The Constructivist Approach in International Relations Essay

The Constructivist Approach in International Relations - Essay Example The paper tells that the constructivists have over and over questioned the rationale behind the self-centred notion of rationalism. In place of this, Constructivism has favoured some form of social ontology. Its proponents believe that human beings are social actors, and as such can never live away from the society’s power to shape their actions, so that they can conform to certain forms of behaviour. However, Wendt admits that, since constructivism is unable to provide international relations with â€Å"a clear test of their predictive power...† and without a clear theory to help in assessing domestic politics, it cannot, therefore, solely in studying international relations. It needs a backing from some other theories of international relations. Therefore, my paper seeks to critically assess the strengths and shortcomings of the constructivist approach in International Relations. In doing this, the paper will give a brief discussion on how constructivism has come to b e one of the major theoretical approaches of IR. It will also look at the strengths and weaknesses of constructivism. Moreover, it will give a comparison between constructivism and neorealism. The works of various constructivists will be visited to shed more light on the topic. These constructivists include Martha Finnemore, Alexander Wendt, Thomas Risse, and Peter Katzenstein. Today constructivism is actually one of the main theories of International Relations. It is built on the premise that almost all important features of global politics owe their existence to some given social circumstances and events in history. The theory strongly refutes the claim that international politics are controlled by intentional human actions that can never be controlled. It also does not agree with the notion that international politics is controlled by the uncontrollable nature of the same. The intention of constructivism to look at international relations as a result of social construction makes the theory clearly distinct from the traditional approaches to not only realism but also liberalism. There is a lot of emphasis on the human nature of humans as being an outcome of the relations we have with others. We are who we are today because of the social relations. As such, the argument here is that it is our social relations that construct us. However, the same world cannot exist without human beings since it is what it is because of the social relations. Therefore, as the world controls us, we equally control the world. Both humans and the world make each other (Zehfuss 2002, p.4). Constructivism’s importance in international relations is clearly brought out in the claim that the most important debate, now or in future, is that â€Å"between rationalists and constructivists.† Another factor that makes constructivism an important tool in the study of international relations is the fact that it occupies â€Å"the middle ground between rationalism and more radic al approaches, often called reflectivist or relativist†

Binge drinking Essay Example for Free

Binge drinking Essay ?Binge drinking, especially among the youth, has been on the rise in Singapore. explore some of the reasons why youths resort to binge drinking and the consequences. What is binge drinking? This happens when someone drinks excessive amounts of alcohol. To drink alcohol socially is one thing, For instance, at parties and at gatherings. Conversely, when alcohol is heavily consumed over a short period of time, also commonly known as, binge drinking, it brings about undesirable health effects to the body. Binge drinking has been discovered to be more common among youths aged 18 – 29 years old in Singapore. Statistics show that 18. 7% of them have been found to be men and 12. 2% of them women (â€Å"Binge drinking among†, 2013). Peer pressure, affluence and stress are some reasons why youths engage in binge drinking. It is crucial to explore reasons why youths revel in binge drinking despite its obvious dangers. Binge drinking can be described as excessive drinking which can be hazardous to one’s health. This essay will discuss the reasons why youths enjoy binge drinking and its destructive consequences. Peer pressure is one of the essential drivers of binge drinking. Teenagers are often influenced when they see their friends drinking while some simply do not want to feel left out at parties and gatherings (Dowshen, 2013). Who would really want to stand out from the rest of their friends? It is normal and common for teenagers to want to fit in. Many a times, teenagers find it difficult to resist their friends’ invitations and hence, end up indulging in binge drinking with their friends. This is to a great extent common among teenagers with friends who consistently drink. Affluence is another cause of binge drinking. It is often stereotyped that youths of low-income families are more likely to resort to drinking and substance abuse due to financial and emotional problems. However, findings have proven otherwise. Youths from affluent families are highly inclined to engage themselves in binge drinking due to the pressure that is placed on them by their parents to excel well in school and all other areas (Luthar, 2014). Apart from that, with the accessibility to easy money, loads of free time and lack of parental supervision, affluent youths result to binge drinking because of the carefree and luxurious lifestyle they live in (White, 2007). Stress is a popular reason why teenagers resort to binge drinking. Teenagers are often stressed out with school. Case in point, when they are loaded with huge amounts of homework and given almost no time to finish them. They view alcohol as a way to get themselves ‘high’ and relieve their stress (Cyhlarova, 2010). This frequently brings about binge drinking. Apart from the stress they get from school, teenagers can also be stressed due to relationship issues. They heavily depend on alcohol to dispose of their worries and stress. Binge drinking can result in both long term and short term health effects. Some long term effects are liver disease and kidney damage. Alcohol poisoning is one of the most deadly short term effects of binge drinking (Burke, 2012). At the point, when an individual consumes alcohol excessively, their pharyngeal reflex and breathing gets affected. The pharyngeal reflex is known to help to prevent one from choking. Therefore, if the reflex does not function well, one might die of choking on their own vomit. In conclusion, parents play an enormous role in being a good role model to their children. They are responsible for educating their children from young on the impacts of binge drinking and why they should not engage in it. In addition, parents can be vigilant and keep an eye over their children. For example, keeping track of their daily activities and the people they hang out with. Research has shown that when parents go the extra mile and put in effort to be more involved in the lives of their children, it reduces the likelihood of their children drinking. Teenagers can also play their own part in protecting themselves from falling into the trap of binge drinking. They can do so by wisely choosing their circle of friends. They should avoid having friendship ties with friends who consistently pressure them to drink along with them and instead make good friends with those who lead them in the right path. Binge drinking is a behaviour that comes with a heavy price to pay. However, with the right prevention measures put in place, teenagers can stay safe, away from this deadly habit. (620 Words) References Binge drinking among young adults remains a concern, say doctors. (2013). Retrieved from http://news. xin. msn. com/en/singapore/binge-drinking-among-young-adults-remains-a-concern-say-doctors-1 Burke, D. (2012). Alcohol overdose. Retrieved from http://www. healthline. com/health/acoholism/overdose#Overview1 Chavez, N. (2004). Preventing adolescent binge drinking. Retrieved from http://www. youthbingedrinking. org/you/parents. php Cyhlarova, E. (2010). Alcohol: a cure for stress? Retrieved from https://www. drinkaware. co. uk/check-the-facts/health-effects-of-alcohol/mental-health/alcohol-a-cure-for-stress#adverse Dowshen, S. (2013). Binge drinking. Retrieved from http://teenshealth. org/teen/drug_alcohol/alcohol/binge_drink. html# Luthar, S. (2014). The problem with rich kids. Retrieved from http://www. psychologytoday. com/articles/201310/the-problem-rich-kids Wilkins, E. (2008). Teens, alcohol and binge drinking: why kids are drinking hard alcohol at a younger age. Retrieved from http://www. empoweringparents. com/Teens-Alcohol-and-Binge-Drinking. php# White, P. (2007). The dare side of wealth: risks associated with growing up in an affluent family. Retrieved from http://www. drpaulwhite. com/the-dark-side-of-wealth-risks-associated-with-growing-up-in-an-affluent-family-%E2%80%93-risk-1-drug-alcohol-abuse/.

Diphtheria (corynebacterium Diphtheriae) :: essays research papers

Diphtheria (Corynebacterium diphtheriae) Corynebacteria are Gram-positive, aerobic, nonmotile, rod-shaped bacteria related to the Actinomycetes. They do not form spores or branch as do the actinomycetes, but they have the characteristic of forming irregular shaped, club-shaped or V-shaped arrangements in normal growth. They undergo snapping movements just after cell division which brings them into characteristic arrangements resembling Chinese letters. The genus Corynebacterium consists of a diverse group of bacteria including animal and plant pathogens, as well as saprophytes. Some corynebacteria are part of the normal flora of humans, finding a suitable niche in virtually every anatomic site. The best known and most widely studied species is Corynebacterium diphtheriae, the causal agent of the disease diphtheria. History and Background No bacterial disease of humans has been as successfully studied as diphtheria. The etiology, mode of transmission, pathogenic mechanism and molecular basis of exotoxin structure, function, and action have been clearly established. Consequently, highly effective methods of treatment and prevention of diphtheria have been developed. The study of Corynebacterium diphtheriae traces closely the development of medical microbiology, immunology and molecular biology. Many contributions to these fields, as well as to our understanding of host-bacterial interactions, have been made studying diphtheria and the diphtheria toxin. Hippocrates provided the first clinical description of diphtheria in the 4th century B.C. There are also references to the disease in ancient Syria and Egypt. In the 17th century, murderous epidemics of diphtheria swept Europe; in Spain "El garatillo" (the strangler"), in Italy and Sicily, "the gullet disease". In the 18th century, the disease reached the American colonies and reached epidemic proportions in 1735. Often, whole families died of the disease in a few weeks. The bacterium that caused diphtheria was first described by Klebs in 1883, and was cultivated by Loeffler in 1884, who applied Koch's postulates and properly identified Corynebacterium diphtheriae as the agent of the disease. In 1884, Loeffler concluded that C. diphtheriae produced a soluble toxin, and thereby provided the first description of a bacterial exotoxin. In 1888, Roux and Yersin demonstrated the presence of the toxin in the cell-free culture fluid of C. diphtheriae which, when injected into suitable lab animals, caused the systemic manifestation of diphtheria. Two years later, von Behring and Kitasato succeeded in immunizing guinea pigs with a heat-attenuated form of the toxin and demonstrated that the sera of immunized animals contained an antitoxin capable of protecting other susceptible animals against the disease. This modified toxin was suitable for immunizing animals to obtain antitoxin but was found to cause severe local reactions in humans and could not be used as a vaccine. In 1909, Theobald Smith, in the U.S., demonstrated that diphtheria toxin

Simple Machines :: essays research papers

Simple Machines Definitions: Machine- A device that makes work easier by changing the speed , direction, or amount of a force. Simple Machine- A device that performs work with only one movement. Simple machines include lever, wheel and axle, inclined plane, screw, and wedge. Ideal Mechanical Advantage (IMA)- A machine in which work in equals work out; such a machine would be frictionless and a 100% efficient IMA= De/Dr Actual Mechanical Advantage (AMA)- It is pretty much the opposite of IMA meaning it is not 100% efficient and it has friction. AMA= Fr/Fe Efficiency- The amount of work put into a machine compared to how much useful work is put out by the machine; always between 0% and 100%. Friction- The force that resist motion between two surfaces that are touching each other. What do we use machines for?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Machines are used for many things. Machines are used in everyday life just to make things easier. You use many machines in a day that you might take for granted. For example a simple ordinary broom is a machine. It is a form of a lever. Our country or world would never be this evolved if it wasn't for machine. Almost every thing we do has a machine involved. We use machines to manufacture goods, for transportation, ect.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the W=F*d equation the trade of between force and distance is as you use a machine the force goes down and distance goes up. If there was no friction they would be equal and trade.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are six simple machines. They are a lever, pulleys, inclined plain, wheel and axle, screw, and wedge. The lever is used very often an example of a lever is a broom. Your hand is the fulcrum and when you sweep it is a lever. A lever consist of a fulcrum, effort, and resistance. A pulley is used to lift or pull objects with a advantage. To get a advantage it matters how many lines are going to the load. For example if there is 3 lines to the load it is a 3/1 advantage. A inclined plain is used to lift an object easier but with more work. Instead of lifting it straight up you push it a greater distance but with less force. A screw is a inclined plain wrapped around a cylinder post. Its like a ramp around the screw. A wedge is a inclined plain with one or two sloping sides. Chisels, knives, and ax blades are examples of wedges.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  IMA is ideal mechanical advantage meaning a frictionless world with 100% efficiency. It is saying that work in and work out are exactly the same.

Methods of Data Collection Essay

Introduction: Data Collection is an important aspect of any type of research study. Inaccurate data collection can impact the results of a study and ultimately lead to invalid results. Data collection methods for impact evaluation vary along a continuum. At the one end of this continuum are quantitative methods and at the other end of the continuum are qualitative methods for data collection. Bakhtadze (2012:82) ‘When you have decided on a topic, refined it and specified objectives, you start considering the ways of collecting the evidence you require. The initial question that guides you is: â€Å"What do I need to know to answer my research problem? Why do I need it?† After you have answered the question you start choosing the best ways of collecting information. Researchers next decide how they are going to collect their empirical research data. That is they decide what method of data collection (test, questionnaires, focus group, observation, interviews) they are going to use to physically obtain research data from their research participants.’ University of Wilconsin (2012)The Quantitative data collection methods, rely on random sampling and structured data collection instruments that fit diverse experiences into predetermined response categories. They produce results that are easy to summarize, compare, and generalize. Quantitative research is concerned with testing hypotheses derived from theory and/or being able to estimate the size of a phenomenon of interest. Depending on the research question, participants may be randomly assigned to different treatments. If this is not feasible, the researcher may collect data on participant and situational characteristics in order to statistically control for their influence on the dependent, or outcome, variable. If the intent is to generalize from the research participants to a larger population, the researcher will employ probability sampling to select participants. Typical quantitative data gathering strategies include: * Experiments/clinical trials.   * Observing and recording well-defined events (e.g., counting the number of patients waiting in emergency at specified times of the day). * Obtaining relevant data from management information systems. * Administering surveys with closed-ended questions (e.g., face-to face and telephone interviews, questionnaires etc). Wikipedia (2012) In statistics, survey methodology is the field that studies the sampling of individuals from a population with a view towards making statistical inferences about the population using the sample. Polls about public opinion, such as political beliefs, are reported in the news media in democracies. Other types of survey are used for scientific purposes. Surveys provide important information for all kinds of research fields, e.g., marketing research, psychology, health professionals and sociology. A survey may focus on different topics such as preferences (e.g., for a presidential candidate), behavior (smoking and drinking behavior), or factual information (e.g., income), depending on its purpose. Since survey research is always based on a sample of the population, the success of the research is dependent on the representativeness of the population of concern. Survey methodology seeks to identify principles about the design, collection, processing, and analysis of surveys in connection to the cost and quality of survey estimates. It focuses on improving quality within cost constraints, or alternatively, reducing costs for a fixed level of quality. Survey methodology is both a scientific field and a profession. Part of the task of a survey methodologist is making a large set of decisions about thousands of individual features of a survey in order to improve it. The most important methodological challenges of a survey methodologist include making decisions on how to: * Identify and select potential sample members. * Contact sampled individuals and collect data from those who are hard to reach (or reluctant to respond). * Evaluate and test questions. * Select the mode for posing questions and collecting responses. * Train and supervise interviewers (if they are involved). * Check data files for accuracy and internal consistency. * Adjust survey estimates to correct for identified errors. Advantages * They are relatively easy to administer. * Can be developed in less time compared with other data-collection methods. * Can be cost-effective. * Few ‘experts’ are required to develop a survey, which may increase the reliability of the survey data. * If conducted remotely, can reduce or obviate geographical dependence. * Useful in describing the characteristics of a large population assuming the sampling is valid. * Can be administered remotely via the Web, mobile devices, mail, e-mail, telephone, etc. * Efficient at collecting information from a large number of respondents. * Statistical techniques can be applied to the survey data to determine validity, reliability, and statistical significance even when analyzing multiple variables. * Many questions can be asked about a given topic giving considerable flexibility to the analysis. * Support both between and within-subjects study designs. * A wide range of information can be collected (e.g., attitudes, values, beliefs, and behaviour). * Because they are standardized, they are relatively free from several types of errors. Disadvantages The reliability of survey data may depend on the following: * Respondents’ motivation, honesty, memory, and ability to respond: * Respondents may not be motivated to give accurate answers. * Respondents may be motivated to give answers that present themselves in a favorable light. * Respondents may not be fully aware of their reasons for any given action. * Structured surveys, particularly those with closed ended questions, may have low validity when researching affective variables. * Self-selection bias: Although the individuals chosen to participate in surveys are often randomly sampled, errors due to non-response may exist ( Adà ©r et al. (2008:13) . That is, people who choose to respond on the survey may be different from those who do not respond, thus biasing the estimates. For example, polls or surveys that are conducted by calling a random sample of publicly available telephone numbers will not include the responses of people with unlisted telephone numbers, mobile (cell) phone numbers, people who are unable to answer the phone (e.g., because they normally sleep during the time of day the survey is conducted, because they are at work, etc.), people who do not answer calls from unknown or unfamiliar telephone numbers. Likewise, such a survey will include a disproportionate number of respondents who have traditional, land-line telephone service with listed phone numbers, and people who stay home much of the day and are much more likely to be available to participate in the survey (e.g., people who are unemployed, disabled, elderly, etc.). * Question design. Survey question answer-choices could lead to vague data sets because at times they are relative only to a personal abstract notion concerning â€Å"strength of choice†. For instance the choice â€Å"moderately agree† may mean different things to different subjects, and to anyone interpreting the data for correlation. Even ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers are problematic because subjects may for instance put â€Å"no† if the choice â€Å"only once† is not available. Questionnaires Wikipedia (2012)A questionnaire is a research instrument consisting of a series of questions and other prompts for the purpose of gathering information from respondents. Although they are often designed for statistical analysis of the responses, this is not always the case. The questionnaire was invented by Sir Francis Galton. Questionnaires have advantages over some other types of surveys in that they are cheap, do not require as much effort from the questioner as verbal or telephone surveys, and often have standardized answers that make it simple to compile data. However, such standardized answers may frustrate users. Questionnaires are also sharply limited by the fact that respondents must be able to read the questions and respond to them. Thus, for some demographic groups conducting a survey by questionnaire may not be practical. As a type of survey, questionnaires also have many of the same problems relating to question construction and wording that exist in other types of opini on polls. Basic rules for questionnaire item construction * Use statements which are interpreted in the same way by members of different subpopulations of the population of interest. * Use statements where persons that have different opinions or traits will give different answers. * Think of having an â€Å"open† answer category after a list of possible answers. * Use only one aspect of the construct you are interested in per item. * Use positive statements and avoid negatives or double negatives. * Do not make assumptions about the respondent. * Use clear and comprehensible wording, easily understandable for all educational levels * Use correct spelling, grammar and punctuation. * Avoid items that contain more than one question per item (e.g. Do you like strawberries and potatoes?). Questionnaire administration modes Main modes of questionnaire administration are: * Face-to-face questionnaire administration, where an interviewer presents the items orally. * Paper-and-pencil questionnaire administration, where the items are presented on paper. * Computerized questionnaire administration, where the items are presented on the computer. * Adaptive computerized questionnaire administration, where a selection of items is presented on the computer, and based on the answers on those items, the computer selects following items optimized for the ‘testee’s ‘estimated ability or trait. -Wikipedia. Org Observational study In epidemiology and statistics, an observational study draws inferences about the possible effect of a treatment on subjects, where the assignment of subjects into a treated group versus a control group is outside the control of the investigator. This is in contrast with experiments, such as randomized controlled trials, where each subject is randomly assigned to a treated group or a control group before the start of the treatment. Wikipedia (2012)Although, observational studies cannot be used as reliable sources to make statements of fact about the â€Å"safety, efficacy, or effectiveness† of a practice, they can still be of use for some other things: â€Å"[T]hey can: 1) provide information on â€Å"real world† use and practice; 2) detect signals about the benefits and risks of†¦[the] use [of practices] in the general population; 3) help formulate hypotheses to be tested in subsequent experiments; 4) provide part of the community-level data needed to design more informative pragmatic clinical trials; and 5) inform clinical practice.†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Bakhtadze (107:2012) Observation is watching behavioral patterns of people in certain situations to obtain information about the phenomenon of interest. Quantitative Observation: Quantitative Observation involves the standardization of all observational procedures in order to obtain reliable research data. Qualitative Observation: Qualitative Observation involves observing all relevant phenomena and taking extensive field notes without specifying in advance exactly what is observed. Focus Groups Bakhtadze (106:2012) A focus group is a type of group interview in which a group moderator (working for the researcher) leads a discussion with a small group of individuals to examine how the group members think and feel about the topic. Purposes of Focus groups: 1. Obtaining general background information about a topic of interest; 2. Stimulating new ideas and creating concepts; 3. Generating impressions of products, programs, services, etc. 4. Learning how respondents talk about the phenomenon of interest; 5. Interpreting previously obtained qualitative results Summary A method of data collection is the procedure that a researcher uses to physically obtain research data from research participants. The method of data collection that is used in a research study is discussed in the method section of a research report. . Finally, the methods of data collection discussed in this paper work can be mixed by using the fundamental principle of mixed research to strengthen the evidence provided by a research study. References: Adà ¨r, H. J., Mellenbergh, G. J., & Hand, D. J. (2008). Advising on research methods: A consultant’s companion. Huizen, The Netherlands: Johannes van Kessel Publishing. Bakhtadze, I., 2012.Course note on Research Methodology, Department of Education, International Black Sea University, Tbilisi-Georgia. World Bank, n.d: Data Collection Methods, 2012 viewed 28th of December 2012 http://www.worldbank.org/poverty/impact/methods/datacoll.htm University of Wilconsin, n.d., Data Collection Methods, viewed 28th of December 2012 http://people.uwec.edu/piercech/researchmethods/data%20collection%20methods/data%20collection%20methods.htm Wikipedia, 2012, Questionnaire, viewed 28th 0f December 2012 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Questionnaire Wikipedia, 2012, Survey Methodology, viewed 28th 0f December 2012 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statistical_survey Wikipedia, 2012, Observational Study, viewed 28th 0f December 2012 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Observational_study

malaysian roads are very dangerous Essays

malaysian roads are very dangerous Essays malaysian roads are very dangerous Essay malaysian roads are very dangerous Essay Malaysian roads are very dangerous. Discuss. Introduction Nowadays, road is one of the popular mode of transportation in Malaysia. Do you believe that over than a million of Malaysians are the road users in a day? They have their own personal reasons and destinations. In fact, 3,674,484 of private and public vehicles were moving on the roads in a day in 1987. On the other hand, In 2003 there were 12,021 ,939 vehicles on the roads. This shows the number of vehicles keep increasing yearly. I am sure, you can imagine the scenario on Malaysian roads with such number of vehicles which are moving on the road everyday? All of us know that, there are more and more accidents occur on our roads everyday. In addition, many of these accidents lead to death. In fact, thousands of Malaysian die every year due to road accidents. (Refer Appendix 1) Based on the statistics prepared by Police Department, the number of road accident increase tremendously during festive season. For instance, on the first day of Hari Raya Puasa in 1999, it was reported 572 cases of road accident while 568 cases during Chinese New Year. Surprisingly, on the 1 5th day of Hari Raya Puasa the total of road accidents went up to 9416 cases. In contrast, the total of 8259 cases of road accidents was reported on the 1 5th day of Chinese New Year in 1999. (Refer Appendix II) Overall, the fatalities during Hari Raya Puasa in 1999 was 203 and 206 during Chinese New Year. (Refer Appendix Ill) Moreover, during festive season the roads are congested with Malaysian who are going back to their hometown to celebrate their festival with family. In short, more and more Malaysians die every year due to the road accidents. The question is, who should be blamed for the increasing number of the road accident? What are the causes that contribute to road accident on Malaysian roads. What can we do to prevent the road accident? After doing some research and reading, I can simplify that there are some causes that contribute to the road accident. They are road, weather and vehicle condition, surrounding, drivers attitude and weaknesses in implementation of law in Malaysia. Road condition Based on research finding and record of accident cases, the number of road accident keeps increasing yearly. Actually, road in Malaysia is not really safe to be used. This is because most of the roads are not straight. Moreover, there are narrow and sharp This kind to road conditions may lead to road accident. Recently, there was an accident at kilometre 39, Jalan Johor Bahru, Ayer Hitam. The collision was between a factory bus and lorry at the narrow and sharp bend. Consequently, 5 Indonesian workers died, 7 paralysed and 26 seriously injured. All of them were the passengers of the factory bus. Chief Inspector, Zainal Abidin announced that, the victims died after getting a serious injuries especially on their heads. It has become worse when the heavy vehicle is going through the narrow road. Not nly inviting danger, but the surface of the roads is also damage. Therefore, the hole and destruction on the surface of the road will cause the traffic congestion as the drives have to slow down their vehicles. Thus, accidents frequently occur in congested traffic. Weather condition In addition, weather condition contributes to the road accident. It is dangerous to drive in raining cats and dogs, hot day and haze. In fact, speeding during this kind of weather condition may cause the driver to lose control on steering, tyre and brake. Driving during haze will blur the visibility of the driver. Consequently, the driver who drives in this kind of weather condition is easily involved in an accident. Furthermore, high quantity and low quantity of light exposure leads to accident. This is because the drivers could not fully concentrate on their driving. Vehicle condition We can say that vehicle is related to the driver itself. This is because the vehicle that unable to function properly will cause mishap. The driver should inspect the condition of lamp, signal light and tyre regularly. So that, the vehicle will able to run smoothly on the road. In most cases, signal light that is not function or if the driver orget to show signal before make turn cause the accident take place. Surrounding Other than that, the slopes of roads traversing the mountainous regions and forests in our country. The road lamps are placed at specific places only. Moreover, at certain places, the road lamps are not enough or unable to function properly. Therefore, the road signs could not be seen clearly especially at night. The percentage of road accident is higher at night than daytime. Drivers attitude Not only the road, weather and vehicle condition and surrounding are the causes of oad accidents, the drivers attitude is also one of the cause of road accident. In 2003, traffic congestion with this number of vehicles on the road. The drivers have to move their vehicles inched forward, bit by bit on the long rows. The drivers might lose control or become impatient in this situation. The impatient drivers might press their horns or cursing at other road users. It has becomes worse if the impatient drivers might put themselves and other road users in danger. Actually, drivers are the major factor of road accident in Malaysia. If the drivers are andling their vehicles under control of their emotion like tired, stress, anger, worry or even sleepy, they tend to involve in accident. Thus, they are unable to give full attention and concentration on the road. They might lose control of their vehicles as danger comes anytime without warning. According to the statistic endorsed by Police Department, the main factor of road accident is careless of the driver. It was reported by DSP Samsudin Mat, Chief Officer of traffic team, PDRM Selangor. 85% of the total of road accident is caused by road accident is caused by driver while 15% is caused by the other factors like road ondition, surrounding and vehicles that are not road-worthy. Fokus Minda Ogos 2004, page 78. Furthermore, most of the drivers are selfish, ego, careless and are unable to control themselves in any unpredictable circumstances. In addition to that, Malaysians love speeding. They ten d to race in order to reach their destination first. In fact, speeding brings harmful. What else can disturb the feeling of the family members of the road accident victims if their beloved are seriously injured, disable or even die? As reported by mass media on 18th September 2004, En. Redza Abdul Razak, officer in Transportation Department was Jostled by a trailer that passed by while he was on duty. The accident occurred at kilometre 14, Jalan Rawang, Kuala Lumpur. This incident showed that the driver was very selfish and did not care about others safety. Moreover, overtaking others vehicle is very dangerous without good knowledge on how to overtake in a safe way. The driver should know the right moment and the correct technique to overtake. Otherwise, collision might happen. In addition to that, the driver especially the teenagers prefer to disobey law. They ften ignore the traffic light. They will not stop when the red light appear. They Just go ahead without thinking the consequences of their action. Sometimes we can feel that the teenagers are purposely wanted to show off when their motorbike roared past. This kind of attitude will lead to the road accident. Furthermore, lack of toleration among the road users lead to the road accident. If all safety, accident or collision might occur. In this case nobody will get benefit. If nobody die or injure in the collision, both parties have to spend their money to repair their vehicles. We should avoid this kind of attitude. Toleration is important in order to guarantee our own safety and other road users. Thus, we should be careful and practice toleration on the road. Dato Abd. Rashid Yusof, General Manager of Public Work Department, Selangor mentioned that, l am never oppose that road condition contributes to road accident. But Human factor outweigh the other factors. The driver should get ready to avoid any accident and be prepared for any possibility that might take place on the road. (Fokus Minda, edisi Ogos page 79) Weakness in implementation of the law Another factor that lead to the accident is weakness in implementation of the laws in Malaysia. Therefore, The Police Department and Transportation Department should stricter and seriously implement the law to prevent the road accident. For example the fines to the those who are caught speeding now is not really heavy. That means the road users do not really score with the fine or law that we have today. Suggestion Now the question is, can we prevent the road accident? There can be no doubt that it is possible. Yes, I believe that we can cut down the number of accidents by having a stricter laws. Firstly, the driving tests must be made more difficult. The tests we have now are easy to pass. That means many of our drivers are not really skilled at handling their vehicles. In addition to that, I suggest that drivers should be made compulsory to sit for additional test every two years. This is to make sure that they have not forgotten their driving skills. 1 It is my view that, many of the vehicles on the roads nowadays are not road-worthy. Some of them do not have signal lights, others do not have good brakes and tyres. Such vehicles are responsible for many of accidents. Now, I am sure that you will gree with me that we should have strict laws so that only vehicles in good condition are allowed on the roads. This means that the government should inspect all vehicles every year. Another important cause of accidents is speeding. As we know, Malaysians love driving fast, and with so many excellent highways, the problem has become worse. We have to stop speeding by imposing speed limits on all our roads. Some drivers might disagree, but strict laws, I feel, is the only way to cut down on the number of accidents. Those caught speeding should be made to pay heavy fines too. And if they their licences. Another important point is that the Public Work Department have to make sure the roads are always in good condition. They need to provide a safe and efficient road system. At the same time, the road users should report immediately if they find that the road surface is damage. So that, the damaged road can be repaired as soon as possible. Nevertheless, the gov ernment should expand the narrow road and identify the hazardous location to prevent the accident. In addition to that, the government should educate the driver or motorist through campaign. The driver must be careful and selflessness on the road. Even though, there are many sign boards and speed limit signs are placed on the road, if the road users disobey them what can the police say? Thus, the driver should play their part too in order to prevent the road accident. For a long distance driving, the driver to should plan in advance so that he can reach this destination on time in secure. I am happy to hear that our Minister of Transportation announced the formation of Road Safety Committee Oawatan Kuasa Keselamatan Jalan Raya). I personally think that, this is a wise decision and right time in order to provide a safe and efficient road ystem in Malaysia. Conclusion In a nutshell, all the causes of road accidents are interrelated. All the above mentioned causes are responsible to make Malaysian roads are very dangerous places. Thus, it is responsibility of Malaysians to make them safe place. We have to cooperate each other and play our own role to prevent and simultaneously decrease the number of road accident in Malaysia. I hope that one day our perception on Malaysian roads will change. It is possible to make our roads a safe place so that the driver could drive smoothly and peacefully on the road.

The Incorporation of Venezuela into Mercosur

The Incorporation of Venezuela into Mercosur Introduction Mercosur (Southern Common Market) initially started with the Asuncion Treaty which was inked by Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay in 1991 to establish a free trade province and finally to establish a common market. In 2007, Venezuela joined the forum. (Tondi 353).Advertising We will write a custom thesis sample on The Incorporation of Venezuela into Mercosur specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The main aim of Mercosur is to offer the probabilities to expand exports, to augment investment and to create a greater economic development among member nations. (Dominguez Oliveira 178). The core objective of Mercosur is to institute a customs union in common and a market place in common between member nations of Mercosur. (www.associatedcontents.com). Mercosur market includes free transportation of products and exclusion of custom duties among members within regions. (Motley 2006). When there was an expansion in Mercosur in J uly 2006, the internal dynamics of Mercosur are being altered. Admission of Venezuela, which is the third major economy of Mercosur group after Brazil and Argentina which aggregates over 250 million population in the regional bloc and an aggregate of a GDP of $ 1.1 trillion. To become a full member, Venezuela is required to implement Mercosur regulations and rules, which include espousal of CET and transpose Mercosur contracts with third nations into its domestic legislation. (UK House of Commons Report 80). Venezuela’s government expenditure and its economy are depending upon its oil income. About thirty percent of Venezuela’s GDP comprises of oil income. Further, oil exports constitute about eighty percent of Venezuela’s export. About 16% of Venezuela’s GDP is made up from its service sector. Though, t he economy of Venezuela is very robust, its entry into Mercosur will help to expand its economy. The main objective of associating with Mercosur is to ex pand its business within the region. (Motley 2006).Advertising Looking for thesis on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Venezuela became a full member of Mercosur in January 2006. However, Venezuela’s membership is not absolute as there is a midway phase to depart CAN and to synchronize strategies with other associate nations of Mercosur. (Massabie 153). Though Venezuela approved the† Climate Change Convention in March 1995†, but it was the very last Latin American nation to approve in â€Å"February 2005 the Kyoto Protocol. â€Å" For many years, Venezuela declined to approve the Kyoto’s Protocol in consonance with the OPEC as Kyoto Protocol did not acknowledge condition Venezuela as the major seller of oil. (Massabie 153). Mercosur has been deteriorated frequently due to political chaos between its member nations. The admission of Venezuela to the Mercosur in the ye ar 2008 brings a new member with a clearly varied political ideology into the Mercosur and has once again posed a threat to the political decision authority of Mercosur. (Tondl 28). It is to be observed that Venezuela is playing an active role in all Latin American integration mechanisms. Venezuela was an associate of the â€Å"Andean Community of Nations (Comunidad Andina de Naciones, CAN)†. (O’Keefe 99). However, Venezuela said goodbye to CAN in 2005 averring grave divergence with other member nations. In 2004, Mercosur together with Colombia and Ecuador became an associated member of Mercosur. The Protocol of Adhesion stipulates that it will be enforced once it is approved by all five signatory nations of Mercosur. The Venezuelan congress approved the Protocol of Adhesion as early as August 2006. As of January 2009, it is yet to be approved by the Paraguay and Brazil legislatures. Once the Protocol of adhesion comes into effect, Venezuela will have about four-year t ime to espouse the full array of Mercosur norms, which includes CET also. Venezuela’s immediate integration into Mercosur is also hindered by the fact that Venezuela, though it has formally withdrawn from the Andean Community as early as 2006, it is still subject to the Andean intra-regional liberalization scheme until the year 2011. (O’Keefe 99). The Southern Common Market (Mercosur) crossed nineteenth year of formation in 2010. In these nineteen years, the region transformed from a major restricted trade phenomenon to a free –trade province practically, with extra efforts in creating a customs union and moving on to a common market.Advertising We will write a custom thesis sample on The Incorporation of Venezuela into Mercosur specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In spite of these developments, the assimilation process sustained impediments due to varied economic happenings such as Brazil’s currency devaluat ion, Asian financial crisis and later, the uncertainty of economy witnessed by Argentina. Thus, delays to the integration phases generate creditability concerns and could endanger the future of the Mercosur. This research paper evaluates the present magnitude of economic assimilation of Mercosur, the tempo of the phases and the outcome of varied levels of economic integration. It also evaluates the entry of Venezuela, the benefits, disadvantages, the roadblocks witnessed by it to become a full member, how Mercosur has benefited due to ingression of Venezuela and what are all the future challenges to be confronted both by Venezuela and Mercosur in detail. Analysis As a new member of Mercosur, Venezuela is in a transition phase from its earlier Andean Community Association. Venezuela’s integration into Mercosur is a phased one. By 2012, its tariff to Argentina and Brazil are to be removed with privileged access for main imports from Uruguay and Paraguay, which is to be offered instantly and free trade by 2013. Venezuela has to espouse the Mercosur common external tariff within four years. Some sectors like livestock, food, electronic equipment, software and automobiles are protected sectors. Venezuela is now required to implement Mercosur trade regulations and rules, which include the adoption of the region’s Common External Tariff and to swap Mercosur’s agreements with third nations into its domestic laws. Definitely, Venezuela’s entry into Mercosur will transform the course of the region’s development. With Venezuela as a member in Mercosur, there is greater political risk is involved. Recently, another six year term of the presidency was won by President Hugo Chavez for a third term in Venezuela. This has raised an alarm among business and industry that nationalization of various main industries in Venezuela is on the card. Out of 175 ranks, Venezuela has been ranked as 164 by World Bank for doing business. (UK House of Co mmons Report 65). Significance of Venezuela’s Entry into Mercosur Entry of Venezuela into the Mercosur free trade province under the Protocol of Adhesion brings more grand factors than included in ALDI ACE NO.59 which is the present free trade agreement which Venezuela is having with each other Mercosur nations.Advertising Looking for thesis on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More For instance, under earlier ACE NO.59, many tariff curtailments are not anticipated to be wholly introduced till January 1, 2018 and there are even goods, which are excluded from free trade permanently. On the contrary, both Brazil and Argentina, under the Protocol of Adhesion (POA), as a normal rule, will abolish tariffs on all imports from Venezuela from January 1 2010 whereas Uruguay and Paraguay will eliminate the tariff for all imports from Venezuela from January 1, 2013 and in turn, Venezuela will abolish all tariffs on all imports from Mercosur nations from January 1, 2012. Immediately, after entry into the force of POA, Venezuela has consented to throw open up its market instantly to for a number of Paraguayan and Uruguayan imports. For so –called agricultural products, the protocol contains a provision that permits for a longer phase-out period ending January 1, 2014. The Political Aspect of Venezuela’s Entry into Mercosur The main aim of the Venezuela’ s intention to join Mercosur as a full member is predominantly political. Before joining Mercosur, Venezuela is not a poignant export market for the Mercosur nations. Both Argentina and Brazil, to some smaller magnitude, export some valuable manufactured products to Venezuela, mainly auto parts and also agricultural products and food items in a small quantity. Incidentally, there are few exports to other Mercosur nations from Venezuela. Currently, oil is being imported by Brazil in large quantities from Venezuela and however, these imports by Brazil from Venezuela are of miniscule as compared to global petroleum exports by Venezuela. (O’keefe 100). It serves medium and short-term economic interests to other Mercosur nations by the decision to admit Venezuela as a full member. The Argentines are much fascinated in collaborating with PDVSA, the Venezuelan state owned Petrol Company, which has offered investment capital to develop offshore natural gas and oil fields in Argentina . Brazilian state owned petrol company namely Petrobras which evincing keen interest in joint ventures with its Venezuela’s equivalent to develop and explore oil wells, mainly to explore heavy oil in Venezuela’s Orinoco River Valley, which can be exported to northeastern Brazil. Both Brazilian and Venezuelan oil companies have already invested about US$ 2.5 billion in heavy oil refinery in Pernambuco, which is in the North Eastern side of Brazil. The state petrol company of Uruguay also has a joint venture with PDVSA to establish heavy oil wells in the province of Orinoco and to establish an oil refinery in Uruguay, mainly to refine heavy crude. Further, a natural gas pipeline is being constructed from Bolivia to Paraguay and Uruguay, which is funded by Venezuela. Further, Venezuela is having planned to construct a natural gas pipeline from Venezuela to the Southern Cone of Mercosur. (O’Keefe 100). Mercosur –Venezuela Trade In recent years, there has been a rapid increase of trade flow between Venezuela and Mercosur nations. It reached a record high of US$ 7.2 billion in 2007. This represents an increase of 25% increase of the figures of 2006 and an increase of 34% increase 2003 figures. However, Venezuela’s exports to the Southern Cone bloc nations experienced a moderate increase of 10.8% between 2003 and 2007. It even shrank by 15.3% in 2007 aggregating to US$ 1.1 billion. Due to this, there was growth of US$4.9 billion in 2007 in trade balance in favor of Mercosur. It is significant to note that the trade flows between Venezuela and Mercosur were much more balanced till the start of this decade and in some instances, exhibited a marginal increase in favor of Venezuela, as in 2000, when Venezuelan sales touched the magic figure of US$1.5 billion. (Instituto Para La 56). There has been a substantial increase of exports by the four Mercosur nations to Venezuela, which stood at 60.5% in 2006 and was about 38% during the first six months of 2007. Thus, the four Mercosur nations accounted for 12% of Venezuela’s total imports. The larger drive of sales to this destination as contrasted to shipments the other parts of the world, demonstrates that the Venezuelan market’s capability for the Mercosur products, especially manufactured products like pharmaceutical products, plastics , auto and automobile parts , food , cardboard and paper. It is to be noted that Colombia was the nation which was badly affected due to Venezuela’s entry into Mercosur as it had earlier supplied of above mentioned products under preferential tariff stipulations to other Mercosur nations. Further, Mercosur imports from Venezuela demonstrated strong increase during 2006, which stood at 146.1% but declined towards 9.9% during the first half of 2007. For all Mercosur nations except Uruguay, the significance as a supplier of the bloc is relatively limited. Uruguay is the only country which soaks up almost fifty percen t of the bloc’s imports from Venezuela. Moreover, in terms of energy, Venezuela has become a significant trading partner and its fuel symbolizes almost the whole of imports from the nations in Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay and over sixty percent in Brazil. Source: http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2006/september/tradoc_113488.pdf.   http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2006/september/tradoc_113488.pdf. Source: http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2006/september/tradoc_113488.pdf. Source: http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2006/september/tradoc_113488.pdf. Source: http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2006/september/tradoc_113488.pdf. Source: http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2006/september/tradoc_113488.pdf.   Source: http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2006/september/tradoc_113488.pdf. Source: http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2006/september/tradoc_113488.pdf. wto.org/english/res_e/statis_e/its2010_e/its10_world_trade_dev_e.pdf Venezuelaâ €™s financial and capital account behavior is closely linked to the significant current account balance of 15.1 % of GDP during the year 2003-2006. The flip aspect of this high surplus is a debit balance allocated between financial and capital account and the excess in the international reserves. The current account surplus of Venezuela is mainly attributed to the oil exports by the Venezuela’s government oil company namely PDVSA. Venezuela’s government has the decision authority to decide what quantum of this surplus can be transformed into as official assets or international reserves and what quantum is to be earmarked for financial or real investment overseas. Venezuela witnessed a net outflow of capital since 1999 which in 2006 touched 12.4% of its GDP. This balance symbolises both the surge in Venezuelan assets in foreign countries and the fall in the external liabilities. All Mercosur nations except Argentina witnessed accumulation in their international rese rves during 2006 in line with the aim of minimizing external vulnerability in a context of escalating uncertainty at the international level. Thus , Venezuela has reformed its policy towards the accumulation of reserves, which declined August 2007 to US$ 10b as against the US$37b maximum at the end of 2006 mainly because of its reallocation to the National Development Fund namely FONDEN. (Carciofi et al 3) One another advantage of Venezuela in Mercosur is that it promotes investment by Venezuela in other member nations, and investment is also made by other member nations in Venezuela, Thus , this prolonged business cycle will assist to fortify nations within Mercosur.( Bassi 2006), Venezuela will derive advantages from the introduction of total liberalization for the majority of products of interest to it in trade with other individual members of Mercosur. The greatest benefit will be in trade with the Brazil and Argentina as these nations have undertaken to introduce liberalization forward to 2010 onwards. (Carciofi 111). Major advantages may be obtained from elimination of the exception to complete liberalization and of the price band system presently applied by Venezuela in its trade with Mercosur nations. (Carciofi 112). According to Maduro, Venezuela’s foreign minister, there has been an enhanced commercial relations between Mercosur and Venezuela as trade has grown to $28 billion from the just $2 billion. Mercosur will also strive to achieve a common custom’s code to kindle and minimize the cost of commerce among Mercosur nations. Further, there is an effort by Mercosur to remove double-taxation and associated transport holdups on imports that is being transported through one member nation to arrive at another Mercosur member nation. It is estimated that by 2014, there will be complete elimination of double-taxation of imported merchandises and there will be a single Mercosur customs union, unifying terms so that duties on exports and impor ts can be arrived at and exchanged across Mercosur member nations.(IntelliBriefs 2010). Disadvantages From the above table, it is evident that the entry of Venezuela into Mercosur as a new full member has a moderate brunt on the region’s trade and economic profile. Though Venezuela is having a higher per capital GDP as compared to the Mercosur’s mean, the value of Venezuela’s annual import is not very admirable. The chief part in cost-benefit analyses of Venezuela’s admission into Mercosur is the energy capabilities that the Venezuela adds to the region. (Carciofi 101). There are fewer disadvantages for Venezuela’s accession to Mercosur. Member nations are of the view that many agreements and rules framed by Mercosur are of one sided. One another disadvantage is that Venezuela may face that it may be the victim of intellectual property privileges. With more exports of electronic products from Venezuela into other Mercosur member nations may end in copying of ideas of Venezuela’s products thereby resulting in the emergence of grey markets for Venezuela’s electronic products. (Ledesma 2008). Despite advancing the time frames which will usher advantages to Venezuela, it is significant to note that majority of selected goods already have momentous preference margins. The effect will be relatively modest even by advancing timeframe to enjoy the advantages in market access norms. This symbolizes despite there are chances for trade expansion, membership of Venezuela in Mercosur does not symbolize momentous transformation in market access norms for those associated, given the present preference as the trade liberalization deadlines already discussed in ECA 59. (Carciofi 111). External Agenda of Mercosur will be influenced by Venezuela’s Entry One of the major anxieties ventilated by the business sector over Venezuela’s ingress into Mercosur is that it may wield its influence on the external agenda of the b loc. As per National Confederation of Industry, immediately after inking the Membership Protocol, Venezuela will attain the status of inclusion in the Mercosur delegation for negotiating with other nations and blocs. Thus, without going through the transition period, Venezuela may have its articulation in such discussion as one of the framer of the Mercosur’s negotiating programs with the EU and U.S.A. (Carciofi 117). Democratic Clause in Mercosur Among the founding members of Mercosur, democracy was a common value and was visualized as a precondition for integration. It is to be noted that in the preamble either in the constituent treaty of Mercosur or the Treaty of Asuncion signed in 1991 contained democratic clause. The first ever mention about democratic setup is seen in the â€Å"Declaration of the Second Presidential Meeting of Mercosur† of June 1992. Mercosur member nations in July 1996 reiterated the significance of democratic conditionality by sealing the â₠¬Å"Declaration of the Democratic Agreement.† In July 1998, the Democratic agreement was officially instituted into the â€Å"Treaty of Asuncion â€Å"by means of the Protocol of Ushuaia. This protocol specifically provides after a phase of consultation, the rights of a member state of Mercosur can be suspended where the democratic order is in chaos, mainly to deliberate in the institutions of Mercosur. (Hoffmann Vleuten l 180). It will be interesting to follow the effect of the democratic clause, given the polemic circumstances of the democratic credentials of Chavezs government. It is to be noted that decision to include Paraguay in the Treaty of Asuncion was regarded in 1989 only after the end of the dictatorship. (Vaz 126). It is to be noted that no stringent action was taken during the Venezuela crisis other than support expression for a return to a democratic rule by Mercosur nations. It is pertinent to note that Mercosur does not have an adequate explanation on how to handle corrosions of democratic ruling. (Morton, Halperin Galic 109). Chavez’s autocratic style and Paraguay’s Opposition Though Venezuela’s request to admit as a full member of Mercosur was approved in June 2006 in Caracas by the leaders of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, the proposal has to be accepted by the legislatures of the concerned nation also. Both Uruguay and Argentina legislatures were the first to acknowledge the Venezuela’s incorporation as a full member. Brazil’s Senate, after three long years of debate approved the Venezuela’s inclusion in Mercosur in December 2009. Paraguays senate is yet to accord its approval since the Paraguay’s President Fernando Lugo does not enjoy the adequate support and his opponents have raised their voice against inclusion of Venezuela in Mercosur on the ground of â€Å"autocratic practices and style â€Å" of President Chavez, which is in clear opposition to the main slogan of â€Å" Mercosur Democratic Clause.† According to Senator Romero Juca, a senator from Brazilian ruling coalition, Venezuelas role is extremely significant for the economic and social development of South America and hence, Brazil would exert its utmost pressure on Paraguay on the necessity for acknowledgement of Venezuela’s admission as a full member in Mercosur. (Brazil Mag 2010). Paraguayan opposition opposes the political style of the President Hugo Chavez and not the entry of state of Venezuela into Mercosur. They view Chavez as an undemocratic and they are of the opinion that his arrival may harm Mercosur. Some critics are of the view the Mercosur as a mirror of the European Union and lament that their entry of Chavez may injure the trade pact with EU. It is to be observed that Venezuela major imports are foodstuff and Paraguay can benefit from exporting to Venezuela its oil seeds, grains and meats.(UPI.com 2010). Whether Mercosur is a successful and what is its fu ture? Since its start-up, Mercosur has turned to be Latin America’s most elegant integration agreement. However, both Argentina and Brazil were passing through a recession and there was a disagreement on which foreign exchange policy to be perused. This disagreement has become a real threat to the future of Mercosur. (Gillespie, Jeannet and Hennessey 46). The initial success of Mercosur was demonstrated by the truth that international trade among the four nations soared to 200 percent in the 1990s. However, after 1999, trade and commerce were badly impacted due to Brazil’s currency devaluation and its consequent financial crisis and there was default of external debts by Argentina. The economy and trade were affected severely between 2000 and 2002 and especially in 2004. In particular, Argentina flouted the Mercosur access conditions by introducing several protective measures and barriers to free trade. Due to non-coordination between members, the future of Mercosur is now uncertain. (John, Craig Lynk 308). Recent happenings do not seem good for the future of Mercosur. In the year 2006, a dispute between Uruguay and Argentina over whether to permit European companies to establish two paper mills along the river that separates their border was not resolved through Mercosur’s internal dispute resolution mechanism. Further, Uruguay expanded its trade with the U.S.A and even cautioned that it may withdraw from Mercosur commenting that Mercosur is to serve the interest of Brazil and Argentina. Moreover, Mercosur has not resolved trade asymmetries that have arisen within its members, yet to resolve the concern of double tariff on certain imports from outside the bloc, yet to codify a custom code that is common and this has led some analyst to view that Mercosur has turned to be a forum of foreign policy modeling. These beliefs have only been corroborated by recent discussions between the European Union and Brazil regarding the possibility of a bilateral trade negotiation. (Seelke 8). Why Paraguay Has Not Allowed Venezuelas Entry To The Bloc? What Are/Would Be The Consequences It The Country Decides To Finally Admit Venezuela? For Paraguay, in spite of economic advantages derived by Paraguay due to Venezuela’s entry into Mercosur as its full member, the aristocrat style of Hugo Chavez, the Venezuelan president elevates the cause of worry for Paraguay. The political style and personality of Chavez is just conflicting to Mendez, the present president of Paraguay who emphasizes moderation. Paraguay is of the opinion that Mr. Chavez’s extreme patriotism will fetch more chaos to Mercosur. Paraguay is of the opinion that Venezuela’s confronts with Colombia will need of redrafting of its stance for Mercosur since Paraguay is of the view that Venezuela’s entry may bring a blockade in the negotiation for creating a trade relations between European Union and Mercosur nations. The adversaries of Chavezâ₠¬â„¢s program for a substitute style of integrating South American economies, which insists issues of social justices which are not restricted to his domestic foes. Both the big businesses from Venezuela and member nations of Mercosur especially Paraguay have a common grumble against Chavez may destabilize the Chavez’s effort of amalgamating the South American nations against Washington. Already, Paraguay is entangled with the heightening brawls with Argentina and Brazil, as the national leaders of Paraguay are questioning the real advantage of awarding full membership to Venezuela. Further, Paraguay is having a legitimate concern over equity treatment that travel back to very first day of formation of Mercosur. For instance, Brazil and Paraguay, which enjoy the gargantuan dam namely â€Å" Itaipu Dam† which is being one of the globe’s biggest hydroelectric energy projects an d Paraguay has raised dispute over dominance of Brazil in the Itaipu project. This has made the Paraguay politicians to allege that Paraguay’s association with the Mercosur is a disgrace since the Mercosur membership does not offer any meaningful advantages to Paraguay. Paraguay is actively engaged in establishing a bilateral trade agreement with the U.S.A which has compelled Chavez to give up his nation’s economic tie-up with the other nations of South American trade group that have followed Paraguay’s FTA with U.S.A and could end in Mercosur fugitives to renounce full membership in the Mercosur. Paraguay is of the view that Chavez main aim to join Mercosur is to shape his counterweight to U-S supported freed trade agreements thereby uttering that admission of Venezuela as indicator for integration of South American economies and a sign of triumph against U.S.A’s colonialist economic strategies for the region. Thus, there is a need on the part of Chavez to stop this encouraging the exit of Paraguay which means fracturing of Mercosur intern al unity which would symbolize a devastating philosophy rout in Chavez’s struggle to keep U.S.A’s authority isolated in the region. If at all Venezuela wants to isolate U.S.A, it should come forward to offer lower tariffs for Paraguayan merchandises well before free-trade regions are concluded for the balance of Venezuela’s inter-Mercosur commerce for the period between 2012 and 2013. This approach will help Venezuela to get the support of Paraguay by helping it to tackle Paraguay’s negative economic scenarios and it will also heighten small economies like Paraguay attitude towards Venezuela as Paraguay may have to weigh the real benefits from Venezuela’s participation in Mercosur. According to erstwhile Paraguayan President Duarte Frutos that if real aim of the Mercosur is to criticize the protectionism of EU and U.S.A, they should practice the same protectionism among the small member nations of Mercosur and if this continue, then these small mem ber nations like Paraguay may decide their concern would be served outside Mercosur. Further, Chavez call to build a common army for Mercosur may kindle Chavez’s economic and political adversaries to join under one roof to retort his action for integration or may spoil hesitant allies to get back their support to Mercosur. (Coha 2010). Paraguay is having strong political disparity but at the same time it is also of the view that Venezuela’s entry into Mercosur is more interesting to it economically. Paraguay opposition is vehemently against Chavez and not against Venezuela as his attitudes are not only undemocratic towards the press and opposition but also Chavez’s meddling in other nation’s domestic business for ever. However, adequate pressure is exerted by Argentina and Brazil on Paraguay to shift its stance against Venezuela which can have considerable impact on landlocked Paraguay given its trade discrepancies and geographic location. One another stu mbling block is that approval of both houses of Paraguay’s congress is to be obtained before the bill for accrediting full membership for Venezuela which is to be inked by Paraguay’s president Lugo. However, since Lugo is lacking majority in any of the houses of congress and hence Logo is compelled to negotiate with the ruling coalition which itself is splintered. (MercoPress 2010). Conclusion It is obvious that membership of Mercosur has not paved the way for change in the replica of economic development. Nor have the assurances of enhanced trade opportunities, larger international profile and access to new markets. Rather than an increase in exports, Mercosur has witnessed a concentration of exports. Economic growth has been disappointing and flow of FDI is rather stagnated. No doubt, Venezuela’s entry into Mercosur will definitely make aligning the bloc’s trade agendas more of a challenge. Venezuela’s foreign trade and productive structure are p oignantly differing to the present member nations of Mercosur, and this will definitely have a say on its trade policy preferences. There are two chief challenges to the future of Mercosur.The first one is the political and economic crisis. The chances of survival are not encouraging without a speedy recovery from the present global economic turmoil. There are three structural deficiencies of the present concept of Mercosur, and they are the lack of macroeconomic coordination, the institutional weakness and the intra-industry trade strategy. (Weintraub, Rugman Boyd 148). The above mentioned deficiencies can be corrected. By fine tuning the relatively demanding theory of a â€Å" Common Market† to the political realities by acknowledging the fact the readiness to share sovereignty and by substituting the greatly personal –decision making measures through a more rule oriented system and By keeping away from macroeconomic doctrines at the national level which intimidate s to generate deformed real exchange rates within the region? To rejuvenate and revitalize Mercosur, it is the need of the hour to reform its productive capabilities following comparative benefits. Mercosur’s structural weakness still remains to be resolved. If this disadvantage is considered seriously, it is obvious that the future of Mercosur must remain in doubt, even if the current economic turbulence can be conquered. (Weintraub, Rugman Boyd 148). Bassi, Raul. 12 September 2006. Venezuela in MERCOSUR. A New Mercosur. 19 October 2010 www.spectrezine.org/LatinAmerica/bassi.htm. Brazil Mag. (April 2010). Brazil to Pressure Paraguay into Accepting Venezuela into Mercosur. 19 October 2010 brazzilmag.com/component/content/article/84-april-2010/12157-brazil-to-pressure-paraguay-into-accepting-venezuela-in-mercosur.html Carciofi, et al. Mercosur. Report Number 12:2006 [Second Semester]. New York: BIDINTAL. Coha , K B. 20 July 2010. Venezuela’s First Meeting as Mercosu r Member Begins Today.5 November 5, 2010 http://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/1847 Dominguez Francisco Oliveira Marco Aurelio Guedes de. Mercosur: Between Integration and Democracy.Brasilia: Peter Lang, 2006. Gillespie, Jearnet Hennessey. Global Marketing. London: Dreamtech Press, 2009. Great Britain, Parliament: House of Commons. Trade with Brazil and Mercosur. London: TSO, 2007. Hoffimann Andrea Ribeiro, Vleuten Johanna Maria Van Der. Closing or Widening the Gap? Legitimacy and Democracy in Regional. London: Ashgate Publications, 2007. Instituto Para La Integracion de America Latina Y el Caribe, INTAL. Mercosur Report Number 13:2007, Second Semester -2008. New York: BIDINTAL, 2008. John D, Craig R Lynk Michael. Globalization and the Future of Labour Law. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006. May. (6 August 2008).An Investment Under the Mercosur Trade Centre. 19 October 2010 www.associatedcontentment.com/article/919219/an_investment_under_the_mercosur_trade_pg2_pg2.html? Massabie German. Venezuela: A Petro-State Using Renewable Energies. New York: VS Verlag, 2008. MercoPress. 11 June 2010.Paraguay Admits Pressure from Brazil to Vote for Venezuela’s Mercosur’s Incorporation. 5 November 2010 http://en.mercopress.com/2010/06/11/paraguay-admits-pressure-from-brazil-to-vote-for-venezuela-s-mercosur-incorporation Morton H, Halperin and Galic Mima. Protecting Democracy: International Response. London: Lexington Books, 2005. Motley, La’Sarah-evette Patrice. 6 January 2006. Mercosur –The Southern Common Market. 19 October 2010 associatedcontent.com/article/16507/mercosur_the_southern_commom_market_pg2_pg2.html?cat=3. O’Keefe, Thomas Andrew. Latin America and Caribbean Trade Agreements: Keys to a Prosperous. New York: Brill,2009. Seelke, Clare Ribando. BRAZIL –U.S.A Relations. London: Diane Publishing Company, 2009. Tondl, Gabriele. Trade Integration and Economic Development: the EU and Latin. New York: Springer, 200 8. Vaz, Alcides Costa. Cooperacao, integracao e processo necociador. Brazil: Instituto Brazileiro de Relacoes, 2002. Weintraub Sidney, Rugman Alan M Boyd Gavin. Free Trade in Americas: Political and Economical Issues for Governance. London: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2004. www.associatedcontent.com.(23 March 2010). Advantages and Disadvantages of Mercosur Membership. 19 October 2010 associatedcontent.com/article/2808740/advantages_and_disadvantages_of_mersocur.html www.intelliBriefs.com. (6 August 2010). Mercosur Summit Discusses Venezuela-Columbia Situation. 19 October 2010 http://intellibriefs.blogspot.com/2010/08/mercosur-summit-discusses-venezuela.html. www.upi.com.(6 August 2010). Venezuela Again Stopped at Mercosur’s door. 19 October 2010 upi.com/Top_News/Special/2010/08/06/Venezuela-again-stopped-at-Mercosurs-door/UPI-60711281118533/

The Art of Not Giving Up in Your Job Search

The Art of Not Giving Up in Your Job Search Reasons. We have so many of them. Reasons to do things, reasons not to do things. Reasons why something is possible, and reasons why it’s not. Reasons to spend money, and reasons not to spend money. Reasons to give up, and reasons to take action. Pretty much every decision we make is based on a reason of some sort or another. Sometimes reasons conflict with each other. For instance, when I look at discounted mocha brownies in the day-old bin at my food coop, my brain comes up with many reasons to buy (and eat) the brownies. They are on sale! They will taste so good! I deserve it! Yet on most days, I do not buy them, because my reasons for not eating them far outweigh my reasons for indulging. I feel better. I look better. Kale will serve me so much better in the long run. Who cares if it costs twice as much and takes five times as much work to prepare? Reasons at work in your job search If you are a job seeker, you probably have lots of reasons to explain why you chose to apply or not apply for a particular job; why someone will or won’t hire you; and even why you are or are not going to hire a resume writer. You can choose to take the easy road, perhaps your default action (buying the mocha brownies), or you can choose to do something a little more difficult that will serve your career in the long term (invest in the kale). Annabelle’s story Two weeks ago I got a call from a woman (I will call her Annabelle) who was referred to me for resume assistance. Annabelle had just found out about a position that was available at a national non-profit in Washington, D.C., and she believed she was perfect for the job. The problem: Through her connections, Annabelle had discovered that the hiring process was quickly coming to a close, interviews were done, and the organization was making a final decision on the person they wanted to hire. Annabelle had also been told by a friend at the organization, who also happens to be a friend of mine, that the language in her resume was confusing and that she should hire me to get it into shape. Not giving up Many people would have given up as soon as they heard the words, â€Å"We are too far along in the hiring process.† Others would have given up at the prospect of spending hundreds of dollars unexpectedly to overhaul their resume. Annabelle could have listened to all the multitude of reasons against applying for this position. But she listened to the reasons to give it a shot. After all, this was a job she wanted more than anything, and no one had actually confirmed that anyone been offered the job yet. Also, there would be more positions open in the future, so it couldn’t hurt to send in her resume. Annabelle jumped into action. She hired The Essay Expert for two hours at our RUSH rate, reformatted her resume on her own, and, despite having a family emergency intervene in the midst of the process, managed to submit her materials to the organization the next day. Was it worth it? The day after sending in her application, Annabelle got an email: the organization wanted to talk to her. She was put through an expedited interview process, and during one of the interviews she could hear one of the managers there going through her resume line by line. He was impressed. Annabelle moved forward with confidence, incredibly well-prepared for her interviews after having talked to me about every bullet on her resume. Yesterday I received a call from Annabelle, who told me with great excitement that she had received an offer last Monday for her dream job. A job, you will remember, that was not available until the hiring manager saw Annabelle’s resume. Annabelle’s job search, beginning to end, for a job at a national non-profit in Washington, D.C.:  4 days. Wow. Annabelle did have a leg up because she had met the hiring manager at a prior event; her network played a crucial role in opening up this opportunity, as it does for many job seekers. She also believes, and I agree, that â€Å"a network can only take you so far; the resume is the only way others can justify your consideration to those who might not know you; it’s your only real voice in the matter.† She continues (and I promise I did not write this), â€Å"No matter how well you think you fit the position, no matter how well you have your contacts lined up, if your resume does not accurately reflect your level of professionalism or capability, hiring managers will never see the true candidate that you are. Having an ill-prepared resume should be the last reason why you don’t go after or get considered for a job. There’s no reason you can’t have a great resume to represent yourself!† Where are you stopped? If you are a job seeker, where are you getting stopped? Are you letting reasons keep you from applying to jobs you are qualified for? Are you using a mediocre resume in applications for your dream job because you don’t want to hire someone to bring it up a level or two? Do you believe that you can find a job in 4 days or do you think such a thing is impossible? What reasons are you listening to? The ones that have you give up (the equivalent for me of eating mocha brownies) or the ones that will move you forward in your career? I encourage you to believe that you can turn impossibilities into possibilities if you put your mind to it. Please use Annabelle’s story as an inspiration. And if you have a voice in your head saying, â€Å"That could never happen to me,† don’t give up. There is always a different set of reasons you can listen to, if only you are willing.

Mills-pennisula radiology program Personal Statement

Mills-pennisula radiology program - Personal Statement Example I have a strong passion for working at the hospital but I have not been able to achieve my objectives due to some licensing issues. I write to ask for your kind consideration since this is the only program that can help me reach my goal of becoming a radiology technologist. This is also in consideration of the fact that my dream of becoming a qualified and registered radiologist and to practice in this area wholly depends on my ability to work and be awarded a well recognized certificate from a reputable institution. Before joining MRI school, I worked with the United Airline for more than 9 years in different positions. For instance, I worked at the customer service where I interacted with the clients for quite some time before being promoted to the position of customer service supervisor. In this position, I was able to gain some skills such as management skills that involve being able to mobilize resources in order to ensure the organization achieves its targets. This position also involved interacting with the clients, and therefore my social interaction skills were greatly improved considering the fact that I need to have good communication skills. Due to my high adaptability and flexible nature, I was further promoted to the position of resource supervisor. Working in this position made me learn vital management skills; it made me learn how to manage resources such as time, materials, and people. I was entrusted with all the organizational responsibilities, all of which I was able to carry out effectively. Carrying out these responsibilities improved my leadership skills, communication skills, and my ability to lead and supervise subordinates effectively. I have also learned how to run projects from the planning stage to their completion since the organization had some projects to complete. I have also worked at the MRI clinic which gave me a realization that it means a great deal being in a

Discuss about DNA related topic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Discuss about DNA related topic - Essay Example DNA has come a long way since the time of the famous photo 51 of Rosalind Franklin until the three-dimensional model interpretation of Jim Watson and Francis Crick of the double helical structure of the DNA strand. Even the discovery of the DNA helix was of controversy itself as discussed in an interview of Lynn Osman Elkin conducted on March 26, 2003 posted at NOVA website regarding the confusion on who to take credit for the discovery, if double helix DNA should be more on Franklin’s account (Rosalind Franklins Legacy). Deoxyribonucleic acid is the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms. Most DNA is located in the cell nucleus. The information in DNA is stored as a code made up of four chemical bases: adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T). Human DNA consists of about 3 billion bases, and more than 99 percent of those bases are the same in all people. The order, or sequence, of these bases determines the information available for building and maintaining an organism, similar to the way in which letters of the alphabet appear in a certain order to form words and sentences (DNA interactive). Series of studies have proven the role of DNA as the gene carrier. Fred Griffith and his transforming principle experimented on mice by injecting strains of the S (smooth) and R (rough) form of the Pneumococcus bacteria. The experiment showed transformation of R from to its virulent form by somehow incorporating gene from the dead S form when mixed together. Furthermore Griffith’s experiment set out Oswald Avery and colleagues Colin Macleod and MacLyn McCarty to determine what the transforming agent was by the process of elimination ruling out DNA as the transforming material. Further experiment of Hershey and Chase proved that DNA, and not protein, is the one injected by virus into their host thus establishing DNA as the hereditary

Logic and thought Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Logic and thought - Essay Example This paper contains analysis for each sub-argument and suggests how these arguments could be strengthened. The first argument is based on the claim that, until the eighteenth century, diagnoses and prescriptions of astrology were considered more reliable and efficacious than those of the medical practitioners. The arguer simply asserts their argument without citing any original sources to prove that astrology is more trustworthy than the medical profession. These original sources could include official documents or ancient artifacts; however, the arguer does not provide anything to back up their argument and thus we must dismiss it on this reason alone. For example, in Korea over 1000 years ago, rulers from the Koryo dynasty used astrology as political reference and this was an accepted practice at that time. If the arguer had provided these kinds of documents, then their argument would have been stronger and would have been taken more seriously.

Aniconism and the Multivalence of Emblems Assignment

Aniconism and the Multivalence of Emblems - Assignment Example Huntington has her own view on this question. She believes that many of the images associated with Buddha's absence—such as an empty throne—are in fact intended to mean something else. The empty throne, for example, was intended to represent the â€Å"sacred nuclei of worship† at religious sites and not the fact of Buddha's absence on that throne (Huntington, 402). Her new research suggests that inscriptions on these images indicate that many of the so-called images are more quotidian representations of sacred sites. Vidya Dehejia has a different view of these questions. He believes that scholars have overlooked the double-meanings of many words in the ancient scripts. He thinks that someone like Huntington has been too literal. He admits that some scholars have gone too far in their interpretations, but that some images do indeed depict the absence of Buddha. He suggests that the emblems of many images â€Å"may carry different meanings in varying contexts† and that scholars should be sensitive to this (Dehejia, 64). The debate over the absence or presence of Buddha in early Buddhist art is a fascinating one. Both scholars present convincing arguments. Whether we will ever know the truth remains an open question.   

ITM 501 Mgt. Information. System. and Bus. Strategy SESSION LONG Essay

ITM 501 Mgt. Information. System. and Bus. Strategy SESSION LONG PROJECT 1 FRITO-LAY, NASA & GOOGLE - Essay Example The definition of Knowledge management is similar in the three cases and there is a clear focus on accumulating all the knowledge that is available across the organization to build one strong and effective knowledge database. The three companies have faced several problems. Taking the case of Frito Lays, it is clear that the company faced the issue of working unnecessarily to find customers and for sales. It is noted that all the employees worked on the same processes to gain the same information. In the case of NASA, the problem that the organization faces is that it needed a central point for all the information to be provided so all employees in the organization can learn and benefit from the previous mistakes and experiments of others in the organization (DowJones). Also the issue is the amount of risk involved in the space exploration and the human space flights which indeed need a through and well designed and implemented work to ensure that all the NASA employees have the specialized knowledge and are in track with all the events that occur within the company. The lack of centralized point was the main issue of NASA (Murphy and Holm). In the case of Dow Jones, the company has a wide range of data and knowledge and is spread across the over 157 countries with over 23 languages. Hence again the company lacks a well designed and centralized place for all information. The solution implemented by each of the companies is very similar and there is a main idea of developing a centralized control for the company employees to easily access and use to work more effectively (Murphy and Holm). One of the only major differences that is present is that NASA has a more developed and has used higher technology to develop a more complex system, this however is simply due to the nature of the business. The solutions have been

Aniconism and the Multivalence of Emblems Assignment

Aniconism and the Multivalence of Emblems - Assignment Example Huntington has her own view on this question. She believes that many of the images associated with Buddha's absence—such as an empty throne—are in fact intended to mean something else. The empty throne, for example, was intended to represent the â€Å"sacred nuclei of worship† at religious sites and not the fact of Buddha's absence on that throne (Huntington, 402). Her new research suggests that inscriptions on these images indicate that many of the so-called images are more quotidian representations of sacred sites. Vidya Dehejia has a different view of these questions. He believes that scholars have overlooked the double-meanings of many words in the ancient scripts. He thinks that someone like Huntington has been too literal. He admits that some scholars have gone too far in their interpretations, but that some images do indeed depict the absence of Buddha. He suggests that the emblems of many images â€Å"may carry different meanings in varying contexts† and that scholars should be sensitive to this (Dehejia, 64). The debate over the absence or presence of Buddha in early Buddhist art is a fascinating one. Both scholars present convincing arguments. Whether we will ever know the truth remains an open question.   

Scientic psychology cannot live with folk psychology and cannot live Essay

Scientic psychology cannot live with folk psychology and cannot live without it - Essay Example Folk psychology explains people actions in terms of their goals however scientific psychology explains actions of individuals based on what leads them to undertake these actions. Despite the distinction scientific psychology still has some normative aspects and for this reason cannot live without folk psychology. Folk psychology has been challenged by scientific psychology and this is based on how folk psychology results are achieved, in most cases folk psychology results will conflict with results of scientific psychology. For this reason therefore it is very difficult to choose which results best explain human behavior, due to conflicting results of the two disciplines scientific psychology tend to criticize the results of folk psychology and for this reason scientific psychology cannot live with folk psychology. Folk psychology assumes that people already know why they tend to believe in their actions and why they take these actions, according to scientific psychology people are not aware of why they take certain actions, this is a conflict of assumption and therefore it is evident that scientific psychology cannot live with folk psychology. According to Stephen Stitch it is possible to undertake scientific psychology without folk psychology where he gave an example using beliefs. ... gave an example of a day that had rained and the two characters X and Y are asked to narrate on what had happened, X said that the day had rained very heavily and Y said that it did not rain very heavily. He posed the question who of the two individuals was telling the truth, however Stephen Stitch said that these two persons may telling the truth but it depends on their understanding and observations on the way they have learned from the groups, that is family or friends on how they belief in a particular aspect. According to J.B Watson it is possible to identify someone's behavior at his or her current age as long as he or she is not in the childhood age but it depends on how the person behaves and socializes. For this reason therefore Watson verifies that it is only necessary to study the persons behavior without taking into consideration believes of the individuals, in his statement he states that it is possible for scientific psychology to live without folk. Folk Psychology assumes that an individual can directly explain the different feelings they experience, this is to say that individuals are well aware of what they feel and why they feel it, on the other hand scientific psychology agues that individuals feeling are based on the inferences about changes in what they are undergoing. For this reason therefore there is a conflict of assumptions that people are ware of their feelings and for this reason both disciplines will yield different results, for this reason therefore scientific psychology cannot live with folk psychology. Why scientific psychology cannot live without folk psychology: Despite the many reasons why scientific psychology cannot live with folk psychology it is evident that scientific psychology cannot live without folk psychology, folk

Mary Whiton Calkins Essay Example for Free

Mary Whiton Calkins Essay In the early days of psychology there were few female psychologists who had any type of impact on the field of psychology. There was sex discrimination and it was a common belief that women were inferior to men. Mary Whiton Calkins was able to beat the odds and have a long lasting legacy in psychology. She is considered one of the pioneers in psychology and is credited with a major theoretical contribution of self-psychology, which was centered on the idea that all consciousness is personal. Calkins overcame discrimination from both students and scholars and succeeded in inventing a procedure that was historic; paired associate learning, which has become the standard method in cognitive research (Goodwin, 2008). Mary Whiton Calkins was born in Hartford, Connecticut in 1863. She was the oldest of five children; their parents encouraged their education, especially the study of languages and cultures (Furumoto, 1980). Calkins did graduate from high school in Newton Massachusetts and began Smith College in 1882 as a sophomore. Unfortunately, in 1883, her sisters illness and subsequent death caused her to decide to study Greek at home the following year. However Calkins returned to Smith College in 1884 as a senior, and graduated with a concentration in classics and philosophy in 1885. In 1887, after graduating from Smith College, she was hired to teach Greek at Wellesley College. She had been teaching for three years when she was offered she was offered a position teaching in the new area of psychology (Goodwin, 2008). In 1890 Wellesley finally offered Calkins the position, with the condition that she would study psychology for a year. There were very few psychology programs available at that time, and even fewer that would accept women applicants. This made it difficult for her to have the one year of study needed to teach the subject of psychology. During the following year Calkins also worked unofficially at the psychology laboratory at Clark University with Edmund Sanford. He also assisted Calkins in the creation of a psychology lab for Wellesley College, equipped with state of the art equipment. That psychology lab officially opened in 1891, the same year that Calkins began teaching psychology at Wellesley (Goodwin, 2008). After being invited to sit in on some of the lectures at Harvard, Calkins formally requested that she be allowed to sit in on these lectures. She decided to try to take classes at the Harvard Annex taught by Josiah Royce, a Harvard professor, because the Annex was not an official part of Harvard University. Royce, however, pushed her to try to attend regular Harvard classes because not all of his classes were available through the Annex. Charles Eliot, the president of Harvard, believed strongly that the two sexes should be educated separately. But it was not until the pressure applied to him from both James and Royce was combined with a petition from Calkins father and a letter from the president of Wellesley College that Eliot finally agreed in 1892. Calkins would be allowed to attend James and Royces seminars on psychology, but it was officially stated that she would not be a student of the University entitled to registration. (Furumoto, 1980). Calkins felt like she needed to do more graduate work. She continued teaching while simultaneously studying with J. Munsterberg until 1894 when she studied full-time for a year. At that time Munsterberg petitioned Harvard to admit Calkins as a Ph. D. candidate, but was refused. The Harvard psychology department held an informal examination of Calkins, which she passed in 1895. The same year, while at Harvard, Calkins presented her theses, where she completed a series of experimental studies on association. She developed a procedure known as paired-associate learning (Goodwin, 2008). Her subjects first studied stimulus-response pairs comprised of sequentially presented color patches and numbers, and then they tried to recall the umber responses when shown the color stimuli. Her results showed that recall was enhanced by each of the four factors: frequency, vividness, recency, and primacy. These four conditions could strengthen associations, and found that frequency was the most important. (Goodwin, 2008). Calkins then returned to Wellesley College where she continued to teach until her retirement in 1927. From about 1900, her publications became less research-oriented as she developed her major theoretical contribution to psychology, self-psychology. Calkins maintained that psychology could be the study of mental life, but that the central fact of psychology must be that all consciousness contains an element of the self (Goodwin, 2008). In 1900, Calkins published her first article on a system of psychology of the self, a topic which became her primary focus. Over the next thirty years, Calkins continued to present, develop, and defend her theory of self-psychology, gradually moving more towards philosophy and away from the psychological trend towards behaviorism. There is evidence that her primary interest was always philosophy rather than psychology. She was teaching psychology for almost a decade before another faculty member trained in psychology joined the philosophy department. (Furumoto, 1980). In 1905, Calkins became the first woman elected president of the American Psychological Association. As her interests shifted to philosophy, she became the first woman elected president of the other APA, the American Philosophical Association in 1918. All of her work in philosophy as well as psychology came to center around the importance of self. She used it as a way to reconcile competing theoretical schools of thought including structuralism and functionalism (Furumoto, 1980). She believed that self-psychology was a method of resolving disputes between structuralism, which analyzes consciousness in to its basic elements, and functionalism, which focuses on how consciousness serves to adapt the individual to the environment (Goodwin, 2008). Among her major contributions to psychology are the invention of the paired associate’s technique and her work in self based psychology. Calkins believed that the conscious self was the primary focus of psychology. Despite Mary Whiton Calkins contributions, Harvard maintains its refusal to grant the degree she earned and her influence on psychology is often overlooked by both scholars and students. She was passionate about her beliefs, even when Harvard was going to award her a PhD. from Radcliffe College; she refused to accept the degree because she did not agree with the â€Å"injustice of unequal treatment of the sexes based on the implicit assumption that there are inherent differences in their mentalities† (Furumoto, 1980). Mary Whiton Calkins was a pioneer in psychology. She was responsible for the creation of a method of memorization called the paired associate technique, founder of one of the early psychological laboratories in the United States, and creator of a system of self-psychology (Furumoto, 1980). Conclusion Mary Whiton Calkins was a prolific writer in both psychology and philosophy, publishing four books and over a hundred papers divided among the fields. In addition to being the first woman president of the American Psychological Association, Calkins also served as president of the American Philosophical Association in 1918. The topics Mary Whiton Calkins studied in psychology covered a wide range including dream research, animal consciousness, and memorization. In 1892 she presented a report on a dream study that she had worked on with Sanford at the first meeting of the APA. Thirteen years later she was elected president of that same organization. In 1895 she returned to Wellesley as an associate professor, and in 1898 she became a full professor, a position she held until she retired in 1927 (Furumoto, 1980). On February 26, 1930, Calkins died of inoperable cancer, one year after retiring from Wellesley as a Research Professor and turning over that department to Eleanor Gamble. Her teaching career spanned forty two years. She died with two honorary degrees, a doctor of letters from Columbia University and a doctor of laws from Smith College. However, she never received the degree that she worked for at Harvard. In 1927 a group of Harvard alumni petitioned the president of Harvard requesting that the university grant Calkins her Ph. D. , but they were denied (Furumoto, 1980).