The Circle Of Fire Essays - Lines Of Latitude, Plate Tectonics

The Circle of Fire The insider facts of the Circle of Fire lies some place profound into the Earths development about 4.5 - 5 billion years back. The Circle of Fire is a ring of volcanic mountains that Borders the banks of North and South America, alongside Asia and Thialand. It too structures a semi-cirlce from the southern tip of South America to Australia. The Earth is about 4.5 - 5 billion Years old. While man's recorded history is just around 5000 years old.(Circle of fire page 3) The Earth is comprised of 3 distinct layers 1-The Crust, the Crust is the extremely top layer of the earth that we live on, it consits of 7 distinctive crustal plates. 2- The mantle which is the center layer, This is made of a fluid plastic sort of material called magma, This material is continually streaming which causes the crustal plates to shift.3-The Inner Core, this is the exceptionally focus of the Earth, Scientists aren't sure yet they accept that it is strong magma. About 80% of the universes Earthquakes happen in the Circle of Fire. (The Hover of Fire p. 13) They occur in a tight belt of deficiencies that run corresponding with the equator from North and South America to Asia. In 1950 an Expidition from Scripps Institute of Oceanography while investigating the ocean bottom off the shore of California discoverd crack Zones.(Circle of Fire p 17) These break zones run corresponding with the equator from North and South America to Asia down to Thailand too. Regularly these crack zones are not profound but rather they run ten to twenty miles wide. What's more, incredibly the disagreement a practically equivalent separation of around 400 - 500 miles long. The Circle of Fire is a strange spot. Despite the fact that nobody knows how it was shaped , researchers accept they are close, They likewise accept that once they reveal its insider facts, they will have the option to answer a considerable lot of the unsolved inquiries of the Earths Formation.

Ethics and Corporate Responsibility in the Workplace and the World Essay

Morals and corporate obligation in the work environment and the world is turning into a focal point of consideration. There are numerous things going on in the work environment that various offices and individuals are investigating while at the same time accusing the fitting source. In this paper, a situation is introduced. The situation included PharmaCARE and its auxiliary, CompCARE are audited and certain inquiries are being posed for lucidity. The paper will take a gander at the partners in this situation. The paper will do it best to break down the morals of PharmaCARE’s treatment of the Colberia’s indigenous populace and its position and â€file laborers versus that of its administrators. In furthermore, the paper will take a gander at the circumstance concerning three laborers, Donna, Tom, and Ayesha under the oversight of Allen. The investigation of how whistleblowing, openings, and insurance could assist Allen with halting the untrustworthy of CompCare. An evaluation of PharmaCARE’s ecological inventiveness with the Colberian exercises. The paper will address the first reason for and changes to Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). The paper will presently take a gander at the investors in this situation. The investors are significant players in an association or partnership. The Merriam-Webster word reference characterizes a â€Å"shareholder as one that holds or claims an offer in a company† (Shareholder, 2013). An equivalent word of an investor is partner and this is somebody who has enthusiasm for the organization. Along these lines, the investors of this situation are Allen, Donna, Ayesha, Tom, CompCARE, PharmaCARE, WellCo, and the Colberians. Allen, Donna, Ayesha, and Tom are representatives of CompCARE. They are partners in this situation since they work for CompCARE and this is the way they make their living. They need the organization to be effective, however at what cost will it cost them. The Colberians are the individuals who work to make the medication, while getting paid $1.00 per day and living in destitution. PharmaCARE is the mother organization of CompCARE and its objective is to benefit off of CompCARE by any and all conceivable means. WellCo brought the CompCARE from PharmaCARE seeing the benefit it could make in this arrangement. Every investor has a critical impact in ensuring the CompCARE is effective. The paper will currently look investigate the morals of PharmaCARE treatment of the Colberians. PharmaCARE has an organization in African and discovered individuals there ready to share data about neighborhood cures and could gracefully laborers ready to work for $1.00 every day. PharmaCARE presumably take a gander at this as a coal mineshaft and struck the arrangement. This procedure is unscrupulous inside and out. One explanation it is unscrupulous, the representatives at PharmaCARE isn't working for a $1.00 a day wage nor are they living in crude cabins. The representatives of PharmaCARE have power and running water while the Colberians don't get the chance to appreciate this extravagance. The World Trade Organization, WTO built up rules concerning work rights and guidelines. â€Å"Moreover, exactly on the grounds that third world specialists are awfully abused, their representatives will pass on a great part of the expense of enhancements in labor gauges accomplished through universal exchange arrangements to their workers the type of lower wages† (Global Issues, 201 3). PharmaCARE knew the manner in which it was treating the Colberians was not moral; the organization couldn't carry on in this design in the United States. PharmaCARE cooperated with some harmful pioneers in fatting its overall revenue. The government assistance of the Colberians didn't concern them in any capacity. Hellriegel and Slocum noticed a worry for a worldwide group. The worldwide group would have profited PharmaCARE hugely. â€Å"The worldwide group assists with characterizing basic highlights of products and enterprises that will engage clients in various nations. The worldwide colleagues from various nations can give understanding into a contribution about these extraordinary market needs and necessities for explicit qualities of products and services† (Hellrigel and Slocum, 2011, p.360). An organization needs to be right in managing outsiders supposing that anything is fouled up inevitably the world will discover. In this situation, the officials benefit, while the laborers get scraps. The paper will presently turn it center around the laborers inside CompCARE and could end be think about lawful in this situation. The laborers are Allen, Ayesha, Donna, and Tom. Allen is the administrator and was obligation to ensure his staff was in no wellbeing nor safetyâ threat. For the situation with Ayesha, she needed to be advanced and nothing occur. She documented an objection with the EEOC. â€Å"The EEOC was made to build openings for work for ladies and minorities and to help end separation dependent on race, shading, religion, inability, sex, or national birthplace in any faculty action† (Boone and Kurtz, 2012, p. 61). Allen could have maintained a strategic distance from this by putting Ayesha on a manager track. Allen could have been a good example for Ayesha, while demonstrating her the obligation of a boss. Allen ought to have conversed with Ayesha and giving her pointers on what she expected to do to be considered for an administrator work. On account of Donna, she never was one to avoid work. She had an ideal participation until the disclosure of shape was found. She turned out to be sick since nothing was done to correct the shape issue. In this manner, Allen don't have a noble motivation to fire Donna knowing the explanation of her ailment. She kept on working until she could no more and petitioned for specialist pay. â€Å"Any worker, independent of their length of administration, who is excused or exposed to a hindrance for certain wellbeing and security reasons, would have a potential case against their employer† (Calcott, 2011, p.12). On account of Tom, he needed something done about the shape issue. Tom was a chief at CompCARE and he answered to Allen. Tom saw how all the laborers were becoming ill and made a move. He educated Allen about the sir quality in the lab. Tom made the best choice in detailing all issues to his boss. The accepted Tom paused and went to Allen again to take care of the air quality. The issue gotten compound and Tom took steps to hand the organization over to OSHA. Tom would be think about an informant. â€Å"A informant uncovered the wrongdoings of others in organizations† (Schermerhorn, 2010, p.100). The Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 precludes a representative from getting terminated for telling on dishonest direct. The paper will currently take a gander at how Allen could have advantage by supporting his workers and himself. Allen realized something was wrong but then he didn't do anything when the issue was not fix. â€Å"Employers are very much aware of their broad duties to representatives under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974† (Calcott, 2011, p.12). In the job Allen have, he was committed and held the obligation to ensure his staff. Allen answered to his supervisor with regards to what was happening, in this manner he ought to made the following strides in discovering help for his workers. Allen could have profited himself by having a reasonable cognizant he did what was right. He would have been liberated from any arraignment the workers would have documented on the organization. He would have been ensured under the Whistleblower Act too. Allen’s wellbeing was the same amount of risk as his staff and this ought to have been sufficient to make him tell authority. PharmaCARE’s renders an indicated ecological stewardship is most noticeably terrible and the company’s open position should convey a commitment to be an innovator in natural issues. PharmaCARE ought to be more worry about Colberians’ condition. PharmaCARE should need to help the individuals who is creating their item. They could help with building homes for the Colberians, by knowing their conditions. The administrators live in decent places with running water and power. PharmaCARE can set up a reserve so as to instruct the individuals of Colberia. Educating and telling individuals the best way to be progressively effective will help PharmaCARE benefit more. The individuals will be faithful to the organization helping them. PharmaCARE can assist the Colberians with being greater profitability in regular daily existence. At the point when an organization goes in a remote nation to work together it should ensure the country’s arrangement. Organizations move their business to remote nations are as yet at risk if something occur. The organization ought to be eager to help develop the region the laborers live in. Building roadways to convey PharmaCARE’s drugs is a noteworthy issue. The WTO is eliminating organizations that are no treating foreigners’ right. This is in wellbeing and security just as in the United States. The WTO is a backer for under benefit nations. It secures the privilege of the laborers in neediness nations. There appear to be a major issue with respect to youngsters laborers however this doesn't appear the case. Be that as it may, WTO won't permit any foul play to come to laborers in underdeveloped nations. â€Å"The WTO’s understandings license individuals to take measures to secure nature as well as general wellbeing, creature wellbeing and plant wellbeing. In any case, these measures must be applied similarly to both national and outside organizations. At the end of the day, individuals must not utilize natural assurance gauges as a methods for camouflaging protectionist policies† (WTO, 2013). The creator accepts now things are showing signs of improvement since organizations realize somebody is watching them. The following worry to take a gander at concerning this situation is the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. The Compre hensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) â€Å"is a risk plot as opposed to a checking program† ( Halbert and Ingulli,â 2012, p.207). As indicated by the Environmental Protection Agency â€Å"the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) ordinarily known as Superfund, was instituted by Congress o

Clinton, Bill

Clinton, Bill Clinton, Bill (William Jefferson Clinton), 1946â€", 42d President of the United States (1993â€"2001), b. Hope, Ark. His father died before he was born, and he was originally named William Jefferson Blythe 4th, but after his mother remarried, he assumed the surname of his stepfather. After graduating from Georgetown Univ. (1968), attending the Univ. of Oxford as a Rhodes scholar (1968â€"70), and receiving a law degree from Yale Univ. (1973), Clinton returned to his home state, where he was a lawyer and (1974â€"76) law professor. In 1974 he was an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives. Two years later, he was elected Arkansas's attorney general, and in 1978 he won the Arkansas governorship, becoming the nation's youngest governor. Defeated for reelection in 1980, he regained the governorship in 1982 and retained it in two subsequent elections. Generally regarded as a moderate Democrat, he headed the centrist Democratic Leadership Council from 1990 to 1991. In 1992, Clinton won the Democratic presidential nomination after a primary campaign in which his character and private life were repeatedly questioned and, with running mate Senator Al Gore of Tennessee, went on to win the election, garnering 43% of the national vote in defeating Republican incumbent George H. W. Bush and independent H. Ross Perot . By his election, he became the first president born after World War II to serve in the office and the first to lead the country in the postâ€"cold war era. In his first year in office, Clinton won passage of a national service program and of tax increases and spending cuts to reduce the federal deficit. He also proposed major changes in the U.S. health-care system that ultimately would have provided health-insurance coverage to most Americans. Clinton was unable to overcome widespread opposition to changes in the health-care system, however, and in a major policy defeat, failed to win passage of his plan. After this failur e, his proposed programs were never as sweeping. The president's wife, Hillary Rodham Clinton , whom he married in 1975, played a more visibly active role in her husband's first term than most first ladies; she was particularly prominent in his attempt to revamp the health-care system. In 1994, Clinton sent U.S. forces to Haiti as part of the negotiated restoration of Jean-Bertrand Aristide 's presidency. He also withdrew U.S. forces from Somalia (1994), where while helping to avert famine they had suffered casualties in a futile effort to capture a Somali warlord. Clinton promoted peace negotiations in the Middle East, which bore fruit in important agreements, and in the former Yugoslavia, which led to a peace agreement in late 1995. He also restored U.S. diplomatic relations with Vietnam in 1995. After the Democratic party lost control of both houses of Congress in Nov., 1994, in elections that were regarded as a strong rebuff to the president, Clinton appeared to have lost some of his political initiative. He was often criticized for vacillating on issues; at the same time, he was embroiled in conflict with sometimes radically conservative Republicans in Congress, whose goals in education, Medicare, and other areas often were at odds with his own. In 1995 and 1996, congressional Republicans and Clinton clashed over budget and deficit-reduction priorities, leading to two partial federal government shutdowns. Perceived as the victor in those conflicts, Clinton regained some of his standing with the public. Allegations of improper activities by the Clintons relating to Whitewater persisted but were not proved, despite congressional and independent counsel investigations. By 1996, Clinton had succeeded in characterizing the Republican agenda as extremist while himself adopting many aspects of it. Forced to compromise on such items as welfare reform in order to assure passage of any change, Republicans passed bills that often seemed as much part of the president's program as their own. The welfare bill that he signed at the end of his term revolutionized the system, requiring that recipients work, while providing them with various subsidies to aid in the transition. Clinton won renomination by his party unopposed in 1996. Benefiting from a basically healthy economy, he handily won reelection in Nov., 1996, garnering 49% of the vote against Republican candidate Bob Dole and Reform party candidate Ross Perot, and became the first Democratic president since Franklin Roosevelt to win two terms at the polls. In 1997, Clinton and the Republicans agreed on a deal that combined tax cuts and reductions in spending to produce the first balanced federal budget in three decades. The president now seemed to have mastered the art of employing incremental, rather than large-scale, governmental action to effect change, leaving the Republicans, with their announced mandate for fundamental change, to appear visionary and extreme. Having take n the center, and with stock markets continuing to boom and unemployment low, Clinton enjoyed high popularity, presiding over an enormous national surge in prosperity and innovation. At the beginning of 1998, however, ongoing investigations into his past actions engulfed him in the Lewinsky scandal , and for the rest of the year American politics were convulsed by the struggle between the president and his Republican accusers, which led to his impeachment on Dec. 19. He thus became the first elected president to be impeached (Andrew Johnson , the only other chief executive to be impeached, fell heir to the office when Pres. Lincoln was assassinated). It was apparent, however, that much of the public, while fascinated by the scandal, held the impeachment drive to be partisan and irrelevant to national affairs. In Jan., 1999, two impeachment counts were tried in the Senate, which on Feb. 12 acquitted Clinton. In the year following, U.S. domestic politics returned to something li ke normality, although the looming campaign for the 2000 presidential election began to overshadow Clinton's presidency. During both his terms Clinton took an active interest in environmental preservation, and by 2000 he had set aside more than three million acres (1.25 million hectares) of land in wilderness or national monuments, protecting more acreage in the lower 48 states than any other president. The late 1990s saw a number of foreign-policy successes and setbacks for President Clinton. He continued to work for permanent peace in the Middle East, and his administration helped foster accords between the Palestinians and Israel in 1997 and 1999, but further negotiations in 2000 proved unsuccessful. Iraq's Saddam Hussein increased his resistance to UN weapons inspections in the late 1990s, leading to U.S. and British air attacks in late 1998; attacks continued at a lower level throughout much of 1999 while the issue of weapons inspections remained unresolved. In Apr.â€"June, 1 999, a breakdown in an attempt to achieve a negotiated settlement in Kosovo sparked a 78-day U.S.-led NATO air war that forced the former Yugoslavia to cede control of the province, but not before Yugoslav forces had made refugees of millions and killed several thousand. The second term of Clinton's presidency saw a pronounced effort to use international trade agreeements to foster political changes in countries throughout the world, including Russia, China (with whom he established normal trade relations in 2000), Korea, Vietnam, and Indonesia. While global trade flourished, Clinton's hopes that trade would lead to democratization and improved human rights policies in a number of countries by and large failed to be realized. In 1997 the Clinton administration had won ratification of the Chemical Weapons Convention (signed 1993), but it refused to join in a major international treaty banning land mines . The Republican-dominated Senate narrowly rejected the Comprehensive Test B an Treaty in late 1999 in a major policy setback; in late 2000, Clinton made the United States a party to the 1998 Rome Treaty on the establishment of an International Criminal Court for war crimes . Clinton benefited during his entire presidency from a strong economy, leading the country during an unprecedented period of economic expansion and, with some partisan critics giving credit to skill and some to luck, making a steady national prosperity the hallmark of his administrations. He left office having revived and strengthened the national Democratic party, which he guided toward more centrist positions, emphasizing fiscal responsibility, championing the middle class, and reversing many of the public's negative stereotypes regarding the party's liberal stance. Although Vice President Al Gore failed to win the 2000 presidential election, he won a plurality of the popular vote, and the party scored some gains in Congress, especially the Senate. The president's pardoning, however , of more than 100 people on his last day in office sparked one final controversy. Several persons he pardoned were well connnected and even notorious but not apparently deserving, and even Clinton supporters and appointees were openly critical. Charges that pardons were obtained through bribery, however, appeared to be unfounded. No one major accomplishment or program marked Clinton's terms in office; his many real achievements were mainly incremental, and were often overshadowed by setbacks. However, through his extraordinary ability to relate to ordinary Americans, his intelligence and wit, and his skill in manipulating the media, he maintained an unusual level of popularity and a high approval rating throughout most of two terms in office. Nonetheless, the Lewinsky scandal, in particular, permanently marred his presidency. This was so although the sexual affair at its core was neither unique for Clinton, who had had other extramarital liaisons, nor for the office, some of the earlier holders of which had engaged in similar, although much less publicized, behavior. As he left office, Clinton faced mountains of legal bills and continued threats of legal action. The youngest former president since Theodore Roosevelt, he established his presidential library in Little Rock, Ark., and, moving to New York where his wife was now a senator, opened an office and foundation in Harlem . He remains an influential and generally popular figure, and became prominent in a number of causes, including international AIDS treatment. He joined with George H. W. Bush to raise funds for the victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami (2004) and Hurricane Katrina (2005), and in 2005 was appointed to a two-year term as UN special envoy for tsunami recovery, with responsibility for sustaining the international efforts for its victims. In 2009 he was named UN special envoy to Haiti, focusing on supporting the island's economic and social developement, and following the 2010 earthquake t here joined with George H. Bush to raise funds for relief. See his autobiography, My Life (2004). See also J. Brummett, Highwire (1994); E. Drew, On the Edge (1994) and Showdown (1996); D. Maraniss, First in His Class (1995); R. A. Posner, An Affair of State (1999); J. Klein, The Natural (2002); J. F. Harris, The Survivor (2005); N. Hamilton, Bill Clinton: Mastering the Presidency (2007); T. Branch, The Clinton Tapes (2009); K. Gormley, The Death of American Virtue: Clinton vs. Starr (2010); M. Takiff, A Complicated Man (2010); W. H. Chafe, Bill and Hillary: The Politics of the Personal (2012); J. Conason, Man of the World: The Further Endeavors of Bill Clinton (2016). The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. See more Encyclopedia articles on: U.S. History: Biographies

The Development Of Exploration And The Industrial Revolution

Many historians refer to the time between ‘Exploration† and â€Å"The Industrial Revolution† as era of â€Å"Early Modern History†. In between ‘Exploration† and â€Å"The Industrial Revolution† were markers known as â€Å"Reformation† and â€Å"Enlightenment†. This was a time where nations became established and grew increasingly curious of the world around them. Several technological and intellectual advances occurred during this era. Early modern history began with the â€Å"Exploration† period and ended with the â€Å"Industrial Revolution†. To begin with, exploration began when countries began to ponder the world around them more. In Portugal (1415), Prince Henry wanted to travel to Northern Africa so that Portugal could cut the muslims out of the gold and salt trade. This became known as the Moorish Crusades. After the Moorish Crusades, schools for exploration began to open in Europe. When the schools we re created, more and more people became interested in traveling to other countries to expand their own economy, spread religion, and to win glory (Beck, Crowston, Davila, Ebrey, McKay and Wiesner- Hanks 461, 462). Explorers such as Columbus and Magellan revolutionized Europe. Columbus’s desire to spread Christianity to new lands causes him to discover a route from Europe to Asia (Beck, Crowston, Davila, Ebrey, McKay and Wiesner- Hanks 462). Magellan’s fleet finds a way to get around America , and becomes the first to sail around the world. Although many explorers tried to find a way through theShow MoreRelatedBackground Of Industrial Evolution Of The Industrial Revolution1469 Words   |  6 PagesBackground of industrial evolution in Britain From 1760s to 1840s, a great revolution, called as the Industrial Revolution later by historians, happened firstly in England and soon after whole European continent (Landes, 1969). Later in 19th century, the revolution also influenced North America. Machines’ flourish in inventions and applications is treated as one symbol of this period, thus, it is called â€Å"the Age of Machines† by some historians as well. In the mid-1700s, Hargreaves invented SpinningRead MoreFrankenstein: Science and the Industrial Revolution1212 Words   |  5 PagesFrankenstein: Science and the Industrial Revolution Frankenstein, written by author Mary Shelley, was a romantic based story written in Europe during the eighteen hundreds. During this time period, Europe was experiencing many social and economic changes. Many of these changes were a product of the industrial revolution of Europe. This time period can be defined and era of exploration, discovery and industrialization in which ideas were pushed to the limits. Victor’s creation of Frankenstein isRead MoreCapitalism And The Industrial Revolution778 Words   |  4 Pagesoccurred 1492 until 1800 with the age of exploration and discovery. Globalization 2.0 followed, lasting 1800-2000. It was characterized by the Industrial Revolution. The third era of globalization began in the year 2000, and occurs to this day (Friedman, year, p.8). But the real question is, what sparked the rise of globalization? The term is modern, but the concept is not. Capitalism and the Industrial Revolution played a huge part in the development of industrial cities and globalization. The needRead MoreThe Age Of Exploration And Its Effects On Economic And Political Power1611 Words   |  7 PagesSummative As European economy grew, and became more reliant on a cash system, replacing the land-based system of feudalism. The power shift is prominent, shifting from the lords and nobles to the merchants of the middle class. The Age of Exploration has provided a framework for economic life around the world for several centuries while also shaping politics, social relations, cultures, and natural environments, changing the very nature of society. Of course the most important aspect of this modernisticRead MoreThe Decline Of The Industrial Revolution1462 Words   |  6 Pagesbeing due to Britain s culture, institutions or just luck. This essay will argue for the abundance of cheap coal and a ready workforce and industrial capitalism as major factors in the industrial revolution. The industrial revolution was characterised by a slow and steady continuous economic growth which has begun in the 15th century. The industrial revolution did not see a sudden rise in Britain s GDP, in fact there were large growths in only some sectors, but it was a period marked by profoundRead MoreOil Companies And Economic Power1380 Words   |  6 Pagesmost industrial as well as home based activities. For more than a hundred years, oil has been used to provide to this vast energy requirements. Oil companies around the world have facilitated the exploration, drilling, refinery and distribution of oil in their defined regions. The industrial part that oil companies play can be considered to be much greater than the domestic role. Oil companies produce diesel, petroleum, liquid petroleum gas and other products which are used to drive industrial machinesRead MoreOil Companies And Economic Power1554 Words   |  7 Pages Oil Companies and Economic Power Introduction In the modern world energy has become very important since it helps drive most industrial as well as home based activities. The process that leads to production of the world’s largest energy provider, Oil, however has continued to receive criticism. This is so since production of Gasoline, Natural Gas, Kerosene as well as other components present in crude oil leads to some forms of environmental pollution. This has led to devastating climatic changesRead MoreThe First Humans Were Hunter Gatherers907 Words   |  4 Pagesfeudal system was replaced by capitalism an economic and political system. Over time the industrial revolution transformed capitalist nations from agriculture to industrial nations. Throughout history countries have wanted to control lands beyond their borders and a new practice named colonialism give Europeans full or partial political power over countries they occupied, or settled in the â€Å"Age of exploration.† The feudal system is often referred to as Europe Dark Ages or Middle Ages. During theRead MoreThe Era Of Industrial Revolution1474 Words   |  6 Pagesof exploration led explorers such as Columbus and Dias to discover unknown continents and routes. The age of enlightenment caused a burst of knowledge and ideas based on reason from people such as John Locke and Voltaire. The most important era, however, that brought substantial and visible change to the way of living is the era of Industrial Revolution. The period of the Industrial revolution began in the early 1700s and ended in the late 1800s. During the century, the Industrial revolution engenderedRead MoreFrench Revolution1740 Words   |  7 PagesTHE FRENCH REVOLUTION The French Revolution, which erupted in 1789 marked a turning point inthe history of human struggle for freedom and equality. It put an end tothe age of feudalism and ushered in a new order of society. An outline of  this revolution will explain to you the kind of turmoil that occurred inEurope. This revolution brought about far reaching changes in not onlyFrench society but in societies throughout Europe. Even countries in othercontinents such as, India, were influenced

Grace Fleming - ThoughtCo

Mankind Harming Environment Free Essays

I believed that mankind harms our environment. During the earliest times, the life-styles of our ancestors were very simple. The air they breathed was clean. We will write a custom essay sample on Mankind Harming Environment or any similar topic only for you Order Now The streams were clear and free of harmful organisms. They used natural fertilizers for the agricultural crops. The surroundings were free of household throwaways. Today, there has been a tremendous growth in science and technology. Such advances have brought about changes in terms of new products, improved equipment, and more effective methodologies. Unfortunately, this same technology which made life easier for us produced wastes which are now affecting the quality of our surrounding air, water, and land. Factories and motor vehicles send tones of pollutants into our air. Excessive air pollution poses a danger to our health. It can likewise cause stunted growth and even death to our plants. Out streams are polluted by discharges from industrial plants that use chemicals. Garbage and sink wastes are carelessly thrown in our surroundings. Synthetic fertilizers and insecticides pollute our land and farm products (Allaby, 2002). Are we all aware of the extent of the damages brought about by modernization? Have we contributed to such environmental pollution? What have we done to minimize such danger to our lives? How can we take care of our environment? We must undertake measures to conserve and preserve our resources and minimize utilization of energy before it’s too late. Our fight against pollution is an initial step toward conserving our environmental resources and energy. We must all join hands for this common goal. Reference: Allaby, Michael. (2002). Basics of Environmental Science. Routledge. London. How to cite Mankind Harming Environment, Essay examples

Unemployment in Canada

Question: Discuss about theUnemployment in Canada. Answer: Key Points in the Article The unemployment rate in Canada has been on fluctuating mode, with a trend ranging between 6%-8.7%. The labor market is weak and cannot sustain the supply in the Canadian labor force supply. The economy is losing more jobs though gains part-time jobs. Consequently, there is net unemployment. Fewer youths employed in the labor market thus more settles for self-employment. Public sector experiences a higher drop-out of workers as opposed to private sectors. The construction and manufacturing industries contribute significantly to unemployment in the country compared to accommodation and food services industries. The over-stretched unemployment conditions negate the economic growth that is redundant on the welfare of the citizens. The GDP of the country has shrunk weak notwithstanding the economic demand of the citizens Summary of Financial Post News Financial Post News outlines Canadas unemployment rate as a fluctuating one though there is no clear correlation between the reports by Canada Statistics and real figures on the economy. In the month of June, there is a discrimination on the employment distribution among the population with more youths affected in comparison to adults. Regardless of part-time job opportunity increment of 40,200, the country could not still sustain the rising unemployment rate. The growing trend is boosted by a fell out of full-time workers. Employment in public sector performed poorly compared to private sector. Among the population who fell out from work, an estimate of 28,000 people was from the public sector. The GDP of the country reduced a behavior that demonstrated the reduction of the Canadian dollar exchange rate. Compared to unemployment report in June, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1%, the effect of unemployment trend affected states differently. Ontario State attained a loss of estimated 36,100 jobs. Canada is bound to undergo high unemployment rate as employment opportunities continuously cease. The rise in unemployment trend demonstrates reduced economic growth. The unemployment trend illustrates uneven distribution, with Ontario and Alberta affected most. Job opportunities are only evident in British Columbia. The article shows that the number of people losing full-time jobs is higher compared to the people employed. However, the employees work on part-time basis though chances unrecovered were on the full-time basis. The net computation is a reduction in employment opportunities in the country. The country experienced the increase of 14,000 jobs in the month of May, but this had no significance on the market trend. The trends in public and private sectors differ with public sector losing more opportunities with the low rate of recruitment. The majority of the population who lost their jobs sort for self-employments (Gross 2014). In June, unemployment in Alberto reduced by around 1,900 contributed by economic factors on oil prices. Ontario followed Alberto with a loss of 4,200. The British Columbia maintained its stability of job creation by adding an estimated of 16,000 positions. The fluctuations demonstrate the unemployment rate of 6.8%. Structural changes have contributed to the unemployment in Canada. Industrial changes contribute to construction and manufacturing industries loss of jobs (Hoffmann 2014). However, accommodation and food services industry remain steady to create more jobs (Financial Post News July 8, 2016). Review of the Financial Post News Summary The unemployment rate in Canada has affected the population unequally with youths affected more compared to adults. Also, the countrys structural changes contributed to the unemployment. Therefore, it is a policy issue in solving unemployment situation in a country (Tansel 2016). The Canadian economy has a static manner composition that does not accommodate dynamism for youths. Companies rely on skilled and experienced labor force instead of tapping fresh graduates in the economy. The cyclical unemployment has also contributed immensely. The government reduces its expenditure on the public goods and services thus discouraging firms (Benard 2013). Structural unemployment is also a major contributor. Changes in consumers purchase pattern discourage companies from the production, they do away with some workers or reduce work time. The article is appropriate. It evaluates the sideshows of the government in the claim of reducing unemployment. As a youth am certainly affected by increasing trend of unemployment in the country, more so the youth unemployment (Boubtane 2013). The Tension Between Self-Interest and Social Interest It demonstrates a claim by Canada Statistic of the creation of new jobs even though it is at a redundant rate. This is a perception of improving social welfare. However, as an individual, the wellbeing is real only if a job is secured. References Bernard, A. and Branch, A.S. (2013). Unemployment Dynamics Among Canada's Youth. Statistics Canada, Analytical Studies Branch. Boubtane, E., Coulibaly, D. and Rault, C., 2013. Immigration, growth, and unemployment: panel VAR evidence from OECD countries. Labour, 27(4), pp.399-420. CBC News (2016). Canada sheds 31,200 jobs in July, unemployment rate rises to 6.9%. Retrieved: October 7, 2016. https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/jobs-canada-july-1.3708611 Financial Post News. (2016). Canada job market set for slow growth as unemployment rate falls to6.8%. Retrieved: October 7, 2016. https://business.financialpost.com/news/economy/canada-unexpectedly-sheds-700-jobs-in-june-but-unemployment-rate-dips-to-6-8 Gross, D.M. (2014). Temporary Foreign Workers in Canada: Are They Really Filling Labor Shortages? CD Howe Institute Commentary, 407. Hoffmann, F. and Lemieux, T. (2014). Unemployment in the Great Recession: a comparison of Germany, Canada and the United States (No. w20694). National Bureau of Economic Research. Tansel, A., Ozdemir, Z.A. and Aksoy, E. (2016). Does Unemployment Invariance Hypothesis Hold for Canada? Available at SSRN 2818432.

Afghanistan and Pakistan Border Region Issues Impact on Pakistan Society

Introduction There are various issues that are associated with geographical regions especially where political aspects are involved. Some of the issues that are experienced in the Afghanistan and Pakistan due to the border region issues are; lack of trust between this two geographical areas and blaming one another which makes the process of solving the issue so difficult, problem in meeting basic social needs due to high poverty levels, high levels of unemployment and social injustice, and internal displacements of persons among others.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Afghanistan and Pakistan Border Region Issues: Impact on Pakistan Society specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More There has been lots of violence on both sides of the Afghanistan and Pakistan border especially after the US was involved in leading war in Afghanistan. The two countries have been in conflicts for a long period of time and various terrorist at tacks have been executed as a way of revenging each others deeds. This paper discusses the various aspects related to the Afghanistan and Pakistan border with much emphasis being given to terrorism in both countries as it is the root cause of the violence. It also gives an insight on the effects of intervention by the super powers like the US and the impacts of the border region issues on the Pakistan society. Terrorism in Afghanistan and Pakistan and the Geopolitics Issues According to the dictionary.com (2011), terrorism is the use of violence and other forms of threats with an aim of intimidating or coercing people especially for political purposes. It can also be understood as the acts of violence that are usually committed by a group of people who usually view themselves as victimized by some particular historical happenings and hence carry out the terrorism actions as a way of fighting back. They usually gain some backing and support from governments and carry out unexpected a ttacks which lead to a lot of destruction and deaths as well as instilling fear and confusion among the nations affected. Terrorists on the other hand are persons usually from a certain group who engage in the planning and execution of violent acts like suicide bombings that are intended to cause deaths of innocent people and scare the rest hence making the chances of perpetrating further terrorist attacks better. Terrorism is spread by the terrorist in a strategic manner as they aim at causing the greatest effect that is achieved by causing as much deaths as possible and also instilling fear and confusion to as many people as possible. It entails acts like suicide bombing and affects the economies of the affected nations as well as the psychological and social status of the people. Advances in communication has in a way enhanced the perpetration of this evil acts. Other issues that promote the spread of terrorism are conflicts, poverty, social injustice, under-development, inexiste nce of the rule of law among others. This is because the above mentioned factors lead to lack of unity among the people and hence leads to instability which enhances acts of terrorism.Advertising Looking for essay on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Although terrorism is perpetrated by people from different religions, Islam religion the Muslims is mostly associated with it as opposed to other religions. This is particularly wrong since Islam is just a religion and some Muslims are against terrorism just a Christians and other religions are although most of them are involved in it and in most cases those who are involved with the terrorism attacks associate it with the religion making the world to view terrorism as an act that is directly associated with the Muslims. Geopolitics entails a combination of geographic factors and political issues that influence a region or nation. It entails issues like leve ls of the economic growth and political power in a nation and it is usually unique to a given nation. The Afghanistan for example has a lot of geo-strategic and geopolitical significance as opposed to Pakistan and could attract a lot of interest from the super power and other international relations. Afghanistan offers better long term strategic prospects as compared to Pakistan in regard to the United States national security interests and regional strategy and hence its greater intervention in the wars. Pakistan on the other hand has some serious security threats due to its geographical location, bordering India, China and Afghanistan with political problems with India and Afghanistan. Pakistan has less geo-strategic and geopolitical significance for example to the United States as it appeals to the US only on some specific areas like its use a rental estate hence aiding in meeting the US strategic ends. The differences between these two nations lead to their differences in their efforts to fight terrorism (Kapila, 2009). Terrorism in Pakistan There is the existence of political crisis in Pakistan as a result of political conflict among the different factions in the nation and security threats from its neighbours especially Afghanistan and India. Terrorism in Pakistan is a serious issue and cannot be underemphasized as it has been linked with a lot of deaths and destruction and most importantly pulling down the nation in terms of development and prosperity. Terrorism in Pakistan has been executed with varying motives and with the application of advanced weapons hence causing a lot of harm and attracting a lot of local and international attention. Terrorism in Pakistan can be traced to various causes some of which are; permissive factors such as modernization, urbanization and industrialization which promote the acts of terrorism through the principle of creating vulnerabilities, motivation and opportunities that foster terrorism and also direct situational f actors like discrimination, grievances, social injustice or inequality, elite disaffection and lack of chances that allow for political participation for all among others.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Afghanistan and Pakistan Border Region Issues: Impact on Pakistan Society specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Although there has been a large number of terrorist attacks world wide, Pakistan attacks amount to 2.9 percent of the world’s terrorist attacks. This shows that although terrorism is a major issue in Pakistan, it does not contribute much to the general world’s terrorism. It is however portrayed negatively by the media where it is shows it as a failed nation which is marginalized, under-developed, and poor and where terrorism is the main center of concern. This is however not true as Pakistan has been able to achieve some economic and even military levels that could otherwise not be achievable in a state that experience all the mentioned problematic issues or where systems do not work. Some other evidence against the media claims on the Pakistan’s state exist for instance it is ranked the 7th atomic power in the world, and its military is also the seventh in the world in regard to the number of personnel who are active in their duties among other achievements. Some of the factors that have lead to the current state of Pakistan include; lack of democracy which has led to political alienation and deprivation and a sense of hopelessness and lack of power among the people making the nation susceptible to more terrorist attacks. Corruption is also a major issue of concern which has resulted in unequal distribution of resources and wealth among the regions and perpetration of other immoral practices like drug trafficking. The imbalance is also enhanced by the social injustice and discrimination. Poor education system is also a contributing factor as it does not effective ly meet the needs of the country as it was initially set up to suit the needs of the colonizers. Those who benefit from the education system therefore become of no notable importance to the nation as they ought to be if the system was compatible with the nation’s needs. The prevalence of a weak judicial system also makes it possible for the criminal activities to be executed easily as appropriate measures to the offenders are not taken. The Taliban are also a great threat to Pakistan as it has affected its security through the various attacks it has been involved with and the power it has in the execution of the destructive acts (Bajoria, 2009). Impact on Pakistan Society The impact of terrorism and other issues as a result of the Afghanistan and Pakistan border conflicts .is experienced differently by the two nations and also the others that were affected. Although the United States promised to make the world a better and safer place, it did not work towards achieving the ex pected results and the situations even became worse in some states or nations. Here are some of the resultant situations on the Pakistan society. The Taliban is increasing in number and their energy in executing their activities hence increased threat to Pakistan.Advertising Looking for essay on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The society also faces some adverse effects for instance increase in the number of displaced persons, increase in spending on health matters as most people become injured and the poverty levels also lead to poor nutrition hence poor health, and increase in the cost of education as a result of high levels of insecurity and existence of less education institution. The border conflicts and terrorism has also brought some problems in maintaining the Pakistan’s economic growth as a result of instability and hence the country’s growth domestic product (GDP) is low and the debts are high. The tourism sector is also negatively affected as tourists do not feel secure to visit the country. The production sector is also affected as the cost of production goes up and the business confidence falls making the business rivals for instance India to take advantage of the situation and exploit it. The foreign investments and stock exchange also decline. Unemployment and smuggling levels is also on the rise. Some of the recommendations that Pakistan should adopt to improve the situation include; increasing employment opportunities to its people so that they are able to meet their basic necessities and fulfilling its promise of providing basic needs like shelter, food and clothing to the citizens. This will enhance loyalty and patriotism and everybody will be ready to work towards improving the nation’s condition. There should also be steps towards reducing corruption where the government should enhance accountability in all its activities to gain its citizens’ trust. Justice through the judiciary should also be allowed to every citizen without any form of discrimination so that everyone can feel well represented. There should also be close relations between the citizens and the government for example through creation of negotiation forums. The government should also invest in the establishment of institutions and departments that are aimed towards imp roving the living standards of the citizens by providing services like job opportunities, means of airing their views and grievances and enhancing the process of service delivery. Facilities like hospitals, education institutions and social clubs should also be established as a way of building trust and goodwill between the government and the citizens. All these steps by the government will create a good relationship where everyone will have the urge to work towards making the country a better place (Bajoria, 2009). Terrorism in Afghanistan Terrorism in Afghanistan can be traced back in 2001 when the then United States president, Bush, had an attempt to bring down the Taliban government which its people valued so much as it had been a safe haven to the leader of Al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, and all its members. The US powers towards doing this was not successful as there were conflicts among the various leaders and also the remaining Taliban forces. The situation was worse in the year 2008 as the violence heightened and hence worsening the condition for the Afghanistan’s civilians. The conflict between the United States and Taliban continued as the latter could not bear the pain of losing its powers and hence looked for means of fighting back. The ongoing border region conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan is basically as a result of tribal allegiances. This is because some tribes have occupied both parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan for instance the Pashtuns and Balochis .The Durand line is considered a soft border by people from both sides and hence it is the source of the conflicts and terrorism attacks between the two regions as either of the two sides want to have the full share and control of the border. There has been a lot of mistrust and bitterness between the Afghanistan and Pakistan as a result of the long history where they used to offer refuge each other’s opponents for instance Afghanistan harboured the Balochi people while Pakista n sheltered and trained the mujahadeen and maintained the Afghani Taliban. The porosity has enhanced the perpetration of terrorism as it makes it easy to undertake the criminal activities since the communication and transport or movement is easy (Kapila, 2009). The US in the war against terrorism in Afghanistan after 9/11 It is the 9/11 attack that led to involvement of the United States of America in Afghanistan’s activities with an aim of solving the situation. It did so by attempting to tumble the Taliban government in Afghanistan which was deemed to be involved in the protection of the Al Qaeda. This was however not an effective action or step as it did not solve the problem of concern. This is because it shifted the problem to the neighboring Pakistan as the Taliban moved their operations into Pakistan as a way of revenging by continuing the war. It is from this time that violence has existed along the border. This shows the ineffectiveness of the steps taken by the US a s it did not help control the terrorism but rather created a more serious and dangerous situation. The US could have dealt with the root causes of the problem rather than trying to solve the issue without prior considerations of the consequences of their actions (Pelovangu, 2010). Nature of US and International Responses and the World Perception on War on Terrorism The United States of America seem to be taking a wrong move towards fighting the terrorism ordeal. This is so because of taking Afghanistan and Pakistan as a single geo-strategic and geopolitical entity in its move towards restoring peace and stability among the nations and more especially along the border region. This can not take place effectively as Afghanistan and Pakistan are two distinct and separate entities in terms of geo-strategic and geopolitical issues associated with them for instance Afghanistan is a class higher than Pakistan in terms of power and region. It is also more economically stable due to the ample deposits of oil and natural gas and taking them as one will definitely not work out well. All in all there are mixed perceptions and views on the act of the United States of America towards fighting terrorism as some people take it as a selfish act where the US wanted to benefit from it for instance, it is said that if Afghanistan was not geo-strategically and geo-politically important, the United States of America could not have much interest on it and could not have had much intervention as it is the case on Pakistan which is not that well of. The further terrorist attacks in places like Pakistan, Madrid, India and London are also a clear indication that the more the war on terror unfolds, the more the world becomes unstable and hence the process of dealing with the war has been unsuccessful. Others however view it positively and see it as a saviour for example the number of terrorism attacks fell by 18 percent from 2007 to 2008 and it has been associated with the US intervention . The national counterterrorism centre also asserts that the number of world wide attacks by terrorists in the year 2008 was 11,770 and the number of deaths was 15,756 while the attacks in the year 2007 was 14,506 and the deaths were 22,508. This improvement in the stability among nations has been accredited towards the antagonistic efforts by the United States and other international forces through application of intensified law enforcement, new laws regarding counterterrorism, blocking terrorist financing and intelligence gathering and sharing among other strategies (Kellerhals, 2009). Conclusion It is evident that Afghanistan and Pakistan are at war with one another and the situation is exacerbated by the fact that the two nations have different geo-strategic and geopolitics significance with Afghanistan being on the lead especially in regard to the United States and other major regional and international powers. The differences in the nations’ significance has for instanc e been linked with the United State’s change of priorities in its efforts towards fighting the war against terrorism or restoration of stability and security giving much emphasis on Afghanistan as opposed to Pakistan which is in a worse state than Afghanistan. Terrorism is a great hindrance to economic prosperity, security, geo-strategic sustainability, political power and stability and the general well being of a nation and should therefore be dealt with appropriately from the root causes. Reference List Bajoria, J. (2009). The Troubled Afghan-Pakistani Border. Web. Dictionary.com Unabridged (2011). Terrorism. Web. Kapila, S. (2009). Afghanistan and Pakistan: Comparative Analysis of Geo-strategic and Geo-political Significance. South Asian Analysis Group. Web. Kellerhals, M. D. (2009). Terrorist Attacks Fell 18 Percent in 2008, Report Says. US Policy. Web. Pelovangu, R. (2010). The U.S War on Terror: Is the American Invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq Justified? Web. This essay on Afghanistan and Pakistan Border Region Issues: Impact on Pakistan Society was written and submitted by user Easton Gilmore to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Free Essays on Eli Whitney

Eli Whitney Historians believe that one of the greatest pioneers in the birth of automation, American inventor, pioneer, mechanical engineer, and manufacturer Eli Whitney. Best remembered as the inventor of the cotton gin. He made his first violin when he was only 12. Eli started college when he was 23, in 1788. He left for Georgia and got his first look at cotton business. He graduated from Yale in 1792, and went to Savannah, Georgia to teach and study law. After he graduated he went south to tutor the children of a wealthy plantation owner. He taught school for five years. Eli Whitney made and sold nails during the Revolutionary war. In 1798 Eli obtained a government contract to make 10,000 muskets. In 1812 he was given another contract for 15,000 muskets .He built the first firearms factory to use mass production methods. When Eli Whitney built his first factory in 1798, he allocated a great deal of his precious resources to providing housing for his workers as well as ensuring that they were well off financially. This consideration marked his entire career as an industrialist. He wanted to "employ steady sober people,"tied to his factory and part of a community of industry. He intended to create a self-sufficient village, producing goods, and populated by well educated, happy workers,Whitneyville. He also affected the industrial development of the United States , in manufacturing muskets but most of whitney's own guns parts do not in fact interchange. Nevertheless, Eli Whitney is a figure whose history is fascinating, and whose impact in New Haven can not be overstated. He translated the concept of interchangeable parts into a manufacturing system, giving birth to the Americanmass-production concept. Whitney saw that a machine to clean the seed from cotton could make the South prosperous and make its inventor rich. He set to work at once and within days had drawn a sketch to explain his idea; 10 days lat... Free Essays on Eli Whitney Free Essays on Eli Whitney Eli Whitney Historians believe that one of the greatest pioneers in the birth of automation, American inventor, pioneer, mechanical engineer, and manufacturer Eli Whitney. Best remembered as the inventor of the cotton gin. He made his first violin when he was only 12. Eli started college when he was 23, in 1788. He left for Georgia and got his first look at cotton business. He graduated from Yale in 1792, and went to Savannah, Georgia to teach and study law. After he graduated he went south to tutor the children of a wealthy plantation owner. He taught school for five years. Eli Whitney made and sold nails during the Revolutionary war. In 1798 Eli obtained a government contract to make 10,000 muskets. In 1812 he was given another contract for 15,000 muskets .He built the first firearms factory to use mass production methods. When Eli Whitney built his first factory in 1798, he allocated a great deal of his precious resources to providing housing for his workers as well as ensuring that they were well off financially. This consideration marked his entire career as an industrialist. He wanted to "employ steady sober people,"tied to his factory and part of a community of industry. He intended to create a self-sufficient village, producing goods, and populated by well educated, happy workers,Whitneyville. He also affected the industrial development of the United States , in manufacturing muskets but most of whitney's own guns parts do not in fact interchange. Nevertheless, Eli Whitney is a figure whose history is fascinating, and whose impact in New Haven can not be overstated. He translated the concept of interchangeable parts into a manufacturing system, giving birth to the Americanmass-production concept. Whitney saw that a machine to clean the seed from cotton could make the South prosperous and make its inventor rich. He set to work at once and within days had drawn a sketch to explain his idea; 10 days lat...

Racial discrimination in the United States Essay

Racial discrimination in the United States - Essay Example Redlining is more common in discrimination and it has been practiced over long period of time from historical perspective and in the modern world, it has been practiced on various grounds such as employment and opportunity to various individuals and groups in the society (Leonard, 2007).Affirmative actions are the policies that undertake race, ethnicity and gender into consideration in the endeavor of ensuring equal opportunity is promoted in a society. It is mainly concerned with such aspects as education, employment and also such public contracting as the health programs. Affirmative action can be in two categories whereby one category addresses equality and eliminate any form of discrimination that is concerned with such issues institutional, overt and involuntary while the other category is focused on maximizing societal benefits and diversity on all levels in the society (Ward, 2006).In the United States, there is gross discrimination on racial grounds and the most discriminated against are the Non-White residents in the country. There have been debates that an affirmative action would be very instrumental in eliminating discrimination based on institutional, employment, educational and business opportunity in the country. Thesis Statement In the modern world, people are still discriminated against in such aspects as employments, education, institutional and business opportunities. Affirmative action is an important project to counter this discrimination. This is because the policy give well qualified people equal opportunities to other people and in a country like the United States of America where there is gross discrimination based on race, this policy will give a strong foundation for improvement in regards to racial discrimination in the United States. Racial Discrimination in the United States Since the colonial era in the United States one of the most prevalent issues in the country is racism. The whites who are considered to be the settler society are the dominating race in the country and this means that the other races which include the Blacks, Native Americans, Asian Americans, Latin Americans, Irish Americans and others are highly discriminated against. This discrimination is extended to such fields as employment, education, institutional and business opportunity in the country. The whites have enjoyed dominancy in these fields while the other races have been left in the periphery of the system. Although there was some improvements in the twentieth century when the government enacted laws which prohibited entities against racialism, race identities are still held very highly in the country and by prominent members of the society who control various mechanisms in the country (Hurst, 2000). Educational discrimination There is widespread education discrimination in the Untied States with the highest numbers of graduates from high school, college and university coming from the Whites. This shows that the educational opportunities in the country are favored towards the Whites while the other races are discriminated against. This is also furthered in that when the Whites get better education opportunities they also get better opportunities in life especially in this era of education opportunities. This means that the Whites have better opportunities to develop their lives while the other races are left to struggle with life (Williams, 1999). The table below shows the percentage of White

FOUNDATIONS OF BUSINESS LAW Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

FOUNDATIONS OF BUSINESS LAW - Case Study Example Based on the promise to be made between the parties, contracts can be divided into bilateral and unilateral contracts. Bilateral contracts revolve around both parties ensuring that they fulfill their promises while in unilateral contracts the offeror still has to perform their part of the agreement (it is a promise for and act) (Barker 2005). For a contract to be valid, it needs the parties to have legal capacity, the existence of a purpose of legality, and the parties should have consent and any form of requirements satisfied. The intentions ascribed to any contract intention is very important. The parties to the agreement must intend for the agreement to be legally enforceable. If there is no intention, such an agreement automatically results into no contract (Barker 2005). To decide whether an intention to create legal relations was present, the courts will apply objective tests. The court looks at the conduct of both parties from the perspective of an objective observer and asks whether the parties were behaving in a way that indicates their intention that the agreement be legally enforceable. Traditionally, social, family, and voluntary associations were presumed to have no contractual intentions while commercial or business intentions were presumed to have valid and lawful contractual intentions. Contracts are linked with agreements. An agreement is a meeting of intellectuals and exists when two or several people share an intention or an understanding. Negotiations precede agreements for a given time. Sometimes the conduct of the entities in an agreement can help to deduce the existence of a finalized agreement. With the aforementioned in mind, I and my sisters are not in a contract. Ordering some fish from them was as an act of brotherhood. To add to that, there was no meeting between us and therefore no agreement was reached between us. A contract

Origin And Importance Of Rattan Weaving Cultural Studies Essay

Origin And Importance Of Rattan Weaving Cultural Studies Essay A traditional mode of occupation to some of our local people. Mostly the weavers are blind people which had been trained by Ministry of Welfare to give this people a chance to earn and make living with this job. It is also one of Terengganu famous craft that can be bought as a souvenir or can be use in a daily work. Its is one way of diversifying the handicraft products and develop this family business into a more systematic industry producing long term, high standard quality products, that are able to penetrate the tourist and commercial markets. Mengkuang (screw pine leaves) or pandanus weaving is one of the traditional arts still very much alive and its products are still in demand. The Mengkuang and pandan leaves are found abundance in the local jungles. The leaves are first cut in long strips and dried in the sun. Once dried, it is boiled and dyed with vegetable colours. Still using the traditional weaving techniques, the mengkuang or pandan leaves are coiled, plaited, twined and woven to create beautifully products such as mats, conical food covers, grocery bags, hand fans, baskets, tissue decorative boxes, hats, handbags, slippers, purses and pencil cases. The potential of Mengkuang/pandan has been tapped into and creating increasing demands by tourists and locals. The Mengkuang/pandan finished products are widely available at the Central Market and souvenir shops. Wau Making Wau (pronounce as wow) can appear in all shapes and size but the most popular and famous kite is the moon kite (Wau Bulan) and cat kite (Wau Kucing) in the east coast. Kite making requires patience and tremendous skill. Bamboo will be cut and make into the frame or skeleton of the kite. The best time to cut the bamboo is in November or December and this will be kept for 10 months before it is split and soaked in water followed by heated to straighten and toughen. On the other hand, designs are traced on a tinted and shiny glazed paper and then carefully cut out and pasted on paper which is glued to the bamboo skeleton. The designs are normally flowers with vines which signifies women (flower) and man (vine), eg. if the flowers are in bud form, it symbolizes a young woman etc. In some older designs, flowers were drawn from the side and back to represent the shy and reserved personality of female in those days whereas for the vines, the more meandering the vines, the more twists and turns in a mans life. There are also waus that are made using the batik technique or painted by batik artists and the designs are always more creative and less formalized by tradition. It is never an easy job to fly a Wau kite into the sky. A traditional Wau can be as big as 3.5m in height and 2.5 m wing span and usually needs the help of a group of person to bring it to the sky. To choose a good kite, you should look at the harmonious colours matched and the flowers as well as the vines drawn which represent the inner state of the kite maker. In a windy day, a Wau can fly up to 450m into the sky. Batik Hand drawn batik is an exquisite and delicate art which requires skill, patience, meticulousness, flair and creativity. Batik is intrinsic to the fashion world, be it in cotton or silk or in the making of sarongs, scarf, pareos, shirts, shorts, handbags, purses and even shoes.  Terengganu batik shows originality and is not commercialised thus, retaining its price for the quality of the material and the elegance of the designs. A special wax is mixed with amber and boiled over a slow fire to maintain the optimum temperature. On white cotton or silk fabrics, a special copper chanting pen dipped with the wax.  The designs reflect nature-based motifs such as floral prints and marine life to produce a freestyle handrawn motifs. Each drawings are different. Another method is by using either tin, copper or brass block print stamped with flowers or abstract designs. They are first dipped into the wax and then used to print the designs on the white fabrics. Colours will be added after the wax had dried. Different colours can be added without spreading onto other parts as the wax creates sections within the designs. The fabrics will then dipped in boiling water to wash off the wax and to strengthen the colours before the batik can be made into different products. The elegant prints stand out on mens shirts and womens dresses. Batik souvenirs include pareos, scarfs, wall panels, neckties, handbags, purses and shoes. Contemporary batik designs are also being introduced as designer wear, to alleviate batik to exclusive international standards. Batiks are available at various shops especially at the central market. Watch out though for low quality batik sold at exorbitant price. The colours are easily come off, usually on the first wash. Buying at an established batik shops therefore guarantees the quality of the products. Songket The origins of the many different colourful and traditional textile are lost in antiquity. The art of songket weaving consist of using traditional heirloom to make intricate songket brocade through painstaking weaving with gold or silver threads. Songket is a rich fabric that is worn only on auspicious occasions and used to be the textiles of royalty. It is now the headgear of Sultans, Chief Ministers and the States Cabinet members. The weaving process usually takes a few days for normal and simple designs songket cloth but for more intricate designs, usually takes more than two weeks and can costs thousands of Malaysian Ringgit. Several shops in Kuala Terengganu sell this regal fabric that comes in an array of both vibrant and pastel shades. The elegant and exquisite songket is slowly being introduced into the international fashion scene by adapting it to a more contemporary style. Wood Carving Wood carving was originally found in houses of sulatans or Malay nobility as part of their interior decoration and the craftsmen were commissioned for their services. Because human depiction is prohibited in Islam, Malay wood carving gets its inspiration from flora, animal motif and Islamic art but this has never influence its finest artistically designs. Terengganu wood carving not only found in the beams, doorways, window shutters of a house, but also in the traditional boat making industry and some furniture items such as sofa, bed frame and mirror frame and as small as a jewelry box. Brassware The people in Terengganu are well known for their creativeness. A simple item will turn into a most exquisite and delicate article by their hands. Brassware is generally a cottage activity. It is very usual that the son will learn the skill and trading strategy from his father whom had also learned from his father and later brings forth to the next generations. Regardless whether it is from silver, wood or pewter, brassware like vases, ashtrays, jugs, candle stands, napkin holders, filigree jewellery, incense burners etc are turned into a piece of fine and presentable art and at the same time with practical usage. This is why brassware is always one of the ideal surveniors that one can bring home. It is believed that the skills were taught to the local folk by Chinese settlers from Funan. The lost-wax method is usually employed, though sandcasting is also used. At the Central Market, or Pasar Payang, located by the Terengganu river, brassware is sold amongst many other enticements. Keris Making This double edged wavy blade dagger is the synonymous with the Malay culture and way of life. In the ancient time, a man walks without a keris was akin to walking around in naked. In those days, keris was always believed to be endowed with mystical powers and guardian spirit, this makes it serves the function as weapon to defend oneself in a combat and to use for medicinal purposes. There are handful of Malay legendaries about keris. The famous among these will be the keris of Hang Tuah who is the Malay hero during the Sultanate of Melaka. Hang Tuahs keris, Taming Sari was presented by the King of Majapahit to Sultan of Melaka after Hang Tuah won in a challenge. This keris was believed to have endowed with powerful spirit. Whoever possesses this keris would attain invulnerability. There was a story saying that Hang Tuah killed his childhood friend, Hang Jebat because of being disloyal to the Sultan with this Taming Sari. He was very ashamed to have killed his own childhood friend in the name of loyalty, therefore he then returned the keris to the Sultan. There is always romance and adventure and nobility in a keris. Because of being so precious, keris is always highly valued and treated with special care. Keris has two kind of shapes: keris lurus (straight keris) and keris luk (meandering keris). Empu, the keris maker will make the dagger accordance with the wish of consumer. Whether straight or luk, this will only be done during which the nickel inserted iron rod is repeatedly being forged and smoldered. The fluid design of the blade makes the keris stand out as a unique dagger-like weapon. Its ornate carved handle also provides for a strong grip. It is no wonder that the keris is one of the oldest of personal weapons. Made from the combination of eight to ten different metals, the spiritual qualities of the keris are known to include the spirits of warriors. Some myths even warn that certain lethal daggers should never be simply removed from their sheaths for their blades must taste blood before being inserted again. Keris making is considered as a dying art in Malaysia, however visit to the keris making centre in Kampung Pasir Panjang and Kampung Ladang Titian in Kuala Terengganu is still worth. Here you can see how a piece of raw iron is to turn into this significance and meaning rich weapon. You can also purchase you own piece of keris collection with relatively cheap price. Beaded necklaces The Rungus, the natives of the Kudat area, have long been known to produce beautiful beaded necklaces; they wear long, broad multi-stranded pinakol crossed over their shoulders over their traditional black costumes interwoven with gold thread. Patterns on the strands tell of ancient fables, and human figures are picked out in bright hues in the beadwork. Ever-enterprising, the Rungus today produce bangles, earrings and even brooches to go with the necklaces. Parang The parang is still crafted in traditional ways by the Bajau from Kota Belud. The ones made by them these days are usually from scrap iron, which goes though a process of melting, pounding, shaping and finally polishing. The blades are straight and tapered, from a sharp tip widening up towards the hilt. Some may have patterns etched into the metal along the topside. The hilt and sheath are carved from of wood, and occasionally one can come across an antique parang with a wonderfully carved hilt of horn. In days gone by, the parang was used as a weapon as well as a work tool, but these days it is mainly a decorative item for display.    Tudung Duang Tudung Duang is the local name for a food cover: in the tropics, like in Sabah, food on the table has to be protected from insects and dust. One is instantly attracted to them because of their bright colours, especially when they are laid out on pandan (screw pine leaf) mats in high piles, like at the Kota Belud Tamu grounds on the weekly Sunday Market (tamu). Native hat By the shape of a native hat, and its patterns, one can immediately identify the wearer to which ethnic entity he or she belongs. Most hats here are steeply conical and have nature-derived designs on them. Murut hats woven from the strips of sombituon bamboo are hexagonal in shape with a three-bands patterned weaving. Hats from Penampang and Tuaran have wider, circular bases with geometrical designs. All these hats are crafted from bamboo and rattan strips, and the red and black colours used to be natural dyes red from the mengkudu root, or dragons blood which is obtained from the fruit of a climbing rattan, and black from the leaves and stalks of the indigo plant. The Murut from the Nabawan area are now reproducing their hats in scaled-down sizes, showing their skill and craftsmanship in the extremely delicate weaving. Lipa-lipa Bajau sailboats, the lipa-lipa, carved from wood, and blowpipes used by Murut on hunting trips are available in many handicraft shops. The tambu-tambu wood is the main wood used in making the lipa-lipa, apart from mata-mata and gangil. A traditional lipa-lipa is elaborately carved. The designs are based on the motifs of plants, namely the kembang tuli or dahan and kellong. The blowpipe, or sumpitan, can be made of bamboo or hardwood. In the latter case the central duct has been drilled through in a long, manual process. Pottery Pottery has a long tradition in Sabah, and ancient Chinese jars, or tajau, were once even used to bury the dead. The Murut especially cherish and value their heirloom jars, in which they still ferment tapai their traditional rice wine. If you visit some of the antique shops in KKs major shopping malls you might come across nice Ming Dynasty vases; better still, you admire antique jars that are kept in the houses of the locals (like in the picture left). On the way to Tuaran, there are several potteries manufacturing nice vases and plates, as well as other household items made from clay. Kain dastar Rinago There are over 32 different ethnic entities in Sabah, and all of them have their own, sometimes specialised handicraft. Many more traditional items appeal to visitors to Sabah, such as the richly woven kain dastar, a piece of fabric used as headgear by the men of certain ethnic communities such as the Kadazan and Dusun; and the rinago trays and boxes made of rattan and lingkong, a type of fern that produces long, very tough strands ideal for weaving. The latter is made by the Rungus people. Silverware The Malay Kelantanese are well known for their Silverware making skills. These skills have been around for centuries, influenced by the Hindu and Islamic Civilization famous for well crafted items from gold and copper. Copperwork This is a skilled handiwork still flourishing in Terengganu. Traditional techniques are still being used in most processes though machines have been introduced to replace some processes. Copperware products include tepak sireh, candle holders, wedding gift trays, ember holder, pahar and others. Ceramic Ceramic art is a craftwork using high quality clay that is kneaded, decorated with a variety of motif, and fire-dried in kilns to produce fine ceramic products. Bead The indigenous people of Sarawak have since long ago been associated with beadwork for adornment as well as for ceremonial purposes. Here, beads tradition goes back to the very remote past. The variety of beads, the materials from which they are made , their colours and the values attributed, all make up an interesting conversation and discussion. Beads, today, are used in many different ways and one can see government officials using them as gifts and garlands for different functions and events as well. Pua Kumbu Pua Kumbu is a traditional patterned multicolored ceremonial cotton cloth used by the Iban, made and used in Sarawak, Malaysia. Pua kumbu are woven by Dayak women and are considered to be sacred objects. They are used for lifecycle rituals and special events including the birth of a child, coming of age celebrations, receipt of an important item to a longhouse, and to screen a corpse that is being laid out in a longhouse prior to burial. Labu sayong Labu Sayong is a black-coloured gourd-shaped clay jar typically used to store and cool water. The state of Perak is renowned for this type of pottery. Belanga Found in many rural Malaysian homes, The belanga  is often  characterised by a round base and wide rim. It is often used to cook curries, as it is believed that its round base allows heat to be distributed more evenly. Terenang This angular-shaped jar is popularly used for storing water in the states of Pahang and Terengganu. It has a concave neck and a convex body. Tekat The art of embroidering golden thread onto a base material, generally velvet, was traditionally used to decorate traditional Malay weddings regalia. Kerongsang A three-piece brooch set traditionally used to pin the lapels of the baju kebaya together. Kerongsang usually comes in sets of three. The typical three-piece set comprises of a kerongsang ibu (mother piece) which is larger and heavier. The other two are called the kerongsang anak (child pieces) and are worn below the kerongsang ibu. Cucuk Sanggul A traditional hairpin used to secure hair in a bun at the back of womens heads. Typically made of gold or silver, these hairpins are normally worn in graduated sets of three, five or seven by brides and traditional dancers. Pending A large, intricately ornamented belt buckle worn around the sampin, a skirt-like cloth worn by men, to complement their baju melayu, the traditional attire for men. Traditionally, the pending is a sign of wealth and status for men.

A Game of Thrones Chapter Fifty-eight

Eddard The straw on the floor stank of urine. There was no window, no bed, not even a slop bucket. He remembered walls of pale red stone festooned with patches of nitre, a grey door of splintered wood, four inches thick and studded with iron. He had seen them, briefly, a quick glimpse as they shoved him inside. Once the door had slammed shut, he had seen no more. The dark was absolute. He had as well been blind. Or dead. Buried with his king. â€Å"Ah, Robert,† he murmured as his groping hand touched a cold stone wall, his leg throbbing with every motion. He remembered the jest the king had shared in the crypts of Winterfell, as the Kings of Winter looked on with cold stone eyes. The king eats, Robert had said, and the Hand takes the shit. How he had laughed. Yet he had gotten it wrong. The king dies, Ned Stark thought, and the Hand is buried. The dungeon was under the Red Keep, deeper than he dared imagine. He remembered the old stories about Maegor the Cruel, who murdered all the masons who labored on his castle, so they might never reveal its secrets. He damned them all: Littlefinger, Janos Slynt and his gold cloaks, the queen, the Kingslayer, Pycelle and Varys and Ser Barristan, even Lord Renly, Robert's own blood, who had run when he was needed most. Yet in the end he blamed himself. â€Å"Fool,† he cried to the darkness, â€Å"thrice-damned blind fool.† Cersei Lannister's face seemed to float before him in the darkness. Her hair was full of sunlight, but there was mockery in her smile. â€Å"When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die,† she whispered. Ned had played and lost, and his men had paid the price of his folly with their life's blood. When he thought of his daughters, he would have wept gladly, but the tears would not come. Even now, he was a Stark of Winterfell, and his grief and his rage froze hard inside him. When he kept very still, his leg did not hurt so much, so he did his best to lie unmoving. For how long he could not say. There was no sun and no moon. He could not see to mark the walls. Ned closed his eyes and opened them; it made no difference. He slept and woke and slept again. He did not know which was more painful, the waking or the sleeping. When he slept, he dreamed: dark disturbing dreams of blood and broken promises. When he woke, there was nothing to do but think, and his waking thoughts were worse than nightmares. The thought of Cat was as painful as a bed of nettles. He wondered where she was, what she was doing. He wondered whether he would ever see her again. Hours turned to days, or so it seemed. He could feel a dull ache in his shattered leg, an itch beneath the plaster. When he touched his thigh, the flesh was hot to his fingers. The only sound was his breathing. After a time, he began to talk aloud, just to hear a voice. He made plans to keep himself sane, built castles of hope in the dark. Robert's brothers were out in the world, raising armies at Dragonstone and Storm's End. Alyn and Harwin would return to King's Landing with the rest of his household guard once they had dealt with Ser Gregor. Catelyn would raise the north when the word reached her, and the lords of river and mountain and Vale would join her. He found himself thinking of Robert more and more. He saw the king as he had been in the flower of his youth, tall and handsome, his great antlered helm on his head, his warhammer in hand, sitting his horse like a horned god. He heard his laughter in the dark, saw his eyes, blue and clear as mountain lakes. â€Å"Look at us, Ned,† Robert said. â€Å"Gods, how did we come to this? You here, and me killed by a pig. We won a throne together . . . â€Å" I failed you, Robert, Ned thought. He could not say the words. I lied to you, hid the truth. I let them kill you. The king heard him. â€Å"You stiff-necked fool,† he muttered, â€Å"too proud to listen. Can you eat pride, Stark? Will honor shield your children?† Cracks ran down his face, fissures opening in the flesh, and he reached up and ripped the mask away. It was not Robert at all; it was Littlefinger, grinning, mocking him. When he opened his mouth to speak, his lies turned to pale grey moths and took wing. Ned was half-asleep when the footsteps came down the hall. At first he thought he dreamt them; it had been so long since he had heard anything but the sound of his own voice. Ned was feverish by then, his leg a dull agony, his lips parched and cracked. When the heavy wooden door creaked open, the sudden light was painful to his eyes. A gaoler thrust a jug at him. The clay was cool and beaded with moisture. Ned grasped it with both hands and gulped eagerly. Water ran from his mouth and dripped down through his beard. He drank until he thought he would be sick. â€Å"How long . . . ?† he asked weakly when he could drink no more. The gaoler was a scarecrow of a man with a rat's face and frayed beard, clad in a mail shirt and a leather half cape. â€Å"No talking,† he said as he wrenched the jug from Ned's hands. â€Å"Please,† Ned said, â€Å"my daughters . . . † The door crashed shut. He blinked as the light vanished, lowered his head to his chest, and curled up on the straw. It no longer stank of urine and shit. It no longer smelled at all. He could no longer tell the difference between waking and sleeping. The memory came creeping upon him in the darkness, as vivid as a dream. It was the year of false spring, and he was eighteen again, down from the Eyrie to the tourney at Harrenhal. He could see the deep green of the grass, and smell the pollen on the wind. Warm days and cool nights and the sweet taste of wine. He remembered Brandon's laughter, and Robert's berserk valor in the melee, the way he laughed as he unhorsed men left and right. He remembered Jaime Lannister, a golden youth in scaled white armor, kneeling on the grass in front of the king's pavilion and making his vows to protect and defend King Aerys. Afterward, Ser Oswell Whent helped Jaime to his feet, and the White Bull himself, Lord Commander Ser Gerold Hightower, fastened the snowy cloak of the Kingsguard about his shoulders. All six White Swords were there to welcome their newest brother. Yet when the jousting began, the day belonged to Rhaegar Targaryen. The crown prince wore the armor he would die in: gleaming black plate with the three-headed dragon of his House wrought in rubies on the breast. A plume of scarlet silk streamed behind him when he rode, and it seemed no lance could touch him. Brandon fell to him, and Bronze Yohn Royce, and even the splendid Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning. Robert had been jesting with Jon and old Lord Hunter as the prince circled the field after unhorsing Ser Barristan in the final tilt to claim the champion's crown. Ned remembered the moment when all the smiles died, when Prince Rhaegar Targaryen urged his horse past his own wife, the Dornish princess Elia Martell, to lay the queen of beauty's laurel in Lyanna's lap. He could see it still: a crown of winter roses, blue as frost. Ned Stark reached out his hand to grasp the flowery crown, but beneath the pale blue petals the thorns lay hidden. He felt them clawing at his skin, sharp and cruel, saw the slow trickle of blood run down his fingers, and woke, trembling, in the dark. Promise me, Ned, his sister had whispered from her bed of blood. She had loved the scent of winter roses. â€Å"Gods save me,† Ned wept. â€Å"I am going mad.† The gods did not deign to answer. Each time the turnkey brought him water, he told himself another day had passed. At first he would beg the man for some word of his daughters and the world beyond his cell. Grunts and kicks were his only replies. Later, when the stomach cramps began, he begged for food instead. It made no matter; he was not fed. Perhaps the Lannisters meant for him to starve to death. â€Å"No,† he told himself. If Cersei had wanted him dead, he would have been cut down in the throne room with his men. She wanted him alive. Weak, desperate, yet alive. Catelyn held her brother; she dare not kill him or the Imp's life would be forfeit as well. From outside his cell came the rattle of iron chains. As the door creaked open, Ned put a hand to the damp wall and pushed himself toward the light. The glare of a torch made him squint. â€Å"Food,† he croaked. â€Å"Wine,† a voice answered. It was not the rat-faced man; this gaoler was stouter, shorter, though he wore the same leather half cape and spiked steel cap. â€Å"Drink, Lord Eddard.† He thrust a wineskin into Ned's hands. The voice was strangely familiar, yet it took Ned Stark a moment to place it. â€Å"Varys?† he said groggily when it came. He touched the man's face. â€Å"I'm not . . . not dreaming this. You're here.† The eunuch's plump cheeks were covered with a dark stubble of beard. Ned felt the coarse hair with his fingers. Varys had transformed himself into a grizzled turnkey, reeking of sweat and sour wine. â€Å"How did you . . . what sort of magician are you?† â€Å"A thirsty one,† Varys said. â€Å"Drink, my lord.† Ned's hands fumbled at the skin. â€Å"Is this the same poison they gave Robert?† â€Å"You wrong me,† Varys said sadly. â€Å"Truly, no one loves a eunuch. Give me the skin.† He drank, a trickle of red leaking from the corner of his plump mouth. â€Å"Not the equal of the vintage you offered me the night of the tourney, but no more poisonous than most,† he concluded, wiping his lips. â€Å"Here.† Ned tried a swallow. â€Å"Dregs.† He felt as though he were about to bring the wine back up. â€Å"All men must swallow the sour with the sweet. High lords and eunuchs alike. Your hour has come, my lord.† â€Å"My daughters . . . â€Å" â€Å"The younger girl escaped Ser Meryn and fled,† Varys told him. â€Å"I have not been able to find her. Nor have the Lannisters. A kindness, there. Our new king loves her not. Your older girl is still betrothed to Joffrey. Cersei keeps her close. She came to court a few days ago to plead that you be spared. A pity you couldn't have been there, you would have been touched.† He leaned forward intently. â€Å"I trust you realize that you are a dead man, Lord Eddard?† â€Å"The queen will not kill me,† Ned said. His head swam; the wine was strong, and it had been too long since he'd eaten. â€Å"Cat . . . Cat holds her brother . . . â€Å" â€Å"The wrong brother,† Varys sighed. â€Å"And lost to her, in any case. She let the Imp slip through her fingers. I expect he is dead by now, somewhere in the Mountains of the Moon.† â€Å"If that is true, slit my throat and have done with it.† He was dizzy from the wine, tired and heartsick. â€Å"Your blood is the last thing I desire.† Ned frowned. â€Å"When they slaughtered my guard, you stood beside the queen and watched, and said not a word.† â€Å"And would again. I seem to recall that I was unarmed, unarmored, and surrounded by Lannister swords.† The eunuch looked at him curiously, tilting his head. â€Å"When I was a young boy, before I was cut, I traveled with a troupe of mummers through the Free Cities. They taught me that each man has a role to play, in life as well as mummery. So it is at court. The King's Justice must be fearsome, the master of coin must be frugal, the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard must be valiant . . . and the master of whisperers must be sly and obsequious and without scruple. A courageous informer would be as useless as a cowardly knight.† He took the wineskin back and drank. Ned studied the eunuch's face, searching for truth beneath the mummer's scars and false stubble. He tried some more wine. This time it went down easier. â€Å"Can you free me from this pit?† â€Å"I could . . . but will I? No. Questions would be asked, and the answers would lead back to me.† Ned had expected no more. â€Å"You are blunt.† â€Å"A eunuch has no honor, and a spider does not enjoy the luxury of scruples, my lord.† â€Å"Would you at least consent to carry a message out for me?† â€Å"That would depend on the message. I will gladly provide you with paper and ink, if you like. And when you have written what you will, I will take the letter and read it, and deliver it or not, as best serves my own ends.† â€Å"Your own ends. What ends are those, Lord Varys?† â€Å"Peace,† Varys replied without hesitation. â€Å"If there was one soul in King's Landing who was truly desperate to keep Robert Baratheon alive, it was me.† He sighed. â€Å"For fifteen years I protected him from his enemies, but I could not protect him from his friends. What strange fit of madness led you to tell the queen that you had learned the truth of Joffrey's birth?† â€Å"The madness of mercy,† Ned admitted. â€Å"Ah,† said Varys. â€Å"To be sure. You are an honest and honorable man, Lord Eddard. Ofttimes I forget that. I have met so few of them in my life.† He glanced around the cell. â€Å"When I see what honesty and honor have won you, I understand why.† Ned Stark laid his head back against the damp stone wall and closed his eyes. His leg was throbbing. â€Å"The king's wine . . . did you question Lancel?† â€Å"Oh, indeed. Cersei gave him the wineskins, and told him it was Robert's favorite vintage.† The eunuch shrugged. â€Å"A hunter lives a perilous life. If the boar had not done for Robert, it would have been a fall from a horse, the bite of a wood adder, an arrow gone astray . . . the forest is the abbatoir of the gods. It was not wine that killed the king. It was your mercy.† Ned had feared as much. â€Å"Gods forgive me.† â€Å"If there are gods,† Varys said, â€Å"I expect they will. The queen would not have waited long in any case. Robert was becoming unruly, and she needed to be rid of him to free her hands to deal with his brothers. They are quite a pair, Stannis and Renly. The iron gauntlet and the silk glove.† He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. â€Å"You have been foolish, my lord. You ought to have heeded Littlefinger when he urged you to support Joffrey's succession.† â€Å"How . . . how could you know of that?† Varys smiled. â€Å"I know, that's all that need concern you. I also know that on the morrow the queen will pay you a visit.† Slowly Ned raised his eyes. â€Å"Why?† â€Å"Cersei is frightened of you, my lord . . . but she has other enemies she fears even more. Her beloved Jaime is fighting the river lords even now. Lysa Arryn sits in the Eyrie, ringed in stone and steel, and there is no love lost between her and the queen. In Dorne, the Martells still brood on the murder of Princess Elia and her babes. And now your son marches down the Neck with a northern host at his back.† â€Å"Robb is only a boy,† Ned said, aghast. â€Å"A boy with an army,† Varys said. â€Å"Yet only a boy, as you say. The king's brothers are the ones giving Cersei sleepless nights . . . Lord Stannis in particular. His claim is the true one, he is known for his prowess as a battle commander, and he is utterly without mercy. There is no creature on earth half so terrifying as a truly just man. No one knows what Stannis has been doing on Dragonstone, but I will wager you that he's gathered more swords than seashells. So here is Cersei's nightmare: while her father and brother spend their power battling Starks and Tullys, Lord Stannis will land, proclaim himself king, and lop off her son's curly blond head . . . and her own in the bargain, though I truly believe she cares more about the boy.† â€Å"Stannis Baratheon is Robert's true heir,† Ned said. â€Å"The throne is his by rights. I would welcome his ascent.† Varys tsked. â€Å"Cersei will not want to hear that, I promise you. Stannis may win the throne, but only your rotting head will remain to cheer unless you guard that tongue of yours. Sansa begged so sweetly, it would be a shame if you threw it all away. You are being given your life back, if you'll take it. Cersei is no fool. She knows a tame wolf is of more use than a dead one.† â€Å"You want me to serve the woman who murdered my king, butchered my men, and crippled my son?† Ned's voice was thick with disbelief. â€Å"I want you to serve the realm,† Varys said. â€Å"Tell the queen that you will confess your vile treason, command your son to lay down his sword, and proclaim Joffrey as the true heir. Offer to denounce Stannis and Renly as faithless usurpers. Our green-eyed lioness knows you are a man of honor. If you will give her the peace she needs and the time to deal with Stannis, and pledge to carry her secret to your grave, I believe she will allow you to take the black and live out the rest of your days on the Wall, with your brother and that baseborn son of yours.† The thought of Jon filled Ned with a sense of shame, and a sorrow too deep for words. If only he could see the boy again, sit and talk with him . . . pain shot through his broken leg, beneath the filthy grey plaster of his cast. He winced, his fingers opening and closing helplessly. â€Å"Is this your own scheme,† he gasped out at Varys, â€Å"or are you in league with Littlefinger?† That seemed to amuse the eunuch. â€Å"I would sooner wed the Black Goat of Qohor. Littlefinger is the second most devious man in the Seven Kingdoms. Oh, I feed him choice whispers, sufficient so that he thinks I am his . . . just as I allow Cersei to believe I am hers.† â€Å"And just as you let me believe that you were mine. Tell me, Lord Varys, who do you truly serve?† Varys smiled thinly. â€Å"Why, the realm, my good lord, how ever could you doubt that? I swear it by my lost manhood. I serve the realm, and the realm needs peace.† He finished the last swallow of wine, and tossed the empty skin aside. â€Å"So what is your answer, Lord Eddard? Give me your word that you'll tell the queen what she wants to hear when she comes calling.† â€Å"If I did, my word would be as hollow as an empty suit of armor. My life is not so precious to me as that.† â€Å"Pity.† The eunuch stood. â€Å"And your daughter's life, my lord? How precious is that?† A chill pierced Ned's heart. â€Å"My daughter . . . â€Å" â€Å"Surely you did not think I'd forgotten about your sweet innocent, my lord? The queen most certainly has not.† â€Å"No,† Ned pleaded, his voice cracking. â€Å"Varys, gods have mercy, do as you like with me, but leave my daughter out of your schemes. Sansa's no more than a child.† â€Å"Rhaenys was a child too. Prince Rhaegar's daughter. A precious little thing, younger than your girls. She had a small black kitten she called Balerion, did you know? I always wondered what happened to him. Rhaenys liked to pretend he was the true Balerion, the Black Dread of old, but I imagine the Lannisters taught her the difference between a kitten and a dragon quick enough, the day they broke down her door.† Varys gave a long weary sigh, the sigh of a man who carried all the sadness of the world in a sack upon his shoulders. â€Å"The High Septon once told me that as we sin, so do we suffer. If that's true, Lord Eddard, tell me . . . why is it always the innocents who suffer most, when you high lords play your game of thrones? Ponder it, if you would, while you wait upon the queen. And spare a thought for this as well: The next visitor who calls on you could bring you bread and cheese and the milk of the poppy for your pain . . . or he could bring you Sansa's head. â€Å"The choice, my dear lord Hand, is entirely yours.†