Choose a specific commodity, idea, or institution and evaluate its Essay

Choose a specific commodity, idea, or institution and evaluate its impact on history at any point prior to 1815 - Essay Example It gives brief information about the impact of gunpowder on history and also explains how it created gunpowder empires. This paper also focuses on the most famous Gunpowder Empires in the early modern period. The creation of gunpowder empires was considered to be a giant leap for Islamic countries towards stabilizing the politics and identifying themselves as territories. All these empires impacted politics and cultures of various parts of the world. Invention of Fireworks, which is led by Gunpowder in the 9th century by Chinese Alchemists as an elixir of immortality has largely impacted the entire world (Sivin, Nathan, 1994). Initially gunpowder was used in fireworks and pill-making process in the 9th century. When the formulae of gunpowder came to the strategists, they made it as a substance, which was explosive in nature. According to the Chinese formulae in the 10th and 11th centuries, Gunpowder was made with 27 to 50 percent of nitrate. But as time passed, the nitrate levels in Gunpowder was increased to large extent so that it could become an explosive bomb such as grenade bomb. When you read the book â€Å"Huolongjing† written by Jiao Yu, you can clearly understand that the nitrate levels in the 14th century were increased to 90 percent (Needham, Joseph, 1986) Most of the Islamic countries were also impacted due to the Gunpowder. By the mid of the 12th century most of the Arab scientists also acquired the knowledge on gunpowder. During the wars against Transoxania in 1219 and 1240, Genghis Khan used a Chinese catapult unit to invade Caucasus. It is not a surprise to say that the invention or introduction of Gunpowder had changed the destiny of many wars in the world (Khan, Iqtidar Alam, 1994). With the introduction of Gunpowder to Medieval Army, the facets of medieval warfare have been changed. The use of Gunpowder had been continued in the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries in

European Cars Are Better Than Japanese Essay Example for Free

European Cars Are Better Than Japanese Essay The design is specialized to cater to the specific needs of a consumer. Every country in the world manufactures its own cars, whether it is Japan, America or Europe. European cars are vastly superior to Japanese cars when examining performance, design and safety. The key feature that makes European cars better than all other cars is performance. Performance of a care is judge by how well the, brakes, suspension, traction, transmission and engine work. When European car manufacturers talks about performance they are referring to power generated by the car. European cars manufacturers combine all the aspects of performance to create an extraordinarily spectacular engine, which has maximum horse power and torque. Some European cars engines are hand-built, which helps delivers performance at a perfect level. Power from the engine has to be delivered to the wheels; transmission plays a vital role in delivering the power and speed from the engine to wheels. Car manufacturers in Europe develop a transmission system which is particularly adept at applying output so that it can be delivered quickly, smoothly and efficiently when called upon. European car manufacturers are especially renowned for their designs, because their designs allow precision in handling, efficiency in engine performance and good brakes. An efficient power output of the engine leads to an increased maximum speed limit that the car can reach. To maximize the speed that a car can reach the external shape of the body of a car is designed with special care as well. When European car manufacturers talk about speed, they keep in mind the aerodynamics of the car. Designers ensure that the car has a streamlined body shape, which reduces air resistance experienced by a car while it is in motion. In addition, aerodynamics designing provides for the external appearance of the car to look elegant, fashionable, artistic and sensational. European cars are made out of high-strength steel body panels make the safer when an impact takes place. They are manufactured with 7 different air bags inside the care to avoid the impact and causing the driver and passenger to be much safer. If a car can reach high speeds in a short span of time then it needs good brakes. European engineers ensure safety and handling does not become an issue for the driver and the passenger by providing an anti-lock braking system. This system prevents the car from skidding and allows the driver with greater control over the car because due to the anti-braking system the wheels of the car are only gradually reduced in speed. Rather than bringing the wheels of the car to an abrupt halt, the brakes of the car provide with better independent suspension for each wheel, which can help withstand shocks and bumps. European cars are superior in performance design and safety. Japanese cars lack behind in performance when compared to European cars. They have weaker and lighter engines, which only reduce the manufacturing cost, but result in giving a poor performance. Japanese car engines are manufactured on low budget. The lack in use of technology during the production makes the cars less reliable, because the finished engine does not produce much power. Less power means less torque and horsepower. Production companies in Japan manufacture engines using heavy equipment and machinery. This allows them to produce cars in a greater quantity, but there is no guarantee for quality . Japanese engineers focus on building lighter engines which gives more gas millage. Japanese cars are designed using weaker body structures making the car lighter. They use to steel alloy to manufacture the exterior of the less expensive material. Exterior of the car is brittle enough to not to withstand an impact, hence making less safe. Japanese cars are not safest car in the world. To avoid the cost to manufacture the car, they use disk brakes which have a higher risk of worning out faster than anti-lock brakes. They use one suspension for two pair of wheel, which causes to feel the smallest shock and bump while ridding the car. Japanese car don’t use that much technology to make their car safe enough. European cars are superior to Japanese cars. They are better in performance, design and safety. European cars are comfortable, luxurious and high end cars. Japanese cars are ordinary and standard cars. Japanese cars are cheaper that European, but buying an expensive car gives you a lot of option to enjoy the ride of the car. , and produce products with a superior passenger cabin but employ lower standards outside of the cabin. Disk brakes, Alloy Wheels, and Brake Override Systems have been standard on most mid-size domestic cars for years, yet are still optional or non-existent on many major Japanese mid-size cars being sold today. Anti-lock braking system (ABS) is an automobile safety system that allows the wheels on a motor vehicle to maintain tractive contact with the road surface according to driver inputs while braking preventing the wheels from locking up (ceasing rotation) and avoiding uncontrolled skidding. It is an automated system that uses the principles of threshold braking and cadence braking which were practised by skilful drivers with previous generation braking systems. It does this at a much faster rate and with better control than a driver could manage. With 72% of its body panels made from high-strength steel, theody structure is even more rigid than its renowned predecessors. The advanced front crumple zone has been refined with approximately 17,000 computer-simulated collisions and 150 crash tests. An innovative front bulkhead and deformation zones that act on four independent levels to help divert the energy of a frontal impact under, over and around the passenger cabin.

Internet Cafe Business Plan :: Business Entrepreneurship Management Essays

Internet Cafe Business Plan 1.0 Executive Summary JavaNet, unlike a typical cafe, will provide a unique forum for communication and entertainment through the medium of the Internet. JavaNet is the answer to an increasing demand. The public wants: (1) access to the methods of communication and volumes of information now available on the Internet, and (2) access at a cost they can afford and in such a way that they aren't socially, economically, or politically isolated. JavaNet's goal is to provide the community with a social, educational, entertaining, atmosphere for worldwide communication. This business plan is prepared to obtain financing in the amount of $24,000. The supplemental financing is required to begin work on site preparation and modifications, equipment purchases, and to cover expenses in the first year of operations. Additional financing has already been secured in the form of: (1) $24,000 from the Oregon Economic Development Fund (2) $19,000 of personal savings from owner Cale Bruckner (3) $36,000 from three investors (4) and $9,290 in the form of short-term loans. JavaNet will be incorporated as an LLC corporation. This will shield the owner Cale Bruckner, and the three outside investors, Luke Walsh, Doug Wilson, and John Underwood, from issues of personal liability and double taxation. The investors will be treated as shareholders and therefore will not be liable for more than their individual personal investment of $12,000 each. The financing, in addition to the capital contributions from the owner, shareholders and the Oregon Economic Development Fund, will allow JavaNet to successfully open and maintain operations through year one. The large initial capital investment will allow JavaNet to provide its customers with a full featured Internet cafe. A unique, upscale, and innovative environment is required to provide the customers with an atmosphere that will spawn socialization. Successful operation in year one will provide JavaNet with a customer base that will allow it to be self sufficient in year two. Highlights 1.1 Objectives JavaNet's objectives for the first three years of operation include: †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The creation of a unique, upscale, innovative environment that will differentiate JavaNet from local coffee houses. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Educating the community on what the Internet has to offer. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The formation of an environment that will bring people with diverse interests and backgrounds together in a common forum. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Good coffee and bakery items at a reasonable price. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Affordable access to the resources of the Internet and other online services. 1.2 Mission As the popularity of the Internet continues to grow at an exponential rate, easy and affordable access is quickly becoming a necessity of life.

Evil Paper: Abraham Lincoln Assassination Essay

Thesis: The Abraham Lincoln Assassination was a horrible and tragic event, and the way the country was so strongly divided up at that time affected the way the events of the assassination played out before, during and after the evil event. Topic Sentence: Much before the assassination, the Union and the confederacy were strongly divided in the country and shared many different viewpoints of how the country should be run, and the reader can see how easy it would be for a member of the Confederacy to feel the need to plot a plan for the murder of the Union leader, Abraham Lincoln. Context: John Wilkes Booth and his fellow Confederate sympathizers wanted to plot a plan to capture the president and take him to the Confederate capital of Richmond in a plan to demand peace or the release of confederate soldiers. Example: â€Å"That means nigger citizenship, now, by God, I’ll put him through. That is the last speech he will ever make†(Hamner). Analysis: Booth is expressing his hateful emotions after the speech he just heard from Lincoln. The speech Lincoln stated included the idea of getting the country united as one, and giving the right for literate African-Americans to vote. Booth did not like either one of these ideas Lincoln had in mind (more so giving the African-Americans the right to vote) and stated that he will put him through, and this will be the last speech that he will make. Booth is foreshadowing his murder of Abraham Lincoln. Topic Sentence: After a very well thought out plan with his fellow Confederate sympathizers, John Wilkes Booth was ready to complete the task he vowed to finish; to kill the President of the United States. Context: John Wilkes Booth and his fellow Confederates had tried numerous times to take out the president, though none of the plans worked. However, on the night of April 14, 1865 John Wilkes Booth was excited to hear the news that Abraham Lincoln would be attending a play nearby the area that Wilkes was at that time. On that night in Ford’s theatre, at 10:15 p.m. Booth snuck into Lincoln’s private box, pulled out his .44 caliber pistol and shot Lincoln in the back of the head. Wilkes somehow escaped the theatre with a broken leg, and left everybody in the theatre in awe of what had just occurred. Example: â€Å"Sic semper tyrannis!†(John Wilkes Booth Biography) Analysis: This statement was said by John Wilkes Booth just moments after he shot the president in the back of the head. Although this was said in Latin, in English this quote means â€Å"thus always to tyrants†, which was the Virginia state motto at the time. Lincoln was not considered to be a tyrant of the time, but that didn’t mean that Booth didn’t think that way. This quote can be translated to â€Å"this is what happens when you are a tyrant.† This shows that Booth had a very true hate for the 16th president of the United States, did not believe in his moves as a president, and most importantly wanted the Confederacy to dominate the Union. Topic Sentence: This horrible event put many Americans in a state of shock and uncertainty, and in the aftermath of the assassination many Union members seek to go after and kill everybody involved in this gruesome act. Context: The search for Booth was one of the largest manhunts to take place in history, as many as 10,000 federal troops, police officers, and detectives were attempting to locate the trail of the assassin. After Booth fled the capitol, he was met by David Herold, who would help him cross the Anacostia River into Maryland. Booth stopped by Dr. Samuel Mudd’s house on the way, where his leg was treated (Mudd’s assistance of Booth gave him a life sentence in jail). Booth was then assisted by Confederate agent Thomas A. Jones, who helped him cross the Potomac River to Virginia, where Booth and Herold would hide for the time being. Nearly two weeks after the assassination, the union soldiers located Booth and Herold in a farmhouse, to which the soldiers set fire. Herold surrendered, but Booth stayed inside. As the fire got worse, one of the soldiers shot Booth (the sergeant claimed that Booth raised his gun like he was going to shoot). Booth eventually crawled out and three hours later was pronounced dead. All four of the Confederates who assisted Booth in the plotting of killing Lincoln were executed by hanging. Example: â€Å"Useless, useless!† (Abraham Lincoln’s Assassination) Analysis: Moments before Booth died, Booth stared at his hands and shouted â€Å"useless† because he was referring to his inability to do anything for the last three hours of his life (as he was paralyzed from the shot he took in the barn). Booth wanted to go down with a fight and was unable to due to his disability, making Booth very mad at himself. Works Cited â€Å"Abraham Lincoln’s Assassination.† History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2012. . -This article provided by history.com provided a good description of the assassination from the plotting of the assassination to the aftermath. The website also provided some videos that proved to provide meaningful information for the sake of my research paper. Overall the best source I had, and I was able to really get a good idea of what the assassination was all about. Hamner, Christopher. â€Å"Teaching History.org, Home of the National History Education Clearinghouse.† Booth’s Reason for Assassination. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2012. . -The author of this article, Christopher Hamner seems to have a good idea of the assassination, and is very successful at giving me information about Booth’s reasoning for his murder of Lincoln. Hamner is a very qualified historian, and he teaches at George Mason University. Hamner gave me detailed information of the assassination, which will be very beneficial for my paper. â€Å"John Wilkes Booth Biography.† Bio.com. A&E Net works Television, n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2012. . -Biography.com does a very good job of giving me quotes, videos, and a good text reference of the assassin, John Wilkes Booth. My paper was focused mostly on Booth and his actions throughout the assassination, and biography.com helped give me a good portion of my information that I used in this paper.

Influence of Pastoral Romance

How far is it possible to recognize the influence of Pastoral Romance and Classical Comedy in the opening scene of ‘As You Like It'? One way it is possible to recognize the Influence of classical comedy in the opening scene is through the dialectic structure, which is a key theme of old comedy, shown by the conflict between the brothers Orlando and Oliver. The conflict between them Is created by the fact that, despite his father's dying wishes, Oliver hasn't educated Orlando; given him his Inheritance he was promised or acknowledged him as his brother.Evidence of this Is hat Orlando says ‘my father charged you†¦ To give me good education†¦ You have trained me Like a peasant, obscuring and holding from me all gentleman-Like qualities The use of the word ‘charged' suggests their father soul has power even In death out of respect for the dead and out of respect for him as a father, which In turn leads to the assumption power is a hereditary thing that you are born into or with. This links to the argument whether you can, in fact, work your way up to a position of power rather than just being born into it.However there is also evidence of a pastoral influence when Charles says they live like the old Robin Hood of England'. This suggests the country side (The Forest of Arden) is beyond the cares and laws of the court. And also shows the forest through a sophisticated townsman's idealized image of rural life. Whereas in real life- as much as a life in the forest is much more carefree and relaxed- it also holds its own problems and harsh rules of living with nature. Also, the use of the words ‘old Robin Hood' suggests the forest is a place of fairy tales and tradition.Another influence of classical comedy is that it challenges he political, social and moral traditions established within the court which is a main component of old comedy. The way traditions are challenged is through Orlando standing up to his older brother for his right to his inheritance and respect. Quotes showing this are ‘l will no longer endure it' and ‘or give me the poor allotter my father left me by testament. ‘ This shows he is challenging the established authority in his life, which makes it a political issue.Also because it is his own brother he Is challenging makes it a social and moral issue because it is emotional. In conclusion, Shakespearean ‘As You Like It' is more strongly influenced by classical comedy than pastoral romance, despite the fact that It does contain some elements of pastoral literature such as the idea of the court being a place of rules and harsh regulations and lifestyles, and the country being an Idyllic, unrealistic place where there are rules, but these rules are much less harsh and they are run on the basis of natural order of the forest.Examples of classical comedy Influencing the play are through the use of challenging established Ideas and authorities, and through the use of conflict which appears between both the two Dukes and the two De Bolls brothers (doubles). Influence of Pastoral Romance and/or Classical Comedy in As You Like It By oligarchic the influence of classical comedy in the opening scene is through the dialectic brothers Orlando and Oliver.The conflict between them is created by the fact that, inheritance he was promised or acknowledged him as his brother. Evidence of this is trained me like a peasant, obscuring and hiding from me all gentleman-like qualities ‘. The use of the word ‘charged' suggests their father still has power even in death out of respect for the dead and out of respect for him as a father, which in turn leads to rather than Just being born into it.However there is also evidence off pastoral his life, which makes it a political issue. Also because it is his own brother he is pastoral romance, despite the fact that it does contain some elements of pastoral of rules and harsh regulations and lifestyles, and the countr y being an idyllic, influencing the play are through the use of challenging established ideas and Dukes and the two De Bois brothers (doubles).

6 Essential Tips to Memorize to Save on Advanced Presentation Skills Training

6 Essential Tips to Memorize to Save on Advanced Presentation Skills Training 6 Essential Tips to Memorize to Save on Advanced Presentation Skills Training When you are tasked with creating a presentation for a class, having advanced presentation skills training can help you impress your audience and make your performance mind-blowing. There are tons of courses online that offer such training, but some of them are ineffective or expensive. It is for this reason that learning these tips are a much better investment as far as improving your skill-set is concerned: Give Slides with Just One or Two Bullets to Summarize Your Content This is important. When you are creating your slide, add one or two words which function as a roadmap to the presentation. This is essential for the audience and for you. You can prepare yourself by making sure you have just a few keywords which remind you of all the sections to cover, and the order of stating your info. Divide Your Information into 3 Main Points Again, it is very crucial to follow this tip. You don’t want to be overloaded nor do you want your audience to be over informed. By separating the slides and the notes into three main points, you can cover your presentation just as easily as you would write a 5 paragraph essay. You will stay on point, and so will your audience. Edit for Clarity You want to only have the keywords you need in your presentation. This means you will likely condense or edit for clarity on more than one occasion. You will benefit from making a list of the words and phrases your audience need to pay special attention to and try to articulate that list from memory. Have the ability to take self-assessments, even those created by yourself: they help to memorize the information you need to deliver without using prompts and cue cards. This might include practicing on someone else before you present to your class. Find Great Images to Represent the Points You Make They say a picture is worth 1000 words and this is absolutely true for a presentation. If you can find one great photo to represent your content, you will have no issue remembering the related facts or notes when you are presenting. The photo is not just there to drive your point home, but to attract the attention of the audience and make them remember what you are talking about. Use Notes Sparingly and Keep the Audience Engaged You will want to have some notes so that you can really remember key items, but not so many that you fail to notice the fact that no one else is listening. Do what you can to rely upon the pictures and bullet points inside your slides and presentation. Ask Easy Questions of Those Paying Attention For example, if you see someone on a cell phone and you ask them a series of questions, you will come off as though you are scolding them in class. But if you regularly ask questions after each slide or two, you can avoid looking like the angry parent and still keep the audience engaged. Overall, the ability to remember, especially when you are giving a presentation is paramount. The more you can remember the better eye contact and presentation you can make. But it’s essential to keep the audience attentive as well because they need to extract something from your presentation too. That’s why you need to follow the tips listed above and make your PowerPoint presentation short, precise and bright.

River Birch Is a Favored Yard Tree in the Southern U.S.

River Birch Is a Favored Yard Tree in the Southern U.S. River birch has been called the most beautiful of American trees by Prince Maximilian, the emperor of Mexico when he toured North America shortly before his short-lived reign. It is a favorite yard tree in the southern United States and is sometimes messy to maintain if you are not hands-on when dealing with your yard. Betula nigra, also known as red birch, water birch, or black birch, is the only birch with a range that includes the southeastern coastal plain. It is uniquely the only spring-fruiting birch in North America. Although the wood has limited usefulness, the trees beauty makes it an ornamental highlight, especially at the northern and western extremes of its natural range.  Most river birch bark peels in colorful flakes of brown, salmon, peach, orange, and lavender and is a bonus for regions deprived of paper and white birches.  Ã‚   In his book, The Urban Tree Book, journalist, novelist, and publisher Arthur Plotnik entices amateur arborists to go tree peeping in U.S. cities. He gives vivid descriptions of trees he spots along his trek: Only the shaggy brown river birch seems truly adapted to cities, holding its own with urban heat blasts and the deadly borer. River Birch Habit and Range River birch grows naturally from southern New Hampshire south and west to the Texas Gulf Coast.  River birch is well named as it loves riparian (wet) zones, adapts well to wet sites, and reaches its maximum size in rich alluvial soils of the lower Mississippi Valley. Even though it loves wet ecosystems, the tree is heat-tolerant. River birch can survive modest droughts and does not compete with your lawn for water. River birch transplants easily at any age and grows into a medium tree of about 40 feet and rarely to 70 feet. River birch occupies large eastern north-south ranges in North America from Minnesota to Florida. The tree needs direct sunlight and is intolerant to shade.   River Birch Varieties The best river birch cultivars are the Heritage and Dura-Heat varieties. The Heritage or Cully cultivar was selected in 2002 as the tree of the year by the Society of Municipal Arborists. The trees wood has very little commercial value but is extremely popular as an ornamental tree that features salmon-cream to brownish bark that peels to reveal a creamy white inner bark that can be nearly as white as the white-barked birches. It is hardy  in  all U.S. climate zones, it is fast-growing, nicely forked, wind and ice resistant.   According to Michael Dirr,  horticulturist and a professor of horticulture at the University of Georgia, who praise the varietal in his book, Trees: Heritage river birch is an excellent selection with superior vigor, larger leaves, and greater resistance to leaf spot. Dura-Heat is a somewhat smaller cultivar that features creamy white bark color, better tolerance to summer heat, better insect and disease resistance, and superior foliage to the species. It typically grows 30 to 40 feet tall as a single trunk or multi-trunked tree. Leaves, Flowers, and Fruit of a River Birch The tree has male and female catkins, which are slim, cylindrical  flower  clusters that are grouped in 3s. The small cone-like fruit  opens and sheds small  nutlet  seeds in spring. What makes yard work a chore with the river birch are the falling catkins, fruit, and flaking bark that constantly litter the yard. The summer leaves have a leathery texture with a dark green upper side and light green on its  underside. The leaf edges are teethlike, with a double serrated appearance. The leaves are in the shape of ovals. In the autumn, the leaf color is golden-yellow to yellow-brown, and leaves have a tendency to drop quickly. River Birch Hardiness Zone River birch  is hardy through zone 4 on the U.S. Department of Agriculture zone map. The USDA Hardiness Zone Map identifies how well plants will withstand the cold winter temperatures. The map divides North America into 13 zones, of 10 degrees each, ranging from -60 F to 70 F. So, for zone 4, the minimum average temperatures are between -30 F and -20 F, which includes the entire U.S. with the exception of Alaska.

Need Motivation Enter a Writing Contest

Need Motivation Enter a Writing Contest The most assiduous writer comes face to face with writers block occasionally. The hand tires of embellishing the 59th promotional copy for Kirks Paving and Tiling Solutions Ltd, the soul wearies of deconstructing the 16th time Joe Hero battles sundry demons. Creative juices dry up, creative muses leave the building, inspiration imitates a certain 1985 DeLorean and vanishes in a puff of smoke, leaving behind only the dusty smoldering ashes of a burned-out freelancer or novelist. So you seek a jump-start. Because you are a writer, and write you must. Disregard everything vague youve ever heard about writing competitions. Oh, tts just a lottery . . . mumble . . . Â  mumble . . . What? Dont let the fear of scams and swindlers hold you back. Not all contests are created the same. As long as youve done your homework Here are seven solid reasons why participating in a writing contest could be the smartest move you make for your freelance career this year: 1. That winning feeling . . . is such a confidence booster! The high you get when your work is acknowledged to be better than others is a kick like no other. Drugs couldnt do it justice. Its like orgasming on words. Reluctant to approach that high-profile agent with your debut manuscript? To hell with hesitation! Drunk on your contest success, you can achieve anything. 2. The tangible benefits . . . include cold hard cash, certificates, trophies and merchandise. That fresh brew definitely smells and tastes better in your new winners coffee mug. 3. The reverberations . . . can range from a hooked agent and a baited publisher, to a public reading, a slew of interested offers of representation, an invitation to a residency, a place on a coveted workshop or course program, an interview on the local radio show, and ultimately a shiny new book on the shelf with your name on it. The effects of winning a contest can be far-reaching and long-lasting. That writers conference youve been requested to attend as a finalist? Guess who will be first in line to pitch their new book to a host of agents and publishers also in attendance? You, thats who. 4. The street cred . . . establishes your bonafides irrevocably. Call it platform or portfolio, you earn the title of serious writer. You increase readership, build relationships, gain prestige. A glowing testimonial from an impressed editor can add stars to your limelight. An eager advertiser keen to give you his dollars can raise your game to a whole new business stratosphere. More exposure equals more sales. 5. The practical advantages . . . are not far behind. Submitting exclusively to a contest at a time allows you to rest a piece, and review it with fresh eyes later and make improvements. Working under a tight deadline, to a strict word limit, can hone your self-editing skills to a fine razor-edge, allowing you to cull words and cauterize verbiage at a moments notice. Â  All that practice makes perfect. Save on hiring editing services much? 6. The feedback . . . from judges can be invaluable. You can revise a short story all the way into a novel. A well-analyzed critique from a respected and experienced doyen of the literary industry is worth its weight in entry fees. 7. The motivation . . . obligingly returns. Ideas come flocking back in droves when youre presented with a theme, prompt or topical challenge. Writers block, begone! So the next time you feel like putting up an Out of Order sign on your minds doorstep and fleeing the whole sorry scene, stop writing. Start competing instead.

Nick DiChario Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Nick DiChario - Essay Example (Nick DiChario.com)His short fiction has appeared in science fiction, fantasy, mystery, and the following publications in the United States: The Year's Best Science Fiction, The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror, and The Best Alternate History Stories of the 20th Century, among many others. (www.cybling.com, Nick DiChario as guest). DiChario has also been nominated for a John W. Campbell Award, two Hugo Awards, and a World Fantasy Award. In addition to writing stories, some of his plays have been presented in Geva Theatre's Regional Playwrights Festival in upstate New York, and he is the workshop coordinator for Writers & Books. (Id.) It is clear that DiChario does not take himself too seriously which may be the reason why his writing is so successful. He chatted on a blog with fans from the Green Room at "Chicon, the 58th Annual World Science Fiction Convention". Research across the web also indicates that he enjoys the feedback that he receives from his fans and avidly writes back. The largest impression that I received from this novel was that it made me wonder what would happen if I were in Tink's shoes. A small and remarkable life is a fitting title to this novel because in the grand scheme of life, Tink's could hardly be considered influential. However, it was remarkable in that we have a wonderful impression of what it would be like to be a fish out of water. The adaptation has suffocated a person, and DiChario shows us what it would be like realistically for an alien. Based on his description, I guess it would be the same for us if we ever visited "Wetspace". This novel tells us the story of Tink Puddah, a strange being mostly conveniently referred to as the "foreigner". Tink comes to us from a place called "Wetspace". It looks like Tink may be the child of Nif and Ru, also two aliens from "Wetspace". The Three have decided to come to earth and adapt themselves to the planet and its' people in the mid 1800's. I also thought that it was interesting to begin the story with Tink's funeral. I loved the idea of the preacher being the public enemy instead of the alien. In fact in his review of the book, Corey Redkop from "Shelf Monkey states "DiChario propels the story through startling imagery that pays homage to the tenets of the genre while at the same time raising the bar". The novel allows us to examine our own conscious while enjoying science fiction at the same time. It also demonstrates that all persons are fallible. One of the most interesting aspects of this book is that it is a "first contact" novel. Taking the form of a 'first-contact' novel (i.e. a story based on the presumption of Earth's first contact with an alien life form), this really does seem like we are almost experiencing this story ourselves. What I appreciate most about this novel is that despite the subject matter, we are still taken through unexpected roads which for a moment seem ludicrous, yet after thought are log ical. My favorite quote from this novel is: "Their metamorphosis had begun-they had each developed two miniature spherical structures of jelly-like eyes with which to see the new world. Bodies shrinking, rounding, bending. Bones to support the eco-matter. Small, bipedal, humanoid creatures they would become. Atoms, molecules, joints, nails, skin, glands, hormones,

Middle School Classroom Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Middle School Classroom Management - Essay Example Why do we eat fast food, in particular It is quick, easy, and comforting. Why do we complain or get angry Perhaps to influence others and to get rid of negative feelings. Why would we avoid meeting others or talking to people We're perfectly comfortable in our own little zone. And the list goes on and on. (Managing, 2006 p. 1). By the same token, why do we avoid good choices such as going to the dentist or doctor. Well, that one's obvious-it's costly and painful! Why don't we save money Because we want things now. Why don't we exercise or eat healthy foods Exercise is hard and preparing healthy foods takes time. For we adults, three steps are needed for us to obtain self-control: We need "standards," which means we need to know what we should do. Secondly we need to be aware if our behavior is failing to meet these standards, and finally, we need to be able to correct the behavior that is producing sub-standard behavior. (Managing, 2006 p. 4). The principles that we as adults can use to change our negative behaviors can translate into principles that we can teach middle school age children as well. These principles will create the lifelong ability for them to both monitor and modify their behavior in many areas of their lives. Of course children misbehave for a variety of reasons; it can be as simple as a cry for attention-good or bad-or as complicated as a difficult situation in their home life. A child may be troubled about an issue and acting our, or simply showing youthful exuberance which goes over the line into disruptive behavior. Many times a teacher is required to be much more than a teacher, and one of these things would be a psychiatrist. The teacher must come to know each and every individual student in such a way that it is obvious to her, even if not to others, just which of the above issues may be the at the root of the bad behavior. The first day of class student and teacher needs, rights and expectations should be openly discussed on the first day of class and reviewed periodically. The student's basic needs includes survival, belonging, power, fun and freedom and they have the right to learn without being disrupted by others. (Wiggins 2006 p. 2) In turn, the teacher has the right to expect the full attention of each and every student as well as the right to establish a learning environment that facilitates optimal success. (Charles 1992 p. 109). Even beyond these basic rights and expectations, the student is expected to come to class both prepared and with the desire to learn. They are expected to behave in a respectful manner both to teachers and other students, and accept any consequence of their own negative behavior. The teacher is expected to consider interesting curricula that both engages the student's full attention

Global Leadership and Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Global Leadership and Management - Essay Example The paper tells that the French economy had withstood the economic recession better than most other nations because of the resilience of the domestic spending of consumers, having a large public sector and because it is less exposed to the global demand and thus less exposed to the downturn. However, the GDP of the nation has been contracting since then. GDP contracted by 2.5% in the year 2009. Additionally the unemployment rate has also increased from 7.4% to 9.5% between the years 2008 and 2010. This could be a potential threat for the company seeking to expand in France as it could face inadequate demand for its products. Additionally the labor market in France is not much competitive. That is why the French government has been trying to reform the labor market and modernize the economy. Workers productivity remains low in France. The president of France has tried eliminating the annual flat business tax and has also tried to increase tax credit for the investments made in the sma ll and medium scale enterprises. This could act as a favorable factor for the company trying to expand in France. Moreover France also represents strong presence of labor unions which and the French Government pays particular attention to the protection and safeguard of workers both in the public as well as the private sector. This could be detrimental for the company to take strategic actions in case of low productivity of workers or the organization. (Central Intelligence Agency, 2011). Strategies to address the issues The main issue could be the problem of low demand arising out of the GDP contraction in the economy. The problem can be tackled with an extensive marketing campaigning of the company’s products. This would be effective in spreading awareness about the products and making them accessible to the customers. The idea is to develop efficiencies in the operations of the company. It would be crucial to develop economies of scale such through increasing efficiencies in all its work processes. Moreover the high unemployment could be used for the company’ advantage as it would be possible to get labour at low costs and high efficiencies. Labour productivity could be a growing concern for the company seeking to expand in France. This problem would have to be tackled with the use of proper human resource management strategies. HRM theorists have increasingly identified the need for linking HRM strategies with the performance of the workforce. HRM strategies should be such that can attain the maximum contribution from employees and their exploit their maximum potential. The most suitable strategy in this case could be to employ performance based pay in which workers would be paid as per their performance and productivity in the organization over and above their basic pay. Pay linked with performance would be effective in driving up performance standards in the organization through enhanced efficiencies and expertise. The idea is to develop co mpetitive advantage in all activities through increased efficiencies such that costs can be lowered and economies of scale can be attained (Cooke, 2000, p.1-2). However, compensations would have to be backed with rewards structures and training and development programs to ensure maximum involvement of employees in the organization. It is crucial to rewards employees for their good performance in the organization. However, rewards must not always be monetary; employees can be provided with non monetary rewards like words of appreciation, promotions, gifts etc. it can also

Analysis capital structure of saudi companies Essay

Analysis capital structure of saudi companies - Essay Example The same considerations affect Islamic financial instruments, but with the difference that Islamic finance does not charge interest, thus changing the considerations for which debt is incurred. This paper examined ten Saudi Arabian firms as far as capital structure is concerned, and inquired into the factors that bear upon the decision to avail of certain modes of financing. The methodology made use of financial ratio analysis and qualitative data analysis in arriving at its findings. It concludes that Saudi firms are conservatively capitalized, and that the effects of conventional capital structure theories are not rigidly evident in the choice of capital mix of debt and equity. Acknowledgment Table of Contents Title page 1 Abstract 2 Acknowledgement 3 Table of contents 4 Chapter 1: Introduction 6 1.1 Chapter overview 6 1.2 Background of the research topic 6 1.3 Research objectives and questions 7 1.4 Significance of the research 7 1.5 Chapter summary 9 Chapter 2: Literature review 10 2.1 Chapter overview 10 2.2 Theories 10 2.3 Optimal capital structure literature 14 2.4 Factors influencing capital structure 15 2.5 Arab countries 17 2.6 Chapter summary 29 Chapter 3: Methodology 30 3.1 Chapter overview 30 3.2 Research study and methodology 30 3.3 Subjects of research 31 3.4 Type and source of data 32 3.5 Method of analysis 33 3.6 Variables used in the study 33 3.7 Chapter summary 34 Chapter 4: Results 35 4.1 Chapter overview 35 4.2 Summary of capital structure for Saudi Arabian companies 36 4.3 Summary of EPS, annual dividend, and payout rates of Saudi Arabian firms 37 4.4 Chapter summary 38 Chapter 5: Discussion and analysis 39 5.1 Chapter overview 39 5.2 Description of the capital structure choice of Saudi companies 39 5.3 External influences on capital structure decisions of Saudi companies 49 5.4 Chapter summary 61 Chapter 6: Conclusion 62 6.1 Summary of the dissertation 62 6.2 Conclusion 62 6.3 Directions for future research 65 References Appendices Chapte r 1 Introduction 1.1 Chapter Overview This chapter sets the context of the dissertation. It introduces the problem in the context in which it is significant, in order to provide direction and guidance for the further progress of the dissertation. The statement of the problem and the supporting research questions are provided, to serve as focus for the subsequent discussion. 1.2 Background of the Research Topic The capital structure choice is a long-standing issue of great importance for companies. The mix of funds, which affects the cost and availability of capital, has long been the focus of interest among companies due of its impact on investment decisions. Capital structure is defined as the relative value of debt and equity used to finance projects. The importance of capital structure results from the financing sources and the mix of securities used by firms to finance real investment. Capital structure is also important in Saudi Arabia, especially after the 2006 crisis. Firms n owadays try to finance their capital in better ways. Capital structure theory began with the celebrated paper by Modigliani and Miller (1958). These authors pointed out the trend that must be shown by such theories by showing under what conditions capital structure is irrelevant. Since then, many economists have followed the study with regard to all matters relating to capital structure, and have

Olympus corporation scandal 2011 and corporate governance failures Coursework

Olympus corporation scandal 2011 and corporate governance failures - Coursework Example counting standards for accounting investments , poor play by institutional investors , non-existence of strong take-over codes and the role of statutory auditors to certify the accuracy of company accounts (Tricker & Tricker 2014:176). This research essay will examine how Olympus Corporation was organised , will discuss in-detail about the prevention of such scams in future in Japan by suggesting suitable measures by strengthening the existing corporate governance codes of Japan. The Olympus Corporation (hereinafter will be referred as OC) scandal was related to financial reporting, which offers an opportunity to throw some light how both practical and theoretical issues were the causes for the reform in the Japanese corporate governance model. Japan’s continuous reluctance to appoint independent directors- the concept which was introduced in the U.S. on the pressures from global institutional investors in the 1990s was one of the reasons for the failure of corporate governance in Japan. The main aim of the corporate governance should address risk management and conflicts of interest instead of concentrating mainly on enhancing performance of the business (Schreck 2009:57). In the absence of independent monitors to make any probable monitoring of management, it is really not practical to make corporate governance more vibrant. A good operating environment would include updated information disseminations, strong implementation, especially through priva te litigations and entrusting active roles to external auditors (Woodford 2012:2). OC establi shed a tobashi scheme to transform its losses off the balance sheet of Olympus. A A tobashi scheme is a financial scam where the losses incurred by a company are camouflouged by an investment firm by transfering them between other fake or genuine clients or the portfolios. Cayman based companies were acquired by paying abnormal acquisition and management fees. When Michael Woodford, a British, who was appointed CEO of

Analysis capital structure of saudi companies Essay

Analysis capital structure of saudi companies - Essay Example The same considerations affect Islamic financial instruments, but with the difference that Islamic finance does not charge interest, thus changing the considerations for which debt is incurred. This paper examined ten Saudi Arabian firms as far as capital structure is concerned, and inquired into the factors that bear upon the decision to avail of certain modes of financing. The methodology made use of financial ratio analysis and qualitative data analysis in arriving at its findings. It concludes that Saudi firms are conservatively capitalized, and that the effects of conventional capital structure theories are not rigidly evident in the choice of capital mix of debt and equity. Acknowledgment Table of Contents Title page 1 Abstract 2 Acknowledgement 3 Table of contents 4 Chapter 1: Introduction 6 1.1 Chapter overview 6 1.2 Background of the research topic 6 1.3 Research objectives and questions 7 1.4 Significance of the research 7 1.5 Chapter summary 9 Chapter 2: Literature review 10 2.1 Chapter overview 10 2.2 Theories 10 2.3 Optimal capital structure literature 14 2.4 Factors influencing capital structure 15 2.5 Arab countries 17 2.6 Chapter summary 29 Chapter 3: Methodology 30 3.1 Chapter overview 30 3.2 Research study and methodology 30 3.3 Subjects of research 31 3.4 Type and source of data 32 3.5 Method of analysis 33 3.6 Variables used in the study 33 3.7 Chapter summary 34 Chapter 4: Results 35 4.1 Chapter overview 35 4.2 Summary of capital structure for Saudi Arabian companies 36 4.3 Summary of EPS, annual dividend, and payout rates of Saudi Arabian firms 37 4.4 Chapter summary 38 Chapter 5: Discussion and analysis 39 5.1 Chapter overview 39 5.2 Description of the capital structure choice of Saudi companies 39 5.3 External influences on capital structure decisions of Saudi companies 49 5.4 Chapter summary 61 Chapter 6: Conclusion 62 6.1 Summary of the dissertation 62 6.2 Conclusion 62 6.3 Directions for future research 65 References Appendices Chapte r 1 Introduction 1.1 Chapter Overview This chapter sets the context of the dissertation. It introduces the problem in the context in which it is significant, in order to provide direction and guidance for the further progress of the dissertation. The statement of the problem and the supporting research questions are provided, to serve as focus for the subsequent discussion. 1.2 Background of the Research Topic The capital structure choice is a long-standing issue of great importance for companies. The mix of funds, which affects the cost and availability of capital, has long been the focus of interest among companies due of its impact on investment decisions. Capital structure is defined as the relative value of debt and equity used to finance projects. The importance of capital structure results from the financing sources and the mix of securities used by firms to finance real investment. Capital structure is also important in Saudi Arabia, especially after the 2006 crisis. Firms n owadays try to finance their capital in better ways. Capital structure theory began with the celebrated paper by Modigliani and Miller (1958). These authors pointed out the trend that must be shown by such theories by showing under what conditions capital structure is irrelevant. Since then, many economists have followed the study with regard to all matters relating to capital structure, and have

Comparing Ibn khaldun ecnomics theory with laffer curve, Taxation Research Paper

Comparing Ibn khaldun ecnomics theory with laffer curve, Taxation - Research Paper Example Ibn Khaldun appears as a forerunner of the prominent American economist Arthur Laffer whose suggestion complements that high rates contract the tax base since decrease the economic activity (Ibn et al. 1969). According to Laffer, the relationship amid tax and revenues is that changes in taxes have effects on profits. Ibn Khaldun’s concepts are comparable to those of supply economics that emphasizes incentives and tax reduction as a way of economic development. Ibn Khalduns’ taxation theory is considered a unique and one of his most significant contributions to the economic policy. His tax theory has cemented a place in the world of economics. The paper attempts to table experimental evidence that can support and fortify his tax theory. It similarly introduces Ibn Khaldun’s exemplary work Muqaddimah as well as economic ideologies seen in his work. On another account, the essay seeks to examine Ibn Khalduns’s theory and the Laffer curve comparatively. The key objective of Ibn Khaldun’s theory of taxation is to reduce to the lowest level possible the levies upon individuals capable of undertaking cultural enterprises. Through this way, the individuals will psychologically dispose of themselves to undertake their activities because there is an assurance that they will make a profit at the end of the day. He, therefore, advocates reducing the burden of taxation upon business entities, as well as producers, in order to entice the enterprise through guaranteeing greater returns to the entrepreneur, as well as revenue to the government. In practice, he realized that the government depends on low taxes. And for that reason, the enterprises increase in the number as well as size therefore permitting the growth of the tax base, revenue, and governmental surplus (Ibn et al. 1969). At the conclusion of a dynasty, taxation produces massive income from small valuation. The reason thereby is that when family trails the means of religion , it executes

Essay on the the Secret Book Essay Example for Free

Essay on the the Secret Book Essay According to recent studies, self-help books – non-fiction books that offer advice for behavior modification and make explicit promises for positive change – have doubled as a percentage of all book titles since the 1970s. The increasing popularity of self-help books is an indicator of the modern societys quest to maximize personal happiness through a process of self-discovery. Self-help books are a response to a real and genuine hunger for psychological understanding and self-improvement and are part of the larger market of advice media. Readers buy self-help books seeking self-control – both as a good-faith attempt to increase their self-control and to elicit a temporary sensation that, in fact, the first step toward self-control has already been taken. And of recent years, one of the increasing self-help or spirituality books involve the teachings of New Age-ism. The New Age is a decentralized Western social and spiritual movement that seeks Universal Truth and the attainment of the highest individual human potential. It includes aspects of Occultism, astrology, esotericism, metaphysics, alternative medicine, music, collectivism, sustainability, and nature. New Age spirituality is characterized by an individual approach to spiritual practices and philosophies, and the rejection of religious doctrine and dogma. New Age practices and philosophies sometimes draw inspiration from major world religions: Buddhism, Chinese folk religion, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism; with particularly strong influences from East Asian religions, Gnosticism, Neopaganism, New Thought, Spiritualism, Theosophy, Universalism, and Western esotericism. New Age spirituality has led to a wide array of literature on the subject and an active niche market: books, music, crafts, and services in alternative medicine are available at New Age stores, fairs, and festivals. And one of the most phenomenal publishing successes in the self-help/New Age teachings is a book called The Secret. ABOUT THE SECRET Product Details The English-language 6. 9 x 5. 7 x 0. 9 inches hardcover book is fairly lightweight at 198 pages. It was first published in November 28, 2006 by Atria Books in Australia. In the United States of America, the book is published by Beyond Words and in United Kingdom by Simon Schuster UK. Product Description Fragments of a Great Secret have been found in the oral traditions, in literature, in religions and philosophies throughout the centuries. For the first time, all the pieces of The Secret come together in an incredible revelation that will be life-transforming for all who experience it. In this book, youll learn how to use The Secret in every aspect of your life money, health, relationships, happiness, and in every interaction you have in the world. Youll begin to understand the hidden, untapped power thats within you, and this revelation can bring joy to every aspect of your life. The Secret contains wisdom from modern-day teachers men and women who have used it to achieve health, wealth, and happiness. By applying the knowledge of The Secret, they bring to light compelling stories of eradicating disease, acquiring massive wealth, overcoming obstacles, and achieving what many would regard as impossible. Content of The Secret 1. Foreword 2. Acknowledgements 3. The Secret Revealed 4. The Secret Made Simple 5. How to Use The Secret 6. Powerful Processes 7. The Secret to Money 8. The Secret to Relationships 9. The Secret to Health 10. The Secret to the World 11. The Secret to You 12. The Secret to Life 13. Biographies The Secret Revealed The first thing you need to know is that The Secret isn’t really a secret. The secret is actually â€Å"The Law of Attraction† that asserts what you think creates what you feel, and these feelings flow from your body as magnetic energy waves over vast distances, which then cause the universe around you to vibrate at the same energy level as your feelings. The idea dates back nearly 3,000 years to early Hindu teachings that like attracts like. The law of attraction, which the author Rhonda Byrne says is the most powerful law in the universe, states that people experience the logical manifestations of their predominant thoughts, feelings, and words. This gives people direct control over their lives. A persons thoughts (whether conscious or unconscious) and feelings bring about corresponding positive or negative manifestations. Positive thoughts bring about positive manifestations while negative thoughts bring about negative manifestations. The theory is very simple. Because it is an absolute law, the law of attraction will always respond to your thoughts no matter what they are. Thus your thoughts become things. You are the most powerful power in the universe simply because whatever you think about will come to be. You shape the world that exists around you. You shape your own life and destiny through the power of your mind. To quote some of the teachings in this book are â€Å"Thoughts are sending out that magnetic signal that is drawing the parallel back to you. †Thus there is no such thing as accident or coincidence; it is you, the individual, who brings misery on yourself because of your toxic thinking. But the good news, if you can alter your thoughts, and therefore your feelings, you can actually cause the universe around you to vibrate at a positive energy level and the desires of your heart will come to be realized! All you have to do is Ask — Believe — Receive. You just have to visualize what you want, feel good about it, and then ask the universe — and whatever you can imagine can be yours. It is like having the universe as your catalogue and you flip through it and go, ‘Well I’d like to have this experience and I’d like to have that product and I’d like to have a person like that’ †¦ It is you just placing your order with the universe. The law of attraction was the power, the author argues, behind geniuses such as Plato, Newton, Beethoven and Einstein. In this book too, she has also gotten quotes, experiences and support from the whos who of the self-help industry, including John Gray, author of Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus, and Jack Canfield, who wrote Chicken Soup for the Soul. Jack Canfield, provides an excellent example of the ask-believe-receive system where he tells us that he visualized earning $100,000 (even writing the desired amount on a bill worth far less and tacking it to the ceiling above his bed) and focused his mental energy only on the goal of attaining the money. He tells us that he had absolutely no idea how he was going to get the money — he simply focused on believing that he would get the money, somehow. But how? For four weeks he had no breakthrough ideas but then, one day in the shower, he remembered that he had written a book and, if it was published (particularly if he sold 400,000 copies and he made a quarter on each) he just might achieve his financial goals. Of course the book was published, and the results were only a few thousand dollars shy of 100,000 dollars. And this is just one of the many testimonials in this book called The Secret. The Story Behind The Secret It is not a secret now that The Secret is a publishing phenomenon of recent years especially for in the non-fiction self-help category. This small book, with a parchment-brown cover engraved with the image of a red wax seal, debuted in 2006 and since then it has sold over four million copies worldwide and has been translated to 38 different languages. The Secret began as a DVD which came out end of 2004. Rhonda Byrne was a television producer in Australia in 2004 when the death of her father led her to discover ‘the secret’, which is her term for what is commonly known as the law of attraction. Her discovery was mainly caused by the 1910 book The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace Wattles. Wattless book struck such a chord with Byrne that she plunged into a crash course in Western, Eastern, ancient and modern thought, devouring hundreds of books and articles in just two and a half weeks. Inspired, she flew to the States in July 2005 and began lining up people to interview; the film was finished six months later and she began trying to find an Australian network to air it. The top-rated Nine Network was intrigued by her proposal, but the finished film struck Len Downs, the program manager, as just a whole range of talking heads giving their basis of the secret of life. It eventually ran in Australia just a few weeks ago, and, says Downs, it didnt do all that well. But armed with the law of attraction, Byrne was confident things would work out. A Web company situated just blocks away from her office in Melbourne had a technology for distributing streaming video over the Internet. In March 2006, her site (http://thesecret. tv) began selling downloads and DVDs, one of which found its way to Cynthia Black, president of the New Age-oriented publishing house Beyond Words saw its potential and by late November the book was in the stores and the rest as they say, is history. PURCHASING THE SECRET The Secret books are available at all major bookstores, online bookstore and through its official website. It is usually placed in the Health, Mind Body - Self Help category or Religion Spirituality - New Age category. At most of these major bookstores, The Secret books are placed most prominently on the shelves. Due to it being constantly on worldwide bestseller lists for non-fiction books thus the title is prominently displayed in the bookstores should the bookstore have a bestsellers display section. Its average retails price for cash carry stores are $23. 95 in the United States; ? 12. 00 in United Kingdom; and MYR79. 90 in Malaysia. While its average retail price for online purchases are $14. 00 and ? 12. 00 in United States and United Kingdom respectively. PROMOTING THE SECRET After the phenomenal success of the The Secret DVD, it made sense for it to be turned into a book and what better way for the marketers to embark on promoting the book than playing up the hype of the movie and using the popular internet marketing tool such as the viral video site YouTube. The book was marketed with an online viral video campaign focusing on wealth enhancement. The short video clips showed testimonials from readers of the book and practitioners of the secret claiming that the technique brought them wealth, cured sickness, and brought about a general life-change. The video clips do not disclose what the secret is, where it originated from or how it can be practiced, but rather pointed viewers to the website for both the book and film. Thus hooking the viewers and made them all the more intrigue by the claims made by the author in the book. As for packaging and promotional material, the book also played into the consumers’ senses by trying to showcase that the secret originates from the cosmos. The cover prominently displayed a parchment-brown cover engraved with the image of a red wax seal (see Appendix 1) to indicate it is somewhat a book from the olden days and in the inside pages, the background design are a field of stars, and various shots of the universe thus adding mystique to the claims and the practice. However, the most savvy and most probably the ultimate gambit of the book is to call it The Secret. To quote Mr Donavin Bennes, a buyer who specializes in metaphysics for Borders Books, We all want to be in on a secret. But to present it as the secret, that was brilliant. † Thus the name evoke a sense of intrigue to readers who are looking for something magical or perhaps easier tool for them to understand and to fully live their lives. Another smart marketing move made by the publisher was to have it endorsed by well-known and highly popular worldwide celebrities. The book got its first break in the US when Ellen DeGeneres featured it on her show. And when Oprah Winfrey decided to run a show on it, although it was already a big success, the sales ballooned up much more. Oprah Winfrey first featured it on Feb. 8 2007 and according to Nielsen BookScan, the book had sold 18,000 copies the week before. During the week of the show, sales rocketed to 101,000 and when the show did a follow-up on Feb. 16 2007, the sales that week reached 190,000. With the success of the book, the publishers decided to create more spin-off titles, which they call The Secret tools. There are now The Secret to Teen Power (see Appendix 2), The Secret Daily Teachings (see Appendix 3) and The Secret Gratitude Book (see Appendix 4). Not only that, at its official website there are also ‘gifts’ for the readers such as visualization tools, The Secret memory game, wallpapers, ebook and blank checks (see Appendix 5) which goes hand-in-hand with the teachings of the book. THE SECRET S. W. O. T ANALYSIS Strengths 1. The intriguing title. As elaborated above, the title play a major role in inciting readers’ interest in the book. 2. The cover design. Alongside its intriguing title, the odd-shaped book with its olden-days personification invoke a sense of mystery that is definitely eye-catching and surely pique a person’s interest while browsing the shelves at a bookstore. 3. The content is an easy read with its simple language and peppered with inspiring testimonials from many men women who has experienced the use of the secret plus personal experience quotations from the the whos who of the self-help industry. 4. The savvy marketing ideas of the publishers that has created the hype that constantly raise awareness of the book. 5. Endorsement by high-profile influential personalities that are recognized world-wide certainly helped boosted its sale internationally. 6. Constant high-placing in best-selling charts, most probably due to the savvy marketing ideas of the publisher and as the  long-term effect of the celebrity associated to the book especially Oprah Winfrey. Weaknesses 1. The selling price in Malaysia of RM79. 90 is definitely a setback to potential buyers as the price is rather steep for many people especially for books in the self-help category. 2. The book is not available in paperback form thus some book buyers are not keen on buying hardback cover books due to its steeper price or its slightly heavy weight. 3. The content is not something that is unique and there are many similar teachings that one can get in many other books thus it does lack a little originality. 4. As typical with many New Age teachings, the content of the book has garnered much criticism which try to debunked the book’s teaching as merely hype, mumbo-jumbo or just plain illogical. 5. The book has to complete with many other form of self-help books available that are cheaper, more accessible and from much more renowned authors (Paulo Coelho, Eckhart Tolle, Anthony Robbins) Opportunities 1. Publishers could promote to younger readers especially The Secret for Teens book first and therefore will garner their interest in the main book The Secret. 2. Use the The Secret movie to lure potential readers as there are those who would like to have to book in hand as a way to look back or do revision which is harder to do with the dvd. 3. Offer a cheaper paperback form, thus the book is able to be sold at a cheaper price and therefore garner many more readers. Threats 1. With the easy access to internet, potential readers might decide to check out what the book is about online and thus stumbling on the many critics that the book has garnered. This in turn can make them believe the critics before actually reading the book, thus will result in loss of sales. 2. Like many other things in life, people are apt to stumble upon a new idea for a book or a belief that could help the world, thus there will be brand new books in the future that will probably come with a much more savvy marketing approach and thus will affect the interest of the people about The Secret! THE SECRET CONCLUSION The Secret is a phenomenon and it is likely to become one of the best-selling self-help books of all time. Venture into your local bookstore or look around you while waiting at an airport, and youre bound to see people reading it and absorbing it. They will not just be people who consult astrologers and who listen to Tony Robbins tapes, but normal, average people like the ones who live next door to you. There are almost 1400 reviews of the book printed at Amazon with an average rating of 3. 5 out of 5. The breakdown of those scores is interesting: fifty-two percent of them are 5-star, thirteen percent are 4-star and twenty-one percent are 1-star. This means that the majority of people, the great majority even, believe in at least some aspects of the books premise and teaching. They believe in the law of attraction. The one problem that The Secret poses is that it simplifies and speculates way too much and there are a quite a significant level of moral defects, the lack of scientific backing, and the various philosophical shortcomings, how is it that a significant number of people still believe there’s something to The Law of Attraction? Part of the reason must certainly be the powerful testimonials coming from celebrity figures such as Oprah Winfrey, a woman who attributes her success to her mighty powers of attraction. Of course, thats a long way from the simple model of Ask-Believe-Receive. In most peoples lives, positive thought leads to success only through the transforming medium of action. But as the author Rhonda said in an interview, she just wants to bring happiness to everybody. Thats the reason it all began. And to her credit, she does bring happiness to many people worldwide and surely there is nothing, in principle, wrong with thinking about what makes you happy.

Terrorism: Causes, Effects and Prevention Strategies

Terrorism: Causes, Effects and Prevention Strategies In the last quarter of the century, there is a dramatic change in most of the terrorist activities, as they are well-planned, with a purpose to accomplish a precise identifiable and seemingly attainable political goal. In the past, most of the terrorist activities involved incidents like high-jacking an aircraft or the taking of a hostage following which certain demands were made. Their aim was usually to release their friends, or group leaders from prisons. Terrorism in the last few decades has taken a more violent and destructive turn, and quite often the demands are not made. Terrorism today is an act which is sudden, unprovoked, sheer brutal attack on innocent civilians killing several people in a crowded market or a gathering. Most of there terrorist attacks have had a political objective, which have now become rather diffused since the 9/11 attack. It now seems that the idea is to create fear and panic, and primarily to get publicity through the television news and print media According to several orthodox cultures, the terrorists resorted to this particular type of extremism as the only way for accomplishing political change. Also it appears to be interconnected to globalization and the increased impact of the United States and other Western countries. This has added to the resentments of the people of that part of the world. Thus it is the larger developments, changes in the international political structure, and expansion of globalization throughout the world that explains this trend in terrorism. The sixty years of suffering of the Palestinians and their unsuccessful efforts to get an independent state is one of the major reasons for the unrest in the Muslim World. The recent siege (412 Palestinian children perished between the 27th of December 2008 and the 18th of January 2009 as a result of the bombings and atrocities carried out by the Israeli Occupying Forces The end year of 2009 inevitably This markeds the First Year Memorial of Operation Cast Lead, when almost 1,400 Palestinians, mostly civilians were killed during the course of a brutal military operation carried out by Israeli authorities. Thousands more were wounded or displaced. 412 Palestinian children perished between the 27th of December 2008 and the 18th of January 2009. These children were killed as a result of the bombings and atrocities carried out by the Israeli Occupying Forces) affected the Palestinian social fabric completely. As the trauma grows with every violent incursion into Palestinian communities; hatred and tendency of revenge also increases among them. During the Gulf War, and more recently in Afghanistan, the terrorist groups often resort to psychological warfare because its the only tactic they have available to them. They dont have M-16s, and we have M-16s. They dont have the mighty military power that we have, and they only have access to things like kidnapping, says Haroun, a clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego. (cited in Warner, 2005).1 In reality these terrorist attacks does not harm the enemy physically very much, as few people could be killed in an attack. But the repercussions are tremendous from the psychological point of view. Ordinary people viewing the terrorist attack in person or watching it on television, gets anxious, terrified, and often develop a sense of foreboding fear, which in turn may lead to demoralization in the entire society. Psychological Terror Whatever is their modus operandi, terrorists share very similar aims. Alexander and Klein (2006)[1] concisely identified the aims of terrorism as follows: To create pervasive fear, anxiety and panic To generate a collective and individual sense of helplessness, vulnerability and hopelessness To demonstratereveal the incompetenceineffectiveness and/or inabilityincapability of the authorities to provide security and protectionsafety against such opponents And provoke the establishment into errors or over-reactions which will disaffect the general public or specific influential bodies. The last point is essentially vital as observed by the widespread concerns as for example the shooting of an innocent man by the Metropolitan Police in London sometime ago (as a result of consequent to the wrong information that he was a suicide bomber); the incarceration of terrorist suspects in high security prisons of Guantanamo Bay and Belmarsh; and the introduction of repressive legislation. Moreno (2003)[2] has persuasively proven how easy it is in a democratic society to subordinate hard-earned civil liberties to the need to introduce counter-terrorist legislation. The terrorist attacks provide harsh reminders that in todays world, one does not know what news may come next on television or other news media. Particularly disturbing television images of horrific incidents can trigger the innate startle response no matter how close or far away from home the event happened. Historically, every military clash has led to psychological warfare in some form in one way or another as th e enemy aims to break the morale of their opponent. Due to progress in technology; the popularity of the internet; and increase of news coverage, the rules of engagement in this type of psychological battle have changed. Whether it is a substantial attack or a single dreadful act, the effects of psychological warfare are not restricted to the physical damage it produces. Instead, the intent of these attacks is to instillinstil a sense of fear that is much greater than the actual threat itself. According to Professor Richard Bulliet of Columbia University: There are various ways to have your impact. You can have your impact by the magnitude of what you do, by the symbolic character of target, or the horrific quality of what you do to a single person. Interestingly the way media covers the event in fact determines the effect on the people. For instance, according to Bulliet, the Iranian hostage predicament, in 1979, which though lasted for 444 days, was infact actually one of the most harmless of (word harmless) criticalthings events that occurredhappened in the Middle East in the last 25 years. All the U.S. hostages were released ultimately unscathed., butHowever this hostage event remains a psychological scarblemish for manyseveral Americans who watched powerlessly, each evenings newscast, they counted days the hostages were being held in custody. The terrorists often take advantage of images of a group of masked individuals coercing and intimidating exerting total power over their captives to sendconvey the message that the act is a collective demonstrationdisplay of the groups power rather than an individual criminal act. You dont have the notion that a certain person has taken a hostage. Its an image of group power, and the force becomes generalized rather than personalized. The randomness and the ubiquity of the threat give the impression of vastly greater capacities. (cited in Warner, 2005).[3] Remote Repercussions of Terrorist Attacks When a horrific event occurs, it is natural to feel disturbed, even if the act occurred thousands of miles away. The human reaction is to put oneself in the situation because as normal human beings, people have the capacity to empathize. And consequently these people may develop similar psychological symptoms. Witnessing an act of psychological terror can also disrupt our belief system, says Charles Figley, PhD, director of the Florida State University Traumatology Institute. (cited in Warner, 2005).[4] We walk around, psychologically, in a bubble, and that bubble represents our belief system and values. Most often we assume incorrectly that other people have the same values and social niceties as we do. When that is violated or challenged, the first response is usually an effort to protect our beliefs and, in other words, to deny that it actually happened. When A s soon as confronted with proof of terror, such as pictures of atrocities, Figley says there are a few different waysdifferent ways in which people typically react: They perceive perpetrators to be inhumane. Become fearful as they perceive they are living in a callous and unsafe world because the graph bar of inhumanityhumanity has been lowered even further. Believe that its only a fleeting incident which could be easily explained away or deconstructed by precise things that have taken place, such as if we hadnt done this, then that would not have happened. Its uncomfortable believing that the world is less safe, so we have to imagine or construct a scenario that will allow us to feel more safe again and resist change, says Figley. There is an interesting and strange symbiotic relationship between terrorism and the media. Bruce Hoffman, the director of the Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence, in his book Inside Terrorism has written a clear summary of some of the major historical trends in international terrorism. He makes careful distinctions between the motivations that drive political (or ethno-nationalist) terrorism and religious terrorism, and he explains also shows why the rise of religious terrorism, coupled with the increased availability of weapons of mass destruction, may foretellpredict an eraepoch of even greater violence. In the past, Hoffman argues, the main goal of the terrorist was not to kill and destroy, but to attract media attention to his cause in the hope of initiating reform. For the religious terrorist, however, violence is first and foremost a sacred act or divine duty executed in direct response to some theological demand or imperative religious terrorists see themselves not as components of a system worth preserving but as outsiders, seeking fundamental changes in the existing order. (Hoffman, 2006).[5] In this context Hoffman does not choose sides, he refers to in this framework, pointing to the bombings of the World Trade Center ,and Oklahoma City and the Tokyo,to the Sarin nerve gas attacks, in Tokyo in order to demonstrate that radicalsfundamentalists of any religious denomination are capable of extreme acts of terrorism. Terrorism is an aggressive-hostile action which is mainly intended to harm and terrify civilians, in order to promote a particular aim, or with an the idea, which may be social political or other. The terrorist attacks, are now gaining major importance than wars in the news headlines worldwide Terrorism and its Effects on Mental Health Whether its a massive attack or a single dreadfulhorrific act, the effects of psychological warfare are not restrictedlimited to the physical damage inflicted. Infact the primary objectivestead, the goal of these attacks is to inculcate a sense of fear whichthat is much greater than the actual threat itself. Therefore, the impact of psychological terror depends largely on how the acts are revealedpublicized and interpreted. Typical reactions to major trauma on the individuals and communities are well-documented but the literature on the individual reactions to terrorist incidents is scarce. Most of the reactions at the initial phase following trauma are normal reactions and only few individuals display florid psychopathology. (Alexander and Klein, 2006).[6] Normal individual reactions to a terrorist attack are: Emotional Reactions : shock, numbness, denial , fear, anxiety , helplessness, hopelessness. Cognitive dysfunctions as disorientation, confusion ,intrusive thoughts, images, memories ,hypervigilance (i.e. increased sense of risk),impaired concentration and memory. Changes in social interaction, like withdrawal ,irritability ,loss of trust and faith , avoidant behaviour (i.e. of any reminders of the event). Physical reactions as autonomic hyperarousal , ,loss of energy. insomnia Autonomic hyper-arousal, insomnia, loss of energy. Emotional shock, numbness, denial, fear, anxiety helplessness, hopelessness. Cognitive disorientation, confusion, intrusive thoughts, images, memories.Hyper-vigilance, impaired concentration and memory. Social withdrawal, irritability, loss of trust and faith, avoidant behaviour (i.e. of any reminders of the event). These normal reactions comprise most of the core symptoms of PTSD, i.e. intrusive experiences, hyper-arousal and avoidant behaviour, as defined in the ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders (ICD-10; WHO, 1992).[7] For a formal diagnosis of PTSD, such symptoms must be experienced for at least a few weeks. (The fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [DSM-IV] also necessitatesrequires that such symptoms mustto be present for one month. (American Psychiatric Association, 1994).[8] In addition the impact on individuals, terrorism has mass psychogenic impacts. Mass psychogenic illness has been defined as: The rapid spread of illness signs and symptoms affecting members of a cohesive group, originating from a nervous system disturbance involving excitation, loss or alteration of function whereby physical complaints that are exhibited unconsciously have no corresponding organic aetiology. (Bartholomew Wessely, 2002). [9] As regards community reactions, they may present with distinct features. Tyhurst provides a three phase model of community response. (Tyhurst, 1951).[10] In Phase I, most individuals are liable to be stunned, numbed or even in denial. Denial was the commonly reported reaction among the office staff of Capital Hill, Washington DC following the anthrax scare in 2001. It took some time for the affectees to realize they might have been exposed to a toxic substance. North et al., 2005).[11] Widespread panic is not a typical reaction (though widely depicted in disaster films, etc.). Approximately 10 per cent of victims are likely to panic, and this reaction is most likely when victims believe they are trapped and feel helpless. Durodie Wessely, 2002).[12] In the 1987 Kings Cross underground fire most passengers did not panic; on the contrary, they sought out the usual methods of entry and exit. (Donald Canter, 1992).[13] Similar personal reactions were observedgiven after the London terrorist incidents of July 2005. Hence the civil contingency planning clearly should not be based on ill-informed assumptions about human behaviour. Even in extreme situations human behaviour can be rational, altruistic, and even heroic. In Phase II which is the Recoil Phase, individuals seek to make sense of what has happened. They seek reunion with their common sources of support, e.g. families, friends and colleagues. Even makeshift groups may develop as individuals seek understanding and mutual support. During this period, the community develops a sense of order and control, and the concerned relief authorities can do a lot much to facilitate this step towards recovery.. Phase III, the Recovery Phase is characterized by alternating episodes of adjustment and relapse and there may be some obvious examples of resilience and positive outcomes. Further comprehensive research studies must be A lot of research still needs to be done in order to understand how communities cope with chronic exposure to threat and adversity, but Jones and his colleagues have reassessed the social effects of air raids in Great Britain during the Second World War. They indicate a high level of civilian resilience developed during that period. (Jones et al., 2004).[14] Similarly, law enforcement authorities have commented on the apparently low level of violence-related psychopathology reported in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. Clinical data is still not enough to identify It is unclear, as to what are the protective factors in these circumstances. Extensive denial, social cohesiveness, a united front against a common enemy or some other as yet undetermined influences could be termed as protective factors. Mental Health Studies Mental health research studies are conducted worldwide to explore the effects of terrorism both on the individuals and the community. Whereas some emphasize the psycho-pathological effects of terror (Galea, Ahern, Resnick et al., 2002),[15] others focus on the human suffering, which is not identical to psychiatric morbidity (Wessely 2003),[16] and on community and cultural factors that enable people to endure the stressful event (Hobfoll, 2003).[17] This conflict between two distinct approaches (Wessely, 2003) ishas yet to be bridged. Any horrific event can affect people directly or indirectly even if they are not the targets. Hence the target of the interventions is not the individual victim only, but all the people more indirectly affected by the incidence. An impartial approach may be suitable. The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued guidelines for action during emergencies which seem to support such a stand (WHO, 2003).[18] Experiencing or witnessing a violent attack does not necessarily mean that the individual will inevitably develop psychiatric morbidity (Curran, and Miller, 2001).[19] After the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City, it was observed that: In the aftermath of terrorist attacks, many Americans regarded their distress as a normal reaction rather than a disorder needing [psychiatric] care. (Drus and Marcus, 2004).[20] Presently available data suggest that it takes more than the agent (e.g., threat to life) to lead to psychopathology. Indeed, the role of the environment is of significance, as a part of the epidemiological triangle that has been discarded by a greater focus on host-related factors (e.g., gender or age of the victim). ) A study on adults have recognized a group of factors, including religious beliefs, ideological commitment and social capital, that have protected communities which were highly exposed to terrorist attacks (like the loss of dear ones, physical injuries and property damage etc). Ideology and religion may be used as a healing power, but also as a weapon. This is especially true in the [Middle East] region. (Solomon, and Laufer (2005);[21] Shalev et al.; Shalev,[22] Tuval-Mashiach Hadar, 2004; Kaplan et al.; Kaplan,[23] Matar, Kamin, et al., 2005; Billig, Kohn, and Levav, 2004).[24] All the research data today gives hope that, by advancing research on the mental health effects of war-related activities will be conducive to the development of new techniques to counter the psycho-social aftermath of wars and other such traumatic events., Ppsychiatrists worldwide are joining the call by WHO member states to devise means to restore the psycho-pathological damage sustained by victimized populations. The World Psychiatric Association (WPA) has been active in the recent Gaza Massacre,by giving an official statement. (See Mario Maj. statement in Chapter 1V -Wars in the Muslim World1).[25] Nonetheless On the other hand, psychiatrists could play other roles even at the risk of raising idealistic initiatives which cynics might like to dismiss. There are several possibilities open for psychiatrists who, by the nature of their profession can, besides promoting health, support peace rather than war. Psychiatrists and other mental health professionals from countries in conflict could engage in alliance in a number of activities (e.g., teaching, exchange of experiences in program development and services, communication), while they are actively, tenaciously and continuously supported by WPA. Most importantly, psychiatrists must endeavour to make their societies even more ardently aware that in armed confrontations no one is a winner but that everyone is a victim. The model of collaboration in the Balkans, where mental health is a bridge to reconciliation within the framework of the Stability Pact, is a concrete example of what could be achieved when a unifying language is spoken, and when such an effort is reinforced by dedicated support from sources that are not part of the conflict. Terrorism is a paradox—a topicalcontemporary, high-profile subject with clear relevance to the real-world today relevance, yetNevertheless with limited authentic and desperate shortage of research data available es in the area. Therefield there is an urgent need to encourage the younger researchers to take a keen n interest in continuing maintaining research activities .y in the area. Psycho-Social Effects of Terrorism on the Muslim World While nothing is easier than to denounce the evildoer, nothing is more difficult than to understand him. (Mikhailovich Dostovsky) The Muslim World has endured a succession of terrorist attacks in the last decade and faced the war against terrorism with endurance and resilience. The countries most affected were Iraq, Gaza, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and particularly the FATA region in Pakistan which has been labelled as the centre of terrorist training. Pakistan also became the first line of defense in this War on Terror. The most distressing aspect of this war is the amount of destruction, damage and killing of innocent civilians of these regions. Ironically the damage done following the declaration of this war is to a large extent much greater than the loss which resulted due to the actual terrorist incident of 9/11 in New York. The Muslims worldwide have confronted the worst degree of terrorism from the powers who claim to bring peace and justice in the world. It is logical and justifiable to control and battle against those who are involved in such degrading and inhumane acts of terrorism, however, some contemplation is necessary to remodel unreasonable and illogical methods or strategies chosen to fight this terrorism. The international media has been a major partner in this war against terrorism and played a key role in portraying religious extremism in Islam as the major cause of present-day terrorism. But this is untrue since Islam is primarily a religion of peace, love and harmony. Unfortunately, clerics who have limited knowledge of the teachings and values of the Islam have misguided some people for their vested interests. The misinterpretation of the teachings of Islam by irresponsible clerics has led to fanaticism. Islam is the most practical religion of the world. As narrated by Dr Muzammil H. Siddiqi:[26] The concept of human rights in Islam is based on two important principles: dignity of human beings and justice. Islam emphasizes that all human beings are honoured by Allah subhanahu wa taala. Allah wants all human beings to live in peace and harmony and for this reason He wants us to establish justice in this world. Without justice there is no dignity and without dignity and justice there cannot be any peace. There are several passages in the Holy Quran verifying the above narration: If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what God (Allah) hath revealed, they are (no better than) unbelievers. (Holy Quran 5:44). o ye who believe! Stand out firmly for God (Allah), as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to piety: and fear God (Allah). For God (Allah) is well-acquainted with all that ye do. (Holy Quran 5:8). Human blood is sacred in any case and cannot be spilled without justification. Violating this rule is equivalent to killing all of humanity: if anyone slew a person — unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land — it would be as if he slew the whole people. (Quran 5:32). Hence the Holy Quran advocates that death of a single human being is a death of humanity. At present it is vital to understand that words terrorism and war against terrorism apparently seems to be propaganda against Islam and Muslims. Such perceptions against Islam and the Muslims have taken a toll on the social, psychological and emotional well-being of Muslims in different parts of the world. (Zafar, 2007).[27] Psycho-Social Impacts of Gaza Conflict: On 31 January 2008, the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme (GCMHP) organized a Conference on Effects of Siege on Life and Mental Health of Palestinians in Gaza Strip. Taysir Diab, Clinical Psychiatrist and Supervisor at GCMHP, talked about the mental impacts of the siege based on GCMHPs experience. He stated that there It is not one, but were a group of bio-psycho social factors that which caused mental illness. Diab of these factors under the siege on Gaza; and that the and its psychological, physical and social impacts of these factors were clinically identifiable. The siege, he said, had a direct effect on the appearance of new psychiatricmental cases and the relapse of old ones. There are personal differences on the physical and psychological levels; there are protective factors such as religion, patriotism, norms and values, as well as social support. All these factors along with others contributed in the protection of individuals. and the development of new mental illnesses in the Palestinian people. According to Diab, a vast majority of the Palestinian populations were suffering from symptoms of psychiatricmental disorders. He pointed out that the clients of GCMHPs Community Centers suffered from various psychological problems, including panic, insecurity feelings of insecurity, easily provoked aggressiveness, anger, easily provoked, psychosomatic disorders, depression, frustration, low morale, fear, poor concentration, lack of belonging or affiliation, lack of confidence in self and others, emotional numbness,numbness, and PTSD symptoms., various physical complaint, Oobsessiveon-Ccompulsive Disorders were common, and there was a definite rise in illness relapses.rise in illness relapses. Diab further mentioned that the siege affected the vulnerable groups, in particular children who suffer increasingly from fear, panic, and at times apathylack the feeling of risks, tendency of sadness and insecurity feelings of insecurity., as well as Bbed-wetting and stutteringstuttering, was also a common presentation. He also pointed that the siege affected the mental health professionals in term of increasing their mental stresspressures and state of frustration, avoidance, nervousness, and professional burn-out. Furthermore, Ahmad Abu Tawahina, Senior Clinical Psychologist and Director General of GCMHP, statedmentioned that the major aimplan behind the siege imposed by Israel wasis to implantinstil panic and fear among the Palestinians citizens. He said: We, as Palestinians, must never live a frustrating and despairing life and have to get rid of the negative impacts of siege since life goes on, and the professionals must exert all efforts in order to help people cope with the difficult situations. Twahina also stated that it was vital that Palestinians should not drown in terror and fear since most of the above mentioned symptoms are natural reactions to a madcrazy reality. He also addressed the concept of victimof victim psychology and commented on the importance of offering the mental services for people who suffer from frequent depressions, and increasing concerns. According to him the mental suffering affects everybody but at different levels, and that theere is depression, anxiety, tension, and despair is prevalent at the entirewhole community levels. In his work paper, . Samir Zaqout, a psychologist at GCMHP, discussedtalked about the social changes resulting from the siege. He statedadded that: the siege started in 1948 when Israeli Occupation practiced siege policy in an attempt to deny the Palestinians their identity: The siege is doubled as it is imposed by Israel and the international community since they didnt allow the Palestinians to practice their rights in a democratic way. Further, Zaqout pointed that the siege affected the Palestinian social fabric and domestic relations as hatred and tendency of revenge increased among the Palestinians. It also affected the moral values and accepting the other as well as increasing inter and intra familial disputes and conflicts. Summing up the proceedings of the Conference Eyad el Sarraj pointed to the significance of highlighting such statistics and showing the direct impacts of the siege on the citizens. He stressed on the importance of the accuracy and avoiding exaggeration in stating any statistics. Sarraj focused on the victim psychology. He said: Since we, as Palestinians, shouldnt adopt the role of victim, and exaggerate in blaming others and defaming ourselves. Our priority should be national reconciliation and unity and supporting the Palestinian resiliency so as to achieve our legitimate rights, endorsed by international conventions. Concluding the conference the mental health experts reiterated that it was crucial that the siege must end and professionals must undertake their roles in the field of education and mental health. This would be the first step in to bring some semblance of normality to the lives of the Gaza Community. This step was vital, in order to enable them to cope with negative consequences of the siege and minimize the resultant burdens. Moreover, it was agreed to work on the promotion of mental resilience programs for ending the siege and developing coping strategies to counter the negative mental health consequences. It was agreed that the Palestinian people are steadfast and live with dignity, and should not bend or despair and take matters positively and effectively in order to resist all schemes aiming at weakening Palestinian social fabric, and to achieve the Palestinian rights in freedom, independence and establishing the Palestinian state. Further, the attendants emphasized the importance of working, as specialists in various fields, on influencing the decision makers in the Palestinian society and acquaint them with the destructive impacts of the siege at all levels, especially the mental health of the future Palestinian generations. The physical and mental health needs of sufferers of Gaza are extremely challenging to address, particularly the psychological and emotional crises. During the last Israeli military strike in the period from December 2008 to January 2009, approximately 1380 Palestinians were killed, of whom 431 were children and 112 women. (United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) (2009). At least 5380 people were injured, including 1872 children and 800 women. In these improvised settings within health facilities such as maternity wards and operating theatres were transformed into trauma units. The consequences must be drastic in terms of maternal and child morbidity and mortality because 3500 deliveries were expected to have taken place during the twenty-three days of military operations. Findings from a recent UNFPA assessment indicate that, during that period there was an increased number of miscarriages in pregnant women (Shifa, Al Aqsa, Naser, Rafah), and an increased neonatal mortality in Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. (UNFPA, (2009). According to World Health Organization (WHO), only the rough estimates show that during the last Gaza crisis 25000 to 50000 people underwent severe mental stress and need some form of psychological intervention to address long-term effects. Women, separated children, elderly people, and people with prior physical or mental disabilities are at high risk of severe emotional distress than others. The restoration of normal socioeconomic conditions, secure living