Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Maori Art Essay -- essays research papers fc

When taking a gander at Maori craftsmanship, there is one thing that sticks out among everything else with me, and with probably everybody that sees it just because, this is their inking abilities. They are furnished with numerous other workmanship aptitudes, for example, their carvings, weaponry, and apartments, however the tattoos speak to the clan in general and are obvious on the individuals themselves. Â Â Â Â Â The craft of tattoo was brought to New Zealand by the Polynesians when they relocated to New Zealand. Men of the clan are more intricately inked than the ladies. Their whole faces might be secured rather than the ladies who may just have certain pieces of their faces secured, for example, their jaws, cheeks, upper lips, and between the eyebrows. This is to show the predominance in positioning of the men over the ladies. The way that the ladies can't progress the extent that the men shows how that the Maori felt when it came to male strength over the ladies. Â Â Â Â Â Other parts of the body can likewise be inked and different hues, for example, red and blue have been utilized to tattoo rather than simply dark. The body Moko (tattoos) is utilized to stamp accomplishments by and by in one's life, and furthermore accomplishments genuinely, for example, pubescence. Once more, these procedures are less polished in ladies than in men. Â Â Â Â Â Overall, the tattoos are utilized to perceive who the individuals are in every clan. They determine things, for example, rank and confidence. There are eight positions among the Maor...

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Instruments of Change :: Third World Countries Progress Essays

Instruments of Change As our reality is getting all the more mechanically progressed, numerous nations are being compelled to alter their way of living. Numerous Third World nations are currently modernization, however some are in front of others. Other than modernization, there are different components that can impact a nation to change. These elements comprise of the military, an alluring initiative, belief system, organization, and religion. The military can be an incredible instrument of progress. For instance, most of nations in the Middle East are governed by the military. The military is viewed as an entirely able establishment as a result of the way that it can manufacture or annihilate about anything. It is additionally generally illustrative of the general public since it incorporates all classes and sorts of individuals. A representation of the military as an instrument of progress is the military takeover of Egypt, drove by Nasser in 1952. The military takeover of an administration is regularly alluded to as an upset d’etat. Nasser was an individual from the Free Officers. Nasser, as different individuals, originated from a lower-white collar class foundation and was baffled with the medieval framework that was being authorized in Egypt. Under the primitive framework, just two percent of the individuals claimed a whole 75% of the land. Because of the injustice and the people’s disdain of the present ruler, the military assumed control over the place that is known for Egypt. The second instrument of progress is initiative, which assumes a huge job during the time spent change. Nasser turned into the pioneer of Egypt after the military revolted. In 1953, Nasser gave a renowned discourse in Alexandria where somebody discharged four shots at him yet missed. Nasser was adulated for this discourse, expressing I live for Egypt, I pass on for Egypt. These words transformed Nasser into an appealling pioneer a pioneer who is viewed as a sort of God and is a colossal good example to the individuals. During his standard, Nasser needed to give Egypt back to the Egyptian individuals. Nasser achieved this by giving additional plots of land to workers, passing Agrarian Reform Acts to assist the lower classes, and by dealing with the Suez channel. Obviously, Nasser was viewed as an extraordinary pioneer and legend in the Third World. The third instrument of progress is belief system. Philosophy is basically a conviction framework what one feels is positive or negative. Belief system can likewise be alluded to as a lot of political thoughts or qualities.

Thursday, August 13, 2020

Whats in an App Personal Statement COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

Whats in an App Personal Statement COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog Your SIPA personal statement may initially get only minutes of an admissions officers attention. In those few minutes, you will want to show that you are a great pick. Writing an amazing SIPA Personal Statement  is probably far more straightforward than you might think. SIPA admissions officers arent looking for gimmicks. Theyre looking for passionate, motivated, and prepared applicants who are ready to hit the ground running in their chosen program. Read on for more details in creating your best personal essay. Personal, personal, personal Did we mention personal? Your personal statement should be about your interests as an individual. Write about issues only if they relate specifically to your personal experiences. For example, In Africa, a child dies every minute. This stark statistic prompted me to join an NGO aimed at providing nutrition and healthcare for children in Namibia. Be yourself! It can be tempting to want to embellish your essays with language or quotes that show off your knowledge, don’t overthink it! The admissions committee wants to know about you and how SIPA can get you where you want to go. You chose SIPA for a reason, so just elaborate on that reason in your essay. Know your program and make connections Securing acceptance is more about being the best match than about being the most highly qualified. Among applicants who meet the programs minimum requirements, theyll choose an enthusiastic and informed applicant over one with higher test scores and a better GPA who doesnt seem to know much about their program. Ask for help Most students at SIPA will tell you that they’ve had close friends or mentors offer a second set of eyes on their personal statement. While we are all independent adults forging our own paths, sometimes we need to reach out for some help or advice. Whether it is using friends and family as sounding boards to bounce ideas off of, or to proofread your essay after you write it, asking for help can take some of the stress out of writing an admissions essay. Having another set of eyes look at your essay can make sure mistakes are caught before you submit. They can also provide feedback about weak areas in your essay, or even point out something you didn’t know about yourself that would make you a strong candidate. Take a step back Sometimes just stepping away from your essay for a little while may help, if you have the time. Sitting down and focusing on it for hours may cause you to miss the goal altogether. So step away, reward yourself for your work thus far, and return to it at a better time. Now that you’re armed with these personal essay pointers, put them into practice and wow some admission officers. Happy writing!

Saturday, May 23, 2020

The Road That Ran Down The Center Of Eatonville - 2025 Words

The main road that ran down the center of Eatonville was a major transit route for people traveling to and from Orlando and Maitland. This route gave Hurston the opportunity to sit in her yard and watch the â€Å"white folks† drive by. There was definitely racial turmoil and segregation in the Central Florida due to Jim Crow laws at the time, however Eatonville was able shield white oppression, to an extent (Tiffany, 36). Her father, John Hurston, was a jack-of-trades having worked as a carpenter, farmer, pastor and even mayor of Eatonville for three terms. Hurston would write in her autobiography, Dusk tracks on the road, â€Å"John Hurston, in his late twenties, had left Macon County, Alabama, because the ordeal of share cropping on a southern†¦show more content†¦Hurston was the second girl in the family and the fifth child out of eight. John worked as a preacher of the Zion Baptist Church in Sanford which is ten miles from Eatonville and was known to spend the weekends up there on his own. John also liked attention from women and was well known to sleep around while married to Lucy. It caused many arguments and brawls in the Hurston house, although Hurston would still claim that her parents were madly in love. Perhaps Hurston resented how her father treated her mother, the person whom she idolized and put on a pedestal. Hurston’s life can be divided into a few sections, first being her childhood in Eatonville, From the age of three until thirteen, Hurston spent her time climbing cypress trees down by Lake Lotus, playing and singing with her siblings and the other kids from the community, sitting on the front porch of Joe Clark’s general store listening to the adults tell tall tales (or lies as she would say), and attending her local school house. She had fond memories of her childhood and would often romanticize it. In her book, Mules and Men, She would describe her hometown as a city of five lakes, three croquet courts, three hundred brown skins, three hundred good swimmers, plenty guavas, two schools, and no jailhouse. (Hurston, 4). In a way it was her â€Å"Mulberry†, the perfect southern community where everybody knows your name and living was easy. Because Eatonville was

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Benefits Of Ableism Social Costs Incurred By Disability

Taylar Vajda PG 410 Professor Haltom 11 November 2015 The Advantages of Ableism: Social Costs Incurred by Disability (First Rough Draft) Introduction To the average American, the notion that structural inequity within US government creates disadvantages for those in marginalized groups comes as no surprise. Citizens generally acknowledge race, gender, and class as key determinants in one’s social standing. However, what is often overlooked are the structural benefits of being abled within the US- both physically and developmentally. The disabled population starts at a disadvantage from the onset of disability onward, regardless of class. However, being of a higher socioeconomic status creates an excess of privilege not typically witnessed within low income communities. Despite a variety of federal programs implemented, we’ve yet been able to effectively care for the disabled population within low income communities. While public policy attempts to provide services to keep this population employed, healthy and safe it is (typically) unsuccessful. The social costs incurred by disability are fundamentally abetted by st ructural inequity in the American political system. Literature Review Before we get too involved in the midst of this paper however, it should first be made clear what is meant by the term â€Å"disability.† According to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health from the World Health Organization (WHO) the medical and social

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Mod c Free Essays

To what extent does the representation of past events and recollections lead us to a boundless consciousness of the complexity of human attitudes and behavior? In exploring the Inherent tensions between history and memory and by acknowledging the specific authorial choices, we are lead to a heightened consciousness of the complexity of human attitudes and behavior. Mark Baker holds a tight reign of control over his work by deciding what to keep and omit throughout his non-fiction prose text, the Fiftieth Gate. While Rugged juxtaposes our knowledge about the Vietnam War with a very personal and poignant recount in their song and video ‘l was only nineteen’. We will write a custom essay sample on Mod c or any similar topic only for you Order Now Baker identifies selectivity, tensions and similarities between past events and recollections that are revealed through the blend of different text types and features in addition to characters emotions and actions. Whilst Rugged utilizes first person and film techniques in order to achieve identical effects. Baker adheres to his objectives by making specific authorial choices which initiate partial views. These views originate a boundless consciousness of the complexity of human attitudes and behaviors. ‘It always begins In blackness, until the first light illuminates a hidden fragment of memory. ‘ Baker uses the Imagery and motif of light to portray memory as fragmented and subject to fulfillment by history. In the first and last line of the fiftieth gate history Is perceived as merely an artificial construct, providing only one version of the past. Baker’s specialized decisions allow him to develop a broader understanding and through growth, the complexity of his human attitudes and behaviors become apparent. L realist how deeply buried is his pain. I eave always pitied myself for the grandparents I do not have, rarely considering my father’s own orphaned state† (pop). Bloodcurdling is evident through Bakers own statement, his attitudes begin to change as a result of his one sided views to history, which allow baker to focus on specific aspects of his parents memory. ‘I would prefer to leave the Idea of me rather than bits and pieces’ p. 304 Baker’s decision to study his parents memories, by fulfilling them with history, causes his own bloodcurdling. Baker realizes memories are more valuable since history Is bits and pieces’ of the whole story. Bakers change and development of attitudes and behaviors Is consequent to his authorial editing with regards to his methodology and objectives within the Fiftieth Gate. In contrast to Baker’s partiality when examining history, Rugged accentuates memory’s partiality, in reference to war stories from the song ‘l was only nineteen’. And the Anza legends didn’t mention mud and blood and tears/ and the stories that my father told me never seemed quite real. These lines refer to the Juxtaposition between memories retold by the persona’s father about war and the experiences of the persona himself. Rugged uses dual scenes running simultaneously during these lines to enhance the disparity between the calm music and the harshness of the Vietnam War. Which contrasts Bakers bloodcurdling due to specific authorial choices of the way history Is analyses In the fiftieth gate. Through comparison of Baker’s bloodcurdling and Residuum’s emotive language It becomes obvious that history Is multi-faceted and cannot be taken on face value. O his dual role as Historian and Son and his validation of his parent’s memories by history, therefore expanding the awareness of the complexity of human attitudes and behaviors. Genie: ‘Stop interrogating me. Because I don’t have a number means I didn’t survive? (p. 194) gate 32. This recording of Genie, portrayed through italics, expresses her depressed and reluctant attitude toward reciting memories to her son due to the lack of historical Justification. The tension between history and Genie’s memory evokes a change in her attitudes and behaviors, causing Genie to be against Bakers exploration in to his parent’s memories. In contrast Yogis accepted Bakers leadership since his memories are confirmed as a result Yokel’s collective memory ND varied historic evidence. Yokel’s was a past written on a page of history shared by other survivors. My mother could not point to any one†¦ ‘ (p. 136). Bakers Juxtaposition between his fathers authenticated memories and his mother’s lack of, represents the contrasting tension between history and memory and its effect on different people. Yokel’s attitudes and behaviors were changed to accept Bakers questions since his memories were supported largely by past events. Rugged, similarly to Baker, examines the ever surmounting tension between history and Emory to increase our acknowledgement of the complexity of human attitudes and behaviors. ‘Frankie kicked a mine the day that mankind kicked the moon, God help me, he was going home in June. ‘ Rugged with the use of rhyme trivialities a historical event,’ kicked the moon’, to increase the impact of the persona’s memory of a friend’s death. ‘he was going home in June’ emphasizes the tension and neglecting of history since Franker’s leave in June was 11 months after the moon landing, focusing of the significance of the memory rather than the historical event. The complexity of the reasons attitudes and behaviors, like Genie and YOGIS, have been further analyses through his reaction to the labyrinthine relationship between history and memory. In exploring the inherent tensions between history and memory and by acknowledging the specific authorial choices, we are lead to a greater awareness of the complexity of human attitudes and behavior. Mark Baker and Rugged, with in the texts fiftieth Gate and ‘l was only nineteen’, Juxtaposes and agree on how the perception of the complexity of human attitudes and behavior is heightened do to the directions and tensions of history and memory. How to cite Mod c, Papers

Sunday, May 3, 2020

Fraud And Aftermath Essay Example For Students

Fraud And Aftermath Essay annonIn his poem The Divine Comedy. The Inferno, Dante Alighieri gives hisaudience a clear vivid presentation of what he as a follower of theChristian religion perceives to be hell. Dante shows that human sin ispunishable in various degrees of severity and that this is dependent onthe nature of one^?s sinful actions. He sets forth what could very well bethe most fully developed Christian understanding of justice on earth, andthat is; that what we do as human beings will determine what happens to usin the event of death based on God^?s judgment. In writing his poem Danteuses symbolism, allegorism and imagery among other literary effects toplace his poem analogically to life as it was during his day and age. Dante structures The Inferno around thirty four cantos. Each of thesecantos marks a steady progression from the mildest to the worst of sins. The cantos depict sinners under various forms of punishment which arecommensurate to the nature of their sins. Dante categorizes sin into three different categories of fraud,incontinence and violence. In canto I he mentions three animals namely , aleopard, a lion and a she-wolf. These animals act as symbolisms for thevarious types of sins. The sin^?s depicted in canto XVIII are symbolizedby the she-wolf which acts as a symbol for the sins of fraud. The sins offraud are placed the furthest from God in the deepest pits of hell, nearSatan. In canto XVIII Dante and his guide Virgil find themselves in theeighth circle, called the Malebolge. It is in the Malebolge, that each ofthe kinds of simple fraud are punished in the concentric ditches. In the first ditch, Dante sees two files of naked sinners each running inopposite direction, whipped by demons. These sinners are the panderers andthe seducers. Dante recognizes Venedico Caccianemico, a man he once knew. Venedico in this case is depicted as having sold his sister, Ghisola toserve the will and lust of another man, Marquis. Dante at this point usesa fellow contemporary to show what happens when one goes against the willof God and sins. Venedico betrays his family ties and his indifference inthis act results in his eternal punishment of being whipped by demons. Also mentioned as having been punished is Jason, who suffers punishmentfor having seduced and abandoned Hypsipyle and Medea. For these twosinners Dante^?s allegory revolves around the law of retributive justicewhere both Venedico^?s and Jason^?s psychology^?s at the time ofcommitting sin are tied in with the punishment of whip lashing by demons. Both sinners place their personal needs and interests above others and arenow placed under the whip lashing and oppressive command of indifferentdemons. Dante and Virgil move over to a bridge and below it, Dante sees the ditchof the flatterers. It is in this trench that persons who had sinned asflatterers are punished by being made to wallow in a river of humanexcrement from which emanates nauseating fumes. Dante recognizes AlessioInterminelli da Lucca. Allesio is smeared all over with excrement. Virgilalerts Dante of the presence of yet another sinner, Tha?s. Tha?s ispunished in the same way as Alessio, but is made to alternatively rise andcrouch in the river of excrement. Tha?s is punished for being a prostituteand for a flattering lie that she told while in the trade. The punishmentthat this two consequently suffer is the eternal stench and filth of theditch. Tha?s in this canto perpetuates the image of ingenuine love whichturns out to be a mere outlet for bodily urges and needs. From theperspective of Tha?s^? and Allesio^?s punishment we see that they bothundergo the process of retributive justice. Flatterers, due to their abuseo f language wallow in excrement which metaphorically symbolizes the wordsthey used in flattering others on earth. .u151392d7c3bfa9f7b76eb8261528ba86 , .u151392d7c3bfa9f7b76eb8261528ba86 .postImageUrl , .u151392d7c3bfa9f7b76eb8261528ba86 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u151392d7c3bfa9f7b76eb8261528ba86 , .u151392d7c3bfa9f7b76eb8261528ba86:hover , .u151392d7c3bfa9f7b76eb8261528ba86:visited , .u151392d7c3bfa9f7b76eb8261528ba86:active { border:0!important; } .u151392d7c3bfa9f7b76eb8261528ba86 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u151392d7c3bfa9f7b76eb8261528ba86 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u151392d7c3bfa9f7b76eb8261528ba86:active , .u151392d7c3bfa9f7b76eb8261528ba86:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u151392d7c3bfa9f7b76eb8261528ba86 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u151392d7c3bfa9f7b76eb8261528ba86 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u151392d7c3bfa9f7b76eb8261528ba86 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u151392d7c3bfa9f7b76eb8261528ba86 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u151392d7c3bfa9f7b76eb8261528ba86:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u151392d7c3bfa9f7b76eb8261528ba86 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u151392d7c3bfa9f7b76eb8261528ba86 .u151392d7c3bfa9f7b76eb8261528ba86-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u151392d7c3bfa9f7b76eb8261528ba86:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Drinking water contamination EssayIn conclusion it can be seen that Dante views fraud as a sin thatseparates human beings from God^?s grace and love. Dante presents to hisaudience a poem that creates a better understanding of the consequences ofsinful human actions. He bases The Inferno on the teachings found in theChristian religion and offers to the audience a typological reading thatmakes it clear that what will happen to each individual in the after lifewill be determined solely by one^?s actions on earth. Works ConsultedFaulie, Wallace A reading of Dante^?s Inferno , The University of Chicago Press,1981 199-123Alighieri, Dante The Divine Comedy. Inferno, The Norton Anthology, WorldMasterpieces. General Ed. Maynard Mack 6th ed. W. W. Norton and Company ,1992. 1273-1423

Thursday, March 26, 2020

Business Communications †Individual Report

Executive summary The report analyses the communication adopted by the Greenpeace international in reaching its stakeholders. Its major objective is to determine which have been the most applicable means of communication applied by the organization. It targets the stakeholders as it gives a clear picture of the communication and its transformation over the years. The report employs investigative and explorative research methodology to come up with the analysis.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Business Communications – Individual specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to the report study main findings, social media like facebook and twitter have been widely used. Other forms of communication are video conferencing, blogs, websites, emails, multimedia, and videos. The most effective forms of communication applicable when reaching the audience of Greenpeace are the social media followed by multi media. Th ey are cost effective reliable, user friendly, and reach a wide number of stakeholders. Mass media has been recommended as the most appropriate and effective form of communication that can be applied to reach the audience and the different stakeholders. The organization should relentlessly continue using this form of communication because of the nature of work it is involved in. Introduction Communication plays an integral role in an organization. It is important to have channels of communication through which different individuals portray their ideas, opinions, attitudes, and ideologies. Communication has been defined as the transfer of information from one individual or groups to another through a medium of exchange (Barker 2008, p.3). The information relayed may be in the form of news, message, data, or emotions. The medium of exchange ensures that information is relayed to the targeted recipient in the right time. The content should be understandable, time bound, accurate, and r eady to interpret (Barker 2008, p.3). Communication can be either informal or formal as both are applicable in the organizational setting (Barker 2008, p.5). Different organizations use different forms of communications depending on whom the message or information is being communicated to. For communication to be effective barriers to communication need to be minimized (Wertheim 2008, p.2) The report explores the different types of communication used by Greenpeace international to present information to its various stakeholders. Based on the analysis, the report will give the most effective form of communication that can be used to reach the target audience supported by evidence. Lastly, it gives recommendations on where the organization can improve and what in do away with of any.Advertising Looking for essay on business communication? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Background information Greenpeace international is a global ly recognized non-governmental organization. It is a campaigning organization with the major role of safeguarding the environment through awareness creation and other conservative measures and policies. It aims at changing the behaviour and attitudes of the general population. Its major campaigns are in energy revolution, oceans defending, encouraging peace through disarmament and call for abolition of nuclear weapons, sustainable agriculture, and creation of a future free from toxics (Greenpeace 2011). The organization that was founded 40 years ago is presented in forty states across the pacific, Africa, Asia, America, and Europe. It depends mostly on individual contributions and grants from foundations. Contrary, it â€Å"does not accept donations from governments or corporations† (Greenpeace 2011) for independence purposes. The report targets different stakeholders who need to understand the commonly applicable forms of communications and the most appropriate one. Its majo r purpose is to evaluate the communication process, mechanism, and form between the Greenpeace international and its numerous stakeholders. Main findings Stakeholders A stakeholder may be defined as any individual, organization, or a group that has either indirect or direct stake or interest in a particular organization (Fassin 2008, p.7). Stakeholders are divided into internal and external stakeholders (Fassin 2008, p.8). Based on this definition then the different stakeholders of Greenpeace international are, foundations grant, individual supporters, donors, volunteers, employees, environmental communities, national and regional offices as well as the general public. The different stakeholders are presented with information in different types depending on the urgency, confidentiality level, and the time required conveying the information. Communication between stakeholders and organization Social media This is the latest form of communication which is transforming how information is communicated from one individual to another. Social media is a form of online communication where the internet forms the basis from where information can be exchanged in real-time (PWC 2011, p.2).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Business Communications – Individual specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The commonly used social media channels are Facebook, twitter, and MySpace among many more uprising channels. According to Bengtson (2010) social media has transformed the relationship that exists between organizations and stakeholders. Since the modern stakeholders like a dialogue that it two way and authentic, social media has been the favorite form of communication. Greenpeace has not been left behind. Being a campaigning organization that relies mostly on activism to relay its information to stakeholders, the organization has been using facebook and twitter among other forms of social media to reach its s takeholders. Through the social media, the organization is able to reach out to its followers, donors, supporters, and foundation grants and communicate in real-time. For example, these stakeholders are engaged in debates that criticize organization or corporations that do not comply with the values and the objectives of the Greenpeace international. The use of facebook and twitter has been effective as Greenpeace has used it to communicate with stakeholders on how Apple was developing products with high toxic levels (Bengtson 2010). As a result, Apple was able to reduce its wastes production. Other companies that have been criticized by the stakeholders and Greenpeace international through the social media are Unilever and Nestle (Bengtson 2010). The use of social media to communicate with the different stakeholders has been effective so far as its values and objectives have been restored. A report by the PWC (2011, p.5) indicate that most of the employees currently are using the s ocial media to share information, research, and network. An organization like the Greenpeace international communicates with its employees through the social media. This is appropriate form of communication given that the organization uses the social media to make its campaigns. It is a cost effective mode of communication as information can be relayed from the organization management and posted on the organization wall for the employees to see. Although it is a risk venture in dimensions of security and confidentiality, guidelines can be applied to minimize these risks (PWC 2011, p.5). Other forms based on internet platform Other than using the social media to reach its stakeholders and convey the required information which is environmental conservation, the Greenpeace international has been involved in the use of blogs, websites, and You Tube (Bengtson 2010). By positing on the organizations blogs and its websites it is easy convenient to have the information readily available to the different stakeholders (Combs Holladay 2011).Advertising Looking for essay on business communication? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More For instance, in the Greenpeace international website, donors, supporters, grants foundations, and other esteemed stakeholders are able to access the financial reports and statements of the organization. This form of transparency and accountability through communication portrays the level of corporate governance in the organization. Instead of dispatching booklets to all different stakeholders from the 40 countries where Greenpeace initiatives are concentrated, the organization posts on the websites. This form of communication saves time, money, altering the communicated information, and allowing communication of identical information. The information can be accessed at the convenience of the different stakeholders at convenient place and time. On the other hand, the use of YouTube allows the organization to post videos to showcase to the stakeholders what position or its undertakings and achievements. Any individual connected to internet or can access You Tube through the phone can easily access this form of information. Greenpeace international has used both the You Tube and blogs to convey information to stakeholders (Bengtson 2010). Through the partnership of the stakeholders and the organization, it has been possible to instill pressure on Unilever and Apple Inc. The organization and the stakeholders have been able to discuss some of the issues over the websites, blogs and You Tube. Multimedia communication The advancement in technology has made it possible people to communicate from different regions with different time zones but in real-time (Combs Holladay 2011; (Barker 2008, p.12; Carayamis, Hovy, Maybury Stock n.d). Organization can use the multimedia communication which is enabled via the internet (Koegel 1992, p.1). The specific applicable multimedia communication forms applied by the Greenpeace international are the use of emails, videos, photos, photo essays, slideshows, and ship webcams (Greenpeace 2011). Through these different forms of commu nication, Greenpeace international is able to relay the information to different stakeholders. For example, employees, donors, supporters, and the regional offices can be communicated through the use of emails. The advantage of using emails is that it is less costly as information can be dispatched to different stakeholders in bulk form. This saves money, time, and energy that could be used in designing paperwork or paper related documents. The communities that have partnered with Greenpeace international are reached through the use of multimedia communications. For example, through the use of videos, photos, slideshows, and webcams, the organization is in position to relay the intended information (Horak 2007, p.625). These have been combined with the application of the internet and the use of the websites. The pictures and the slideshows are available on the organization websites which makes it convenient. For individuals whom are willing to support the organizations or foundation s that need to partner with the Greenpeace organization can easily get the required information inform of pectoral format, as data, videos, photos or slideshows. This has made it convenient for the stakeholders especially the external ones. Webcam is a form of video conferencing that uses the internet and a computer or a phone (Horak 2007, p.624). People are able to communicate in real-time without the need for transport or arrangement for meetings (Horak 2007, p.624). Greenpeace international uses this form of communication to reach the different stakeholders especially in regions that have no offices. Through ship webcams, information can be relayed to different stakeholders while the management is on transit. This makes it appropriate and convenient for the organization and the stakeholders. The three ships that are always in the ocean are able to collect information and relay it back to the organization and its stakeholders. The use of either mobile phone or office phone has bec ome a major communication method. Organization like Greenpeace international uses mobile phones to conduct its stakeholders. For example, if an individual is willing to donate or partner with the organization, mobile or telephone number is given (Greenpeace 2011). The numbers is used for conduct purposely and relay the needed information to the stakeholders. Mass media During the inception of the Greenpeace international in 1971, the founders of the organization used mass media to communicate with the world (Birch Mcevoy 1996). The press is able to convey the intended message to the intended party. Although mass media has been the oldest form of communication till technological innovation, it has never become obsolete even after emergence of social media. Through journalists, Greenpeace captures the information deemed appropriate then communicated to its stakeholders. For example, Greenpeace international has collaborated with different news channels to have its information passed out to the stakeholders (Birch Mcevoy 1996). The use of mass media as a form of communication has been supported by (Moussa 1991) who insist that the use of mass media especially news conferences and press reaches a wide range of people. Through use of pictures motion and videos in television as well as newsprint like magazines and newspapers, it is possible to reach the stakeholders. Radio broadcast, press, and the use of TV channels reach a wide range of people (Moussa 1991). Electronic mass media has helped Greenpeace greatly pass its information (Birch Mcevoy 1996). The recorded information is released via the electronic mass media channels. The use of TV and radio by Greenpeace has been occasionally been successful (Birch Mcevoy 1996). The interplay between motion pictures and sound leaves messages embedded in the minds of the viewers who are also part of the stakeholders. Mass media application has been combined with web and net based media to reach the stakeholders (Birch Mcevoy 1996). Through the mass media Greenpeace objectives and core values have been achieved in several times. However, freedom of press has remained as the only hindrance for its full applicability. Nonetheless, social media has been able to have great influence as both forms of media can be intertwined to give the information required to the mass media. Video conferencing is another form of communication used by the Greenpeace international to reach its stakeholders (Birch Mcevoy 1996). Video conferencing allows the relay of information in real-time where audio and visual elements are applied (Horak 2007, p.624). It allows face to face communication where the televised information is captured. This form of communication has been realised through the communication of the Greenpeace international ship members’ crew and in crew in the mass media (Birch Mcevoy 1996). Upon the collection of information, video conferencing is used to relay the information to the headquarters. Form the headquarters the information is passed on to the stakeholders. Most effective form of communication in reaching the target audiences and why Greenpeace international campaigns to ensure that a clean environment is realised (Greenpeace 2011). Through its campaigns, the organization audiences include governments, organizations, general public and corporations that may be involved in pollution of the environment. The initiatives of the Greenpeace international need to be communicated to the target audience in the appropriate manner. To make sure that the information is relayed, the following forms of communication have been deemed as effective to reach the target audience. Social media Social media is the latest technology that has the capability of reaching an audience in the real-time. Greenpeace international uses this form of communication to reach its audience. Ray and Donohew (1990, p.167) in their research concluded that mass media is an appropriate mode of communicati on that can be applied to ensure public policies are promoted. The target audience is given a platform from where a discussion based on attitudes and opinions are shared. For instance, through facebook and twitter, Greenpeace international has been able to reach some of its target audience like Apple (Bengtson 2010). To prove its effectiveness, the organization was in a position to rally campaigns through the infiltration of the corporation facebook page. Through discussions with different stakeholders and other interested parties, Green international realized its goal. It was able to make Apple reduce the toxic materials it was using to manufacture its micro chips. Social media communication is the most effective form of communication in reaching the target audience as it involves different stakeholders and parties (PWC 2011). The intended message is absorbed and through persistence and double efforts the information is at last relayed. It is a convenient mode of communication as a wide range of population is currently subscribed or using facebook and twitter among other social networks. For example, there are more than 750, 000, 000 facebook subscribers with more than 100, 000, 000 accessing it through mobile phones (PWC 2011, p.4). Basically, Greenpeace international theme and core values target the public in general, through the use of the social media, it is easy to reach as many people as possible and relay messages. The rallying campaigns can also be necessitated through this form of communication. Social media is cheap, reliable, effective, and enables communication in real-time (PWC 2011, p.2-5). By real-time it implies that, the organization can communicate with its audience instantly at the same time. No matter the space and time differences, mass media allows the audiences receive the information without delay. It does not require a lot of cost to initiate and develop. The information relayed through mass media is accurate, understandable, unique, reliable, and easy to interpret making this form of communication appropriate for Greenpeace communication Multi media For the sake of the report study, mass media will be used collectively to comprise videos, You Tube, pictures, webcam emails, and slideshows. Multimedia communication is another most effective type of communication that Greenpeace international can apply to reach its audience (Birch Mcevoy 1996). Through the use of emails, the organization will be in a position to reach the subscribed audiences in a fast and cost effective manner. Emails need the information to be formulated then dispatched as a group. Websites are readily accessible through the internet and anybody can have access and view the communicated information (Coombs Holladay 2011). It is an effective form of communication as through the website updates, the target audience will be in a position to know what is happening and what information is being communicated (Coombs Holladay 2011). It is cheap, reli able, and convenient as the intended information is relayed at a go to mass audience. For example, operations and what Greenpeace international can be found online and is accessible by any person. Blogs like the mass media allows the target audience to interact freely with the organization at a personal level (Coombs Holladay 2011). Although machine like computers are used and that human touch and feeling is not availed, the interaction through exchange of information is crucial to an audience. Photos, slideshows and You Tube allow communication to be carried in pictorial and image form. The audience is able to associate itself with the information being conveyed by the organization. Through watch of the videos via You Tube, the message is driven home. Webcam allows real-time communication as information is conveyed to the audience in the real-time. It has no transport costs, costs for meeting arrangements, it saves time required in arranging meetings, and it is cheap. Conclusion I t is imperative to note that Greenpeace international has been successful in communicating with its stakeholders. Through the open communication, the organization has been able to fully drive its messages to the intended parties. The most successful form of communication has been the social media channels like facebook and twitter. These two have helped in getting the attention of the audience and the target audience. Because of the cost effectiveness, speed, and the real-time communication aspect allowed by mass media, this form of communication has the capacity to reach many stakeholders at a go. Mass media has also played a great role in relaying information to the stakeholders. Through the use of TV and the print media Greenpeace has been in opposition to rally itself to the stakeholders. Mass media has been the oldest form of communication while social media has been latest form of communication. Both work in an interchanging manner Other forms of communication include video co nferencing, webcams, websites, blogs and the multi media. All these for communication allow interactive communication between Greenpeace international and its stakeholders. Mostly important is they convey message in real-time and language barrier or cultural shock is not a problem. The stakeholders can have the information translated to their national language making the communication effective. The most effective form of communication used to reach the audience is the social media and the multimedia. These two are reliable, cost effective, easy to use, and can pass the intended information in the given time frame. Recommendations Based on the report main findings and conclusion, it is recommendable that the organization put more emphasis on social media. It is a vast and fast means and form of communication. Stakeholders need to be interactive with the organization and social media offers that platform. It is also recommendable that the organization continues with the open and inte ractive communication to realize its goals and objectives. Lastly, the organization needs to maximize the use of the social media and multimedia in ensuring that its information to the stakeholders is passed on. It should take advantage of the technological advancement and use it for its benefits. Reference List Bengtson, B 2010, Power to the Stakeholders – Nestle, Greenpeace and Facebook. Available from: http://sdialogue.com/uncategorized/power-to-the-stakeholders-nestle-greenpeace-and-facebook/ [4 January 2012]. Barker, KA 2008, Organizational communication. Available from: http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/doe/benchmark/ch13.pdf [ 4 January 2012]. Birch, D Mcevoy, C 1996, Greenpeace. Available from: http://yoz.com/wired/2.05/features/greenpeace.html [4 January 2012]. Carayamis, G, Hovy, E, Maybury, M, Stock, O n.d, Multimedia Communication, including Text. Available from: http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~ref/mlim/chapter9.html Coombs, WT, Holladay, SJ 2011, The Handbook of Cris is Communication, Wiley-Blackwell, London. Fassin, Y 2008, The stakeholder model refined, Ghent University, Department of Management, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Tweekerkenstraat. Available from: http://www.feb.ugent.be/nl/Ondz/wp/Papers/wp_08_529.pdf [4 January 2012]. Greenpeace 2011. About Greenpeace. Available from: http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/about/ . Horak, R 2007, Telecommunications and data communications handbook, John Wiley Sons, Hoboken, N.J., Koegel, FJ. et al 1992, ‘Supporting Real-Time Analysis of Multimedia Communication Sessions’, Enabling Technologies for High-Bandwidth Applications, vol. 1785 Moussa, F1991. Role of mass media and communication in improving the general environment for inventive and creative activity. Available from: http://www.invention-ifia.ch/byFaragMoussa_Role_of_Mass_Media.htm . PWC 2011. The power of social media: How CIOs can build business value using social media. Available from: http://download.pwc.com/ie/pu bs/2011_the_power_of_social_media.pdf Ray, EB Donohew, L 1990, Communication and health: systems and applications, Library of Congress, New Jersey. Wertheim, EG 2008. The Importance of Effective Communication. Available from: http://windward.hawaii.edu/facstaff/dagrossa-p/ssci193v/articles/EffectiveCommunication.pdf . This essay on Business Communications – Individual was written and submitted by user Audriana Pacheco to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Friday, March 6, 2020

Phase Definition and Examples

Phase Definition and Examples In chemistry and physics, a phase is  a physically distinctive form of matter, such as a solid, liquid, gas, or plasma. A phase of matter is characterized by having relatively uniform chemical and physical properties. Phases are different from states of matter. The states of matter (e.g., liquid, solid, gas) are phases, but matter can exist in different phases yet remain in the same state of matter. For example, liquid mixtures can exist in multiple phases, such as an oil phase and an aqueous phase. The term phase may also be used to describe equilibrium states on a phase diagram. When phase is used in this context, its typically synonymous with a state of matter because the qualities that describe the phase include the organization of matter as well as variables such as temperature and pressure. Phases of Matter The distinct phases used to describe states of matter include: Solid: Closely packed particles with a fixed volume and shapeLiquid: Fluid particles with a fixed volume but variable shapeGas: Fluid particles with neither a fixed volume nor shapePlasma: Charged particles with no fixed volume or shapeBose-Einstein condensate: A diluted, cold boson gasMesophases: Intermediate phases between solid and liquid There may be multiple phases within a single state of matter. For example, a bar of solid iron may contain multiple phases (e.g., martensite, austenite). An oil and water mixture is a liquid that will separate into two phases. Interface At equilibrium, there is a narrow space between two phases where the matter doesnt exhibit properties of either phase. This region, known as interface, may be very thin, yet can exert significant effects.

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Rhetorical analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 8

Rhetorical analysis - Essay Example The dealer has ample amount of knowledge and information regarding different cars that are being sold by the company. The context in which this article was created is to inform the people of Tucson about the dealer of Porsche in the region of Tucson and the aim of the dealer within the context is to increase their sales. The aim of informing as well as persuading consumers to purchase one of the cars being offered by the dealer has been quite effectively attained by exhibiting his/her creditability, by tapping into the customer’s emotions of desire to live a luxurious life and their desire to experience freedom and the author has even used logical reasoning such as reviews from the customers. The authors of the website of Porsche of Tucson have quite effectively utilized the persuasion technique of ethical appeal in order to attract and persuade the customers to buy one of the cars being sold on the website. The author of the website has tremendous amount of credibility as the author of the website is the dealer working for the company of Porsche. The dealer is well informed about different models of cars being sold on the website and the benefits and drawbacks associated with these cars. They obtain this information directly from the company and therefore are credible enough in the eyes of the audience for providing them with the information that is published on the website. Other than ethos, the author has quite effectively used the persuasion technique of emotional appeals or pathos to persuade customers into purchasing the offerings of Porsche of Tucson. The author of the website has appealed to various emotions of the consumers in order to persuade the audience. They have tapped into the emotional feeling of satisfaction and happiness in order to attract the audience and mote them to purchase one of the cars. For example: the author has stated that by purchasing one of the

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

Businese Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Businese Law - Essay Example By this time Karter had not parted with the money to purchase the paintings. Therefore Karter purchases the paintings knowing very well that Jimmy had repudiated his offer and was not going to make any good payment of them. 1 In Dickinson Vs Dodds, 1876, the defendant gave the plaintiff a written offer to sell him his house for 800 on Wednesday. The offer was to be left open until next Friday 9 a.m. On Thursday the defendant sold the house to someone else. On that very evening, the plaintiff was told of the sale by a third party, but before 9 a.m. on Friday the plaintiff delivered his acceptance to the defendant which the defendant refused to receive. It was held by the court that there was a proper revocation of the offer and the plaintiff could not accept it. 2 Even though Karter had revoked his offer of purchasing the paintings, the revocation / refusal was not procedurally done legally. Under the rules governing any revocation of an offer, that withdrawal must be committed to the person to whom it was made. It means that had Karter not taken the initiative of calling Jimmy would have continued to be silent of his withdrawn intention to purchase the paintings. 3 On the other hand, Karter would be to blame because he had acted outside the agreed terms of their agreement with Karter. According to their agreement Jimmy had expressly told Karter not to spend more than $ 1,000 USD. These terms were very certain but Karter ignored them and purchase paintings worth $5,000 USD. The expression by Jimmy to Karter to only spend $1,000 USD was in fact a term that was too "heavy" to be overlooked. This is because: - (a) Jimmy would not have entered into the contract if the statement was not made. The statement was important because it showed the maximum amount of money that he had and which he was willing to spend on paintings. (b) The statement was made immediately alongside the other agreements meaning that the representer highly regarded its importance. But Karter can still argue that he had thought that the statement was not a term of the contract since it was not followed by a written agreement. Jimmy could have reduced his oral expression into writing. Though he did not expressly state that he could not purchase the paintings if they cost over $1,000 USD, it was implied that he was not going to spend over $1,000 USD in paintings. These are implied terms that parties probably had in mind but did not bother to express. They have to be implied by the courts. Additionally, the parties would have expresses this agreement in writing if they had foreseen the difficulty occurring. Such terms the parties could have expressed in writing had they seen the difficulties are implied by the courts because of the court's view of fairness or public policy. Vincent acted in good faith in selling his painting and cannot be held responsible. He was made to believe in statements that were not true. He was in fact misrepresented by Karter who told him that he had been authorized to purchase the painting on behalf of Jimmy. Misrepresentation renders the contract voidable at the option of the innocent party. The statement was made are the time the contract was made and it induced Vincent into the contract. 4 Vincent could not have entered into the contract if: - (i) He knew that Karter's statement was false. (ii) He would have made the contract despite the misrepresentation. (iii) He did not know that there had been a misrepresentation i.e. after entering into the

Monday, January 27, 2020

Ethics In Nigeria Oil And Gas Industry Politics Essay

Ethics In Nigeria Oil And Gas Industry Politics Essay Nigeria is Africas most populous nation and also its largest producer of oil. The country is ranked fifth in terms of oil exportation to the United States. The country has the potential to reach the third spot replacing Norway in a few years though it is plagued with social unrest as well as corruption in the Niger Delta posing significant challenges to the production of oil. The intermittent economic crisis and the political turmoil the country faces dates back to independence in 1960. At the centre of this is the oil industry. This is highlighted by its human development indicators which are among the lowest in the world even though the revenue from gas and oil has gone up to 40 billion per year. This means that the countrys majority lives in extreme poverty. This fact as well the severe environmental degradation that comes with oil production operations in the region has resulted in a conflict between the transnational oil corporations and the communities that reside in the delta date back to early1990s. This article provides an in-depth analysis that the oil industry in Nigeria is faced with in particular with ethical and public relations practices that continues to exacerbate the conflict in the region. It concludes with offering a recommendation that the companies can now adopt in an effort to maintain socially responsible practices in the country and aid in the development of the local communities. Introduction One business sector that has a strong claim to business ethics and/or public relations is the oil and gas sector. The oil and gas Transnational Corporation operating in Nigeria are active in addition to playing leadership roles in developing good codes of conduct and corporate practices in the work place as well as in engaging with different facets of the community. The involvement of Shell, BP-Amoco, Chevron Texaco, ExxonMobil, TotalFinaElf, Occidental, ENI among others in the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the United Nations Global Impact, the Sullivan Principle, the Millennium Development Goals, the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, Dow Jones Sustainability Index are some instances (Carrol Bulcholtz, 2003). The footprints of these companies are seen in the transfer of foreign direct investment (FDI), technology and skills: accounting for the majority of the state revenue; and a major employer of labor. They have also undeniably have contributed to the development of communities via programs in health, education, commerce, transport, agriculture, construction among others. Tuodolo (2009) argues that despite the contributions to the community and achievements, the oil transnational Corporations have been the targeted by negative and anti-corporate and negative campaigns in the last two decades. Many civil society actors have been responsible for damaging campaigns against these companies and the institutions that collaborate with them. The strategies they employ in this campaigns include publicity, networking, walk-outs, sit-ins, litigation, lobbying, peoples development plans, socially responsible investment, public hearings, blockades, exposures, seizures and closures. These campaigns cover ethical issues such as human rights abuses, environmental, safety, health, corruption and climate change. In Nigeria, one of the main protests by the civil society against an oil company was against Shell in the Gas flaring taking place in the region and on the Ogoni environmental issues, Niger Delta area (Amnesty International, 1995). The world has experiences massive campaigns carried out by the civil society actors against oil giants such as Shell, ChevronTexaco, ExxonMobil, Occidental, ENI. These campaigns often disrupt business activities, damages and embarrass the reputation of the business; the major civil society actors include Greenpeace, Friends of Earth, and the Sierra club, Amnesty, Global Witness, Christian Aid, Oil-Watch, Human Rights Watch and Corp-Watch. Yazji (2006) noted that many civil society actors view the Transnational Corporations more as strange bedfellows or enemies finding it difficult o associate with them. This is often based purely on grounds of ethics. However, recent years have seen a new trend in the relationship that exists between the Transnational Corporations and the civil society actors. Most notably is the development of collaborative relationships that are aimed at directing funding of programs for the civil society. Many of the civil society actors now maintain very cordial relationships with the oil companies with partners collaborating and doing business with the enemies, the oil and gas industry. According to Warren (2005), this is seen to benefits the image and public relation of the business more than the communitys welfare. This has created an image of rapprochement or collaboration between the civil society actors, the publics watch dog, and the oil transnational corporations. An example of this collaboration in Nigeria is witnesses in community development projects that are run by International Foundation for Education and Self-Help (IFESH) in collaboration with Chevron Texaco (Bendell Lake, 2000). These actions raise many questions that are still to be settled: have the ethical issues that the civil society had campaigned for in the past been resolved or changed? Have the oil industry players changed or repented for the better on the contentious issues that the civil groups raised in the past? Have the actors in civil societies lost track or are they comprised? Have the civil society actors been won over of placated by the big businesses? Or had the public relations machinery and campaigns by the corporations become more effective and can now shield their bad deeds. LITERATURE REVIEW Oil and gas industry in Nigeria Nigeria is Africas largest oil producer and is ranked eighth in the world. Commercial quantities of oil in the country were discovered in 1956. It can on average pump 2.5 million barrels of oil every day. This accounts to approximately 3 percent of the worlds total consumption. The Wall Street Journal stated in an article that the country exports the majority of this output. Oil provides around 90 percent of the countries total foreign exchange and around 80 percent if the federal revenues. This makes the country the fifth-largest foreign crude oil supplier to the United States behind Mexico, Canada, Venezuela and Saudi Arabia. Despite this richness in natural oil and gas resources, the country is ranked a lowly 20th poorest country in the world. Much of this poverty as well as underdevelopment can be attributed to the bad governance, mismanagement of the countys resources (oil and gas), political instability and the lack of infrastructure as well as policies to govern industries. Mo st of the many oil companies in the country are American. They utilize the countrys crude oil and gas resources to gain astronomical profits. These companies also utilize the environment to operate and produce within the oil industry. The Niger delta is the oil-rich region in Nigeria and is currently involved in conflicts that surround the oil companies. These companies are usually viewed as parasitic by the local communities as they take the regions resources while giving nothing or very little in return (Bird, 2004). Karl (1997) argues that as in many of the other petro states, the windfall revenues from oil and gas have proved to be more of a curse than a blessing. The country is plagued with conflict that stems out of inequitable distribution of oil revenue and the exploitation of the resources by the oil companies operating in the country. According to the constitution of Nigeria, all natural minerals including the gas and also belong to the Nigerian federal government. The government is then responsible for negotiating the terms for oil production with the international oil companies. Most of the production and the exploration of oil in the region is done by United States and European companies. These companies operate joint ventures in collaboration with Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPCC). The state oil company owns up to 60 to 55 percent of these ventures (Ukeje, 2004). Public relations and ethical issues facing the oil and gas industry in Nigeria Most of the ethical issues in the oil and gas industry in the country arise from the poor monitoring and enforcement of laws governing the oil producing companies. This is despite the fact that the laws in Nigeria are comparable to other international equivalents. This has seen the region experiencing significant damage to both the environment and to the livelihood of the people that live within the oil producing companies. The companies have failed in their ethical responsibility to relate well with the communities in which they operate. Compensation for the resultant damages is virtually nonexistent (Frey, 1997). The transnational corporations (TNC s) operating within the Nigerian oil and gas industry as well as institutions that collaborate with them have over the years come under negative/anti corporate campaigns by the community they operate in as well as by civil society actors. These actors include anti-capitalists, anti-corporate campaigners, anti-globalist, academics and greens. Although this is despite the contribution they seemingly bring to the development of a community, this actors have managed to shed light on unethical practices of corporate ensuring they practice positive public relations. In recent decades however this relationship has developed into a more collaborative one the purpose of which appears to favor the image of the business rather than the society (Newell, 2005). The other side of Corporate Social Responsibility There is no dispute that the community development programs initiated by the major players in the oil and gas industry have benefits most of the local communities. It is however important to not that these efforts in public relations have positive as well as negative impacts. Most of the local communities pay a great cost for enjoying the benefits of these Corporate Social Responsibility programs. Either by commission or omission, the activities or of shell and the program delivery processes have a negative impact on the local community that often outweigh the positive benefits of this corporate Social Responsibility endeavors. The role that the oil companies play in social and environment impacts illustrates this point. According to Human Rights Watch (1999), the Niger Delta in general and Nembe in particular, the oil activities have resulted in serious environment damages. This has been as a result of oil spills from flow stations, pipelines, well-heads; discharge of production and drilling waste; and gas flared from several oil fields. All this has occurred in/on creeks, air, sea and land of Nembe. In the process, fish ponds and farm lands are destroyed, sea and forest animals and plants are forced to migrate or are destroyed; as well as the air being polluted. This environmental degradation has negative impacts ranging from loss of livelihood (farming and fishing), low farm produce, limitation of economic activities, diseases, polluted water, food shortage among others. In certain cases, death of unsuspecting fishermen has occurred after oil spills occurred in the Nembe creek. The negative impact this has on the local communities livelihood and health is enormous. The community at one time indica ted that they are all fishermen who rely on fish for their survival. They also claimed that the oil spillage by Shell wells were destroying the marine life and in extension the peoples occupation. The farmlands as well were not fertile anymore from the pollution and the fish in the river had died. The people are only left with the option of fishing in the high seas which is very dangerous undertaking (Tuodolo, 2009, p.532) Shell on its part has not denied that its operations have been responsible for the degradation of the environment but has adamantly disagreed on the extent the damage to the environment resulting from its activities. Shell alone recorder 3,214 incidents of oil spillage from 1995 to 2004, an average of 300 incidents annually. This has resulted in a spillage of more than 450,000 barrels of oil onto the environment in the Niger Delta and the flaring of large volumes of gas, approximately 604 millions scf daily (SPDC, 2006). Considering that this are figures from only one company, the consequences experienced by the local community in terms of environment, livelihood, climate change or global warming are unimaginable. According to Agagu (2008), negative impacts of the corporate social responsibilities are further illustrated by the social effects they have on the local community. The Nembe case becomes significant once again. The relationship that shell has with the local community via the development programs and its operations have resulted in conflicts being commercialized where groups and individuals constantly fight over the patronage or benefits from shell; funds for community development are misappropriated, mismanaged and embezzled by the leaders or shares amongst cliques and community leaders to the exclusion of the other members of the community. Further negative effects include destroying of community governance by emerging youth groups that usurp the authority and powers of the chieftaincy institutions as well as the exacerbation of several forms of social disorder such as an increase in illiteracy, proliferation of arms, lawlessness, criminality and the disintegration of culture and t radition. These youth groups were apparently armed by the Corporation. Shell sponsor some youth in the community, purchased arms and ammunition for them to fight whoever that is fighting them or protesting for their right from Shell (Tuodolo, 2009, p.538). From 2000 to 2006, the number of intra-communal conflicts numbered 21 with six of these inter-community conflicts being linked to the activities that shell was involved in The oil companies, particularly Shell, Agip and their servicing companies, are central to the crises in the community (Tuodolo, 2009, p.538). The Nembe Indigenes summarizes the social impacts resulting from Shells activities as, These oil or multinationals have thrust a knife in our midst and we have fallen apart. The love for money and our political selfishness have set us against each other and we no longer see ourselves as brothers, fathers, chiefs, sisters, we disregard ourselves for temporary and temporal things, which have led to the formation of nocturnal and clandestine groups which have transformed Nembe to Sicily (Italy). Groups that are sponsored by chiefs, elders, politicians, government agents and the multinationals have succeeded in causing our aged parents and children, while our young men die prematurely in arms struggle, our parents die of heart attack and the children are denied knowledge by preventing them from going to school (Tuodolo, 2009, p.538). And, What wrong has the Nembe man done to Shell and the Federal Government that all these wrongs are visited on him within a decade? (Tuodolo,2009, 538) This continues to raise ethical questions related to the true intentions and the practices of these transnational corporations, the efficacy of their machinery of public relations or the position and campaigns of the civil society actors. This paper attempts to answer the question of dilemmas that the oil and gas industry face in public relations management and ethic by examining the activities of the oil companies in Nigeria. Particular attention is given to the impact of these companies on the communities residing in the oil rich Niger delta region. The paper is based on review of articles that have been written on the matter ranging from academic articles to newspaper articles. METHODOLOGY This study utilizes qualitative content analysis so as to explore the conditions that the oil and gas industry in Nigeria operate in that create the dilemmas in public relations and ethics of practice. This is according to recommendation by Jensen (2002) on qualitative research. The study is iterative/repeat process as this topic has been covered numerous times before. As such, this method allows for an application of analytical procedures and theoretical concepts employed to a variety of empirical domains that is flexible. This discourse will contain information source from academic articles from online journals, press releases and webpage pieces from the oil corporations operating in Nigeria and news paper articles that span the last two decades that have seen the ethical issues and public relations deteriorate as well as receive world wide attention. In addition to these article, particular case study on dilemmas faced by in Particular Shell are employed to give a clearer picture of the situation in Nigeria as well a to provide for a fuller analysis. Sample The method of data collection used in this discourse studies information content in article spanning two decades, from the 1990s to current date. The documentation is comprised of academic articles, magazine and newspaper articles, government reports and civil society articles and reports produced in the contest of normal publicity business to address the crisis facing the oil industry in Nigeria. According to Lindolf Taylor (2002), this ensures that the sources are free of bias from the researcher. A limitation of this method is that it may prove to have a limited or indirect exploratory value for the research questions to be addressed. However, it will be able to fully address the question of ethical and public relations dilemmas faced by the industry. This is because of the intense media civil society and international attention this case has received over the years with particular emphasis being placed on the misdeeds of the oil multinationals operating in the Niger Delta. ANALYSIS The analysis section will focus on a debate that addresses the various issue faced by the oil corporation and in particular Shell in their operations. This will lead up to the various public relations steps and strategies employed by the companies to address their alleged ethical misconduct in the wake of political and economical turmoil allegedly exacerbated by their operations in the country. In their attempt to maintain a public faces, the companies spawned public relations strategies that aimed to portray them as saviors to a people long subjected to poverty as a result of bad governance. This is through the numerous development projects that are operated under the patronage of these companies in the country. On the background of this is the numerous environmental and human right violations that have continued unhindered as a direct or indirect result of these companies continued exploitation of Nigeria natural resources, oil and gas, to meet their bottom line, astronomical profi ts. The case of Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni People initiated the international concern in the region and offers a backdrop to the origin of the conflict between the oil corporation and government of Nigeria on one hand and the people of the Niger Delta in general on the other. DISCUSSION The debate on dilemmas in public relation and ethics in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria Milton Friedman (1970), a free-market economist, ascertained that a businesss one and only social responsibilities involves the making of profit. This view is less popular in present day business. However, many economists and business leaders still believe that the best way for a company to promote the local communitys social development is comprised simply of increasing the overall level of activities in economy through investment and trade. In taking this view, the administration of revenue generated, environmental standards tolerated of the respect for the human rights in the community residing in the area of operation are simply not relevant. These factors are in fact viewed as hindrances to the corporations main business and in the long run to the countrys social development itself. If standards employed for developed countries are duplicated in the developing countries, then they will simply never catch up, this is because dangerous working conditions, below-market wages that w orkers in third worlds are subjected to are justified as being better than there being no jobs at all. The corporations shareholders make the situation worse by justifiably complaining if the directors pay attention to issues that may negatively impact the companys financial bottom line (Soremekun, 1995). However, this attitude is increasingly changing as the companies come under more pressure from activists and consumers who are worried about the impact globalizations of the economy is having on the worlds poor. In addition, directors of these corporations have come to see that wider issues of social development have a direct or indirect impact on their operations. This trend has brought with it the buzz phrase triple bottom line encompassing social, economic and environmental outcomes. A good reputation for the corporation is seen as a valuable asset as it attracts customers and helps in recruiting competent employees. Good public relations with the local communities promoted by development programs that are properly administered as well as good labor relations minimize the shut-downs that cause protests directed towards the operations of the company. Even though low environmental standards and low wages can in the short-term be useful to the company, in the long run the company mak es more money if it is accountable for its operations. Studies carried out, have not revealed any correlation between the foreign direct investment that oil transnational corporations inject into the developing countries itself and the respect for human rights in these countries. In Nigeria, the presence of the oil multinationals is viewed to have seemingly contributed to promoting the successive military regimes that ruled the country for a long haul. These regimes were responsible fro multi human rights violations in addition to misappropriation of funds meant to promote development. The companies interest should therefore focus on the promotion f steps geared at the positive development of the communities social welfare. They should also minimize their environmental effects while also aiming for their core business, maximizing profits (Uduaghan, 2008). Oil multinational corporations have increasingly become more powerful within the global economies. The companies operating in Nigeria have substantially large global resources than the country itself. This has resulted in the country being almost paralyzed in enforcing international and/or domestic law against these companies. This is especially true when these companies have diplomatic support from the first-world country where the corporate headquarters are located. May of the laws that have been developed to govern the conduct of multinational across the world have been largely opposed to by the developed countries. This is especially because of their provisions/recommendations of treatment of the multinationals by the host countries. An example is the U.N Code of Conduct on Transnational Corporations. As such, no laws are currently legally binding in terms of the public relations responsibilities of the multinationals. Some companies have recognized that it is in their best inter est and have started initiatives to address questions raised regarding their operations. However, human rights and environmental activists have notes that the companies statements of intent are not worth it without the strategies meant to ensure they are implemented. They also call for independent auditing of the human rights and environmental performance. Up to date, no oil corporation, Shell include, has agreed to be subjected to such an audit (Nigerian Tribune, 2008). The experience of Shell in Nigeria offers a glimpse on how an oil transitional corporation ought to learn from a significant sustainability dilemma. In response to these significant challenges, shell setout to develop practices and policies that were designed to address the problems. They included the company engaging the local community the international forum and the civil society in dialog. In addition it began to actively participate in the developments of norms for corporate citizenship (Eyinla Ukpo, 2006). Having operated in the Niger Delta since the 1950s, Shells operations and the influence it had politically in the region only came under scrutiny after the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa author-activist and a member of MSOP, Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, in 1995. The author and activist castigated the companys operations in Nigeria, gaining international attention. He highlighted the role that the oil industry had played in the stagnation of the economy of the Delta. The Nigerian economic growth pace has not kept abreast with the growth that the countys oil industry has been able to achieve. The industry is currently able to produce in excess of 2 million barrels of oil daily (Eyinla Ukpo, 2006). Shell has reportedly admitted that the approach it has taken in public relations causes the disorder in the community. The cash payments made, for instance standby labor, access fees to community youths, have seemingly been at the center of inter-community disputed as well as for the distortion of genuine needs of the community. Despite all this, Shell has yet to change its practices although it still claims it is practicing corporate social responsibility (Tuodolo, 2009). According to Birnbaum (1995), the inequitable distribution of the oil revenue, the high rates of poverty coupled with the episodically harsh rule is responsible mainly for spurring the conflict in the Niger Delta. The Human Right Watch (1999) cited that while the people of the Niger Delta have faced the adverse effects of the oil extraction, they have in general also failed to gain from the oil revenue. By galvanizing the up to 500,000 people of the Ogoni-land in MSOP, Saro-Wiwa was able to draw the worlds attention to the grievances of his people. He constantly cites Shells complicity as the symbol of the status quo. Eventually, the federal police forces acted to shutdown MSOP. This saw numerous people being detained, injured or even killed. Nine activists, among them Saro-Wiwa were arrested in 1994. This was allegedly because of murdering four local leaders. All the accused would go on to be executed in November 1995 after court proceedings that the then United Kingdom Prime Minist er John Major termed as judicial murder. (BBC News, 1995). The role that Shell played in the Ogoni incident is a complex one. The company is reported to have sought clemency for the nine accused. In several statements, it lamented about the heavy handedness and the violence that both sides of the conflict in Ogoni-Land had over time displayed (Human Rights Watch, 1995). Contrary to these statements, the company later disclosed it had on several occasions in 1993 made direct payments to the states security forces under duress. Appearing before the U.S House of Representatives International Subcommittee on Africa in 1996, Stephen Mills, the environment and human rights campaign director for the Sierra Club stated that The Sierra Club is of the opinion that Shell should feel considerable responsibility for the death of Ken Saro-Wiwa and the other Ogoni activists. Shells massive pollution, repeated denial of responsibility for it, its refusal to clean up the Ogoni territory, and its appeal to the Nigerian military to silence the protestors is what incited the civil unrest (Sierra Club, 1995). In a recent statement, Mills released a follow-up piece that stated, A peaceful solution to the crisis in the delta seems remote as anger grows over record oil profits amid the striking poverty. The Riyal Dutch Shell earned a whooping 18.5 billion dollars in 2004 yet some villages within sight of the gleaming shell facilities have no electricity or running water. However, the campaign Ken Saro-Wiwa led to hold Shell accountable for their pollution and complicity in human rights violation has not been in vain. After the death of Saro-Wiwa, the company did adopt stronger social and environmental responsibility guidelines. It is up to communities in the delta and groups like mine to make sure that Shell and other oil companies live up to their promises (Sierra Club, 2008). Shell as under severe criticism for the perceived role it played in the events that lead up to Saro-Wiwas death. Amnesty international however recognized the companys willingness to discuss the groups concerns regarding its human rights record. In a report released in 1996, Amnesty International noted that only Shell has responded to its appeal to Shell and other oil transnational companies operating in Nigeria to acknowledge that they have a responsibility to at all costs uphold the human rights under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Despite this, many questions still lingered on the companys operations in the region. The UN Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights issued a report in 1997 calling for attention to be renewed on the persistency of oil spills in the delta region. Some of these spills were as a result of sabotage. The report raised deep concerns about the severe and widespread environmental damage to the River Delete region as a result of the oil o perations and exploration by Shell. The company took account of the issues that were raised and undertook a major review of its internal operations (Newell, 2005). Meanwhile, by the turn of the century, the relationship between Shell and the communities in the oil producing region had worsened since Ken Saro-Wiwa had been executed. This was despite the efforts of the company to improve on Public relations, in particular by increasing its spending on developments and the professionalization of the developmental projects management. It is fair to note that most of the deterioration experienced was as a result of the government failing to respond to the demands that had been presented by the Delta communities rather than by the activities of the company. The continuing dilemmas and problems illustrate just how difficult it is to put the fine words contained in the Statement of General Business Principles into actual practice (Tuodolo, 1999). Shell and public relations in Nigeria Shell has undoubtedly contributed immensely to Nigerias economic growth as well as to the development of the local communities residing in the companys area of operation. Shells activities employ around 12,000 persons as skilled and unskilled labor making it a major employer of labor. The greatest evidence of shells effort to maintain positive public relations are in its development programs in the communities it operates in. Through community development programs, the company contributes to development of education in the local communities. The company achieves this through the provision of scholarships from primary up to university level, to local level, construction of classrooms, provides appliances and equipments and at times pays allowances for teachers in post primary. For some of the communities, shell provides or sponsors training in basic skills such as joinery, mechanics, craftsmanship, tailoring among others, for the indigenous (SPDC, 1999). Shell also plays an active role in several other sectors aimed at community development, for instance, transportation: building jetties, construction of roads, donation of cars and speed-boats; agriculture: donation of equipment for farming, microcredit schemes for the farmers, training of farmers; water: construction of water pipelines, sinking boreholes; electricity: supply of diesel, donations of power plants; and the provision of infrastructures such as land reclamation, shore protection comm

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Black American Music History Essay

First of all, there is many different types of African American music but im going to talk about three in particular which are slave spirituals, blues, and the more common rap/hip-hop. First slave spirituals is a type of religious song originating among black slaves in the American south. It was famous for the reason that the lyrics of negro spirituals were tightly linked with the lives of their authors†¦. slaves! While work songs only dealt with their daily life, spirituals were inspired by the message of Jesus Christ and his Good News (Gospel) of the Bible, â€Å"You can be saved†! They are different from hymns and psalms, because they were a way of sharing the hard condition of being a slave. Another type of music there is are the blues. Blues is a type of folk song devised by Black Americans at the beginning of the 20th century. Blues was so important to the African Slaves because it was a sort of code, how they told stories that had things to do with their owner and everyday life. Lastly is the most common now in time some people know it as rap others as hip hop but it is the style and fashion of African American music. Hip hop is important to African American culture because it originated from it all started when blues and jazz crossed over and musicians started making beats which were call bebop. (Well maybe not the kids but the adults call it that). All music we know today it was all based on African American music many people do not know the importance of music was to the slaves some say it was the only thing that gave them hope. Why is music important to our culture? There is no objective answer to this question. The importance of music is different in every individual’s life. It inspires people and allows us to get in touch with our emotions in a way that is unique. For those amongst us who find it difficult to express ourselves, music can evoke reactions. Your mood can change from dark and depressed to elated and delirious happiness with just the selection of the right track and a hit of the play button. Music works wonders on creating a certain atmosphere. You can use music to liven up a boring party or to create a romantic ambiance. Music is important to all of us and some fail to realize the importance music is to the history of everybody not just one race but to everybody. Who knew music was so important from rock to classical music is all around us. In Conclusion, did Elvis Presley steal African American music and is Eminem doing the same? There has been people that believe that Elvis stole black music. But, there have been other people that say that he was inspired but black music but never stole it. There has also been rumors about Eminem is stealing black music. But he mentioned in interview that rapping isn’t meant just for one race is for everybody. Ha ha, and he’s basically right! Music it lives in all of us.

Friday, January 10, 2020

Kafka’s Metamorphosis in Context to His Era Essay

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One of the major German writers was a Jewish, middle class resident of Prague, a man named Franz Kafka, who wrote disturbing, surreal tales. Writing in both short story and novel form, his work was published posthumously by a friend, Max Brod, who ignored his requests to burn his writings upon his death. Because his friend disobeyed his last request, Kafka’s work has become iconic in western literature, even producing its own connotations.   The term â€Å"Kafkaesque† has come to mean mundane yet absurd and surreal circumstances of the kind commonly found in Kafka’s works (â€Å"Kafka†,1).   Ã‚  Ã‚   One of the most widely read and famous of these works concerns a man who wakes up one day and discovers he is an insect. Literally. Known as Die Verwandlung or The Metamorphosis, Kafka wrote this story quickly, completing it between November and December 1912.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Because of its bizarre subject   matter, his tale has been subjected to a wide variety of interpretations. Although critics vary widely in those interpretations, the basic story involves a man who awakens in different form: he is now an insect; a â€Å"giant monstrous vermin;† yet all he wants to do is get to work. He has provided for his family and feels the pressure of helping them even now. However, in this new context , he cannot speak with his family members. Judging only by appearances,   his relatives becomes repulsed by him, calling him a burden. Each time he enters to try to be in their midst, they act mean; his father even goes so far as to throw an apple, which subsequently gets infected after it embeds in his back. Although Gregor becomes a veritable prisoner of his dirty, grimy room, his family does provide food and other nourishment-for a time. But they so abhor his appearance and treat him so despicably, that his sister finally declares that   â€Å" that thing must go.† His mother doesn’t even offer a word of protest. Because of his outsider status with his family, Gregor returns to his room one last time; desirous of relieving them of their burden. He lies down. And dies.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Both the structure and the setting of the story resemble that of a drama. The structure builds dramatically, with a series of three crises, leading to a denouement. Each section of the story has a defined area where the story takes place; a limited space as in plays.   With the exception of Gregor, the other characters are one dimensional.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Thus, Kafka works out of the traditional Aristotelian framework of three acts consisting of a beginning, middle, and end. Yet his style is ordinary. Has he been overrated? His plot is limited in scope, a series of episodes in the life of a character, rather than a full development. The characters are also limited. So what exactly did cause this Kafkan phenomenon?   Kafka dealt with the subject of contradiction and the absurd— with a sense of impotence against the absurd conditions and banalities of the world. Although not attracted to any â€Å"isms’ of thought philosophically, politically, artistically, or religiously, he simply expressed his own soul (Artile, 1).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Despite his lack of referencing, the wider world nevertheless laid claim to him.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Jews saw him as their own visionary. They were convinced he foresaw the arrival of the Holocaust. Yet Kafka was not a religious Jew, going to synagogue only four times yearly with his father and having a bar mitzvah at age 13. Too absorbed in his personal frustrations to pay much attention to political developments, Kafka could not help becoming cognizant of the increasing xenophobia and anti-Semitism of those around him. He thought that Palestine was a good solution and often talked of moving there to operate a cafà © with his girlfriend Dora. In the midst of the anti-Semitic riots of 1920 Berlin, he said that â€Å"the best course is to leave a place where one is hated† (Strickland, 2). Indeed, his own three sisters all died in concentration camps, a   fate that might also have awaited Kafka had he lived rather than dying of TB in 1924.   Ã‚  Ã‚   Although only a secular Jew, Kafka was nevertheless attracted to Yiddish theatre. The Metamorphosis has many parallels to a classic work of Yiddish theater called The Savage written by Gordin. The son Lemekh in this tale is â€Å"defective† like Gregor Samsa.   Outcasts who horrify, both characters are animal like creatures in decline. The central metaphor of The Metamorphosis corresponds to  Ã‚   Lemekh’s position in his own family. As the housekeeper states, ‘they kill him if he comes in here, so he lies in his own room, days on end, with his eyes open, and stares, like an animal, waiting to be sacrificed’ (Beck, 54).   Ã‚  Ã‚   Beck continues to state that the Oedipal conflict and the larger theme of incest is present in both works because the sons’ love for their mothers and sisters become confused with sexual desire. They become dizzy when they see their parents embrace. When Zelde touches Lemekh, he gets hot. Similarly, Gregor wants to save the picture of the lady in furs, crawling up the glass which soothed his hot body. Crawling shows his acceptance of his animal state- hiding when others enter, fainting- which intensifies the action and shows strong emotion. Lemekh in his iron jacket and Gregor in his armor plated hard back are both imprisoned, and spiritually limited. Gordin’s play warns of the beast in every man hiding beneath his human faà §ade. Kafka’s work also seems to be pointing to the vermin which every man inherently embodies (Beck, 56).   Ã‚  Ã‚   Other groups besides the Jews also embraced Kafka. Psychoanalytic Freudianism and   Existentialism saw reflections of their philosophies in his works. The Freudians saw every range from dreamlike qualities and Oedipal conflicts to symbolic odds and ids. Kafka’s feelings   for his own father reads like a transparent Oedipal story. Many critics were of the opinion that never before had Freud ruled so supremely over a story as he did The Metamophosis (Eggenschwiler, 72).   Ã‚  Ã‚   Existentialism took Kafka to be one of their own .Because he created characters who struggle with hopelessness and absurdity, many in the movement saw him as an icon, while others in the group were disillusioned with the western status quo of the 50s and the 60s. They distorted Kafka by exploiting the heavy atmosphere of his stories, using them as the basis for the need of a more liberal society with less state intervention and more truth for the individual.The existentialists abused truth by portraying a psychotic Kafka, victim of their same angst. The humor and mischief that was so dear to the surrealists that he loved is lost with that existentialist label ( Artile, 7).    One of the most obvious themes of The Metamorphosis concerns society’s treatment of those who are different and   the loneliness of being cut off; the desperate and unrealistic hope that isolation brings (â€Å"Kafka,†3).   Ã‚  Ã‚   In his pain and rejection Gregor Samsa was far from being everyman. And most readers will not be prepared to accept him as a universal symbol. Nevertheless, it is hard to avoid the condition in The Metamorphosis that Kafka was demonstrating; at least at that time; his own despairing, tragicomic vision of the human condition ( Beck, 57).   Ã‚   Kafka’s value will always lie in the inexplicable that it contains. Final understanding will probably remain an   impossibility. The various mid-century groups that took him as their hero never saw the complete picture of his artistic merits or original thought. Although many of his stories are inscrutable and baffling, Kafka himself looked upon his writing and the creativity he produced as a means of redemption (Artile, 7).   Ã‚   Thus his work transcends all the various interpretations that have been forced upon it and stands on its own merits, remaining an important part of the Western canon; work that is timeless. References Artile, G. â€Å"Kafka Work,†2002.   ( Retrieved June 23, 2006). www.kafka.org Bloom, H.ed. Franz Kafka’s the Metamorphosis. New York: Chelsea House, 1988   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Andersen, M. â€Å"Kafka and Sacher Masock.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Beck, E. â€Å"The Dramatic   in Kafka’s Metamorphosis.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Corngold, S. â€Å"Metamorphosis of the Metaphor.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Eggenschwile, D. â€Å"die Verlandlung, Freud, and the Chains of Odysseus.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Gray, R. â€Å"The Metamorphosis.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Greenberg,   M. â€Å"Gregor Samsa and Modern Spirituality.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Pascal, R. â€Å"The Impersonal Narrator of the Metamorphosis.† Kafka, Franz. Selected Short Stories. New York: Modern Library, 1952. â€Å"Kafka,† in Wikipedia 2006. (Retrieved, June 23, 2006). www.enwiki.org/kafka Strickland, Yancey. â€Å"Kafka in Berlin,† (2004). (Retrieved June 23, 2006).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   www.kafka.org.