Emily's story Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Emily's story - Essay Example We broke up when I was five months pregnant and that time I had not even told my dad about my pregnancy. I was bought up by my dad who was quite strict in these matters. My mom left him before my birth and when I was born she dropped me when I was some months old. People say she was looking for someone else and my responsibility was a hurdle in her activities. My dad, he gave me love and affection of both the parents and raised me up in the best possible way. But in some matters he was damn strict and having boyfriends and sleeping with them was the top most issue. Now the problem left for me was telling him that his dear daughter is pregnant with a boy who is not mothering in seeking pleasure with her any more. First I tried to contact Jim again as his support would have made things less severe. Despite trying every possibility to contact him, texts, calls, facebook, whatsapp, all my attempts went in vein and I did not hear from him after wards. I made the mind to tell truth to my d ad because sooner or later he has to find that out and it could put me in a more difficult situation. I was not sure where to start and how to defend it. I knew he would be very much frustrated and annoyed at me. I decided to write a letter to him telling all the circumstances. I wrote everything on a piece of paper and put the paper under his pillow. The next morning I woke up by a hard roar. Before I could even realize what that actually was, there was a bang on my door. My father was knocking hard as if he would break it. I took no time in getting up but I resisted in opening door. If I would open door at this time, it would have resulted in anything. It could end up in a physical assault. So I pleaded him behind the door that I was sorry and i would be nice girl from now on. But he kept on shouting to leave his house just now. I opened the door after some time. He was standing next to it with red eyes. He ordered me

School policies and procedures Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

School policies and procedures - Essay Example In fact, most teachers have also formed a strategic plan of motivating students by rewarding them and building their positive attitude in the classrooms. In this case, this essay will talk in deep length about a certain school I happened to visit whereby they have established their own rule and procedures, which the students should follow as well as the consequences of not complying with the rules. Easily notable is the school rule on absenteeism. In that school, the rule explains with clarity the consequences of any student who violates the rule. It states that if a student happens to be absent, they are supposed to report and clarify to the teacher why they were absent for the whole day or partial day within three days after being absent. Either way, they are allowed to bring a note from their parents/guardian or a phone call explaining why they were absent. The student is also allowed to bring a doctors note if they were sick, failure to do so, the absenteeism is taken as an offense hence consequences follow. Therefore, students who do not comply with that rule are assigned to a five-hour Saturday school for a period of twenty days to compensate for the absenteeism. They can also be placed in-house suspension where they are not allowed to go beyond the school for a certain period as set by teachers. Students who repeat the same offense are placed on the attendance behavior contracts with their parents where the regional educational officers are also summoned. The second notable rule is meant to control fighting and use of vulgar words among students. In this rule, students are not required to fight each other either physically or verbally. Any student caught in this act is enrolled for counseling section that could either require the presence of the parents. In addition, during this section, the student may be put on suspension from the school for about two weeks depending on the

The Interaction Between The Tangible And Intangible Economics Essay

The Interaction Between The Tangible And Intangible Economics Essay Introduction: Assets is one of the most controversial concept in financial accounting. The historical accounting scientist are trying to give a satisfactory definition of the assets, but so far, an authoritative, academics and practitioners are accepted definition, has not yet appeared. The resources formed from past transactions or events by enterprises owned or controlled, and the resource be expected to bring economic interests to enterprises which is called assets. Classified according to different criteria, assets can be divided into different categories. In accordance with the length of the consumption period, can be divided into current assets and long-term assets; according to the specific form, Long-term assets can also be further classified, according to whether the physical form, can be divided into tangible and intangible assets. Tangible Assets: Tangible Resources Financial: Firms cash account and cash equivalents Firms capacity to raise equity Firms borrowing capacity Physical: Modern plan and facilities Favorable manufacturing locations State of the art machinery and equipment Technological: Trade secrets Innovative production processes Patents copyrights trademarks Organizational: Effective strategic planning process Excellent evaluation and control systems Source: (Strategic Brand Management 2003) Assets that are relatively easy to identify are called tangible resources. they include the physical and financial assets that an organization uses to create value for its customers. Among them are financial resources (e.g.: a firms cash and accounts receivables as well as its ability to borrow funds) physical resources (e.g.: the companys plant equipment and machinery as well as its proximity to customers and suppliers): many firms are finding that hightech .computerized training has dual Benefits; it develops more effective employees and reduces cost at the same time ( J.B. 1991) A tangible asset is the physical form of assets, including fixed assets and current assets, tangible assets consist primarily of: housing, machinery, equipment, and other forms of assets. Narrow sense of tangible assets usually refers to fixed assets and liquidity. Generalized tangible asset including: funds, resources, products, equipment, apparatus, plant, personnel information, including all the factors of production. Generally speaking, the tangible asset is the assets of a certain kind of form. (Jobber. 2012) Existing assets to the specific material and product form, including the production of tangible assets and non-produced tangible assets. Production of tangible assets is the production activities to create assets; tangible non-produced assets are natural assets without production achieved. Production of tangible assets, including tangible fixed assets, inventory (stock) and precious items . Tangible fixed assets, that is including residential, houses and buildings, machinery and equipment, raw materials and supplies, on the move, that is finished goods, and resell the goods; Non-production of tangible assets include land resource, uncultivated biological resources and water resources.(Wilson. 2005) Tangible assets can be further divided into physical and financial assets. Physical asset is the value in use of the property or material. Financial asset is the currency and securities. The value of the tangible assets created by its physical nature, that is, given the value of tangible assets by tangible, physical and visual factors. The value of the tangible assets from its material characteristics, their property rights are intangible, but it comes from their material characteristics. Intangible Assets: Intangible Resources Human: Experience and capabilities of employees Trust Managerial skills Firm specific practices and procedures Innovation: Technical and scientific skills Innovation capacities Reputation; Brand name Reputation with customers for quality and reliability Reputation with suppliers for fairness, non-zero-sum relationships Source: (Strategic Brand Management 2003) Much more difficult for competitors and for that matter . A firms own managers to account for or imitate are intangible resources .which are typically embedded in unique routines and practices that have evolved and accumulated over time .these include human resources (e.g.; experience and capability of employees, trust ,effectiveness of work teams, managerial skills ),innovation resources (e.g., Technical and scientific expertise ,ideas and reputation resources (e.g.: brand name ,reputation with suppliers for fairness and with customers for reliability ,and product quality . a firms culture may also be a resource that provides competitive advantage. (.Barney.1991) Intangible assets refer to enterprises for the production of goods or rendering of services, for rental to others, or for administrative purposes and holds a long-term, non-monetary asset without physical form. Generalized intangible assets including financial assets, long-term equity investments, patents, trademarks, etc., because they do not have a material entity, but the performance of some kind of legal rights or technology. Intangible assets including patents, technology, brands, copyrights and royalties, the use of the land . Intangible assets can be divided into identifiable and non-identifiable intangible assets. Identifiable intangible assets, that is including patents, proprietary technology, brands, land use rights and concessions,. Intangible assets following conditions are satisfied at the same time, in order to be recognized .The intangible assets related to the economic benefits are likely to flow to the enterprise; the cost of the intangible asset can be measured reliably.( Ghemawat.1991) Role of intangible Assets ¼Ã… ¡ Use of intangible assets as security for loans (such as trademarks, patents, copyrights, equity pledge registration as security for loans), commercial registration, increase investment, equity participation, shareholders funded immaterial property, license to use, transfer, lease contract, liquidation auction; Increase brand awareness, show the strength of enterprises, enhance cohesion, brand image ¼Ã¢â‚¬ º(Jorissen. 2007) The enterprises operating intangible assets with international standards, and then enter the international market Protection of intellectual property rights claims is based requires companies to crack down on counterfeit products, infringement and litigation .Through the evaluation of Intangible assets, the business of the inventory can be completed ¼Ã…’ to provide the management information to operators thus reasonable allocation of resources. Project financing, joint venture, merger, acquisition, attract investment, investment in intangible assets, investment, Intangible assets is the core attraction of foreign investment such as commercial brand, corporate profitability, sales, channels, personnel , etc. Intangible assets capital to invest in shares can bring many benefits for the enterprise. First of all, can ease the difficulties of registered capital and increase investment. Some people want to start a business, because of lack of funds to run the new company, can use intangible assets as part of the of registered capital to be registered, especially in some high-tech enterprise, especially; The number of enterprises registered capital is too low, giving the marketing difficulties, want to increase the registered capital, but the lack of funds, then can use the immaterial property investment shares to overcome this difficulty.( Gregory 2003) In the era of the industrial economy, the economic growth is mainly dependent on the plant, equipment, funds, and in the era of knowledge economy, patents, proprietary technology, trademarks, goodwill, information, computer software and other Intangible assets of innovation and sustainable development of economic growth play a decisive role. Intangible assets unlike land, buildings, machinery and equipment as a specific physical form in front of people, but in the era of knowledge economy, it does play a role can not be ignored for the sustainable development of enterprises. In the era of knowledge economy, the process of economic globalization in further exacerbated, it should be recognized that there is a process of continuous improvement of the status and role of intangible assets, when the increasingly competitive market, the more complex the business activities, intangible assets continues to increase, while its status and role of the more trend in the core, so that the number of high-tech enterprises are facing the danger instance to be suspended because of the loss of Intangible assets and can not sell their products.( Wilson, D. 2005) Role of intangible assets in Fast-paced Technology Market: In the day-to-day purchasing behavior, will you confused with a wide variety, all kinds of brand? And do not know how to make your decisions? What are the determinists to help you to choose goods finally? Of course, we want to buy the most cost-effective products, imagine that, we can not get them to try one by one, we will proceed from experience to choose reputable manufacturers and the well-known brands. In our selection process, in fact these Intangible assets play a role in the process. It has a strong appeal and influence, sometimes forcing us to make not entirely rational choice, wonderful role of the brand is to be able to win the goodwill of consumers to obtain the trust of consumers, which products sold, win opportunities to make goods in an invincible position in the competition for a long time.( Riezebos.2003) In the context of the era of knowledge economy, the value of Intangible assets can be much higher than the tangible assets, because the value of the tangible assets, after all is limited, while the value of Intangible assets can be unlimited200 brand value rankings released by the United States in November 2003, Coca-Cola topped the brand value of up to $ 70.45 billion, which strong value of intangible assets is evident. No wonder the boss of the Coca-Cola Company said: Even now, all the property of the Coca-Cola was burned, we still can dominate the world with this brand again. This is the brands equity and also is the power of intangible assets. This kind of self-confidence and competitive advantage also reflected in other international brands. For example, Intangible assets and tangible assets ratio of 70% versus 30% respectively in the world famous Microsoft, It can be predicted that the proportion of Intangible assets will continue to expand in the future of the companys new as sets. The United States has been able to occupy a dominant position for a long in the world, relying on its powerful economic force, In fact, that is expanding the tremendous power of intangible assets which included in enterprises and products. (Saudagaran. 2001) Intangible assets growth with the support of modern marketing tools and modern technology means, its speed can be much higher than the growth of the tangible assets of the enterprise, which means giving enterprises more excess profits. Let us look at the following data: In the high-tech is widely used in the United States, the research and development expenses of non-financial firms as a percentage of GDP, rose from an average of 2.2% in 1980-1989 to an average of 2.9% in 1990-1997, The proportion of investment in the world in tangible assets fell to 14.1%. At the same time, the S P500 index reflects the market value of the main American. The companies index from 135.76 points in 1980 raised to 1342.62 points on November 20, 2000, an increase of nearly 1O times. This shows that intangible assets play an increasingly important role in the creation of enterprise value. The interaction between the tangible and intangible assets: In addition, activate tangible assets with intangible assets, is the best way for low-cost expansion, the greatest advantage is to avoid repeated investment and redundant development. It is crucial for the adjustment of economic structure, promote the virtuous circle of the whole national economy. Haier as the number one of Chinese home appliance brand, one of the features of the expansion is to make an activation of tangible assets with intangible assets, which is written into textbook as classic case of Harvard Business School. (Itami..1987) Before Haier mergers Qingdao Red Star Electric Appliance Factory, total assets of 400 million Yuan, while total liabilities amounted over to 500 million, 133 million insolvent, and the debt ratio up to 140%. After taken over by Haier Group, it was reorganized as Haier Washing Machine Corporation, and directed to employees with a series of management concepts, these ideas like an invisible hand united the almost defeated team and elevated to an orderly, self-discipline, quick job status, burst out of powerful life and been enable enterprises to gain the extraordinary development: made up the deficits and get surpluses in three months, profit $ 1.5 million in the fifth month, passed certification of the IS09001 international quality system in the Second year, won Chinese washing machine Top 10 Brands, consumers shopping preferred brand, etc; market share has risen to 22% of 100 large shopping malls in the country at the end of 1996, It rose to 28.31% the first half of 1997, five percen tage higher than the second. The International market share is far ahead of other brand in China, the number of Automatic washing machines exported to Japan has been accounted 95% of total exports, accounting of 61% total imports of Japan; On this basis, Haier Washing machine merger the Guangdong Shunde washing machine factory again as an investment holding company brand in May 1997, after that set up Shunde Haier Electric Company and resume production within two months, created people are even saying so terrible Haier speed; September 1997 in cooperation with West Lake in Hangzhou, Haier take advantage of value of intangible assets, set up the Haier Holdings Electric Company Hangzhou without invest a penny and successfully developed a series of TV with Haier brand. (Field, A . 2005) In June 2001, the Haier Groups acquired global line of credit of 300 million U.S. dollars from the Bank of China, This is the bank of China the first and the only time to give China enterprise a global credit in China. With the global credit of Bank of China, Haier financing approval procedures will be greatly simplified, the domestic and foreign investment projects within 300 million US dollars will be more rapid and timely service; In addition, the Bank of China branches and agencies around the world will give Haier Group worldwide localization financing to facilitate. Haier brand value there are 74.9 billion Yuan in 2006, equivalent to nearly $ 10 billion. The value created by a brand is far beyond than several generation of peoples hard work. Haier could not successfully obtain such wholesale funding without such huge brand effect of Haier. Trends of Intangible assets: Intangible assets can bring huge profits for the enterprise, profit has a powerful allure and penetrating power, right here only cited one case to illustrate this. Lets look at the World Brand Lab recently announced 2008 World Brand 500: Harvard University ranked first; Coca-Cola second in the world; Citibank ranked third in the world; Google ranked fourth; Mercedes-Benz the worlds fifth; Wal-Mart the world rankings sixth; Microsoft the world ranked seventh; McDonald ranked eighth in the world; International business opportunities ranked ninth in the world; Apple Computer the worlds tenth. These world-class brands, its brand value is amazing, Coca-Cola reached $ 55 billion, the highest IBM brand value of $ 59 billion, Googles $ 25.5 billion in 2005 alone. (Selam Nuri 2012). With the extensive use of knowledge, technology and information in the social production and life, the human social economic form gradually changed from the agricultural and industrial to knowledge industries. (Gu. F. and Lev, B .2002).The 21st century is the era of the knowledge economy (Knowledge Economy), the knowledge economy is an economic form based on knowledge resources, its significant characteristics: Knowledge intensive technology as the foundation of the knowledge industry or new and high technology industries, has become the core of the entire industry, it is the major driving force for a country to obtain a long-term competitive advantage and sustainable socio-economic growth boosters. The arrival of the knowledge economy is a result of the development of high-tech industries, on preliminary information developed countries in the world, their computers, electronics, and aerospace and other high-tech industrial output and employment growth is the fastest. High-tech enter prise intangible assets accounted is bigger for the proportion of total assets in comparison with the traditional enterprise The high-tech enterprises are typical of knowledge and intellectual support enterprises, it has a high quality of intangible assets as a prerequisite, rich in scientific and technological content of its products are technically complex, a high degree of innovation, the short lifetime of the product guide the demand characteristics. Currently, many U.S. high technology enterprise intangible assets has more than 60% of total assets. In the Microsoft does not have raw materials, plant and equipment on a large scale, It has a main resource is the wisdom of the people, have the product is in the floppy disk and the floppy disk that contains knowledge. Although Microsoft does not have the characteristics of the traditional large enterprises on the surface, but its enterprise value is more than General Motors Corporation in the United States and other giant enterprises, become a truly high-tech industry giant, the only one reason is that Microsoft has a huge amount of intangible assets. The economic benefits of Knowledge which created by intangible assets has constituted the main body of the economic benefits of high-tech enterprises. In summary, there is no new and high technology enterprise without these invisible assets. (Gunnar Hedlund.2012.) Conclusion: The assets are the most important economic resources of an enterprise. Under conventional economic conditions, tangible assets relative to intangible assets in a more scarce position, the knowledge contained in the companys products and technology content is not high, the core position in the competition tangible assets rather than intangible assets; In the era of knowledge economy, the role and status of intangible assets is rising, intangible assets play an increasingly important role in the economic development, competition among enterprises has evolved into a competition intangible assets such as knowledge, technology, management ability and innovation ability. Intangible assets of the enterprise is becoming a key element in the survival and development of enterprises, it is an important value source of enterprise. Especially in the high-tech enterprises, the crystallization of the knowledge and wisdom of the patent, patented technology, goodwill, trademarks, research and develop ment, franchise and other intangible assets have gradually become the most important resource instead of tangible assets. For science and technology as the core of the high-tech enterprises, its asset structure is different from the general characteristics of enterprises that intangible assets in a larger proportion of total assets, in other words, value creation of high-tech enterprises will mainly depend on intangible assets, thereby intangible assets has a more important meaning in the high-tech enterprises.( Keller.2003) A large number of foreign findings show that: the intangible assets of the value of the enterprise to create an important role and can make a significant contribution; there is a strong correlation between the value of intangible assets and the companys market; intangible assets information disclosure status will affect the development of the capital market, the investors investment income and business growth. Be seen from the above: intangible assets so important for businesses; this trend has been vividly interpreted by Larry Wright whos the famous Brand strategy experts in American. Owns the market more important than having the factory, and the only way to have a market is to have the brand as intangible as the core which is dominant in the market.

Jonathan Larson :: essays research papers

Jonathan Larson ~ RENT (February 4, 1960 – January 25, 1996) Composer-lyricist-librettist of RENT, a rock opera inspired by "La Bohà ¨me", Jonathan Larson was born in Mt. Vernon, New York, and raised in suburban White Plains, the second child of Allan and Nanette Larson. Both Jonathan's parents loved music and theatre, and show tunes and folk music were always playing in their home. Jon and his sister Julie took piano lessons during elementary school. He could play by ear, and his teacher encouraged him to experiment with rhythm, harmony, and setting words. By high school, he was called the "Piano Man" after the enormously popular song of that title by Billy Joel; he also played tuba in the school marching band. Active in school and community theatre, Jonathan had major roles in several musicals. In 1978, Jonathan entered the acting conservatory at Adelphi University with a four-year full-tuition merit scholarship. He told an interviewer in 1993 that the program was "an undergrad version of the Yale Rep [the theatre where students of the Yale School of Drama work alongside veteran professionals]. And I was serious enough about theatre to know that this was what I wanted to do." He earned his Equity card doing summer stock and received a BFA with honors in 1982. His favorite part of the Adelphi curriculum was the original political cabarets. With classmates, Larson wrote rock-flavored attacks on the New Christian Right, Reaganomics, and the mind-numbing effects of television. He also scored EL LIBRO DE BUENAMOR (1979) and THE STEAK TARTARE CAPER (1981), musicals with lyrics and libretti by faculty members. He had a knack for pastiche and for complex ensemble numbers that used themes in counterpoint. In class, Jonathan studied the theatre of Bertolt Brecht and Peter Brook. Among his musical influences were JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, the Beatles, Prince, and the Police, but the writer he admired most was Stephen Sondheim, to whom he wrote during his last year in college. The distinguished composer-lyricist answered him and became an adviser to the young songwriter. After graduation, Jonathan moved to Manhattan, went on acting auditions, performed in a nightclub trio, and composed songs for a musical version of Rudyard Kipling's "Jungle Books". In 1982 he adapted George Orwell's "1984" for the musical stage. Deeply affected by the novel, and unflappably confident, he completed book, music, and lyrics, recorded a demo tape, sent a script to director Harold Prince, and wrote to Orwell's estate.

Persuasive Writing Essay

The next type of writing we will do is the persuasive essay. In this essay, you will be working to convince your reader of the rightness of your point of view on a specific topic. As I have already said, in some ways every type of writing is a form of persuasion: you are always trying to make your reader see the correctness of your opinion. In this assignment, however, you will stake out your position on a particular topic and argue forcefully and explicitly in favor of it. As always, you want to state your opinion explicitly in your thesis statement (of course, without saying, â€Å"I think that. . . .†). As always, you also want to pick a topic that is fairly focused, narrow, and specific: pick a topic that you can adequately discuss in four to five paragraphs. I will say it again: it is always better to say a lot about a small topic than to try to say a little bit about many aspects of a large topic. (For those who are counting, that is the 3,248th time I have said that thi s year.) Use the first paragraph to state and fully explain your thesis. The rest of your essay should then be the marshalling of evidence in support of your thesis statement and an explanation of and commentary on your evidence. Facts are necessary to support your thesis, but by themselves facts are not enough. You need to explain and comment on them fully; show how these facts support your view and not the view of the opposing side. Try to find three or four really strong pieces of evidence to support your opinion. There is no way you can say everything or think of every point; choose the strongest evidence you can. While arguing in favor of your position, you should also include arguments against the opposing view. For example, if I am writing about the wrongness of capital punishment, I should also include arguments showing the wrongness of arguments made in favor capital punishment. Try to anticipate the other side’s arguments. That will show you are thinking and will also strengthen your argument. In general, it is best to work from your weakest to your strongest argument. As usual, conclusions are difficult. End with a strong, powerful concluding paragraph that brings together your various ideas but does not merely restate them. Certainly do not end by saying something like, â€Å"For all these reasons . . . .† I have listed below a few sample thesis statements and a number of possible topics. Please do not be  limited by my suggestions. As with any piece of writing, you will do the best job if you write about something you care about. I will give you a sample essay. Your essay should be 1-2 pages typed or 4-5 sides handwritten, double-spaced either way. The essay is due Tuesday, 30 January. It is worth 100 points. We will work on the essay in class; you can always show me drafts. Do your best. SAMPLE TOPICS the dress code (or, better yet, some more significant and meaningful issue at school!) your allowance or curfew or some other family issue gun control, abortion, capital punishment (or any other political issue) your view on dating or relationships advocating for a particular religious or spiritual practice: for example, meditate everyday the need for more late-night activities for teenagers the war in Iraq of course, anything else you feel strongly about SAMPLE THESIS STATEMENTS Limiting civil liberties is not an appropriate way to keep this country safe from terrorism. Capital punishment is an unjust and immoral way to punish criminals. A vegetarian diet is a sensible and meaningful response to world starvation and environmental destruction. The dress code provides a meaningful way to minimize the economic competition between students and unite them in their common academic purpose. A vegetarian diet is a sensible and meaningful response to world starvation and environmental destruction. So many Americans are often caught up with finding the â€Å"perfect† diet. While such a diet does not exist, a vegetarian diet provides significant health, environmental, and political benefits. Choosing such a diet is a simple but significant way to make a real difference in one’s own life and the world. First of all, a vegetarian diet is far more healthful than the traditional  American diet that emphasizes meat. A meat-free diet is higher in fiber, lower in saturated fat, and richer in a wide range of vitamins and minerals than a meat-based one. While we do hear conflicting evidence about the various health claims of different diets, nutritionists and scientists seem to agree that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables provides the greatest health benefits. Some people might say that a vegetarian diet is boring: quite the contrary. Compared to the relatively few kinds of meats and ways to prepare them, there are scores of vegetables, fruits, grains, and legumes and almost countless ways to prepare them. A meat-based diet also puts far too much protein into the body, taxing the kidneys and wasting expensive food. As it is, Americans eat too much protein; eating a vegetarian diet is one way to reduce our intake of excessive and expensive protein. Eating a diet based on fruits and vegetables also creates less environmental havoc than a meat-based diet. Raising the animals necessary for the traditional meat-laden diet requires large amounts of land, mountains of processed feed, and the disposal of tons of waste. But a family of four could, if necessary, live for a year off the fruits, grains, and vegetables produced from a few acres of land. And, once the crop is taken, there are few or no ill effects. If the agriculture is done organically, vegetarian eating has even fewer harmful effects upon the land. In an age of diminishing arable land and resources and increasing populations, we need to find ways to get the most nutrition from our land use. A vegetarian diet provides such efficiency. Finally, a meat-rich diet consumes many more scarce resources than a vegetarian diet. It takes about 800 pounds of cattle feed to produce one pound of beef. In a world in which nearly one-fourth of the planet’s population is malnourished or starving, a meat-based diet is simply a luxury we can no longer afford (if we ever could have). In good conscience, it only makes sense to eat lower on the food chain – as we do with a plant-based diet. If everyone in the world ate a vegetarian diet, there would be an immediate surplus of food available to feed people at far lower cost and with wiser use of precious resources. In this way, vegetarianism becomes a moral choice. For reasons of politics, environment, health, and justice, vegetarianism is the only intelligent and compassionate choice in a world of scarce resources and increasing population. It may take some getting used to, but the benefits and rewards of a vegetarian diet – for the planet, the self, and the human race – far outweigh whatever minimal sacrifice may be involved. sentence in bold: thesis statement underlined sentences: topic sentences for each paragraph

Belgium Economy

? Belgium's economy is 71. 5 per cent free, according to our 2008 assessment, which makes it the world's 20th freest economy. This is a 0. 9 percentage point decrease from last year, primarily reflecting increased government spending. Belgium is ranked 10th freest among the 41 countries in the European region, and its overall score is above the regional average. Belgium scores very high in investment freedom, property rights, monetary freedom, and business freedom and is above the world average in eight areas. A member of the European Union, it has a standardized monetary policy and relatively low inflation despite some government distortion in the agricultural sector. Its transparent rule of law protects property and encourages confidence among foreign investors. Belgium's extensive welfare state is supported by exceptionally high government spending and income tax rates. Overall tax revenue is an uncommonly high per cent of GDP, and Belgium's government size score is 50 percentage points worse than the world average. Background Belgium is a federal state consisting of three economically different regions: Flanders, Wallonia, and the capital city of Brussels, which houses the headquarters of NATO and the EU and has been at the forefront in driving the supranationalisation of power within the EU. After eight years, Guy Verhofstadt and his Liberal Party were ousted from power in 2007. His previous Socialist Liberal coalition sought to ease the income tax burden and succeeded in balancing the budget, but growth remained sluggish. Christian Democratic leader Yves Leterme has since been invited to form a coalition government. Services account for around three-quarters of GDP. The leading exports are electrical equipment, vehicles, diamonds, and chemicals. BELGIUM Rank: 20 Regional Rank: 10 of 41 Population:10. 5 million GDP (PPP):$336. 6 billion 1. 5% growth in 2004 1. 7% 5-yr. comp. ann. growth $32,119 per capita Unemployment: 8. 4% Inflation (CPI): 2. 5% FDI (net inflow):$766 million Off. Dev. Assist. None External Debt: $1. 1 trillion Exports: $318. 8 billion Primarily machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, metals and metal products, foodstuffs. Imports: $308. 4 billion Primarily machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, transportation equipment, oil products. BELGIUM’S TEN ECONOMIC FREEDOM Business freedom – 93. 7% The overall freedom to start, operate, and close a business is strongly protected by Belgium's national regulatory environment. Starting a business takes an average of four days, compared to the world average of 43 days. Obtaining a business license requires less than the world average of 19 procedures and 234 days. Regulation is transparent, and the laws are enforced effectively. Closing a business is easy and straightforward. Trade freedom – 86% Belgium's trade policy is the same as those of other members of the European Union. The common EU weighted average tariff rate was 2 per cent in 2005. Non-tariff barriers reflected in EU policy include agricultural and manufacturing subsidies, import restrictions for some goods and services, market access restrictions in some service sectors, non-transparent and restrictive regulations and standards, and inconsistent customs administration across EU members. Enforcement of intellectual property rights remains problematic. Consequently, an additional 10 percentage points is deducted from Belgium's trade freedom score. Fiscal freedom – 43. 9% Belgium's income tax rate is one of the world's highest, and its corporate tax rate is also high. The top income tax rate is 50 per cent, and the top corporate tax rate is 34 per cent (a 33 per cent tax rate and 3 per cent surcharge). Other taxes include a value-added tax (VAT), a transport tax, and a property tax. In the most recent year, overall tax revenue as a percentage of GDP was 44. 9 per cent. Freedom from Government – 17. 9% Total government expenditures, including consumption and transfer payments, are very high. In the most recent year, government spending equaled 52. 3 per cent of GDP. Monetary freedom – 80. 4% Belgium is a member of the euro zone. Between 2004 and 2006, its weighted average annual rate of inflation was 2. 3 per cent. Relatively stable prices explain most of the monetary freedom score. As a participant in the EU's Common Agricultural Policy, the government subsidies agricultural production, distorting the prices of agricultural products. Price-control policies affect water supply, waste handling, homes for the elderly, medicines and implantable medical devices, certain cars, compulsory insurance, fire insurance, petroleum products, cable television, and certain types of bread. An additional 10 percentage points is deducted from Belgium's monetary freedom score to account for these policies. Investment freedom – 90% Most restrictions on foreign investment also apply to domestic investment. Permits and licenses required for certain industries are not hard to obtain. Regional and national incentives are generally open to foreigners and Belgians, but taxes and certain employment criteria are federally controlled. Performance requirements, when present, are linked to job creation. EU regulations require some restrictions on non-EU investment in public works. There are no restrictions on the purchase of real estate, residents' and non-residents' accounts, repatriation of profit, or transfer of capital. Financial freedom – 80% Belgium has one of the world's most developed financial systems, with 104 banks, including over 70 foreign banks, and numerous financial service providers, but the five largest banks still hold 85 per cent of deposits. An independent commission supervises the financial sector. Banks must provide a minimum set of services. Credit is allocated at market terms to both foreign nd domestic investors. Belgian law differentiates between EU and non-EU banks, financial institutions, and insurance companies, although firms from European Economic Area or World Trade Organization countries may be treated equally. Regional authorities may subsidies medium- and long-term borrowing. The insurance sector is smaller and less robust than banking. The world's first stock market was organized in Antwerp, and Belgium's sound capit al markets were recently integrated into Euro next, a broader European exchange. Property rights – 80% Property is well protected, and contracts are secure. The laws are codified, and the judiciary and civil service, while often slow, are of high quality. Intellectual property rights are well protected, but implementation of relevant EU directives has been slow. Freedom from corruption – 73% Corruption is perceived as minimal. Belgium ranks 20th out of 163 countries in Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index for 2006. Belgium outlaws both active bribery and â€Å"passive bribery,† whereby an official requests or accepts a benefit for himself or somebody else in exchange for certain behavior. Labor freedom – 69. 9% Employment regulations are relatively flexible, but further reform is needed to foster employment creation and productivity growth. The non-salary cost of employing a worker can be very high, and dismissing a redundant employee is relatively costly. Belgium's high labor costs are sustainable for high-value-added processes, but market rigidities remain a considerable barrier to employing a worker.

Stock Dividends and Stock Splits Essays

Stock Dividends and Stock Splits Essays Stock Dividends and Stock Splits Essay Stock Dividends and Stock Splits Essay For investors, it is important to understand stock dividends and stock splits. Stock dividend is different from stock split.   While it is true that, in both cases, new shares of stock are issued to current stockholders, distinction between the two has been recognized.   The distinctive difference between a stock dividend and a stock split is that in the former, there is a capitalization of earnings or profits, together with a distribution of the added shares which evidence the assets transferred to capital, while in the latter, there is a mere increase in the number of shares which evidence ownership without altering the amount of the capital, surplus or segregated earnings.   In short, a stock split is but a dividing up of the outstanding shares of the corporation into a greater number of units without touching the stockholder’s original proportional participating interest in the corporation.   Stock split is basically one of form and not of s ubstance.Concept of dividendsA stock corporation subsists to make a profit and to allot a percentage of the profits to its stockholders.   The board of directors of a public corporation may declare dividends out of the unrestricted retained earnings which shall be payable either in cash, or in stock to all stockholders on the basis of outstanding shares held by them.   A dividend is that part or portion of the profits of a corporation set aside, declared and ordered by the directors to be paid ratably to the stockholders on demand or at a fixed time.   It is a payment to stockholders of a corporation as a return on their investment.   It is a feature of a dividend that all of the stockholders of the same class share in it in proportion to the respective amounts of stock which they hold.Without disturbing the capital stock, a dividend is an aggregate amount which can be shared among stockholders.   The term has been considered as suggesting that there must be a surplus or p rofits to be divided.   To warrant the declaration of dividends, there must be actual bona fide surplus profits or earnings over and above all debts and liabilities of the corporation.   Although a corporation has earned no profit from the current period, it may properly pay dividends from accumulated surplus out of previous years.   On the other hand, dividends may not be declared as long as a shortfall exists although; it has realized actual profit in the current year.Stock dividendsInstead of cash, a corporation may opt to declare stock dividend, which is a dividend payable in unissued or increased or additional shares.   Stock dividends do not decrease the value of the stockholder’s interest; they only bring down the cost per share of the stockholdings. To illustrate, Mr. X owned 200 shares of stock at $10 per share worth $2,000.   The company declared and distributed 25% stock dividend.   Mr. X would now own 250 shares for the same value of $2,000, with a new value per share of $8 (Heakal, 2003).   A corporation may increase its authorized capital stock by way of stock dividends without touching its unissued shares as long as there are retained earnings to justify the declaration.The declaration of stock dividend may be revoked at anytime before the actual issuance of the stock.   Unlike in cash dividend, a stock dividend requires, as a general rule, more than a mere declaration to make it effective.   It must be approved by the stockholders. Until the stock is actually issued, or at least in some manner especially set apart to the stockholders, its effect is not complete.   The so called stock dividend in shares of the kind already held gives the shareholder nothing in the way of a distribution of assets, but merely divides his existing shares into smaller units.   There is no increase in his proportionate claim upon the assets of the corporation or income by reason of such a paper dividend.   There is no obligation upon th e corporation to declare stock dividends, which are not distributions but only a change of the share and capital structure.   Since the declaration of stock dividend gives the stockholder nothing until all the formalities necessary to a valid increase of stock are complied with, its revocation, therefore, takes away nothing.   But unless rescinded, the shareholders have absolute right to their respective shares in the stock dividend so declared and actual delivery of the corresponding certificate is not essential to make the shareholder the owner of the dividend (De Leon, l993).Dividends DatesEssentially, there are three dates to observe in dealing with dividends.   The first to consider is the date of declaration where the board declares dividend and sets the amount of dividend, the payment date and the ex-dividend date. Next is the record date, where all list of of current stockholders who are to receive dividends are rolled up. The most important date is the 2-day period be fore the record date which is designated as the ex-dividend date. This is to allow completion of all unfinished transactions before the record date.   Those stockholders not on record or do not own the stock before the ex-dividend date will not be entitled to dividend payment. Proceedings not completed at the ex-dividend date, the price of the stock is immediately reduced as dividend payment dilutes the value of the company and investors absorbs the diminution in value (â€Å"Investing†, 2007).Effect of declaration of stock dividendA stock dividend transfers the surplus covered by such dividend into permanent account thereby placing it beyond the power of the board of directors to withdraw from corporate use and to distribute to the stockholders.   Such a capitalization of surplus adds nothing to and takes nothing from the corporation.   The corporation merely transfers the surplus to capital account and issue shares of stock to represent the same.   Such shares may b e preferred as well as common stock.After a declaration of stock dividends, the stockholder receives no greater proportional interest in the assets of the corporation that he had before.   In this regard, it is identical in substance with a splitting of original share in which outstanding shares are exchanged for an increased number of new shares of proportionally less par value than the old, leaving the aggregate value of all his stock substantially the same.   Such an increase simply dilutes the shares as they existed before.   The declaration of stock dividend is advantageous to existing creditors of the corporation to the extent that corporate earnings are capitalized, unavailable for distribution to stockholders.   At the same time, it improves the cash position of the corporation with expansion projects or programs eliminating the necessity of borrowing and paying high interest rates.Stock dividends are not taxable as income because they represent merely an unrealized gain to the stockholders who receives nothing from the corporation that answers the definition of income under the revenue code (â€Å"Strengthening†).Illustration:A, B, C, D and E organized a stock corporation with an authorized capital stock of $400,000 divided into 4,000 shares with a par value of $100 per share.   Each subscribed to and paid for 400 shares.   Hence, the actual asset of the corporation at the beginning of the business was $200,000.After a few years of profitable business, the assets of the corporation amounted to $400,000 with no debts.   Instead of declaring cash dividends, it was agreed to increase the capital stock in the form of stock dividends with a total value of $40,000 which amount represents the actual increase of his share or interest in the business.   At the start of the year, each stockholder held 400 shares with a total value of $40,000 which is 1/5 of the total corporate capital of $200,000.   At the close of the year, after stock dividends are declared, each stockholder still holds 1/5 interest in the corporation with his 800 shares worth $80,000 in relation to the increased corporate capital of $400,000.   But the proportional interest of each share in the corporate assets is decreased because of the increase in the number of shares, from 1/2,000 to 1/4,000 (Kennon, 2007).Stock dividend from issue of additional sharesWhenever an increase is made in the capital account of a stock corporation, the increase is valid only when it represents additional shares issued for which the equivalent consideration is received by the corporation.   The increase may be the result of an issue of additional shares or the re-investment of retained earnings effected by the distribution of shares as stock dividend.Hence, a corporation with outstanding no par value shares originally issued at $5 per share cannot increase its capital account by transferring its surplus to its capital account without issuing additional shares for the amount transferred.   Under such method, stockholders who have already paid in full their no par value shares would in effect be made to pay additional amounts for the same shares to increase their value.   No par value shares of capital stock issued shall be deemed fully paid and non-assessable.   Once no par value shares have been issued at their issued price, their value can no longer be changed.   Accordingly, such stock dividend by a transfer of the surplus to capital with no shares to be issued cannot be validly made (De Leon, 1993).Stock dividend distinguished from cash dividendStock dividend does not involve any disbursement to the stockholders of accumulated earnings, while cash dividend involves disbursement of said earnings.   Corporate creditors may reach for stock dividends, being still part of corporate property, while cash dividend declared and paid becomes the absolute property of the stockholders and cannot be reached by the creditors.   While co rporate capital is increased by a stock dividend, cash dividend does not.   Except in the sense that capital stock constitute a liability, no debt from the corporation to the stockholders is created by the declaration of stock dividend.   The declaration of cash dividend creates an obligation to the stockholders who then hold such stock.It is important to note that a dividend payable in stock is not synonymous with, and is not always or necessarily, a stock dividend.   A dividend payable in stock may, under some circumstances, is a cash dividend, as where the dividend consists in treasury stocks or in stocks of another corporation.Stock splitsThe board of directors may approve a stock split when the market is too high or too low, as sometimes investors are forestalled from buying or keeping their stocks.   In stock split, the market per share is adjusted by the same ratio which results in additional shares being issued and the market price being reduced to a trading level to attract investors. Stock splits are generally carried out in two different ways.   In a par value stock, the original certificate is converted into a new certificate validating the original shares, plus the new shares issued.   In a no par value stock, the stockholder keeps his original certificate but receives additional certificates for the additional shares issued. In either case, the split merely changes the number of outstanding shares without affecting the stockholders’ equity or the capital stock (Heakal, 2003).Illustration:X Corporation has 100,000 outstanding shares of stock, with a par value of $10 per share.   The board of directors feels that a lower price is necessary to attract more investors, it authorized that the 100,000 shares be replaced by 500,000 with a par value of $2.   Thus each stockholder will receive 5 shares in exchange for each share owned.   This increase in the number of outstanding share is referred to as stock split (Little, 2007).O n the other hand, the reverse stock split, involves the reduction of the outstanding shares into a smaller number of shares and it is done when it is felt that a higher price for the shares will be advantageous to the corporation.   Thus, in the same example above, the 100,000 outstanding shares may be called in and replaced by 50,000 shares with a par value of $20 per share.   There is an increase in the par value of outstanding shares with a corresponding reduction in the number of shares issued.If a stock splits, it does not make it a better investment or enlarges the share in the company’s earnings nor does it affect materially short sellers. The aim of stock splits is to lower the trading price of a stock to a level viewed as popular to investors. It is comfortable to purchase stock at $10 per share than at $100 per share. Hence, when share prices have moved up considerably, publicly-listed companies declare stock split.ConclusionOne way or another, the stock itself may change, whether it is a stock split or a stock dividend.   It is crucial that an investor must be fully aware of the character of corporate actions to understand how a corporate decision affects his interest in the business. Corporate action may bring a change in the stock (â€Å"Corporate†).Whether it is cash dividend or stock dividend, dividends matter. It is the evidence of profitability.   It offers unvarying return on a less secure investment. Dividends grow as the company grows thus providing more economic value to the investors. Some investors profit from dividends.   Investors would purchase stocks right after dividend is declared and sell it after collecting the dividend, thus, receiving dividend at no cost.   However, this does not usually happen successfully as the dividend payout reflects immediately the stock price.It is important that an investor understands stock splits.   Stock splits do not change the equity of the company or the net assets of t he business.   Board of directors approves stock splits to maintain high level of trading activity of its stock. Sometimes a reverse stock split is decided to discourage small investors and maintain its status because a relatively low stock price is considered highly speculative and often trades over the counter.

How to Write a #8220;Who Am I#8221; Biographical Essay

How to Write a #8220;Who Am I#8221; Biographical Essay Welcome to our third and final guide on how to write a â€Å"who am I† biographical essay where you will learn tips on enhancing your writing in order to get your professor’s seal of approval. However, it must be noted that this guide alone won’t help you write a great biographical essay on your chosen topic. It is absolutely necessary to read our first guide, 10 facts for a â€Å"who am I† biographical essay and our second guide, 20 topics on a â€Å"who am I† biographical essay in order to fully profit from what we’ve prepared for you. If you’ve read the previous two guides then let’s move on: What is a Biographical Essay? When you write about the life and personality of a person, you are in fact, writing a biographical essay on that particular person. You mention each and everything you can gather about that particular person before composing your biographical essay. But before you start composing, be sure to include these characteristics in your biographical essay: Real-Life Subject Thesis that states your thoughts about that particular person’s life Account of major events that occurred within the timeline of the subject Descriptive paragraph of the individual’s traits and personality What to Do First: Choosing the Subject First Choose a personality that is most appealing to you. You should have some first-hand knowledge on this person otherwise you may have a tough time composing your essay. Gathering Information Once you have chosen a personality as your subject, it’s time to research his/her life, personality traits and also the possible tragic events that ensued – you need to be well-versed in them all in order to write a great biographical essay. Ask yourself some questions like what part of your subject’s should you focus on the most and whether any major events took place during that time. Make a Thesis Statement Since you’ve gathered bits and pieces of information on the personality you chose, you are now ready to write a thesis statement that’s not only focused but also concise and liberal. Start Composing Now you are ready to write a biographical essay on the individual you chose as your subject. To organize a biographical essay flawlessly, be sure to cover major events of your subject’s’ life chronologically. In the meantime, you can start writing about some minor events that led up to the major ones, which according to you, were the most significant in his or her life. Here is how you compose a biographical essay: Introduction In the first few paragraphs, you introduce your subject and lead the audience to your thesis statement, which expresses your idea or thoughts on the subject’s life. The Body Before concluding, you must write a detailed account of your subject using the information you’ve gathered. These details must concisely develop your idea, opinion or thoughts on the individual. Conclusion The final paragraph of the paper is a restatement of the subject’s life and what he or she has contributed to the world – no matter how large or small as every contribution counts. Before Submission It is highly recommended that you use a lively tone, with a vivid sentence construction and colorful details that really speak to your audience on a personal and emotional level. This keeps your biographical essay informative as well as compelling to read. Before you submit your assignment to your professor, make sure that you’ve reviewed your essay very carefully and rectified any mistakes whatsoever. Proofreading your paper is essential because your professor doesn’t have to see the mess you make during the writing process. It is always better to correct your own mistakes and submit an error-free essay to your professor. This also happens to be an excellent way of improving your general writing prowess, by being your own critic. That’s it! You are equipped with highly informative facts, plenty of topics to take inspiration from and a writing guide for a biographical essay, so you can write flawlessly. It’s time to get your creative juices flowing and start writing.

Osmoregulation Definition and Explanation

Osmoregulation Definition and Explanation Osmoregulation is the active regulation of osmotic pressure to maintain the balance of water and electrolytes in an organism. Control of osmotic pressure is  needed to perform biochemical reactions and preserve homeostasis. How Osmoregulation Works Osmosis is the movement of solvent molecules through a semipermeable membrane into an area that has a higher solute concentration. Osmotic pressure is the external pressure needed to prevent the solvent from crossing the membrane. Osmotic pressure depends on the concentration of solute particles. In an organism, the solvent is water and the solute particles are mainly dissolved salts and other ions, since larger molecules (proteins and polysaccharides) and nonpolar or hydrophobic molecules (dissolved gases, lipids) dont cross a semipermeable membrane. To maintain the water and electrolyte balance, organisms excrete excess water, solute molecules, and wastes. Osmoconformers and Osmoregulators There are two strategies used for osmoregulation- conforming and regulating. Osmoconformers use active or passive processes to match their internal osmolarity to that of the environment. This is commonly seen in marine invertebrates, which have the same internal osmotic pressure inside their cells as the outside water, even though the chemical composition of the solutes may be different. Osmoregulators control internal osmotic pressure so that conditions are maintained within a tightly-regulated range. Many animals are osmoregulators, including vertebrates (like humans). Osmoregulation Strategies of Different Organisms Bacteria - When osmolarity increases around bacteria, they may use transport mechanisms to absorb electrolytes or small organic molecules. The osmotic stress activates genes in certain bacteria that lead to the synthesis of osmoprotectant molecules. Protozoa - Protists use contractile vacuoles to transport ammonia and other excretory wastes from the cytoplasm to the cell membrane, where the vacuole opens to the environment. Osmotic pressure forces water into the cytoplasm, while diffusion and active transport control the flow of water and electrolytes. Plants - Higher plants use the stomata on the underside of leaves to control water loss. Plant cells rely on vacuoles to regulate  cytoplasm osmolarity. Plants that live in hydrated soil (mesophytes) easily compensate for water lost from transpiration by absorbing more water. The leaves and stem of the plants may be protected from excessive water loss by a waxy outer coating called the cuticle. Plants that live in dry habitats (xerophytes) store water in vacuoles, have thick cuticles, and may have structural modifications (i.e., needle-shaped leaves, protected stomata) to protect against water loss. Plants that live in salty environments (halophytes) have to regulate not only water intake/loss but also the effect on osmotic pressure by salt. Some species store salts in their roots so the low water potential will draw the solvent in via osmosis. Salt may be excreted onto leaves to trap water molecules for absorption by leaf cells. Plants that live in water or damp environments (hydr ophytes) can absorb water across their entire surface. Animals - Animals utilize an excretory system to control the amount of water that is lost to the environment and maintain osmotic pressure. Protein metabolism also generates waste molecules which could disrupt osmotic pressure. The organs that are responsible for osmoregulation depend on the species. Osmoregulation in Humans In humans, the primary organ that regulates water is the kidney. Water, glucose, and amino acids may be reabsorbed from the glomerular filtrate in the kidneys or it may continue through the ureters to the bladder for excretion in urine. In this way, the kidneys maintain the electrolyte balance of the blood and also regulate blood pressure. Absorption is controlled by the hormones aldosterone, antidiuretic hormone (ADH), and angiotensin II. Humans also lose water and electrolytes via perspiration. Osmoreceptors in the hypothalamus of the brain monitor changes in water potential, controlling thirst and secreting ADH. ADH is stored in the pituitary gland. When it is released, it targets the endothelial cells in the nephrons of the kidneys. These cells are unique because they have aquaporins. Water can pass through aquaporins directly rather than having to navigate through the lipid bilayer of the cell membrane. ADH opens the water channels of the aquaporins, allowing water to flow. The kidneys continue to absorb water, returning it to the bloodstream, until the pituitary gland stops releasing ADH.

Introduction to global politics Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Introduction to global politics - Term Paper Example China is now the cynosure of eyes in pure business terms. Countries like India and Brazil have also been able to invite world attention, as huge investment possibility exists in these poor countries as well. Countries like India and Brazil have also been able to invite world attention, as huge investment possibility exists in these poor countries as well. Unlike earlier times, when the military might was the only yardstick to measure the strength of a country, today the economic strength holds key. Strategic tie-ups take place amongst countries depending upon the economic leverages being held by each country. The classical liberalism limited the role of governments to maintaining social order, enforcing law and defending the country against foreign aggressions. This kind of liberalism hinged on individualism, with respective countries making best efforts to safeguard their own interests. But, over the years this philosophy has widened to a great extent. The neo-liberalism not only in cludes the individualistic or country specific aspects, but it also includes regional interest as well as global interests. For example, the recession hit economies of US and the European nations is a matter of concern for almost all countries around the world, because a weak US economy, weaker dollar, weaker Euro would imply all round losses to many countries around the world. On the other side, the neo-liberalism promotes institutions like world bank or IMF, which provide easier loans and financial assistance to nations in need of such assistance. Q-3. Is 'National Interest' a useful concept for understanding the actions of states It is true that in the market driven economy, the 'interest' of states lies well beyond the boundaries of the state. But, the 'national interest' proves crucial for shaping policies, retaining power and winning the confidence of corporate world. Therefore, the 'national interest' is indeed a very useful concept in understanding the actions of states. For the sake of argument it can also be said that in today's materialistic world, number of political people have become more of self-serving nature, but it is equally true that they too realise the importance of 'national interest'. If the national interest goes, their own identity too melts away. While devising policies for foreign trade, tripartite agreements or regional framework agreements, a state is supposed to keep its national interests supreme, while extending ground to other state/s Q-4. What are the key causes of war If we analyse the causes of the two world wars, it becomes abundantly clear that the imperialistic policies of some nations was a key factor in antagonising other countries which in turn translated into wars. But, it must also be emphasised that when some of the European nations established their colonies in foreign land, they started exploiting the alien land for the natural resources and trade prospects. This indicates that economic interest was equally relevant even during those days. It was only after the oppressed people started reacting, that war like situations started. War can take place on economic, industrial, racial, religious, cultural issues. Therefore in general key causes of war include

Event Sponsorship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Event Sponsorship - Essay Example The sponsorship should take into consideration the continuous funding of the event and the value and goals that should be met. Commercialisations of events have led to the compromise of values in event managements and have led to failure in some events. The project proposal aims at evaluating the challenges faced by event managers in handling sponsorship. It also aims at coming up with better strategies to improve sponsorship. Event management is a task that has a long history. Today, various events are held. The events range from games, festivals, concerts, meetings to political rallies. Up to these days, events remain an important part of people's culture and help social development of people. For their success, these events need to be managed. In managing events, sponsorship is very important. It should be noted that managing events is expensive and needs funds. Sponsorship of an event is not just as way of raising funds for the events, but it also entails marketing. The finding of sponsors, choice of sponsors and managing marketing and commercials should be an integral part of event management. Sponsors are important in event management. Good management of sponsors is lacking in event management. It should be noted that events are very important elements to people's culture. A successful event should send the required message or meet the desired goals (Allen, Bowdin, 2006, pp123). It should be noted that there are different categories of sponsors. Some sponsors are not motivated by business while others are motivated by business and aim at marketing their products. In managing sponsors, some event management conflict over the amount allocated to a certain sponsor and the recognition of the sponsor as a sponsor to an event. Poor management of sponsor could explain the conflict in events and the inability to sustain a sponsor for a long time. Lack of good sponsorship management also leads to failure of some events. Research Question Which and how important is the role of sponsorship in an event management context Aim and objectives Managing a sustainable fund is a principle element of event management. Sponsors are the main sources of funding to an event and they should be well managed. The management of sponsorship should ensure a sustainable fund and at the same time maintain the integrity of the event (Cornwell, Amis, 2005). The research will establish the problem encountered in managing sponsorships and come up with a better way of managing the sponsors. The project will also establish things which people managing events can do to ensure sustainable fund for events. Literature review Events are an integral part of communities. In the early days, every community had its own events and activities. The events were great opportunities for social development and development of cultures. It was also a great opportunity for interaction, communication and development of leaders (Berkowitz, 2008). In the past, the major activity had either cultural or religious base and involved people from a given geographical region. Although cultural and religious events remain important today, events have taken different perspectives including people from various cultures and large geographical regions. Small events are not involving and their management is simple;

Human Disease Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Human Disease - Essay Example This is because such resources are subjected to prerequisite verifications before their publication. Grace, a sixty five year old woman, noted some changes in her cognitive ability that she associated with the general assumption that body processes slow down as people age. Her condition however continued to deteriorate with symptoms that were not reported by people of her age or those who were older than she was. Diagnosis of her condition as Alzheimer’s disease identifies a number of factors as possible causes. Her old age, being 65 years old is one of the risk factors that could have caused the disease. Genetic factors that could have been indicated by the disease’s diagnosis among her close relatives such as sibling or parents, or existence of particular genes in her system are another possible set of causes of her changed condition. Having a reported case of a cardiovascular disease or extreme level of mental stress as well as her gender could also have facilitated development of Grace’s disease. The disease could have therefore independently developed in h er or she could have inherited it from her parents through genes (Jasmin, p. 1). Changes in Grace’s cognitive ability that included forgetfulness of tasks and procedures, reduced ability to perform duties, and reduced decision-making ability raised her concerns of a possible problem. Complications that were more serious and that included change in behavior, difficulty to communicate, deteriorated memory and poor cognitive ability then prompted her medical attentions (National, p. 1; Jasmin, p. 1). Even though the disease started with mild symptoms, it gradually worsened to more serious symptoms and adverse effects on the patient. She for example lost her ability to coordinate words into sentences for communication. There was also a significant level of emotional instability as she could easily get angry and overreact to conditions that never bothered

Discussion forum in english 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Discussion forum in english 2 - Essay Example The line of white hills in a way foresees â€Å"the birth of her baby – something unique like the uncommon white elephant. The color white symbolizes the innocence and purity of her unborn child† (Hills Like White Elephants - Literary Analysis). The word white elephant is repeated three times at different junctures of the building of the conflict and each time the reader can feel the inner pang of Jig. The other prominent symbols used are the fields of grain and trees which represent fertility and fruitfulness (the pregnant state of the girl in the story), the Ebro River that represents life and the shadow of cloud that represents the abortion of the fetus and destruction of life (Hills Like White Elephants - Literary Analysis). At the end of the story the reader is left confused as the conflict (that of abortion) is not fully resolved by the writer and is left for the reader to guess about it. Literary devices such as the style, the tone and the use of ironies provides extra charm to the narration and very often the use of effective ironies results in unexpected twists and turns to the development and climax of the story. Kate Chopin’s story "The Story of an Hour" is full of situational ironies. The very title of the story is ironic as it foretells some sort of tragedy that lie ahead the central characters within a time span of one hour. The fake news that her husband is killed makes â€Å"weep at once, with sudden, wild abandonment† and she becomes motionless and quite for a long time (Schakel & Ridl 196). The fact that Mrs. Mallard is â€Å"afflicted with heart trouble† enhances the gravity of the situation and at the end one feels the irony of the opening sentence. However, it is quite ironic that after brooding over the unexpected turning of events she is overwhelmed by a ‘monstrous joy’ and expressions such as â€Å"free, free, free †, â€Å"free Body and

Cultural Barriers to Women's carrer success Essay

Cultural Barriers to Women's carrer success - Essay Example This eventually results in creating barriers not only in their career but also in their basic education, it is true that women are prefered to study fields that would result in taking interest in feminine career opportunities. Along with this the civil and political rights of a women are also neglected. Even then women have had their share to experience leadership ventures in private as well as many government sectors. It is also true that attaining leadership for women has never been easy. There are numerous workplace challenges that are considered worthy of no importance. Cultural barriers tend to impact a women’s careers in one way or another. According to Kiamba, the phenomenon came to be known as â€Å"glass ceiling†, (Kiamba’ 2008). The term actually related to the crucial barriers that resulted in a full stop to a woman’s career and blocking of the top level career opportunities A very detailed research analysis on the subject had proven it to be tr ue to a great extent since rarely women are found as the executives members of the organizations they have invested years in. Background: Impact of Gender inequality on a woman's career: According to McCarthy and Berger, one of the major reasons for the inequality in the workplace is that most societies have failed to establish a gender neutral environment especially in the workplace.Women participation in any official progress is usually not so notable, the participation is most likely to be not translated to achieve favorable positions. Even if the participation in the process involves great hard work once the output has been achieved it is most often realized that the involvement of women in the certain project has been made entirely invisible, ( McCarthy and Berger’ 2008) The pace to establish a gender neutral situation is relatively slower in most regions. Attaining leadership positions that involve the empowerment of the holder in the workplace is yet another dilemma fo r women. Most probably the attainment requires women to pay a much high price as compared to what would lead a man to achieve the same position effortlessly. Impact of balancing work and Family on a Woman's Career: According to the author the choice of having to balance between family and work is one of the crucial cultural barrier every women have to face. Not only is balancing something that a career oriented women might have to go through but also along with it comes the stress and fear of failure . The factor definitely leads to less input in both matters respectively. The balancing of family and work for men is quite different from that of women, they are certainly at ease with lesser responsibilities from family. In case of any career women the task of having to give appropriate to both work and family can be exhausting as well as frustrating at time. It not like there has never been any success story, obviously there are many but as compared to the accomplishment of men they are way too less. The accomplishment in career for most women involves excessive efforts to rise above the given circumstances , which mostly involves some risks resulting in the breaking of family ties. Impact of Individual factors on a woman’s Career: Along with all of the other career effecting factors individual factors play a vital role in determining the success in woman’s career. One of the prominent individual factors

Career Assessment for Life Achievement Assignment

Career Assessment for Life Achievement - Assignment Example The most helpful one was the skills profiler. Its results are based on the inputs given by the respondents on the different categories of skills needed in the workplace. It specifically lists the occupation best suited to your personality and interests. Personally, the least helpful assessment was the interest inventory. The test requires you to choose between two occupations without considering one’s capacity to do it – merely based on whether or not the person wants to do the job or not. I assume there are several people who judge their career path based only on their interests but not on skills. They need to consider that many occasions arise in the workplace when skills play the more vital role than interests. A worker may be asked to do a job outside his specified interests but he needs to do it anyway because it’s part of his job. Significant or not, these tools give us quite accurate assessments regarding our personality, interests, skills, and values. The reports are based on our responses, so we can consider these as a hypothesis, not merely guesses. For instance, in my case, the composite score lists cost estimator and credit analyst as one of my top careers. These are interesting jobs for me because I have never tried them yet. Probably, if given the chance, I might also excel in these fields. Other websites allow us to learn more about how these personalities can aid in choosing the right career. By being an introvert, I understand that my stimulation comes from within myself, not from external sources (â€Å"Information about Personality Types†, personalitypage.com).

Cultural Barriers to Women's carrer success Essay

Cultural Barriers to Women's carrer success - Essay Example This eventually results in creating barriers not only in their career but also in their basic education, it is true that women are prefered to study fields that would result in taking interest in feminine career opportunities. Along with this the civil and political rights of a women are also neglected. Even then women have had their share to experience leadership ventures in private as well as many government sectors. It is also true that attaining leadership for women has never been easy. There are numerous workplace challenges that are considered worthy of no importance. Cultural barriers tend to impact a women’s careers in one way or another. According to Kiamba, the phenomenon came to be known as â€Å"glass ceiling†, (Kiamba’ 2008). The term actually related to the crucial barriers that resulted in a full stop to a woman’s career and blocking of the top level career opportunities A very detailed research analysis on the subject had proven it to be tr ue to a great extent since rarely women are found as the executives members of the organizations they have invested years in. Background: Impact of Gender inequality on a woman's career: According to McCarthy and Berger, one of the major reasons for the inequality in the workplace is that most societies have failed to establish a gender neutral environment especially in the workplace.Women participation in any official progress is usually not so notable, the participation is most likely to be not translated to achieve favorable positions. Even if the participation in the process involves great hard work once the output has been achieved it is most often realized that the involvement of women in the certain project has been made entirely invisible, ( McCarthy and Berger’ 2008) The pace to establish a gender neutral situation is relatively slower in most regions. Attaining leadership positions that involve the empowerment of the holder in the workplace is yet another dilemma fo r women. Most probably the attainment requires women to pay a much high price as compared to what would lead a man to achieve the same position effortlessly. Impact of balancing work and Family on a Woman's Career: According to the author the choice of having to balance between family and work is one of the crucial cultural barrier every women have to face. Not only is balancing something that a career oriented women might have to go through but also along with it comes the stress and fear of failure . The factor definitely leads to less input in both matters respectively. The balancing of family and work for men is quite different from that of women, they are certainly at ease with lesser responsibilities from family. In case of any career women the task of having to give appropriate to both work and family can be exhausting as well as frustrating at time. It not like there has never been any success story, obviously there are many but as compared to the accomplishment of men they are way too less. The accomplishment in career for most women involves excessive efforts to rise above the given circumstances , which mostly involves some risks resulting in the breaking of family ties. Impact of Individual factors on a woman’s Career: Along with all of the other career effecting factors individual factors play a vital role in determining the success in woman’s career. One of the prominent individual factors

Big Data in Companies Essay Example for Free

Big Data in Companies Essay Big data (also spelled Big Data) is a general term used to describe the voluminous amount of unstructured and semi-structured data a company creates data that would take too much time and cost too much money to load into a relational database for analysis. Although Big data doesnt refer to any specific quantity, the term is often used when speaking about petabytes and exabytes of data. A primary goal for looking at big data is to discover repeatable business patterns. It’s generally accepted that unstructured data, most of it located in text files, accounts for at least 80% of an organization’s data. If left unmanaged, the sheer volume of unstructured data that’s generated each year within an enterprise can be costly in terms of storage. Unmanaged data can also pose a liability if information cannot be located in the event of a compliance audit or lawsuit. Big data analytics is often associated with cloud computing because the analysis of large data sets in real-time requires a framework like MapReduce to distribute the work among tens, hundreds or even thousands of computers. Big data is data that exceeds the processing capacity of conventional database systems. The data is too big, moves too fast, or doesn’t fit the strictures of your database architectures. To gain value from this data, you must choose an alternative way to process it. The hot IT buzzword of 2012, big data has become viable as cost-effective approaches have emerged to tame the volume, velocity and variability of massive data. Within this data lie valuable patterns and information, previously hidden because of the amount of work required to extract them. To leading corporations, such as Walmart or Google, this power has been in reach for some time, but at fantastic cost. Today’s commodity hardware, cloud architectures and open source software bring big data processing into the reach of the less well-resourced. Big data processing is eminently feasible for even the small garage startups, who can cheaply rent server time in the cloud. The value of big data to an organization falls into two categories: analytical use, and enabling new products. Big data analytics can reveal insights hidden previously by data too costly to process, such as peer influence among customers, revealed by analyzing shoppers’ transactions, social and geographical data. Being able to process every item of data in reasonable time removes the troublesome need for sampling and promotes an investigative approach to data, in contrast to the somewhat static nature of running predetermined reports. The past decade’s successful web startups are prime examples of big data used as an enabler of new products and services. For example, by combining a large number of signals from a user’s actions and those of their friends, Facebook has been able to craft a highly personalized user experience and create a new kind of advertising business. It’s no coincidence that the lion’s share of ideas and tools underpinning big data have emerged from Google, Yahoo, Amazon and Facebook. The emergence of big data into the enterprise brings with it a necessary counterpart: agility. Successfully exploiting the value in big data requires experimentation and exploration. Whether creating new products or looking for ways to gain competitive advantage, the job calls for curiosity and an entrepreneurial outlook. What does big data look like? As a catch-all term, â€Å"big data† can be pretty nebulous, in the same way that the term â€Å"cloud† covers diverse technologies. Input data to big data systems could be chatter from social networks, web server logs, traffic flow sensors, satellite imagery, broadcast audio streams, banking transactions, MP3s of rock music, the content of web pages, scans of government documents, GPS trails, telemetry from automobiles, financial market data, the list goes on. Are these all really the same thing? To clarify matters, the three Vs of volume, velocity and variety are commonly used to characterize different aspects of big data. They’re a helpful lens through which to view and understand the nature of the data and the software platforms available to exploit them. Most probably you will contend with each of the Vs to one degree or another. Volume The benefit gained from the ability to process large amounts of information is the main attraction of big data analytics. Having more data beats out having better models: simple bits of math can be unreasonably effective given large amounts of data. If you could run that forecast taking into account 300 factors rather than 6, could you predict demand better? This volume presents the most immediate challenge to conventional IT structures. It calls for scalable storage, and a distributed approach to querying. Many companies already have large amounts of archived data, perhaps in the form of logs, but not the capacity to process it. Assuming that the volumes of data are larger than those conventional relational database infrastructures can cope with, processing options break down broadly into a choice between massively parallel processing architectures — data warehouses or databases such as Greenplum — and Apache Hadoop-based solutions. This choice is often informed by the degree to which the one of the other â€Å"Vs† — variety — comes into play. Typically, data warehousing approaches involve predetermined schemas, suiting a regular and slowly evolving dataset. Apache Hadoop, on the other hand, places no conditions on the structure of the data it can process. At its core, Hadoop is a platform for distributing computing problems across a number of servers. First developed and released as open source by Yahoo, it implements the MapReduce approach pioneered by Google in compiling its search indexes. Hadoop’s MapReduce involves distributing a dataset among multiple servers and operating on the data: the â€Å"map† stage. The partial results are then recombined: the â€Å"reduce† stage. To store data, Hadoop utilizes its own distributed filesystem, HDFS, which makes data available to multiple computing nodes. A typical Hadoop usage pattern involves three stages: * loading data into HDFS, * MapReduce operations, and * retrieving results from HDFS. This process is by nature a batch operation, suited for analytical or non-interactive computing tasks. Because of this, Hadoop is not itself a database or data warehouse solution, but can act as an analytical adjunct to one. One of the most well-known Hadoop users is Facebook, whose model follows this pattern. A MySQL database stores the core data. This is then reflected into Hadoop, where computations occur, such as creating recommendations for you based on your friends’ interests. Facebook then transfers the results back into MySQL, for use in pages served to users. Velocity The importance of data’s velocity — the increasing rate at which data flows into an organization — has followed a similar pattern to that of volume. Problems previously restricted to segments of industry are now presenting themselves in a much broader setting. Specialized companies such as financial traders have long turned systems that cope with fast moving data to their advantage. Now it’s our turn. Why is that so? The Internet and mobile era means that the way we deliver and consume products and services is increasingly instrumented, generating a data flow back to the provider. Online retailers are able to compile large histories of customers’ every click and interaction: not just the final sales. Those who are able to quickly utilize that information, by recommending additional purchases, for instance, gain competitive advantage. The smartphone era increases again the rate of data inflow, as consumers carry with them a streaming source of geolocated imagery and audio data. It’s not just the velocity of the incoming data that’s the issue: it’s possible to stream fast-moving data into bulk storage for later batch processing, for example. The importance lies in the speed of the feedback loop, taking data from input through to decision. A commercial from IBM makes the point that you wouldn’t cross the road if all you had was a five-minute old snapshot of traffic location. There are times when you simply won’t be able to wait for a report to run or a Hadoop job to complete. Industry terminology for such fast-moving data tends to be either â€Å"streaming data,† or â€Å"complex event processing. This latter term was more established in product categories before streaming processing data gained more widespread relevance, and seems likely to diminish in favor of streaming. There are two main reasons to consider streaming processing. The first is when the input data are too fast to store in their entirety: in order to keep storage requirements practical some level of analysis must occur as the data streams in. At the extreme end of the scale, the Large Hadron Collider at CERN generates so much data that scientists must discard the overwhelming majority of it — hoping hard they’ve not thrown away anything useful. The second reason to consider streaming is where the application mandates immediate response to the data. Thanks to the rise of mobile applications and online gaming this is an increasingly common situation. Product categories for handling streaming data divide into established proprietary products such as IBM’s InfoSphere Streams, and the less-polished and still emergent open source frameworks originating in the web industry: Twitter’s Storm, and Yahoo S4. As mentioned above, it’s not just about input data. The velocity of a system’s outputs can matter too. The tighter the feedback loop, the greater the competitive advantage. The results might go directly into a product, such as Facebook’s recommendations, or into dashboards used to drive decision-making. It’s this need for speed, particularly on the web, that has driven the development of key-value stores and columnar databases, optimized for the fast retrieval of precomputed information. These databases form part of an umbrella category known as NoSQL, used when relational models aren’t the right fit. Microsoft SQL Server is a comprehensive information platform offering enterprise-ready technologies and tools that help businesses derive maximum value from information at the lowest TCO. SQL Server 2012 launches next year, offering a cloud-ready information platform delivering mission-critical confidence, breakthrough insight, and cloud on your terms; find out more at www. microsoft. com/sql. Variety Rarely does data present itself in a form perfectly ordered and ready for processing. A common theme in big data systems is that the source data is diverse, and doesn’t fall into neat relational structures. It could be text from social networks, image data, a raw feed directly from a sensor source. None of these things come ready for integration into an application. Even on the web, where computer-to-computer communication ought to bring some guarantees, the reality of data is messy. Different browsers send different data, users withhold information, they may be using differing software versions or vendors to communicate with you. And you can bet that if part of the process involves a human, there will be error and inconsistency. A common use of big data processing is to take unstructured data and extract ordered meaning, for consumption either by humans or as a structured input to an application. One such example is entity resolution, the process of determining exactly what a name refers to. Is this city London, England, or London, Texas? By the time your business logic gets to it, you don’t want to be guessing. The process of moving from source data to processed application data involves the loss of information. When you tidy up, you end up throwing stuff away. This underlines a principle of big data: when you can, keep everything. There may well be useful signals in the bits you throw away. If you lose the source data, there’s no going back. Despite the popularity and well understood nature of relational databases, it is not the case that they should always be the destination for data, even when tidied up. Certain data types suit certain classes of database better. For instance, documents encoded as XML are most versatile when stored in a dedicated XML store such as MarkLogic. Social network relations are graphs by nature, and graph databases such as Neo4J make operations on them simpler and more efficient. Even where there’s not a radical data type mismatch, a disadvantage of the relational database is the static nature of its schemas. In an agile, exploratory environment, the results of computations will evolve with the detection and extraction of more signals. Semi-structured NoSQL databases meet this need for flexibility: they provide enough structure to organize data, but do not require the exact schema of the data before storing it.

History of the Palestinian Conflict

History of the Palestinian Conflict In order to have a thorough understanding of the Palestinian problem, events in the early 20th century, prior to 1948 (Israeli independence) should be closely examined and understood. Many historians mark the first act which led to the Palestinian problem as the Balfour Declaration in 1917. There, it was announced that Britain shall support in the goals of Zionists, and therein strive to create a Jewish homeland in Palestine, His Majestys Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people[1]. With Jewish spirits high all over the Jewish Diaspora, the third Aliyah (influx of Jews to Palestine) took place in 1919[2]. The number of Jews gradually increased in Palestine, and by 1947, the 11% population of Jews increased to a healthy 33%[3]. The immediate cause of the Palestinian problem is often dated to November 29th 1947, on which the UN announced that the British Mandate of Palestine would be divided into separate Arab and Jewish states[4]. The decree sparked great outrage from Arab nations, but was a warmly welcomed decision from the Jews and other European and North American States. Two pinnacle wars then followed which would directly influence into the Palestinian problem. The Civil War first took place as an immediate reaction eleven days after the UNs declaration. Jewish victory then led war lead to two events: the Israeli Declaration of Independence on May the 14th 1948 and the beginning of An-Nakabah, the Palestinian Exodus. In first phase of the Palestinian Exodus, 125,000 were evicted or fled from their homes, and were prevented from returning[5]. The second war that followed was the Arab-Israeli War of 1948. In this war, Israel was to face a grand Arab coalition which denounced its independence. A decisive Israeli victory, and a disastrous Arab defeat increased the final number of the Palestinian exodus to a staggering 750 000 Palestinians. By the middle of the 20th century, State of Israel was firmly established upon the former Palestinian territories, and many Palestinian settlements were either depopulated or destroyed. Hence, the Palestinian problem was herein created; an issue of Palestinians, their state, homeland, refugees, and also Palestinian-Israeli co-existence in Palestine and the stance of Jerusalem, is all to exist until this very day. Yasser Arafat and the Creation of Fatah: Born on 24 August 1929, in Cairo, Egypt, Yasser Arafat was the son of Palestinian parent[6]. During the Arab-Israeli conflict of 1948, he went to Palestine to join the fighting. His role in the Palestinian problem begins early on in his political life when in 1958, Arafat, with a number of his Palestinian colleagues in Kuwait, corroborated and formed the militant group Fatah. The group was dedicated to liberate Palestine by Palestinians with a means of force. The idea was to eliminate Zionist Israel re-establish Palestinian homeland and resolve the Palestinian problem. Until this very day, Fatahs main goal is, complete liberation of Palestine, and eradication of Zionist economic, political, military and cultural existence.[7] A Means of Force, to Settle to Problem: The Rise of Fatah, the PLO and the 70s: In the Six Day War, Fatah did play a small role in the fighting against the Israel. The humiliating Arab defeat further broke Arab morale especially that of the Palestinians who consequently lost trust in the united Arab resolution. But Fatah was to have its first main military encounter with Israel in the Battle of Karameh on March 21st 1968. With Fatah growing in stature, organised raid were conducted against Israeli settlements. Israels retaliation was to raid the Jordanian city of Karameh, a newly made stronghold for Fatah[8]. Though the battle was a military victory for Israel, it was seen as a somewhat physiological victory for Fatah. Abdallah Frangi (a Palestinian leader at the time) labelled it the political and military turning point in the Palestinian resistance, especially for Fatah.[9] Arab support was rallied behind the group, and Arafat was able to garner a number of Palestinian recruits for his group. Fatah was inducted into the PLO in 1967, and in 1969, Yasser Arafat became chairman of the PLO. Arafat transformed the organisation into becoming a strong independent organisation intended to make Palestinian appeals be heard by the world[10]. He therein became the ultimate leader of the Palestinian resurgence. By 1970, Yasser Arafat was deeply engaging in his arms resolution of the Palestinian problem. Raids into Israeli territories were organised regularly and Fatah was became an increased threat to Israel. In Arafats and Fatahs prime years of the 70s, both the PLO and Mossad (The Israeli Intelligence Agency) engaged in terrorist style warfare against each other. The Mossads known for several key assassinations, such as that of Ghassan Kanafani [11], (writer and spokesman for the Popular Front of the Liberation of Palestine, considered the second largest group in the PLO after Fatah) and Dr Wadie Haddad[12] (leader of the PFLP.) For the PLO, the Fatah group, Black September were one of the key groups engaging in such activities[13]. One of the most famous works of Black September was the abduction and assassination of 11 Israeli athletes in the 1972 Munich Olympic Games[14]. Though Arafat has never been proven to be part of the attacks, Israeli and American authorities often associate him to them. Analysis of Arafats Forceful Resolve: A number of western sources agree that Yasser Arafat tried to resolve the Palestinian problem through a means of terrorism. Its stated that he saw in terrorism, not of the horrific murders, but rather a means of gaining recognition for Palestine and Palestinian struggle. Barry and Judith Rubin, authors of Yasser Arafat: A Political Biography state, He had seen how it [terrorism] mobilized Palestinian and Arab support for the PLO; raised the Palestine issues international priority; prevented other Arab states from negotiating peace with Israel, and made many western leaders eager to appease him.[15] Often using the Fatah subgroup, Black September, there are claims that Arafat often approved operations and stemmed funds to them[16]. The argument also states that Arafat consistently throughout his life would deny such acts, thereby having a remarkable ability to escape responsibility for the terrorism he committed.[17] These views clearly classify Arafats armed approach in dealing with the Palestinian problem as acts of terrorism. They proclaim that Arafat, as a terrorist, used fear antic to drive his goal of dealing with the Palestinian struggle. The alternative view, in that Arafat was a freedom fighter is believed by many other historians and writers. Its a stance expressed by one of the closest people to Arafat, Bassam Abu Sharif (Senior Advisor to Yasser Arafat.) In his book, Arafat and the Dream for Palestine, he states, In my opinion, people in the west saw Arafat through the negative propaganda which rather painted Arafat as a terrorist, rather than a freedom fighter[18]. With the Palestinian problem ignored early on by many western countries[19], it indeed was Arafat who rather globalised the issue, made it a phenomenon everyone needed to solve. This is seen to make Arafats armed role in dealing with the Palestinian problem a pivotal one. These arguments also highlight Arafat as being the sole power in the Palestinian revival following the Six Day War, It was in these disheartening circumstances that the Palestinian revival began. There was little doubt that Arafats was the decisive voice[20]. Also, those which Arafat commanded are perceived as freedom fighters by some, Yasser Arafat, who had emerged as a significant figure in the Palestinian struggle for liberation, recruited young people to the resistance movement. In 1970, Palestinian freedom fighters took control of the Gaza Strip Yasser Arafat hence provided Palestinian revitalisation in the Palestinian problem, hereby making his armed role an extremely important one. As quoted by Stephen Howe, Without the Arafat of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, there might well not have been a Palestinian national movement at all. Evaluation: Surely, Arafats armed solution is interpreted differently by different cultures and people. Arafats emergence was in bloody early days of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, a time when sympathy of Palestinians and their struggle was widespread in the Muslim world whereas backing and support was provided to Israel by many western states. This makes the Palestinian debate a 2 sided debate, and consequently, an evaluation of Arafat is often affected by emotion and bias by the opposing parties. Arafats armed resolution of the Palestinian problem isnt a clear cut issue of neither terrorism nor political fanaticism. Two issues must be understood to drive this point; firstly, Arafats activities as a militant rather than a terrorist. An analysis of Yasser Arafats activates prove that he rather was present and an active member in raids and attacks against the Israeli army and troops and rather not in the alleged terrorist attacks of the PLO. Also, since he never was proven to be a terrorist, it can never be claimed he was indeed a terrorist. Secondly, a distinction must be made between the activates of Arafat and those of his bodyguards and Fatah colleagues. Often, the actions of both are confused, and when an attack by Fatah insurgents is carried of, its often stated that Arafat himself was part of then. Its true that Yasser Arafats role as leader of Palestinian spurred some to extremism, but it must be understood, though his Fatah colleagues did engaged in terrorism, he didnt. Yasser Arafat armed role in dealing with the Palestine problem should not be seen as of radicalism or extremism in thought and intent. Arafats armed struggle, though did not solve the issue, did in fact bring some results. His armed struggle brought a resurgence of the people of Palestine. With the united Arab response being habitually useless (by constant Arab defeat and loss to Israel,) only a Palestinian response seemed to solution. This but rather needed the revival of the Palestinian hope, which was severely crushed by the mid 1960 (especially with the loss of Jerusalem.) Though ludicrous it may sound, Palestinian revitalisation would not have occurred through peaceful means. The reason for this was that Palestinians where irritated and demoralised by the constant disappointment in the outcomes of Arab negotiations concerning their struggle. A symbol of an armed struggle would only then revitalise these frustrated Palestinians. With the creation of Fatah, (to liberate Palestine by Palestinians) Arafats armed struggle brought this Palestinian resurgence. Arafat also united the Palestinian people, under his armed struggle, a strong step in dealing with the Palestinian problem. In essence, hadnt this revitalisation occurred, the State of Palestine would not have been created, and future talks of peace and co-existence would not have occurred. But it should be clearly understood, that Arafat did not achieve his intended aim in his armed approach. A Peaceful Resolve for the Palestinian Problem: A Change in Contention, Olso and Camp David: In 1974, the PLO executive committee including Arafat drew up The Ten Point Program[21]. By many, is considered as the first peaceful initiative taken by Arafat to resolve the Palestinian Problem. It was a decree calling for Israel to return back liberated[22] Palestinian lands. The declaration wasnt one of change in direction, though was unique in that it did show Arafat to have a way of dealing with the problem through negotiations. The Ten Point Program was to be followed by more years of violence. After years of unrest with the rise of the terrorist group Hamas and notably the coming into being of First Intifada (which Arafat associated himself to); on the 13th and 14th of December 1988, Arafat announces a change of thought. He formally recognised the State of Israel, renounced terrorism, and revealed intentions of seeking peaceful negotiations in managing the Palestinian problem[23]. A month earlier, the Palestinian National Council (led by Arafat) announces and proclaims The Palestinian Declaration of Independence[24]. It was a new direction for Arafat in settling the Palestinian problem. In 1993 marks a historical event in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, as the first direct talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders took place in Oslo, Norway. The talks were very secretive, with Yasser Arafat and Yitzhak Rabik with their top ministers negotiating in terms to co-exist peacefully. Issues such as the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Palestinian territories, Palestinian elections, economic cooperation and regional development were all discussed. Both parties agreed on the status of each, the rights of each other, and their intentions to co-exist. With the help of the Clinton government, on 13th of September 1993, the Oslo Accord was signed. It was thought to be the basis of all future talks between both. In 2000, continuing talks took place between Israel and Palestine at Camp David, in order to finalise the conditions of the Oslo Accord[25]. The talks were to therein define the boundaries of Israel and Palestine. The status of Jerusalem (a key aspect of the Palestinian problem) was the hindrance point in the talks. In regards to the possession of Jerusalem, both parties were unable to agree on a compromise, hence making the Camp David talks a failure. Analysis of Arafats Peaceful Resolve: Arafats change in approach in dealing with the Palestinian approach (i.e. seeking peaceful measures) has often incurred various interpretations. One particular arguement is that Arafat changed his strategy of armed approach to a peaceful one in order to fool others and drive his own agenda of securing Palestinian homeland. It was a typical Arafat style solution. By being so ambiguous about his methods and goals, Arafat could hope to convince the west that he was ready for peace and convince his own colleagues that he was determined to continue the struggle[26]. These views hereby make Arafats change in approach a somewhat deceitful trick that rather had true initiative. A different viewpoint states that Arafat was rather pressured by Israeli and American officials to denounce an armed approach and terrorism[27]. Throughout the Oslo Accords, its stated that Arafat was the weaker party, and that he was rather accepted terms and condition which Israel modelled[28]. This argument thereby makes Arafats peaceful resolution of the Palestinian problem not an intuitive of his, but rather a pressure he had to comply with. In regards to the Camp David Summit, a many historians believed it was doomed to fail. Kamrava argues that both parties thought they were giving up more to the other, while the other wasnt being reasonable[29] in their compromise[30].Hence, in dealing with the most controversial issue of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the issue of Jerusalem, there was never to be an agreement. Hence, Arafats peaceful resolve of the Palestinian problem was always doomed to fail. Nevertheless, there are others, such as Bassim Abu Sherif, who says that the new peace path was rather genuine and promising. He claims though the US authorities did put down demands for Yasser Arafat, Arafat rather wanted his announcement to first be supported by for the PLO and Palestinians, then flexible to US demands, It was clear that Arafat wanted to be flexible enough to meet American demands, but he also wanted to make sure that he had the approval of the majority of the PLO executive committee to preserve the democracy of the decision making process of the PLO.[31] It was clear that Arafat was aware that by this time, both he and Palestinians were exhausted from fighting. Hence, this different approach in dealing with the Palestinian struggle might be interpreted as a new path, thereby creating new opportunities in dealing with the Palestinian problem. Evaluation: Arafats change in means resolving the Palestinian problem is also an issue of debate. The question of why change in direction and whether it was genuine is truly the discussion. But a deduction of Arafats activities brings an understanding of genuinity. Hence, his role in trying to resolve the Palestinian problem is herein magnified by his actions of this new resolve. Its evident that with years of unrest and the lack of advancement in resolving the Palestinian problem, Arafat needed to find a new resolve. He needed to settle the Palestinian crisis that now nearly turned into internal feuding. So, by understanding this dire need of change, it must be clear that he, Arafat, chose to change the idea of an armed struggle. It seems that he neither needed the pressure of Israel or the U.S. but rather chose to do it because of situation of the Palestinian people. Hence, it makes the resolution a genuine on Arafats part. Therefore, we see in Arafats change in thought his striving quest of solving the Palestinian problem. Arafats role in dealing with the Palestinian problem could further be evaluated by his actions at Oslo and Camp David. First of all, he dealt with the issue of Palestinian homeland in Palestine with the Oslo Accord. In this regard, Arafat failed to clearly resolve the issue, due to the vagueness of the matter he agreed on. This leads to the next issue of Jerusalem. Arafats Oslo agreements failure is exacerbated by the fact that the continuation of Oslo, (Camp David) broke down with the issue of Jerusalem. This issue of Israeli-Palestinian co-existence was spoken of the most in both talks, but without decisively dealing with this tension point issues, Arafat was doomed to fail. Hence, though Arafat tried to drive and resolve the Palestinian problem peacefully, he achieve no more than his armed resolution. Bibliography: Books: Lukacs, Yehuda, 1992, The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict a documentary record 1967-1990, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Barry Rubin Judith Colp Rubin, 2003, Arafat: A Political Biography, Oxford University Press, Inc, New York. Bassam Abu Sharif, 2009, Arafat and the Dream for Palestine, Palgrave Macmillan, New York. T.G. Fraser, 2008, The Arab-Israeli conflict, 3rd ed., Palgrave Macmillan, New York. Brown, Nathan. J, 2003, Palestinian Politics after the Oslo Accord: Arab Palestine, University of Californian Press, London, England. Dan Cohn-Sherbok Dawoud El-Alami (eds), 2008, The Palestine-Israeli Conflict, Oneworld Publication, Oxford, England. Mehran Kamrava, 2005, The Modern Middle East, University of California Press, Ltd, London England. Mark Tesseler, 1994, A History Of The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Indiana University Press, Bloomington, USA, Journals: Simha Flapan, 1987, The Palestinian Exodus of 1948, Vol. 16, No. 4 (Summer, 1987),University of California Press. Websites: UN Partition Plan, 2001, Retrieved 25th January, 2010, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/middle_east/israel_and_the_palestinians/key_documents/1681322.stm Yasser Arafat, Retrieved 25th January, 2010, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasser_Arafat/ Timeline: Yasser Arafat, 2004, Retrieved 25th January, 2010, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/4004859.stm Political Program Adopted at the 12th Session of the Palestine National Council Cairo, 8 June 1974, Retrieved 26th January, 2010, http://www.un.int/palestine/PLO/docone.html Muin Rabbani, 2000, Encyclopedia Of The Palestinians: Biography of Gassan Kanafani, Retrieved 26th January, 2010, http://www.palestineremembered.com/Acre/Acre/Story168.html Poisoned Mossad chocolate killed PFLP leader in 1977, says book, 2006, Retrieved 26th January, 2010, http://web.archive.org/web/20060517211510/http://metimes.com/articles/normal.php?StoryID=20060505-102327-8910r Terrorist Organisation Profile: Black September,2007, University of Maryland, Retrieved 26th January, 2010, http://www.start.umd.edu/start/data/tops/terrorist_organization_profile.asp?id=153 Arafat at the UN general Assembly, 2009, Retrieved 27th January, 2010, http://www.al-bab.com/arab/docs/pal/pal5.htm Prof. Francis A. Boyle, 2006 Palestine Independence Day, Retrieved 27th January, 2010, http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=vaaid=3864 Why did the PLO suddenly decide, in 1988, that Israel had a right to exist?, Retrieved 27th January, 2010, http://www.palestinefacts.org/pf_1967to1991_plo_israel_exist_1988.php The Balfour Declaration, Retrieved 20th February, 2010, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Peace+Process/Guide+to+the+Peace+Process/The+Balfour+Declaration.htm The Population of Palestine Prior to 1948, Retrieved 20th February, 2010, http://www.mideastweb.org/palpop.htm Fateh Constitution, Retrieved 20th February, 2010, http://www.alzaytouna.net/arabic/?c=1598a=97061 The Israeli Camp David II Proposal for Final Settlement, Retrieved 20th February, 2010, http://www.mideastweb.org/campdavid2.htm The Balfour Decleration, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Peace+Process/Guide+to+the+Peace+Process/The+Balfour+Declaration.htm The Third Aliyah, http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Immigration/Third_Aliyah.html The Population of Palestine Prior to 1948, http://www.mideastweb.org/palpop.htm UN Partition Plan, 2001, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/middle_east/israel_and_the_palestinians/key_documents/1681322.stm Simha Flapan, 1987, The Palestinian Exodus of 1948, Vol. 16, No. 4 (Summer, 1987), pp. 3-26,University of California Press. Yasser Arafat, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasser_Arafat/ Fateh Constitution, http://www.alzaytouna.net/arabic/?c=1598a=97061 Mark Tesseler, A History Of The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Indiana University Press, Bloomington, USA, 1994, pg. 425 Ibid, pg.426 Yasser Arafat, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasser_Arafat/ Muin Rabbani, 2000, Encyclopedia Of The Palestinians: Biography of Gassan Kanafani, http://www.palestineremembered.com/Acre/Acre/Story168.html Poisoned Mossad chocolate killed PFLP leader in 1977, says book, 2006, http://web.archive.org/web/20060517211510/http://metimes.com/articles/normal.php?StoryID=20060505-102327-8910r. Terrorist Organisation Profile: Black September, 2007, University of Maryland http://www.start.umd.edu/start/data/tops/terrorist_organization_profile.asp?id=153 ibid Barry Rubin, Judith Colp Rubin, Arafat: A Political Biography, Oxford University Press, Inc, New York, 2003, pg.61 Ibid, pg.61 Ibid, pg.63 Bassam Abu Sharif, Arafat and the Dream for Palestine, Palgrave Macmillan, New York, 2009, pg. T.G. Fraser, The Arab-Israeli conflict, 3rd ed., Palgrave Macmillan, New York, 2008, pg.57 Ibid, pg.88 Political Program Adopted at the 12th Session of the Palestine National Council Cairo, 8 June 1974, http://www.un.int/palestine/PLO/docone.html ibid Arafat at the UN general Assembly, 2009, http://www.al-bab.com/arab/docs/pal/pal5.htm Prof. Francis A. Boyle, 2006 Palestine Independence Day, http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=vaaid=3864 The Israeli Camp David II Proposal for Final Settlement, http://www.mideastweb.org/campdavid2.htm Rubin, op.cit., pg.113 Why did the PLO suddenly decide, in 1988, that Israel had a right to exist?, http://www.palestinefacts.org/pf_1967to1991_plo_israel_exist_1988.php Mehran Kamrava, The Modern Middle East, University of California Press, Ltd, London England, 2005, pg. 243-244 Ibid, pg.248 ibid Abu Sharif, op.cit., pg.183 History of the Palestinian Conflict History of the Palestinian Conflict In order to have a thorough understanding of the Palestinian problem, events in the early 20th century, prior to 1948 (Israeli independence) should be closely examined and understood. Many historians mark the first act which led to the Palestinian problem as the Balfour Declaration in 1917. There, it was announced that Britain shall support in the goals of Zionists, and therein strive to create a Jewish homeland in Palestine, His Majestys Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people[1]. With Jewish spirits high all over the Jewish Diaspora, the third Aliyah (influx of Jews to Palestine) took place in 1919[2]. The number of Jews gradually increased in Palestine, and by 1947, the 11% population of Jews increased to a healthy 33%[3]. The immediate cause of the Palestinian problem is often dated to November 29th 1947, on which the UN announced that the British Mandate of Palestine would be divided into separate Arab and Jewish states[4]. The decree sparked great outrage from Arab nations, but was a warmly welcomed decision from the Jews and other European and North American States. Two pinnacle wars then followed which would directly influence into the Palestinian problem. The Civil War first took place as an immediate reaction eleven days after the UNs declaration. Jewish victory then led war lead to two events: the Israeli Declaration of Independence on May the 14th 1948 and the beginning of An-Nakabah, the Palestinian Exodus. In first phase of the Palestinian Exodus, 125,000 were evicted or fled from their homes, and were prevented from returning[5]. The second war that followed was the Arab-Israeli War of 1948. In this war, Israel was to face a grand Arab coalition which denounced its independence. A decisive Israeli victory, and a disastrous Arab defeat increased the final number of the Palestinian exodus to a staggering 750 000 Palestinians. By the middle of the 20th century, State of Israel was firmly established upon the former Palestinian territories, and many Palestinian settlements were either depopulated or destroyed. Hence, the Palestinian problem was herein created; an issue of Palestinians, their state, homeland, refugees, and also Palestinian-Israeli co-existence in Palestine and the stance of Jerusalem, is all to exist until this very day. Yasser Arafat and the Creation of Fatah: Born on 24 August 1929, in Cairo, Egypt, Yasser Arafat was the son of Palestinian parent[6]. During the Arab-Israeli conflict of 1948, he went to Palestine to join the fighting. His role in the Palestinian problem begins early on in his political life when in 1958, Arafat, with a number of his Palestinian colleagues in Kuwait, corroborated and formed the militant group Fatah. The group was dedicated to liberate Palestine by Palestinians with a means of force. The idea was to eliminate Zionist Israel re-establish Palestinian homeland and resolve the Palestinian problem. Until this very day, Fatahs main goal is, complete liberation of Palestine, and eradication of Zionist economic, political, military and cultural existence.[7] A Means of Force, to Settle to Problem: The Rise of Fatah, the PLO and the 70s: In the Six Day War, Fatah did play a small role in the fighting against the Israel. The humiliating Arab defeat further broke Arab morale especially that of the Palestinians who consequently lost trust in the united Arab resolution. But Fatah was to have its first main military encounter with Israel in the Battle of Karameh on March 21st 1968. With Fatah growing in stature, organised raid were conducted against Israeli settlements. Israels retaliation was to raid the Jordanian city of Karameh, a newly made stronghold for Fatah[8]. Though the battle was a military victory for Israel, it was seen as a somewhat physiological victory for Fatah. Abdallah Frangi (a Palestinian leader at the time) labelled it the political and military turning point in the Palestinian resistance, especially for Fatah.[9] Arab support was rallied behind the group, and Arafat was able to garner a number of Palestinian recruits for his group. Fatah was inducted into the PLO in 1967, and in 1969, Yasser Arafat became chairman of the PLO. Arafat transformed the organisation into becoming a strong independent organisation intended to make Palestinian appeals be heard by the world[10]. He therein became the ultimate leader of the Palestinian resurgence. By 1970, Yasser Arafat was deeply engaging in his arms resolution of the Palestinian problem. Raids into Israeli territories were organised regularly and Fatah was became an increased threat to Israel. In Arafats and Fatahs prime years of the 70s, both the PLO and Mossad (The Israeli Intelligence Agency) engaged in terrorist style warfare against each other. The Mossads known for several key assassinations, such as that of Ghassan Kanafani [11], (writer and spokesman for the Popular Front of the Liberation of Palestine, considered the second largest group in the PLO after Fatah) and Dr Wadie Haddad[12] (leader of the PFLP.) For the PLO, the Fatah group, Black September were one of the key groups engaging in such activities[13]. One of the most famous works of Black September was the abduction and assassination of 11 Israeli athletes in the 1972 Munich Olympic Games[14]. Though Arafat has never been proven to be part of the attacks, Israeli and American authorities often associate him to them. Analysis of Arafats Forceful Resolve: A number of western sources agree that Yasser Arafat tried to resolve the Palestinian problem through a means of terrorism. Its stated that he saw in terrorism, not of the horrific murders, but rather a means of gaining recognition for Palestine and Palestinian struggle. Barry and Judith Rubin, authors of Yasser Arafat: A Political Biography state, He had seen how it [terrorism] mobilized Palestinian and Arab support for the PLO; raised the Palestine issues international priority; prevented other Arab states from negotiating peace with Israel, and made many western leaders eager to appease him.[15] Often using the Fatah subgroup, Black September, there are claims that Arafat often approved operations and stemmed funds to them[16]. The argument also states that Arafat consistently throughout his life would deny such acts, thereby having a remarkable ability to escape responsibility for the terrorism he committed.[17] These views clearly classify Arafats armed approach in dealing with the Palestinian problem as acts of terrorism. They proclaim that Arafat, as a terrorist, used fear antic to drive his goal of dealing with the Palestinian struggle. The alternative view, in that Arafat was a freedom fighter is believed by many other historians and writers. Its a stance expressed by one of the closest people to Arafat, Bassam Abu Sharif (Senior Advisor to Yasser Arafat.) In his book, Arafat and the Dream for Palestine, he states, In my opinion, people in the west saw Arafat through the negative propaganda which rather painted Arafat as a terrorist, rather than a freedom fighter[18]. With the Palestinian problem ignored early on by many western countries[19], it indeed was Arafat who rather globalised the issue, made it a phenomenon everyone needed to solve. This is seen to make Arafats armed role in dealing with the Palestinian problem a pivotal one. These arguments also highlight Arafat as being the sole power in the Palestinian revival following the Six Day War, It was in these disheartening circumstances that the Palestinian revival began. There was little doubt that Arafats was the decisive voice[20]. Also, those which Arafat commanded are perceived as freedom fighters by some, Yasser Arafat, who had emerged as a significant figure in the Palestinian struggle for liberation, recruited young people to the resistance movement. In 1970, Palestinian freedom fighters took control of the Gaza Strip Yasser Arafat hence provided Palestinian revitalisation in the Palestinian problem, hereby making his armed role an extremely important one. As quoted by Stephen Howe, Without the Arafat of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, there might well not have been a Palestinian national movement at all. Evaluation: Surely, Arafats armed solution is interpreted differently by different cultures and people. Arafats emergence was in bloody early days of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, a time when sympathy of Palestinians and their struggle was widespread in the Muslim world whereas backing and support was provided to Israel by many western states. This makes the Palestinian debate a 2 sided debate, and consequently, an evaluation of Arafat is often affected by emotion and bias by the opposing parties. Arafats armed resolution of the Palestinian problem isnt a clear cut issue of neither terrorism nor political fanaticism. Two issues must be understood to drive this point; firstly, Arafats activities as a militant rather than a terrorist. An analysis of Yasser Arafats activates prove that he rather was present and an active member in raids and attacks against the Israeli army and troops and rather not in the alleged terrorist attacks of the PLO. Also, since he never was proven to be a terrorist, it can never be claimed he was indeed a terrorist. Secondly, a distinction must be made between the activates of Arafat and those of his bodyguards and Fatah colleagues. Often, the actions of both are confused, and when an attack by Fatah insurgents is carried of, its often stated that Arafat himself was part of then. Its true that Yasser Arafats role as leader of Palestinian spurred some to extremism, but it must be understood, though his Fatah colleagues did engaged in terrorism, he didnt. Yasser Arafat armed role in dealing with the Palestine problem should not be seen as of radicalism or extremism in thought and intent. Arafats armed struggle, though did not solve the issue, did in fact bring some results. His armed struggle brought a resurgence of the people of Palestine. With the united Arab response being habitually useless (by constant Arab defeat and loss to Israel,) only a Palestinian response seemed to solution. This but rather needed the revival of the Palestinian hope, which was severely crushed by the mid 1960 (especially with the loss of Jerusalem.) Though ludicrous it may sound, Palestinian revitalisation would not have occurred through peaceful means. The reason for this was that Palestinians where irritated and demoralised by the constant disappointment in the outcomes of Arab negotiations concerning their struggle. A symbol of an armed struggle would only then revitalise these frustrated Palestinians. With the creation of Fatah, (to liberate Palestine by Palestinians) Arafats armed struggle brought this Palestinian resurgence. Arafat also united the Palestinian people, under his armed struggle, a strong step in dealing with the Palestinian problem. In essence, hadnt this revitalisation occurred, the State of Palestine would not have been created, and future talks of peace and co-existence would not have occurred. But it should be clearly understood, that Arafat did not achieve his intended aim in his armed approach. A Peaceful Resolve for the Palestinian Problem: A Change in Contention, Olso and Camp David: In 1974, the PLO executive committee including Arafat drew up The Ten Point Program[21]. By many, is considered as the first peaceful initiative taken by Arafat to resolve the Palestinian Problem. It was a decree calling for Israel to return back liberated[22] Palestinian lands. The declaration wasnt one of change in direction, though was unique in that it did show Arafat to have a way of dealing with the problem through negotiations. The Ten Point Program was to be followed by more years of violence. After years of unrest with the rise of the terrorist group Hamas and notably the coming into being of First Intifada (which Arafat associated himself to); on the 13th and 14th of December 1988, Arafat announces a change of thought. He formally recognised the State of Israel, renounced terrorism, and revealed intentions of seeking peaceful negotiations in managing the Palestinian problem[23]. A month earlier, the Palestinian National Council (led by Arafat) announces and proclaims The Palestinian Declaration of Independence[24]. It was a new direction for Arafat in settling the Palestinian problem. In 1993 marks a historical event in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, as the first direct talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders took place in Oslo, Norway. The talks were very secretive, with Yasser Arafat and Yitzhak Rabik with their top ministers negotiating in terms to co-exist peacefully. Issues such as the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Palestinian territories, Palestinian elections, economic cooperation and regional development were all discussed. Both parties agreed on the status of each, the rights of each other, and their intentions to co-exist. With the help of the Clinton government, on 13th of September 1993, the Oslo Accord was signed. It was thought to be the basis of all future talks between both. In 2000, continuing talks took place between Israel and Palestine at Camp David, in order to finalise the conditions of the Oslo Accord[25]. The talks were to therein define the boundaries of Israel and Palestine. The status of Jerusalem (a key aspect of the Palestinian problem) was the hindrance point in the talks. In regards to the possession of Jerusalem, both parties were unable to agree on a compromise, hence making the Camp David talks a failure. Analysis of Arafats Peaceful Resolve: Arafats change in approach in dealing with the Palestinian approach (i.e. seeking peaceful measures) has often incurred various interpretations. One particular arguement is that Arafat changed his strategy of armed approach to a peaceful one in order to fool others and drive his own agenda of securing Palestinian homeland. It was a typical Arafat style solution. By being so ambiguous about his methods and goals, Arafat could hope to convince the west that he was ready for peace and convince his own colleagues that he was determined to continue the struggle[26]. These views hereby make Arafats change in approach a somewhat deceitful trick that rather had true initiative. A different viewpoint states that Arafat was rather pressured by Israeli and American officials to denounce an armed approach and terrorism[27]. Throughout the Oslo Accords, its stated that Arafat was the weaker party, and that he was rather accepted terms and condition which Israel modelled[28]. This argument thereby makes Arafats peaceful resolution of the Palestinian problem not an intuitive of his, but rather a pressure he had to comply with. In regards to the Camp David Summit, a many historians believed it was doomed to fail. Kamrava argues that both parties thought they were giving up more to the other, while the other wasnt being reasonable[29] in their compromise[30].Hence, in dealing with the most controversial issue of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the issue of Jerusalem, there was never to be an agreement. Hence, Arafats peaceful resolve of the Palestinian problem was always doomed to fail. Nevertheless, there are others, such as Bassim Abu Sherif, who says that the new peace path was rather genuine and promising. He claims though the US authorities did put down demands for Yasser Arafat, Arafat rather wanted his announcement to first be supported by for the PLO and Palestinians, then flexible to US demands, It was clear that Arafat wanted to be flexible enough to meet American demands, but he also wanted to make sure that he had the approval of the majority of the PLO executive committee to preserve the democracy of the decision making process of the PLO.[31] It was clear that Arafat was aware that by this time, both he and Palestinians were exhausted from fighting. Hence, this different approach in dealing with the Palestinian struggle might be interpreted as a new path, thereby creating new opportunities in dealing with the Palestinian problem. Evaluation: Arafats change in means resolving the Palestinian problem is also an issue of debate. The question of why change in direction and whether it was genuine is truly the discussion. But a deduction of Arafats activities brings an understanding of genuinity. Hence, his role in trying to resolve the Palestinian problem is herein magnified by his actions of this new resolve. Its evident that with years of unrest and the lack of advancement in resolving the Palestinian problem, Arafat needed to find a new resolve. He needed to settle the Palestinian crisis that now nearly turned into internal feuding. So, by understanding this dire need of change, it must be clear that he, Arafat, chose to change the idea of an armed struggle. It seems that he neither needed the pressure of Israel or the U.S. but rather chose to do it because of situation of the Palestinian people. Hence, it makes the resolution a genuine on Arafats part. Therefore, we see in Arafats change in thought his striving quest of solving the Palestinian problem. Arafats role in dealing with the Palestinian problem could further be evaluated by his actions at Oslo and Camp David. First of all, he dealt with the issue of Palestinian homeland in Palestine with the Oslo Accord. In this regard, Arafat failed to clearly resolve the issue, due to the vagueness of the matter he agreed on. This leads to the next issue of Jerusalem. Arafats Oslo agreements failure is exacerbated by the fact that the continuation of Oslo, (Camp David) broke down with the issue of Jerusalem. This issue of Israeli-Palestinian co-existence was spoken of the most in both talks, but without decisively dealing with this tension point issues, Arafat was doomed to fail. Hence, though Arafat tried to drive and resolve the Palestinian problem peacefully, he achieve no more than his armed resolution. Bibliography: Books: Lukacs, Yehuda, 1992, The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict a documentary record 1967-1990, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Barry Rubin Judith Colp Rubin, 2003, Arafat: A Political Biography, Oxford University Press, Inc, New York. Bassam Abu Sharif, 2009, Arafat and the Dream for Palestine, Palgrave Macmillan, New York. T.G. Fraser, 2008, The Arab-Israeli conflict, 3rd ed., Palgrave Macmillan, New York. Brown, Nathan. J, 2003, Palestinian Politics after the Oslo Accord: Arab Palestine, University of Californian Press, London, England. Dan Cohn-Sherbok Dawoud El-Alami (eds), 2008, The Palestine-Israeli Conflict, Oneworld Publication, Oxford, England. Mehran Kamrava, 2005, The Modern Middle East, University of California Press, Ltd, London England. Mark Tesseler, 1994, A History Of The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Indiana University Press, Bloomington, USA, Journals: Simha Flapan, 1987, The Palestinian Exodus of 1948, Vol. 16, No. 4 (Summer, 1987),University of California Press. Websites: UN Partition Plan, 2001, Retrieved 25th January, 2010, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/middle_east/israel_and_the_palestinians/key_documents/1681322.stm Yasser Arafat, Retrieved 25th January, 2010, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasser_Arafat/ Timeline: Yasser Arafat, 2004, Retrieved 25th January, 2010, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/4004859.stm Political Program Adopted at the 12th Session of the Palestine National Council Cairo, 8 June 1974, Retrieved 26th January, 2010, http://www.un.int/palestine/PLO/docone.html Muin Rabbani, 2000, Encyclopedia Of The Palestinians: Biography of Gassan Kanafani, Retrieved 26th January, 2010, http://www.palestineremembered.com/Acre/Acre/Story168.html Poisoned Mossad chocolate killed PFLP leader in 1977, says book, 2006, Retrieved 26th January, 2010, http://web.archive.org/web/20060517211510/http://metimes.com/articles/normal.php?StoryID=20060505-102327-8910r Terrorist Organisation Profile: Black September,2007, University of Maryland, Retrieved 26th January, 2010, http://www.start.umd.edu/start/data/tops/terrorist_organization_profile.asp?id=153 Arafat at the UN general Assembly, 2009, Retrieved 27th January, 2010, http://www.al-bab.com/arab/docs/pal/pal5.htm Prof. Francis A. Boyle, 2006 Palestine Independence Day, Retrieved 27th January, 2010, http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=vaaid=3864 Why did the PLO suddenly decide, in 1988, that Israel had a right to exist?, Retrieved 27th January, 2010, http://www.palestinefacts.org/pf_1967to1991_plo_israel_exist_1988.php The Balfour Declaration, Retrieved 20th February, 2010, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Peace+Process/Guide+to+the+Peace+Process/The+Balfour+Declaration.htm The Population of Palestine Prior to 1948, Retrieved 20th February, 2010, http://www.mideastweb.org/palpop.htm Fateh Constitution, Retrieved 20th February, 2010, http://www.alzaytouna.net/arabic/?c=1598a=97061 The Israeli Camp David II Proposal for Final Settlement, Retrieved 20th February, 2010, http://www.mideastweb.org/campdavid2.htm The Balfour Decleration, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Peace+Process/Guide+to+the+Peace+Process/The+Balfour+Declaration.htm The Third Aliyah, http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Immigration/Third_Aliyah.html The Population of Palestine Prior to 1948, http://www.mideastweb.org/palpop.htm UN Partition Plan, 2001, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/middle_east/israel_and_the_palestinians/key_documents/1681322.stm Simha Flapan, 1987, The Palestinian Exodus of 1948, Vol. 16, No. 4 (Summer, 1987), pp. 3-26,University of California Press. Yasser Arafat, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasser_Arafat/ Fateh Constitution, http://www.alzaytouna.net/arabic/?c=1598a=97061 Mark Tesseler, A History Of The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Indiana University Press, Bloomington, USA, 1994, pg. 425 Ibid, pg.426 Yasser Arafat, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasser_Arafat/ Muin Rabbani, 2000, Encyclopedia Of The Palestinians: Biography of Gassan Kanafani, http://www.palestineremembered.com/Acre/Acre/Story168.html Poisoned Mossad chocolate killed PFLP leader in 1977, says book, 2006, http://web.archive.org/web/20060517211510/http://metimes.com/articles/normal.php?StoryID=20060505-102327-8910r. Terrorist Organisation Profile: Black September, 2007, University of Maryland http://www.start.umd.edu/start/data/tops/terrorist_organization_profile.asp?id=153 ibid Barry Rubin, Judith Colp Rubin, Arafat: A Political Biography, Oxford University Press, Inc, New York, 2003, pg.61 Ibid, pg.61 Ibid, pg.63 Bassam Abu Sharif, Arafat and the Dream for Palestine, Palgrave Macmillan, New York, 2009, pg. T.G. Fraser, The Arab-Israeli conflict, 3rd ed., Palgrave Macmillan, New York, 2008, pg.57 Ibid, pg.88 Political Program Adopted at the 12th Session of the Palestine National Council Cairo, 8 June 1974, http://www.un.int/palestine/PLO/docone.html ibid Arafat at the UN general Assembly, 2009, http://www.al-bab.com/arab/docs/pal/pal5.htm Prof. Francis A. Boyle, 2006 Palestine Independence Day, http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=vaaid=3864 The Israeli Camp David II Proposal for Final Settlement, http://www.mideastweb.org/campdavid2.htm Rubin, op.cit., pg.113 Why did the PLO suddenly decide, in 1988, that Israel had a right to exist?, http://www.palestinefacts.org/pf_1967to1991_plo_israel_exist_1988.php Mehran Kamrava, The Modern Middle East, University of California Press, Ltd, London England, 2005, pg. 243-244 Ibid, pg.248 ibid Abu Sharif, op.cit., pg.183