U.S. Policy regarding the South China Sea (SCS) Essay

U.S. Policy regarding the South China Sea (SCS) - Essay Example The tensions are influencing – being influenced by- rising fears concerning China military power growth as well as its regional intents. China has engaged in an extensive upgrading of its forces of maritime paramilitary and naval aptitudes to impose jurisdiction and Sovereignty rights through force if the need arises. Simultaneously, China is developing capabilities, which would place US forces within the expanse in a conflict risk, and therefore, possibly refuting US Navy access in the west Pacific (Akande). In view of the growing prominence of China-U.S. affiliation as well as the Asia-Pacific expanse more largely, to the worldwide economy, the U.S. has a huge interest in inhibiting any of the numerous disputes within the South China Sea from intensifying militarily. U.S. policy goals include: I. Attainment of global norms and rules in the South China Sea, II. Attainment of regional stability and alliance security in the South China Sea, III. Attainment of economic interests and IV. Attaining a cooperative affiliation with China V. Promote Territorial Risk-reduction Measures Assessment of Current U.S. Policy Goals The U.S. has crucial interests for achieving a diplomatic resolution of disputes in South China Sea with respect to international law. With China’s exception, all South China Sea’s claimants have tried to validate their entitlements grounded on their coastlines as well as the UNCLOS’s provisions. China, on the other hand, depends on a combination of legal claims and historic rights, while remaining purposely indistinct about the implication of the ‘nine-dashed line’ all over the sea, which is drawn upon Chinese maps. The failure of the U.S. to maintain international norms and law could harm United States’ interests elsewhere within the region as well as beyond. Guaranteeing navigation freedom is another critical goal for the US as well as other regional states. As much as China maintains that, it advoc ates navigation freedom; its persistence that foreign forces seek advance authorization to cruise in its EEZ hurls doubt upon its stance. The China’s capabilities development to deny US’ naval entry to its waters in a dispute provides proof of likely Chinese intents to block navigation freedom in particular contingencies (Akande). Regional and alliance security: United States friends and allies around Southern China Sea depend on U.S. to sustain free trade, secure and safe sea communication lines and general stability and tranquility within the region. Non-claimants and claimants to marine waters and land features within the South China Sea take U.S. forces presence as essential to permit decision-formulating free of extortion. If states within the South China Sea lack self-assurance in the U.S. to aid as the major regional security underwriter, they could engage in costly and possibly threatening arms accumulations to reimburse or, otherwise, become more cooperative t o the requests of an influential China. None would be within the United States’ policy goals. Failure to assure friends of U.S. responsibilities within the expanse could also weaken U.S. security assurances in the wider Asia-Pacific area, particularly with South Korea and Japan. Simultaneously, however, the US must elude being enticed into the regional dispute—and perhaps into a clash—by regional states who seek United States’ backing to legalize their claims (Nato). Economic

Audubon zoo Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Audubon zoo - Essay Example Park personnel need new challenges and the zoo needs to be constantly improved to prevent falling into a pattern that could lead to a decline. The recent political decision to give control to the City of New Orleans offers an opportunity for reorganization towards a more learning organization which would be flexible enough to make future adjustments as needed. The organization is actually getting too large not to be flexible. Currently, the Audubon Park Zoo operates within the revenues it generates, which is actually a plus, since most such projects require more public support. Financial data is found on the graph below. A questionable suggestion to lease the concessions to third party vendors needs to be examined. The concessions operated at a tiny fraction of current volume before the Friends of the Zoo took it over. While the fact that the labor is volunteer may account for some of the profit, giving up control is probably not advisable. Financially, the zoo is doing well, but it any improvements or expansions are done the funding needs to be developed. New projects are needed in order to maintain momentum. Anything that does not move forward stagnates. The vertically hierarchical structure has worked for the park until now, but the park has grown and will continue to grow, and large organizations which stick strictly to this kind of structure sacrifice flexibility for a sense of stability due to the efficient nature of this organizational structure. In the beginning of a company or during the time when it is being revamped, efficiency is of prime importance. However, as an organization matures, it must become a â€Å"learning organization† so that it can make changes as needed in response to changes in the marketplace. Becoming a learning organization is essential to the bottom line, as Hanvanich et al proved in their study. â€Å"Specifically, under low environmental turbulence, learning orientation and organizational memory

The ultimate nightmare Essay Example for Free

The ultimate nightmare Essay I lay down and waited for the soothing blanket of sleep shroud me. A few seconds later the anticipated blackness of slumber settled in†¦ Suddenly, the deafening noise of the alarm clock woke me up with a startling jolt. It seemed as though I had fallen asleep mere seconds ago and as I groggily looked around something did not seem right. The room looked the same as it did before I went to sleep. In the bright orange light that seemed to come from hells keep itself, shown through the flimsy curtains from the eerily noiseless street behind our house I could see that nothing was amiss. Nothing that I could notice straight away that is. As I got up from my bed, I saw that my sister was not in hers. I looked around once more, as the feeling of peculiar alarm and angst worked from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. I was at once perturbed and shaken as I saw that the room was clean, severely clean. There was naught on the tables, or in the wardrobe, not dust nor a shadow of the things that had been there and as I turned to look at the alarm clock, I was only more agitated to find the side table to be glimmeringly spotless. As the twisted black feeling of fear grew, I knew I had to go through the entire house. Having no idea of what time it was; except that it was dark; sinister as any night in a horror movie outside, I went through each and every room in our house only to find all of them stripped bare, like a newborn baby, from the ceiling to the floor. It was as though it had taken hours for me to do that, for me to find all my families things, my family, itself to have, disappeared like they had never existed in the first place. The fear that had been lit now consumed me like a wild fire. That this dream like situation that seemed to go on for hours only fed it. The fact that I now knew this was not reality but a horrifying nightmare did not seem any less daunting than if a dragon breathing fire had been placed in front of me. For this was my ultimate nightmare, to be left alone with not a thing in the world but worse than that that there was no one for me to go to. I could not do anything but wait in the spine-tingling prison like dream, wait for someone to wake me up, when, the shrill voice of the alarm sought me out,  again†¦

The Misleading Message of Chopins The Storm Essay -- Chopin Storm Ess

The Misleading Message of Chopin's The Storm Kate Chopin's "The Storm" focuses on two simultaneous and related storms, one a fierce tempest of the natural world with the expected rain, wind, lightening, and thunder, the other a cyclone of the mind and heart which results in an short love affair between the two main characters. With her husband Bobinot and her son Bibi stranded in town by the storm, Calixta finds herself at home alone when an old lover, Alcee, rides up. The storm, the worst in two years, drives the two indoors, where, though they have not met in five years, they soon are embracing each other. As the storm outside reaches a climax, the emotions in the house spike to a fever pitch, and, though not directly stated, it is implied in the narrative that the two engage in sexual relations. As the storm passes on Alcee leaves, and we are told that everyone, including the uninvolved spouses, is improved and benefitted by the romantic engagement. Kate Chopin wrote this story at a time when Christian and Victorian morality was still adhered to, at least in name, and extramarital relationships were widely condemned in public. Thus, though Chopin had penned many other well-received pieces, The Storm, written after the highly controversial The Awakening, remained unpublished during her lifetime. That this particular work of Chopin s is more widely accepted today is perhaps a poor reflection on our society’s literary tastes, for The Storm is neither a realistic depiction of life nor the results of male-female relationships. The main problem with this work is its total lack of realism in its portrayal of the effects of the rel... ...re is no chance that Alcee will marry her, considering he did not think it proper when an even better opportunity presented itself earlier his life. Perhaps Clarisse, if she truly dislikes her husband, will not mind the situation too much, but such an affair would create an awkward marriage between her and Alcee, and divorce was still not at that time conducive to making you popular in good society. Finally, it would be unlikely for Bobinot not to find out, and, from the brief sketch presented of the good but unimaginative man in The Storm, it would probably crush him to lose his wife, and what acts such a disenchantment would lead to, no one could say. Considering all that has been mentioned, perhaps a more accurate ending for the story would be: The storm had passed, only to come again, and everyone was the worse because of it.

Handmaid’s Tale †the character of Offred Essay

Margaret Atwood’s novel The Handmaid’s Tale houses a very authentic range of characters, in a complex world. Set in the Republic of Gilead, a totalitarian and theocratic state, where a reproduction rate is rapidly decreasing, some women are labeled as handmaids and assigned to elite couples that have difficulty conceiving. The personality of one character in particular, however, may seem hasty and misunderstood at first glance. But given the circumstances, she proves to hold the values of humanity: she has her own set of opinions, flaws, and habits; has regrets; and a balance of courage and fear. Furthermore, the setting this character must survive in is not much different from today’s society. The government is deemed corrupt, fear of punishment is instilled, and the leaders ensure that the citizens adhere to the law. Finally, the aid and support that she receives, the faith and hope she has, and the development of friendships she makes also has a likeness to ordinary relationships in our world. Hence, the novel’s protagonist, Offred is a relatively relatable individual, especially in terms of her character, her surroundings and her supporting roles. Offred conveys a sense of reality in her personality as she is not perfect and has her own set of opinions, flaws, and habits. For instance, Offred has many moments and flashbacks where she reminisces about her past. This implies that she has regrets and obstacles in her life, just as every human being does. When Offred describes her appearance, albeit briefly, it signifies the insecurities that she keeps bottled up inside â€Å"I am thirty-three years old. I have brown hair. I stand five seven without shoes. I have trouble remembering what I used to look like. I have viable ovaries. I have one more chance† (Atwood, 143). Had she been proud of what she looked like, she most likely would have gone into more detail, but the lack of words plainly states that she thinks nothing special about herself. At one point that she mentions that she does not like to look at herself in the mirror. This shows that she does not look at her self as superior and she is also self-conscious of her own appearance. She also possesses a certain attributes that any person would possess; she is rebellious and disobedient in constricting situations. This is what makes her more interesting and what sets her apart from the rest. Although Moira, Offred’s best friend, was an even more revolutionary character, she seemed too daring to be true. A real life person would not be likely to pull off stunts that Moira had accomplished, for example escaping from the Red Centre â€Å"She had both hands on the lid when she felt something hard and sharp possible metallic jab into her ribs from behind. Don’t move, said Moira, or I’ll stick it all the way in, I know where, I’ll puncture your lung†, â€Å"I couldn’t believe how easy it was to get out of the Center. In that brown outfit I just walked right through. I kept going as if I knew where I was heading, till I was out of sight† (Atwood, 130, 244). Offred had just enough courage and just enough fear to seem realistic. Keeping these points in mind, it is clear that Offred could have been an ordinary character in our society. The Republic of Gilead, as strange as it may seem, actually has some similarities to the modern day and this is primarily seen by Offred’s response to its laws and regulations that they instill. To her, the government appears as corrupt as most governments in this world, and dictators still thrive, just as they do in Offred‘s society. Offred responds to this by doing nothing, which would be the decision of most people if forced to live under these conditions. The leaders of Gilead, after all, employ obedient enforcers to make sure that citizens abide by their laws. She mentions this in the book when she retells how the changes in her nation started. She describes in full length that she, along with all women in the U. S. , were forced from their jobs by men in uniform carrying machine guns â€Å"Not fired, he said. Let go. You can’t work here anymore, it’s the law† (Atwood, 176). The fear of punishment is instilled, akin to the terrors of being imprisoned or given a death sentence in our world. Penalties are dreaded so much in Gilead, for most of the time they are unjustly given out and they vary from hanging to ‘Salvaging’; which is being beaten to death â€Å" The three bodies hang there, even with the white sacks over their heads looking curiously stretched, like chickens strung up by the necks in a meat shop window; like births with their wings clipped, like flightless births, wrecked angels† (Atwood, 277). Offred ultimately responds passively, on account of this fear, and because liberal ways are shunned in Gilead. Margaret Atwood was right in not giving Offred any extraordinary abilities to surpass or overthrow the tyrants that ruled over her life as it would result in a loss of Offred’s relatable self. Relationships with other people are a necessity of life that defines human existence. As Offred progresses with day-to-day life, she develops these friendships, which ensure that she exists. The friends and allies that she made were essential for keeping her sanity intact because without any shoulders to lean on in times of sorrow, a person’s mental capacity could break. Amongst her friends were Cora, whom Offred was not very close with but did not have any tension with, Ofglen, Moira, her best friend, and Nick, the Commander’s chauffeur that Offred opens up to and confides in towards the closure of the story. Offred frequently finds herself seeking support and knowledge in people who share the same beliefs and opinions as her, most significantly from Ofglen and Moira. This portrays the doubts about her world that she holds: another human quality. From Ofglen, she realizes that she is not alone in thinking that their country is corrupt and that something must be done to change things â€Å"At last Ofglen speaks. â€Å"’Do you think God listens,’ she says, ‘to these machines? ’ She is whispering: our habit at the Center†(Atwood, 168). However from Moira, Offred finds out that escaping from their strict nation is not as easy as she had thought, as Moira could not even arrive at such a courageous feat. Without her supporting roles, Offred could have been an ignorant citizen in Gilead that was brainwashed into believing every word that the government fed them. If that were the case, Offred’s connection to the readers would have been lost. Furthermore, Offred turns to hope and faith to console her and help her to move on with life. Just as her friends helped her, these virtues aided in protecting her wellbeing; though forced, since she had nothing else to look to. The hope that Offred’s husband is still alive is very similar to the feelings of families in modern day society that pray for the safe return of their lost, loved one from war or other degrees of separation. Faith is introduced to Offred when she acknowledges the pillow in her room with the word ‘faith’ printed on it â€Å"There’s a hard cushion on it, with a petit point cover: FAITH, in square print surrounded by a wealth of lilies† (Atwood, 57). The fact that it is something she can read implies that there is still hope, as not everything has been taken away from her. This knowledge strengthens her belief that change will come, though subconsciously since Offred never mentions it. The faith that she puts into the Commander also ties into the trust she gives him when playing games, reading magazines and when he brings her to Jezebel’s â€Å"He wanted me to play Scrabble with him†, â€Å"He sits me down, and sits himself down beside me. He puts an arm around my shoulder† (Atwood, 144, 236). Trust is a very common issue that people have trouble giving out. But in examining these elements it is clear Offred’s confidantes have impacted her life and how they make her into a real character. The Handmaid’s Tale is appealing due to its main character, Offred, who shows a great deal of realism in a world of impossibilities. Her character itself is strong-willed, but moderate, and is the perfect mix of what it is to be human. Through her, many of the readers can see a bit of themselves in Offred. She is an excellent example of how a regular person would behave if they were thrust into the world of The Handmaid’s Tale.

Optimizing Your Delphi Programs Memory Usage

Sociology - 5053 Words

Possible sociology questions January 2012 Item 2A Sociologists analyse the domestic division of labour in many different ways. Parsons describes the division of labour in the traditional nuclear family in terms of an expressive role and an instrumental role. However, this traditional arrangement may have changed as families have changed, and many feminists use the term ‘dual burden’ to describe the woman’s role in the family today. Item 2B Government policies and laws include tax and benefit policies as well as legislation such as relating to divorce and marriage. Sociologists have different views on the impact of these policies and laws on families. For example, feminists argue that social policies assume that the ideal family is†¦show more content†¦For example, it benefits family members by offering mutual support and emotional satisfaction. (a) Explain the difference between the ‘birth rate’ and the ‘fertility rate’ (Item 2A). (4 marks) (b) Suggest two reasons why women might delay having children (Item 2A). (4 marks) (c) Suggest two ways in which the position of children could be said to have improved over the last one hundred years. (4 marks) (d) Examine the ways in which government policies and laws may affect the nature and extent of family diversity. (24 marks) (e) Using material from Item 2B and elsewhere assess the Marxist view that the main role of the family is to serve the interests of capitalism. (24 marks) January 2011 Item 2A In addition to changes in the birth rate and the death rate, the other factor contributing to the size of the population is net migration. The search for employment is an important reason for migration. This was particularly true for those who came to the United Kingdom from the Caribbean in the 1950s. Immigration has created greater ethnic diversity in the population and contributed to family diversity. 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