creation without the horrible pain of childbirth. The most appropriate place to begin such an analysis is with the most apparent symbols the tall young man, who carried a gun over his shoulder, and the great pine tree. It is essential to realize that although these images are both symbolic of phallic potency (real or perceived), they represent the dichotomy which exists within phallic symbology.

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The tall young man is symbolic of limited perspective, temporality, and death. He can see the women, symbolized by the birds he hunts, as nothing more than trophies to be stuffed and preserved. The hunter represents the fulfillment of temporal needs by his ability to offer many wished-for treasures. Finally, the young hunter carries the power of death over women in the form of his gun. The gun is symbolic of the hunters penis (gun is a modern slang term for a penis) and it is not surprising that Sylvia would have liked him vastly better without [it].

The great pine tree represents the exact opposite in terms of the potential of the phallus; it symbolizes unlimited perspective, spirituality, and life. The unlimited perspective of the tree is the reason why Sylvia goes to it in the first place. From the top of the tree she can see the ocean, symbolic of fertility; from the top of the tree she can discover the nest/home of her own innocent sexuality, the white heron. The spirituality Sylvia discovers comes as her determined spark of human spirit reaches the orgasmic height of the tree climbing experience. She views the tree as a godlike entity that is omnipotent, like a great main-mast to the voyaging earth, and omnibenevolent; The old pine must have loved his new dependent. Life is easily recognizable in the symbolic pine. The evergreen has long been a symbol of eternal life (which is why we use it as a Christmas tree). The tree is also alive with numerous small birds and animals. Although the great pine does not symbolize religion, Sylvia must use religion, symbolized by the white oak, to place herself in the branches of the great pine.

Sylvia is a prepubescent woman who is faced with the awakening of her sexuality. Her initial response to the young hunter is that she is horror-stricken. Although Sylvia has encountered the phallus previously, in her city home (the great red-faced boy . . . used to chase and frighten her), this encounter is vastly different due to the fact that she is older and curious about discovering her sexuality. Sylvia, after the initial shock of meeting the hunter is over, adopts the attitude which is common in young girls who are on the verge of discovering their sexuality; she is coy and seemingly disinterested in the young man. It is only when he offers temporal favors, ten dollars that Sylvia becomes wildly interested in what this young stranger is and what it is he is searching for.

As Sylvia gradually immerses herself in the comfort of the hunter she discovers that he is seemingly kind and sympathetic. This is a ruse that many young men employ to get what they are after, and the young hunter is after birds/women, specifically the purity of Sylvias innocence, her virginity, her white heron. To achieve this task he heinously employs Sylvia in the project of discovering her sexuality as an objectified goal which he supposes he has a right to participate in. As they walk in the woods their interaction is analogous to the actions of courting, flirting, and even hints of foreplay. . . . the womans heart, asleep in the child, was vaguely thrilled by a dream of love. Some premonition of that great power stirred and swayed these young foresters who traversed the solemn woodlands with soft-footed silent care. They stopped to listen to a birds song; they pressed forward again eagerly, parting the branches . . . Sylvia grieved because the longed for white heron was elusive.

To draw from the teachings of Jean Paul Sartre, Sylvias quest for the white heron, her quest for her sexuality, is one of being-in-itself. The hunter, on the other hand, seeks out the white heron of Sylvias sexuality as an object, a being-for-itself, and in this regard he is acting in bad faith.

Only when Sylvia makes it a private quest is she able to find her white heron. Her journey in the night to climb the great pine is an act of solitary ambition. Although Sylvia sets out initially to discover her white heron for presentation to the hunter, she realizes that her sexual purity is a greater possession than the ten dollars which the hunter has offered her for it. Sylvias climb to the top of the pine has all the elements of a sexual encounter. The phallic pine tree becomes engorged and seems to Sylvia to [lengthen] itself out as she went up. The intercourse with the tree involves the discomfort typical of most initial sexual encounters; the sharp dry twigs caught and held her and scratched her. The heightening sensation of the experience is evident as Sylvia ascends higher and higher upward. When the climax, the orgasm is reached, Sylvia stands trembling, tired, but wholly triumphant, high in the tree-top.

Sylvia is privileged to have an experience which few women, if any, are able to have. Not only does Sylvia have her first sexual experience without the violence of penetrative sex, but she is able to achieve an orgasm with her first sexual encounter. She knows his secret now . . . Sylvia, well satisfied, makes her perilous way down. Once Sylvia has obtained the knowledge of the place of the white heron, she is faced with the dilemma of whether to share such knowledge with the hunter. Sylvia decides that she cannot tell the herons secret and give its life away. At this point the reader should note that the experience of the orgasm is not a result of an auto-erotic stimulation. If Jewett wanted to portray the experience of masturbation, surely she would have had Sylvia slaughter the bird with her own hand and present it to the hunter; this would be the only way to maintain the allegorical motif which Jewett constructed so carefully.

Unfortunately, in the end, Sylvia reflects on her choice and wonders if it was the correct one. Sylvia paid the price of security for the lonely solace of making what her heart felt was the correct choice. Although Sylvia could have served and followed and loved him, it would only have been in the same way as a dog loves. The painful emotions of which surface at the end of Jewetts story, the painful rationalization and questioning, make it obvious that being placed in a position, as many women are, of sacrificing self for security is an unequitable product of the male hierarchy which is found in all aspects of phallic symbology, temporal or spiritual.

THE FOREIGNER

Each of these writers depicts magic differently. Their degree of acceptance for these unorthodox events in realistic fiction reflects their willingness to bend the rules of traditional fiction. Sarah Orne Jewetts The Foreigner is a story which features some very interesting magic elements that place her firmly outside of straightforward fiction with this story. Her characters, Mrs. Todd and Mrs. Tolland, are incredible images of witchiness in the midst of Protestant propriety, and in this short story we find a definite connection through them to the supernatural. The story is a story within a story, where Mrs. Todd and her guest, the narrator, after settling in for a rough, stormy night propose a ghost story. We expect something deliciously spooky since Jewett keeps reminding us about threatening great rollers of the sea,tidal waves, sea-going disasters, (157-8) but we eventually find that to Mrs. Todd this ghost story is truth. Mrs. Todd, the picture of an oracular Fate, settles into her rocking chair, and clicking her knitting needles as the old cat pushed open the unlatched door and came straight toward her mistress lap(15) relates her story. The cat reminds us of the witchs familiar, an animal which focuses a witchs powers and is often represented by a cat. Indeed, this cat seems one with Mrs. Todd-- the narrator never mentions either of the two except in connection with the other throughout this story. We are told, amidst long pauses in which Mrs. Todd (and her cat) gaze into the fire, the story of Mrs. Captain Tolland. Mrs. Todd has forgotten her maiden name; if [she] ever heard it. . .twould mean nothing to me (161). The story, then, is about a woman who is entirely in the domain of a patriarchal world-- the only name known is the name her husband gave her, but she is shown as a representative of feminine magic. This woman was a foreigner (16) and she is a musician who unfortunately alienates herself from the community of women in her new home with a decidedly un-orthodox incident in the church, right in the meetin house vestry (166). Invited to a social, she begins to sing, caught up a tin plate. . . an she begun to drum on it. . . like one o them tambourines. . .faster and faster...danc[ing] a pretty little dance between the verses (167). The women who are present are caught in the spell of Mrs. Captain Tollands music, but next day there was an awful scandal and though the women are reminded by Mrs. Todd of Davids dancin before the Lord (167) they will not be consoled. These women unconsciously understand the impact of Mrs. Tollands witchy behavior on their community. Mrs. Tolland, the next time she comes to church, acts like a cat in a strange garret and stalks out, just in the beginning of the long prayer(167) with no explanation of her actions. Mrs. Tolland, then, is seen as a woman who disrespects orthodoxy and religion, and indeed, her actions would have gotten her burned as a witch in the not-too-distant past. We hear about her knowledge of herbs and charms, and that she taught. . .a sight o things about herbs [Mrs. Todd] never knew before nor since. (170) She is the picture of womans spells and rituals. When Mrs. Todd interrupts Mrs. Tollands fête day, a day when a dinner is held in honor of some sort of religious ritual, to tell her of her husbands death, she does not take the news well and she begins to die. On her death bed, however, we realize that she is not just a misunderstood woman but someone truly connected to magical forces. Her mother comes to retrieve her daughter as a ghost that scares Mrs. Todd as somethin that made poor human natur quail (186). We have been given, by Mrs. Todd and Jewett, a very straightforward depiction of a supernatural event. Mrs. Todd believes that this event is true, and Jewetts representation of this story does not judge her characters belief as unrealistic or silly. Jewett, like Magic Realists, uses the elements of matriarchal religion and the supernatural to frame her story, thus rejecting a tradition of straightforward male storytelling in much of the same way that Magic Realists have done.

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A Response to Doris Lessing's "Group Minds."

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A Response to Doris Lessing's "Group Minds."

Human beings are born naturally dependent upon one another.In fact, in order for a baby to survive and thrive in its first few years of life, it needs the constant support of other humans.Yet, even as we mature and grow wiser in our years, we do not gradually become independent from one another rather we become interdependent.In the course of our lives we will form many relationships built on a give-and-take basis with our family, friends, community, and culture. Humans have become so accustomed to this because we are biologically designed to live, play, grow and work in groups.In fact, just as Doris Lessing said in "Group Minds," very few people enjoy being solitaries, and they are constantly looking for groups to belong to.We are social creatures, which automatically empowers us with the strength to join with others to create something stronger, more adaptive and more creative than any individual, the group.Lessing's overall concern is that we, the human race, have a great deal of information available to ourselves, however, we refuse to use it to improve our social groups and structures, therefore our own lives.I believe that she is right, and once we realize exactly how groups control our very lives, we can then begin to examine how to build group minds that promote only love and the betterment of our society.

Our society believes that we are free individuals who think and speak for ourselves everyday, but that is not true because we are unconsciously influenced by groups continuously. Any relationship of two or more people with similar views and opinions is the perfect example of how easily and unknowingly groups are formed.These phenomena can be witnessed more clearly by examining different cases ranging from the enthusiasm of the fans at sporting events, the heated focus of a political debate, simple business engagements, to the mutual elation of heartfelt prayer meetings.We head off to work and school together in the morning and flock together in the mall at night.We coordinate our meals, celebrations, and even bed times together.We would like to think of ourselves as individuals, but are we actually aware of our group minds?Our definition of individualism is set by our culture, but our behavior and the way we often think is set by our family, media, co-workers, and even strangers.We may obey the traffic laws out of respect for the authoritative figures or fear of punishment if caught breaking them, but in reality we really are trying to avoid the horn honks and unfriendly gestures we might receive from our fellow drivers. We could run the red lights, cut people off, and drive an excessive speed, but it wouldn't feel right.The social feedback would be unacceptable to us.Our behavior is influenced by the group norms, which we arrive at by a group consensus.With these examples, we can see how the thoughts and emotions of individual people are heavily influenced by collective attitudes and in many cases, even governed and controlled by them. Even Lessing agrees that while groups are not bad, the most dangerous part is not understanding just how much they actually control our lives and personal opinions.

In "Group Minds," Doris Lessing states that while the people living in the free world claim they are at liberty to believe and live as they wish, they are neglectful in realizing how much their opinions evolve from other peoples influences.With family, work, and other social groups being an important part of the American lifestyle, Lessing says it is only natural for people to live and congregate in groups.Lessing argues that very few people want to live in complete isolation, and in fact, are constantly looking for groups to belong to.While everyone has experiences of group pressures, continues Lessing, they hardly ever portray themselves as someone who lives and thinks similarly of those in their groups.Once we join a group we often change our ways of thinking to conform with the group, Lessing writes, and there is nothing harder than trying to maintain your own opinions while being a group member.Lessing concludes that the reason why an individual never challenges the opinions and affirmations of a group is because they are developed by the entire group mind, and challenging these might cause the entire group to collapse.

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Lessing strongly points out that the hardest thing for an individual to do is to maintain their own personal opinion while being a member of a group, which is correct in my opinion.And even with the constant pressures to remain true to a group, individuals do challenge group opinions and beliefs, but not without facing criticism, dispute, and anger when they go against the group mind. This was most recently recognized when on September 14, 001, Representative Barbara Lee, Democrat of California, voted against the House bill that granted President Bush authority to use force to counter the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon (Nichols 1).She was the sole member of our Congress to do so.In fact, a poll suggested that 0 percent of Americans favored some use of force in response to the attacks (Nichols 1), but Lee stood her ground.When Lee told her Democratic colleagues of her plan to vote against the bill, they begged her not to do it, yet, Lee still recorded her vote as "no."In the days that followed she was marked as a traitor, a communist and could not go outdoors without being escorted by bodyguards.As the weeks progressed, she began to receive words of encouragement and other colleagues admitted to her about wanting to vote against the bill, but they were too afraid to stand up to the vote in fear of being seen as "soft on terrorism" (Nichols ).

Often we are afraid to stand up for our beliefs simply because we want to conform to the group.Even when we do question the beliefs and opinions of our group mind, we are often pressured into agreeing with the group as a whole, and like Lessing says, we even begin to change our own way of thinking just to belong to a group.Since the attacks on September 11, 001, a group of teenagers have produced six short movies about what the war on terrorism means to them.In one of the movies, a teenager is quoted as saying, "it didn't use to be cool to have a flag on your car, but today its practically politically correct," (Rockwell).This is yet another example of how we conform to a group, even though it might mean changing our own beliefs and personal style.We constantly want to fit in.

We label ourselves as individuals, yet fail to understand how groups exercise their influence over us.Even in circumstances that we know are wrong and definitely should not conform to the group, we often continue to follow through with the group mind.As Lessing stated before that it is almost impossible to stand firm on your beliefs while taking part in a group, she also said that some of our most shameful memories are how often we might have said black was white just because other people were saying it.A prime example is when Stanley Milgram set out to determine the extent to which traditional individuals would obey the clearly immoral orders of an authority figure.Milgram tested how certain individuals would respond to inflicting pain onto another person because another figure told them to. He developed an experiment in which someone was required to study a list of paired words.Another person was instructed to quiz the learner on the list of words.Each time that person could not remember the paired word, he was given an electrical shock as a punishment.Each and every time the learner missed the pairing word, the intensity of the shock was increased.The person who was administering the shocks surprisingly was not too upset at having to send the electrical impulses until the victim became noticeably uncomfortable, at which point they often wanted to bail the experiment.However, the authority figure in the experiment would instruct the quizzer to continue no matter what.Even more surprisingly, the quizzer would usually continue a few more times before they would adamantly refuse to send the electrical shocks to the student any more. Originally the theory was that many would stop the experiment being aware that the person that they were shocking was indeed being harmed, but that was proven wrong (Milgram).

In the experiment there was no physical consequence for the individual pushing the button if they said no. People in this situation believed that the scientist knew what he/she was doing, so they assumed that what they were doing was acceptable also, even though in actuality they believed it was not right. Subjects gave up their free will to choose because a higher authority told them to do so. This is a classic example that proves that conforming to the group or even an authority figure is not always the best option.

"If we are truly individuals then why do we not stand up for our own morals and values?" Lessing questions.It just proves that we as humans are convinced that authority figures and massive groups know all the answers and we shall act out their every wish. Even though we can think for ourselves, we follow the authority for the sake of the group mind. Milgram explains his results "for many, obedience is a deeply ingrained behavior tendency, indeed a potent impulse overriding training in ethics, sympathy, and moral conduct" (44).

Most of us obey every day without a thought.People follow company dress code, state and federal laws and the assumed roles of courtesy.Those who do disobey are usually frowned upon or possibly even punished.But in some cases, disobedience may be the better course to choose for our own personal safety and for the maintenance of our morals and values.In Doris Lessing's short story, "Group Minds," she discusses these dangers of obedience, which are also demonstrated in another short story, "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson.In "The Lottery," the villagers portray Lessing's observation that "its the hardest thing in the world to maintain an individual dissident opinion, as a member of a group" (4).The villagers also show how being a visionless member of a group can be dangerous.As Lessing points out, "the majority will continue to insist and after a period of exasperation the minority will fall into line" (4).The group behavior in "The Lottery" was certainly risky to all those involved.Aside from the obvious threat of the "lottery winner" being stoned to death; it was a village tradition.Anyone who thought differently was taunted at and taken for a fool.Certainly, if one is considered a fool simply for disagreeing with tradition, it presents those involved with the danger of impeding change.As a direct effect of this group mentality, civil population murdered one of its own with no sign of ever ceasing the practice.All it would have taken was one person to stand up and state his opinion, whether it is the entire group's decision or not.It only takes one person to speak his mind for the whole group to have another perspective of opinion.As conscious beings who are self aware, we have the potential to make positive use of the group mind for the renewing of the human condition.

Obviously each person has his/her own prejudices, bias, and emotions related to certain decisions that society has placed there. Some individuals will do things that they do not want to because an authority figure told them to do so, others will agree with something that is wrong because everyone else agrees. Since we live in a society that proclaims everyone has the freedom to choose, we should not then give up this right and become mindless humans. Individuals are afraid to think for themselves and the thing that often fails them is the trust of their own judgments. Lessing suggests, "you must learn to contemplate these rules calmly, dispassionately, disinterestedly, without emotions" (8). To do so would allow us to think for ourselves and not be persuaded in any other direction by any other factors. As humans we are naturally social creatures. That is how civilization began, by humans interacting with each other. We need to be able to understand ourselves and trust ourselves so that we can make our own decisions, and not turn in to mindless humans who just follow the crowd. In the end the main person that is affected by decisions is the one who is making the decision.While being a part of a group is something that will never change, we can build better "group minds" which are based upon love, clarity, and progressive intents, thereby, bringing about a new era for ourselves.Works Cited

Jackson, Shirley.The Lottery.(148) by Farrar, Straus & Giroux, Inc.Rpt. in Writing and Reading Across the Curriculum.Ed. Laurence Behrens and Leonard J. Rosen.7th ed. Addison Wesley Longman.000.8-0.

Lessing, Doris. "Group Minds."Prisons We Choose to Live Inside. (188) by HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. n.pag.Rpt. in Writing and Reading Across the Curriculum.Ed. Laurence Behrens and Leonard J. Rosen.7th ed.Addison Wesley Longman. 000. -5.

Milgram, Stanley."The Perils of Disobedience." from"Obedience to Authority".Harper's Magazine.(174) by HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. n.pag.Rpt. in Writing and Reading Across the Curriculum.Ed. Laurence Behrens and Leonard J. Rosen.7th ed.Addison Wesley Longman. 000.4-55.

Nichols, John."The Lone Dissenter "'Traitor,' 'Coward,' 'Communist.'"The Progressive v65 (001).Expanded Academic ASAP.Gale Group.

Rockwell, Peigi T."Red, White and Blue Patriotism." The Hamilton Spectator pA15 (00). Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe. Gale Group.

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