The Impact Of Bond Market On European Government Debt...

2. The Impact of Bond Market on European Government Debt Problems 2.1. Bond Market The bond market is one of the fixed-income markets that it is deals in with transaction of long term fixed-income securities. Moreover, the bond is one of the financial instruments and then the financial instruments are generally regarded as securities. In the bond market, there are two bonds familiar to mass investors. One is called government bonds, and another one is called corporate bonds. Firstly, as its name, government bonds are issued by government with maturities up to about 30 years. Usually, medium term bonds and long term bonds pay out fixed amounts of coupon payments in semi-annually during the repayment period. But, the index-linked bonds pay out alterable amounts of coupon payments in semi-annually because of the changes in inflation. The reason of government bonds are always have a lot of attraction to investors is that investors are generally referred to government bonds as bonds being free from default risk. With this characteristic, government bonds are safer than most other financial instruments to invest. However, the high return always with the high risk and vice versa that government bonds offers lower yields. Secondly, the corporate bonds is the another one that are concerned more by investors in daily transaction activities. There are three main sources for corporates to raising finance for their investment projects, they are: retained earnings, non-marketable debtShow MoreRelatedAn In-Depth Analysis of the European Debt Crisis908 Words   |  4 Pageseconomic consequences, prevention as well as control of the European Debt crisis. A definition of the debt crisis is also provided. Recommendations on the way forward are also provided. Introduction Debt crisis is noted by Pescatori and Sy (306) to be a term that had before 1990s been used to typically refer to defaults in debt serving. This definition however became very problematic with the emergence of the sovereign bond markets. Debt crisis therefore generally deals with nations as well as theirRead MoreEurozone Debt Crisis1274 Words   |  5 Pageschapter in the Eurozone debt crisis as voters in France and Greece voiced their disproval over current leadership. With news of Frances Sarkozy losing the presidency, and a dismal election result for Greeces pro-bailout parties (Reuters.com. May 7, 2012. PP. 1); the future of the Eurozone continues to be shrouded in uncertainty. Debt yields for Greece, Ireland, and Portugal spiked as bond investors ruminated over fiscal and monetary policies. Likewise in Spain, the ten year bond pushed closer to theRead MoreLehman Brothers And The Financial Crisis1365 Words   |  6 Pagesmajorly invested in very complex and overpriced financial products. As a result, the interbank market became volatile and risk premiums on interbank loans increased. Banks faced a serious liquidity problem, as they experienced major difficulties to revolve their short-term debt. At that stage, policymakers still perceived the crisis primarily as a liquidity problem. However, it was widely believed that the European economy would be largely safe to the financial turbulence. The real economy, though slowingRead MoreEssay On The European Economic Crisis1187 Words   |  5 PagesThe background to the World and European economic crisis. The main cause of the 2008-9 financial crisis was caused by the collapse of the housing bubble within the USA. But the housing bubble was created many years earlier. The Federal Reserve in the early part of the 2000s reduced its interest rates down from 6.5% to 1% within four years. This reduction in rates was applied due to several events happening in the US economy at that time. Firstly the attacks on the world trade center and the recessionRead MoreElementary Facts Should Not Be Forgotten1309 Words   |  6 Pagesburns up in the atmosphere. This is what has happened with the European countries, or EU. The euro has had a negative effect on the European economy because one simple elementary idea was forgotten. All of the sovereign states that make up the EU are separate, with economies at different stages of life and different policies and procedures to cope with or to combat their struggles. The euro, a single currency for a collection of European countries, created a smoother process of purchasing power withinRead MoreThe History of European Integration815 Words   |  3 PagesThe History of European Integration The European integration, developed mainly by political scientists, is a story in which visionary leaders and forward-looking nation states engaged in the critical adventure of designing a new Europe. In 1930s these prophets sought, but failed, to prevent the outbreak of the Second World War, therefore many initiations were taken to create a peaceful political and institutional order. Europe, potentially a political entity, took form through treaties and the resultingRead MoreEurozone Crisis Essay887 Words   |  4 PagesIn the wake of the Great Recession, around late 2009, a debt crisis began to develop in Europe that left several of its economies with high debt to GDP ratios and ‘burden of debt’. The debt ratio in the Euro Area increased from 64 percent in 2007 to 92 percent in 2015. A similar development was seen in the European Union as a whole, with some peripheral countries experiencing larger increments. In what came to be known as the â€Å"Eurozone Crisis†, many peripheral countries, particularly Greece, IrelandRead MoreCritically Analyse How the Government Debt Problems Initially Faced by a Few Relatively Small Economies Could Trigger Such a Wide Impact in Financial Markets2394 Words   |  10 Pagesthe government debt problems initially faced by a few relatively small economies could trigger such a wide impact in financial markets Introduction Since the Greeces debt crisis happened, the Euro zone has to confront with a huge sovereign debt crisis, like governments debt increased, bond yield spreads widened, Euro exchange rate fell as well, which caused that the whole international financial markets gradually lost the confidence. 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Amidst the ongoing recession and soaring unemployment rates, the damaging austerity policies have proven to be costly to the healthy sectors, making it difficult to cope with the collapse of the economy. This has slowed down the pace of Spain’s economic recovery. Therefore

Interview Giovanni Budan s Interview Essay - 956 Words

Interview: Giovanni Budan Recently, I had taken the time to interview Budan. His full name is Mr. Giovanni Budan. He is 27 years old. He’s an Italian – American man who is happily married for 13 years and is living with his wife in Almaden Valley in San Jose California. He’s pursuing a degree in Marriage and Family Therapist. His major approach was to study Behavioral Science. He was employed in big organizations like Apple and Google. Currently, he was working as a Chef. He belonged to the joint family. His family consists of his Parents and three Siblings out of which there were two sisters and one brother. His maternal grandparents lived near his home since his childhood. There were two aunts and five cousins from the maternal side but on the parental side there was the only grandmother. He was very close to his maternal side family. Budan’s maternal grandparents were originally from Lowell, Massachusetts. His maternal great-grandparents immigrated from Italy when his mother was just a girl. They had chosen the path through Ellis Island in New York City and eventually settled in Lowell, Massachusetts. Budan’s Grandfather spent his child and adolescent-hood there, and eventually joined the Army when he (Budan’s Grandfather) was just eighteen years old. After traveling the world through the military Budan’s Grandfather settled down with his Grandmother and they moved to San Jose, California. And since then they are living together. His parents were both raised in San Jose,

Gulliver’s Travel Satire Free Essays

Gulliver’s Travels is written from the perspective of a shipboard doctor named Lemuel Gulliver, and tells of four of his journeys into remote parts of the world. At the time Jonathan Swift wrote (1726), the increase in exploration of all parts of the globe had made stories of travels quite popular; the travels Swift wrote of, though, were fictional and satirical, even though presented as if a factual account written by Gulliver himself. A Voyage to Lilliput: Mocking the Pompous Gulliver’s first voyage takes him to a land inhabited by people who are six inches tall. We will write a custom essay sample on Gulliver’s Travel Satire or any similar topic only for you Order Now Lilliput and its rival kingdom of Blefuscu carry on as if their affairs were just as vital as those of European nations, and their nations just as capable, despite the fact that Gulliver could step on them all if he wished. As he records their society, court intrigues, religious disputes, and wars, it becomes clear that European politicians and aristocrats share much of the ridiculousness of the Lilliputians. When Gulliver is finally forced to leave Lilliput, it is because of trumped-up charges of treason fabricated by court enemies. He spends a short time in Blefuscu, but because Lilliput threatens war over his presence there, he resolves to leave rather than cause further trouble. When Gulliver journeys to a land of giants called Brobdingnag he experiences what it feels like to be a Lilliputian, as the giants are as much larger than him as he is larger than a Lilliputian. Gulliver’s various brushes with death are humorous, but Swift also uses them to reinforce a major focus of this section: just as Lilliputian affairs are ridiculous because of their smallness, human pretensions are ridiculous as well. Swift’s second major target for satire appears when Gulliver tries to show the Brobdingnagian king the greatness of England; he succeeds only in showing its corruption. While English civilization is more complex and more technologically advanced than Brobdingnag, a large portion of the technology is devoted to war and destruction, and much of the complexity of law and government is an opportunity for massive corruption. Swift’s satire has expanded in this section to cover the entire nation, and other European nations as well. A Voyage to Laputa: Pretensions to Knowledge Gulliver’s third voyage, â€Å"to Laputa, Balnibarbi, Luggnagg, Glubbdubdrib, and Japan,† is divided into four main sections (his visit to Japan at the end is brief). Each stop on Gulliver’s trip mocks mankind’s claims to knowledge and understanding in some way. Laputa, as an island of absent-minded thinkers floating in the air, gives a good picture of a people with impressive thoughts, but no good connection to reality. When Gulliver leaves for the land of Balnibarbi below and enters the city of Lagado, the satire turns much harsher. Swift portrays there a group of men who, after spending some time in Laputa, attempted to apply their pet theories to the improvement of the country. But their ridiculous schemes have ruined it, because the theories took no account of reality. Still, most people follow their schemes, for they are after all new, modern, and scientific. Glubbdubdrib is a land where magicians can temporarily bring the dead back to earth, allowing Gulliver to speak to various famous historical figures. He discovers, though, that much of the history he has read is inaccurate, through either the ignorance or bias of the historians. Swift also takes this opportunity to speak again of the frequent evil of even honored men such as religious leaders and aristocrats. In Luggnagg, Gulliver himself comes in for mockery. Upon hearing of the existence of immortals in the land, he begins to imagine the greatness of their lives, and sketches out the life of learning and leadership he would live were he to be immortal. His host then informs him of one thing he has failed to understand — the immortals do not have eternal youth — a fact that overthrows his whole grand scheme. A Voyage to the Country of the Houyhnhnms: Human Beastliness Gulliver’s final voyage is to a land of intelligent horses called Houyhnhnms, and beastly human-like creatures called Yahoos. In his depiction of the Yahoos, and the parallels he draws between their brutish behavior and that of humans, Swift expands his satire to the evils of the entire human race. The perfectly rational and virtuous Houyhnhnms provide sharp contrast to this, leading Gulliver to eventually become so ashamed of his humanity he almost begins to act like a horse. Despite Gulliver’s eventual elimination of some of his bad tendencies through imitation of the Houyhnhnms, he is eventually exiled on the argument that his combination of greater intelligence than Yahoos and lesser virtue than Houyhnhnms makes him dangerous. The end of the story presents Gulliver’s dilemma: he is now horrified by his fellow humans, yet his behavior in talking to horses and refusing to eat with his family is enough to make the reader wonder if he is insane. Gulliver’s dilemma is also humanity’s. Developing greater virtue can lead to hating humanity’s corrupt nature, but trying to escape one’s own human nature because of its corruption is insanity. So throughout Gulliver’s Travels, Swift repeatedly satirizes human corruption and inadequacy from a variety of angles. The four adventures progressively increase the scope and forcefulness of these attacks, leading to the thematic climax that ties off the plot. How to cite Gulliver’s Travel Satire, Essay examples

The Rabbits free essay sample

The Rabbits The Rabbits written by John Marsden and Shaun Tan is an allegorical fable about colonisation told from the perspective of the natives, represented as billibies. The Rabbits are a metaphor for the white settlers of Australia and the story is about their negative effect on the world of the Aboriginal people. The use of imagery is widely used through the text. It creates a sense of feeling as, if imagined you would be able to feel part of the story. Emotive Language was used as well to portray a feeling to the reader for example, â€Å"Who will save us from the Rabbits? This picture book shows a lot of symbols which enhances more of an illustration for example the rabbits themselves are a symbol as they represent the British who colonised and also the billibies represent the aborigines. The illustration of this visual text done by Shaun Tan is beautiful to look at because of the superb artistic style which are bold and creative. We will write a custom essay sample on The Rabbits or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page They range from light and airy peaceful landscapes, to dramatic collages. The rabbits are drawn stylish experts who change the environment. As the story goes on, the bright colours drain from it, leaving blackness. The setting, a rural area or the outback are shown in relation to what the rabbits did to the calm environment, changing it into the land they want it to be which was against everything the aborigines believed about land in their culture. Personification is where the act of attributing human characteristics to abstract ideas is used to convey the message or moral of the text in a unique way. The quote, â€Å"no mountain could stop them; no desert; no river† is a use of personification in the text suggesting the depth of the story. Sarcasm is not widely used throughout the text but can help give a better meaning to the story. The Gaze of the characters are not demand as they are not facing the reader but are looking somewhere else which is offer. Themes expressed through this visual text are strong and powerful. For example, War, the destruction and fights occurring between the rabbits and natives are intense and heart-breaking. The amount of bravery and sacrifice they do to protect the land from harm’s way is incredible. However, because of how advanced the settlers are, the natives do not stand a chance in defeating the rabbits but they do not lose hope in peace. In the end, the natives do everything they can to protect the land and their families from the rabbits but one by one the rabbits take what is not rightfully theirs, taking their children, their home and their connection to land which changes the natives’ minds whether or not anyone can save them from the rabbits’ ways? Muzna Usmani 8Gc 3rd August Friday 2012

Laser Technology in Medicine and Future

Hamlet Essays (169 words) - Fiction, Literature, Theatre, Hamlet

Hamlet Essays (169 words) - Fiction, Literature, Theatre, Hamlet Hamlet Throughout our lives we have to deal with the changing emotions within us. Our emotions can sometimes be as unpredictable as the weather and yet weve all found uses for the phrase Im having a bad week. More over, while life can be a roller coaster ride, it can seem at times that we have a string of fortunate or unfortunate luck. These shifting highs and lows that we experience are a mild form of melancholy. While Hamlets melancholy in the play is much more pronounced then that which most of us experience, its still effects us the same way as it does him. Its usual to have weeks where everything seems to go wrong and your temperament changes from what could have been a lighted hearted, fun mood, to a dark, unpleasant mood. It can even seem at times that youre about to go crazy, if one more bad thing happens to you. This situation resembles that of Hamlet.

Writing and Reporting News, page 94, exercise 2 Assignment

Writing and Reporting News, page 94, exercise 2 - Assignment Example In the article, it brought about the divide between the republicans who do not support gay marriage. Gay marriage has been on debate for a very long time on whether to make it legal on various states. In an article written by Rick Pearson on November 6th, 2013 about the legalization gay marriage in Illinois as having made a boost to the Democrats in the forthcoming elections. Furthermore he continues that high unemployment rate coupled with financial woes could tract the party too. In a newspaper article written on June 11th by Jennifer Weigel, a research finding linking social media to narcissism was reported. This came as a concern as many people in our society use social media for communication. She reported that the common social media sites like Facebook and Twitter promoted the culture of narcissism. In an article written by Jan Wiezorek, it more focused on college orientation programs. In campus, it is evident that quite a number of factors need to be considered during orientation process. This include issues like HIV, drug abuse and alcohol, HIV, Homophobia among others. Manchir, Rick Pearson and Michelle. "Poll: Same-sex marriage still divides GOP voters in Illinois." 17 February 2014. Chicago Tribune. . Pearson, Rick. "Marriage vote could re-engage 2014 campaigns." 6 November 2013. Chicago Tribune. . Weigel, Jenniffer. "University of Michigan study links social media and narcissism." 11 June 2013. Chicago Tribune. . Wiezorek, Jan. "College Orientation Programs Are Focusing On

Education Testing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Education Testing - Essay Example Criterion-referenced tests provide useful benchmarks, but do not place them in context with other performers. The main disadvantage of both norm-referenced and criterion-referenced standardized tests is that schools might be tempted to make important educational decisions based solely on information from one or the other. In fact, teachers must use a judicious combination of assessments and take into account unique student differences, to create the best possible instructional plans. Informal assessments offer several advantages. They can be more holistic, easily adjusted for situational and student differences, and occur in a wide variety of contexts. One example of an informal assessment is "walking around" one's classroom. The advantages of this assessment are that it gives teachers a chance to have active meetings with students while their works are in progress. It can also be used easily in conjunction with other assessments, such as conversation records (Cole, 1999, p. 3-4). The disadvantages are that initial discipline problems might increase when you spend too much time with one group and that it may require some adaptation of your personal teaching style. Assessment conversations are an informal assessment that uses dialogue and interaction during teacher-student conferences to monitor student progress and adjust instructio

Master Degree in Accounting Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Master Degree in Accounting - Personal Statement Example However, my quest for knowledge and development instills me with the passion to learn more beyond what I already know. I believe that I should not stop but strive to achieve my full potential My decision to pursue a master's degree in accountancy is part of my quest in furthering my growth and development as a person and an employee. This program will certainly boost my knowledge through the new concepts which will be presented by my professors. Considering that I am from Egypt, I believe that I will surely learn a lot of new things in this country. The acquisition of knowledge will be more efficient as I will be dealing with the nest teachers and other students from around the globe. Aside from this, I know that my interaction with my classmates will also enable me to enhance my social skills, make me more open-minded, and improve my knowledge on world culture. This university is the best venue for me to gain all these. I believe that a master's degree will be my ticket in fulfilling my life's purpose-to contribute in the success of business organizations. I am born with an innate desire contribute what I have to the business world. With my knowledge and experience, this will be in my field of interest-accountancy.

Sequence Analysis East Of Eden Film Studies Essay

Sequence Analysis East Of Eden Film Studies Essay Elia Kazans film East of Eden attempts to explore the relationship between father and son, Adam and Cal. Cal is desperately seeking love from his father, but he just turns away from Cal and leaves him upset. Conflicts arise between the two and this tears them further apart from each other. In the sequence, Kazan applied non-diegetic elements and various visual techniques to show the tension between Adam and Cal. Apart from that, Kazan also applied different mise-en-scene arrangements like lighting and blocking to reflect the emotions of each character and to illustrate Cal feels distant from his father and bring up the problems caused by the generation gap. With the use of all these film techniques, Kazans film has also demonstrated an understanding of the classical Hollywood style at that time. Kazan has used non-diegetic music to create suspicion in the film, and particular camera angles to reflect the bond Cal and Adam. Within the clip, it can be seen that aggressive music is used when Cal is telling Aron that their mother is still alive. The director used music as a way to illustrate the conflicts between the brothers, which are significant to the film narration. Burt suggested that this is the climactic scene in the film, and the music has successfully filled the explosive potential of the story plot (1994, p.185). Non-diegetic music has been extensively used in different parts of the film, and the repetitive use of music helps illustrate the emotions of the characters to the audience. In the clip, complex harmonies and thudding chordal figure are used to bring out the explosive nature of the climax scene (Burt, 1994, p.186). With the use of background music and lightings in the clip, the director has been able to bring suspense to the audience, and it becomes a clue to what will happen next. At the same time, non-diegetic music has been used for the entire sequence of Sunrise (1927). Due to the silent nature of this film, the emotions of the characters cannot be brought out through the tones of dialogues. In that case, storytelling has to rely on the use of orchestral music. Also, the director applied a canted framing, which means a slope is formed within the frame (Bordwell and Thompson, 2010, p.490). Kazan used this technique to capture the scene when Cal left heartbroken after being rejected by his father. A similar slanted camera angle has been used at the beginning of the film when Cal is trying to confront his father about his mothers death. It can be seen that when the tension between Cal and Adam arises, the director used a canted frame to capture the scene, as a leitmotif to show the distrust between the two throughout the film. The slope could be seen a metaphor of their relationship, indicating that their relationship is unstable. Mise-en-scene arrangements are also evident in the clip. Kazan has put different components into different scenes and he arranged them in a meaningful way. In terms of blocking, it can be seen that Cal often stands further away from other characters and the camera. For instance, in the scene when Cal tries to explain how he got the money to Adam, they stand at diagonal corners, with Adam standing closer to the camera. In an interview, Kazan explained that Cinemascope was used to put Cal at the corner of the frame so that he would look tinier than other characters (Young, 2001, p.203). This technique is used throughout the film in order to show that he is powerless in front of his father. Similar settings can also be seen when Cals brother is confronting with him, a medium shot of Aron standing in front of Cal. After that, it switches to a long-shot, and we could only see the shades of the two characters. Burt suggested that the light settings have made their appearances barely recogn isable (1994, p.188). The darkness has created a feeling of fear in the film, and the staging of the scene has also shown Cals emotional changes, from frustration to anger. As mentioned, the director often put Cal at the corner as he was portraying him as a kid (Young, 2001, p.203). However, when Cal is confronting his brother, he stands on the bench under the tree, indicating a regain of power. At that point, it demonstrates a mental change in Cal, as he is trying to act maturely. The sequence has also illustrated the dominant features of the classical Hollywood film style. According to King, classical style is analysed in two aspects, film narrative and editing techniques (2002, p.4). A typical Hollywood film usually shows how the main character finds a solution to his problem (Bordwell, 1986, p.18). In terms of narrative, East of Eden presents the story in a linear timeline, with Cal struggling to maintain a healthy relationship with his father. It can be seen that the sequence leads audience to the climax of the story plot, as Cal faces an obstacle when he is attempting to resolve his own issues, thus he expresses his long hidden jealousy towards his brother, indicating a breaking change in the relationships between each character. Therefore, the sequence fulfils the struggles for problem solving part of the Hollywood film plot, as suggested by Bordwell (1986, p.18). In the clip, it can also be seen that the director applied continuity editing. This editing method involves point-of-view shot and shot/reverse-shot, which has been used since the 1910s (Bordwell, Straiger, Thompson, 1985, p.194). An example of the point-of-view shot is that after a medium shot that shows Adam asking Cal how he got his money, Cal looks at Abra, and a medium shot of her is shown. The camera is placed at Cals visual direction, and it shows that Cal is getting courage from Abra. Meanwhile, throughout the movie, shot/reverse-shot is often used during conversations between characters. This gives a clear view of each character, and it allows audience to see their facial expressions clearly, which is an important element of a melodrama. Maltby suggested that James Dean in East of Eden was a method performance that combines psychoanalysis and melodrama, which constructs realism and showing expressive emotions at the same time (1995, p.263). Compared with Sunrise, James Dean has a more natural performance. Because of the film nature, actors in Sunrise have to exa ggerate their expressions to illustrate the whole story. In conclusion, that sequence in the film East of Eden has brought the story plot to the climax point, with the use of various visual techniques and scene arrangements. Non-diegetic music and canted frame can be found in the sequence, which are used to build up the tension between Cal and other characters. In addition, Kazan has used staging and lighting subtly to reflect the feelings of each character. Classical Hollywood styles like continuity editing and exaggerated acting can also be seen in the sequence, which are the main features of the Hollywood films at that time. The techniques that are used in the sequence can also be found in other parts of the movie, and this shows that they are essential in constructing the whole structure of the film.

Anorexia Nervosa: Pharmacologic Treatments :: Medican Medicine Health Essays

Anorexia Nervosa: Pharmacologic Treatments Medical Treatments: The Basics Anorexia nervosa has been recognized by physicians for more than a century, but there is still no generally accepted pharmacologic treatment. Anorexia Nervosa can lead to significantly impaired functioning in its victims along with a considerable morbidity. The pursuit of thinness is the central feature of AN, and the patients usually have a variety of other psychological disorders which makes treatment very challenging and difficult. No medication has proven to be generally useful in promoting or maintaining weight gain, thus cognitive-behavioral therapy remains the cornerstone of treatment. (Hoffman et al) According to Dr. Philip W. Long, "A therapist must win the cooperation of the patient by emphasizing that treatment can free the patient from the obsessive thoughts about food and body weight that have become the sole focus of the patient's life." In addition, depression, physical well-being, and social relationships can be improved through various treatments. (http://www. mentalhealth.com/rx/p23-et01.html#Head_1c) Pharmacology in the Treatment of Anorexia Nervosa Many medications have been used in the treatment of Anorexia Nervosa. Of these different pharmacological treatments, there have been very few large scale, controlled studies demonstrating their effectiveness. Several of these medications, however, have proved useful in facilitating weight gain during the nutritional rehabilitation phase of treatment. This website discusses these different treatments, explains why they were used and their possible side effects, and the overall validity of their effectiveness as a treatment. Antipsychotic Drugs The most common form of this drug which is administered to AN patients is chlorpromazine. If prescribed, it is usually given to severely obsessive-compulsive, anxious, and agitated AN patients. This drug is a neuroleptic or dopamine antagonist in the brain, and the theory which serves as the basis of this treatment revolves around the idea that certain characteristics of anorexia nervosa might reflect central nervous system dopaminergic activity. Some scientists theorize that these dopaminergic activities cause this eating disorder among other things. In certain clinical experiences, chlorpromazine has been shown to be somewhat effective in inducing hunger and weight gain, but others have shown no such effects along with some serious side effects. These include grand mal seizures and in increase in the development of bulimia. In summary, there is an absence of clear evidence as to the effectiveness of this drug as a treatment and with its potential for unwanted side effects, it is rarely used. (Walsh and Devlin)

A New Beginning †Employment Relationships Essay

All relationships require a beginning. Employment relationships can be as challenging and rewarding as personal relationships. It is therefore important to ensure that your recruitment process analyses all elements that may affect future relationships and its adherence to employment law legislation. It is assumed that both parties enter this contract at any stage verbally, written or implied voluntarily. Employment law legislation helps employers meet the minimum standards required for a healthy relationship. Internal factors As a prospective/ new employee it is important to understand the Company Strategy. A transparent strategy allows you to promote your business as it enables new employees to see the direction the company is working towards and the potential growth and job security that this offers. It also gives potential candidates an indication of development programmes that are offered and therefore what career opportunities are available. The feeling of belonging is an important emotion of increasing loyalty. Hierarchical Structures give an insight of potential movement within a Company regardless of size. If your desire is to move your way up the company ladder, you need to know there are going to be roles available. External factors A review of your Companies Demographics will help you understand where your employees come from and then what type of workforce is available to you. From this you will understand any challenges that you will face when recruiting and what plans you will need to put in place to recruit the right person to the right job. Market Influences: An evaluation of what is happening within your area with similar business may assist you with tracking your business growth and potential issues. Do you have any new  competitors on the horizon that may attract your employees which could leave with a labour force issue? Equally a business that is struggling may go into receivership and then give you a situation where you have the opportunity to recruit some key and highly trained employees. Importance of determining Employment statuses The differences – 3 Examples Type of Employment Status Worker A contract of employment in place either written or verbal Payment is received for work. It would be agreed on what interval at the point of agreeing the contract Work has to be completed, by the agreed worker, however they would be able to provide an alternative worker if agreed in advance. There is a set period of time that the work is expected to last. Often if works overrun then penalty clauses are built in as part of agreed contract. Employee Employed under an employment contract The contract details: Rights, responsibilities and duties. Regular payments on agreed Company terms i.e. 4 weekly, Monthly. Guaranteed minimum wage protection Statutory paid holiday entitlement Working time directive on rest periods and number of hours worked per week Protection from discrimination Self Employed Is an individual who takes sole responsibility for whether their business is a success or fails They are responsible for paying on tax and NI contributions and receiving wages They do not receive paid holiday leave or sickness benefits They have no employment rights They can be both employed and self employed at the same time. Why? To ensure they know their employment rights if they are entitled to them. Such as maternity/paternity leave, sick leave, holiday leave entitlements. Ensure correct payment of tax and National Insurance. If unchecked and incorrectly paid then the employer is liable for mispayment of tax and it would be expected that the employer resolves this. Causing unnecessary expense and reduced levels of trust. Ensure that the individual is fully aware of what type of benefits they would be entitled too. During – Employment Relationship Importance of a Work Life Balance This is about how an individual combines work with the other areas of their lives, such as children, family, friends and hobbies. There is no definitive answer or formula, and this will range greatly for each individual. It may also change on a daily basis depending on impacts outside work. Just as impacts inside work can affect an individual’s home life. Is there an answer? No – not just one. As each person is individual so a flexible number of options available will suit a diverse workforce. The Working Time Directive covers Rest periods, Night working, Working hours and Holidays. Rest Periods: Workers are entitled to a rest period of 11 hours in a 24 hour period, and must receive one weekly rest period of 24 hours in a 7 day period. Shifts of 6 hours or more also entitle workers to a 20 min rest break. It is worth making note that there are different rules applied for young works and night workers. And therefore legislation will need to be adhered to if employment is undertaken in these areas. Night Work: A night workers hours should be based on the principle of an average 8 hours within 24 hours over a 17 week rolling period. For businesses that use an electronic tracking of hours for example Tesco, whereby an employee clocks in and out. A review of the night teams working hours over a 17 week period would be accurate. Manual processes would be more difficult to maintain and  analyse, but it is imperative that a secure process is built in order to manage this. Working Hours: It is an employer’s responsibility to ensure that an employee or contract worker do not work more than an average of 48 hours per week over a 17 week period, unless the employee or contract worker has made the decision to opt out of the Working Time Directive. As mentioned before it is an employer’s responsibility to ensure that adequate records are kept to show adherence to this legislation. Some roles can be excluded from this measure and those are roles that are unmeasured such as executives or family workers i.e. nannies/au pairs. Holidays: Workers are entitled to a minimum of 28 days or 5.6 weeks paid annual leave per year. This entitlement must also be applied pro rata, and is not able to be rolled over into a new holiday year. Workers continue to accrue their holiday entitlement whilst on maternity leave or long term sick and this will need to be taken before the end of the holiday year. Family/Parent – related legal support There are a number of pieces of legislation that support families and parents. These include the following: Maternity Leave: There is a great amount of information relating to maternity leave, and a wealth of sites and government documentation that will assist employers on how to best support members of their workforce who are pregnant. Employees are entitled to the following- Time off for antenatal care – an employer can ask for proof of appointments. A maximum of 52 weeks maternity leave. This is made up of 26 weeks ordinary maternity leave (OML) and 26 weeks additional maternity leave (AML) AML is dependent on length of service and length of leave should be discussed at regular meetings with the employee. Maternity leave can commence any time after the 11th week before her expected week of childbirth (EWC) I find it useful to use the Government website that allows employers to enter key dates supplied to guide you when the key weeks are.  (https://www.gov.uk/employers-maternity-pay-leave/entitlement) A mother is legally unable to return until two weeks after the birth of her baby. After OML a woman is entitled to return to the same job she held prior to leave with all the rights and benefits she had including any annual pay raises. After returning from AML she may only come back to the same job if reasonably practical, otherwise an alternative must be offered. Maternity pay is paid for the first 6 weeks at 90% of average earnings and then 33 weeks at  £138.18(April 2014) It is worth noting that the average weekly earnings can be increased by increasing wages in the 8 weeks leading up to the 15th week before the EWC. A woman is also now able to transfer some of her maternity leave – Please see notes on Paternity leave for further details. Throughout the duration of her pregnancy a woman must not be financially worse off, and a full understanding of the Equality and Diversity act will assist you from making any decisions which would treat a woman unfairly. Paternity: Ordinary Paternity leave allows a man to take two weeks leave. This has to be taken within 56 days of the birth. If only one week is used the second week will be lost. This period of leave cannot be extended for multiple births. Paternity pay is paid at  £138.18 (April 14) or 90% of average weekly earnings, whichever is lower. Additional paternity leave APL can be taken once a mother returns from Maternity leave and take up to 26 weeks leave. An employee is entitled to return to the same job they held before and any pay increases, benefits whilst they have been off. Adoption Leave: Employees will need to have 26 weeks length of service ending in the week that they are due to go on adoptive leave. A thorough recruitment process will ensure that a newly employed member of staff will have advised you of an ongoing application. They are then entitled to take up to 52 weeks leave. Within this period they may be entitled to 39 weeks statutory adoption pay. In turn a partner may also be entitled to paternity leave or additional paternity leave. Proof from an adoption agency must be provided and leave will commence from the date the child comes home to the family. Adoptive leave pay is paid at  £138.18 as with other statutory pay. (Ref: http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1828) Dependents Leave: An employee is entitled to have time off to deal with a ‘family emergency’, or someone that they look after. There is no set list of what a dependant could be this something that would be discussed at a return to work. However a list within your Companies staff handbook or intranet would be a useful resource. Persons covered (this list is not exhaustive): Spouse Child Partner Grandchild Grand parent Someone that depends on you for their care. This leave covers emergencies and not for events that you have notification of, such as cover for school holidays. There is no set limit for how much time an employee can take, however an emergency is not an ongoing event and alternative policies, such as holiday, sickness or unpaid leave may need to be arranged if the situation is not easily resolved. In these situations an employer does not have to pay the employee for time off, however a fair approach should be adopted and again transparency through guidelines within staff handbooks and company intranet is advisable. A supportive and easy to access policy will underpin your Company ethos and values, and send out positive message to would be employees. Why should employees be treated fairly in relation to pay? To pay employees who: Complete similar work Through job evaluation is deemed to be of an equivalent level Produce the same amount of skill, decision making/own initiative and effort, Whilst this may morally be wrong, and be in breach of the Equality Act 2010. Allowing your business act in this manor without safe guards and checks to prevent this will allow you to be liable if found guilty. Firstly, financially this could be devastating. One claim may lead to another, and publication of findings and court cases will be damaging to your Companies reputation. This  in turn will lead to probable issues in recruiting new personnel and increasing/continuing current business. Secondly issues may arise through misguided reactions to other individual cases, which is why a periodic review of payroll is important. Any amendments in salary for an individual or team should be sense checked with a member of the HR function or with your employment law specialist. The Equality Act 2010 has been put in place to assist ‘employed’ individuals or persons classed as ‘workers’ to work in a safe and fair environment. Some parts of the legislation protect certain characteristics that would be vulnerable in the work place. Protected Characteristics Sex Race Gender reassignment Disability Sexual Orientation Marriage/Civil Partnership Pregnancy Age Religious beliefs (Ref: http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=4614) These protected characteristics would prevent an individual from being treated less favourably than another person would be. Direct Discrimination i.e. Turning an employee down for promotion because they were undergoing Gender reassignment. Indirect Discrimination occurs when a policy or procedure treats someone without a protected characteristic less favourably. I.e. advertising and recruiting for a Handyman, when a woman could do the job also. Harassment Occurs when a person/s treat you in a manner that makes you feel threatened, humiliated or distressed. This can be over a sustained period of time or sporadic/individual events. This is based and measured solely on the individual in receipt of the unwanted behaviour and should be investigated fully, following company guidelines. Employees should receive dignity at work training and understand your company values to prevent any behaviours being judged as the norm’ Victimisation ‘Picking on someone’ for any reason, including protected characteristics, can also come under harassment. It may be because of where they live or what colour hair they have or how large they are. It can be sustained over a period of time or on an individual occurrence such as being blamed for an error. The way this makes a person feel is equally as damaging as forms of harassment, therefore a quick and prompt resolve is important. What is a psychological contract? This an element of an employee’s contract of employment which may not actually be documented, but is what is ‘implied’ to an individual either at interview or from ways of working within your organisation. I.e. Contracted hours state 9-5 but it is expected that to finish the job, you stay until it is done. To go on time will be frowned upon. Or working Sundays is not in your contract, but you would be putting your team under pressure by not taking your turn. These are the things that actually happen on the ground. Clear statements of terms and conditions with updated and relevant staff handbook allow staff to see all the policies. Good training of managers and team leaders will demonstrate the company values. Challenging any decisions and what the snow ball effect would be is also a key way to see how policies will be interpreted. The end of an employee relationship There are three main ways an employment relationship can come to an end: Dismissal Choice Redundancy When looking at dismissing someone both the reason and the process must be fair. Dismissal is deemed fair when under the following headings: Capability – ill health or performance Conduct / Misconduct – a different process for gross misconduct Redundancy – less staff required Legality – breach of right to work Any other substantial reason – Resignation/Retirement/Death/TUPE or End of fixed term contract. As long as your process is solid and well documented. This process becomes unfair when the way in which it is handled is deemed unfair or poorly executed. If one of the 9 protected characteristics is proven to have been a contributing factor. Importance of Exit Interviews It is recommended that a member of the HR function conducts any interview with a member of staff that is leaving. The function of that representative should be at least an equal of the person being interviewed. Employee: It gives them an opportunity to discuss the real reasons for leaving. It will help you understand if there is something that can be changed. However it is worth noting that by this stage it is very difficult to change someone’s mind; however they will feel that they have a voice. Employer: Helps you to understand any key management weakness’s that you may have or issues with bullying. It will be like a puzzle, building up a picture if you have a high level of turnover from one specific area. You will be able to build a training programme and invest time through mentoring when establishing the facts. It will also allow you to prevent where possible any constructive dismissal claims. Redundancy When looking at starting redundancy an organization should first ensure that it looks at the reasons why? Is it going to benefit the business as negativity at starting a process such as this will create a high amount of negativity? Review your company’s formal policy and procedure on redundancy. Also have you a formal agreement a trade union or employee representatives? A clear plan should be evident and look at the following areas: Planning Keep your plan up to date and flexible Identify the Pool for Selection Area of the business that needs to be reduced Are the alternatives e.g. – reduction in working week / pay Consult employees Timely notification Treat people like human beings Transparent communication Criteria for Selection Length of Service Attendance records Disciplinary records Performance records Work experience Skill and qualification Competencies At the beginning of the process the business should establish how these criteria will be weighted. Documented scoring programme Appeals and Dismissals A clear process should be place to assist the appeals/dismissal process Right to be accompanied at meetings Continue with meetings if it is felt that there are more questions to be answered. Suitable alternative employment Can you replace somewhere else within organization or sister company Alternative job within same area using job matching skills Redundancy payment To receive must have worked for the company for two or more years Based on age, weekly pay and length of service Counseling and Support Assist with building a new CV Training on interview skills Use contacts within the business to identify job opportunities (Ref:http://www.cipd.co.uk/hr-resources/factsheets/redundancy.aspx#link_2) The Impact on those left behind can be substantial. There is something called ‘Survivors syndrome’ where they do not feel lucky to still have a job, but guilty for those that have gone. It creates unease and lack of job security with may incur unseen increases in key skills labour turnover. It is important to keep all employees communicated too with relevant and update information on the company’s prospects. Continue to talk to them, offer reassurance where needed to continue to support morale issues. This will help those that are left feel valued and more secure. Bibliography CollinsonGrant – Employment Law for managers -5th Edition June 2014. Martin,Whiting &Jackson – Human Resources Practice – 5th Edition.

It All Seemed Right †Short Story

It All Seemed Right – Short Story Free Online Research Papers It All Seemed Right Short Story Laura was an ambitious young American woman who had her life almost completely in order. She had a good career, was married to a wealthy doctor, and had a beautiful daughter. The only thing in Betty’s life that was different than what she had expected for herself was the fact that her husband was Iranian. To Laura he seemed perfectly American until the day the family went on a vacation to Iran and Betty’s husband tried to keep them there by holding her hostage in his suppressed country. To escape the insane place she found herself in, the place where her daughter was forced to chant, †death to America,† every day in school, Laura risked her life to climb the mountains into Turkey. The environment we are raised in easily influences us because it paints our picture of normality. And in our society, normality seems to be quite attractive. Laura sacrificed her life to escape from Iran because she could not stand what normality was for Iranian women. She could not stand being covered from head to toe and to be completely under the authority of her husband. Why is it that she took such desperate measures to escape when a lot of women are content and believe their place in the Muslim world is perfectly normal? Laura was so unhappy in Iran because Iran because it was not the â€Å"normal† society she was used to. We, as children, are sponges that soak up the ways of life that are modeled to us. For Betty, the normality she was born into was extremely far from the lifestyle of Iranian women. Women who accept the fact they must be completely covered in public, even in stifling heat. If their environment didn’t influence people, we wouldn’t have countries full of similar ways of life, ways of dressing, and even eating. The idea that people can be easily influenced by their environment can be proven by the many different cultures that make up our diverse world. Research Papers on It All Seemed Right - Short StoryStandardized TestingResearch Process Part One19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andThe Fifth HorsemanHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenHip-Hop is Art

Wilt Chamberlain Essays - Basketball Statistics, Wilt Chamberlain

Wilt Chamberlain Essays - Basketball Statistics, Wilt Chamberlain Wilt Chamberlain There have been many greats to play the game basketball, but we have never, and maybe never again, see the likes of Wilt Chamberlain. His entire life Wilt Chamberlain made the improbable look routine. No professional athlete in any team sport combined the size, strength, and fluidity of movement that Wilt Chamberlain brought into the sleepy, dimly lit NBA arenas of 1959. Ill go one step further: No one who has played pro team sports has ever dominated every minute of every game in the early 60s. His size and strength were sources of wonder not only to paying spectators, but also to his fellow players. Wilt played in the NBA for 14 seasons, from 59-60 through 72-73, and he helped the NBA from league of moderate local interest to a major TV attraction. Unfortunately, especially for younger fans, most of the TV tributes following his death showed the Wilt of the early 70s. Sure, his Lakers teams were great-the 71-72 team won pro sports record 33 games in a row. But Wilt by then was a much different player than he had been in his younger days. I myself have not seen the real Chamberlain play a number of times, but when I did, it was amazing. Through most of the 60s, Chamberlain played with strength, speed, and dexterity. His footwork was quick enough to fake out defenders, and he had enough touch to make his finger rolls and fadeaways virtually unstoppable. Of course, no one could repel his moves to the hoop, and even when he was technically boxed out under the boards, he would get his share of reach-in rebounds over the heads of shorter opponents. But in November 1969, he had surgery after tearing a knee ligament. Through diligent rehabilitation, he was able to return to the Lakers at the end of the regular season, and play a full playoff schedule. But Wilts style was different after the injury: more mechanical, flat-footed, clearly not as fluid, less certain of his ball-handling skills (Sports Illustrated). It is this Chamberlain whom we see on most of surviving film or videotape. A great player, still, but a much different one-certainly less dominating than the man who terrorized the league in the 60s. Michael Jordan scored 50 or more points in 30 regular-season games in his career. Wilt Chamberlain scored 50 or more points in 45 games during the 61-62 season. Twenty-six years after he played his last NBA game, Wilt still holds the leagues all-time single-season records for average points, rebounds, and field goal percentage. Wilts second-best season in each of those categories is better than any other players best through all of NBA history. Some day, perhaps, everyone will be talking about a player who is the Next Jordan, or the Next Magic, and maybe even the Next Russell. But I do not expect we will ever see anyone that we will call the Next Wilt.

Has Social Media Caused Moral Decay Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Has Social Media Caused Moral Decay - Essay Example One may ask what social media is or what it entails. There are different forms of social media for instance twitter, YouTube and Face book these are a few of the social media, which have greatly influenced the people in today,’s society (Wheeldon n.d). Recent research has shown that social media brings fresh blood to people’s lives. For instance, it provides a platform for people from all parts of the world to exchange ideas with this; people are able to enlarge their social circles. Although social media has both positive and negative impacts on people, it has made the world a better place to live in. The essay will bring out that social media is not responsible for the moral decay in today’s society it will bring out both negative and positive effects of social media in order to bring out the counter argument appropriately. Thesis statement Social media is to blame for the moral decay in the society. 1. Communication and socialization Social media has resulted to moral decay on different issues in today’s society. For instance, it has resulted to social isolation (Solari Communications, 2012). This is to say that people lack contact with people in normal life situation. In a work place, one may isolate him or herself from his or work mates thus creating a gap between them. People keep on staring at their smart phone even when around people they should socialize. Because of this, young people do not concentrate when being addressed by older people. This shows how young people have become disrespectful because of the use of social media. Recent research has shown that socially isolated people live a shorter life. When one is a socially isolated, you lose the ability to read ones facial expressions and social cues. Because of continues isolation and spending more time in social media, and aiming at creating more online friends, social media results to depression this is because people spent most of their time chatting with friends and strangers thus wasting the time they are supposed to sleep. This result to depression and one may be unproductive in his or her place of work. Research has shown that being on the screen for long hours affects the release of melatonin a sleep chemical thus making one to sleep for less hours thus resulting to depression (Neelamalar & Chitra, 2009). One feels more comfortable when communicating online than face-to-face. Social media also affects once communicating skills for instance, if one is always on social media he or she may never understand the verbal cues and facial expressions. This result to poor communication skills and one may never know how to communicate while in public. In addition, while chatting most young people do not use grammatically correct language. This affects their language especially in their academics. Constant use of social media has resulted to distractions. Many people are hurt while walking simply because of being constantly glued on their phones texti ng and chatting with friends. In addition, in the class students are distracted from what they are taught because they are on their social websites instead of listening to their teachers by doing so they fail to get the concepts they are supposed to (Wheeldon n.d). This results to poor performance among the students. Today young people seek for sex education in the social websites. Sexting refers to receiving sexually suggestive messages, videos, and photos through the social website. In today’s society, social media has become a leading sexual educator. This is because parents no longer teach their children about sex. Because of this, young people get wrong concepts about sex hence increase in moral decay among the young people. That is why nowadays there is increase in transmission of sexually transmitted

A company that provide great customer service in its industry Essay

A company that provide great customer service in its industry - Essay Example nt here to understand the concept which was coined by George Ritzer whereby he kept the name ‘McDonaldization’ which is in relevance with the continuation of Max Webers theories related with bureaucracies. (Bassett, 1992) Max Weber has put in place a definition related with bureaucracy as being a large hierarchical organization which governs the basis of formal rules and regulations and which forms a lucid arrangement of tasks that need to be undertaken. McDonald’s believes in satisfying its customers all over the globe as there is a premise to regard the customers as the most important entity for the existence of this international fast food chain. The customers for McDonald’s mean everything for them as they are the people who introduce new and fresh concepts into the restaurant industry every now and then. Workers at the restaurant are given the tasks to grill, preparing French fries, working the front register and lastly taking orders at the drive through windows present at the selected McDonald’s outlets. McDonald’s has a network of authority starting from the workers, crew chiefs, shift managers, salary managers and up till the owner of the outlet in essence. (Lowenstein, 1997) McDonald’s has enforced within the fast food chain an impartial application of rules and policies so that there is no compromise on this tenet at any cost. McDonalds has maintained highest quality standards, personalized greetings at the registers and doors as well as at the drive through windows. McDonald’s has attained the role of being a bureaucratic chain more so because it is the most efficient means of managing a diverse set of people across varied geographic locations and societal segments. This leaves one to wonder as to why the process of McDonaldization has attained so much success when one thinks about McDonald’s. One must attach special linkage with fresh changes and mind-blowing conceptual moves when there is a visualization of McDonald’s in the

Work placement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Work placement - Essay Example 1996 kemal tataurk high school basketball team istanbul, turkey. Photography , DJing ,Football , Basketball, Swimming, and Skiing, Politics and Information technologies personal particulars: age : 23 years DATE OF BIRTH : 25th march 1982. SEX : feMALE. marital status : Unmarried LANGUAGES KNOWN : ENGLISH, german and turkish I hereby declare that all the information furnished above by me is authentic to the best of my knowledge and belief. TASK 2- COVERING LETTER 1 Jet Recruitment Ltd. 87 Marathon House 58 Rosemary Close 200 Marylebone Rd Phone: 01708 400055 Nw1 5pw South Ockendon RM15 6JH UK October 31, 2005 Re: Estimator/Senior Estimator Dear Mrs. Sanders I recently graduated with a bachelor's degree in Built Environment and am looking for a full-time position the field. This correspondence is in relation to the job vacancy announcement for the post of "Estimator/Senior Estimator" on the 27th of October on the Internet. I am extremely keen on beginning my career at Jet Recruitment Ltd. The corporate histories of Jet Recruitment Ltd, especially its stability and employee feed-backs and testimonials have immensely fascinated me and I would consider it to be an honor to be a part of this organization. Considering my educational background in Built Environment at the Westminster University, I feel I have much to offer to your company and its growth. Apart from giving me an opportunity to execute my skills, it would be an experience of personal and professional development for me. I specialize in the area of Property and... Considering my educational background in Built Environment at the Westminster University, I feel I have much to offer to your company and its growth. Apart from giving me an opportunity to execute my skills, it would be an experience of personal and professional development for me. I specialize in the area of Property and Construction Sector I have a diploma in the field of Architecture and Built Environment module from the Westminster University last year. My computer related skills will provide an added benefit where efficiency is concerned. I have experience as a part-time Estimator at O'Neill & Brennan in London where I worked during the last year of University. This profile helped me gain extra qualifications pertaining to the construction sector and has inspired me to specialize in this field of study in my career. I have taken extra courses about property evaluation during the last semester of my University work which has given me the confidence to work as Estimator/Senior Estimator. Please find my C.V attached. I would appreciate your evaluation regarding my application. I look forward to hearing from you soon. This correspondence is to enquire whether you have a vacancy in your company as an Estimator/ S

Can international law change the world Essay Example for Free

Can international law change the world Essay Sir Christopher John Greenwood was born in 1955. Currently he is a judge of the ICC whereby he was elected to the position on 6th November 2008. Before being elected as an ICC judge, Sir Christopher John Greenwood was a professor at London School of Economics where by taught international law. In addition, he was a barrister who most often made appearance before the international court of justice, the English Courts and the European Court Of Human Rights among other tribunals. During an interview as evidenced in the video, Judge Sir Christopher John Greenwood puts it clear that the international law has the power to change the way world operates. He further argues that, while each system of the national law strives to regulate affairs within only a single society, the international law has the concern of the whole world. In contrary, judge Sir Christopher John Greenwood argues that, though the international laws has the power to change the world and the way different systems of the world operate, there is yet no methods of enforcement available to the national legal systems. According to Sir Christopher, the international law can change the security and political stability of the different nations of the globe if only there could be efficient and effective measures put in place that would ensure the different national systems comply. Moreover, Sir Christopher says that if the different national systems could comply with international laws like those concerning weapons and international peace, international health like those stipulated in the world health organization (WHO) among other laws made to ensure that the social welfare of the different socio-economic classes of people would change the world to a greater extend. In addition to this, Sir Christopher further argues that following compliance to the different international economic laws would change the way business is carried globally by different nations. Compliance to the international laws would make the transactions between different nations secure since are governed. Moreover, international economic laws would standardize how business is carried in the world. In a broad spectrum, the international laws can only change the world if the different nation systems comply. It will be of great importance if the different world systems comply to the international laws for better so as to steer development through trade standardization among other things. References Source document

Impacts of Mothers’ Support for SEN Children

Impacts of Mothers’ Support for SEN Children CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION Becoming a mother  is a wonderful, exhilarating experience. Raising children brings new meaning to every moment of your life and depth to your experience as a human being. Equally to become parents and to nurture a newborn baby is a great responsibility. â€Å"As parents, we develop hopes and dreams about who our baby will be in the world and how we will be as parents. This process of creating an internal life for our baby and ourselves is a natural part of what all parents go through. We do not expect that our baby will be born with, or develop, a disability or special need; when that happens, much of what we imagined and planned is forever changed† (Abilitypath.org, 2015). Special Educational needs and disability is a reality but much more than it to a parent, it is a huge responsibility to parents. â€Å"†¦it is not the child’s disability that handicaps and disintegrates families; it is the way they react to it and to each other† (Dickman Gordon, 1985, p. 109). The term Special Educational Needs (SEN) has a legal definition which is set out in the Education Act 1996 and the Children and Family Act 2014. It applies to children who have learning difficulties or disabilities that make it significantly harder for them to learn or access education than most other children of their age. So Special Educational Needs could mean a child has (Find.redbridge.gov.uk, 2015): Learning difficulties- in acquiring basic skills in schools. Emotional and behavioral difficulties- making friends or relating to adults or behaving properly in school. Specific learning difficulties- with reading, writing, number work or understanding information. Sensory or physical needs- such as hearing or visual impairments, which might affect them in school. Communication problems- in expressing themselves or understanding what others are saying. Medical or health conditions- which may slow down a child’s progress and/or involves treatment that affects his or her education. Early childhood is a crucial time of development for all children, including those with special educational needs. Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) â€Å"Children with special needs may have mild learning disabilities or profound cognitive impairment; food allergies or terminal illness; developmental delays that catch up quickly or remain entrenched; occasional panic attacks or serious psychiatric problems† Terri Mauro, Our Children with Special Needs Expert retrieved from http://specialchildren.about.com/od/gettingadiagnosis/p/whatare.htm. Special Educational Needs include disabilities like Autistic Disorder, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD), Cerebral Palsy, Deafness/Hearing Loss, Down Syndrome, Epilepsy, Learning Disabilities, Intellectual Disabilities, Visual Impairments and so on. The study focus specifically on the impacts of mothers’ support on special children in the dissertation; as acknowledged by Gilliom et al. (2002), mothers tend to be responsible for the majority of childrearing in most families. According to Dudley-Marling, â€Å"Fathers were not immune to the effects of school problems, but mothers, not fathers, talked about losing sleep worrying about their child’s schooling. Mothers, not fathers, reported that worry over school troubles frequently intruded on their lives at work. It was also a mother, not a father, who told me that she worried so much about her son’s struggles in school that she was not eating† (pp. 195). Koegel et al., (1992), study found the following: among specific concerns expressed by mothers are worries about their child’s welfare in the years ahead, the child’s ability to function independently, and the community’s acceptance of their child. Disability is a part of the human condition. Responses to disability have changed since the 1970s, prompted largely by the self-organization of people with disabilities and by the growing tendency to see disability as a human rights issue. Approximately 800 million young children worldwide are affected by biological, environmental and psychosocial conditions that can limit their cognitive development. In Europe, recent estimates place the number of children with special educational needs (SEN) at 15 million. From the MAURITIUS EDUCATION STATISTICS (2014), we came to know that as in Mauritius at March 2014, there were 59 Special Education Needs schools in the Republic of Mauritius registered with the Ministry of Education and Human Resources. Twelve schools were run by Ministry, while the other 47 were run by NGOs. The number of students enrolled in the 59 special schools stood at 2,291 (of whom 63% were boys) as at March 2014 compared to 2,008 in March 2013, representing an increase of 14%. Retrieved from http://statsmauritius.govmu.org/English/StatsbySubj/Documents/ei1132/education.pdf. Early childhood is a crucial time of development for all children, including those with special educational needs. Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), World Declaration on Education for All (Jomtien, Thailand 1990) The Salamanca Statement and Framework for Action on Special Needs Education (Salamanca, Spain 1994) LITERATURE REVIEW ‘‘The mother-child relationship is considered one of the long-lasting and enduring interactions in which basic human development can effectively occur.’’ (Bronfenbrenner Ceci, 1994) ‘Parental adaptation to a child’s disability is a complex, lifelong process, both for parents as well as other family members’ (Hauser-Cram et al. 2001; Seltzer Heller, 1997). From the dawn of human history, mothers have been at the heart of human development. It is mothers who help the children in developing the first basic competencies, development of trust, identity and worth. Being our first emotional and social support mechanism, our first teacher, our first health care provider, the mothers act ‘as both the protector and nurturer’. Mothers remains and will remain the most powerful force for special needs children. It is said that that parental involvement in the form of ‘at-home good parenting’ has a significant positive effect on children’s achievement. This study will focus on whether the support of the mothers can improve and have a positive impact on the special children’s overall skills such as social skills, educational field and also personal lives. Researchers have evidence for the positive effects of parent involvement on children, families, and school when schools and parents continuously support and encourage the childrens learning and development (Eccles Harold, 1993; Illinois State Board of Education, 1993). According to Henderson and Berla (1994) (p. 160), ‘the most accurate predictor of a students achievement in school is not income or social status but the extent to which that students family is able to: 1) Create a home environment that encourages learning, 2) Express high (but not unrealistic) expectations for their childrens achievement and future careers, 3) Become involved in their childrens education at school and in the community’. Dubois et al (1994) showed that family support and the quality of parent-child relationships significantly predicted school adjustment in a sample of 159 young US adolescents (aged 10 –12) followed in a two year longitudinal study. De Garmo et al (1999) found suppo rt for the model of parental influence on to educational achievement for young children. According to De Garmo et al, (1999, p.1233), ‘Parenting practices act as mediators of educational achievement for the children.’ There are several articles and researches that testify that maternal support do have positive impacts on their children. The mother-child relationship precedes learning opportunities outside the home in facilitating development among preschool children. (Claspi et al., 2004). Authors increasingly argue that mothers can promote preschooler’s coping ability, if they are supportive and non-punitive in how they react to negative emotions (Eisenberg, Fables, Carlo Karbon, 1992). ‘Nurturing a child early in life may help him or her develop a larger hippocampus, the brain region important for learning, memory and stress responses, a new study shows.’ by Joseph Castro, Live Science Contributor (January 30, 2012). How a Mothers Love Changes a Childs Brain. Retrieved from http://www.livescience.com/18196-maternal-support-child-brain.html. We can now say with confidence that the psychosocial environment has a material impact on the way the human brain develops, said by Dr. Joan Luby, the studys lead researcher and a psychiatrist at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Mo. It puts a very strong wind behind the sail of the idea that early nurturing of children positively affects their development. ‘Parental acceptance-rejection theory (PAR Theory) is an evidence-based theory of socialization and lifespan development that attempts to predict and explain major causes, consequences, and other correlates of interpersonal—especially parental—acceptance and rejection within the United States and worldwide’ (Rohner, 1986, 2004; Rohner and Rohner, 1980). Parental acceptance- rejection is commonly represented along a continuum representing the quality of the affectional bonds between parents and their children and with the physical, verbal, and symbolic behaviors that parents use to express their feeling. According to PAR Theory the need for positive response or parental acceptance not only persists throughout childhood it exerts a predictable impact on self-concept of the individual. The theory predicts the existence of positive correlation between parental acceptance rejection and seven self-concepts of children / adults: Hostility/ Aggression, Dependency, Negative Self-Esteem, Negative Self Adequacy, Emotional Unresponsiveness, Emotional Instability and Negative Worldview (Rohner 1986; Rohner, Khaleque, Cournoyer 2003a). A vast research literature shows that the quality of parent-child relationships characterized by parental acceptance (love) and rejection (lack of love) is a major predictor of psychological functioning and development for both children and adults universally (Khaleque Rohner, 2002; Rohner, 1975, 2002; Rohner Rohner, 1980). Montes Halterman (2007) reported that despite increased stress levels and diminished quality of communication, mothers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder reported higher level of relationship closeness with their child compared with mothers in the general United States population. Ainsworth others (Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters Wall, 1978; Sroufe, 1985) have emphasized the role of maternal sensitivity and responsiveness in the development of secure infant attachment. The findings and researches mentioned above point toward one direction, that is maternal support do have an impact on children. If the studies advocates for the positive impacts of mother support, then the results should be same for the maternal support to special educational needs children. In a famous Reality TV show SATYAMEV JAYATE, one episode -‘Satyamev jayate- Persons with Disabilities- We Can Fly’ shed light on the lives on people with disabilities, their parents support and where they have reached today is all due to their parental love and support. For a normal person, parental or maternal support may not hold great importance but for special children, the support of parents means the world for them. Retrieved from http://www.satyamevjayate.in/persons-with-disabilities/personswithdisabilities.aspx. Among the several interviews conducted by Aamir Khan, many of the disabled persons dedicated the success of lives to their parents. The interviews not only portray the journey of the disabled persons but equally show that their parents support became their strength. A little disabled child, Shreya Chaturvedi of New Delhi said ‘Anyone loves me or not, but my mom loves me a lot†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Through the interview, the child speaks about her motherâ⠂¬â„¢s unlimited efforts and attempts. And the most moving and motivational interview was of Mr. Sai Prasad Vishwanathan from Hyderabad. He is a gold medalist from Chaitanya Bharathi Institute of Technology, an M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Wisconsin, and has a business degree from Indian School of Business, Hyderabad. Throughout the interview, he talked about his parental support and its impacts on him and his future. He says ‘I do not remember my parents being upset. I do not ever recall that they were despaired. They were always telling ‘‘you must study. Because you are still very ordinary. But we are with you and together we can strive to make you an excellent because it’s the only thing that we can do for you. The rest, you must do for yourself and that they have done for me.’’ Almost all the participants in the documentary admitted that the maternal support meant a lot for them and this is what kept them going in the tou gh journey of their lives. This reality show not only portrayed the lives of disabled persons but equally showed that be it from any part of the world, India or Mauritius, parental and maternal support is the key through which special persons can shine and progress in lives just like any normal person. Dr. O. Ivar Lovaas is a world-renowned autism expert who is always trying to come up with new treatment and means to improve the lives of autistic children and their families. His Lovaas Model of Applied Behavior Analysis is based on 40 years of research and is backed by published studies showing half of children with autism who receive this intensive treatment become indistinguishable from other children on tests of cognitive and social skills by the time they completed first grade. According to 1999 report from the New York State health department ‘‘Educating Children with Autism’’ ( 2001 ), ‘parents typically are active partners in their child’s education to ensure that skills learned in the educational program transfer to the home setting and to teach their child the many behaviors that are best mastered in the home and community.’ The study of Lovaas et al., (1973), Schopler and Reichler. (1971) showed there are recognition that pare nts are partners in an educational process that requires close collaboration between home and school, which favors the fact that maternal support does indeed have a very deep and positive impact on the special child and their welfare. Ivar Lovaas equally support the fact that Parental Involvement and Home-based Treatment is better for the autistic children as it help them much more. In a study of families who had a son with autism under the age of 6 years referred to the TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children) program, Bristol and colleagues (1988) found that, while fathers assumed some role in children’s care, mothers carried a much greater burden. Koegel et al. (1996) reported that teaching parents how to use pivotal response training as part of their applied behavioral analysis instruction resulted in happier parent-child interactions, more interest by the parents in the interaction, less stress, and a more positive communication style. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY Disability and special needs were then, associated with shame and considered as punishment both for the disabled and special children and their families (Kofi Marfo, Sylvia Walker, and Bernard L. Charles, 1983). But it is undeniable that however the children may be, they will never be a burden on their parents as the latter love their children unconditionally. In another words, parents are the strength and prime support of the children. A family is far more than a collection of individuals starting a specific physical and psychological space. The main purpose of this study will be the impact of maternal support on special educational needs children’s welfare. There is this misconception about special educational needs children that they are useless and worthless but what they are unaware of is that with the support of parents and special educational teachers; they can perform as good as any normal children. The main focus will be on the mothers of special educational needs chi ldren as it is globally known that it the mothers who invest the most in a child’s life. As we say, education first starts at home itself. 1.3 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The aim of this study is to investigate on how the maternal support, help and care can help special educational needs children to learn, change and adapt to the everyday tasks and activities. Objectives of the study: To understand how mothers support their special educational needs children and its impact. To investigate the positive changes and improvements brought by the mothers’ support in their children’s lives. To identify the difficult tasks that the special children were unable to perform earlier but can now handle it with the assistance and teaching of their mothers and teachers. 1.4 RATIONALE There have been literature about the Special educational needs children and also about their parents but there have been less studies being done on the impact of maternal support on the special child. This study’s aim is to shed light on the positive improvement and changes that occurs in the special children and show the importance of maternal support on Special educational needs children. In-depth interview is used in order to grasp the essence of meaning and also to allow the mothers to narrate the improvement and changes they witnessed with their special child.

What Is Anthropology? How Is It Done? Essay -- Anthropology Essays

What Is Anthropology? How Is It Done? People enter the field of anthropology for a variety of reasons. Some people enter the field by accident. This means that they did not intend on becoming an anthropologist. Some people were interested in the field from the start. One person married a social anthropologist; and, after living with a group of people for two years wrote an ethnography about the people. The first story is about Adrienne Zihlman. She is a paleoanthropologist. She collects all kinds of bones; so, she can "contrive and test ideas about the origins of humans by studying the remains of living things" (Shell 1991:37). Zihlman went to Miami University of Ohio, where she decided to major in anthropology after reading Margaret Mead's book, "Coming of Age in Samoa" (Shell 1991:38). Since Miami University didn't have an anthropology department, she transferred to the University of Colorado (Shell 1991:38). After graduating in 1962, she went to do graduate work at Berkeley (Shell 1991:38). This is where she decided to focus herself on finding out how our ancestors began to walk (Shell 1991:38). Zihlman has ideas about how we came to be that are contradictory to what most people believe (Shell 1991:37). Zihlman says that tasks completed by females, like food gathering and infant care, were as equally likely as hunting by males, to have been the cause for bipedalism and social relationships (Shell 1991:37­38). When she started her doctoral research, she had the belief that two­legged walking came to be to allow more efficient movement on long hunting trips (Shell 1991:38). Zihlman completed her thesis in 1967 and started thinking that there was something wrong with the male dominated theories about the past (S... ...rchaeology", Encyclopedia of Cultural Anthropology, Vol. 1., Henry Holt & Company, New York, 1996, Pgs. 74. Durrenberger, E. Paul, "Ethnography", Encyclopedia of Cultural Anthropology, Vol. 2, Henry Holt & Company, New York, 1996, Pgs. 416­419. Fernea, Elizabeth Warnock, Guests of the Sheik, Doubleday, New York, 1965, Pgs. ix­5. Lee, Richard B., The Dobe Ju/'hoansi, Harcourt Brace College Publishers, Philadelphia, 1993, Pgs. iii & 2. Reimer, Toni­Tripp, "Nursing", Encyclopedia of Cultural Anthropology, Vol. 3, Henry Holt & Company, New York, 1996, Pgs. 877,879­880). Rosenthal, Elisabeth, "The Forgotten Female", Discover, December 1991, Pgs.23­27. Shell, Ellen Ruppel, "Flesh & Bone", Discover, December 1991, Pgs. 37­42. Winick, Charles, Dictionary of Anthropology, Philosophical Library, New York, 1956, Pgs.398,436.

African Kingdoms and Empires

African Kingdoms and Empires During 400 AD, West Africa witnessed the rise and fall of the indigenous medieval empires of ancient Ghana, medieval Mali, and Songhai. Many other states and kingdoms arose during this time but Ghana, Mali and Songhai achieved the status of fully-fledged, functioning and long-living conquest states and expansionist empires. These empires regulated the Trans-Saharan trade by offering protection for trade caravans as well as taxing slaves, gold, firearms, textiles and salt.Ghana reached its height by 1200 AD and was ruled by the Serahule people which eventually broke apart by in the 13th century. The Mali Empire was a Mandinka territory but also took on Ghana’s territory and extended into the 13th century. At the peak of the empire, Mali covered an area over 24,000 sq. km. Songhai succeeded Mali in the 14th century and grew to be the largest land empire in tropical Africa. Throughout the presentation I will cover each Empire in grave detail.Ghana may have existed as early as the 5th century, however, by the 8th century it was known as â€Å"The Land of Gold. † In 1068 Ghana was the largest, wealthiest, and most powerful state in West Africa. The empire was situated in the vast Savannah area between the Senegal and Niger Rivers with its authority extending from the frontiers of Futa Toro to the Western banks of the Niger, and from the Mandinka area in the south to beyond the fringes of the desert in the north. Ghanaweb) The Serahule were the founding people of â€Å"The Land of Gold,† who established their capital at Kumbi Saleh, which at that time was the leading trading centre of the Western Sudan and the focus of all trade with a systematic form of taxation. The Serahule formed themselves into a strong trading state which spread its power over many neighboring people and in the process became an empire. With the introduction of the camel during the Trans-Saharan trade, Ghana derived power and wealth from gold an d increased the quality of goods transported.As stated earlier, the Soninke people also sold slaves, salt and copper in exchange for textiles, beads and finished goods. (Ghanaweb) According to Ghanaweb, â€Å"The wealth of ancient Ghana is mythically explained in the tale of bids, the black snake. This snake demanded an annual sacrifice in return for guaranteeing prosperity in the Kingdom, therefore each year a virgin was offered up for sacrifice, until one year, the fiance’ (Mamadou Sarolle) of the intended victim rescued her. Feeling cheated of his sacrifice, Bida took his revenge on the region, a terrible drought took a hold of Ghana and gold mining began to decline.There is evidence found by archaeologists that confirms elements of the story, showing that until the 12th century, sheep cows and even goats were abundant in the region. † Traders took the route from Maghreb to Ghana starting in Tahert, North Africa through Sjilmasa, Southern Morocco. The trail led sout h running parallel with the coast, then south-east through Awsaghust and ending in Kumbi Saleh. Through their travels the traders brought the Islamic community to Kumbi Saleh but the Islam’s managed to remain a separate community a distance away from the King’s palace. Ghanaweb) McKay wrote, â€Å"The city of Ghana consists of two towns lying on a plain, one of which is inhabited by Muslims and is large, possessing twelve mosques- one of which is congregational mosque for Friday prayer; each has its imam, its muezzin and paid reciters of the Quran. The town possesses a large number of jurisconsults and learned me,† (McKay, pg 279) Ghana was originally known as Wagadou (Ouagadou, Aoukar) by its rulers, but was changed into the general use, â€Å"Ghana† because one of the king’s titles â€Å"Ghana† meant war chief. Each succeeding king kept the title Ghana but went by their own name.The kings were in charge of organizing the trade and keeping good relations with the Saharan traders, as well as acting as senior religious leader and representative on earth of the founding ancestors of the Serahule people. To increase the wealth of Ghana, the kings were able to make lesser kings or chiefs obey their laws and pay them taxes. This in turn gave the kings of Ghana more power and could command the services of many descent lines. They were able to raise big armies and employ larger numbers of messengers and other servants. (Ghanaweb)The International trade was causing the empire continuous growth so the Serahule were inventing new methods of governing themselves by raising money to pay for a government and producing wealth. They decided the central authority would need to be a king that would rule over many lesser authorities or governments. Since Serahule had already occupied the lands to the north of the upper waters of Niger, their towns and trading settlements became the middlemen between the Berber and Arab traders of the no rth and the gold and ivory producers of the south. This position made Ghana strong and prosperous and gave its rulers glory and power. Accessgambia) The empire included many arrears of people who were not Serahule and therefore had different religious loyalties to their Gods other than the king. In order to ensure the continued allegiance of the conquered states, the kings of Ghana insisted on the son of each vassal king being sent to their court. Both provincial governors of Serahule areas and tributary rulers of the conquered peoples had the duties of loyalty to the king, provisions of annual tribute, and the contribution of bands of warriors to the imperial army when they were required for active service.In return for their loyalty, the king provided protection against external enemies. However, by 1240 Ghana was no more. There are many reasons for Ghana’s decline and fall, starting with the royal treasury placing a monopoly on the export of gold. The gold industry was the fame of what Ghana rested on because it was the king’s largest source of income. Secondly, the way the empire was organized. At its peak, Ghana was made up of many states and people and lacked political and cultural unity which the kings failed to achieve.The different ethnic groups such as the Soninke, Susu, Serer, Berber and Tuclor each had its own language and cultures owed allegiance to the king. Conquered states such as Futa Toro, Silla and Diara were only expected to pay annual tribute contingents to the kings in times of war but were left to operate under their own traditional rules. Lastly, during the second half of the Eleventh century, the military became weakened and broke up into component parts. Later, there was an invasion by the Berber Almoravid dynasty that conquered Ghana and forced its rulers and people to convert to Islam.McKay stated that â€Å"while Almoravid and Islamic pressures certainly disrupted the empire, weakening it enough for its incorporation into the rising Mali empire, there was no Almoravid military invasion and subsequent forced conversion to Islam. † (McKay, pg 280) The kingdom of Ghana split into several small kingdoms that feuded among themselves. The Mandinka, from the kingdom of Kangaba had been part of the Ghanaian empire and soon dominated the feuding kingdoms.Building on the Ghanaian foundations, Kangaba formed the core of the new empire of Mali and developed into a better organized state than Ghana. There were two rulers for the Mali Empire, Sundiata and Mansa Musa which combined, had military success and creative personalities. Mali had a large agricultural and commercial base that provided for a large population and enormous wealth. (McKay, pg 280) McKay also noted that dating to the early eleventh century, the Mandinka were extremely successful at agriculture.Consistently large harvests throughout the twelfth and thirteenth centuries provided a supply of food, which helped steady the population gro wth. The Mandinka also acted as middlemen in the gold and salt traffic that flowed north and south during the Ghanaian hegemony. In the thirteenth century, Mandinka traders formed companies and gradually became a major force in the entire West African trade. Sundiata, the founder of Mali, set up his capital at Niani and transformed the city into an important financial and trading center.McKay stated, â€Å"through a series of military victories, Sundiata and his successors absorbed into Mali’s other territories of the former kingdom of Ghana and established hegemony over the trading cities of Gao, Jenne, and Walata. Into the fourteenth century, these expansionist policies were continued by Sundiata’s descendant Mansa Musa. † (McKay pg 280) In the language of the Mandinke, Mansa means â€Å"emperor. † Musa consolidated the foundations laid down by Sundiata and ruled the empire at its greatest height.Musa’s influence extended northward to several Ber ber cities in the Sahara, eastward to the trading cities of Timbuktu and Gao and westward as far as the Atlantic Ocean. He maintained a strict empire and it grew twice the size of the Ghanaian kingdom and contained roughly eight million people which brought Musa Fabulous wealth. (McKay, pg 281) It was the Musa’s pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324 that put the empire on the map. He travelled with thousands of porters and servants that carried six-pound staffs of gold and one hundred elephants each bearing one hundred pounds of gold. On his ay to Mecca, Musa stayed in Egypt and spent and gave away so much gold that there was a devaluation of the local currency and it sparked an inflationary crisis in Egypt as well as depressing world prices of the commodity. Twelve years later, al-Omari, one of the sultan’s officials, recounted. â€Å"This man Mansa Musa spread upon Cairo the flood of his generosity: there was no person, officer of the court, or holder of any office of the Sul tanate who did not receive a sum of gold from him. The people of Cairo earned incalculable sums from him, whether by buying and selling or by gifts.So much gold was current in Cairo that it ruined the value of money. † (McKay, pg 281) As a result of Musa’s display of wealth, his fame spread as far as Europ,e where the Catalan map by Abraham Cresques of about 1375 shows Musa seated on a gold throne wearing a gold crown while holding a gold nugget, describing him as â€Å"the riches and most noble king in all the land. † Mansa Musa extended his borders of Mali and set up an effective system of government that had a justice administration that was relatively impartial. The field of diplomacy was able to establish friendly relationships with other African states such as Morocco and Egypt.To help the king in his work, he had judges, scribes, and civil servants that helped to strengthen the administrative machinery of the empire. There were fourteen provinces in Mali t hat were ruled by governors who were typically famous generals. The others such as the Berber province were governed by their own Sheikhs. All of the provinces administrators were responsible to the Mansa and they were all said to be well paid. Under Musa, Timbuktu began as a campsite for desert nomads and grew into a thriving trading post or entrepot, attracting merchants and traders from North Africa and all parts of the Mediterranean world.In the fourteenth century, Timbuktu developed into a center for scholarships and learning for Architects, Astronomers, Poets, Lawyers, Mathematicians, and Theologians. The tradition and reputation for African scholarships lasted until the eighteenth century. (McKay, pg 282) The rise of the Mali Empires was swift but its decline was gradual. In the fifteenth century, Mali lost its ability to dominate the affairs of the Western Sudan because it became a tiny principality of kangaba. It wasn’t until the seventeenth century that Mali complet ely lost its political identity as it had broken up into a number of small independent chiefdoms.Between 1337 to 1341 Musa’s son, Maghan I, ruled the Empire. During this period, the Mossi of present day Burkina Faso raided across Manding and devastated Timbuktu. Then the Tuareg of the Sahara conquered the Northern part of the Mali Empire. During the periods of 1360 to 1400 there were as many as six kings and a series of civil wars. During the fifteenth century, the Songhai, under their leader Sunni Ali, conquered Jenne and Timbuktu and replaced Songhai as the most important power in the Western Sudan. Songhai succeeded Mali and became the third great West African empire. (Accessgambia)The Songhai Empire originated in the nineth century as a medieval civilization that was a small principality in West Africa on the banks of the Niger River called Al-kaw kaw. The kingdom had a very fertile area suitable for livestock rearing, agriculture, and fishing. As early as 800 AD, the kin gdom made full use of their resources and divided into two specialized professional groups; the Gabibi who were agriculturists and the Sorko who were fishermen. The Songhai borders extended from the central area of present Nigeria to the Atlantic coast and included parts of what is now Gambia, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Guinea and Mauritania.The areasof the land being rich and fertile allowed the people of Songhai to attract traders to their kingdom and become very astute traders and merchants themselves. As early at the tenth century the leaders of Al-kaw kaw moved their capital from Kukia to Gao. Gao became the last stop for three major trade routes. The routes included the trans-Saharan route from Egypt into Fezzan, Ghat and Agedez, the Tripoli and Tunis from Ghat and the route from Algeria and Morocco.During this time is when the Arab traders brought the Islamic influences which contributed to shaping the direction of the empire. In the thirteenth century Gao was part o f the Mali Empire and in 1275 Gao managed to break away from Mali. It wasn’t until 1464 when the small kingdom of Gao was transformed into the Songhai Empire and signaled the start of a new royal dynasty. Sources McKay, pgs 280-280 http://www. accessgambia. com/information/african-empires. html http://www. ghanaweb. com/GhanaHomePage/history/