Campaign Analysis of Dre beats Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Campaign Analysis of Dre beats - Essay Example The media has also influenced the rights of many. The paper will present the history of feminism and post-feminism and to what extent different media have driven it. The success of Women feminism can thus be linked to the positive contribution of the media. Women before the 19th century suffered rampant abuse and shame that was propagated by culture and government. Women had little access to maternal health care. Women died during childbirth because of lack of proper mechanisms facilitate reproductive health rights. The women also had to deal with insecurity perpetuated by society that was characterized by wars and violence (Richardson & Wearing 2014). Women were raped and had to have male guardians to protect them from the risks in the society. Women’s participation in politics and society was limited and attracted critism. Men were raised to believe that the world rotates around them, and the women who tried to speak up for their rights were victimized and brutalized, physically and emotionally (Walsh 1917). The education of women was not a priority as girls were raised to become good housewives. Women were never allowed to make decisions in the family. The rise of feminist movements can be linked to the abolishment of slavery that set the tone for the respect human rights. The first two decades of the 20th century is significant as the right of women to vote was enshrined in the law. The voting of women in elections thus ensured that women were able to elect political leaders that addressed their issues. Once feminist movements got the right to vote, they shifted their attention to issues of education and maternal healthcare. The 1970s and 1960s saw the rise of feminism as a result of the revolutionary spirit that was vibrant at that time. The movements saw the adoption of equal pay act of 1963 and civil rights act of 1964. The women feminist movements hoped that the laws would address the discriminatory and sexist

Economics Unit †housing prices from different cities Essay Example for Free

Economics Unit – housing prices from different cities Essay The cost of housing is commonly the reflection of the value of the land plus the price of the house and the amenities that come with it. This is often affected by what’s around the place, the nearest recreation areas or sceneries. This affects how housing is priced, and is also usually affected by the supply and demand of the land. Because of this, there are various considerations when choosing where to have a house, including the total costs and what you’ll actually get from it. Usually, these prices also vary from city to city, as it is known that not all cities are the same regarding what you get from the housing deals, like the nearest public transportation, market, and schools. These all appeals to the needs of the people, and these are usually the ones that affect the pricing. The housing prices are directly affected by the changes in supply and demand of the land. This is because of the developments done in housing, wherein house prices are thoroughly based on the value of the amenities that are directly available in the neighborhood (Nelson). Because of this increase in demand, there will be an increase in the competition for the houses, since there are a lot of people wanting the same thing, and that is a good housing. As a number of residents are acquiring homes, the more the managers of the land would try and make sure to provide benefits for these residents. This includes additional security, recreation areas and shopping areas for the people. They are not only investing on the housing that they are being sold, but also with the things that come with it that would surely benefit the people. This is how the housing value is affected when there is an increase in demand: it is not only because you have to increase the price when a lot of people demand for housing in a specific city or area, it is also because of the increase in the services that one should provide for these increasing number of residents. The cost of those additional amenities would then be reflected in the housing price: the more amenities offered, the higher the price (Duca). Comparison of different cities In order to actually see how amenities affect the price of housing, the housing situations in various cities are compared. This is by comparing the price of a 3-bedroom, 2-bath house in several cities like San Francisco, California; Topeka, Kansas; Dallas, Texas; Concord, Massachusetts; and Seattle, Washington. The results for the housing prices in these different cities were varying, and it is because of the added amenities that you can find available upon purchase, plus the neighborhood and the type of house. The most obvious result was between the housing of a 3-bedroom, 2-bath house in San Francisco, California and Dallas, Texas. The cost of housing in San Francisco, California ranges from $600,000 to a million US dollars. Meanwhile, the cost of housing in Dallas, Texas for a 3-bedroom, 2-bath house ranges from $40,000 to a hundred thousand US dollars (Realtor. com). The difference is quite large, and this is roughly because of the amenities that are included upon purchasing these houses. Housing in Dallas, Texas doesn’t offer much, wherein it is far from public transportation, and are often in subdivision areas. On the other hand, housing in San Francisco, California has amenities like community exercise and recreation areas, hill/mountain view, Water view, and so much more. Because of those differences, the prices of these housing deals are comparatively far from each other. These differences in housing deals give the people choices, wherein they are free to choose what type of amenities they want in their house. Also this variety would give them a wide array of choices, either wanting a plain, not so costly house, or to a fully-packed house that would surely cost them money. Other amenities present (or lacking) in some of the houses in various cities which could have affected their prices includes access to shopping areas/markets, nearby elementary or high schools, parks and recreation areas, and the type and quality of the house itself. With all these, the price the housing offered in the various cities is greatly varying. References: Duca, J. V. (2005, September/October 2005). Making Sense of Elevated Housing Prices. Southwest Economy Retrieved May 5, 2007, from http://www. dallasfed. org/research/swe/2005/swe0505b. html Nelson, A. C. (2000 ). Effects of Urban Containment on Housing Prices and Landowner Behavior. Land Lines, Volume 12(Number 3). Realtor. com. (2007). Find A Home. Retrieved May 5, 2007, from http://www. realtor. com/Default. aspx

We Should Send Our Parents To Retirement Homes

We Should Send Our Parents To Retirement Homes In ancient time, filial piety is regarded as one of the virtues to be held above all else: a respect for the parents and ancestors, which means to be good to ones parents, to take care of ones parents and be definitely obedient to their parents in any case and do whatever their parents require. Parents have the supreme control over their children in traditional family. Filial piety has long been the virtue of the Chinese people. As time goes by, things have changed a lot. Parents power has weakened a lot. Recently the article Dear Son Mother Wants To Be A Dog in Your Home was widely spread among netizens in Q-zones, blogs and forums (na.2010). When I first read this article, I could not withdraw my tears. I believe anyone with conscience who has read it will be deeply moved and feels sorrow for the old women. It is high time that we considered the old-age support in our country. I think we should send our parents to retirement homes in the future. I divide my argumentation into two parts. The first part is about people in rural areas and the second part is about people in city. Part I Point 1 According to Wang (2008), The traditional family structure has collapsed and is replaced by one-child family pattern'(P.28). As the number of children reduce , the old-age support situation becomes more serious for the rural people. It is predicted that in the future every young people has two to four old people to support (Qin,J,2009,P32). It can be extremely difficult for these rural people with low incomes to sustain so many old. In order to relieve the pressure, it will be a good choice to send old people to the nursing home to pass their old age. Besides, it is also the governments responsibility to plan the budget for old-age support to help those poor young people. Thus, we can at least guarantee the old peoples basic living needs if we send our parents to a retirement home. We get someone to take care of them in the nursing home. When they are hungry, they have something to eat. When it is too cold or too hot, they have clothes to wear. When it rains or heats, they have room s to shelter. When they are ill, they can turn to the doctor in time. The most important thing is that they can turn to someone to help when an emergency happens. In this way, the tragedy like Dear Son Mother Wants To Be A Dog in Your Home will never happen again. Point 2 In rural areas, the necessity to send parents to a nursing home seems greater since old people in the countryside lead a much more difficult life than city people. Old people are often ignored or maltreated by their children in rural areas because they can not earn any money or work any more. Much of the family income is spent on the young children while very little even no money on the old people. According to Fan (2010) There is a shocking fact that the elderly suicide in rural areas are among the highest reported in any country in mainland China(P.84). It can not be denied that the rural elderly suicide has much to do with the ignorance and maltreatment of old people. To many old people, they had to stand the ill-treatment. Because they beileve domestic shame should not be made public. So to send old people to a retirement home can be a good way to protect their rights. Point 3 Another reason for sending rural old people to nursing home is that they can meet, play with people of the same age and feel less lonely. Nowadays young people go to work in downtown and bring their children together. They are busy with their work and seldom return home to see their parents. Many old people suffer from loneliness most of the time at home. So why not send the parents to a retirement home? In the retirement home, they can express and share opinions with other old people. It can be much convenient for them to play chess, mah-jong and do sports together. Part II Point 1 Like rural old people, those who live in the city slao suffer from loneliness. As Cai (2009) has pointed out that China is still a developing country, the advanced population aging has declined the economy development and caused further challenge to the under-funded pension system(P54). To be a 1980s generation, we are under great stress. In order to survive in the city, we have to work hard to pay off home loan, car loan, pay for food, drinks, clothes, water bill, electric charge childrens education and old-age support. We are busy with our work. We eat fast food,work extra hours come and go in a hurry. Life in the city is busy. Things changes rapidly. Little do we have time to spend with our family. Â ­ Point 2 The generation gaps between children and parents,grandchildren and grandparents are wide. Old people often find it difficult to catch up with the time, their children and grandchildren. For example, young children may find it interesting to search the Internet and play on-line games at home on weekends while the old people would like to go out to chat with some acquaints. Â ­ Its obvious that there are a lot of differences between old people and young people, such as their appetites, interests and values. These differences have caused much inconvenience for old people to live with children. Many old people in city suffer alienation and loneliness. It can be wise to send parents to a retirement home where they can find people of similar interest and hobbies. As people in the city generally worry little about their basic necessities, all they want is a light heart. With people of the common language, they can confide to each other, get rid of worry, feel understood and more valued. Point 3 Besides, the housing price continues to be high. It can be a great burdon for young people to purchase a larger house with special rooms provided for old people. As Luo Jiang (2009) state that the average housing space is only 7.1 squaremeters in the city (P50). The intense housing shortage has become a common and outstanding issue. In this background, it can not be a better choice than to send parents to nursing home. Objection However, some people may argue that it is not in accordance with filial piety to send our parents to retirement homes. It may sound unreasonable if one just sees the superficial and doesnt go deeper. However, imagine that you leave your old parents helpless in the rural areas, will you be guilt? So why not send your parents to the downtown retirement home? It isnt it nice for them to be in a convenient place which may be closer to where you work? Just think about leaving your parents with no one to talk to in the box house and getting old gloomily, do you feel sorry for them? So why not bring changes to it and send your parents to the retirement home where they can find some companions and live a more meaningful life? The most important reason is that old people should learn to be independent. As Russell(n.d.) wrote: A successful old age is easiest for those who have strong impersonal interests involving appropriate activities. And the best way to overcome death is to make ones interests gradually wider and more impersonal,until bit by bit the walls of the ego recede,and ones life becomes increasingly merged in the universal life.(P93) As Russell has pointed out that its important for old people to guard against clinging too much to youth in the hope of sucking vigor from its vitality. The nursing home can be a good place for old people to develop their own personal interests involving appropriate activities. Only when old people have strong wills can they enjoy a happy life no matter what difficulties they are faced with. Conclusion Because we are busy making money to support the family and dont have time to take of them, and the unevitable differences between old people and young generation, and the high housing price and the unability to both buy houses and support the old, we have to send our parents to a retirement home in the future. This is not to say that sending our parents to the retirement home is the whole thing. Filial piety includes much more details, such as we can pay visits to them as often as possible, celebrate important fesitivals with them, call them when we can not come to see them. Its very important to give them spiritual support and comfort. If possible, we can take them to travel together. Above all ,its up to our parents whether to go to the nursing homes or not. We can not force our parents to go. Its very important that we communicate with our parents in time and we should let them understand our decisions.In the future, the nursing home may be constructed as pleasant as kindergartens so that we can send our parents there in the day and pick them as well as our children up at night. Of course, we need the governments large financial support to built quality retirement homes.

Defending Pro-wrestling Essay example -- essays research papers

As people flip through the channels on Monday nights they pass over at least two different professional wrestling shows. When people notice the wrestling the most common thing for them to do is to keep flipping the channels. Why? Because the common view of professional wrestling is that it is not real and it is stupid. Two years ago I thought the same thing about professional wrestling, in fact I refused to watch it. During the summer of my junior year in high school my boyfriend and I made a deal - he would watch The Little Mermaid with me if I would watch wrestling, so I agreed. We watched wrestling first and to my surprise it was not as bad as I thought. There are actual story lines that go on through the whole show,just like a soap opera such as General Hospital. The wrestlers I saw were amazing they were so muscular and talented. I was in shock because I thought that I hated wrestling more than anything...didn’t I? After watching it a few more times I became hooked and I have since learned all about wrestling and what a truly great sport it is. People assume that wrestlers are just faking all the moves they perform ,and that they really are not that strong. After watching wrestling for so long I have learned a lot about the wrestlers and their backgrounds. Many of the professional wrestlers played high school and college football. A prime example of this is my favorite wrestler The Rock, he played football for the Miami Hurricanes and was an All-American play... Defending Pro-wrestling Essay example -- essays research papers As people flip through the channels on Monday nights they pass over at least two different professional wrestling shows. When people notice the wrestling the most common thing for them to do is to keep flipping the channels. Why? Because the common view of professional wrestling is that it is not real and it is stupid. Two years ago I thought the same thing about professional wrestling, in fact I refused to watch it. During the summer of my junior year in high school my boyfriend and I made a deal - he would watch The Little Mermaid with me if I would watch wrestling, so I agreed. We watched wrestling first and to my surprise it was not as bad as I thought. There are actual story lines that go on through the whole show,just like a soap opera such as General Hospital. The wrestlers I saw were amazing they were so muscular and talented. I was in shock because I thought that I hated wrestling more than anything...didn’t I? After watching it a few more times I became hooked and I have since learned all about wrestling and what a truly great sport it is. People assume that wrestlers are just faking all the moves they perform ,and that they really are not that strong. After watching wrestling for so long I have learned a lot about the wrestlers and their backgrounds. Many of the professional wrestlers played high school and college football. A prime example of this is my favorite wrestler The Rock, he played football for the Miami Hurricanes and was an All-American play...

Careers in Psychology Essay

Career Options After Pursuing a Degree in Psychology Choosing a major or a degree field to go into after graduating from high school is one of the more difficult things that recently graduated young adults have to go through. Many different aspects of a future career field are evaluated to help the individual in choosing the best career path for them. These evaluations include required education, salary, future places of employment and most importantly, what an employee in this specific area of employment will be doing. Choosing to earn a degree in Psychology offers many different possibilities for future areas of employment that can fit almost any type of person. In addition to the diversity of the field, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicted an increase in psychology job opportunities over the next decade due to increased demands for these services in education, law, hospitals, and private companies along with many more options (BLS, 2010). With so many different areas of society requiring these services pursuing a degree in psychology opens up many career paths outside the commonly stereotyped job description of psychologists. Even though many people assume that clinical psychology or other types of therapy are the only options with this degree, an individual in this study can go into fields such as neuropsychology, developmental psychology, and educational psychology. A neuropsychologist is one who has received a doctoral degree, typically a PhD, from an accredited American Psychological Association university along with completing the one year internship required for the degree, and a two year training period within a neuropsychology practice (Moberg,2006). The job description includes, studying the relations among brain structure and behavioral, cognitive, emotional, and sensory and perceptual functions along with the diagnosing and treatment of disorders related to the central nervous system. Most neuropsychologists organize and conduct academic  research relating to the aforementioned topics, along with assisting and witnessing testimony in court cases that involve judgment to the psychological conditions of the people involved. Outside of the court system, neuropsychologists usually work in laboratories, along side medical professionals at hospitals, or privately making starting salaries between $60,089 and $91,476 annually. After some years of experience an accredited neuropsychologist can make anywhere up to $300,000 a year, but the average yearly salary as of 2010 was approximately $127,460 (BLS, 2010). On top of earning a relatively large wage neuropsychologists report to having overall high job satisfaction, with less than twenty percent of them considering changing jobs or leaving the psychology field for a different one all together (Moberg, 2006). Being strongly interested in the functioning of the central nervous system and wanting to go into an area of research would make neuropsychology a top choice for anyone interested in pursuing a doctoral psychology degree. For a person who is more interested in a field dealing with people as a whole and not just the internal functioning of them, developmental psychology could be a possible career option. A developmental psychologist is someone who studies human growth and development that occurs throughout the entire lifespan. This includes biological development, but also focuses on cognitive, social, intellectual, personality, and emotional growth. Although the specific tasks of the psychologists vary based on the area they specialize in, most of them perform research and evaluations in the area of their study, such as studying a particular age range (Beilock, 2012). For example one could study how moral reasoning develops in children, or how people influence the personalities of others. Many developmental psychologists work in educational settings at colleges or universities where they conduct research as well as teach courses. Others could possibly be employed at teen rehabilitation centers, psychi atric clinics, government agencies, etc. The education required to become a developmental psychologist is a master or doctoral degree (PhD) with those holding the doctoral degree more in demand and having the greater range for employment options. The earned income of a developmental psychologist is also highly varied due to area of employment and subtopic of study. Those employed in offices of other  health practitioners earn around $68,400 annually while those employed at Individual and family services earn $57,440 a year (BLS, 2010). A career in developmental psychology allows for diversity among studies and the ability to change topics while still staying in your general field. Another non clinical or therapy related career in the area of psychology is education psychology. Going in this direction involves conducting research on how people learn, and/or designing methods and materials to enhance learning and intellectual, social, and emotional development. This area includes a number of other regions of psychology including developmental, cognitive, and behavioral. Based on the title of this career it is highly possible that an educational psychologist would be working in elementary and secondary schools, along with colleges and universities. Another possible place of employment is with government agencies specializing in education. As an educational psychologist a person could work on curriculum development, incorporationg technology into education, or the studying of gifted learners or those with learning disabilities (Doovis, 2013) The salary earned by educational psychologists was not absolutely defined, however it would have some variation pertaining t o where one was employed. A ccording the Bureau of Labor Statistics general psychologists could earn anywhere between $66,810 and $89,900 depending on who was employed where and experience of each individual (BLS, 2010). Educational psychology would be a good career for individuals interested in the betterment of educational system to produce more productive adults for society, as well as a good place for people who enjoy working with kids through young adults. Psychology degrees contain such a wide area of options for employment that almost anyone could find a job they enjoy with this major. Many of these areas also contain sub level areas for example, a person could possibly be a developmental psychologist working with elderly people on how they learn and obtain information and the connections their brain makes while doing this. Overall, whichever area of psychology one may choose to go into after receiving their psychology degree will provide many benefits to our society whether its improved schools, understanding of mental disorders, understanding of development, or even counseling. The career options are endless. References Beilock, C. L. (2012). Areas of Development in Developmental Psychology. Topics in Cognitive Science, 4, 731-739. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost Dozois, D. J. A.1. (2013). Psychological Treatments: Putting Evidence Into Practice and Practice Into Evidence. Canadian Psychology, 54, 1-11. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost Moberg, P.J (2006). The TCN/AACN 2005 â€Å"Salary Survey†: Professional Practices, Beliefs, and Incomes of U.S. Neuropsychologists. Clinical Neuropsychologist, 20, 325-364. Retrieved from Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2010). Occupational Outlook Handbook (2009-2010 ed.). Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos056.htm

Violent Video Games and School Violence

Violent Video Games and School Violence Violent Video Games and School Violence. Is There a Correlation? A large amount of research has been done to create or understand a potential correlation between the playing of violent video games and the action of violence perpetrated by youth, especially within the school environment. Through psychological and scientific studies, different aspects have been considered and there have been decisions to substantiate both sides of the issues, however, the majority of evidence that has been returned shows overwhelmingly that youth who participate in violent video games are no more or less likely to perpetrate violence within their school than youth who do not. Violent Video Games Cause Youth to Feel Less Compassion for Victims The idea of a correlation between violence and video games comes from the idea that violent video games cause youth to feel less compassion for victims of violence. Parents and other concerned adults have long stated that youth who participate in violent video games are more likely to act out the violence that they see and participate in during real life situations because they have been desensitized, however, research has shown this is not the case. According to psychological studies, simply playing a violent video game does not have any long-term impact on the capacity for violence in the youth or on their ability to feel compassion for others. Video games are a method of play and fun for youth and allow them to spend time with friends and engage in make-believe situations and experiences that they would otherwise be incapable of enjoying. The violent video games that youth are encouraged to play allow them to take on a different persona in much the same way as dress up games and make-believe with dolls or action figures. In this way, they are encouraged to try something new and to enhance skills in order to achieve an objective, thereby developing abilities that continue to help them outside of the game, such as dedication, follow through and attention to detail. Related articles: Computer Games Have a Negative Effect on Individuals Media Influence Female Perception of the Body Image: Agree or Disagree? Young People Are Predisposed to Negative Influence The World Needs More Funny Cat Videos on Youtube? Sexual Content on TV Has a Negative Impact on Teenagers Video Games Improve Thought Processes Another important aspect of video games that can be beneficial for youth is the ability to improve thinking and thought processes in general. Youth who engage in video games are required to solve complex problems, often under extreme pressure to beat the high scores of their friends or to avoid a negative aspect of the game. Because of this, it enhances the abilities of the youth to think critically and creatively in other aspects of their lives as well, leading to improvement in their cognitive abilities in school and even in the future workforce. Video games are also considered to be a method of reducing stress levels and are used by a number of young people for just this reason. Whereas some adults or youth will engage in reading, listening to music or puzzles as ways to decrease their stress, anxiety or anger levels, other youth engage in video games as a way to calm down and relax. Because video games take them outside of their own world and problems as well as requiring attention and thought rather than simply being mindless entertainment, they allow the youth to overcome the negative thoughts and fears. Video Games Are Helpful for Children with  MS, Autism, Attention Deficit Disorder or Dyslexia Finally, video games have actually been found to improve the symptoms associated with several medical conditions that youth may have such as MS, autism, and even attention deficit disorder or dyslexia. The increased interaction with others that occurs through the video game helps children with social problems as a result of autism to feel more comfortable in these situations. Likewise, video games that require full body movement are more likely to reduce the balance problems that may occur for MS sufferers. The focus required for improved video game play also improves the focus of those suffering from attention deficit disorder and dyslexia, thereby reducing the suffering that occurs. With all of these reasons to play video games and all of these ways in which video games can aid youth throughout their lives, it is unfortunate that youth are stymied on many turns toward these games. Though parents have feared for a long time that violence in video games shows a correlation with violence in children outside of said video games, the research shows not only that this is unfounded, but also that there are a number of reasons to encourage video game play amongst children of all ages.

Profile of Switzerland

Profile of Switzerland Population: 7,623,438 (July 2010 estimate) Capital: Bern Land Area: 15,937 square miles (41,277 sq km) Bordering Countries: Austria, France, Italy, Liechtenstein, and Germany Highest Point: Dufourspitze at 15,203 feet (4,634 m) Lowest Point: Lake Maggiore at 639 feet (195 m) Switzerland is a landlocked country in Western Europe. It is one of the richest countries in the world and it has consistently ranked high for its quality of life. Switzerland is known for its history of being neutral during wartimes. Switzerland is the home of many international organizations like the World Trade Organization but it is not a member of the European Union. History of Switzerland Switzerland was originally inhabited by the Helvetians and the area that makes up todays country became a part of the Roman Empire in the 1st century B.C.E. When the Roman Empire began to decline, Switzerland was invaded by several German tribes. In 800, Switzerland became a part of Charlemagnes Empire. Shortly thereafter control of the country was passed through the Holy Roman emperors. In the 13th century, new trade routes across the Alps opened and Switzerlands mountain valleys became important and were given some independence as cantons. In 1291, the Holy Roman Emperor died and according to the U.S. Department of State, the ruling families of several mountain communities signed a charter to keep peace and keep independent rule. From 1315 to 1388, Swiss Confederates were involved in several conflicts with the Habsburgs and their borders expanded. In 1499, the Swiss Confederates gained independence from the Holy Roman Empire. Following its independence and a defeat by the French and Venetians in 1515, Switzerland ended its policies of expansion. Throughout the 1600s, there were several European conflicts but the Swiss remained neutral. From 1797 to 1798, Napoleon annexed part of the Swiss Confederation and a centrally governed state was established. In 1815 the Congress of Vienna preserved the countrys status as a permanently armed neutral state. In 1848 a short civil war between Protestant and Catholic led to the formation of a Federal State modeled after the United States. A Swiss Constitution was then drafted and was amended in 1874 to ensure cantonal independence and democracy. In the 19th century, Switzerland underwent industrialization and it remained neutral during World War I. During World War II, Switzerland also remained neutral despite pressure from surrounding countries. After WWII, Switzerland began to grow its economy. It did not join the Council of Europe until 1963 and it is still not a part of the European Union. In 2002 it joined the United Nations. Government of Switzerland Today Switzerlands government is formally a confederation but it is more similar in structure to a federal republic. It has an executive branch with a chief of state, a head of government that is filled by the President, a bicameral Federal Assembly with the Council of States, and the National Council for its legislative branch. Switzerlands judicial branch is made up of a Federal Supreme Court. The country is divided into 26 cantons for local administration and each has a high degree of independence and each is equal in status. People of Switzerland Switzerland is unique in its demography because it is made up of three linguistic and cultural regions. These are German, French, and Italian. As a result, Switzerland is not a nation based on one ethnic identity; instead it is based on its common historical background and shared governmental values. The official languages of Switzerland are German, French, Italian, and Romansh. Economics and Land Use in Switzerland Switzerland is one of the wealthiest nations in the world and it has a very strong market economy. Unemployment is low and its labor force is also very highly skilled. Agriculture makes up a small part of its economy and the main products include grains, fruit, vegetables, meat, and eggs. The largest industries in Switzerland are machinery, chemicals, banking, and insurance. In addition, expensive goods such as watches and precision instruments are also produced in Switzerland. Tourism is also a very large industry in the country due to its natural setting in the Alps. Geography and Climate of Switzerland Switzerland is located in Western Europe, to the east of France and to the north of Italy. It is known for its mountain landscapes and small mountain villages. The topography of Switzerland is varied but it is mainly mountainous with the Alps in the south and the Jura in the northwest. There is also a central plateau with rolling hills and plains and there are many large lakes throughout the country. Dufourspitze at 15,203 feet (4,634 m) is Switzerlands highest point but there are many other peaks that are at very high elevations as well- the Matterhorn near the town of Zermatt in Valais is the most famous. The climate of Switzerland is temperate but it varies with altitude. Most of the country has cold and rainy to snowy winters and cool to warm and sometimes humid summers. Bern, Switzerlands capital, has an average January low temperature of 25.3 degrees F (-3.7 degrees C) and an average July high of 74.3 degrees F (23.5 degrees C). References Central Intelligence Agency. (9 November 2010). CIA - The World Factbook - Switzerland. Retrieved from: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sz.html Infoplease.com. (n.d.). Switzerland: History, Geography, Government, and Culture- Infoplease.com. Retrieved from: infoplease.com/ipa/A0108012.html United States Department of State. (31 March 2010). Switzerland. Retrieved from: state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3431.htm Wikipedia.com. (16 November 2010). Switzerland - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switzerland

Post-War Review of Sri Lanka

Post-War Review of Sri Lanka Free Online Research Papers Abstract: On 19 May 2009 the President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapakse, declared that the conflict between the Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was over and that the Government had prevailed. Dramatic military advances since the beginning of 2008 have led to the LTTE’s apparent military defeat and the elimination of most, perhaps all, of its leadership. However, the humanitarian cost has been very high and both parties to the conflict stand accused of war crimes. Sri Lanka now faces the twin challenges of reconstruction and, if peace is to be sustainable, implementing political and constitutional reforms that will provide genuine stability to the north and east, where Tamils are in the majority. This paper provides an account over the violation of International Humanitarian Law during last phase of war. This paper also surveys the humanitarian situation in the internment camps and possible war crimes committed by the government force. It concludes by considering Sri Lanka’s future prospects, including assessing how real the Government’s military victory is and whether genuine political and constitutional reforms are likely to be introduced. Introduction: Sri Lanka, a small island?state in the midst of the Indian Ocean, possesses a deeply conflicted history. Scholars rave about â€Å"the Resplendent Isle† as a rich case study in conflict, economics, and culture. Tourists find themselves enchanted by the temperate climate and colorful customs. But to the inhabitants of this developing country, the island has long been a broken home. Indeed, many Sri Lankans could best describe it as a place of death, devastation, and discrimination. Over the past two decades the people of Sri Lanka have grown accustomed to violence, political instability and economic hardship (Liddick Gagnon, 2009). The majority group today is the Sinhalese, comprising an estimated 74% of the population, who are overwhelmingly Theravada Buddhist in their religious affiliation. The largest minority group is the Tamils, comprising an estimated 18% of the population, who are predominantly Hindu. The other significant minority group is the Sri Lankan Muslims, who make up an estimated 7% of the population. Other minority groups make up 1% of the population (Lunn, Taylor and Townsend, 2009) The violence between the Sri Lankan Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) began in July of 1983, marked by some of the worst communal rioting in Sri Lanka’s history. Since then both have been involved in war-game. Between 1983 and the end of 2000, a staggering 60,000 Sri Lankans had been killed in the war (Liddick Gagnon, 2009). On the 22nd of February 2002, the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) signed a permanent Ceasefire Agreement (CFA), formalizing the unilateral truce declared by the Tigers. The Norwegian peace envoys who facilitated the signing of the agreement were backed by the Co-chairs of the donor countries who were overseeing the Sri Lankan peace process, namely the EU, USA, Japan and Norway (Lunn, Taylor and Townsend, 2009; Permanent People’s Tribunal: Tribunal on Sri Lanka, 2010) Despite the historical significance of the ceasefire, its benefits were short lived as the CFA gradually fell apart. Levels of violence steadily increased between 2004 and 2007. By 2007, five years after the CFA was signed, the situation was described as â€Å"undeclared war† characterized by high casualties, humanitarian strife and large- scale displacement. Following the completion of the eastern offensives, the GoSL announced that its troops would be moved to the northern areas, in order to regain the â€Å"guerrilla- administered territory†. On the 2nd of January 2008, the GoSL officially revealed its withdrawal from the CFA. Both parties accused each other of violating the CFA and thus weakening the mutual confidence that had been achieved. In January 2009 the Sri Lankan armed forces achieved a decisive breakthrough in the north. The Tamil Tigers lost the key town of Kilinochchi and Elephant Pass, the strategic causeway between the Jaffna peninsula and the main body of the island of Sri Lanka. The army then laid siege to Mullaitivu, the last remaining town controlled by the LTTE, and quickly captured it too. Over the following three months the Sri Lankan military gradually reclaimed the last remaining territory. The authorities largely ignored growing international condemnation of its failure to protect the civilians caught up in the fighting. The LTTE was accused of using civilians as ‘human shields’, both parties to the conflict were accused of committing war crimes. The end finally came on 18 May, when the last piece of territory was claimed. Most, if not all, of the LTTE’s leadership, including its commander in chief, Vellupillai Prabhakaran, were killed (Lunn, Taylor and Townsend, 2009). International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and Sri Lankan War: The International Humanitarian Law (IHL) was agreed in Geneva, Switzerland in 1949 covers the rules of war; It is also known as part of the Geneva Conventions as it constitutes the rules of war to protect civilians trapped in war (Gasser, 1993; Tamiya, 2009). There were numerous accusations that Sri Lankan security forces were guilty of violating the Geneva Conventions on warfare and of having committed gross war crimes and crimes against humanity, particularly during the last five months of the war, between January and May 2009. (U.S. Department of State: Report to Congress on Incidents During the Recent Conflict in Sri Lanka, 2009; Permanent People’s Tribunal: Tribunal on Sri Lanka, 2010) The endgame and aftermath of the armed conflict between the Sri Lankan government and the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) dominated events in Sri Lanka throughout 2009. During the last months of the war, both sides committed serious violations of international humanitarian law, in what a senior United Nations official described as a â€Å"bloodbath,† while the overall human rights situation in the country continued to deteriorate as the government adopted increasingly repressive policies (Human Rights Watch, Country Summary, 2010). In a research paper, War and peace in Sri Lanka, Lunn, Taylor and Townsend described: As the conflict entered its final days, UN officials said that the â€Å"bloodbath† about which they had warned had become â€Å"a reality†. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) described the situation as an â€Å"unimaginable humanitarian catastrophe.† The UN estimates that at least 7000 civilians have been killed since January. Combatant casualties have also been high on both sides. The Irish Forum for Peace claimed that from the time that the war began in July 2006 through April 2009, according to United Nations internal documents, air raids and the use of heavy weaponry resulted in the death of 116 people per day. British and French mainstream media reported that during the final few weeks 20,000 Tamil people were killed. (Permanent People’s Tribunal: Tribunal on Sri Lanka, 2010) During the final months of the conflict that ended in May, the LTTE continued to forcibly recruit civilians, including children, into its forces, used civilians as human shields, and physically prevented and at times shot at Tamil civilians under their control trying to flee the fighting (Human Rights Watch, Country Summary, 2010). Government forces indiscriminately shelled densely populated areas, including hospitals. Both parties prevented vital humanitarian assistance from reaching the civilian population (Permanent People’s Tribunal: Tribunal on Sri Lanka, 2010). Since March 2008 the government has confined displaced Tamils fleeing the fighting. The population of the detention camps skyrocketed to over a quarter million people after the LTTE’s defeat in May. Security forces also detained, in many cases in violation of domestic and international law, more than 10,000 people suspected of LTTE involvement or sympathies. Threats, physical attacks, and arbitrary arrests against journalists, human rights defenders, and humanitarian workers continued unabated, causing significant numbers to leave the country. As in the past, rights violators enjoyed near-complete impunity. Violations of Laws of War On May 19, 2009, the Sri Lankan government declared victory over the LTTE, marking an end to a 26-year-long armed conflict that had caused between 80,000 and 100,000 deaths (Husain, 2009; Hull and Sirilal, 2009; OConnor,2009a; Human Rights Watch, Country Summary, 2010). During the last months of the war both the Sri Lankan armed forces and the LTTE repeatedly violated the laws of war, causing unnecessary civilian suffering and casualties (Tamiya, 2009; U.S. Department of State : Report to Congress on Incidents During the Recent Conflict in Sri Lanka, 2009). In 2010 Human Rights Watch observes that: Forced to retreat by government offensive operations, the LTTE drove civilians into a narrow strip of land on Sri Lanka’s northeastern coast, effectively using several hundred thousand people as human shields. The LTTE shot at and injured or killed many of those trying to flee from the war zone to government-held territory. LTTE forces also deployed near densely populated areas, placing civilians in increased danger of attack. As the fighting intensified, the LTTE stepped up its practice of forcibly recruiting civilians, including children, into its ranks and, to hazardous forced labor on the battlefield. Government forces repeatedly and indiscriminately shelled densely populated areas, sometimes using heavy artillery and other area weapons incapable of distinguishing between civilians and combatants. As the LTTE-controlled area shrank, the government unilaterally declared â€Å"no-fire zones† or â€Å"safe zones† on three different occasions, calling upon civilians to seek shelter there; nevertheless, government forces continued attacking these areas. In disregard of the laws of war, government forces also fired artillery at or near hospitals on at least 30 occasions. High-level government officials tried to justify attacks on civilians by arguing that people remaining in the war zone were LTTE sympathizers and therefore legitimate targets, indicating possible intent to commit war crimes. Permanent People’s Tribunal described the Atrocities of the last weeks of the war as following: The atrocities carried out by the military relate particularly to civilians, and there is evidence of cluster munitions being dropped by warplanes. Some witnesses reported that white phosphorous was used in violation of international law. Several witnesses had seen burn marks on wounded civilians. Others believed that indications of napalm were apparent, and evidence of other incendiary devices has been confirmed by doctors who had cared for hundreds of Tamil civilians wounded in this manner. Civilians in the war zone also suffered from lack of food, water, shelter, and medicines. The government’s decision in September 2008 to order humanitarian agencies out of the LTTE- controlled area greatly exacerbated their plight. Ongoing fighting, lack of oversight, and the manipulation of aid delivery by government and LTTE forces contributed to the deepening humanitarian crisis. Exact information on the extent of humanitarian law violations by both sides as well as casualty figures remains limited, largely because the government barred all independent observers, including the media and human rights organizations, from operating near the war zone. The UN estimated that at least 7,000 people were killed and 13,000 injured during the last five months of the war. Detention Camps for Internally Displaced Persons Since March 2008 the government has confined virtually all civilians displaced by the war in military-controlled detention camps, euphemistically called â€Å"welfare centers.† In violation of international law, the government denied more than 280,000 displaced their rights to liberty and freedom of movement (Hull and Sirilal, 2009; Swaminathan, 2009; U.S. Department of State: Report to Congress on Incidents During the Recent Conflict in Sri Lanka, 2009; Human Rights Watch: Country Summary, 2010; Permanent People’s Tribunal: Tribunal on Sri Lanka, 2010). As of November 18, 2009, six months after the end of hostilities, the government continued to hold more than 129,000 people (more than half of them women and girls) in the camps. Over 80,000 of these were children (Tamiya, 2009; Human Rights Watch, Country Summary, 2010). Permanent People’s Tribunal described the situation as: In the immediate months after the war attention shifted to the plight of over 280,000 Sri Lankan Tamils forced to live in internment camps in the Vanni region. Densely packed in camps, with inadequate infrastructure to provide safe food, water, sanitation and health facilities, the Government announced that the internally displaced people (IDPs) would be kept there until they had been ‘screened’ for possible LTTE sympathies. The government’s refusal to release displaced persons from the camps contributed to severe overcrowding, with many of the camps holding twice the number recommended by the UN. As a result, access to basic requirements such as food, water, shelter, toilets, and bathing, has been inadequate. These conditions imposed particular hardships on the elderly, children, and pregnant women. No Fire Zone (NFZ) Estimated Population, Food Needs, Food Delivered, and Food Deficit * It has been alleged that the Government of Sri Lanka used low civilian estimates in the NFZ to reduce the amount of food disbursed in an effort to pressure civilians to escape. ** Food needs and deficit estimates are based upon the estimation of several organizations that one MT of food per day is needed for 2000 IDPs. Source: U.S. Department of State: Report to Congress on Incidents During the Recent Conflict in Sri Lanka, 2009 The authorities failed to provide camp residents with sufficient information about the reason for their continued detention, the whereabouts of relatives, or the criteria and procedure for their return home. Families in the detention camps had no access to mechanisms for finding missing relatives who might be in other camps or in unofficial detention centers. The military camp administration prevented humanitarian organizations, including the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), from undertaking effective monitoring and protection in the camps. Arbitrary Detention and Enforced Disappearances The government detained more than 10,000 displaced persons at checkpoints and from the camps on suspicion of LTTE involvement, in many cases citing vague and overbroad emergency laws still in force after the end of the war. Many arrests were carried out in violation of domestic and international law. The authorities failed to inform families of their relatives’ fate and whereabouts, raising fears that some detainees were forcibly disappeared. Permanent People’s Tribunal adds: Following the international outcry resulting from the forcible detention of Tamil people in these camps for more than 5 months, the Government announced that a significant number of them would be resettled. However, it has been reported in the BBC and other news media that a considerable number of those released were simply moved to new satellite camps in remote areas. In one of the bloodiest periods of Sri Lanka’s history, from 1988 to 1994, 20,000 people around the country disappeared, although some believe that the true number may be two to three times higher. Currently there are 5,727 unsolved cases of disappearances registered with the United Nations Human Rights Council, one of the worst records in the world (OConnor, 2009b). The authorities also specifically targeted key witnesses to the final stages of the war. They arrested and held for several months several government doctors who had been working in areas under LTTE control and had reported on government shelling and resulting civilian casualties. While in detention the doctors retracted wartime statements, rising suspicion of undue pressure and ill-treatment. Enforced disappearances and abductions, a longstanding and widespread problem in Sri Lanka, continued, especially in the north and east. From January to June 2009, 16 enforced disappearances were reported in Trincomalee district alone (Human Rights Watch, Country Summary, 2010). Justice and Accountability Despite government promises, including in a May 23, 2009 joint statement by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, no serious steps have been taken to investigate allegations of human rights and laws-of-war violations during the war’s final months (Bouckaert, 2010; Human Rights Watch: Country Summary, 2010). On the contrary, high-ranking government officials, including the president, repeatedly dismissed such allegations, claiming that there had been no violations by the armed forces. A committee of experts established by Rajapaksa in October to look at United States government allegations of war crimes in Sri Lanka does not have the mandate, resources, or independence to conduct an adequate investigation. The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) and the Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Torture Victims (RCT) have documented that violations of fundamental human rights are occurring every day. Extrajudicial killings, kidnappings, torture, forced recruitment and other human rights violations are persistent and widespread. Human rights groups and humanitarian agencies are increasingly alarmed by the scale of violations and abuses, and it is feared that the country may fall into a state of complete lawlessness (Andersen and Fernando, 2009). As Pinto-Jayawardena observes: There is a nationwide pattern of custodial torture in Sri Lanka, and custodial deaths are caused by law enforcement officials as part of an established routine. Prison officials admit that torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (CIDTP) occur within prison walls and that there are no regular procedures of inquiry and report. Torture is widely practiced by the military particularly with regard to the armed conflict against the LTTE. The LTTE itself is known for its systematic resort to torture both as a means of punishment of dissenters generally as well as during interrogation. The Government introduced two reprisal regulations called Emergency Regulations in August 2005. In December 2006 these were expanded via the introduction of the Prevention and Prohibition of Terrorism and Specified Terrorist Activities regulations. These regulations allow state authorities to search, detain and arrest without a warrant any person suspected of an offence under the regulations. Detainees can be held up to 12 months without any criminal charge (Andersen and Fernando, 2009; Pinto-Jayawardena, 2009). War Crime Accusations and the findings of Permanent People’s Tribunal: Summing up the facts established before this Tribunal by reports from NGOs, victims’ testimony, eye-witnesses accounts, expert testimony and journalistic reports, the Tribunal is able to distinguish three different kinds of human rights violations committed by the Sri Lankan Government from 2002 (the beginning of the Ceasefire Agreement) to January 2010 (Permanent People’s Tribunal: Tribunal on Sri Lanka, 2010) : Forced â€Å"disappearances† of targeted individuals from the Tamil population; Crimes committed in the re-starting of the war (2006-2009), particularly during the last months of the war: Bombing civilian objectives like hospitals, schools and other non-military targets; Bombing government-proclaimed ‘safety zones’ or ‘no fire zones’; Withholding of food, water, and health facilities in war zones; Use of heavy weaponry, banned weapons and air-raids; Using food and medicine as a weapon of war; The mistreatment, torture and execution of captured or surrendered LTTE combatants, officials and supporters; Torture; Rape and sexual violence against women; Deportations and forcible transfer of individuals and families; Desecrating the dead; Human rights violations in the IDP camps during and after the end of the war: Shooting of Tamil citizens and LTTE supporters; Forced disappearances; Rape; Malnutrition; and Lack of medical supplies. War Crimes The actions included under the second point above clearly constitute â€Å"war crimes† committed by the Sri Lankan Government, its security forces and aligned paramilitary forces, as defined under the Geneva Conventions and in the Rome Statute, with regard to the following sections of Article 8. If this conflict is recognized as international in nature, the following charges would apply: (b) Other serious violations of the laws and customs applicable in international armed conflict, within the established framework of international law, namely, any of the following acts: (i) Intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population as such or against individual civilians not taking direct part in hostilities; (ii) Intentionally directing attacks against civilian objects, that is, objects which are not military objectives; (iv) Intentionally launching an attack in the knowledge that such attack will cause incidental loss of life or injury to civilians or damage to civilian objects or widespread, long-term and severe damage to the natural environment which would be clearly excessive in relation to the concrete and direct overall military advantage anticipated; (vi) Killing or wounding a combatant who, having laid down his arms or having no longer means of defense, has surrendered at discretion; (ix) Intentionally directing attacks against buildings dedicated to religion, education, art, science or charitable purposes, historic monuments, hospitals and places where the sick and wounded are collected, provided they are not military objectives; (xxi) Committing outrages upon personal dignity, in particular humiliating and degrading treatment; (xxii) Committing rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, as defined in article 7, paragraph 2 (f), enforced sterilization, or any other form of sexual violence also constituting a grave breach of the Geneva Conventions; (xxv) Intentionally using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare by depriving them of objects indispensable to their survival, including willfully impeding relief supplies as provided for under the Geneva Conventions; If the conflict is of a domestic character, the following charges would apply: (c) In the case of an armed conflict not of an international character, serious violations of article 3 common to the four Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, namely, any of the following acts committed against persons taking no active part in the hostilities, including members of armed forces who have laid down their arms and those placed hors de combat by sickness, wounds, detention or any other cause: (i) Violence to life and person, in particular murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture; (ii) Committing outrages upon personal dignity, in particular humiliating and degrading treatment; (iii) Taking of hostages; (iv) The passing of sentences and the carrying out of executions without previous judgment pronounced by a regularly constituted court, affording all judicial guarantees which are generally recognized as indispensable. (e) Other serious violations of the laws and customs applicable in armed conflicts not of an international character, within the established framework of international law, namely, any of the following acts: (i) Intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population as such or against individual civilians not taking direct part in hostilities; (iv) Intentionally directing attacks against buildings dedicated to religion, education, art, science or charitable purposes, historic monuments, hospitals and places where the sick and wounded are collected, provided they are not military objectives; (vi) Committing rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, as defined in article 7, paragraph 2 (f), enforced sterilization, and any other form of sexual violence also constituting a serious violation of article 3 common to the four Geneva Conventions. Crimes against humanity The actions included under the points 1 (forced disappearances) and 3 (violations committed in the IDP camps during and after the war) clearly constitute â€Å"crimes against humanity†, as defined in the Rome Statute, Article 7, specifically in the following sections: Any of the following acts when committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population, with knowledge of the attack: (a) Murder; (b) Extermination (d) Deportation or forcible transfer of population; (e) Imprisonment or other severe deprivation of physical liberty in violation of fundamental rules of international law; (f) Torture; (g) Rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, enforced sterilization, or any other form of sexual violence of comparable gravity; (h) Persecution against any identifiable group or collectivity on political, racial, national, ethnic, cultural, religious, gender as defined in paragraph 3, or other grounds that are universally recognized as impermissible under international law, in connection with any act referred to in this paragraph or any crime within the jurisdiction of the Court; (i) Enforced disappearance of persons; (k) Other inhumane acts of a similar character intentionally causing great suffering, or serious injury to body or to mental or physical health. Post-war situation: After the decisive military victory over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), there has been little progress in reconstructing Sri Lanka’s battered democratic institutions or establishing conditions for a stable peace (International crisis Group, 2010). On 26 January 2010, Mahinda Rajapaksa was re-elected president of Sri Lanka after a campaign marked by violence and conducted in an environment where the rule of law has largely collapsed. Rights groups and the Election Commissioner raised concerns about the widespread misuse of state resources by the Rajapaksa campaign, biased media coverage favouring the incumbent and physical intimidation of the opposition (Havilland, 2010). Although Haviland thought a number of factors helped Rajapaksa to sweep victory on 26 January 2010: his fiery rhetoric and sure popular touch; his emphasis on his role in last years war victory; and ordinary peoples sense that their streets are simply safer than they have been for the past 30 years because of the defeat of the Tamil Tigers (Havilland, 2010). The 8 February arrest of Rajapaksa’s main presidential challenger, the retired General Sarath Fonseka, has increased levels of political tension and provoked street protests and criticism from both the Buddhist and Christian clergy. Fonseka is due to be court martialed for having conspired against the government while still a member of the military. The government is also considering charging him in a civilian court with corruption and other crimes. During the campaign, Fonseka accused the Rajapaksa family of corruption and raised the issue of war crimes during the final months the war. On the day of his arrest, Fonseka announced he would be willing to provide evidence to a future international inquiry into war crimes charges against the state (International crisis Group, 2010). The government has maintained that there is no political motivation behind the arrest of Fonseka. We have repeatedly said that there is no political motive behind this. The law of the nation has been f ollowed, media minister Lakshman Yapa Aberyawardena told the press on Feb. 17(Perera, 2010). The brutal nature of the conflict, especially in its closing months, has undermined Sri Lanka’s democratic institutions and governance. All ethnic communities are suffering from the collapse of the rule of law. Disappearances and political killings associated with the government’s counter-insurgency campaign have dropped considerably since the end of the war. Impunity for abuses by state officials continues, however, and fear and self-censorship among civil society activists and political dissidents has grown stronger in the wake of the government’s post-election crackdown on its critics in the media and opposition party activists. The government continues to maintain and use the Prevention of Terrorism Act and Emergency Regulations to weaken its political opposition. The military defeat will not bring lasting peace: The very probable military crushing of the last Tigers in the strip of 10 km ² where they have fallen back will not resolve a political conflict which is more than 60 years old. No lasting peace will be possible without the recognition of the right to self-determination of the Tamil people. (Sabaà ¯, 2009). With separatist extremism conquered, it is necessary to change the ethnic and ideological profile of the police and military, currently almost totally Sinhalese, and make them and the judiciary more sensitive to multi-ethnic issues. Constitutional moves must be made, such as devolving powers to all the provinces, as the constitutions 13th Amendment calls for something many Tamils see as indispensable. (Haviland, 2010) Rajapksa’s election victory seems unlikely to move Sri Lanka in the direction of a sustainable peace. Despite vague promises about the need for reconciliation, Rajapaksa’s post-war policies have deepened rather than resolved the grievances that generated and sustained LTTE militancy. While the LTTE’s defeat and the end of its control over Tamil political life are historic and welcome changes, the victory over Tamil militancy will remain fragile unless Sinhalese-dominated political parties make strong moves towards a more inclusive and democratic state. International crisis Group in 2010 adds: The Rajapaksa government has initiated no political reforms to address the concerns of Tamils and other minorities. The government-sponsored All Party Representative Committee (APRC) designed to craft constitutional reforms has stopped meeting with no sign of an alternative process. Tamil and Muslim parties remain weak and divided, although recent encouraging initiatives to develop a common platform and build trust among Tamil-speaking parties deserve support. Inside and outside Sri Lanka, many Tamils remain angry at the lack of accounting or justice for the thousands of civilians killed in the final months of the war. Most of the million-strong diaspora is still committed to a separate state and many would be willing to support renewed violence. R. Swaminathan observes: President Rajapaksa and the armed forces of Sri Lanka are justifiably happy and proud of having â€Å"eliminated† (in mid-May 2009) the capabilities of LTTE to mount conventional military operations. I would, however, sound a note of caution that, while the militant leaders of a major terrorist group have been neutralized, terrorism as such cannot be eliminated till the basic grievances and deprivations of the Tamils are addressed and resolved. As long as the basic causes exist, there can be no guarantee that other similar groups/leaders may not emerge. It can be said without fear of contradiction that rehabilitation, reconciliation, development and restoration (of democracy) are the most essential measures to be taken. It is my view that there should be no rigidity in attempting these measures sequentially, and that efforts need to be made to attempt them almost simultaneously. War consists of a series of actions by the parties involved in the confrontation, but peace is a combination of a state of mind and harmony between all the different ethnic groups that populate Sri Lanka (Swaminathan, 2009). Conclusion: Almost one year passed since the war has been over but no significant moves have been noticed from the government of Sri Lanka to ease the situation and to bring peace. Moreover there are allegations of manipulation in the presidential election and also some quarters alleged that Rajapakse is trying to weaken his political rivals by various means. And it is quite evident that nepotism is in full swing after the parliamentary election and relatives of Rajapakse are getting important portfolios which signal the detrimental consequences over democracy. Military victory is not enough to bring peace until and unless the grievances of Tamils are addressed. The Sri Lankan government should take steps to normalize life in war-affected this would include reestablishing the primacy of the civilian administration over the military in the north, reducing high security zones, establishing a meaningful process of consultation with Tamil and Muslim leaders on development plans for the north and east, enforcing the language equality provisions of the constitution and maximizing the devolution of powers already granted to provincial councils under the thirteenth amendment. Meaningful steps should be taken to reestablish the rule of law for all Sri Lankans. Particular measures would include ending emergency rule and abolishing the Prevention of Terrorism Act, establishing the Constitutional Council and independent commissions (especially for police and human rights), depoliticizing the judiciary, ending the routine practice of police torture and prosecuting members of the security forces and paramilitaries against whom there is credible evidence o f human rights violations. References: Andersen, Morten Koch and Fernando, Basil (2009), The Phantom Limb: Failing Judicial Systems, Torture and Human Rights Work in Sri Lanka, Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) and The Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Torture Victims (RCT), ahrchk.net/pub/pdf/ThePhantomLimb.pdf Bouckaert, Peter (2010), â€Å"Uncovering Sri Lankas war crimes†, hrw.org/en/news/2010/01/22/uncovering-sri-lankas-war-crimes Gasser, Hans-Peter (1993), International Humanitarian Law: An Introduction, Henry Dunant Institute, Haupt Haviland, Charles (2010), â€Å"Where now for post-election Sri Lanka?† newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south-asia/8487405stm?ad=1 Hull, Bryson and Sirilal, Ranga (2009), â€Å"Last phase of Sri Lanka war killed 6,200 troop – govt†, reuters.com/article/idUSSP463682 Human Rights Watch (2010), Country Summary: Sri Lanka, hrw.org/en/asia/sri-lanka Husain,Irfan (2009), â€Å"Sri Lanka’s post-war scenario†, dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/columnists /14-irfan-husain-sri-lankas-postwar-scenario-zj-02 International crisis Group (2010), â€Å"Sri Lanka: After the war†, crisisgroup.org/en/key-issues/sri-lanka-after-the-war.aspx Liddick, Eric Michael Gagnon, John T. (2009), â€Å"Striving for Peace and Reconciliation in Sri Lanka: A Creative Solution to Conflict†, War Crimes, Genocide Crimes against Humanity, Volume 3 (2009): 39-88, aa.psu.edu/journals/war-crimes/articles/V3/vol3art2.pdf Lunn, Jon; Taylor, Claire and Townsend, Ian (2009), War and peace in Sri Lanka, Research Paper 09/51, parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/rp2009/rp09-051.pdf OConnor, Maura R. (2009a), â€Å"How Sri Lanka governs through detentions†, globalpost.com/dispatch/asia/090909/sri-lanka-emergency-regulations OConnor, Maura R. (2009b), â€Å"In peace, Sri Lankans still disappear†, globalpost.com/dispatch/asia/090430/peace-does-not-stop-sri-lanka-disappearances Patten, Chris (2010), â€Å"Sri Lankas Choice, and the Worlds Responsibility†, crisisgroup.org/en/regions/asia/south-asia/sri-lanka/sri-lankas-choice-and-the-worlds-responsibility.aspx Perera, Amantha (2010), â€Å"SRI LANKA: Post-Election Protests Fail to Get Wide Support†, ipsnews.net/news.asp Permanent People’s Tribunal (2010), Tribunal on Sri Lanka, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, 14-16 January 2010, ifpsl.org/images/files/peoples_tribunal_on_srilanka.pdf Pinto-Jayawardena, Kishali (2009), The Rule of Law in Decline:Study on Prevalence, Determinants and Causes of Torture and Other Forms of Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in Sri Lanka uk.rct.dk/sitecore/shell/Controls/Rich%20Text%20Editor/~/media/Files/Sri_Lanka_study_printver270409%20pdf.ashx Sabaà ¯, Danielle (2009), â€Å"No future without a political solution†, internationalviewpoint.org/ spip.php? auteur467 Suryanarayan, V. (1999), â€Å"Devolution Proposal in Sri Lanka: A Critique†, in Nancy Jetly (ed.), Regional Security in South Asia: The Ethno-Sectarian Dimensions, The University Press Limited, Dhaka Swaminathan, R. (2009), â€Å"Post-War Sri Lanka- Concerns and Reservations†, Paper no. 3299, southasiaanalysis.org/%5Cpapers33%5Cpaper3299.html Tamiya (2009), â€Å"International Humanitarian Law Sri Lankas Inhumane War still†, nowpublic.com/world/international-humanitarian-law-sri-lankas-inhumane-war-still U.S. Department of State (2009), Report to Congress on Incidents During the Recent Conflict in Sri Lanka, state.gov/documents/organization/131025.pdf Research Papers on Post-War Review of Sri LankaQuebec and CanadaPETSTEL analysis of IndiaInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesBringing Democracy to AfricaAppeasement Policy Towards the Outbreak of World War 2Marketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductRelationship between Media Coverage and Social and19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraTwilight of the UAWCapital Punishment

Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 30

Assignment Example Hume claimed that in his reflections on the self, he learnt that it is impossible to have a unified impression of self without the particular perceptions. Hume argued that whenever he thinks about the concept of self, what he finds are particular perceptions such as heat or cold, love or hate, or pleasure or pain. Hume argued that these particular perceptions do not exist as a unified entity that can be termed self, Hume says, â€Å" Pain and pleasure, grief and joy, passions and sensations succeed each other, and never all exist at the same time† (Selby-Bigger, 294). For this reason, therefore, Hume concluded self is an illusion, and that what we call self is a bundle of sensations. Unlike Hume, however, Immanuel Kant held that self is a reality and that we are able to know the self. Kant’s conception of the self is also an offshoot of his Epistemology. In his theory of knowledge, Immanuel Kant taught that there are two sources of human knowledge, which are sensibility and understanding. According to Immanuel Kant, sensibility gives us objects, while the understanding thinks and reasons about the given objects. For Kant, therefore, it is possible for us to have knowledge of things which have no direct impressions. Kant, therefore, argued that by looking for the self in sense impressions, Hume was looking for the self in the wrong place. For Kant, the self is the entity that unifies human experiences, thus enabling human mind to synthesis sense perceptions. For Kant, the self is what Rene Descartes had termed as the thinking I. By arguing that existence precedes essence, Sartre meant that human beings are born indeterminate, or without their essence, and that it is human beings themselves who make up their essence. According to Sartre, human beings are not determined, before they are born, what they will be in life. For this reason, therefore, Sartre viewed human beings as existing first before they determine their essence of what they will be in life.

Government Spending Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Government Spending - Assignment Example imperative to note that that figure ($700 billion) is strictly what was committed in 2008 to curb the financial crisis since the New York Tines (1) details a further $12.2 trillion committed by the government by 2011. Therefore, the amount spent on TARP was $475 billion, Bailouts $11 trillion and QE $787 billion as reported by the Treasury Department (1). According to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB 1), federal spending on private-sector contractors in the fiscal year 2012 was 14% of the federal budget and was slightly below $307 billion. Further, the OMB stated that the spending exceeded that spent on federal contract spending on procurement of goods. According to CNN, this is because there is a push to cut down on federal spending and getting rid of a bloated government, which has trickled down to the private sector (Shahadi 1). As explained by the OMB, the 10 years preceding 2012 saw the cost of service contracts increase by 44% to the current figure. As of September 30 2013, the total value of unclassified US government procurement contracts dropped from the previous fiscal year’s $512 billion to $456 billion (Salant & Kathleen 1). This figure includes all procurements through free trade agreements, also refered to as FTAs. Although no explicit information is available on the budget allocation to the Department of Defense and other classified contracts, finding by the Bloomberg Industries indicate that this total budget featured an allocation cut of $22.3 billion to the Pentagon (Salant & Kathleen 1). The overall decline in government spending for the fiscal year ending September 30 2013 marked the fourth consecutive year of cuts in government spending since 1989. A report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) put the cost incurred by governments around the world after the 2008 financial crises at $11.9 trillion (Conway 1). By the time this estimate was made, it was equivalent one fifth of the economic output of the entire world and entailed

Global Trade Operations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Global Trade Operations - Essay Example The International Commercial Terms (Incoterm) are rules and regulations that govern international trade because when two parties are involved in international trade disputes or misunderstanding may arise hence making Incoterm a central component in the development of international trade across the globe (Branch 2009, p.4). The International Chambers of Commerce (ICC) established these guidelines in the year 1936. However, they have greatly evolved since that time. The main aim of these international trade guidelines is to spell out the legal obligation of the two parties involved in the trade. Additionally, this minimizes misunderstandings and conflict between the two parties. International trade can prove difficult when the two parties face obstacles such as language barrier and other limitations. This makes the International Commercial Terms (Incoterm) a very important aspect of the trade. The International Commercial Terms (Incoterm) apply globally hence making them generally acce ptable by all countries. The contract of the sale of goods is the area of focus in the International Commercial Terms (Incoterm). Additionally, the International Commercial Terms (Incoterm) covers all the aspects of transportation of goods, obligation of both parties and other requirements such as insurance. The International Commercial Terms (Incoterm) entails eleven terms that are fundamental in international trade. Furthermore, these terms fall under four major divisions these include â€Å"C† terms â€Å"D† terms â€Å"E† terms and â€Å"F† terms. The seller or exporter has to follow the International Commercial Terms (Incoterm) in order to complete a successful business transaction. Additionally, the procedures under International Commercial Terms (Incoterm) follow each other sequentially and in order of the degree of responsibility. However, one can better understand the terms used in the International Commercial Terms (Incoterm) when using a typica l example of a business transaction between an importer and an exporter hence making the application of these terms relevant. An international business transaction has to involve two different countries and in order to use all the applicable procedures in the International Commercial Terms (Incoterm) it is important to use two different countries that are not on the same bloc due some waivers, trade agreements and other issues like memorandum of understanding Description of the business Transaction The main business transaction that is most appropriate and fits the criteria of the International Commercial Terms (Incoterm) is importation and exportation of Japanese cars. This has been a very successful trade between Japan and other countries of the world. Additionally, most of the cars manufactured in the world come form Japan hence making a study on how the business transactions take place very informative. However, one main reason as to why this particular trade meets the criteria is that very many legal formalities are involved in the importation and exportation of vehicles from one country to another. Additionally, this kind of trade deals with incredibly many different nationalities hence providing readily available information that is useful. However, several countries have different rules and regulations that govern the importation of cars. For instance, in other countries one cannot import a car that is more than eight years old or the vehicle must be in a certain condition. All these rules and regulations involved when importing or exporting a vehicle make the trade more sophisticated. Countries involved in the business transaction The two main countries that we are going to focus on are the United

Eminent Domain Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Eminent Domain - Assignment Example Therefore, in this book, Epstein answers four questions: What constitutes a taking of private property? When is the taking not compensated? When is the taking for public use? And when is the taking compensated in cash or in kind? Ryskamp John. The Eminent Domain Revolt: Changing Perceptions in a New Constitutional Epoch. New York: Algora Publishing. 2007. This book gives an explanation on the anger against the eminent domain. It provides an in depth analysis of the profound legal issues and proposed changes that are far a head of seizing of property and regulations of land use. Ryskamp gives a report on the law and politics of eminent domain after the decision of the Supreme Court on the case of Kelo versus the city of New London on June 2005. The book also explains the need for all states to start debating on how to reform their eminent domain laws for it is unconstitutional. Although some legal scholars may not agree with Ryskamp on this issue, this book convinces many readers that they must begin to understand the legal principles involved in this controversy surrounding the eminent domain. Aspen Publishers. ... Among the cases or legal briefs covered in this book is the case of Kelo versus the city of New London. The book provides a comprehensive analysis of the case and how the Supreme Court ruled on the same. The book is keyed to particular casebooks by title or author for greater student accessibility. Scaros E. Constantinos. Understanding the Constitution. Massachusetts: Jones and Bartlett Learning. 2010. The constitution of United States of America was created so many years ago but its historical importance and value still impact the lives of many significantly. Constantinos’ book, Understanding the Constitution, enables the readers to understand and appreciate the United States constitution and its significance on individuals’ daily lives. The book also gives analysis on the relevant topics, such as the controversial eminent domain, that are hotly debated. It provides a good understanding of the eminent domain, the takings clause of the Fifth Amendment and their provisio ns. Without making assumption on previous knowledge of the law, Constantions’ book is an ideal reader friendly introduction to constitutional law. Malloy Paul Robin. Private Property, Community Development, and Eminent Domain (Law, Property and Society). Publishing, Ltd. 2008. This book discusses the fundamental relationship between the government and its citizens and among the citizens themselves. The discussion is centered on the recent ruling of the US Supreme Court on the case of Kelov versus the city of New London (2005). The case involved the use of eminent domain power by the state to transfer private property from Kelov to another private party who would economically make better use of the land. Although the Supreme

Sidney becket Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Sidney becket - Research Paper Example Bechet’s contributions to jazz music helped to define and legitimize the genre in creating recognition for the form as complex and engaging. Although different accounts dispute whether or not he could read music, he preferred not to, his ear perfect and suited for defining music to get to its soul. Bechet was born in 1897 to a family that was part of the Creole culture of New Orleans. Creole origins refer to those of Spanish or French heritage that populated the New Orleans region. Black Creole refers to those children of plantation owners and slaves that were able to gain their freedom. According to the Black Code of 1724, children of owners and slaves were allowed to be freed and could then own land. Many of the Black Creoles owned plantations and held successful businesses, giving them a vital position in New Orleans society. From the freedoms that money allowed, came the opportunity to pursue the arts. As well, most of their children were sent to France for an education and this wealthy class tended to be more associated with their European roots than the America in which they lived. Classical music was a part of the culture, and when combined with ragtime, European style dance music, and rich traditions of folk music, jazz was born (Kirchner 48). Thus, a great number of j azz musicians came out of New Orleans. Bechet’s musical talent was discovered when he was just a child. He bought a ten cent tin flute when he was twelve and revealed his talent on this toy instrument in such a way as to impress earn him the title â€Å"Wizard of Jazz†. He soon got a clarinet and took to disassembling the instrument and turning up randomly at the concerts of local bands and taking the stage. He left the audiences in awe of his talent (31). After his adolescence, he traveled the United States playing his music until he was discovered by Will Marion Cook in 1919 who offered him a space in the New York

The logic model Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The logic model - Essay Example ve existed, or have been promoted over the past several years, you have been concentric upon utilizing resources provided by the healthcare community or directly promoted by healthcare professionals. Within this understanding, it is at this juncture that this particular plan seeks to utilize a change in organizational behavior theory as a means of further providing a health care promotion strategy that can effectively address the issue at hand. In terms of inputs that will be required, the first of these is a level of training and understanding that should be provided to healthcare professionals that have regular interaction with parents or children. For the most part, the input will require training of pediatrics staff as a means of providing indirect and direct level of counseling, as well as printed material and resources, to parents and children that may be at risk of obesity themselves. Likewise, the input of time, money, and a change in the way that organizational operation takes place will all be required in order to affect this particular health care promotion strategy. Furthermore, in terms of activities that will be required, these will be concentric upon counseling and the provision of direct assistance to parents and stakeholders that are or may potentially become at risk for obesity. Yet, more than merely encouraging a level of physical exertion and promoting healthy lifestyles, and other core activity that will be involved within this particular health care promotion strategy is the need to gather information, with a relevant consideration for privacy, and utilize this information as a means of determining which at risk individuals are those that could potentially benefit from the programs that are being offered. Whereas it is true that in a perfect world all potential patients could be engaged in a similar, if not identical manner, the resources and the overall strain of time create a dynamic by which healthcare professionals will be required to

Eminent Domain Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Eminent Domain - Assignment Example Therefore, in this book, Epstein answers four questions: What constitutes a taking of private property? When is the taking not compensated? When is the taking for public use? And when is the taking compensated in cash or in kind? Ryskamp John. The Eminent Domain Revolt: Changing Perceptions in a New Constitutional Epoch. New York: Algora Publishing. 2007. This book gives an explanation on the anger against the eminent domain. It provides an in depth analysis of the profound legal issues and proposed changes that are far a head of seizing of property and regulations of land use. Ryskamp gives a report on the law and politics of eminent domain after the decision of the Supreme Court on the case of Kelo versus the city of New London on June 2005. The book also explains the need for all states to start debating on how to reform their eminent domain laws for it is unconstitutional. Although some legal scholars may not agree with Ryskamp on this issue, this book convinces many readers that they must begin to understand the legal principles involved in this controversy surrounding the eminent domain. Aspen Publishers. ... Among the cases or legal briefs covered in this book is the case of Kelo versus the city of New London. The book provides a comprehensive analysis of the case and how the Supreme Court ruled on the same. The book is keyed to particular casebooks by title or author for greater student accessibility. Scaros E. Constantinos. Understanding the Constitution. Massachusetts: Jones and Bartlett Learning. 2010. The constitution of United States of America was created so many years ago but its historical importance and value still impact the lives of many significantly. Constantinos’ book, Understanding the Constitution, enables the readers to understand and appreciate the United States constitution and its significance on individuals’ daily lives. The book also gives analysis on the relevant topics, such as the controversial eminent domain, that are hotly debated. It provides a good understanding of the eminent domain, the takings clause of the Fifth Amendment and their provisio ns. Without making assumption on previous knowledge of the law, Constantions’ book is an ideal reader friendly introduction to constitutional law. Malloy Paul Robin. Private Property, Community Development, and Eminent Domain (Law, Property and Society). Publishing, Ltd. 2008. This book discusses the fundamental relationship between the government and its citizens and among the citizens themselves. The discussion is centered on the recent ruling of the US Supreme Court on the case of Kelov versus the city of New London (2005). The case involved the use of eminent domain power by the state to transfer private property from Kelov to another private party who would economically make better use of the land. Although the Supreme

The logic model Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The logic model - Essay Example ve existed, or have been promoted over the past several years, you have been concentric upon utilizing resources provided by the healthcare community or directly promoted by healthcare professionals. Within this understanding, it is at this juncture that this particular plan seeks to utilize a change in organizational behavior theory as a means of further providing a health care promotion strategy that can effectively address the issue at hand. In terms of inputs that will be required, the first of these is a level of training and understanding that should be provided to healthcare professionals that have regular interaction with parents or children. For the most part, the input will require training of pediatrics staff as a means of providing indirect and direct level of counseling, as well as printed material and resources, to parents and children that may be at risk of obesity themselves. Likewise, the input of time, money, and a change in the way that organizational operation takes place will all be required in order to affect this particular health care promotion strategy. Furthermore, in terms of activities that will be required, these will be concentric upon counseling and the provision of direct assistance to parents and stakeholders that are or may potentially become at risk for obesity. Yet, more than merely encouraging a level of physical exertion and promoting healthy lifestyles, and other core activity that will be involved within this particular health care promotion strategy is the need to gather information, with a relevant consideration for privacy, and utilize this information as a means of determining which at risk individuals are those that could potentially benefit from the programs that are being offered. Whereas it is true that in a perfect world all potential patients could be engaged in a similar, if not identical manner, the resources and the overall strain of time create a dynamic by which healthcare professionals will be required to

Louis Vuitton Commercial Analysis

Louis Vuitton Commercial Analysis The Louis Vuitton commercial describes a wide range of visuals from India, China and France (Duncan 2008) that captures the real essence of travel and the journey through life while trying to simultaneously explore the true meaning of the word journey. The visuals are backed by textual messages aimed at answering What is a Journey? (Paris 2008) against a soulful musical score. The commercial in itself seeks to sell the Louis Vuitton brand across 13 nations rather than a particular collection (Duncan 2008). The fact that only the monogram is shown in the advertisement bears testimony to the same. With regard to the target audience, the commercial targets all young lovers of luxury and travel in particular and lovers of life in general. Most of the travelers in the video are young people although the local crowd is made up of people of all ages. The commercial sought to capture beautiful moments that travel with one beyond physical journey. The goal was to connect Louis Vuittons brand passion in assisting its clients to achieve true pleasure and luxury during journeys in particular and across life in general in accordance with brand values of luxury and travel. The advertisement is 90 seconds in direction to allow it to convey the true and rich essence of travel as a process of both discovery and self-discovery as per the head of communications at Louis Vuitton, Antoine Arnault (Brent 2008). Through a combination of visuals, musical score and subtitles, the video effectively communicates the same and reveals the brands passion for providing luxury to its customers as they journey through life. The Journey commercial by Louis Vuitton relies on the use of numerous visual techniques including slow motion, special effects, selective focus through telephoto lenses, blurring, silhouetting, lens flare and superimposition. The commercial is a visual marvel created by Bruno Aveillan (Duncan 2008). According to the Louis Vuitton press release the advertisement captures those quintessential travel moments where our senses and sense of awe are surpassed by the absolute beauty of a place, of a moment (Duncan 2008). The same is essentially true of most visuals in the commercial. The visuals endeavor to evoke a sense of awe and a sense of serenity in the viewer through depiction of the passion and art of travel (Duncan 2008) using a range of visual tools and techniques. One can see a whole range of close-ups to provide emphasis on the feelings of travelers when witnessing a moment that surpasses expectations and their love for travel. Most of the frames use shallow depth of field or focu s on a small area of frame to guide viewers attention to the specific object or person of interest (Brown 2012, 61). For instance, in an over the shoulder shot of a traveler dressed in white, the focus is entirely on him with the rest of the frame blurred out. In addition to a foreground, mid-ground and background, some frames rely on the use of glass as one of the planes, which, in turn, allows one to see reflections of objects that are not a part of the frame as a fourth layer. Most of the camera angles are at eye level with little psychological manipulation of the viewer on that front. Selective blurring seems to be enhanced in post production and special effects work. The insertion of certain reflections can seem to be the result of special effects. The camera is positioned in many frames to create lens flare which again curtails proper viewing of some visual content while serving as an aesthetic and pleasing visual technique. Lastly, slow motion towards the end of the commercia l is another classic technique used to enhance the beauty of a momemt (Brown 2012, 73). The commercial does not depict many visuals of Louis Vuitton products merely showing the famous logo and the classic LV design. Through the choice of visuals, the brand effectively takes the viewer back to its history establishing itself as a luxury travel brand (Lindstrom 2005, 125). The visuals span three nations namely, India, China and France enabling the advertisement to attain global appeal in consonance with its purpose of serving as an effective global ad campaign. In terms of motif, the commercial uses certain signs and symbols to reinforce its textual content. The first is the use of light, especially sunlight. As a signifier, the light usually connotes wisdom, knowledge and power. The use of sun, the source of all life, foreshadows the answer to the question raised by the commercial. In the beginning, the characters are in darkness, like the viewer deciphering the answer to the query p osed by the advertisement. The characters become progressively more lit as the commercial progresses. A second signifier is the use of mist, haze, fog and even blurring, all of which signify a sense of mystery. This can suggest the sense of intrigue one experiences during travel along with the viewer lack of clarity about where the commercial will take him at its onset. A third important sign is water again a sign of sustenance and life and a sign of purity. The first subconscious reader response to water helps to make the answer, that the journey is life, more meaningful. The second response connects to the purity of the moments of awe during travel and the true passion for travel. The characters are themselves dressed and positioned in ways that clearly segregates them from the environment establishing them as outsiders. Moreover, they are more glamorous than others in their environment reinforcing the luxury value of the brand. In totality, the choice of visuals helps to establis h a sense of beauty attached to travel and a true love for traveling. Visuals capture ones bliss during moments that surpass awe while journeying, and the need to treat life as ones most fascinating journey. The aural technique used in the Louis Vuitton commercial is background score or music. The score for the commercial was composed by the famous music director Gustavo-Santaolalla (Terrazas 2008). Since the commercial was part of a set of advertisements catering to global television marketing for the brand, it can be analyzed on two fronts. First is its connection to the type of musical score the brand has used in the past for its marketing. Second is the subconscious impact it has on the viewer since color and music are two aspects that influence at a deeper subconscious level. Louis Vuitton commercials in the past have commonly relied on specifically composed Louis Vuitton signature music (Lindstrom 2005, 125) and this commercial is no different. As a result, the score does not have any prior emotional connotations attached to it, allowing the makers to influence consumer perceptions from scratch. The music is slow and subtle in congruence with the slowness and serenity of the visual s. The dominant instrument throughout the score is a string instrument with chimes and other wind sounds supplementing it. The commercial begins with a subtle wind instrument immediately evoking a sense of mystery and drawing the viewer into the commercial from its onset. Slow chimes are often associated with feelings of pleasantness (Meyer 2008, 87). The string instrument then strikes an even deeper emotional connect through louder and isolated notes. The same rhythm repeats throughout the advertisement further reinforcing the Conduplicatio journey and an attempt to decipher its true meaning throughout the advertisement. Moreover, the repetition helps to remember the advertisement even after viewing, through production of deep memory traces that play a crucial role in consumer decision-making (Wells 1997, 241). In addition to music, the absence of diegetic sounds also draws viewer attention to the commercial. Sounds such as a books pages turning due to the winds, kids shouting as t hey run, the sound of water splashing are all absent from the commercial though some of the visuals are in close up. This lack of sound also makes one pay attention to what is being shown in the advertisement. In totality, the soothing nature of the musical score coupled with its repetitive rhythm reinforces the nature of visual content and brings the viewer into an introspective mood. The lack of diegetic sounds further make one notice the visuals by not reinforcing their content. A third dominant facet of the commercial is the use of subtitles that appear across the duration of the commercial. The commercial begins by raising the question, What is a Journey? It then begins to add one layer of meaning over another to fully answer the question and terminates with the disclosure that journey is life itself (Paris 2008). The advertisement, however, ends with another question Where will life take you? (Paris 2008). The word journey is used throughout the video as a Conduplicatio or a repeated keyword pulling out important ideas from sentences and reinforcing them in other sentences (Farnsworth 2011, 7). The process of repetition enhances the probability that viewer attention will be centered towards the repeated word at some stage of viewing (Wells 1997, 241). The word life again finds a similar usage as it is repeated in the final two phrases of the commercial. The words journey and life are the prime takeaways of a viewer from the video. These two signifiers are aimed at signifying the Louis Vuittons passion for enabling its consumers to discover places and themselves as they traverse the journey of life. Overall, the advertisement uses emotional transfer to link the brand with emotions one experiences upon viewing the commercial (Kenny 2005, 72). The attempt is to evoke ones passion in living and traveling and directly transfer it to a passion for making Louis Vuitton brand a lifetime partner along ones journeys. This transfer is achieved through a combination of subtitles, visuals and musical score. The subtitles immediately encourage the viewer to ponder upon the meaning of a journey. The visuals strive to capture those moments during travel that extend well beyond their physical existence in the minds of the travelers. They depict the blissful state one finds oneself in when witnessing such moments and that such moments are not confined to vacation destinations alone. The musical score reinforces a sense of tranquility and awe experienced during these moments. The emotional transfer attempt becomes most visible through the final two subtitles Where will life take you? and Louis Vu itton (Paris 2008). The remainder of the commercial evokes feelings of awe and love for life. These can then be transferred to a love for a luxurious and enriched life that Louis Vuitton can help one achieve. The duration of the commercial is just apt for exploring the meaning of a journey. The advertisement effectively communicates the passion of Louis Vuitton for providing its consumers with a luxurious lifestyle along their journey of life.