Avatar Film Review Essay Example

Avatar Film Review Essay Example Avatar Film Review Essay Example Avatar Film Review Essay Example Avatar is a fictional film produced in America in 2009 by James Cameron and starring Zoe Saldana, Sam Worthington, Michelle Rodriguez, Stephen Lang, and Sigourney Weaver (French, 2010). It is about the human colonization of Pandora, a fictional land in the star system inhabited by ape-like beings called Navi. The environment of the place is not suitable for human life, and the interest of the colonialists was only mining mineral deposits of unobtanium. The film is significant as it depicts things that happen in the real human societies such as the scramble for Africa by the European powers that implied the invasion, occupation, colonization, and annexation of territories (Chamberlain, 2014). Avatar thus reflects on the real life situations in a number of ways. The Comparison of the Fictional Treatment of Na’vi to Real Life Cases The native inhabitants of Pandora lived in a wilderness setting, and they coexisted with their ecosystem that included a dense forest (Horwitz, 2009). The colonialists from the Earth land there with the interests of mining the unobtanium minerals, and this threatens the forest as well as the indigenous population. Just like in the film, the European powers such as Britain, Portugal, Spain, and France among others invaded Africa and destroyed forests to pave the way for mining of minerals such as copper, construction of roads and farming among other uses (Shillington, 2005). In Avatar, the colonizers send spies to gather information about the Hometree, a sacred place where the Na’vis used to pray, after discovering the possibility of the presence of mineral deposits under the tree. They later send a bulldozer to destroy the shrine and pave the way for mining (Cameron, 2010). The European colonial masters also destroyed African forests and shrines in a bid to exploit the resources of their interest (Chamberlain, 2014). The humans forcefully evict the Navis from their lands doing this is through bloodshed that led to deaths of the locals and some of their leaders. They also disregard the Navis deity by destroying the shrines and trying to change their wilderness culture and life (Cameron, 2010). However, the Navis begin to resists the human oppression, and they wage rebellions that lead to the expulsion of people from Pandora. In Africa, the European colonial masters forcefully ejected native inhabitants from their lands and confined them in reserves. They also disregarded the native religion and tried to introduce Christianity (Shillington 2005). In the film, the humans had no intentions of settlement and thus they were just interested in destroying the forests and mining the unobtanium minerals (Cameron, 2010). European colonialists in Africa, in their turn, had the intentions of displacing the natives and settling on their lands for large scale farming. These distinctions clearly differentiate the interests of the invading parties in both instances. On the one hand, in Avatar, the invasion of Pandora was purely economic because the human had the interests of mining the unobtanium minerals (Cameron, 2010). The European invasion of Africa, on the other hand, was a combination of both the economic and political purposes. Apart from mining and farming, the powers were interested in establishing the direct rule, annexing territories, and obtaining fighters to support their armies during the world wars (Chamberlain, 2010). The invasion also fuelled slave trade that saw the capturing and transportation of Africans to foreign continents as slave workers. Security Contractors Security contractors work under the incentive of making profit, and they have no moral obligation to the civilians. Due to the greed for money, they tend to promote a culture of violence as opposed to the official government militaries that work to promote peace, and they have a duty of serving the nationals in their given jurisdiction (Gomez del Prado, 2008). Unlike the military officers, private security guards work under little or no oversight and thus they tend to violate the rights of the civilians to maximize their profit gains. It was very unethical for the guards in the Avatar film to open fire on Jake and Grace, and that shows how the private officers disregard the lives of their comrades (Cameron, 2010). The private guards also tend to use excessive force against non-combatants, and this may involve indiscriminative shootings. For instance, in the Avatar film, the Resource Development authority’s private security officers killed the non-combatant Na’vis in a b id to expel them from their shrines (Cameron, 2010). Military officers, in their turn, work under regulations and thus they rarely violate the rights of civilians due to strict oversight (Gomez del Prado, 2008). Private security guards, on the one hand, operate using unidentified vehicles, and this makes it easy for them to engage in misconduct. On the other hand, the military has branded vehicles that are easy to be identified (Gomez del Prado, 2008). The governments of various jurisdictions need to regulate the private security firms to prevent them from engaging in crime as well as violating the rights of civilians in their areas of assignments (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2014). There is the need for oversight to hold the officers accountable for their actions and this could assist in taming them. Regulations are also necessary to limit the number of private security companies because their aim is not serving the public but to maximize their profits while disregarding the civilian rights (Gomez del Prado, 2008). According to United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2014), regulations are inevitable to prevent the possibility of corruption amongst the private security officers as well as their companies. Cameron’s Message on Environmental Sustainability and Corporate Greed Cameron uses the film to blame business organizations for the wanton destruction of the environment as well as the depletion of natural resources. He demonstrates a scenario in 2154 when there is an energy problem due to the exhaustion of natural resources, and this might compel the scientist to try other options, for instance, the metaphor of human beings mining unobtanium in the Pandora space that is beyond the planet earth (Horwitz, 2009). The resistance by the natives as well as the final expulsion of the human from the planet shows that most options in the projected time will not be fruitful, and this might lead to the collapse of all industries. The film is, therefore, an eye opener to corporations to be mindful of the future when they exploit the natural resources. In the movie, the invasion and the attempts to mine unobtanium on the Pandora planet threaten the forests and the lives of the natives and thus the indigenous population resists the move (Horwitz, 2009). Cameron tries to explain that the greed for resources diminishes people and has the potential to lead the investors outside the planet of Earth. The fictitious conflict between the Resources Development Authority and the Pandora is an imagery of what happens to business organizations and their host communities. In extreme situations, people directly attack the businesses or launch demonstrations against the same organizations to expel them from their land. Cameron also intended to pass the message that corporations should respect the culture of the natives of their areas of operation. The Resources Development Authority destroys the Pandora forests that houses the Na’vis shrines and this is a total disregard of the hosts’ culture, religion and their deity (Horwitz, 2009). The result is the rebellion war that leads to mysterious intervention of wild animals for the Navis, and this forces the human beings out of Pandora. This fictitious image shows that organizations must respect the hosts’ culture for them to succeed in that setting. Cameron also indirectly speaks about the corporate social responsibility that entails organizational acts of giving back to the societies in their vicinities as a sign of appreciation for their accommodating nature. The Resources Development Authority’s (RDA) action of clearing forests and destroying shrines in Pandora as well as killing the locals represents how the modern business organizations harm the host communities in various ways such as destruction of the environment and the indirect killing of people through air and water pollution among others. Just like the RDAs expulsion from Pandora, every modern industry that disregards the welfare of the host population is doomed to fail. Cameron tries to pass the message that corporate firms are to be blamed for the environmental deterioration as well as the depletion of natural resources. He visualizes an energy problem in 2154 where industries will have all the resources exhausted. He strengthens his argument through the fictitious Pandora example whereby the RDA mining activities threaten the lives of the natives as well as their eco-system. Cameron portrays the arrogance of such organizations through the RDA’s act of using force against the hosts and destroying their shrines. His message is that organizations must reverse the energy use trend as well as the exploitation of the non-fuel resources to save them for the future use. In conclusion, Avatar is a fiction film but it depicts the immorality that takes place in the real life situations. For instance, the RDAs greed of mining unobtanium in the Pandora in disregard of the environment and the welfare of the natives represent what modern industries do. The unprofessional behaviour of the security guards in the film is a replica of how modern security guards operate. Avatar bears a warning to the industrialists to take care of the host communities as well as their environment as otherwise, sooner or later, their businesses will collapse.

Wright Brothers essays

Wright Brothers essays WHO : The brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright WHAT : The first powered, manned flight HOW : Two brothers combined there hobbies of hangliding and bicycling to have a flight of 12 seconds The reason this event was chosen was because of my intest in flying and the amazing impact of this single event. Today millions of people fly every year and take a fraction of the time the Wright Brothers did. Modern inventions combined with their research have enabled America's Air Force to own the sky. This flight getting off the ground will forever be a milestone in human invention and ability due to the many years of invention it involved. There is no doubt in my mind that the U.S. would be totaly different today if this event were not to happen. Had this event not occured at this time, to these people, or even at all, live and history would be very different. One example was that in World War One airplanes were used expensively for watching troop movements and mapping enemy fortifications. Had no airplanes existed we may have lost the war. Another example is World War Two, had no airplane eisted in that war all major bombing campaigns would have been impossible, including Pearl Harbor, and the droping of the atomic bombs. The world may be a much better place with the help of aircraft in those wars in preventing evil from succeding in its plans. The first powered flight is more important than September 11 because the airplane was the major tool in the acts of terrorism in our country. If airplanes were nonexistant, America would have never been a threat to Al-Queida and the Taliban do to the primitive forms of transportation used before the airplane was invented. If the airplane was not invented the U.S. may have been overcome in a previous conflict and American life would be chang ...

Integrated Models And Performance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Integrated Models And Performance - Essay Example In explaining the integrated healthcare system, the author presents two types of integration models. In model one: IDS or MSGP with a Health Plan, the author describes, with examples how an organization can apply insurance and other managerial strategies to best serve its patients. By giving and example of North Carolina-based Kaiser Permanente Hospital’s Patient-Panel Management Plan, the article provides an insight on such integration. Having carried out a feasibility study, the hospital realized that it has a diverse category of patients who have special needs to be addressed based on their demands. Thus, it has managed to improve the quality of service delivery. The same trend is seen in Model Two in which reputable facilities like Mayo Clinic and Partners Healthcare have gained significance success because of their integrated insurance covers. I would like to point out that this is a great article. The chapter touches on one of the most significant areas in healthcare. Actually, provision of high-value service should be the core goal for every organization. As a healthcare provider, a lot of care should be taken to ensure that the patients are satisfied. Once deliberate efforts are made to help the patients to improve their heath conditions, the hospital would have achieved a major objective. At all times, each medical facility should have a deeper understanding of those whom it serves. By using insurance or non-insurance services, the management can still perfectly respond to its patients’ needs. This was demonstrated by Kaiser Permanente which, through its Patient-Panel Plan, managed to categorize its patients into Primary Care; Assistance Care Management; and Intensive Case and Specialty Care so as to make it much easier for the physicians and doctors to effectively serve them based on the level of their needs. It was indeed a good initiative that made it much easier for the hospital to accomplish its goals. In conclusion, I

OPERATIONS AND LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

OPERATIONS AND LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT - Assignment Example Starting with a general definition of manufacturing process, manufacturing processes are a collection of methods that converts â€Å"naturally occurring raw materials into desired end-products† (Harrington, 1984). In other words, raw materials are collected and by means of a chain of production activities, are converted into end-products. A rather precise definition is given by Halevi (1999): â€Å"the manufacturing process is a chain of activities directed toward meeting a set of objectives defined by management.† The objectives include development and production of products, production of customer-designed products, and reproduction of products manufactured in the past. Although manufacturing environments differ due to the differences in industry types, the fundamental principles of manufacturing processes remain similar and common to all industry types. Classification of manufacturing processes primarily includes two broad categories: shaping and non-shaping processes, or rather specifically, primary shaping and secondary shaping processes. Primary shaping processes are also known as basic manufacturing processes, which are the oldest manufacturing processes and still the most used processes. These manufacturing processes are used to produce or manufacture a product directly to its usable form without any machining. So these processes are relatively cheaper. Examples of products made by using primary shaping processes include cast-iron articles, hot-rolled metal products such as channels, rods, bar stocks, etc. Secondary shaping processes are usually carried out for further refinement of products manufactured from the primary shaping processes. Some of the examples of products made by using secondary shaping processes are the hot-rolled products that are required to undergo further refinement in shape and size. This paper will focus particularly on the casting processes. Casting, also known as metal casting, is one of the

Disability Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Disability - Essay Example The group was a family- a father, a mother, a three-year-old (an estimated age) girl they called Liza and an eight-year-old boy (another estimated age) they called Harvey. The father looked like he’s in his late thirties- quite handsome and tall. If he told me he was a lawyer, I would not be surprised because he had an aura of authority and intelligence. Harvey had blonde wavy hair. He looked like an active boy with the way he moved and talked. He ran immediately to the monkey bars. Liza stayed behind with her father, while her mother went nearby Harvey. The mother looked like in her late twenties, a beautiful brunette with kind eyes. She sat at a bench and started to read a thick book. Liza had her mother’s eyes and hair. There was something different with her that I could not understand yet. She seemed to be thinking about faraway images with that look in her eyes. Liza went to the swing, but she was not swinging it at first. When she did, she raised her hands to her ears, as if the swinging made her ears hurt. I could sense her anxiety from her scrunched-up face and tightly-closed eyes. She was making some screaming sounds I could not understand. I wanted to run and help her, but the father got to her first. Her father came to her and asked her what was wrong. She cried and pointed to her mother, and her father looked terribly confused. I was as clueless as Liza and her father. What does she mean when she makes these scratching sounds in her throat? I knew she was deaf because her father was yelling at her and she did not seem to be bothered by it. She has a listening aid too, though I doubt it helped her. She only looked anxious and angry as her father tried to communicate with her, asking her what she needs and what bothers her in a loud, upset tone. Her mother must have been engrossed in the book because it

International Law and International Organization

International Law and International Organization Introduction Generally public international law primarily is the laws of states, in all its forms. This includes the many international dealings of states with each other. The purview of international law includes the institutions which operate under its broad coverage.[1] International law is presupposed on the concept of equality of states, which are subject to international laws, subject to their recognition of any rule of law as binding upon them, with the same principle applying to the courts. Hence for the system of international law to be further recognizable, there comes the need for international organizations or institutions. Thus, if there is no identifiable institution either to establish rules, or to clarify them or see that those who break them are punished, how what can is called international law be law.[2] The role of force in international law has been largely misinterpreted to favor powerful states, hence the equality of states in international law, but without a unified system of sanction in international law, the use of indiscriminate force by nation-states would be almost inevitable.[3] The inability of the structure of international law to properly deter any aggressor country would continually breed new levels of aggression amongst states, hence the need for international organization.[4] History of Relationship between International Law and International Organization. International law has been developing steadily since the Second World War, and forces have been consistently playing a critical role in the international scene, as this include international organizations. As the complexities of life has multiplied so has the response of international law. International organizations are product of the ingenuity of corporate international to spread its globalization and promote international law. Meanwhile, among many international organizations, the United Nations facilitates international diplomacy, the World Health Organization coordinates international public health and protection, and the International Labor Organization monitors and fosters workers rights around the world.[5] Historically, international law addressed only relations between states, and war was the major reason for international diplomacy between countries, but today international organization have a major part to play in the executing of international goals. Treaties are the foundation for the establishment for international organization, and usually the establishment treaty or agreement is what determines the limit and extent of the powers of the organization. International organizations have a limited degree of international personality, especially vis-à  -vis member States. They can enter into international agreements and their representatives have certain privileges and immunities. The United Nations gets its power from the charter of the United Nations 1945, and in the dispensing of its functions it is divided into different arms. History of international organization in world politics today The idea of nations-states having and establishing bodies to secure its interest in another country or promote a certain cause around the world is not new to international legal system. Without going back into medieval Europe where countries had consuls which represented the interest of their mother nation. The private International associations sprang from the realization by non-governmental bodies, whether private individuals or corporate associations, that their interests had an international character which demanded the furtherance of those interests via a permanent international association with like bodies in other countries. In those fields where co-operation between governments became imperative, there developed the public international unions; these were, in fact, an essay into international organization in the administrative sphere. There developed a gradual transition from the private corporate unions to international organization.[6] Thus, in 1840, the world Anti-Slavery Convention was established, and in 1863 a Swiss philanthropist, Henry Dunant, Created the Red Cross.[7] Modern international organizations The need for increased international participations and cooperation fostered the need to developed more stable organizations to checkmate the politics of the nation-states hence acting independent of the states i.e. subject only to the agreement creating them. The powerful nature of states and sovereignty of these states led to the private international charter companies becoming an extension of their home countries, hence a need to bring more independent organization. In 1903 the International Office of Public Health was created, and in the field of economics the establishment of the Metric Union (1875), the International Copyright Union (1886), the International Sugar Union (1902) and the International Institute for Agriculture (1905) may be mentioned as early forerunners of present-day international organization. A major breakthrough for modern international organization was in the year 1919 and the Versailles peace Settlement which followed the First World War, American president advocated for a general association of nations.[8] The League of Nations was the first international organization which was designed just to organization operation between states as a result of the war, its specific aims was to guarantee peace and the establishment of a system of collective security, following which an attack against one of the member-states of the League would give the rest the right to come to the attacked states rescue, but sadly the league of nations failed in preventing war, which was its major objective. In 1945, the United Nations was established as a successor to the League of Nations. Since the creation of the UN, much of international law and diplomacy has been developed, shaped, implemented, and enforced through U.N. bodies and related international organizations. International organizations both make international law and are governed by it.[9] Functions and Structures of International Law and Organizations In an attempt to discuss the structure of international law and international organizations, to highlight the sources of international law and its enforcement mechanisms. It is of general knowledge that the main function of international law is to promote peace and cooperation among nations-states, any other function would be specific to an arm or organization operating in the international sphere. A vast network of international laws and dozens of international organizations make globalization possible, the scope and authority of international law have thus expanded dramatically during the era of globalization. Historically, international law addressed only relations between states, but globalization has changed international law in numerous ways. For example, as globalization has accelerated, international law has become a vehicle for states to cooperate regarding new areas of international relations (such as the environment and human rights).[10] Because of the need for enhanced international cooperation, age hold topics of sovereignty are becoming malleable.[11] The structure of international law involves, Public International Law (The relationship between sovereign states and international entities such as International Criminal Court and international criminal courts), Private international law, this involves jurisdictional conflict in resolving transnational issues. Since there is no parliament to make international law the way domestic Legislatures create laws for one country, the major source of international is treaties between states, also the customary state practice, general principles of law common to many countries, domestic judicial decisions, and the legal scholarship.[12] Enforcement of International Law and Structure of Organisation Within International Law In an international system where there is no overarching authoritative enforcer, punishment for non-compliance with the rules of public international law rules, hence the deriding insinuations that it is not law. Some of the enforcement mechanism in the international legal system include Reciprocity is a type of enforcement by which states are assured that if they offend another state, where the other state is primed to respond in the same measure. There is mutuality of response, as was witnessed in the cold war, between geopolitical powers of the era. The fear of reprisal or reciprocal action act as a form of deterrence, to prevent a state from committing acts against another state which it may not itself be able to withstand. The killing of prisoners of war or the imposition of heavy tariffs on products from a certain country to limit the imports. Guarantees of reciprocal reactions encourage states to think twice about which of their actions they would like imposed upon them. Collective action: several states act together against one state to produce what is usually a punitive result, in a bid to force such state from refraining from an act or from continuing with an action. Example is the commonwealth sanction of South Africa during the apartheid regime. Similarly, the United Nations imposed joint economic sanctions, such as restrictions on trade, on South Africa in the 1980s to force that country to end the practice of racial segregation known as apartheid. Name and shame:[13]Most states dislike negative publicity and will actively try to avoid it, so the threat of shaming a state with public statements regarding their offending behavior is often an effective enforcement mechanism. This method is particularly effective in the field of human rights where states, not wanting to intervene directly into the domestic affairs of another state, may use media attention to highlight violations of international law. In turn, negative public attention may serve as a catalyst o having an international organization address the issue; it may align international grassroots movements on an issue; or it may give a state the political will needed from its populace to authorize further action. A recent example of this strategic tactic was seen in May 2010, when the U.N. named the groups most persistently associated with using child soldiers in Asia, Africa, and Latin America[14] However since international organizations are established under international law, law serves two important purposes in relation to international organizations. On the one hand international organizations rely upon law and legal technique as the primary means of their protection[15]. On the other hand one of the major claims to legitimacy of international organizations is their rational-legal foundation. It is therefore important to provide a legally coherent account of the relations between international organizations and national legal systems, particularly where the rights of individuals are concerned.[16] The constituent instrument establishing the organization will set out the functions and goals of the organization and the structures and powers through which these are to be achieved. In particular international organizations are usually endowed with organs of their own, including an assembly or council, at which the membership is represented in plenary, to determine the direction and policy of the organization, and a permanent staff employed by the organisation which will at very least service the representative organ, but also will often carry out the policies of the organization or assist, supervise or coordinate their execution by others. Some organizations, or course, have more sophisticated organic structures requiring more clearly defined separation of powers. Political and Economic Interdependency Within The Organisation and The States International organizations, otherwise known as intergovernmental organizations, or IGOs, are formed between two or more state governments. Some IGOs operate by making decisions on the basis of one vote for each member-state, some make decisions on a consensus or unanimity basis, while still others have weighted voting structures based on security interests or monetary donations. In the General Assembly of UN, each state has one vote, while in the Security Council, five states are permanent members and have a veto over any action. The World Bank arranges its voting according to the Member States shareholding status, which is roughly based on the size of the states economy. This is often thought of as the one dollar = one vote approach to representation. There are nearly 2,000 international organizations that deal with a wide variety of topics requiring international cooperation, such as the International Civil Aviation Organization, the Universal Postal Union, the International Organ ization for Standardization, and the International Organization for Migration (United Nations, 2003). The relationship of an organisation to its member States is complex and multi ­faceted, On the one hand the organisation is the servant of the member States, in that the member States as a collectivity establish the organisation, fund it and determine its direction and policy.[17] However once the organisation is established individual members owe numerous duties to the collectivity, including not only the specific duties contained in the constituent instrument such as to contribute to the funding of the organisation, but also duties of good faith and cooperation[18] It follows that where the membership has collectively empowered an organisation to act, each member States must respect the rights of an organisation to act accordingly, and must eschew any interference which would amount to an undue unilateral attempt to modify the collective will. The United Nations Charter 1945 Article 100 provides: In the performance of their duties the Secretary General and the staff shall not seek or receive instructions from any Government or from any other authority external to the Organisation. They shall refrain from action which might reflect upon their position as international officials responsible only to the Organisation. The implication of the above is that the United Nations in the charter was trying to forged an isolated relationship and freedom from interference from states and hence the United Nations is not an extension of any country and the principle of equality of states is enshrined in Articles 2 of the charter 1945, and this was departure from the position under the league of nations where governments were responsible for their national in the league civil service, hence one of the many factors that contributed to the failure of the league of nation was the inability to secure freedom from the nation states. Article 105(2) of the charter provides for independence and immunities to necessarily exercise independent functions. A key feature of the united nation which highlights the interdependence between the organization and the states is the Charter also provides that, in the territory of each of its members, the Organisation shall have such legal capacity as may be necessary for the exercise of its functions and the fulfilment of its purposes (Art. 104). This has been interpreted to confer on the United Nations organisation legal personality subject to the laws of the nation states, i.e. to enable it to contract, hold and dispose of property and to be party to legal proceedings.[19] In the reparations case that the Organisation had the capacity to bring an international claim against both a government (de jure or de facto) of a Member State and of a non-Member State, responsible for injuries to an agent of the Organisation in the performance of his duties, with a view to obtaining reparation in respect of damage caused to the Organisation[20] Finally the interdependence of the UN, for its enforcing of international obligations on members states is the bane on the organisation. In the quest not to create a super state superior to all states which a members of it are. The fear by the states was not surrender their sovereignty to the UN, and hence the UN is more of a cajoling organisation. Until the UN, can enforce international obligations without the help of the strong state, the UN may not be said to be fairly balanced to handle international aggression. International Law and the Need for Multilateral Intervention State sovereignty is the concept that states are in complete and exclusive control of all the people and property within their territory. State sovereignty also includes the idea that all states are equal as states, since all states are equal in this sense, one State does not have the right to interfere with the internal affairs of another state. Practically, sovereignty means that one state cannot demand that another state take any particular internal action. Under the concept of state sovereignty, no state has the authority to tell another state how to control its internal affairs. Sovereignty both grants and limits power: it gives states complete control over their own territory while restricting the influence that states have on one another. Globalization is changing this view of sovereignty Similarly, states no longer view the treatment of citizens of one state as only the exclusive concern of that state. International human rights law is based on the idea that the entire global community is responsible for the rights of every individuals.[21] Multilateral intervention by a 3rd party state maybe views as any form of external force which attempt to limit the external sovereignty of a state. This may be the imposition of sanctions by the UN, acting as a front for the powerful member states to secure their own national interest. Otherwise multilateral intervention may be the intervention of a state in another to protect the former national interest through war. The law of armed conflict (also called the law of war) can be divided into two categories. The first concerns the legitimate reasons for starting a war, known by its Latin terminology, jus ad bellum (Right to Wage War). The laws during war, jus in bello (Justice in War), are also called international humanitarian law. Article 2(4) UN Charter All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.(United Nations, 1945). Some regard this as the prohibition of the use of force outside of UN-approved actions. On the other hand, others consider this clause only non-binding rhetoric, especially considering the history of armed conflict since the UNs birth in 1945. In my opinion the UN Charter and CIL do recognize that a state is entitled to use force without international approval when it is acting in self-defense. However, the events that trigger this right to self-defense are subject to debate. Most international lawyers agree that self-defense actions must be immediately necessary and proportional to the attack the state is trying to repel. Russian aggression against Georgia in 2005. The applicability of Art. 2.4 In this era of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, some contend that legal self-defense also extends to pre-emptive attacks to prevent the development of a military threat. Geneva Conventions of 1949 (ICRC,1949 Some of the most important principles of jus in bello are that there must be a valid military purpose to every attack (military necessity), that attackers must try to avoid killing non-combatants (the principle of distinction between military and non-military targets), and that if non-combatants are killed, their deaths must be in proportion to the military necessity of the attack (proportionality). Once armed conflict has begun, international humanitarian laws begin to apply.[22] New directions in international law and organization interdependency This is the new world order, to create a more central world, as certain challenges are global in nature and there may be need to act swiftly irrespective of territorial sovereignty. International Human Rights Law International human rights law is different from most areas of international law because, rather than governing relations between states, human rights law governs a states relations with its own citizens. The modern human rights law movement has its roots in the post-WWII trials of Nazi leaders at Nuremburg. The world community recognized that the mass atrocities committed during WWII were too serious to be handled under domestic laws because the crimes committed were crimes against all of humanity. Subsequently, the creators of the UN recognized the reaffirmation of fundamental human rights as one of its most important purposes, and in the first year of its existence, set out to ensure that goal. The first step took place when The Human Rights Commission-at the time the lead UN body of human rightsproduced the International Bill of Human Rights, which is composed of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and two binding treaties, the International Convention on Civil and Politica l Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). On March 15, 2006, recognizing the need to update its human rights organizations, the General Assembly of the UN created the Human Rights Council. The Human Rights Council was created with the specific intention to address the heavy criticism that The Human Rights Commission had received for allowing far too many states with poor human rights records into the delegation (BBC, 2006). This new body is responsible for further strengthening and promoting human rights around the world. One of the Councils many tools for protecting human rights is the innovative Universal Periodic Review, which allows for the examination of the status of human rights within all member states. Less than two weeks after the formation of the Human Rights Council, on March 27, 2006, the Commission on Human Rights met for its sixty-second and final session A sophisticated system of agreements and monitoring organizations exists to promote respect for the rights enshrined in these documents, both on international and regional levels, as with the European Convention on Human Rights and its Court of Human Rights, and the American Declaration and American Convention on Human Rights and their Inter-American Commission and Inter-American Court on Human Rights International Environmental Law Environmental law revolves around a core theory that the earth has limited resources that must be jointly enjoyed and cared for, regardless of their physical presence in the territory of one state as opposed to another. Environmental law attempts to bring states into agreement on issues such as desertification, sustainable development, biodiversity, endangered species, hazardous materials, climate change, and trans-boundary pollution, all of which have been the subject of major international treaties, such as the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. Conclusion As noted earlier, there are nearly 2,000 international organizations that deal with a wide variety of topics requiring international cooperation, including diplomacy, trade, aviation, migration, development, and many, many others. As with international law in general, these organizations are crucial to managing globalization, but are controversial because of their impact on state sovereignty. The United Nations is a complex network of organizations. Just as any government may be divided into branches, such as the judiciary, legislative, and executive, the UN also has various bodies with different functions. The overarching framework of the United Nations incorporates five principal organs, but a vast array of underlying specialized agencies, programs, funds, and related organizations maintain ties with the UN while operating under differing levels of independence. Article 24 of the UN Charter confers upon the Security Council the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. As such, the Security Council is the only UN body that can pass resolution that the member states are legally committed to obey. The Security Council is also the only part of the UN that can authorize the use of force and there by physically enforce its resolutions, hence it is the arm twister of the organisation. The Security Council has 15 members, including five permanent members, China, France, Russia, the U.K., and the U.S., and ten non-permanent members selected on a regional basis by the GA. The five permanent members have the authority to veto any substantive issue. The Security Council can meet at any time and has previously established peacekeeping operations, international tribunals, and sanctions [1] J. Bentham, Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation, London, 1780. [2] H. L. A .Hart, The Concept of Law, Oxford, 1961. [3] L. Henkin, International Law: Politics and Values, Dordrecht, 1995 [4] Security Council resolution 221 (1966). Note also Security Council resolution 418 (1977) imposing a mandatory arms embargo on South Africa but couldnt deter the continuation of the Rhodesia killings, and even after the aggression by south Africa, there was insufficient response by the international law structure. [5] A. Nussbaum, A Concise History of the Law of Nations, revised edition, New York, 1954 [6] Rhine Commission, in order to deal with issues of navigation, or issues of pollution, on a regular basis. Following the establishment of the Rhine Commission in 1915, a number of other river commissions were established -managing the Elbe (1821), the Douro (1835) the Po (1849) and, after the end of the Crimean War, the European Commission for the Danube in 1856 [7] C. Cheshire and P. North, Private International Law, 13th edn, London, 1999. [8] L. Henkin, International Law: Politics and Values, Dordrecht, 1995 [9] Fr. Robert J. Araujo, S.J., Implementation of the ICJ Advisory Opinion Legal Consequences of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory: Fences [Do Not]Make Good Neighbors?, 22 B.U. Intl L.J. 349 (2004 [10] Newman and Weisbrodt ,International Human Rights(1st ed. 1994), pp.182-213, 13-19, 91-97, 130-141 [11] United Nations. (1969, May). Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, Vienna. Retrieved from: http://untreaty.un.org/ilc/texts/instruments/english/conventions/1_1_1969.pdf [12] Dinstein, Y. (2004). The conduct of hostilities under law of international armed conflict. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press [13] United Nations. (2010, May 21). UN identifies most persistent users of child soldiers in armed conflicts. Retrieved from: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=34778Cr=coomaraswamyCr1 [14] Greenhill, S. (2011, October 29). Gaddafis killers will be puton trial over mob execution, vow Libyas new rulers. Daily MailRetrieved from: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2054344/Gaddafi-dead-Mob-killers-trial-vow-Libyas-new-rulers.html [15] Bekker, The Legal Position of Intergovernmental Organizations. A functional necessity analysis of their Legal Status and Immunities (Kulwer, The Hague, 1994) pp.39- 42 [16] Reinisch International Organizations before National Courts(CUP, Cambridge,2000) at pp.5-10; [17] Nicholas Rostow, Before and After: The Changed UN Response to Terrorism Since September 11th.35 Cornell Intl L.J. 475 [18] ICJ Advisory Opinion on the Interpretation of the Agreement of 25 March1951 between the WHO and Egypt -1980 ICJ Rep. 73 esp. pp.94-96

The Graduate and Plastics Essay -- Graduate Admissions Essays

The Graduate and Plastics The Graduate is a 1967 film directed by Mike Nichols who won an Oscar for his direction. This hit of the 60's focuses on the development and the maturing of the ultra-naïve college graduate Benjamin Braddock. This movie is about "just one word...Plastics." Mr. McQuire sums up this entire movie when he tells Ben that there is "a great future in plastics." In this film the relationships, except the one between Ben and Elaine, are like plastic because they are not real, they are molded, and they are artificial. The relationship between Mr. and Mrs. Robinson is shaky at best. There is no love in their marriage; in fact, the only reason there is a marriage is because Mrs. Robinson became pregnant with Elaine. They don't "sleep in the same room" and in order for her to see Ben she just "walks out" of the house. Ben finds this shocking because to an outsider their marriage seems solid and real but it isn't. Their marriage is like plastic because although it appears solid, it is fab...

Discuss the Role Central Banks Have Played in Counteracting

Discuss the role central banks (e. g. Fed, Bank of England) have played in counteracting the effects of the financial crisis. Argue how the monetary policy mandate might change in the future to avoid such crises. As stated by Buiter (2008) the Central Bank has three main tasks. These are; ‘(1) the pursuit of macroeconomic stability; (2) maintaining financial stability and (3) ensuring the proper functioning of the ‘plumbing’ of a monetary economy'.The effectiveness of the Central Bank, during the financial crisis, will be discussed as well as how the Central Bank could change its monetary policies in order to avoid such a crisis in the future. The main focus will be on the Bank of England (BoE), the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Federal Reserve System (Fed). Each of the Central Banks have different objectives when it comes to monetary policy. The BoE concentrates on the target inflation set by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, which is 2 percent. The ECB has a similar objective although they can set target inflation themselves and it is usually just under 2 percent.The Fed on the other hand has two main aims; ‘maximum employment, stable prices' (Buiter 2008). When the crisis hit, the Central Banks made some attempts to counteract it. Firstly, they broadened their role as a lender of last resort. They started to include ‘liquidity support to non-deposit-taking institutions' (Blanchard, 2010). This allowed them to intervene either directly or indirectly with more companies. This occurred at the start of the crisis where overnight interest rates rose sharply in Europe leading to the ECB responding with a liquidity injection of ‘â‚ ¬94. 8 billion worth of overnight repos' (Cecchetti, 2008).The Central Banks went on to drop interest rates. The aim of this was to allow banks to receive short-term funding at lower interest rates as well as reducing the demand for inter-bank loans (Cecchetti 2008). The hope was that lower in terest rates would also encourage spending in the economy. However, This did not solve the problem. This is why the Fed decided to adopt a new policy where they introduced the Term Auction Facility (TAF). In America the Government debt was continuing to decline and there was a worry that the Federal Reserve would have to change their balance sheet management.The TAF allowed banks to bid for reserves at interest rates ‘below the primary lending rate available at the time' (Cecchetti 2008). The aim of this was to alleviate pressures in the long-term funding markets. This policy was also adopted by the ECB and BoE. A major problem which affected Central Banks in the North Atlantic region was that they made mistakes because they had not anticipated a financial crisis (Buiter 2008). The Fed cut its interest rates excessively due to political pressures and financial sector concerns.This over-reaction of the Fed was partly due to the fact that they are the least independent of the th ree central banks and, as a result, felt political and financial sector pressures leading to the over-reaction. If the Fed were to become more independent then such an over-reaction might not occur. One option for Central Banks is to take into account the exchange rate. During the financial crisis the exchange rate was extremely volatile, due to large shifts in cash flows, which lead to ‘large disruptions in activity' (Blanchard, 2010).These large fluctuations cause balance sheets of companies to become unpredictable and can damage the trade sector leading to the financial sector becoming more unstable. These fluctuations might be minimized if the Central Banks took exchange rates into consideration as well as the inflation rate when determining monetary policies. Exchange rates can, however, not become too stable as this can create ‘greater incentives for contract dollarization' (Blanchard, 2010). The financial crisis has shown that the zero bound nominal interest rates can cause huge problems.Hence, it can be argued that target inflation rate could be increased. If the inflation rate were to be increased to 4 percent for example, then this would allow them to lower nominal interest rates to zero and then the real interest rate could be lowered to as low as negative 4 percent . Conventional monetary policy could then ease monetary policy by more than it could with a lower inflation target (Mishkin 2011). However, raising the inflation rate could cause problems. It has been found that the economy remains stable if inflation rates are below 3 percent.Once the inflation rate is above this level people start to believe that the price level is not a credible goal for the Central Bank any more. This has occurred before in the United States leading the the great inflation in the 1970s (Mashkin 2011). Lastly Central Banks could use a price level target instead of the inflation target they use at the moment. Price level targeting has a major benefit which is that it is an automatic stabilizer. If demand where to drop this would cause a lower price level which would ead to the monetary policy raising the price level back to its target. This would cause a rise in inflation in the short run which would lower interest rates which would stimulate aggregate demand. There are, however, some problems when using price level targeting to determine monetary policy. Price level targeting can cause larger fluctuations in output as well as being harder to communicate to the public. The price level target would constantly be changing which is harder to explain the inflation target which remains constant.In conclusion it I have discussed how the Central Banks have tried to counteract the financial crisis. I have found that as well as coming up with innovative ideas such as the TAF to try to counteract the crisis, they have also made mistakes. There have also been some ideas as to how to change monetary policy, Such as price level targeting and raisi ng the inflation rate, in order to prevent such a crisis in the future. References: Blanchard, O. , Dell’Aricca, G. , Mauro, P. (2010), â€Å"Rethinking Macroeconomic Policy†, IMF Staff Position Note, http://www. mf. org/external/pubs/ft/spn/2010/spn1003. pdf Cecchetti, S. (2009), â€Å"Monetary Policy and the Financial Crisis of 2007-2008†, mimeo, http://fmwww. bc. edu/ec-j/Sems2008/Cecchetti. pdf Buiter, W. (2008), â€Å"Central banks and financial crises†, discussion paper series, http://eprints. lse. ac. uk/24438/1/dp619. pdf Mishkin, F. (2011), â€Å"Monetary Policy Strategy: Lessons from the Financial Crisis†, NBER Working Papers, https://mms. st-andrews. ac. uk/mms/module/2011_2/S2/EC2008/Content/Mishkin%20%282011%29%3A%20Monetary%20Policy%20Strategy/Mishkin2011. pdf

Cherchez la Femme - The Sexist French Expression

Cherchez la Femme - The Sexist French Expression Cherchez la femme is an expression that has somewhat shifted meaning between French and English. Literally, this expression translates as look for the woman. Cherchez la Femme (Not Churchy la Femme) English Meaning In English, this expression means the same problem as ever, kind of like go figure. Its often misspelled as Churchy la femme! - Im still hungry.- Cherchez la femme!   Cherchez la Femme French Meaning But its original meaning is much more sexist. The expression comes from the 1854 novel The Mohicans of Paris by Alexandre Dumas. Cherchez la femme, pardieu ! Cherchez la femme! The phrase is repeated several times in the novel. The French meaning is no matter what the problem may be, a woman is often the cause. Look for the mistress, the jealous wife, the angry lover... there is a woman at the root of each problem. - Je nai plus dargent. I no longer have money.- Cherchez la femme. Look for the woman - ie your wife must have spent it all. Beware French phrases that are commonly used by English  speakers, including voulez-vous coucher avec moi, ce soir, as they may be misused and offensive.

Review Of Escape From New York Essays - Fiction, Science Fiction

Review Of Escape From New York Essays - Fiction, Science Fiction Review Of Escape From New York In the opening sequence of John Carpenter's Escape From New York, an anonymous narrator sets the tone of desperation and hopelessness with the line once you go in, you never come out. The narrator is referring to the only rule in the maximum security prison built on Manhattan Island. The prison, which was built in 1981 as a reaction to the crime rate going up 400 percent, has no guards. It's every man for himself. The once busy streets of New York city are now nearly deserted, decayed, and run by criminals. The hell on Earth is so unbearable that some attempt to break out of the prison, on a raft, in an almost Escape From Alcatraz fashion in the opening scene. The plot thickens as a group of terrorists hijack the President's plane and crash it in New York. The President is now somewhere in the New York prison and holds an important tape containing a speech that could prevent another world war. Snake Plissken, a tough, renowned war hero and recent inmate of the prison, is the government's only hope to save the world. Snake must capture the President within 24 hours so the President can present the tape at a peace summit the next day. In exchange for his good deed, the government promises to pardon him for every crime he has ever committed. The only catch is the two capsules implanted in his head. If he doesn't complete the mission in 24 hours the capsules will explode. Along the journey, Snake meets a rainbow of characters. He runs into Cabbie, who has driven the same taxi for 30 years in New York. He represents the nostalgia of the once great Big Apple. Snake fights the evil Duke of New York to capture the President. The Duke is the typical bad guy clad in lavish gold chains and surrounded by a group of dimwitted followers. Snake befriends Brain, a timid reserved genius and Maggie, his beautiful girlfriend. Their love affair adds a humanistic touch to the cold insensitive surroundings. In the midst of escaping from the prison, Brain dies on a bridge. Maggie refuses to go on with Snake and calmly awaits her own impending death on the bridge. Dismal tragedy doesn't dominate the movie, however. Elements of humor are found in scenes such as the prisoners' song and dance rendition of the Broadway tune Everybody's Coming to New York and the recurring line mentioned to Snake by each person he meets: I thought you were dead. In addition to humor, several strong themes are found in the film. Escape From New York can be easily compared to a mythic epic journey despite Snake's anti-hero I don't give a damn qualities. The gods (the government) sends Snake on a journey to capture the President. Difficult obstacles hinder his quest. At one point, he must fight a giant with clubs (baseball bats with spikes attached) and a shield (a trashcan lid). Escape From New York can also be compared to a Western with a futuristic twist. The good guys (Snake) and the bad guys (the Duke and his gang) are clearly defined. Old fashioned pistols are replaced with explosives and machine guns. The most obvious theme, however, is its attempt to address today's social problems. If the crime rate actually rose dramatically, what would America do about it? Would they take such drastic measures and put all the misfits of society on an island to die to avoid the risk of repeat offenders? The issue of America's diminishing trust in fair honest government and its leaders is also raised. When Snake is told that the President is missing he nonchalantly says, So? Get a new one. This movie attempts to enlighten the viewer about these issues in addition to entertaining them. Many critics have complained that this movie leaves too many questions unanswered, but I find Carpenter's use your imagination approach to the movie refreshing. In the final scene, Snake asks the President how he feels about the lives lost in the attempt to rescue him (the President). The President, who is about to go the air, impatiently responds this country appreciates their sacrifice. Snake walks away dissatisfied with the President's halfhearted answer as the President plays the tape containing the important

The Reasons for Success Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Reasons for Success - Essay Example Being competitive means satisfying all the requirements needed to achieve the outcome desired, however the actual achievement may depend on the level of competitiveness. Competitiveness is one of the measures of eligibility rather than being an inevitable element of success in all situations. As defined earlier, success is about achievement of the set goals. It could be relating to business, family, job, way of living life, studies etc. There are of course some areas when a person needs to be competitive for having achievement of what he wishes to achieve such as some exams of competitive nature. However, no one is born as competitive. One can develop the required competency with continuous hard work, confidence, perseverance and belief in self. There are even times when competitive people lose out and "luck" factor plays a key role. Hence, "fortune" is one factor which can even cause impediments in the way of competitive people. Success really depends on what one is searching for in his life. If you are a chain smoker for about 20 years and you are really struggling to remove this habit of smoking and you are able to achieve this, it would be termed as success. One does not need to be competitive for this.

Business law and ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Business law and ethics - Essay Example Moreover, the acceleration speed must be regulated by stating the safety factor. Brake pedal pressure signal plots that the underlying driver normally applies on the brake pedal during the period of its operation on the vehicle stationary. Moreover, the brake pedal pressure goes to zero and there is sharp transition in the accelerator pedal pressure signal. Dynamic of the underlying pressure is also defined as the rate of alteration in the pressure applied on the pedal pressure by the corresponding driver. Thus pressure mainly aids in the apply friction that aids in the stopping of the brake pedals. Problem solving models that is will utilize in making my final decision would be employment of the SWOT analysis and PEST analysis models. SWOT analysis will assist me in examining the underlying potential and corresponding suitability of the Zero Pedal in the Eastern market. The decision making will mainly incorporate appropriate tools and process. The question that I would ask will pert ain to the definition and clarification issue of defects, collecting of all the facts and comprehending causes of the Zero Pedal defects. Moreover, I will brainstorm about the probable alternatives and solutions by comparing those alternatives. I will then choose the best alternative that compromises the decision. Then I will ensure that the designers of the Zero Pedal implement the chosen alternative by following up. A2. I will not recommend my company to pay the special $5,000 fee to have the prevailing Zero Pedal on the underlying shelves of the corresponding sporting goods store. This because the its operation that ought not to exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit since the temperature of the store rooms might rise above that thus posing a lot of negative risk. Moreover, the process is not legal since it does follow the outline procedures that Green Move Company has put in place in regard to ordering and stocking its commodities. A3. Green Move can apply the cost/benefit analysis in th e latency stage in regard to the safety concerns while looking for the permanent solution to the problem. Cost benefit analysis will aids them in disposing the present stock and increasing the market base for its products. Nevertheless, the are numerous risks in the undertaking of the cost benefit analysis because they will be exposing the users of the commodities to a lot of risks that might derail their market coverage and consequently spoil the public image of the company in case the explosion of the products occur. Questions B B.1 Robert should try to improve the condition of the Solar Group since the Solar Group manufacturers of the corresponding solar panels are fundamental in the production of the Zero Pedal. Termination the underlying agreements will make the Green Move company to experienced serious problems since solar panels are chief components in the manufacture of the Zero Pedal. Thus, Robert has one option of improving the condition of the Solar Group situated in Bang ladesh to conform to the required standards by employing workers of appropriate ages. He ought to enforce the Solar Group that was stipulates that no children ought to be employed in the Solar Group and the employees must also be treated fairly. Green Move Company interest is at stake since Solar Group produces Solar panels that are fundamental in the production of the Zero Pedal. So they must force the company to conform to the