Saturday, August 31, 2019

Angels Demons Chapter 121-125

121 The camerlegno erupted through the doors of St. Peter's Basilica at exactly 11:56 P.M. He staggered into the dazzling glare of the world spotlight, carrying the antimatter before him like some sort of numinous offering. Through burning eyes he could see his own form, half-naked and wounded, towering like a giant on the media screens around the square. The roar that went up from the crowd in St. Peter's Square was like none the camerlegno had ever heard – crying, screaming, chanting, praying†¦ a mix of veneration and terror. Deliver us from evil, he whispered. He felt totally depleted from his race out of the Necropolis. It had almost ended in disaster. Robert Langdon and Vittoria Vetra had wanted to intercept him, to throw the canister back into its subterranean hiding place, to run outside for cover. Blind fools! The camerlegno realized now, with fearful clarity, that on any other night, he would never have won the race. Tonight, however, God again had been with him. Robert Langdon, on the verge of overtaking the camerlegno, had been grabbed by Chartrand, ever trusting and dutiful to the camerlegno's demands for faith. The reporters, of course, were spellbound and lugging too much equipment to interfere. The Lord works in mysterious ways. The camerlegno could hear the others behind him now†¦ see them on the screens, closing in. Mustering the last of his physical strength, he raised the antimatter high over his head. Then, throwing back his bare shoulders in an act of defiance to the Illuminati brand on his chest, he dashed down the stairs. There was one final act. Godspeed, he thought. Godspeed. Four minutes†¦ Langdon could barely see as he burst out of the basilica. Again the sea of media lights bore into his retinas. All he could make out was the murky outline of the camerlegno, directly ahead of him, running down the stairs. For an instant, refulgent in his halo of media lights, the camerlegno looked celestial, like some kind of modern deity. His cassock was at his waist like a shroud. His body was scarred and wounded by the hands of his enemies, and still he endured. The camerlegno ran on, standing tall, calling out to the world to have faith, running toward the masses carrying this weapon of destruction. Langdon ran down the stairs after him. What is he doing? He will kill them all! â€Å"Satan's work,† the camerlegno screamed, â€Å"has no place in the House of God!† He ran on toward a now terrified crowd. â€Å"Father!† Langdon screamed, behind him. â€Å"There's nowhere to go!† â€Å"Look to the heavens! We forget to look to the heavens!† In that moment, as Langdon saw where the camerlegno was headed, the glorious truth came flooding all around him. Although Langdon could not see it on account of the lights, he knew their salvation was directly overhead. A star-filled Italian sky. The escape route. The helicopter the camerlegno had summoned to take him to the hospital sat dead ahead, pilot already in the cockpit, blades already humming in neutral. As the camerlegno ran toward it, Langdon felt a sudden overwhelming exhilaration. The thoughts that tore through Langdon's mind came as a torrent†¦ First he pictured the wide-open expanse of the Mediterranean Sea. How far was it? Five miles? Ten? He knew the beach at Fiumocino was only about seven minutes by train. But by helicopter, 200 miles an hour, no stops†¦ If they could fly the canister far enough out to sea, and drop it†¦ There were other options too, he realized, feeling almost weightless as he ran. La Cava Romana! The marble quarries north of the city were less than three miles away. How large were they? Two square miles? Certainly they were deserted at this hour! Dropping the canister there†¦ â€Å"Everyone back!† the camerlegno yelled. His chest ached as he ran. â€Å"Get away! Now!† The Swiss Guard standing around the chopper stood slack-jawed as the camerlegno approached them. â€Å"Back!† the priest screamed. The guards moved back. With the entire world watching in wonder, the camerlegno ran around the chopper to the pilot's door and yanked it open. â€Å"Out, son! Now!† The guard jumped out. The camerlegno looked at the high cockpit seat and knew that in his exhausted state, he would need both hands to pull himself up. He turned to the pilot, trembling beside him, and thrust the canister into his hands. â€Å"Hold this. Hand it back when I'm in.† As the camerlegno pulled himself up, he could hear Robert Langdon yelling excitedly, running toward the craft. Now you understand, the camerlegno thought. Now you have faith! The camerlegno pulled himself up into the cockpit, adjusted a few familiar levers, and then turned back to his window for the canister. But the guard to whom he had given the canister stood empty-handed. â€Å"He took it!† the guard yelled. The camerlegno felt his heart seize. â€Å"Who!† The guard pointed. â€Å"Him!† Robert Langdon was surprised by how heavy the canister was. He ran to the other side of the chopper and jumped in the rear compartment where he and Vittoria had sat only hours ago. He left the door open and buckled himself in. Then he yelled to the camerlegno in the front seat. â€Å"Fly, Father!† The camerlegno craned back at Langdon, his face bloodless with dread. â€Å"What are you doing!† â€Å"You fly! I'll throw!† Langdon barked. â€Å"There's no time! Just fly the blessed chopper!† The camerlegno seemed momentarily paralyzed, the media lights glaring through the cockpit darkening the creases in his face. â€Å"I can do this alone,† he whispered. â€Å"I am supposed to do this alone.† Langdon wasn't listening. Fly! he heard himself screaming. Now! I'm here to help you! Langdon looked down at the canister and felt his breath catch in his throat when he saw the numbers. â€Å"Three minutes, Father! Three!† The number seemed to stun the camerlegno back to sobriety. Without hesitation, he turned back to the controls. With a grinding roar, the helicopter lifted off. Through a swirl of dust, Langdon could see Vittoria running toward the chopper. Their eyes met, and then she dropped away like a sinking stone. 122 Inside the chopper, the whine of the engines and the gale from the open door assaulted Langdon's senses with a deafening chaos. He steadied himself against the magnified drag of gravity as the camerlegno accelerated the craft straight up. The glow of St. Peter's Square shrank beneath them until it was an amorphous glowing ellipse radiating in a sea of city lights. The antimatter canister felt like deadweight in Langdon's hands. He held tighter, his palms slick now with sweat and blood. Inside the trap, the globule of antimatter hovered calmly, pulsing red in the glow of the LED countdown clock. â€Å"Two minutes!† Langdon yelled, wondering where the camerlegno intended to drop the canister. The city lights beneath them spread out in all directions. In the distance to the west, Langdon could see the twinkling delineation of the Mediterranean coast – a jagged border of luminescence beyond which spread an endless dark expanse of nothingness. The sea looked farther now than Langdon had imagined. Moreover, the concentration of lights at the coast was a stark reminder that even far out at sea an explosion might have devastating effects. Langdon had not even considered the effects of a ten-kiloton tidal wave hitting the coast. When Langdon turned and looked straight ahead through the cockpit window, he was more hopeful. Directly in front of them, the rolling shadows of the Roman foothills loomed in the night. The hills were spotted with lights – the villas of the very wealthy – but a mile or so north, the hills grew dark. There were no lights at all – just a huge pocket of blackness. Nothing. The quarries! Langdon thought. La Cava Romana! Staring intently at the barren pocket of land, Langdon sensed that it was plenty large enough. It seemed close, too. Much closer than the ocean. Excitement surged through him. This was obviously where the camerlegno planned to take the antimatter! The chopper was pointing directly toward it! The quarries! Oddly, however, as the engines strained louder and the chopper hurtled through the air, Langdon could see that the quarries were not getting any closer. Bewildered, he shot a glance out the side door to get his bearings. What he saw doused his excitement in a wave of panic. Directly beneath them, thousands of feet straight down, glowed the media lights in St. Peter's Square. We're still over the Vatican! â€Å"Camerlegno!† Langdon choked. â€Å"Go forward! We're high enough! You've got to start moving forward! We can't drop the canister back over Vatican City!† The camerlegno did not reply. He appeared to be concentrating on flying the craft. â€Å"We've got less than two minutes!† Langdon shouted, holding up the canister. â€Å"I can see them! La Cava Romana! A couple of miles north! We don't have – â€Å" â€Å"No,† the camerlegno said. â€Å"It's far too dangerous. I'm sorry.† As the chopper continued to claw heavenward, the camerlegno turned and gave Langdon a mournful smile. â€Å"I wish you had not come, my friend. You have made the ultimate sacrifice.† Langdon looked in the camerlegno's exhausted eyes and suddenly understood. His blood turned to ice. â€Å"But†¦ there must be somewhere we can go!† â€Å"Up,† the camerlegno replied, his voice resigned. â€Å"It's the only guarantee.† Langdon could barely think. He had entirely misinterpreted the camerlegno's plan. Look to the heavens! Heaven, Langdon now realized, was literally where he was headed. The camerlegno had never intended to drop the antimatter. He was simply getting it as far away from Vatican City as humanly possible. This was a one-way trip. 123 In St. Peter's Square, Vittoria Vetra stared upward. The helicopter was a speck now, the media lights no longer reaching it. Even the pounding of the rotors had faded to a distant hum. It seemed, in that instant, that the entire world was focused upward, silenced in anticipation, necks craned to the heavens†¦ all peoples, all faiths†¦ all hearts beating as one. Vittoria's emotions were a cyclone of twisting agonies. As the helicopter disappeared from sight, she pictured Robert's face, rising above her. What had he been thinking? Didn't he understand? Around the square, television cameras probed the darkness, waiting. A sea of faces stared heavenward, united in a silent countdown. The media screens all flickered the same tranquil scene†¦ a Roman sky illuminated with brilliant stars. Vittoria felt the tears begin to well. Behind her on the marble escarpment, 161 cardinals stared up in silent awe. Some folded their hands in prayer. Most stood motionless, transfixed. Some wept. The seconds ticked past. In homes, bars, businesses, airports, hospitals around the world, souls were joined in universal witness. Men and women locked hands. Others held their children. Time seemed to hover in limbo, souls suspended in unison. Then, cruelly, the bells of St. Peter's began to toll. Vittoria let the tears come. Then†¦ with the whole world watching†¦ time ran out. The dead silence of the event was the most terrifying of all. High above Vatican City, a pinpoint of light appeared in the sky. For a fleeting instant, a new heavenly body had been born†¦ a speck of light as pure and white as anyone had ever seen. Then it happened. A flash. The point billowed, as if feeding on itself, unraveling across the sky in a dilating radius of blinding white. It shot out in all directions, accelerating with incomprehensible speed, gobbling up the dark. As the sphere of light grew, it intensified, like a burgeoning fiend preparing to consume the entire sky. It raced downward, toward them, picking up speed. Blinded, the multitudes of starkly lit human faces gasped as one, shielding their eyes, crying out in strangled fear. As the light roared out in all directions, the unimaginable occurred. As if bound by God's own will, the surging radius seemed to hit a wall. It was as if the explosion were contained somehow in a giant glass sphere. The light rebounded inward, sharpening, rippling across itself. The wave appeared to have reached a predetermined diameter and hovered there. For that instant, a perfect and silent sphere of light glowed over Rome. Night had become day. Then it hit. The concussion was deep and hollow – a thunderous shock wave from above. It descended on them like the wrath of hell, shaking the granite foundation of Vatican City, knocking the breath out of people's lungs, sending others stumbling backward. The reverberation circled the colonnade, followed by a sudden torrent of warm air. The wind tore through the square, letting out a sepulchral moan as it whistled through the columns and buffeted the walls. Dust swirled overhead as people huddled†¦ witnesses to Armageddon. Then, as fast as it appeared, the sphere imploded, sucking back in on itself, crushing inward to the tiny point of light from which it had come. 124 Never before had so many been so silent. The faces in St. Peter's Square, one by one, averted their eyes from the darkening sky and turned downward, each person in his or her own private moment of wonder. The media lights followed suit, dropping their beams back to earth as if out of reverence for the blackness now settling upon them. It seemed for a moment the entire world was bowing its head in unison. Cardinal Mortati knelt to pray, and the other cardinals joined him. The Swiss Guard lowered their long swords and stood numb. No one spoke. No one moved. Everywhere, hearts shuddered with spontaneous emotion. Bereavement. Fear. Wonder. Belief. And a dread-filled respect for the new and awesome power they had just witnessed. Vittoria Vetra stood trembling at the foot of the basilica's sweeping stairs. She closed her eyes. Through the tempest of emotions now coursing through her blood, a single word tolled like a distant bell. Pristine. Cruel. She forced it away. And yet the word echoed. Again she drove it back. The pain was too great. She tried to lose herself in the images that blazed in other's minds†¦ antimatter's mind-boggling power†¦ the Vatican's deliverance†¦ the camerlegno†¦ feats of bravery†¦ miracles†¦ selflessness. And still the word echoed†¦ tolling through the chaos with a stinging loneliness. Robert. He had come for her at Castle St. Angelo. He had saved her. And now he had been destroyed by her creation. As Cardinal Mortati prayed, he wondered if he too would hear God's voice as the camerlegno had. Does one need to believe in miracles to experience them? Mortati was a modern man in an ancient faith. Miracles had never played a part in his belief. Certainly his faith spoke of miracles†¦ bleeding palms, ascensions from the dead, imprints on shrouds†¦ and yet, Mortati's rational mind had always justified these accounts as part of the myth. They were simply the result of man's greatest weakness – his need for proof. Miracles were nothing but stories we all clung to because we wished they were true. And yet†¦ Am I so modern that I cannot accept what my eyes have just witnessed? It was a miracle, was it not? Yes! God, with a few whispered words in the camerlegno's ear, had intervened and saved this church. Why was this so hard to believe? What would it say about God if God had done nothing? That the Almighty did not care? That He was powerless to stop it? A miracle was the only possible response! As Mortati knelt in wonder, he prayed for the camerlegno's soul. He gave thanks to the young chamberlain who, even in his youthful years, had opened this old man's eyes to the miracles of unquestioning faith. Incredibly, though, Mortati never suspected the extent to which his faith was about to be tested†¦ The silence of St. Peter's Square broke with a ripple at first. The ripple grew to a murmur. And then, suddenly, to a roar. Without warning, the multitudes were crying out as one. â€Å"Look! Look!† Mortati opened his eyes and turned to the crowd. Everyone was pointing behind him, toward the front of St. Peter's Basilica. Their faces were white. Some fell to their knees. Some fainted. Some burst into uncontrollable sobs. â€Å"Look! Look!† Mortati turned, bewildered, following their outstretched hands. They were pointing to the uppermost level of the basilica, the rooftop terrace, where huge statues of Christ and his apostles watched over the crowd. There, on the right of Jesus, arms outstretched to the world†¦ stood Camerlegno Carlo Ventresca. 125 Robert Langdon was no longer falling. There was no more terror. No pain. Not even the sound of the racing wind. There was only the soft sound of lapping water, as though he were comfortably asleep on a beach. In a paradox of self-awareness, Langdon sensed this was death. He felt glad for it. He allowed the drifting numbness to possess him entirely. He let it carry him wherever it was he would go. His pain and fear had been anesthetized, and he did not wish it back at any price. His final memory had been one that could only have been conjured in hell. Take me. Please†¦ But the lapping that lulled in him a far-off sense of peace was also pulling him back. It was trying to awaken him from a dream. No! Let me be! He did not want to awaken. He sensed demons gathering on the perimeter of his bliss, pounding to shatter his rapture. Fuzzy images swirled. Voices yelled. Wind churned. No, please! The more he fought, the more the fury filtered through. Then, harshly, he was living it all again†¦ The helicopter was in a dizzying dead climb. He was trapped inside. Beyond the open door, the lights of Rome looked farther away with every passing second. His survival instinct told him to jettison the canister right now. Langdon knew it would take less than twenty seconds for the canister to fall half a mile. But it would be falling toward a city of people. Higher! Higher! Langdon wondered how high they were now. Small prop planes, he knew, flew at altitudes of about four miles. This helicopter had to be at a good fraction of that by now. Two miles up? Three? There was still a chance. If they timed the drop perfectly, the canister would fall only partway toward earth, exploding a safe distance over the ground and away from the chopper. Langdon looked out at the city sprawling below them. â€Å"And if you calculate incorrectly?† the camerlegno said. Langdon turned, startled. The camerlegno was not even looking at him, apparently having read Langdon's thoughts from the ghostly reflection in the windshield. Oddly, the camerlegno was no longer engrossed in his controls. His hands were not even on the throttle. The chopper, it seemed, was now in some sort of autopilot mode, locked in a climb. The camerlegno reached above his head, to the ceiling of the cockpit, fishing behind a cable-housing, where he removed a key, taped there out of view. Langdon watched in bewilderment as the camerlegno quickly unlocked the metal cargo box bolted between the seats. He removed some sort of large, black, nylon pack. He lay it on the seat next to him. Langdon's thoughts churned. The camerlegno's movements seemed composed, as if he had a solution. â€Å"Give me the canister,† the camerlegno said, his tone serene. Langdon did not know what to think anymore. He thrust the canister to the camerlegno. â€Å"Ninety seconds!† What the camerlegno did with the antimatter took Langdon totally by surprise. Holding the canister carefully in his hands, the camerlegno placed it inside the cargo box. Then he closed the heavy lid and used the key to lock it tight. â€Å"What are you doing!† Langdon demanded. â€Å"Leading us from temptation.† The camerlegno threw the key out the open window. As the key tumbled into the night, Langdon felt his soul falling with it. The camerlegno then took the nylon pack and slipped his arms through the straps. He fastened a waist clamp around his stomach and cinched it all down like a backpack. He turned to a dumbstruck Robert Langdon. â€Å"I'm sorry,† the camerlegno said. â€Å"It wasn't supposed to happen this way.† Then he opened his door and hurled himself into the night. The image burned in Langdon's unconscious mind, and with it came the pain. Real pain. Physical pain. Aching. Searing. He begged to be taken, to let it end, but as the water lapped louder in his ears, new images began to flash. His hell had only just begun. He saw bits and pieces. Scattered frames of sheer panic. He lay halfway between death and nightmare, begging for deliverance, but the pictures grew brighter in his mind. The antimatter canister was locked out of reach. It counted relentlessly downward as the chopper shot upward. Fifty seconds. Higher. Higher. Langdon spun wildly in the cabin, trying to make sense of what he had just seen. Forty-five seconds. He dug under seats searching for another parachute. Forty seconds. There was none! There had to be an option! Thirty-five seconds. He raced to the open doorway of the chopper and stood in the raging wind, gazing down at the lights of Rome below. Thirty-two seconds. And then he made the choice. The unbelievable choice†¦ With no parachute, Robert Langdon had jumped out the door. As the night swallowed his tumbling body, the helicopter seemed to rocket off above him, the sound of its rotors evaporating in the deafening rush of his own free fall. As he plummeted toward earth, Robert Langdon felt something he had not experienced since his years on the high dive – the inexorable pull of gravity during a dead drop. The faster he fell, the harder the earth seemed to pull, sucking him down. This time, however, the drop was not fifty feet into a pool. The drop was thousands of feet into a city – an endless expanse of pavement and concrete. Somewhere in the torrent of wind and desperation, Kohler's voice echoed from the grave†¦ words he had spoken earlier this morning standing at CERN's free-fall tube. One square yard of drag will slow a falling body almost twenty percent. Twenty percent, Langdon now realized, was not even close to what one would need to survive a fall like this. Nonetheless, more out of paralysis than hope, he clenched in his hands the sole object he had grabbed from the chopper on his way out the door. It was an odd memento, but it was one that for a fleeting instant had given him hope. The windshield tarp had been lying in the back of the helicopter. It was a concave rectangle – about four yards by two – like a huge fitted sheet†¦ the crudest approximation of a parachute imaginable. It had no harness, only bungie loops at either end for fastening it to the curvature of the windshield. Langdon had grabbed it, slid his hands through the loops, held on, and leapt out into the void. His last great act of youthful defiance. No illusions of life beyond this moment. Langdon fell like a rock. Feet first. Arms raised. His hands gripping the loops. The tarp billowed like a mushroom overhead. The wind tore past him violently. As he plummeted toward earth, there was a deep explosion somewhere above him. It seemed farther off than he had expected. Almost instantly, the shock wave hit. He felt the breath crushed from his lungs. There was a sudden warmth in the air all around him. He fought to hold on. A wall of heat raced down from above. The top of the tarp began to smolder†¦ but held. Langdon rocketed downward, on the edge of a billowing shroud of light, feeling like a surfer trying to outrun a thousand-foot tidal wave. Then suddenly, the heat receded. He was falling again through the dark coolness. For an instant, Langdon felt hope. A moment later, though, that hope faded like the withdrawing heat above. Despite his straining arms assuring him that the tarp was slowing his fall, the wind still tore past his body with deafening velocity. Langdon had no doubt he was still moving too fast to survive the fall. He would be crushed when he hit the ground. Mathematical figures tumbled through his brain, but he was too numb to make sense of them†¦ one square yard of drag†¦ 20 percent reduction of speed. All Langdon could figure was that the tarp over his head was big enough to slow him more than 20 percent. Unfortunately, though, he could tell from the wind whipping past him that whatever good the tarp was doing was not enough. He was still falling fast†¦ there would be no surviving the impact on the waiting sea of concrete. Beneath him, the lights of Rome spread out in all directions. The city looked like an enormous starlit sky that Langdon was falling into. The perfect expanse of stars was marred only by a dark strip that split the city in two – a wide, unlit ribbon that wound through the dots of light like a fat snake. Langdon stared down at the meandering swatch of black. Suddenly, like the surging crest of an unexpected wave, hope filled him again. With almost maniacal vigor, Langdon yanked down hard with his right hand on the canopy. The tarp suddenly flapped louder, billowing, cutting right to find the path of least resistance. Langdon felt himself drifting sideways. He pulled again, harder, ignoring the pain in his palm. The tarp flared, and Langdon sensed his body sliding laterally. Not much. But some! He looked beneath him again, to the sinuous serpent of black. It was off to the right, but he was still pretty high. Had he waited too long? He pulled with all his might and accepted somehow that it was now in the hands of God. He focused hard on the widest part of the serpent and†¦ for the first time in his life, prayed for a miracle. The rest was a blur. The darkness rushing up beneath him†¦ the diving instincts coming back†¦ the reflexive locking of his spine and pointing of the toes†¦ the inflating of his lungs to protect his vital organs†¦ the flexing of his legs into a battering ram†¦ and finally†¦ the thankfulness that the winding Tiber River was raging†¦ making its waters frothy and air-filled†¦ and three times softer than standing water. Then there was impact†¦ and blackness. It had been the thundering sound of the flapping canopy that drew the group's eyes away from the fireball in the sky. The sky above Rome had been filled with sights tonight†¦ a skyrocketing helicopter, an enormous explosion, and now this strange object that had plummeted into the churning waters of the Tiber River, directly off the shore of the river's tiny island, Isola Tiberina. Ever since the island had been used to quarantine the sick during the Roman plague of A.D. 1656, it had been thought to have mystic healing properties. For this reason, the island had later become the site for Rome's Hospital Tiberina. The body was battered when they pulled it onto shore. The man still had a faint pulse, which was amazing, they thought. They wondered if it was Isola Tiberina's mythical reputation for healing that had somehow kept his heart pumping. Minutes later, when the man began coughing and slowly regained consciousness, the group decided the island must indeed be magical.

Friday, August 30, 2019

The Billingual Instructors for Bilingual Educations

The amount of non-English-speaking minorities in the United States is continuously increasing. Be that as it may, there are people in today†s society that feel that English should be the only language spoken. It is for that reason bilingual education may be eliminated from many public schools. Low academic outcomes from students also contribute to possible abolition of bilingual education. If schools don†t obtain better methods to ease the transition from one language to another, bilingual education will be faulty and seen as useless. In turn, many students will be denied the chance for an equal education. American students have learned the language easily because it has been incorporated into everyday events from an extremely early age. An adolescent has had at least 5 years to learn English vocabulary, and continues learning through high school. Many bilingual programs have students on slower learning tracks where they barley learn English and from which they may never emerge. However, society wants bilingual students to learn English and learn it quickly. By eliminating bilingual education, society is telling the student to learn English, but not giving him a place to learn it. The student is not given an adequate chance, which results in bilingual persons having poor reading, writing and speaking skills. Bilingual students can keep up academically with their English-speaking peers if they are taught at least partly in their native languages while learning English. There are many ways that bilingual education can be improved. By hiring bilingual teachers that communicate clearly when giving directions and accurately describing tasks will help ease the transition from a native language to English. If new information was introduced by using strategies such as thoroughly explaining, outlining, and demonstrating, comprehension of instructional tasks may be maintained. Promoting student involvement, communicating expectations of students', and explaining success in completing instructional tasks would give students motivation so they feel at ease. A new language is difficult; approaching bilingual students with methods such as these could improve their learning. An effective way to have positive student outcome is to value and respect students' languages and cultures. This value and respect needs to go further than the food and holiday celebrations that may be the only recognition of cultures in many schools. Teachers should involve themselves by learning about students' experiences in native countries and communities in the United States, while encouraging and supporting the development of the English language. These actions and attitudes show a student she is valued and respected; this, in turn, supports a more comfortable atmosphere for her. Furthermore, it builds self-esteem and improves academic achievement by incorporating the students' cultures into classroom instruction. Building lessons from things in students' experience and backgrounds promote more active engagement and increased learning. The will always be a need for bilingual education. There are many ways in which schools, teachers, parents as well as the student herself can improve. Answers to all of the questions posed by bilingual educators may not be available, but ideas about features of effective bilingual schooling are available. People involved in schooling need to work together to set realistic goals and strategies to promote success of bilingual education.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Pricing and Brand Equity Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Pricing and Brand Equity - Assignment Example Creative brands are given the permission to utilize non-normative strategies without consumer permission. Moreover, apart from the inferential mechanism underpinning this licensing impact, innovative brands not only escape the penalty associated with using a categorical strategies, but also gain for using such strategies (Barone and Jewell 2013). One popular measure of success for brands of business entities is the customer-based brand equity. It is an asset that can be a background for a competitive edge and the long-term profitability of a business enterprise (Barone and Jewell 2013). Brand equity regards stakeholders’ response to the marketing efforts concerning objects distinct to the particular brand. It focuses on financial and strategic issues to raise the brand over other available alternatives. There is a broad range of strategies in which a firm can get innovation licensing and intellectual property copyrights. When a company innovates, it establishes a form of monopoly coming from the intellectual property rights it gets. A firm can also get property rights by licensing intellectual property from another company in order to expand business margins. Another strategy is entering into a joint venture of innovations and licensing such innovation as a common intellectual property copyrights to the company (Palfrey, J. 2011). Clients can contribute such intellectual property licensing for free. A corporation can exercise its licensed innovation and property rights entirely by excluding others from using it. However, a company can better benefit from such intellectual property rights over their innovations by licensing, selling or giving away part of the property rights. It constitutes a firms innovative licensing marketing strategy(Barone and Jewell 2013). A company might also offer the license to any other company in an open access, with an aim of gaining a

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Men of Honor Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Men of Honor - Movie Review Example Determined to become the Navy's first master diver, Brashear confronts Billy Sunday, a racist Navy diving instructor in the segregated south of the early 1950s. From the beginning of the film we see Brashear struggle with the elements and his race as he plows a field in the hot sun with his father. As a means to escape, Brashear joins the Navy with the hope of bettering his station in life. He confronts the chores of Navy kitchen duty while working to become a black Navy diver. Eventually given the opportunity to become a diver, he is confronted by the Navy instructors bent on proving him incapable. The ongoing torment from Billy Sunday and the Commander, played by Hal Holbrooke, can't hold Brashear down. He conquers every obstacle placed in front of him. After he becomes a diver, his career seems to be cut short when his leg is amputated after an accident on a Navy ship. Brashear again struggles to regain his strength and the fortitude to carry the weight of a Navy Scuba outfit. This time, Billy Sunday is his biggest supporter as we see Brashear overcome the final obstacle of a physical handicap. Though the film is based in racism, its inspiration comes from the need to overcome any hardship. Much of Brashear's torment came from a racist feeling in Sunday and his classmates, yet we see the struggle in terms of a fight against the elements and ourselves. There is a memorable scene where Sunday makes Brashear's diving test almost impossible to pass.

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Poverty alleviation is the very foundation of 'human security'. Why, Essay

Poverty alleviation is the very foundation of 'human security'. Why, then, have we not been able to 'make poverty history' in SubSaharan Africa - Essay Example The reasons as to why action plans addressing food security in Africa have continued to fail can be accredited to defective analysis and defective actions. What is required is a comprehending which goes beyond conservative, traditional wisdom in order to work extra strategically in formulating and implementing effective and successful, global, national and also regional policies. Accessibility, availability and affordability are each aspects of food security, difficult issues which encompass a broad scope of interconnected social, economic and political issues, internal aspects and external aspects, which challenges Africa's capability to tackle food security in the continent. Ultimately hunger or lack of food is a political making which should be ended through political ways. (Rajalakshmi, 2002) Globally, the trends of food shortage are disturbing as development in reduction of hunger in the third world countries has gone down and in many regions the figures of malnourished people is really growing, in spite of the actuality that global food production has developed quicker than global population in the last 3 decades. The most recent approximates that about 840 million persons were malnourished between 1998 to 2000; 11 million people in the industrialized nations, 30 million people in nations in transition, and a whopping 799 million people in the developing countries, this is according to FAO (2002) In the 1996, World Food Summit (WFS) gave a goal of a reducing the number of starving people at least by 20 million each year from 2000 to 2015. Whilst a few regions made remarkable growth over two decades previous to 2000, signifying that food shortage is not a stubborn crisis, (World Food Summit, 2002) the recent figures on statistics of under-nourished global disclose that as from the 1996 World Food Summit, the average yearly decline has been merely 2.5 million, which is far less than the goal set by WFS of halving the figure of under-nourished people by the 2015. Advancement needs to be speed-up to 24 million people annually, approximately ten times the present pace, in order to attain that goal. (World Food Summit, 2002) Sub-Sahara Africa food shortage; is it a willful problem Economic experts revels that, the Africa's resources exceed its requirements by far, and however, there is so much food shortage. It is a paradox that countries (African) which have millions of starving people export foodstuffs to other countries which have well fed people. How is it that, Sub-Saharan African countries which are poor having a lot of starving people, appears to be capable growing food fairly plentifully What is it that will assure better food security in the sub-Sahara Africa and in deed in the whole world In1970s and 1980s, food security resolutions proposed were entirely technological, emphasizing production instead of equitable allocation of food for the people. This solution failed, since food shortage problem is not a technical problem. Population strains have been viewed as a source of world food shortage; it might be an infuriating factor, however it is not a source. Climate and Weather have also been a suitable excuse, however large quantity of food can and does exist along

Monday, August 26, 2019

Create a Short story Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Create a Short story - Essay Example Sure, he had enough things to feel proud, but they failed to meet Jacks great life expectations. Tony, his neighbor and secret enemy, was an epitome of success. Tony was everything Jack wanted to be. He was tall, well-dressed, successful, self-confident and humorous person who had all doors open for him. They worked at the same organization where Jack had the opportunity to observe how Tony climbed his career ladder. Jack remained an ordinary clerk when Tony was promoted again and again. Tony was loved, celebrated and appreciated when Jack was forgotten. Daily routine swallowed Jack and his thoughts. There were papers to be sighed and reports to be made up. There were piles of paper on his desk and a dozen of unread emails. Jacks depression was getting worse and worse with every thought which popped up in Jacks head. The invisible fight between Tony and Jack was over and Jack had to grasp his knockout. The day was over and Jack had to go home. When the doors of the elevator closed, he found himself standing in front of Tony with no other people around. The tension was increasing with every second. Jack could hardly control his despair and anger; he wanted to stop this humiliation of being so close to the person whom he hated most in his life. â€Å"You have everything I want to have in my life. When I look at your loving and beautiful wife and marvelous two kids, I understand that my life is completely empty. You might be the happiest person in the world. Sorry if I bother you.† The doors opened and Tony rushed to his car leaving puzzled Jack behind his back. He did not look at Jack and left the office building quickly. The situation was totally absurd, and Jack struggled to understand what had just happened. His role model and his greatest enemy turned into a secret admirer of Jacks humble family

Sunday, August 25, 2019

The Literacy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Literacy - Essay Example These factors exalted me into the field of being a writer, with the prospects of further enriching my personality with the benefits of literacy. In my everyday life, the effectiveness and benefits of literacy are exhibited by how most of the human activities and actions revolve around literacy-based ideologies. This ranges from all spheres of human activity, including economic, social, spiritual, and even political welfares of the contemporary human life. Among these, the most conspicuous effect of literacy, especially in my daily life is the way in which literacy turns my economic ability as a person. As a writer, literacy, and writing form the basis for individual prosperity in terms of economic welfares. This is especially in light of the aspect that the higher the level of literacy, the higher the economic outcome. Furthermore, the connection is further enhanced by the fact that high literacy levels bring more opportunities as I can be a freelancer hence further self-improvement in terms of economic aspects. This higher economic prospect has always led to higher chances of enhancing the literacy level even further as I continually take more classes to enhance my knowledge, and this extends to continually improving the economic muscle. Therefore, this forms one of the most evident effects of literacy especially on me as a writer who relies on literature as a chief source of income. Moreover, as a writer, literacy extends the level of self-confidence through the provision of knowledge.

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Contemporary Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Contemporary Management - Assignment Example Companies that have employed the excellence tool have reported increased agility, reduced costs, increased sales, and increase in people or personnel. Although the changes may not be visible immediately, it does not take more than five years for a company to report profitability and improved performance. The paper ends by urging companies to develop performance monitoring and increase strategies that include the use of EFQM. Over the years, the number of companies using organisational evaluation to identify and advance their competitive position to cope with the ever-evolving milieu has been on the rise. Since the EFQM model came into existence in 1992, its use in companies across Europe as an outline for organisational self-evaluation has increased (Morden, 2004, p. 132).The model is now a popular self-assessment tool all over Europe, as capital markets all over the world are developing increasing attention on the potential earnings and anticipated earnings of cooperate organisations (Hakes 2007). The model lies at the centre of evaluation attracting a host of reactions as to whether it is essential in influencing the bottom line of organisations. Understanding the dynamics of this model is important to many to understand its place in organisation’s self-assessment. This report assesses a wide range of literature and data to highlight the importance of the EFQM model to highlight its importance in organisations. The European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) Excellence Model stands as a basis for self-assessment and has a long and rich history. EFQM is a derivative of Total Quality Management along with other performance frameworks such as the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA, together with the Deming Prize (Boulter et al. 2013, p.198). It is used to attain the national awards such as the European Quality Award by external review started after its introduction by presidents of several

Friday, August 23, 2019

Environmental Factors Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Environmental Factors - Case Study Example Cultural, political, economic, technological, and competitive environments differ from nation to nation. Marketing on a global scale requires that Sam' Club representatives make adjustments to existing marketing plans to meet local conditions; understanding the nuances of these environmental factors will prove advantageous. Market research, such as that done by Wal-Mart Sotres, Inc., plays a very large role in addressing these factors and understanding the adjustments that must be made to effectively market on an international level. Social and cultural environmental factors focus on the interactions of groups of people within a nation: characteristics, growth projections, numbers, and interactive behaviors (Bearden, et al., 2003). The economic environmental factor refers to the buying power of potential consumers. Understanding how strong or weak the consumer economy is in a new country will ensure Sam's Club's ability to meet and exceed the customers' expectations and needs. Marketing practices and several ethical concerns can be discovered by researching a nations political system. For example, labor laws vary from one nation to another; advertising laws may be different and various regulations in different nations can affect marketing practices and, occasionally, marketing effectiveness (Bearden et al., 2003). Technological environmental factors involve trends in innovations; these factors can determine how marketing plans are performed or carried out. Finally, the competitive environmental factors entail un derstanding how many organizations currently compete to serve the consumers with similar product lines and services offered by Sam's Club (Bearden, et al., 2003). Cultural differences from nation to nation will sometimes effect the types of products to be offered. Armstrong and Kotler (2005) use McDonald's as an example of using product diversity to market to different nations: McDonald's uses the same basic operating formula in its restaurants around the world but adapts its menu to local tastes. It uses chili sauce instead of ketchup on its hamburgers in Mexico. In Vienna, its restaurants include "McCafes," which offer coffee blended to local tastes, and in Korea, it sells roast pork on a bun with a garlicky soy sauce. In India, where cows are considered sacred, McDonald's serves chicken, fish, vegetable burgers, and the Maharaja Mac- two all-mutton patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame-seed bun (p. 534). Armstrong and Kotler (2005) have effectively demonstrated how McDonald's was able to address and overcome cultural environmental factors by offering something other than hamburgers to countries and societies that do not eat them. To successfully enter new cultural markets, Sam's Club, along with Wal-Mart Stores Inc., will need to research differences in brand and product expectations, as well as the delivery of these products. Growing technology allows Sam's Club and marketing research teams in Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., to monitor the and identify key environmental factors by tracking marketing trends; for example, demographic research and other data can prove to be invaluable for use as marketing tools. By using technology, such

American Law Enforcement - Ethical Dillemma Essay

American Law Enforcement - Ethical Dillemma - Essay Example Police ranks often pull together to support their own and when that does not work, the community will justify their actions by not holding them responsible for the outcomes of bad decision making. The ethics within the police rank appears to be teleological, supporting the concept of the means justifying the ends, despite all Constitutional efforts to dissuade this type of thinking. In a world that is becoming ever increasingly violent the service that is entered into by the police should reflect a higher standard of responsibility instead of a shield that protects them from the outcomes of their poor decision making processes. Incidents Death and Justification In the year 2000 Shannon Smith, a mentally disabled man of 27 who often forgot to pay for the gas he would pump into his Cadillac. The $15 dollars in gas was not the first that he had forgotten to pay, but he would remember and go back, or his father would take care of the bill for him when called. On this particular occasion, however, the clerk called the police and a slow pace pursuit began chasing the mentally disabled man across jurisdictions. ... Gabor was later charged with his murder (Reynolds, 2001). Despite evidence that Gabor had used his nightstick to pound on the car window and to kick at the car, he was acquitted of the charges. Smith’s family received $675,000 in a wrongful death settlement against Gabor from the police department who settled on Gabor’s behalf (Reynolds, 2002). On August 31st of this year Michael Vincent Allen was shot 41 times after a high speed chase that included a bashed in front end to a police vehicle. Police contend that at the end of a cul de sac Allen tried to make a u-turn which ended in the damage to the front of the police car, but witnesses contradicted that version and stated that it was the police car that rammed into Allen’s vehicle. The officer’s name, that has yet to be released, stood with his fellow officers and fired 41 times at the suspect while the other officers did not fire off a single shot (Peterson, 2012). The initial police reports supported th e officer through police accounts, but a wider investigation showed that he was aggressive and that he was the only one shooting is suspicious. Officer Mathew Jacob Marin, who has been a police officer for five years, shot and killed a man with only one arm and one leg in a wheelchair when he was cornered by the man who was waving around a metal object which turned out to be a pen. Marin was involved in a previous shooting death during his career when in 2009 he shot a suspect who was stabbing his neighbor and refused to drop the knife when confronted. In the same year, a poll taken by the Chicago Tribune found that 59% of police officers never fire their gun during their career. While the first incident seems justifiable for Marin,

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Lockheed Martin Essay Example for Free

Lockheed Martin Essay Question: By laying of Lockheed Martin employees, does it affect the future sales of the company? Articles: Lockheed Martin Not Giving Layoff Notices, At White House Request, Lockheed Martin Drops Plan to Issue Layoff Notices, and Lockheed Martin threatens big cuts I. Introduction The Lockheed Martin Corporation ousted its incoming chief executive, Christopher Kubasik, for having a close relationship with a subordinate at the defense contractor. They forced him to resign after the investigation found it to be improper conduct, which violated Lockheed Martin’s code of ethics. However, Mr. Kubasik felt that his affair did not interfere in any way with his job performance. There have recently been some budget cuts at the Pentagon, and contractors are trying to adjust to the changes. The Lockheed Martin directors favored promoting Ms. Hewson, a contractor; because they believe she performs well in other management roles. She had been with Lockheed since 1983, and will immediately become president and chief operating officer of the corporation. II. Findings A. Layoffs (finding 1) 1. Pending job cuts 2. Warnings (the WARN Act) 3. Less pay B. Budget cuts (finding 2) 1. Reduction in Pentagon spending ($500 billion) 2. Minimized the potential for waste and disruption associated with the issuance of unwarned layoff notices. 3. Less spending C. Smaller workforce 1. 18% smaller 2. Hiring pace is slower 3. Fewer jobs available = smaller workforce III. Analysis A. Stakeholder analysis B. Cost-benefit analysis C. Six thinking hat IV. Conclusion Based on the findings and analysis, by laying off Lockheed Marin employees, it would affect the corporation and future sales negatively. Since there will be mass job cuts, the company will slowly start to deteriorate and will fall apart altogether.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Child Signalling Difficulty in Emotion Regulation | Theories

Child Signalling Difficulty in Emotion Regulation | Theories † The childhood shows the man, as morning shows the day.† Milton, John (1671) Paradise regained book IV. line 220 British born Poet, John Milton compares how we can attempt to predict behaviour of adults by their experience as a child. The interesting use of the weather as a simile depicts how predictions can be made and can unfold to be true; conversely, weather is unpredictable and doesn’t always follow a pattern. This he surmised also to be true for people. Scholars, early philosophers and modern day psychologists alike have longed for enlightenment into understanding human behaviour. Many theorists, behaviour and humanistic psychologists have carried out research to attempt to understand the internal working model of the human being and their socialization. Research by Bowlby (1951) and Mary Ainsworth (1967) have been influential in this field and their findings and theories have given insight into patterns of relating and attachment. Rutter’s and Carl Rodgers’ self-actualization theory provided hope for eternal optimists.This essay will demonstrate from an analytical an d critical perspective the possible correlation of a particular child signalling difficulty in emotion regulation and his previous and current experiences, patterns of relating and perception of his environment. This essay will critically apply the theories of social learning, cognitive development and humanistic psychology to the child’s behaviour. A thorough holistic assessment will be executed on the particular child (see appendix 1) and all areas of concern raised by parents and professionals will be considered, discussed and analysed. The theories will be compared to provide a greater understanding of the needs of the child and how best to support care- givers in implementing change. After all things considered a behaviour management plan will be synthesized, its strategies outlined and the difficulties and limitations to its implementation discussed. For the purpose of this Essay all names have been changed to protect the identity of the family. Refer to data protection act here Holistic assessment If there are concerns with a child’s health and development a holistic assessment will need to be synthesised. To produce an assessment of a child holistically is to view it in its entirety. Holism is a relatively new concept it is used where there are multidimensions involved or complex interwoven issues. It is also used if there is a learning or behavioural objective which can be quantitive over time. The assessor would refer to the holistic assessment to establish whether a target or goal has been reached .Evidence for the assessment must include multiple observations in different settings and from more than one source. The assessment will take into consideration all factors that may comprise the child’s physiological, psychological health as well as environmental factors that they may be exposed to. The assessment can highlight areas of concern or irradiate where one issue may be antecedent to another. It is often challenging to see where one difficulty begins and a nother ends. This is especially true in the case study mentioned in this Essay. The behaviour Soiling Social anxiety No eyecontact Expression and emotionless Over compliance Doesn’t seek comfort Picky eating Development Possible reasons : socio demographic job loss. Maternal deprivation, Bowlby, ainsworth. Parental conflict : theorist ? Parental mental health : theorist? Many different care givers all unresponsive or inconsistent : RAD Distress from deprivation from father whom he had a bond but was unstable : Maslow Pre natal cocaine use: theories? The loss of bonds as bereavement Learnt behaviour shaping personality skinner no positive reinforcement of warmth Cognitive damage :science of parenting. Early attachment problems John Bowlby Mary Ainsworth Mary Ainsworth suggested attachment between a child and its care giver is innate. She sees experience in early childhood as an external factor that shapes and develops the attachment, and relationship. The level of responsiveness of the care giver has a direct correlation with the development of the attachment. Rutter Possible RAD diagnosis Historically there has been little research into this disorder otherwise known as Reactive attachment disorder.(APSAC)à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ ¸notes that; â€Å"RAD is one of the least researched and most poorly understood disorders in the DSM† (p. 80; Chaffin et al., 2006). It states in the DSMà ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ ¹ that there are two types inhibited and disinhibited. Children with inhibited type do not initiate social interaction; their response to others would be seen as developmentally inappropriate. In accordance to the milestones expected to achieve ( ) they could appear socially anxious, highly ambivalent or give contradictory responses. For example they often resist comfort from the care givers. They express no reciprocation to warmth they appear wooden, or emotionless. The children remain watchful of others whilst physically and emotionally keeping their distance. Social learning theory Family dynamics It is worth noting that according to research carried out by the ALSPAC study team evidence suggests that children living in a blended family or a complex family unit where they are not with the biological mother, the children have problems adjusting (Hetheringtonet al.,1999:cited in Dunn,2002). Research alspac (Parenting capacity Parenting styles and their effects on a child’s development has been studied by baumrind (1972) through her studies she collated evidence that suggested that parenting styles led to clear different outcomes for the child. The areas of parenting that Baumrind focussed on was warmth and nurturance , parents expectations of their children, consistency of rules and their overall level of communication. According to Baumrind styles of parenting can have an effect on cognitive, physiological, psychological and social development. Pryor and Rodgers (2001) suggests that stressful situations such as parental conflict, parental mental health and financial difficulties, although, have an impact on a child’s wellbeing the level of impact is determined by the quality of parenting and parent -child relationship. There are Three styles of parenting permissive, authoritarian and authoritative. Authoritarian children according to Baumrind (1972) have a generally unhappy demeanour, they appear anxious and withdrawn Socialization Regulation of emotions are crucial to our socialization. It has been expressed by carers that Frankie’s countenance of emotion is inhibited and facial expressions are almost nonexistence. Gross(2002) would suggest this is caused by a suppression of an emotion. This would have a negative impact on health according to Gross (2002) not from a one off occurrence but if the suppression of that emotion was continual for a substantial period of time. The physiological reaction would still occur so the impact of the emotion would still be felt but not expressed. â€Å"we hypothesized that individuals who habitually suppress should have lesser negative and positive emotion-expressive behaviour†. (J.GRO.SS 2002) ¹Ãƒ ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ ° (Steele et al., 2008) would offer counter evidence that the deciphering of expressive facial responses and their meaning is something that is learnt from their earliest experience of attachment .Primarily from their main carer but also from others in the first year of life. Steel (2008) discovered a substantial correlation between a child who has an insecure or avoidant attachment and their lack of ability to decipher the meaning of facial expression. Thus implying that the quality of the first reciprocal interaction that a baby experiences sets the standard for the quality of social interaction in the future. â€Å"This learning is preverbal from the first year of life, yet  powerful enough to show itself 6 years and 11 years later in  emotion recognition tasks† (Steele et al., p. 388). Behaviour plan The proposed behaviour plan intends to support the child and carers in facilitating change of unwanted behaviours, address the problem of emotional regulation which is concerning the carers and professionals involved with the child. The rationale is interrelated to the strategies and their theories. The unwanted behaviours outlined that will be addressed is soiling, withdrawn behaviour and (â€Å"seems upset and cries a lot† ) see appendix 2. Play therapy The concept of play therapy was introduced into psychotherapy by Freud following his work with Little Hans. Freud (1909) elucidated the concept of play therapy and its ability to promote free expression, wish fulfilment, and mastery of traumatic events. To enhance a child’s wellbeing and maximise their potential using therapeutic personal centred counselling. The association of play therapy provides a definition of play therapy and what part it can play in a child’s wellbeing. The place2b(2009) research model provides evidence that therapeutic support accessed through primary schools either via group or individual, improves children’s social and emotional behaviour. Lee,Tiley and White(2009) † The systematic use of a theoretical model to establish an interpersonal process wherein trained therapists use the therapeutic powers of play to help clients prevent or resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimum growth and development APT (2008)à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ · (Landreth2002) pertinently stated that play is a child’s language and toys are their words. Reference list . Internet. [http://www.a4pt.org]. Association for Play Therapy. About Play Therapy Overview. (20081024)22.00 28/01/14 American professional society of the abuse of children . Diagnostic and statistical manual for mental disorders ,published by the APA (American psychiatric association) Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA Gross, J.J. (2002). Emotion regulation: Affective, cognitive, and social consequences. Psychophysiology, 39, 281-291 How is human nature changed from technology? How is human nature changed from technology? How is human nature changed form technology? In the late 20th century, internet combined with World Wide Web start to hit a big in every society because it makes a possible of sharing the worldwide information. There is no doubt that computer network has a strong impact to people with its capacity of gathering and delivering information. However, as the information’s property is that it above all kinds of messages, which means that while people search for the useful information they also may receive some other useless information, for example, some information that called propaganda. The basic reason for the development of propaganda can be described as how to take advantages from the technological enhancement and the internal of human nature. Though the upgrading of technology provides a lot of benefits for human society, it also brings about so many problems; and human nature is like the catalyst to amplify the greedy of human desire. Propaganda, as an important way for advertisers to lure and brainwash the audiences, has developed in a rapid speed when technological enhancement and human nature continue influences people’s decisions. Technological enhancement is like the top one assistant to help propaganda spread and exploded faster than decades before. In the article â€Å"Computer and the Pursuit of Happiness†, David Gelernter draws out a statement that â€Å"But using technology to defeat distance has been another goal of the industrial revolution from the start, from railroads through the Panama Canal and onward.† (138) What Gelernter’s clime is that no matter in which period, people are willing to use technology skills to link together from a long distance. Propaganda can be a well appropriate example to show this method. Assuming that if the president of a large country wants to announce a political decision by using propaganda as soon as possible, but the only way he can use is the traditional way to transmit it, such as railway or water route which will defiantly delay the speed of transmitting the announcement. However, with the assist of technology, people can use radio, TV, and th en computer and networks, finally the latest one internet which connected the whole world to overcome geography and be able to get the information in a fastest way. How come that advertiser will not take some benefits from that technological society by producing propaganda? Technology builds a bright and straight way for advertisers to broadcast various propagandas without any restriction from time or region. Furthermore, technology also makes the category of propaganda becomes copious and colorful. Advertisers can have plentiful technologic ways and skills to create propaganda so that it will be more attracted and alluring. Nobody would say no to the glamorous and creative propaganda which can draw your attention at the very beginning; and the advertisers know it extremely well than anybody else. In spite of the technology enhancement that improve the appearance and the hardware of propaganda, the people who are easily be allured by propaganda can be described as the human nature that is always be in the same pattern and is to simple too be penetrated. From ancient time to the present, human nature seems like it has conflicting phenomenon. On the one side it remains the same in some aspects; on the other side, there are also have some changes. Ann McClintock mentioned a common sense when people see propaganda that â€Å"We are victims, content – even eager – to be victimized. We read advertisers’ propaganda messages in newspapers and magazines; we watch their alluring images on television †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ We all do it – even those of us who claim to see through advertisers’ tricks and therefore feel immune to advertising’s charm†, (158) in her article â€Å"Propaganda Techniques in Today’s Advertising†. The author use the word â€Å"victim† to describe the people who truly buy the lie of propaganda in order to reveal a truth that people are vulnerable when they face the fascinating propaganda; and no matter how much the people convince to themselves that they know all tricks in propaganda; they still easily to be fooled by advertisers. So the answer to why it would happen is that the feature of the human nature. There is a common situation in almost everyone’s experience, when people come into a selection of two similar products, in most time people will chose the one with fancy appearance. This is one of the human natures that people will tend to be attracted by appearances but not the inside qualities, which has not changed in decades and will not be changed in future. As this reason, advertisers will try as hard as they can to improve the appearance of products or figures inside of the intrinsic and the qualities of it. Speaking of the change of human nature, it can show through the development of human mind and society. When communication between people from everywhere has fewer limits and people are more open to adapt new things from other country or culture, advertisers are able to have more opportunities to get profits from all over the world by broadcasting a proper propaganda. Considering the alteration and the uniformity of human nature, advertisers always can find a way to promote their â€Å"products† whether they are objects, figures or opinions. In the war between audience and advertiser, the winner always is the advertiser, especially when advertisers can use technology flexible and know human nature like the back of their hands. In Ann McClintock’s article â€Å"Propaganda Techniques in Today’s Advertising†, McClintock points that â€Å"Every day, we are bombarded with slogans, print ads, commercials, packaging claims, billboards, trademarks, logos, and designer brands – all forms of propaganda.† (160-161) In this sentence, most of these media are partly connected to the technology, because technology makes these things become more and more common in the society; and technology is still showing its advantages to advertisers for how to improve tactics in producing propaganda. Nobody will doubt the ingenuity of human so it means that nobody can stop the development of technology. In that way, audiences will become more vulnerable in front of a well decorated propaganda. Similarly, David Gel ernter mentioned his thoughts in the article â€Å"Computers and the Pursuit of Happiness† that â€Å"Human nature does not change; human needs and wants remain basically the same. Human ingenuity dreams up a new technology, and we put it to use – doing in a new way something we have always done in some other way.† (140) He claims that with the desire of human nature has never changed, we tend to invite more high-tech devices to replace some works which were done by human before. In some aspect, it is good for human life; on the contrary, this is how propaganda converts from paperwork into different forms, such like radio, video, or even lights. Human nature is like a flaw in a precious jade, everyone can see it, but cannot fix it. To contradict the information from propaganda but continue develop technology; we can try to concentrate more on the essence of human nature and be aware of the deliberate deception from advertisers. If advertisers put a good use of t echnology and human nature in propaganda, people will have highly risk of the propaganda might control the personal decisions and judgments. Although people know that most propaganda are fictitious and deceitful, the majority will still buy and trust it. Someone may make an assertion that all these faults and influences are made by the development of technology and have no relevance with human nature. However, because human nature is deep inside human mind, people do not want to admit that they – themselves also are an aspect of being deceived by propaganda. On the one hand, technology does make human life become more convenient and efficient, so the society cannot only blame the technological changing. On the other hand, human nature is hard to change because it already inherits from generations to generations. In some aspect, this world cannot be operated well without propaganda. For instance, producers need it to sell their products, candidates need it to win the campaign and even the politicians or scholars need it to express their viewpoints. In order to really take some benefits from technology but not fooled by the deception of propaganda, people need to be more cautious and avoid the influence of human nature when they encountered with the diverse propaganda. If everyone can see through advertisers’ strategy, the winner of a propaganda war must be the audiences instead of the producers. Work Cited: Gelernter, David â€Å"Computers and the Pursuit of Happiness†. New Directions. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2005 McClintock, Ann â€Å"Propaganda Techniques in Today’s Advertising†. New Directions. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2005 IKEA: Strategic Planning Analysis IKEA: Strategic Planning Analysis IKEA is a home products retailer with its branches spreading internationally and is privately owned. It sells furniture, Bathroom and Kitchen items and accessories in flat packs. IKEA is the worlds largest furniture sellers due to its unique concept of the furniture sold in flat packs, affordability and at home assembling by the costumer. Immense retail experience, product diffentiation and reasonable prices are the key for IKEA s success. It is the worlds most successful multinational retailers. In 37 countries IKEA has 301 stores (31 August 2009). Last year a total of 286 million people visited the IKEA Groups stores around the world, most of them in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia. Its catalogue is printed in 118 million copies in 45 editions (23 languages). History IKEA is owned by a Dutch registered foundation and is controlled by Kamprad Family. It was founded by Ingvar Kamprad in 1943 in Smaland, Sweden when he was only 17 years old. He started with an innovative concept for the economically stricken but hard working people of Smaland. He first started his company with 15 co workers. His concept mainly based on cost cutting solutions which do not affect the quality of the product and thus offering the sale in a much lesser price than his competitors. He never compromised on the quality but he scrapped from everything else. The word IKEA comes from the first initials of his first and last name and the farm and the village he came from (Elmtaryd and Agunnaryd) Corporate Structure IKEA is owned and operated by convoluted groups of profit and nonprofit corporations. The corporate structure of IKEA has two major parts: Operations Franchising. Management of various stores is the IKEA Operations responsibility. INGKA Holding is a private Dutch company which is owned by Stichtting INGKA Foundation which was established in 1982 in Netherland as a tax exempt non profit foundation. The design and manufacture of its furniture, purchasing and supply functions are overseen by INGKA. In 36 countries 2,235 stores are run by INGKA Holding, the rest 30 stores are run by franchises. The INGKA Foundation is controlled by a five-member executive committee that is chaired by Kamprad and includes his wife and attorney. The IKEA trademark and concept is owned by Inter IKEA Systems, registered in Luxembourg, which is an exclusive Dutch company and its ownership is very complicated and uncertain but believe to be owned by Kampard Family members. All IKEA stores including ones run by the INGKA Holding pays a fee of 3% of the total profit to Inter IKEA systems. All the stores are operated by Inter IKEA Systems under a franchise agreement. In Australia however IKEA is operated by two companies: Eastern Coast Stores including Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria are under the owner ship of INGKA Holding. Stores in the South and Western Australia are owned by CEBAS Pvt. Ltd. The suppliers acquire a long term contract with IKEA transferring technical advice and leased equipment from the company. IKEA keeps the rights of exclusion and also for low prices. Vision and Mission To create a better everyday life for the many people. This vision provides the structure of a Marketing message to all IKEA businesses worldwide. This message reflects the working and idea behind IKEAs well designed and functional products of home ware. Also keeping the product affordable for encompassing as many people possible to purchase in turn providing a remarkable profit. Compromising the price doesnt include compromise in the quality of the product or of the companys principles. As they say Low price but not at any price. This promise is the key factor for their sustainable and flourishing business. IKEAs approach was positively appreciated worldwide as the good and the services are beneficial for both the costumers and the environment. The business idea is To offer a wide range of well designed, functional home furnishing products at  prices so low that as many people as possible will be able to afford them. The market positioning statement is Your partner in better living. We do our part, you do yours.  Together we save money. The product range varies in home furniture and accessories and includes 9500 items. The items are available in big warehouse type display stores or exclusively on IKEA website on the internet making purchases easier for the consumer. In United Kingdom IKEA has opened 18 stores so far. The first one was opened in Warrington in 1987. There is also a new store opened in Dublin in 2009 which is the first one in Ireland. In August 2008 the IKEA stores were visited by 565 million visitors in a year and 450 million people used the website. The sales went up to 21.2 billion Euros ($30 Billion) with an increase of 7%. The biggest consumer countries were Germany, USA, France, UK and Sweden. Only 11% of the sales were generated in Sweden in 1997.Germany contributed 29.6%, Western Europe sale was 42.5% and 14.4% from North America. IKEA is now opening stores in Asia and China. The growth strategy includes the opening up of new stores in different locations to attract more customers. Their company objectives enable their strategy for the customer to come back by which they weaken the competitors market and increase their share. IKEA Culture Instead of acquiring the regional and national trends and tastes IKEA followed its vision which wastypically Swedish. This was a big global hit and the main reason for the success. Their market research was minimal with no intention finding out consumer interests, instead the Swedish management decided what to present to the global public, which was simply good quality functional furnishers in affordable prices. The company also highlights the Swedish culture and roots from putting shops and cafes offering Swedish legacies from meatballs to jams in their stores to the blue and gold color scheme of their display units. They tend to sell the same product worldwide and also to cut costs of the products by 30% in price from the competitor maintaining the after tax return. Despite breaking the rules of international retailing, the formula of selling Swedish designed products worked in Europe but it took a while for this business to shoot off in North America. In early 90 s most of the IKEA stores were considered to be in trouble because of the adverse movement of the exchange rates. Moreover the IKEAs beds were too narrow and all of the measurements were in the European scales. The kitchen cabinets were also too narrow in short the furnishers and accessories were not appropriate for Americans. Finally the company decided that in order to succeed in US market they have to customize and redesign their product range. The redesigning of the furnisher gave a 30-40% boost in sales in bedroom furniture and 15% in kitchen furniture instantly. By 1997 about 1/3 of IKEA furnishers were designed for US market. The company is generating huge profits from American market but European market has a bigger share in this profit. Current Situation: PEST (P)olitical IKEA is one of the best example of a firm, successful in both Scandinavian and global market. The political condition in Sweden is stable and the environment eases condition for many markets. After the 1978 reforms and open up policy in china IKEA was also one of the western retailer who took this opportunity and enter into the Chinese market. (E)conomic Global recession is of the biggest challenges facing by multinational companies all over the world. IKEA timely enter in Chinese and Indian market which was least affected by global recession. In the UK, Opening up of Southampton store in 2009 helped hold up sales otherwise hit by recession, but operating margin have declined from 11% in 2005 to 3.3% in 2009. (S)ocial IKEA has contributed much in the society as they provide opportunities in customers and the its own employees are entitled in different benefits and incentives such as insurance and pensions. However, the company has tried to provide more high quality furniture that also stick to their original concept stylish furniture at lower prices. IKEA is turn out to be a successful global brand attracting similar social group of customer with different cultures and societies in all the big markets in the world. IKEA is building online help out to guide customers to a more sustainable life. It supports customers with tips as well as ideas on its website to reduce their impact on the environment. This will also save them money. Staffs are trained on sustainability, both on what IKEA is doing and how they can take responsibility to become sustainable for themselves. (T)echnological The IKEA used quality technology and modern systems to promote faster flow of queues and proper scheduling, tracking and trading, and staffing pattern. IKEA is aiming to be more productive and has established employee preferences. The system IKEA has introduce in a position to ensure the right number of staff for the right store and in a right time to match the unique trading pattern at each site of IKEA. Porter Five forces Michael porter has determined five forces to analysed a industry. Power of the Buyers There is not much bargaining power because of the IkEAs exiting low-price options. Furniture as well as other items has an alternative, consumers have very limited alternative choices in getting high quality in low price that market IKEA has unique among its competitors. The strategy of affordable price is another way of the company to response in customers needs. Power of Supplier IKEA has its more then 1000 of suppliers from Africa, Asia and other parts of the world that set standards in delivering the materials.. Mostly, the suppliers work for IKEA and compete with other suppliers that helps the company to reduce the power of its supplier and result of that they have little bargaining power. Because of the low-pricing strategy, Rivalry The IKEAs furniture competitors offers slightly different styles and functionality. In the European market IKEA has a very strong market imagine for low price products with a good quality, in the USA market Conrin targets a new low cost in terms of furniture; Cratel Barrel supplying a furniture in a box which is relatively on higher prices; Ethan Allen targeting at a more higher market. IKEA is the most successful in offering a complete package for the customers. Substitutes There is no really specific product that can be an alternate for the furniture however IKEA must have to follow up with the latest trends in the market, to avoid becoming out of style. New Entrants All the big furniture manufacturer and retailer have their wide range have in big town. Another furniture company is rolling on the strategy of low cost and should be able to compete IKEA as the excellent company in delivering the furniture. IKEA stores and some of other competitor do not reach many small cities and this provides an opportunity for the new competitors to move into small cities with smaller stores or less selection. But not easier in big city because new entrants have to establish a large volume supply chain and create a unique brand name on as low prices. Generic strategies: IKEA clearly stated in its mission statement its strategy; IKEA has built its cost leadership position, and furnish the customer with a high quality product with components derived from all over the world utilizing competitive advantages, low cost logistics, and large retail outlets in suburban areas. Furthermore, cost leadership has been effectively incorporated into the IKEAs culture through symbols and efficient processes. The value chain The value chain approach indicates two major activities, such as primary and secondary. Primary actives which include logistics, production, marketing, and after sale functions. Secondary activities, which are identified as a support processes to primary activities. These include, firms infrastructure, HR Management. Technology development and other areas. The way from supplier to customer must be as shortest, cost-effective and environmentally pleasant as possible. Flat packs are a very essential aspect of this work. Since efficient distribution plays a key role in creating the low price, goods routing and logistics are a focus for constant development. IKEA is built upon the philosophy all the way from design teams to suppliers and to customer. A continuous contention for development in all the areas of the value chain is an effective way to shape the industry to better fit IKEAs future strategies. Due to the distinctiveness of IKEAs strategic market positioning, being the largest competitor in the industry, it has the advantage of setting the phase of the entire industry. IKEA has developed the value chain approach by integrate the customer in the process and introduce a two way value system. In order to offer the customer with high quality products at a lower price, IKEA should be looking suppliers who can deliver high quality items at low cost. The headquarters provide suppliers with technical assistance, leased equipment and the necessary skills needed to produce good quality items. SWOT analysis IKEAs goals of sustainability and environmental design are central to its business strategy. It has launched a new sustainability plan for the company to take it through to 2015. This will combine socially, environmental and economic issues. (S)trengths: Global Brand which attract the key customer group which promises same quality worldwide. A strong concept based on offering a broad range of well designed, functional products at affordable prices. Increasing use of renewable materials IKEA superior its overall use from 71% in 2007 to 75% in 2009. Volume commitments: IKEA believes in having long-term partnerships with its suppliers. Economies of scale. By using new technologies: Like IKEAs OGLA chair has been in its range since 1980. (O)pportunities A growing demand for low priced and greener products. Trends in the current financial environment may result in consumers trading down from more expensive stores. Growth of middle class in china and India Demand for reduced water usage and lower carbon footprints. Reducing carbon footprint. IKEA aims to trim down energy usage Developing social responsibility. IKEAs policy which includes support for charities like WW Fund, UNICEF and Save the Children. (W)eaknesses IKEA has to acknowledge and recognize its weaknesses in order to improve. This can play a key role not only in helping it to set objectives but also to develop new strategies. IKEAs weaknesses includes: The size and scale of its global business is very challenging to standardize its products. This can represent a weaker relationship in IKEAs supplying, affecting consumer views of IKEAs products. Keep balance between low cost products and good quality. IKEA also wants to differentiate itself from competitors. IKEA believes there is no concession between being able to offer good quality products and low prices. IKEA must improve communication with customer and other stakeholders about its environmental activities. IKEA produces publications in print media as well as on line and use different channels to enable the business to communicate with different target audiences. (T)hreats If a company is aware of all possible threats, it can plan to neutralize them. By taking actions, IKEA can use some strength to overcome against external threats in the market. Significant reduction in first time buyer in housing market. More competitors entering in the low price furnishings and household markets. IKEA needs to strengthen its distinctive qualities to compete with these Recession turn down consumer spending and disposable income reduces. Future Options IKEAs one of the main strength flat pack and high quality furniture on a very low price compare to its all competitor all over the world. IKEAs supply chain strategy where warehouses are divided into different zones and properly located to have a better control. With this strategy, the IKEA can analyze the processing time and cost more effectively, and resource utilization, and queue times and lengths for the various functions. The resources are applied and detailed in applicable working schedules, sorted and simulated at a higher-level There is a business potential for IKEA in providing solutions and services that enable customers to live a more sustainable life at home. IKEA is developing effective solutions for customers in order to support them recycling or reusing used products, and aiming at no products ending up at landfill and the recycled materials used in producing new IKEA products. For a successful global strategy IKEA must maximise its strength, minimise its weakness and by taking market opportunity to strengthen its market share image by avoiding all the external threats. Social trends: IKEA is building online help to guide customers to a more sustainable life. The advantages of online business will reduce administration cost and it will give more information to customer of product and IKEA can pass its corporate goal to target its customer more effectively Market forces: IKEA is large enough to enjoy economies of scale and also target the biggest segment of the market .i.e. middle class. This helps to reduce average costs in the long run through, for example, better use of technology or employing specialized managers. Economies of scale also give a business a competitive edge if cost savings are then passed on to customers in the form of lower prices. This puts up high barriers to entry for smaller companies entering the market. Economic factors: Global recession and significant decrease in first time buyer has affected the demand in future industry. IKEAs low prices create appeal amongst its customers in tough financial times. It is vital to keep prices as low as possible when the retail sector is depressed. IKEAs pricing strategy targets consumers with limited financial resources. Its products will also attract to those with higher income through good quality and design. IKEA must ensure that it is always recognised as having the lowest prices on the market in the future IKEA had has been quite successful with its one-design-suits-all global expansion strategy in many markets. However, industry experts were doubtful as to whether this strategy would translate well into some of the Asian and south Asian, culturally diverse and riskier markets. It is very important for IKEA to have higher degree of localization to be successful in diverse markets.   The Asian markets, where India and china has fastest growing middle class can be very attractive market. In far eastern markets, IKEA is facing a number of challenges in terms of varied cultural, demographic and market specific needs IKEA must have more cultural promotional approach to the market. IKEA must alter two very important aspects of its time tested and proven global strategy when it came to China and Middle East; while elsewhere in the world, IKEA had always located its stores in less expensive areas and sold its furniture on the do-it-yourself (DIY) principle, these elements had to be changed in China and Middle East. IKEA must decentralized most of its functions including Human resource and stores management in China, in the past, there was some criticism that IKEA was too bureaucratic with many of its operations being globally controlled and systematized. IKEA is improving to hold in the US market, this has the best growth potential for IKEA. The current hold of IKEA is this market is very limited. Thus, it enables IKEA to keep its growth rate while basically keeping its low-cost strategy in the near and medium future. The main aim is achieving this goal, is an adjustment of the companys products to the US market needs. IKEAs stores in the US must shift into less internationally standardized products and more products adjusted to the need of US market, increasing the variation of the product line of IKEA. This might result a low cost products to the high income population that might well include innovative design motives that characterizes the existing products. Globalization of IKEA and way forward More emphasis must be given on understanding of various markets all over the world for a better strategy planning, decreasing the reliance on the current management. These steps should better taken before Mr. Kamprads manager retires from the company for absorbing much of their spirit into the future international management. With continued expansion effort underway worldwide, IKEA strive to enforce its USA expansion support the companys vision and business model to offer its products on affordable prices. For a long term strategic planning IKEA must evaluate in more detailed US market and build more stores where it can achieve economy of scale. IKEA should have clusters of stores within market or different region of USA enable company to efficiently streamline and manage its distribution services, training, recruitment initiatives and development marketing efforts. On a broad bases strategy IKEA must penetrate into its existing market to gain more share by promoting its product in existing market. On the other hand more stores should be open in different part of USA market. Ansoffs Matrix Product-Market Growth Matrix In the far Eastern and Middle Eastern markets where Ikea must develop its markets in near future. In the emerging economy like China, India and Brazil where construction industry is growing. IKEA must utilize its market imagine of offering lower price products with and high quality. Nuclear Energy: Problems And Solutions Nuclear Energy: Problems And Solutions Nuclear energy is a divisive issue that many people have mixed feelings about. Nuclear power has many dangerous effects to the environment and the people living near a power plant. Many countries use nuclear power as an alternate source of electrical energy from fossil fuels. Nuclear energy has to be handled with extreme care or it could lead to disastrous damages. These problems included radiation, disposing of nuclear waste, and high costs of building and maintaining power plants. But while it is extremely dangerous to use nuclear energy, it does provide an alternate source of energy that does not pollute the air. Let us look at what nuclear energy is and where it came from. Most early atomic research was focused on developing effective weapons for use in World War II. After World War II, the government allowed nuclear energy to be developed for citizen use. We generated our first electricity from nuclear energy in 1951. According to the European Nuclear Society, as of end 2011 the total electricity production since 1951 amounts to 69,760 billion kWh and the cumulative operating experience amounted to 15,080 years by end of 2012. Because of accidents and public reluctance for them a new nuclear power plant has not been ordered in the U.S. since 1973. So, what is nuclear energy? According to the EPA, nuclear energy originates from the splitting of uranium atoms in a process called fission. Fission releases energy that can be used to make steam, which is used in a turbine to generate electricity. Nuclear energy is generally used in a combine mixture with Uranium and Plutonium. EPA further states, in the plantà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s nuclear reactor, neutrons from uranium atoms collide with each other, releasing heat and neutrons in a chain reaction. This heat is used to generate steam, which powers a turbine to generate electricity. Unfortunately, nuclear energy also generates some nasty by-products like tritium, cesium, krypton, neptunium and iodine. Let us talk about what is it that makes nuclear energy so bad for the environment and to people living near power plants. Let us start with the dangerous information and knowledge of this process. Knowledge of how to create power plants is shared among many nations. The problems with sharing this knowledge, is that countries will have access to the knowledge of how to make nuclear weapons, which could be bad for some nations. The International Energy Agency or IEA is responsible for energy in many countries, but some have criticizes them for not being able to keep the knowledge from hostile countries. There have been many accidents with nuclear power plants. On April 26, 1986, a reactor at the Chernobyl power plant exploded. According to Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, 30 people were killed instantly, including 28 from radiation exposure, and a further 209 on site were treated for acute radiation poisoning. 985,000 deaths can be attributed to the Chernobyl accident between 1986 and 2004. The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation also states, the accident cost the former Soviet Union more than three times the economic benefits accrued from the operation of every other Soviet nuclear power plant operated between 1954 and 1990. Another accident happened recently in Japan. On March 11, 2011, an earthquake and tsunami crippled the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The plant suffered major damage from the 9.0 earthquake and the tsunami. The earthquake and tsunami destroyed the reactor cooling systems, leading to leaks of radioactivity. Radiation leaks caused large evacuations, concern for plant employees and basic supplies. A few of the plants workers were severely injured or killed by the disaster resulting from the earthquake, but no deaths were due to radiation exposure. Predicted future cancer deaths due to accumulated radiation exposures in the population living near Fukushima have ranged from none to 100. There are also many environmental problems with using nuclear energy as well. The problem with mining uranium and the use of plutonium leads to contamination of the area around it. Humans become affected by this contamination as well as ecosystems. Some of these contaminations last for thousands of years, leaving toxic chemicals in our ecosystems for many years. This is only the beginning affects shown by nuclear energy, there could be many more we have not discovered yet. According to the World Nuclear Waste Association, All parts of the nuclear fuel cycle produce some radioactive waste and the cost of managing and disposing of this is part of the electricity cost. At each stage of the fuel cycle there are proven technologies to dispose of the radioactive wastes safely. Wastes from the nuclear fuel cycle are categorized as high-, medium- or low-level wastes by the amount of radiation that they emit. These wastes come from a number of sources and include: Low-level waste produced at all stages of the fuel cycle, intermediate-level waste produced during reactor operation, from reprocessing and from decommissioning old plants, and high-level waste, which contains fission products from reprocessing, and in many countries, the used fuel itself. Let us look at each process of waste disposal. Low-level wastes are usually created at hospitals, laboratories and industry. Low- level waste is most of the time is not dangerous to handle, but has to be a bit more careful to throw away then garbage. Low-level wastes account for about 90% of all waste disposals according to the World Nuclear Association. Disposal for these wastes are commonly found in many countries and are usually place in shallow landfill. Intermediate-level wastes contain higher radioactivity levels then low-level waste and require careful protection when handling. These wastes usually come from dismantled internal structures of a reactor core and the control rods from nuclear plants. Intermediate- level waste is treated with cement or a different solid and place in special containers for sealing. These type of waste is usually buried deeper in a landfill. There are two types of high-level waste, according to the World Nuclear Association, fission products and transuranics. Both have to be treated before removal. High-level waste is usually liquid when it first is created and is shipped in containers with cooling equipment before being transformed into a solid for disposal. They also put glass around it before putting it into a container. Most of these wastes take around 50 years of cooling before being disposed. The radioactivity of the waste doesnà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢t fall to a safe percent until aroun d that time. Currently, there are no deep geological disposal places or facilities. It seems that most people view that since the amount of waste is so small there is no need for it and that the longer it is stored the easier it is to handle. Some countries also recycle their waste to use again but that also has many problems that go with that method. There have been proposals for these sites in countries like Finland and Sweden, but none have been created yet. The United States considered setting a site in Nevada to dump nuclear waste. People thought of an idea to dump the nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain in Nevada. The idea was to dump all the nuclear waste produced in the United States at that location, but people were quick to point out that it will be completely fill and would not support for more nuclear waste. Transporting waste is also risky. Vehicles and trains can have accidents that can pose great problems for the environment and people. Some countries recycle their nuclear waste by using it again, but this policy is not used in the United States as it can be dangerous and it also produces more nuclear waste. There are many different energy sources that we can use that pose little threat to the environment as nuclear energy. These other sources include: wind, solar, tidal, geothermal, and bioenergy. Let us look at each one individually. Bioenergy is a fuel that comes from living things and their byproducts and is a renewable energy source. Geothermal energy is energy from natural heated areas of the Earth pumped with water to create energy. Wind energy is created from wind turbines that harness wind power to create electricity and is considered a renewable resource. Solar energy is created from the sunà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s rays. Solar cells can capture solar rays and create electricity from them. Tidal energy is created from the rise and fall of the oceans and is considered a renewable resource. Many more resources can be discovered if more funding was put into these programs by the government. There are many different alternative sources that are safer for the environment and human health then nuclear energy. Those who support nuclear enegy make the case that it is a solution to global warming as it doesnà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢t burn fossil fuel and add more carbon dioxide to the air. But this claim ignores the dangers of nuclear waste and the threats it poses to the environment. For now, because of the devastating incident of Chernobyl and many other factors, nuclear power growth has slowed, but still is a problem that needs to be address and hopefully fix. Also, nuclear energy carries the risk of terrorist attack on the plants. Power plant employees can easily make mistakes and cause meltdowns of the power plant and other various problem. While it may help the climate change, there are so many more problems associated with it. There is always a chance for a horrible incident like Chernobyl. Nuclear energy is not really a solution. It is just a different method with different equally bad problems. Sources: Peterson, P. F. (2001). The Pros and Cons of Nuclear Fuel Recycling. Science, 294(5549), 2093. Zehner, O. (2012). Nuclear Powers Unsettled Future. Futurist, 46(2), 17-21. Lai, Leslie (2013) Nuclear Fact Sheet, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation Rugy V. No to Nukes. Reason [serial online]. July 2012;44(3):18-19. Available from: Academic Search Elite, Ipswich, MA. Accessed January 13, 2013. Lewis, J. (2008). the nuclear option. Mother Jones, 33(3), 56-92. Flory, P. W. (2006). Just the Facts. Foreign Affairs, 85(5), 149-150. EPA (2012) Nuclear Energy Ita, M. (2006). Nuclear vs solar energy, which?. New African, (449), 37-38. Lewis, H. W. (1986). The Accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and Its Consequences. Environment, 28(9), 25. LePoire, D. J. (2011). Exploring New Energy Alternative. Futurist, 45(5), 34-38. Funabashi, Y., Kitazawa, K. (2012). Fukushima in review: A complex disaster, a disastrous response. Bulletin Of The Atomic Scientists, 68(2), 9-21. doi:10.1177/0096340212440359 European Nuclear Society (2012). Nuclear power plants, world-wide