Midterm Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Midterm - Essay Example To this end, the paper will critically examine the concept of philosophy and what it actually means in the general sense. From there, the Indian philosophy will be examined in-depth. This will involve the critical review of elements and aspects of Indian thought and what really matters to the Indian people in terms of philosophy. Afterwards, the paper will examine traditional Greek philosophy, which forms the basis of Western philosophical thought. This will lead to a comparison between the Greek and Indian philosophical ethos. This discussion will make way for an introduction of Chinese philosophical worldview. This will involve the reconciling of Chinese philosophy and Indian philosophy as the Eastern or Oriental school of philosophical thought and the assessment of their differences. The discussion will also compare how the two philosophies differ from each other. In order to analyze and evaluate the core concepts and ideas of this study, there is the need to make meaning of the world "philosophy". This will provide an answer to the central features and concepts in the discussion to be undertaken. There are various definitions of philosophy that can be used to describe the concept. Philosophy can be viewed as the fundamentals related to the study of human thought and a conception of things around human beings. In other words, philosophy is about how to provide a documentation and definition of various ideas and principles that describe things that exist and things that happens around people in the

Two Traditional Chinese History Literature review

Two Traditional Chinese History - Literature review Example As the top-most military commander of the army, he used the military to flaunt his power and force his policies across society. The end result was diminished power of the local governments and a strengthened centralized authority. As soon as the dynasty came to power, semi-autonomous kings at the local level threatened the authority of the central government under the emperor (Shu-hui 121). But in response, the emperor and the central authorities substantially weakened the influence of the regional administrators by directing the imperial court to implement reforms. Such actions were in response to serious challenges to the central authority by regionally-instigated movements such as the Rebellion of the Seven States. The emperor was the chief appointing officer; all government employees with at least 600 heaps of grain in pay were appointed by him with the assistance of the advisors, who assessed the qualification of each candidate (Shu-hui 122). The empress dowager served as the emperors real or figurative mother and was practically more influential than the holder of the throne. By virtue of her ability to override the emperor’s decisions, power was technically held by the two at the expense of regional administrations. The emperor could occasionally delegate his executive powers to a member of the central government, especially when some criminals needed to be executed extra-judicially but the emperor was ill-prepared to carry the baggage. According to Shu-hui, Han managed to centralize power for exercising by the top-most members of the bureaucracy, who were charged with executing out advisory opinion, censorial duties, policymaking, and judicial functions in administering the kingdom (152).  Ã‚  

Impacts of Green Revolution on Environment

Impacts of Green Revolution on Environment Effects of green revolution on environment Green revolution refers mainly to dramatic increases in cereal grain yields in most of the developing countries. It can also be defined as the renovation of agricultural practices which began in Mexico in the 1940s. it started spreading to other parts of the globe in the 1950s and 1960s as a result of the success in producing more agricultural products and hence increasing the amount of calories produced per acre of agricultural land. Researchers in Mexico developed broadly adapted, short stemmed and disease resistant wheats that did extremely well in converting fertilizers and water into high yields. The seeds improved were instrumental in boosting Mexican wheat production and averted famine in India and Pakistan. The abandoning of the chemical farming to adapt the organic farming which is fossil fuel driven has resulted to amazing increases in productivity , restoration of depleted soils, returning vibrant health for the farmers which had been affected by the chemicals in the ferti lizers and pesticides and a greater diversity of crops both within and between species. Green revolution has led to a situation where the worlds population can harvest more than 90% of its food calories from a meager 15 species of crops. Green revolution had also positive economic results. Since crops under high yield varieties needed more water, more fertilizer, more pesticides, fungicides and other certain chemicals. This spurred the growth of the local manufacturing sector such industrial growth created new jobs and contributed to the countries gross domestic product. The increase in irrigation created need for new dams to harness water. The water stored was used to create hydroelectric power and this in turn boosted industrial growth, created new jobs and improved their standards of living. Green revolution had negative impacts. Despite the rapidly expanding global food supplies there is also a large population still starving. This technology was made available only to rich but the poor farmers were left out due to the expenditure incurred in adapting the new technology. The poor farmers cant afford to buy fertilizers and other input in volume, water is a limiting factor in the farming and irrigation is out of reach for the poor farmer since they cant afford. The use of chemical fertilizers depletes the soils natural fertility and pesticides generates resistant pests farmers need more fertilizers and pesticides to achieve the same results. Green evolution is not ecologically sustainable. Researches conducted showed that after achieving dramatic increases in the early stages of the technological transformations yields began falling in several green revolution areas. An example is in Philippines, Central Luzon where the rice yields grew steadily during the 1970s got to its peak in the early 1980s and the yields have been decreasing steadily since then. Due to green revolution we have lost many of our agricultural biodiversity .when the farmers opted to plant the new improved crop varieties and raise the new cross breeds of livestock many traditional local varieties became extinct. The widespread use of pesticides and other agro-chemicals has lead to severe environmental degradation and endangered public health. The worldwide use of chemicals fertilizers has degraded the soil which results to loss of humus; the soil becomes cracked sand the water retaining capacity decreases. Green revolution was an expensive technology a nd hence for them to adopt it they had to get credit facilities and some ended up into large debts. Large scale monoculture farming is the growing of one single crop type over a wide area. Monoculture can lead to wide spread of diseases and affects the soil fertility since the continuous depletion one a particular nutrients from the soil without change. In monoculture cycles of nutrients, water, energy and wastes have become open opposed to closed as in a natural ecosystem. Despite the substantial amounts of crop residues and manure produced in farms, it has become more and more difficult to recycle the nutrients in the agricultural system. Animal wastes cannot economically be recycled to the land in a nutrient recycling process because the production systems are remote geographically from the other cycles which can complete the cycle. Soil fertility is the key factor in the green evolution technology .the high yields achieved due to green evolution is geared by fertile soils which results due to use of chemicals .wide spread of green evolution and large scale monoculture has resul ted to soil infertility such that the soil cannot produce on its own. Large scale monoculture has lead to increased yields due to lack of competition from other plant species but as time goes by the soil fertility of land/soil reduces due over exhaustion. Large scale is monoculture has increased recently and is boosting the economy due to high yields but it is posing danger in the future due to increased soil infertility. Apart from green evolution and large scale monoculture there are other ways which can be used to ensure sustainable food to the worlds growing population. Sustainable agriculture can provide a solution to the problem of limited resources and the challenge to achieve global food security. There are three sides to sustainable agriculture. Sustainable agriculture has environmental, economic and social dimensions and all of these must be considered. Focusing ad upgrading the natural environment is fundamental and dealing with issues like climate change, water scarcity, soil degradation, energy and biodiversity. The social dimension of sustainable agriculture encompasses labor rights and health of communities inclusive of access and affordability of food, community health and labor rights. Sustainable agriculture on the economic side is productive, competitive and efficient. Sustainable agriculture practices and programs help businesses in ensuring a reliable supply of food and open new o pportunities. This essay described the impact of green revolution on the environment. Climate change effects for agriculture are serious in that crops are exposed to quite different conditions from those suit them and hence productivity is greatly affected. Maximize land use by doing land reclamation .the availability of fertile land will be essential for healthy crops and livestock and also promotes biodiversity, filtering and efficient use of water, avoiding nutrients run-off. Fertile land acts as a carbon sink minimizing the forces of climate change. Pest management is essential for preserving the abundance and diversity of native species and for ensuring the quality and agricultural yields sustainability. Biodiversity protection has main concerns in various agricultural practices and businesses are exploring ways to be productive as well as maintaining and upgrading biodiversity. The social aspect of ensuring sustainable agriculture is by ensuring that farmers receive returns which are fair, a nd that high quality labor conditions exist throughout the chain of supply. Access to education, training and health for laborers and their families can be facilitated by businesses. Ensuring sustainable agriculture can also be achieved by maintaining a food supply which is safe .by doing this a goal of the majority of various producers, distributors and processors is achieved. By ensuring animal welfare is maintained agricultural sustainability can be achieved. Livestock being the central element of farming they play a vital role in meeting both productivity and sustainability objectives.

Essay --

No one knows much of the earliest human settlement. They think that much of the settlers came around 10,000 to 12,000 years ago. About the same time the Beltic Sea was formed. People are almost certain that Finland was inhabited before that period. People have also found tools in caves that link back to a hundred thousand years ago. Most of the people that came to Finland came from Russia. The people hunted beavers and elk with stone tools and weaponry. The tools and weaponry are spread out in Finland. The tools and weaponry have been found near or in sites in Southern Finland. They’ve found pottery dating back to the sixth millennium, BC. The pottery marked the start of the late Stone Age. The other name also referring to the late Stone Age is Neolithic period. Finding the ceramics made it easier to identify broad groups of people. It also helped make it clear on how the new people made it to the southern side of Finland. They have guessed that the people that migrated during the ice age are newer than the very first peoples. A lot of the people that migrated came from present-day Estonia. The people that did migrate ended up staying in the northern part of Finland. That’s where all the people with less culture stay because the really do not like new comers. They also found that Finland was a prime bronze trader during the time periods 1700 BC to 600 BC. The bronze was also mixed with stone for the Cairns. The bronze period was where Finland was the main provider for most of the bronze trading. During World War 2 Finland’s economy was terrible it started later than everyone else’s. When Finland gained its independence the GNP per capita became half of Britain’s. During the nineteenth century the senate of Finla... ...e. The culture was organized to help the children and the older people. Lots of people work in these types of fields. Finnish people are also modest and humble about what they accomplish. Finnish people expect people to be courteous to everyone. One thing in Finland that would get everyone in trouble is waiting for the talker to be done then you can talk to them or ask a question. Interrupting someone in Finland is not tolerable, and is extremely rude. Most people that meet in Finland shake hands, keep eye contact, and always keep a smile. One rule is that if you are greeting a married couple is to greet the wife first. If you are ever invited into a Finns home always arrive on time and do not be late. Always take off your shoes before entering. Call the hostess to see if you have to bring a dish when you go over, and help set up the meal and cleanup the meal.

Country Lovers: a Reader’s Response

Country Lovers, Nadine Gordimer TLC 25 November 2012 ? Nadine Gordimer dramatically depicts the theme of forbidden love in Country Lovers, but more than just the depth of this love, the forbidden relationship between races during the years of apartheid. Gordimer brings forward very early the fact of racial division, â€Å"the black children are making along with the bodily changes common to all, an easy transition to adult forms of address, beginning to call their old playmates missus and baasie little master†. Gordimer, 1975) This short story powerfully demonstrates the ever present desire for that which is taboo and the often very tragic end for all concerned in an overtly subjugated society, race notwithstanding. She sets the story in South Africa on the farm owned by the white Eysendeck Family, early in the childhood of their son Paalus and the young black girl, Thebedi.The vivid descriptions or Local Color are depictions of culture and landscape within this setting allow the author to depict the atmosphere that shaped the characters moral values of individuals in a particular region. (Clugston, 6. 4) The use of setting, in this case the time and place of the story also illustrates Milhauser’s opinion, â€Å"†¦ if you concentrate your attention on some apparently insignificant portion of the world, you will find, deep within it, nothing less than the world itself.The author also cleverly uses foreshadowing to allude to issues the characters may deal with, â€Å"The trouble was Paalus Eysendeck did not seem to realize Thebdi was now simply one of the crowd of farm children down at the kraal†. (Gordimer, 1975) The overwhelming sense of cultural taboo was evident throughout the story and was recognized by both characters in their need to be secretive in their meetings. The use of foreshadowing and setting strongly supported the themes in the story, allowing Gordimer to bring the reader closer to the heart to the story.Although Nadine Gordimer grew up in South Africa during the enforcement of apartheid and attempted throughout her years of writing to bring attention to the under privileged; she and many other writers did not have the ability or desire to discuss the unfortunate issues that generations of the often over-indulged and morally corrupt class also had to face, â€Å"I will try and carry on as best I can to hold my head up in the district. † (Gordimer, 1975) The characters throughout this story were strong and richly developed.Both Paalus and Thebedi were similarly portrayed as equally developing young people in the illustrations of their interactions with classmates and friends, an example being the gifts they exchanged on holidays and the joy they gained admiration of them. (Gordimer) Ms. Gordimer expertly executed the account of two young people that were lifelong friends and eventually secret lovers and the on pressures that society, class and race can have on those individuals.An incredible sense of despair is exposed in the passages discussing the issues faced by the characters, Thebedi and Paalus, both showed a feeling of loss of control of the situation when he stated, â€Å"I feel like killing myself†; she could not help but feel sadness for a man she likely still loved, â€Å"her eyes began to glow, to thicken with tears†. (Gordimer, 1975) This effort to bring the ominous mood to the reader is astonishingly effective. In the last portion of the story the dialogue of the main characters demonstrates the deliberate change in the characters.Paalus becomes very aware of the potentially catastrophic outcome of his and Thebedi’s indulgences. The shift in characterization was brilliantly executed with the seemingly formidable white man becoming the pariah in the district where his family was well respected. The conflict or struggle within both characters became what to do with the baby who was the product of forbidden love in an unaccepting society. Lastly, the reader is made aware of several shifts that have shift occurred. The first shift being for Paalus and the Eysendeck family by being lowered in status â€Å" left with his mother’s raincoat shielding his face from photographers†.The next obvious shift of the Judge in his statement in court actually raised Njabolu’s status, †by commending the honorable behavior of the husband†¦ and even provided clothes for the unfortunate infant out of his slender means. † (Gordimer, 1975) The final line of the story provides insight on the outcome by bringing to light the fact that the girl â€Å"in her own language stated that â€Å"it was a thing of our childhood and they don’t see each other anymore’’ The symbolic nature of this last line demonstrated the eventual movement forward of the young woman and her embracing her life as it was set in motion by time and society to be. REFERENCES: Clugston, R. W. (2010). Journey into literature. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Milhauser, S. (2008). The Ambition of the Short Story. The New York Times. Retrieved from: http://www. nytimes. com/2008/10/05/books/review/Millhauser-t. html

Screenshot Permission Letter

Microsoft Corporation One Microsoft Way Redmond, WA 98052-6399 January 22, 2010 One Microsoft Way Redmond, Wa Subject: Permission to Use Screenshots To Whom this May Concern: Thank you for taking time out your very busy schedule to read this letter. I will cut right to the point so as to keep my intrusion to a minimum. I am an author of head start manuals written specifically for children. My latest manual is aimed at providing core computing skills needed in today’s technological world, on training wheels of course. As you are well aware, today’s generation is vastly superior in receiving this vital message. It is my goal to provide an educational tool that is formulated using powerful visual imagery alongside an easy to understand explanation. To borrow the cliche’, â€Å"Pictures speak a thousand words†, I have found that children are highly receptive to imagery. Combining persuasive imagery with accurate documentation will prove to be very effective. I plan to produce several Computer based knowledge books specifically for children. This is going to be the 1st edition, so with this in mind I plan on starting from ground zero and working forward. I would like to include the following screen shots associated with Windows ® XP. This screen shot will provide an explanation for what each icon stands represents, the start button location, and where simple programs are located. [pic] I am a father myself, and I plan to include into the manual many of the exercises that I have implemented into my child’s education that have proven to be highly successful. Finally, I’m hoping to include in the manual the screen shot as shown below to provide simple user skills in Microsoft ® Paint. [pic] Once again I would like to thank you for taking some time out of your busy day to read this letter. Microsoft is a wonderful company that continues to provide the world with outstanding resources enabling prosperity on many levels. I hope to one day say that I played a very small part in this powerful commitment! Sincerely,