Child Abuse Is The Worst Thing That Can Be Stopped

Child Abuse in Nigeria Uzuazokaro Anthony Eli Bacon Thursday 11:10am Central Idea: Child abuse is generally the worst thing that can happen to a child, to a country people say, but they just say it; especially in Nigeria where they encourage it even if they do not agree that they do. This act of wickedness has been the order of the day in Nigeria and people turn deaf ears to it. They pretend it’s not there but it is. My aim is to give my audience a breakdown of what goes on Nigeria that results in child abuse and how it can be stopped. I. Introduction: The World Health Organization defines child abuse as â€Å"an act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm to a child†. The major types of child abuse and neglect range from physical†¦show more content†¦B. The average age for child trafficking ranges from 6 to 15 years. C. This situation is made worse by the 6.2 percent urban growth rate and about $320 per capita income. D. More than 70 percent of the Nigerian population live below $1 per day or worse, absolute poverty. E. A huge number of children are â€Å"chronically malnourished†. 1. 58% of boys suffer from malnutrition. 2. 44% percent of girls also suffer from malnutrition. III. The traditional occupation is farming and trading in Nigeria. A. In Northern Nigeria, children are made to work on farm plantations. 1. This kids are sometimes drugged to work extra hours. 2. Most times they have to work for 48 hours without a break. B. In order to be taught the Quran, the boys have to beg on the streets and give the proceeds to the Mallams that educate them. C. The girls have to hawk food stuffs or other valuables on the streets to be qualifies for marriage. IV. In the Eastern part of Nigeria, the idea of giving out children to be maids is very rampant. A. This children between the ages of 5 to 15 are given the responsibility to take care of new born infants. B. They are given the responsibility to handle electronic generators when there is power failure. C. They are the first to wake in the morning and the last to go to bed at night every day. D. When they fail to perform any task given to them they get seriously beaten up, starved, or tortured. E. You could say that these kids act like robots. V. Because of these

The Treatment of Somali Refugees in Kenya and Ethiopia an Assessment Free Essays

string(158) " sections will demonstrate the practical implications of this gap in international law in relation to the treatment of Somali refugees in Kenya and Ethiopia\." 1. Introduction 1.1 Background After the end of the Cold War, the international community had to build an entirely new agenda for human rights, democracy and development in the world’s most troubled regions (Forsythe, 2006: 210-215; Normand Zaidi, 2008: 316-323). We will write a custom essay sample on The Treatment of Somali Refugees in Kenya and Ethiopia: an Assessment or any similar topic only for you Order Now In Africa, conflicts in the Congo, Rwanda and Somalia left the region tormented by an ongoing refugee crisis. The lack of stable political institutions and representative democracy in these countries necessitated the revision of international legal standards, in order to cope with the refugee crisis and to provide security and shelter. With over 3 million recognized refugees at present, Africa is considered by the UNHCR the biggest challenge, absorbing the largest proportion of the budget and humanitarian programmes (Zolberg et. al, 1989). This paper will focus on the treatment of Somali refugees in two of the neighbouring countries – Kenya and Ethiopia, which reportedly host the largest proportion of the refugees at present (UNHCR, 2011a;b;c). The reason why Somali refugees were chosen as the subject of this paper is because this is one of the longest ongoing political and humanitarian crises, and its implications upon regional politics and the local populations are perpetual. It also demonstrates the discrepancies in international law in dealing with displacement and human right violations of the Somali refugees. The paper will assess the treatment of refugees in these two countries. Based on this assessment, the author will make recommendations for the improvement of the treatment of the refugees. 1.2 Research question The purpose of this essay is to explore the treatment of Somali refugees in Kenya and Ethiopia. Their treatment will be looked at through the prism of basic human rights conventions and will ideally seek to provide a broader understanding on the status of the refugees in a global era. It will highlight the main challenges, which refugees from Somalia face on the territories of Kenya and Ethiopia and will explain how these challenges are posed by inconsistencies in international law. In order to do this, the author will first critically approach the definition of the term â€Å"refugee†. Next, the author will attempt to trace whether basic provisions stipulated by the 1951 Convention on the Status of the Refugees have been met by the authorities in Ethiopia and Kenya. Before this, a brief historical overview of the main events leading to the refugee crisis will be provided. 2. The Somali refugee crisis – the prelude In Somalia, the transition to political independence has been scarred by factionalism and division. In the early 1990s, the clan based opposition groups ousted the military government, which led to the outbreak of decade long civil war, throughout which various factions were competing for power (Waldron Hasci, 1994). In 2004, the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) was formed. Its opposing faction was the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), which soon lost power to the TFG in the south. Subsequently, the TFG split into radical groups, Al-Shabaab being one of them. Since then, the Al-Shabaab has been fighting the TFG over political and economic supremacy (UNHCR, 2011c). The civil war resulted in the displacement of millions of Somali people, turning them into the third largest refugee group in the world, after the Iraq and Afghanistan refugees (UNHCR, 2011c). Apart from Western countries such as UK and Italy, Somali refugees travel to neighbouring countries, mostly Ethiopia and Kenya. As of July 2011, on the territory of Ethiopia there were 160,000 Somali refugees, residing in six large camps in the eastern and south-eastern part of the country. In 2011 the number of new arrivals increased dramatically with up to 23,000 people arriving per month. In Kenya, currently there are around 280,000 Somali refugees, and as of July 2011, their number has dramatically increased because of the draught in East Africa (UNHCR, 2011b). 3. Problems of definition The purposes if this essay would not be fulfilled, if the author does not provide a definition of the term â€Å"refugee†. According to Article 1 (2) of the 1951 UNHCR Convention on the Status of the Refugees, the term â€Å"refugee† shall apply to any person who: â€Å"[†¦]owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable, or owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country [†¦]† (UNHCR, 1951). The same definition can be found in the OAU 1969 Convention on the Refugees in Africa (Article 1). The main criticism, which this definition obviously provokes, is the lack of prescriptions for the state of origin, and the obligations of the host countries. The definition exhausts the basic connotation of a refugee, which has not changed much to this day, but does not define the responsibilities and actions, which the host authorities are obliged to take under international law. The definition explains the confines of the country of persecution, but not the terms of protection of refugees in foreign territories. This is not a technical flaw of the definition, as embedded in the convention, but a general weakness of international law, when it comes to the treatment of refugees in host countries (Marfleet, 2006; 9-20; Gibney, 2005:6-13). This raises several issues related to legitimacy, and they are not, as proposed by Zolberg et.al (1989) related to the debate who is a refugee under international law. These controversies are related to the lack of legally binding prescriptions for the host countries, sheltering refugees. Despite the fact that there has been ongoing development of the understanding of the term persecution since 1951, it remains unclear how persecution of refugees can be prevented in the host territories. Therefore, it is important to trace the implications of this inconsistency in terms of policy and treatment of the Somali refuges in Ethiopia and Kenya and identify problems, which might arise from the lack of a clear definition of persecution and the responsibilities of the host countries. The following sections will demonstrate the practical implications of this gap in international law in relation to the treatment of Somali refugees in Kenya and Ethiopia. You read "The Treatment of Somali Refugees in Kenya and Ethiopia: an Assessment" in category "Essay examples" 4. Treatment of Somali refugees in Kenya According to the UNHCR, more than 600, 000 Somali refugees are now residing in neighbouring countries (2011). At present, Kenya is the country, where largest proportions of the Somali refugees are seeking shelter. Currently, it is hosting around 280 000 refugees, residing in three large camps, located in the North Eastern Daabab camps (UNHCR, 2011b). Although it is clear that Kenya has been unable to cope with the intense wave of Somali immigrants without the assistance of the international community, in 2010, Amnesty International has reported grieve violations of rights of the refuges on behalf of the Kenyan authorities (Amnesty International Report AFR 32/015, 2010). The report says that thousands of refugees were forcibly returned to Somalia, and asylum was not provided to the individuals which claimed for it. The report also reveals the implications of the fact that a large proportion of the refugees were not screened because of the closure of the immigration centre at the Kenya-Somali border. It was closed because Kenyan authorities were concerned that ongoing violence in Somalia and persistent acts of terrorism could spread on their own territory (Amnesty International Report AFR 32/015, 2010). The other conclusions of Amnesty International are related to police harassment in the camps, and violation of the principle of no n-refoulement (Amnesty International Report AFR 32/015, 2010). The principle of non-refoulement, which is embedded in the UNHCR Convention for the Refugees prohibits â€Å"the expulsion, extradition, deportation, return or otherwise removal of any person in any manner whatsoever to a country or territory where he or she would face a real risk of persecution or serious harm† (UNHCR Convention on the Status of the Refugees, 1951). The report reveals that when the Kenyan authorities closed the border, around 4000 Somalis were trapped alongside and 360 were refouled. In 2009, 93 Somali asylum seekers were forcibly refouled back to Somalia. It is now clear that by choosing to close its border, Kenya has violated the principle of non-refoulement of the UN and the 1967 Protocol, as well as its own 2006 Refugee Act. Further implications of the closure of the transit border centre is that the newly arrived refugees are no longer screened for health purposes, and some of them have suffered exhaustion and malnutrition on their way to the camps (which are located about 80 km from the border). Another type of violations is related to the security and well being of the refugees, often threatened by the Kenyan security forces. As of December 2010, issues related to limited access to water, shelter, sanitation and other essential services due to overcrowding have been reported. In addition, the refugees are not allowed outside the camps unless in exceptional circumstances such as relocation to third countries (Amnesty International, 2010). Other violations include sexual harassment, forced marriages in the camps, as well as the involuntary recruitment of refugees for military service. Based on this report, it is not difficult to determine that Kenyan authorities have allowed the unlawful treatment of Somali refugees by local militias, and have committed violations related to their treatment on the territory of the host country. In sum, a closer look at the treatment of the Somali refugees in Kenya reveals that there have been violations of key provisions, related to the status of the refugees. From a legal perspective, this is due to the fact that there are no legally binding provisions, which define the responsibilities of the host countries, or penalties in case of violations. By no legally binding it is meant that the existing rules and regulations remain prescriptive of how the hosting countries need to treat refugees, seeking shelter on their territory. As stated earlier before, there is not a clear definition of persecution and the counter-measures, which it entails, therefore the actions of the Kenyan authorities remain unaddressed under international law. As the next section will reveal, the situation in Ethiopia is quite similar. 5. Treatment of Somali refugees in Ethiopia As mentioned earlier in the essay, Ethiopia is the country, where the second highest proportion of Somali refugees resides. An estimate of 280, 000 refugees have fled to Ethiopia since the beginning of the conflict in Somalia more than two decades ago. They have been accommodated in eight camps along the Ethio-Somali border (UNHCR, 2011). Similarly to the case in Kenya, the refugees are denied access to education and work opportunities, as well as free movement and access to healthcare. According to Markos (2011), the main reasons for the unlawful treatment of the Somali refugees in Ethiopia generate from the gap between national legislation and international legal standards, related to the status of the refugees. Despite the fact that Ethiopia has ratified key international refugee instruments such as the 1951 Convention, the 1967 Protocol and the 1969 OAU Convention, the treatment of the Somali refugees on the territory of the country is a signifier that constraints to the implemen tation of their provision on national level are ostensible. Understandably, the Ethiopian authorities are trying to protect their scarce national resources and infrastructure, which explains why their tolerance to the refugee influx is not high (Waldron Hasci, 1994). From the perspective of the international community however, this does not ameliorate the fact that many Somalis face grieve human rights violations in the camps on the territory of Ethiopia. Some of the key provisions of the 1951 Convention have been violated such as the right of freedom, the right to choose their place of residence, the right to move freely within the country, as well as the access to elementary and religious education. In sum, although the situation with the treatment of the refugees in Ethiopia is not so grieve as the one in Kenya, Somali refugees in Ethiopia still face deprivations and human right violations. This is due to the scarce resources in the country, as well as the gaps in national legislation, which do not allow the direct implementation of key provisions of international law, related to the status of the refugees. Based on the above observations on the treatment of the refugees in these two countries, a brief set of recommendations will be provided in the following section. 6. Recommendations This section will provide a brief set of recommendations for policy reform and action for the improvement of the treatment of Somali refugees in Kenya and Ethiopia. The recommendations have been divided in four groups – general recommendations, recommendations for Kenya, recommendations for Ethiopia, and recommendations for the international community. 6.1 General recommendations The previous sections have shown that without clear definition on persecution and the responsibilities of the host countries, it would be impossible to provide shield of refugees and displaced people under international law. Therefore, a revision of the legal provisions related with the refugees is necessary. In the near future however, a revision of existing refugee legislation might be a cumbersome and formidable process, because it would involve redrafting existing legislation, its ratification and its incorporation into host countries’ judiciary system. In addition, it is not clear how this would help overcome other challenges, related to refugee protection, such as the ones mentioned by Landgren (1998) – agents of persecution; the notion of political offence in extradition treaties; the criminalization of illegal departure; and the precipitation of repatriation. Despite the fact that the principle of non-refoulment remains one of the strongest refugee rights, and d espite the presence of â€Å"minimum rights clauses† for the treatment of refugees in the 1951 Convention, their enforcement in countries, where poverty and political instability are persistent, remains a challenge. As a result, existing legislation needs to be revised in order to meet the new security threats, raised by globalization and the incapacity of many states to protect their own civilian populations. At present, the definition of the term refugee is problematic because it does not provide a clear direction of what responsibilities the host countries need to have. Therefore a revision of the definition, as well as existing legislation is necessary. As a result, the responsibilities of the host countries-signatories to the refugee instruments should be legally binding. 6.2 Recommendations for Kenya The most important recommendation for the Kenyan authority is to open the border control camp which would facilitate the registration of the refugees, and the access of the newly arrived to healthcare, food and clean water. At present Kenyan authorities are concerned that if the border is open, this might provide access to Kenya of the militant members of Al-Shabaab, which is a major security threat for the civilian population (Daily Mail, 2011). However, a stronger border control and the allocation of additional police and military units, which would perform thorough checks on those wishing to cross the border, is a possible solution. The most important recommendation for the Kenyan government in order to improve the situation with the refugees is to ensure that the security forces do not violate the principle of non-refoulement. This can take place if more international observers are allowed in the camps and on the Somali-Kenyan border. 6.3 Recommendations for Ethiopia In Ethiopia, the revision of national legislation is crucial for the implementation of the international provisions, related with the rights of the refugees. In a country with feeble political and judiciary institutions, the process will be cumbersome, but legal revision is necessary in order to provide refugees and asylum-seekers protection. 6.4 Recommendations for the international community As far as the actions of the international organisations, regional organisations and the donor countries are concerned, they need to be related with raising awareness of the situation, and stronger measures related to monitoring and accountability of the actions of the security forces on the territory of both countries. This means that institutions such as the UNHCR, and regional organisations such as OAU and ACHPR (African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights) need to play a more proactive role in liaising with local governments and observing the situation in countries like Kenya and Ethiopia. This can be implemented using two channels – a liaison with government agencies, and regular reports, provided by non-governmental organizations on the situation within the camps. It is important that efforts for the protection of the refugees are made on all four of the above levels. Only the vertical harmonization of actions between national authorities and the international community, wrapped in an appropriate legal framework, can eventually lead to the creation of a safer environment for the Somali refugees, and the determination of their international status in the global era. 7. Conclusion This paper has shown that despite the efforts of the international community, there are problems, related with the treatment of Somali refugees in Kenya and Ethiopia. The lack of commitment of the host countries, and the lack of coordination between national governments and international organisations have perpetuated the crisis. In order to fulfil its commitments for democratization and political stability on the African continent, the international community needs to revise key legal provisions relating to the status of the refugees, and to ensure that there are no constraints for their implementation on national level. In addition, the international status of the refugees needs to be determined, in order to give them legitimacy and protection in a global world. Bibliography Amnesty International (2010) â€Å"From life without peace to peace without life. The treatment of Somali Refugees and Asylum-seekers in Kenya†, 8 December, Index: AFR 32/015/2010, Available at: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AFR32/015/2010/en/1eb8bd34-2a5c-4aa4-8814-83e0e8df8ebf/afr320152010en.pdf Retrieved: 12.02.2012 Daily Mail (2011) â€Å"Somalian militants vow revenge suicide attacks after Kenyan army crosses border following kidnappings†, updated 17 October, 2011 Available at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2050240/Somalian-militant-group-Al-Shabab-threatens-Kenya-suicide-attacks.html Retrieved: 15.04.2012 Forsythe, D. (2006) Human Rights in International Relations, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press Gibney, M.J. (2005) The Ethics and Politics of Asylum. Liberal Democracy and the Response to Refugees, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press OAU (1969) Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa, Available at: http://www.africa-union.org/Official_documents/Treaties_%20Conventions_%20Protocols/Refugee_Convention.pdf Retrieved 12.02.2012 Marfleet, P. (2006) Refugees in a Global Era, Basingstoke: Macmillian Markos, K. (2011) The Treatment of Somali Refugees in Ethiopia under Ethiopian and International Law, International Journal of Refugee Law, Vol 9, Issue 3, p. 365-391. Landgren, K. (1998) â€Å"The Future of Refugee Protection: Four Challenges† Journal of Refugee Studies, Vol. 11, Issue 4, Pp. 416-432 Normand, R. Zaidi, S. (2008) Human Rights at the UN: The Political History of Universal Justice, Indiana University Press UNHCR (1951) Convention Relating to the Status of the Refugees, Resolution 2198, Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly Available at: http://www.unhcr.org/3b66c2aa10.html Retrieved 12.02.2012 UNHCR (1967) Protocol Relating to the Status of the Refugees, Resolution 2198, Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly Available at: http://www.unhcr.org/3b66c2aa10.html Retrieved 12.02.2012 UNHCR, UN Refugee Agency (2011a) â€Å"Ethiopia. 2012 UNHCR country operations profile – Ethiopia†, Available at: http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/page?page=49e483986 Retrieved 12.02.2012 UNHCR, UN Refugee Agency (2011b) â€Å"Kenya. 2012 UNHCR country operations profile – Kenya† Available at: http://www.unhcr.org/cgibin/texis/vtx/page?page=49e483a16submit=GO Retrieved 12.02.2012 UNHCR, UN Refugee Agency (2011c) â€Å"Somalia. 2012 UNHCR country operations profile – Somalia† Available at: http://www.unhcr.org/cgibin/texis/vtx/page?page=49e483ad6submit=GO Retrieved 12.02.2012 UNHCR (2011d) â€Å"The International Protection of Refugees: Interpreting Article 1 of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees†, Available at: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/pdfid/3b20a3914.pdf Retrieved 12.02.2012 Waldron, S., Hasci, N. (1994)â€Å"Somali refugees in the Horn of Africa: state of the art literature review†, Report No.3, Refugee Studies Programme, Queen Elisabeth House, Oxford: Oxford University Press, Zolberg, A., Zuhrke, A. Aguayo, S. (1989) Escape from Violence. Conflict and Refugee Crisis in the Developing World. Oxford: Oxford University Press How to cite The Treatment of Somali Refugees in Kenya and Ethiopia: an Assessment, Essay examples The Treatment of Somali Refugees in Kenya and Ethiopia an Assessment Free Essays string(149) " will demonstrate the practical implications of this gap in international law in relation to the treatment of Somali refugees in Kenya and Ethiopia\." Introduction 1.1 Background After the end of the Cold War, the international community had to build an entirely new agenda for human rights, democracy and development in the world’s most troubled regions (Forsythe, 2006: 210-215; Normand Zaidi, 2008: 316-323). In Africa, conflicts in the Congo, Rwanda and Somalia left the region tormented by an ongoing refugee crisis. We will write a custom essay sample on The Treatment of Somali Refugees in Kenya and Ethiopia: an Assessment or any similar topic only for you Order Now The lack of stable political institutions and representative democracy in these countries necessitated the revision of international legal standards, in order to cope with the refugee crisis and to provide security and shelter. With over 3 million recognized refugees at present, Africa is considered by the UNHCR the biggest challenge, absorbing the largest proportion of the budget and humanitarian programmes (Zolberg et. al, 1989). This paper will focus on the treatment of Somali refugees in two of the neighbouring countries – Kenya and Ethiopia, which reportedly host the largest proportion of the refugees at present (UNHCR, 2011a;b;c). The reason why Somali refugees were chosen as the subject of this paper is because this is one of the longest ongoing political and humanitarian crises, and its implications upon regional politics and the local populations are perpetual. It also demonstrates the discrepancies in international law in dealing with displacement and human right violations of the Somali refugees. The paper will assess the treatment of refugees in these two countries. Based on this assessment, the author will make recommendations for the improvement of the treatment of the refugees. 1.2 Research question The purpose of this essay is to explore the treatment of Somali refugees in Kenya and Ethiopia. Their treatment will be looked at through the prism of basic human rights conventions and will ideally seek to provide a broader understanding on the status of the refugees in a global era. It will highlight the main challenges, which refugees from Somalia face on the territories of Kenya and Ethiopia and will explain how these challenges are posed by inconsistencies in international law. In order to do this, the author will first critically approach the definition of the term â€Å"refugee†. Next, the author will attempt to trace whether basic provisions stipulated by the 1951 Convention on the Status of the Refugees have been met by the authorities in Ethiopia and Kenya. Before this, a brief historical overview of the main events leading to the refugee crisis will be provided. The Somali refugee crisis – the prelude In Somalia, the transition to political independence has been scarred by factionalism and division. In the early 1990s, the clan based opposition groups ousted the military government, which led to the outbreak of decade long civil war, throughout which various factions were competing for power (Waldron Hasci, 1994). In 2004, the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) was formed. Its opposing faction was the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), which soon lost power to the TFG in the south. Subsequently, the TFG split into radical groups, Al-Shabaab being one of them. Since then, the Al-Shabaab has been fighting the TFG over political and economic supremacy (UNHCR, 2011c). The civil war resulted in the displacement of millions of Somali people, turning them into the third largest refugee group in the world, after the Iraq and Afghanistan refugees (UNHCR, 2011c). Apart from Western countries such as UK and Italy, Somali refugees travel to neighbouring countries, mostly Ethiopia and Kenya. As of July 2011, on the territory of Ethiopia there were 160,000 Somali refugees, residing in six large camps in the eastern and south-eastern part of the country. In 2011 the number of new arrivals increased dramatically with up to 23,000 people arriving per month. In Kenya, currently there are around 280,000 Somali refugees, and as of July 2011, their number has dramatically increased because of the draught in East Africa (UNHCR, 2011b). 3. Problems of definition The purposes if this essay would not be fulfilled, if the author does not provide a definition of the term â€Å"refugee†. According to Article 1 (2) of the 1951 UNHCR Convention on the Status of the Refugees, the term â€Å"refugee† shall apply to any person who: â€Å"[†¦]owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable, or owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country [†¦]† (UNHCR, 1951). The same definition can be found in the OAU 1969 Convention on the Refugees in Africa (Article 1). The main criticism, which this definition obviously provokes, is the lack of prescriptions for the state of origin, and the obligations of the host countries. The definition exhausts the basic connotation of a refugee, which has not changed much to this day, but does not define the responsibilities and actions, which the host authorities are obliged to take under international law. The definition explains the confines of the country of persecution, but not the terms of protection of refugees in foreign territories. This is not a technical flaw of the definition, as embedded in the convention, but a general weakness of international law, when it comes to the treatment of refugees in host countries (Marfleet, 2006; 9-20; Gibney, 2005:6-13). This raises several issues related to legitimacy, and they are not, as proposed by Zolberg et.al (1989) related to the debate who is a refugee under international law. These controversies are related to the lack of legally binding prescriptions for the host countries, sheltering refugees. Despite the fact that there has been ongoing development of the understanding of the term persecution since 1951, it remains unclear how persecution of refugees can be prevented in the host territories. Therefore, it is important to trace the implications of this inconsistency in terms of policy and treatment of the Somali refuges in Ethiopia and Kenya and identify problems, which might arise from the lack of a clear definition of persecution and the responsibilities of the host countries. The following sections will demonstrate the practical implications of this gap in international law in relation to the treatment of Somali refugees in Kenya and Ethiopia. You read "The Treatment of Somali Refugees in Kenya and Ethiopia: an Assessment" in category "Essay examples" 4. Treatment of Somali refugees in Kenya According to the UNHCR, more than 600, 000 Somali refugees are now residing in neighbouring countries (2011). At present, Kenya is the country, where largest proportions of the Somali refugees are seeking shelter. Currently, it is hosting around 280 000 refugees, residing in three large camps, located in the North Eastern Daabab camps (UNHCR, 2011b). Although it is clear that Kenya has been unable to cope with the intense wave of Somali immigrants without the assistance of the international community, in 2010, Amnesty International has reported grieve violations of rights of the refuges on behalf of the Kenyan authorities (Amnesty International Report AFR 32/015, 2010). The report says that thousands of refugees were forcibly returned to Somalia, and asylum was not provided to the individuals which claimed for it. The report also reveals the implications of the fact that a large proportion of the refugees were not screened because of the closure of the immigration centre at the Kenya-Somali border. It was closed because Kenyan authorities were concerned that ongoing violence in Somalia and persistent acts of terrorism could spread on their own territory (Amnesty International Report AFR 32/015, 2010). The other conclusions of Amnesty International are related to police harassment in the camps, and violation of the principle of no n-refoulement (Amnesty International Report AFR 32/015, 2010). The principle of non-refoulement, which is embedded in the UNHCR Convention for the Refugees prohibits â€Å"the expulsion, extradition, deportation, return or otherwise removal of any person in any manner whatsoever to a country or territory where he or she would face a real risk of persecution or serious harm† (UNHCR Convention on the Status of the Refugees, 1951). The report reveals that when the Kenyan authorities closed the border, around 4000 Somalis were trapped alongside and 360 were refouled. In 2009, 93 Somali asylum seekers were forcibly refouled back to Somalia. It is now clear that by choosing to close its border, Kenya has violated the principle of non-refoulement of the UN and the 1967 Protocol, as well as its own 2006 Refugee Act. Further implications of the closure of the transit border centre is that the newly arrived refugees are no longer screened for health purposes, and some of them have suffered exhaustion and malnutrition on their way to the camps (which are located about 80 km from the border). Another type of violations is related to the security and well being of the refugees, often threatened by the Kenyan security forces. As of December 2010, issues related to limited access to water, shelter, sanitation and other essential services due to overcrowding have been reported. In addition, the refugees are not allowed outside the camps unless in exceptional circumstances such as relocation to third countries (Amnesty International, 2010). Other violations include sexual harassment, forced marriages in the camps, as well as the involuntary recruitment of refugees for military service. Based on this report, it is not difficult to determine that Kenyan authorities have allowed the unlawful treatment of Somali refugees by local militias, and have committed violations related to their treatment on the territory of the host country. In sum, a closer look at the treatment of the Somali refugees in Kenya reveals that there have been violations of key provisions, related to the status of the refugees. From a legal perspective, this is due to the fact that there are no legally binding provisions, which define the responsibilities of the host countries, or penalties in case of violations. By no legally binding it is meant that the existing rules and regulations remain prescriptive of how the hosting countries need to treat refugees, seeking shelter on their territory. As stated earlier before, there is not a clear definition of persecution and the counter-measures, which it entails, therefore the actions of the Kenyan authorities remain unaddressed under international law. As the next section will reveal, the situation in Ethiopia is quite similar. 5. Treatment of Somali refugees in Ethiopia As mentioned earlier in the essay, Ethiopia is the country, where the second highest proportion of Somali refugees resides. An estimate of 280, 000 refugees have fled to Ethiopia since the beginning of the conflict in Somalia more than two decades ago. They have been accommodated in eight camps along the Ethio-Somali border (UNHCR, 2011). Similarly to the case in Kenya, the refugees are denied access to education and work opportunities, as well as free movement and access to healthcare. According to Markos (2011), the main reasons for the unlawful treatment of the Somali refugees in Ethiopia generate from the gap between national legislation and international legal standards, related to the status of the refugees. Despite the fact that Ethiopia has ratified key international refugee instruments such as the 1951 Convention, the 1967 Protocol and the 1969 OAU Convention, the treatment of the Somali refugees on the territory of the country is a signifier that constraints to the implemen tation of their provision on national level are ostensible. Understandably, the Ethiopian authorities are trying to protect their scarce national resources and infrastructure, which explains why their tolerance to the refugee influx is not high (Waldron Hasci, 1994). From the perspective of the international community however, this does not ameliorate the fact that many Somalis face grieve human rights violations in the camps on the territory of Ethiopia. Some of the key provisions of the 1951 Convention have been violated such as the right of freedom, the right to choose their place of residence, the right to move freely within the country, as well as the access to elementary and religious education. In sum, although the situation with the treatment of the refugees in Ethiopia is not so grieve as the one in Kenya, Somali refugees in Ethiopia still face deprivations and human right violations. This is due to the scarce resources in the country, as well as the gaps in national legislation, which do not allow the direct implementation of key provisions of international law, related to the status of the refugees. Based on the above observations on the treatment of the refugees in these two countries, a brief set of recommendations will be provided in the following section. 6. Recommendations This section will provide a brief set of recommendations for policy reform and action for the improvement of the treatment of Somali refugees in Kenya and Ethiopia. The recommendations have been divided in four groups – general recommendations, recommendations for Kenya, recommendations for Ethiopia, and recommendations for the international community. 6.1 General recommendations The previous sections have shown that without clear definition on persecution and the responsibilities of the host countries, it would be impossible to provide shield of refugees and displaced people under international law. Therefore, a revision of the legal provisions related with the refugees is necessary. In the near future however, a revision of existing refugee legislation might be a cumbersome and formidable process, because it would involve redrafting existing legislation, its ratification and its incorporation into host countries’ judiciary system. In addition, it is not clear how this would help overcome other challenges, related to refugee protection, such as the ones mentioned by Landgren (1998) – agents of persecution; the notion of political offence in extradition treaties; the criminalization of illegal departure; and the precipitation of repatriation. Despite the fact that the principle of non-refoulment remains one of the strongest refugee rights, and despite the presence of â€Å"minimum rights clauses† for the treatment of refugees in the 1951 Convention, their enforcement in countries, where poverty and political instability are persistent, remains a challenge. As a result, existing legislation needs to be revised in order to meet the new security threats, raised by globalization and the incapacity of many states to protect their own civilian populations. At present, the definition of the term refugee is problematic because it does not provide a clear direction of what responsibilities the host countries need to have. Therefore a revision of the definition, as well as existing legislation is necessary. As a result, the responsibilities of the host countries-signatories to the refugee instruments should be legally binding. 6.2 Recommendations for Kenya The most important recommendation for the Kenyan authority is to open the border control camp which would facilitate the registration of the refugees, and the access of the newly arrived to healthcare, food and clean water. At present Kenyan authorities are concerned that if the border is open, this might provide access to Kenya of the militant members of Al-Shabaab, which is a major security threat for the civilian population (Daily Mail, 2011). However, a stronger border control and the allocation of additional police and military units, which would perform thorough checks on those wishing to cross the border, is a possible solution. The most important recommendation for the Kenyan government in order to improve the situation with the refugees is to ensure that the security forces do not violate the principle of non-refoulement. This can take place if more international observers are allowed in the camps and on the Somali-Kenyan border. 6.3 Recommendations for Ethiopia In Ethiopia, the revision of national legislation is crucial for the implementation of the international provisions, related with the rights of the refugees. In a country with feeble political and judiciary institutions, the process will be cumbersome, but legal revision is necessary in order to provide refugees and asylum-seekers protection. 6.4 Recommendations for the international community As far as the actions of the international organisations, regional organisations and the donor countries are concerned, they need to be related with raising awareness of the situation, and stronger measures related to monitoring and accountability of the actions of the security forces on the territory of both countries. This means that institutions such as the UNHCR, and regional organisations such as OAU and ACHPR (African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights) need to play a more proactive role in liaising with local governments and observing the situation in countries like Kenya and Ethiopia. This can be implemented using two channels – a liaison with government agencies, and regular reports, provided by non-governmental organizations on the situation within the camps. It is important that efforts for the protection of the refugees are made on all four of the above levels. Only the vertical harmonization of actions between national authorities and the international community, wrapped in an appropriate legal framework, can eventually lead to the creation of a safer environment for the Somali refugees, and the determination of their international status in the global era. Conclusion This paper has shown that despite the efforts of the international community, there are problems, related with the treatment of Somali refugees in Kenya and Ethiopia. The lack of commitment of the host countries, and the lack of coordination between national governments and international organisations have perpetuated the crisis. In order to fulfil its commitments for democratization and political stability on the African continent, the international community needs to revise key legal provisions relating to the status of the refugees, and to ensure that there are no constraints for their implementation on national level. In addition, the international status of the refugees needs to be determined, in order to give them legitimacy and protection in a global world. Bibliography Amnesty International (2010) â€Å"From life without peace to peace without life. The treatment of Somali Refugees and Asylum-seekers in Kenya†, 8 December, Index: AFR 32/015/2010, Available at: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AFR32/015/2010/en/1eb8bd34-2a5c-4aa4-8814-83e0e8df8ebf/afr320152010en.pdf Retrieved: 12.02.2012 Daily Mail (2011) â€Å"Somalian militants vow revenge suicide attacks after Kenyan army crosses border following kidnappings†, updated 17 October, 2011 Available at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2050240/Somalian-militant-group-Al-Shabab-threatens-Kenya-suicide-attacks.html Retrieved: 15.04.2012 Forsythe, D. (2006) Human Rights in International Relations, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press Gibney, M.J. (2005) The Ethics and Politics of Asylum. Liberal Democracy and the Response to Refugees, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press OAU (1969) Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa, Available at: http://www.africa-union.org/Official_documents/Treaties_%20Conventions_%20Protocols/Refugee_Convention.pdf Retrieved 12.02.2012 Marfleet, P. (2006) Refugees in a Global Era, Basingstoke: Macmillian Markos, K. (2011) The Treatment of Somali Refugees in Ethiopia under Ethiopian and International Law, International Journal of Refugee Law, Vol 9, Issue 3, p. 365-391. Landgren, K. (1998) â€Å"The Future of Refugee Protection: Four Challenges† Journal of Refugee Studies, Vol. 11, Issue 4, Pp. 416-432 Normand, R. Zaidi, S. (2008) Human Rights at the UN: The Political History of Universal Justice, Indiana University Press UNHCR (1951) Convention Relating to the Status of the Refugees, Resolution 2198, Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly Available at: http://www.unhcr.org/3b66c2aa10.html Retrieved 12.02.2012 UNHCR (1967) Protocol Relating to the Status of the Refugees, Resolution 2198, Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly Available at: http://www.unhcr.org/3b66c2aa10.html Retrieved 12.02.2012 UNHCR, UN Refugee Agency (2011a) â€Å"Ethiopia. 2012 UNHCR country operations profile – Ethiopia†, Available at: http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/page?page=49e483986 Retrieved 12.02.2012 UNHCR, UN Refugee Agency (2011b) â€Å"Kenya. 2012 UNHCR country operations profile – Kenya† Available at: http://www.unhcr.org/cgibin/texis/vtx/page?page=49e483a16submit=GO Retrieved 12.02.2012 UNHCR, UN Refugee Agency (2011c) â€Å"Somalia. 2012 UNHCR country operations profile – Somalia† Available at: http://www.unhcr.org/cgibin/texis/vtx/page?page=49e483ad6submit=GO Retrieved 12.02.2012 UNHCR (2011d) â€Å"The International Protection of Refugees: Interpreting Article 1 of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees†, Available at: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/pdfid/3b20a3914.pdf Retrieved 12.02.2012 Waldron, S., Hasci, N. (1994)â€Å"Somali refugees in the Horn of Africa: state of the art literature review†, Report No.3, Refugee Studies Programme, Queen Elisabeth House, Oxford: Oxford University Press, Zolberg, A., Zuhrke, A. Aguayo, S. (1989) Escape from Violence. Conflict and Refugee Crisis in the Developing World. Oxford: Oxford University Press How to cite The Treatment of Somali Refugees in Kenya and Ethiopia: an Assessment, Essay examples

Wyrd Sisters Essay Example For Students

Wyrd Sisters Essay This essay will discuss the novel wryd. It will explore some of the concepts that are found in the novel and attempt to extend the issues to a point at which they become more clear, and prove the assertion that, just as Wyrd is a fast moving narrative that spans continents and ages, it is a novel of ideas. Wyrd was, in length, a short to medium novel that was written by Sue Gough. Briefly, it was the story of Berengaria, Saladin’s daughter and wife of King Richard. After her husbands death, she was moved to a French nunnery with her handmaiden and son, the prince (incognito). We will write a custom essay on Wyrd Sisters specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now There she kept an explicit and wise diary, recording the events in her life. She founded a healing order, and invented a cordial that was surprisingly popular among the village folk. She continued to practice Viking religion in subtle ways, and encouraged spiritual openness, as opposed to the dogmatic teachings of the time, vesting confidence and a sense of worth in her fellow devotees. However, she was plagued by her evil anti-thesis, the Abbe De Ville, who encouraged her son to join in a ‘children’s crusade’ — and unwise and dangerous religious march. Pat, her son, was eventually sold as a slave in he middle east, but the Abbe did not know this and told Berengaria the ‘news’ of his demise. Unable to cope with such a revelation, she died and was entombed, as a mummy, with her book beneath the priory. Found by two archaeologists in modern times, her book was recovered and her tomb destroyed. Sent to a group of Australian women (in order to keep it out of the claws of the modern De Ville, Professor Horniman), the book found it’s way into the hands and heart of Trace, a street kid from Sydney, come north as part of a modern children’s crusade. Unwilling to return to the slums of Kings Cross, Trace had found her way to the women’s homes and beguiled herse- lf of them. To conclude the story, Professor Horniman attempted to steal the book, and it was destroyed. All of this was spoken by one Dr Renouf (a possible future Trace and modern day Berengaria), in an attempt to draw together the warring factions of the middle east. One of the most primary themes in the book, apparent even in the summary, is the repetition of events: recurrence and echoing of past events and people. The binding threads of time, so to speak, are constant and absolute: even in different times, the same forces are still at work throughout the novel. The c change of setting is incidental, and the characters are a constant equalling force. The children’s crusade, the concepts of war and peace, good and evil are all tied together in the plot, past mirroring future. However, another theme that is important is the power of the undecided (* – wyrd, the blank Viking rune, is the rune of ‘maybe’), and the outcomes are different — Professor Horniman was defeated, De Ville was not. Although this only lead to Horniman’s defeat, it was substantial, and the cosmic superbeing could have turned to favour the powers of ‘good’ (Berengaria, Trace, the wyrd isters/the three women) or ‘evil’ (De Ville/Horniman, war, etc). The future is merely a continuation of the past, but events may be replayed. Change only occurred with respect for the future, the past remained stained, but was a valuable lesson. The repetition of events occurred mainly because lessons of the past were unheeded, and present changes are the force behind the it’s cessation. The blank rune, the undecided future, the last, blank page in the old Queen’s diary, are all a means by which these events can occur: change and exploration of possibilities is vital to allow continuation. Who controls the past controls the future only in that the past is part of the present and the present is what controls future events. Another theme, discussed mainly in the book’s feminist undertones, is one that is heavily discursive of the rules of society. .u39e6e3dab1b202616c6ec54e4c6ee767 , .u39e6e3dab1b202616c6ec54e4c6ee767 .postImageUrl , .u39e6e3dab1b202616c6ec54e4c6ee767 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u39e6e3dab1b202616c6ec54e4c6ee767 , .u39e6e3dab1b202616c6ec54e4c6ee767:hover , .u39e6e3dab1b202616c6ec54e4c6ee767:visited , .u39e6e3dab1b202616c6ec54e4c6ee767:active { border:0!important; } .u39e6e3dab1b202616c6ec54e4c6ee767 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u39e6e3dab1b202616c6ec54e4c6ee767 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u39e6e3dab1b202616c6ec54e4c6ee767:active , .u39e6e3dab1b202616c6ec54e4c6ee767:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u39e6e3dab1b202616c6ec54e4c6ee767 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u39e6e3dab1b202616c6ec54e4c6ee767 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u39e6e3dab1b202616c6ec54e4c6ee767 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u39e6e3dab1b202616c6ec54e4c6ee767 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u39e6e3dab1b202616c6ec54e4c6ee767:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u39e6e3dab1b202616c6ec54e4c6ee767 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u39e6e3dab1b202616c6ec54e4c6ee767 .u39e6e3dab1b202616c6ec54e4c6ee767-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u39e6e3dab1b202616c6ec54e4c6ee767:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Building Tension and Suspense EssayReligious dogma, meaningl ess legal writings, unwritten rules placing different people in situations beyond their control, and the concept of elitism — our class system, are all discussed, if briefly, in the texts. Non conformity was all but preached: it clearly stated that the rules of society, the laws we make for ourselves, re not compatible with the needs of the people. Religious laws were obeyed to the letter in the main time frame and our own, to a lesser extent because times have changed: Berengaria was a nun, and De Ville was an Abbe. The laws that govern Christianity are mostly good, but intervention on the part of the church, often with the best of intentions, can lead an uneducated and oppressed society (like that of, say, medieval England or France) into ruins. In the novel, Berengaria was seen to actively opposed rules she thought were ‘wrong’, and refused to submit to the system: a self perpetuating autocracy, n which the supreme power lies in the ability to bluff and blunder through situations, and keep a crowd entertained. Her major disadvantage, at least at that time, was the fact that she was a woman: strong, intelligent and a leader, yes, but existing in a time and reality that did not judge a person by such qualities. Power in our society is driven by corruption, in many cases, and hope for the future lies in the powers that be. The same was true, to extremes, in Berengaria’s time, but her knowledge and charisma were not about to be bound by half-truths and lies (the lies seeded by her time’s power system). In any time and any system there are the high, the middle and the low. The aim of the high is to stay there, the middle want to get there, and the low want to survive. With a few exceptions, a system that acknowledges and works with this social and economic hierarchy is one that allows for very little personal growth: true now and then. Her system and ours are clearly corrupted by this and the novel clearly demands that we do something about it. The unwritten, unknowable future is a powerful force here: the future is the right place to escape to. Another powerful and recurring issue is that of knowledge: it’s power, mportance, and ultimate truths. Learning and self healing are important factors discussed by Berengaria in her life and writings, factors that affected people in many different ways. She understood the importance of understanding and wisdom and shared it with others, who gained those qualities and shared it with others†¦.. etc. Learning is a mighty influence that can heal wounds and spread enlightenment. In many ways it is the only force by which to fight corruption, but seeds must be planted. The complete amalgam of knowledge discussed in the novel is contained almost wholly in Berengaria’s book, which planted it’s seeds in many ways. It shared it’s message of healing and medicinal lore with nurses and other assorted healers; it shared it’s knowledge of love and spirituality with the emotionally recluse, encouraging growth and healing; it shared it’s artistic beauty and knowledge of the assorted wonders of our planet with the artistically inclined, enhancing their lives and through them: ours. The concept of the search for the self is another constant in this novel: people with no identity grow and learn to become their own person, unique and independent: through knowledge.

Ionic vs Covalent Bonds - Understand the Difference

Ionic vs Covalent Bonds - Understand the Difference A molecule or compound is made when two or more atoms form a  chemical bond, linking them together. The two types of bonds are ionic bonds and covalent bonds. The distinction between them has to do with how equally the atoms participating in the bond share their electrons. Ionic Bonds In an ionic bond, one atom essentially donates an electron to stabilize the other atom. In other words, the electron spends most of its time close to the bonded atom.  Atoms that participate in an ionic bond have different electronegativity values from each other. A polar bond is formed by the attraction between oppositely-charged ions.  For example, sodium and chloride form an ionic bond, to make NaCl, or table salt. You can predict an ionic bond will form when two atoms have different electronegativity values and detect an ionic compound by its properties, including a tendency to dissociate into ions in water. Covalent Bonds In a covalent bond, the atoms are bound by shared electrons. In a true covalent bond, the electronegativity values are the same (e.g., H2, O3), although in practice the electronegativity values just need to be close. If the electron is shared equally between the atoms forming a covalent bond, then the bond is said to be nonpolar. Usually, an electron is more attracted to one atom than to another, forming a polar covalent bond. For example, the atoms in water, H2O, are held together by polar covalent bonds. You can predict a covalent bond will form between two nonmetallic atoms. Also, covalent compounds may dissolve in water, but dont dissociate into ions. Ionic vs Covalent Bonds Summary Heres a quick summary of the differences between ionic and covalent bonds, their properties, and how to recognize them: Ionic Bonds Covalent Bonds Description Bond between metal and nonmetal. The nonmetal attracts the electron, so it's like the metal donates its electron to it. Bond between two nonmetals with similar electronegativities. Atoms share electrons in their outer orbitals. Polarity High Low Shape No definite shape Definite shape Melting Point High Low Boiling Point High Low State at Room Temperature Solid Liquid or Gas Examples Sodium chloride (NaCl), Sulfuric Acid (H2SO4 ) Methane (CH4), Hydrochloric acid (HCl) Chemical Species Metal and nometal (remember hydrogen can act either way) Two nonmetals Do you understand? Test your comprehension with this quiz. Key Points The two main types of chemical bonds are ionic and covalent bonds.An ionic bond essentially donates an electron to the other atom participating in the bond, while electrons in a covalent bond are shared equally between the atoms.The only pure covalent bonds occur between identical atoms. Usually, there is some polarity (polar covalent bond) in which the electrons are shared, but spend more time with one atom than the other.Ionic bonds form between a metal and a nonmetal. Covalent bonds form between two nonmetals.

Speed Writing With Fast Notes and Shorthand

Speed Writing With Fast Notes and Shorthand Have you ever gazed at a test question and wondered where on earth it came from? Youre just certain the teacher never, ever covered the information, because it just wasnt in your notes. Then, alas, you discover that some of your classmates did record the information in their notes, and furthermore, they got the question right. This is a common frustration. We miss things when we take class notes. Very few people can write fast enough or concentrate long enough to record everything the teacher says. College lectures can stretch much longer than the lectures you receive in high school  and they can also be very detailed. For this reason, many college students address the potential problem of missing critical information by developing a personalized form of shorthand. This sounds much more complicated than it really is. You dont have to learn a squiggly-line language. You simply come up with a set of symbols or abbreviations for common words that you find in lectures. History of Shorthand Developing shortcuts in your writing is not a new idea, of course. Students have been using this method for as long as theyve been taking class notes. In fact, the origins of shorthand date back to Ancient Greece during the 4th century B.C. However, even prior to that, scribes in ancient Egypt developed two different systems – the  Hieratic  and later  the Demotic  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ which allowed them to write more quickly than they could using complex hieroglyphics. Gregg Shorthand Gregg is essentially a simpler and more efficient way to write than longhand English. Consider that the Roman alphabet we use is much more complicated necessary to distinguish one letter from another. To write a lower-case â€Å"p†, for example, requires a long, downward stroke with a clockwise loop at the top. Then, you have to pick up your pen to move on to the next letter.  Gregg’s â€Å"letters† are comprised of much simpler shapes.  Consonants are made up of either shallow curves or straight lines; vowels are loops or small hooks.  An additional advantage of Gregg is that it’s phonetic. The word â€Å"day† is written as d and a. Since letters are less complicated and joined simply, there are fewer of them to write which will increase your speed! Tips for Using Shorthand The trick is to develop a good system and to do it well. To do that, you have to practice. Try these tips: Develop a list of  the most commonly used words and make shortcuts for them.At the beginning of a term, look through the textbooks for each course. Find the common terms that youll see over and over and develop shortcuts for them.For example, words that might appear frequently in a literature class are character (ch), allegory (alg), allusion (allu), figure of speech (fos), and so on.Practice your course-specific shorthand at the beginning of the term while your text is still new and youre curious and excited about the information. Find a few interesting passages and practice writing them in shorthand.If possible, find a study partner  to read the passages to you. This will simulate the real experience of taking notes during a lecture.Time yourself for each passage you practice. Pretty soon youll start to build up speed. Sample Writing Shortcuts Sample Shortcuts @ at, about, around no. number, amount + bigger, greater, increasing ? who, what, where, why, where ! surprise, alarm, shock bf before bc because rts results resp response X across, between

W7 As Merck Serono Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

W7 As Merck Serono - Essay Example As such, they should have a wealth of competent and qualified set of human resources who could undertake roles and responsibilities which cater to the diverse needs and demands of the organization. On the other hand, in terms of technical competencies, the acquisitions of organizations, especially from diverse fields of discipline, enable DuPont to develop technological competencies, applications, human resources, infrastructure, and skill set to fit currently entrenched technology to match the newly acquired organizations. In addition, when new products have been added to their product lines, DuPont benefits through the opportunity of catering to a wide range of clientele, depending on the products or services offered, the geographic location, as well as the competitive advantage exhibited over their competitors. Gaining organizations with different product lines necessitate additional research to be undertaken by the executive management team of DuPont to ensure that they are qualified and competent to operate new businesses and develop strategies accordingly. Besides the potential benefits discussed, one strongly believes that DuPont probably gained maturity in discerning which ventures and acquisitions contributed most to meeting the organization’s mission, vision, and goals. The organization, through its executive management team and leaders, probably gained exemplary acumen in determining which ventures would be most lucrative in providing financial gains with the amounts that are to be invested in each endeavor. There are potential losses in terms of opportunity losses where the organization could have pursued some ventures that proved to be unprofitable or those which significantly mismatch their current organizational thrusts and directions. As such, instead of focusing on areas, fields of discipline, or core competencies on currently held and evidently productive ventures, the time, resources, and efforts spent locating other

Self introductory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Self introductory - Essay Example The inclination towards radios roots from my passion for music. When I was younger, I took it upon myself to ensure family functions were kept lively through music. Over time, family gatherings held at our house became the most famous as everyone attended. I discovered that music helps me unwind and lighten up after a long day. Particularly, I have a taste for soft rock and neo-soul. Whenever I’m angry, I am certain that listening to some music will calm me down. In high school I formed a group with some of my friends where we would meet and practice dance moves whilst playing loud music. We found this relieved stress especially after exams; also it provided a form of exercise. I endeavor to remain healthy and fit therefore I go for swimming from time to time. During my high school holidays, I volunteered as a swimming instructor at the public pools. This gave me an opportunity to interact with new people and perfect my swimming. I am a reclusive person so this allowed me to work on social skills. I hope to further improve them through this course as I believe it will teach me to understand myself first and then others. Moreover, in terms of behaviorisms I hope to adopt proper habits that will make me an approachable person. As a future engineer, I hope that this course will inculcate a sense of ethical duty to the users of whichever products that I shall participate in manufacturing. This is because it is clear that laws do not encompass all ethical choices, one need to have a personal sense of ethical obligation. I believe that this course will provide the necessary framework to recognize situations of such kind and deal with them appropriately. I acknowledge that I will be faced with ‘gray’ areas that would require prudence. I anticipate to learn and apply such a virtue and that the course will involve application of real life situations. Furthermore, I look forward