Monday, November 11, 2019
Demographics and Culture of Brazil Essay
Brazil is currently enjoying the number 5 spot as far as big populations in the world are concerned with 190,010,647 people recorded as of August 16, 2007 (C.I.A., 2007, par. 7). Documents show that the population has grown steadily in the years with only 85,240,000 Brazilians in 1967 to 141,452,000 in 1987 (Lahmeyer, 2003, p. 1). This clearly illustrates that in just forty years, the population of Brazil has already doubled its number of natives. With a land area of 8,456,510 square kilometers, Brazil has around 58.2 people per square mile. It was estimated by the Population Reference Bureau that 81% of the population lived in urban areas in 2001, up from 66% in 1980 (Brazil Population, 2007, par. 2). The following are more details on the current population of Brazil: Population growth rate:       1.008% (2007 est.) Birth rate:                             16.3 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) Death rate:                           6.19 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) Sex ratio:      at birth: 1                   .05 male(s)/female under 15 years:         1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years:              0.983 male(s)/female 65 years and over:     0.697 male(s)/female total population:        0.976 male(s)/female (2007 est.) Age structure:  0-14 years:              25.3% (male 24,554,254/female 23,613,027) 15-64 years:              68.4% (male 64,437,140/female 65,523,447) 65 years and over:     6.3% (male 4,880,562/female 7,002,217) (2007 est.) Median age:  total:               28.6 years male:             27.9 years female:          29.4 years (2007 est.) *Source: C.I.A. The World Fact Book 2007 Brazil’s culture is very much influenced by their Portuguese invaders who have ruled the lands for three centuries. It was only in 1822 when Brazil finally became a nation. Although Brazil is a democratic country, education, health, safety (physical and juridical) are deficient in Brazil (Brazil Travel, n.d., par. 1). Brazil is the leading economic power and regional leader in South America yet uneven distribution of income is a pressing problem (C.I.A.). Its economic strength is dependent on its mining, agricultural and manufacturing industries. One of Brazil’s cultural attractions is the Carnaval or Mar de Gras which is annually celebrated at Rio de Janeiro.  The origins of this celebration dates back to the ancient Greek festival in honor of Dionysus which the Romans soon adopted for the Roman God Bacchus as the feast of Saturnalia (World Music Productions, 2007, par. 1). Back then they celebrated it by making slaves and their masters exchange clothes while drinking wine for the whole day. Saturnalia was converted by Roman Catholics into a festival leading up to Ash Wednesday or before the 40 days of sacrifices prior to Easter. It became known as Carne Vale which literally means farewell to the flesh and is a fiesta filled with every known sin the Brazilians could think of. Carnaval, as spelled in Portuguese, is a 4-day celebration. It starts on Saturday, and ends on Fat Tuesday, or Mardi-Gras. (All About Rio, 2007, par. 1). One of the major issues that had put a spotlight on Brazil in the recent years is regarding its environment. The very rich Amazon forest is the habitat of many endangered species and it plays a major role in the weather cycle of the world. If it continues to be cut down, global warming will greatly be affected because the Amazon Forest is one of the world’s best source of rain. Other problems include illegal wildlife trade, air and water pollution in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and other cities, improper mining activities, wetland degradation and severe oil spills (C.I.A., par. 7). References All About Rio. (2007). Ipanema.com. Retrieved August 31, 2007 from http://www.ipanema.com/ carnival/ Brazil Population. (2007). Brazil Population. Retrieved August 31, 2007 from http://www. nationsencyclopedia.com/Americas/Brazil.html C.I.A. (2007). The World Fact Book. Retrieved August 31, 2007 from https://www.cia.gov/ library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/br.html#Intro Lahmeyer, J. (2003). Brazil. Retrieved August 31, 2007 from http://www.populstat.info/ Americas/brazilc.htm World Music Productions. (2007). History of Carnival in Brazil. Retrieved August 31, 2007            from http://www.afropop.org/multi/feature/ID/33/
Saturday, November 9, 2019
Elizabeth Poor Laws
The Last Years of the Poor Law During the interwar period the Poor Law served as a residual safety net, assisting those who fell through the cracks of the existing social insurance policies. The high unemployment of 1921-38 led to a sharp increase in numbers on relief. The official count of relief recipients rose from 748,000 in 1914 to 1,449,000 in 1922; the number relieved averaged 1,379,800 from 1922 to 1938. A large share of those on relief were unemployed workers and their dependents, especially in 1922-26.Despite the extension of unemployment insurance in 1920 to virtually all workers except the self-employed and those in agriculture or domestic service, there still were large numbers who either did not qualify for unemployment benefits or who had exhausted their benefits, and many of them turned to the Poor Law for assistance. The vast majority were given outdoor relief; from 1921 to 1923 the number of outdoor relief recipients increased by 1,051,000 while the number receiving indoor relieve increased by 21,000. The Poor Law becomes redundant and is repealedDespite the important role played by poor relief during the interwar period, the government continued to adopt policies, which bypassed the Poor Law and left it â€Å"to die by attrition and surgical removals of essential organs†(Lees 1998). The Local Government Act of 1929 abolished the Poor Law unions, and transferred the administration of poor relief to the counties and county boroughs. In 1934 the responsibility for assisting those unemployed who were outside the unemployment insurance system was transferred from the Poor Law to the Unemployment Assistance Board.Finally, from 1945 to 1948, Parliament adopted a series of laws that together formed the basis for the welfare state, and made the Poor Law redundant. The National Assistance Act of 1948 officially repealed all existing Poor Law legislation, and replaced the Poor Law with the National Assistance Board to act as a residual relief ag ency. In what way might the legacy of the 1834, poor Law be seen in contemporary welfare policy? This essay will endeavour to highlight the  advantages/disadvantages, and how the welfare state treats individual members of the community differently .The historically changing conceptualization of the welfare state and its provision of social services the individuals democratic right to access the state provided benefits, are looked at in their historically and geographically changing existing structure. Conflicting conservative, liberal and socialist methods to the view of individual vs. collective responsibility are considered in the context of rival welfare state arrangements. The Poor Law was established and put into motion in 1601 during the time of Elizabeth I. The aims of the poor law, according to Golding and Middleton were work, discipline, deterrence and classification.The poor law was the most important policy development dealing with poverty up until the end of the nine teenth century and it was a development, which main objective was upon control and deterrence. The Poor Law of 1601 lasted for over two centuries, but it was inefficient. Governments did not have the control, means or organisation to deal with poverty effectively. Poverty was a regional and national problem, and yet each local parish was left to deal with it individually The Poor Law cannot be seen just as a vehicle used to preserve life of those who could not feed, clothe or house themselves.Rather it should be seen as a part of the social response of a society that was moving from a wholly agricultural and village based society towards an industrialised and largely urban society. What is the legacy?†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. the welfare state of to day with social benefits for all and free medical help also education  no one needs to starve in Britain. The idears of the older poor laws can be seen in to days welfare state as an extension of these poor laws through more recent governments .. (2011, 01).In What Way Might the Legacy of the 1834, Poor Law Be Seen in Contemporary Welfare Policy?. StudyMode. com. Retrieved 01, 2011, from http://www. studymode. com/essays/In-What-Way-Might-The-Legacy-549882. html Modern welfare state development is generally considered to lead to social security or benefits payments, social housing provision, health provision, social work and educational services. Together these services are known as the ‘big five' but these services tend to develop over time and have differed in quantity, availability and quality.Provision and development can change due to social, economic and political factors (Spicker, 1995, p. 3). State provision of welfare has a long history, in Britain for instance dating back to the Elizabethan Poor Laws and earlier. Welfare states started to develop when surveys of poverty by people such as Charles Booth showed the inadequacy of welfare provisions that could not deal with poverty particularly with increasing urbanisation and industrialisation (Thane, 1996, p. 7). The worldwide depression from 1929 would lead countries to consider further welfare developments.High unemployment (12% of the working population in Britain at its worst) showed that better welfare provision was needed (Robbins, 1994, p. 208). From such modest roots the public sector in Britain for example represents around 40 % of the economy (Simpson, 2005, p. 4). There are various key theories that seek to explain the processes involved in welfare state development that will be explained below. The theories have evolved or being devised to explain the differences and similarities in welfare state development in different countries at the same time or in a single country over a period of time.Theories agree that welfare states were developed to serve those that needed help the most or sometimes as universal services to all (O'Brien and Penna, 1998, p. 2). After the main theories have been discussed the one or ones that are mo st applicable for evaluating contemporary changes will be outlined. There are different ways of looking at the development of the welfare state and deciding how far it should extend, demands. (2013, 01). Welfare State. StudyMode. com. Retrieved 01, 2013, from http://www. studymode. com/essays/Welfare-State-1342080. html
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Why you should go to college Essay Example
Why you should go to college Essay Example Why you should go to college Essay Why you should go to college Essay Matthew Baker 11/14/13 1st block Why You Should Go To College Why should you go to college? There are a lot of reasons for and against this question. Like how much will it cost or will I be more successful. College is necessary for a better future. First off college is necessary because it promotes discipline, maturity, and independence. More college students are successful in life because they have matured through college. They have four years with responsibilities that only high school graduates have not had. Having to get to classes without being late, having no parents to get them where they need to be, and having o manage their time to successfully graduate. College graduates have better opportunities than only high school graduates. They have more opportunities in the work force. They also dont make as much as college graduates you should go to college because it opens up a world of greatness for the person who get a masters or doctoral degree. Those degrees make a lot of difference in an interview and on a resume a degree looks great. Many people say that they would rather hire someone with a college degree rather than Just a high school graduate. College graduates have ore Job opportunities as in a Doctor or a Lawyer which make over six figures in their annual paychecks. This leads to a more prosperous life and possibly a happier and more successful life. Also the Doctors and Lawyers are widely respected in our society so that helps sometimes. Lastly, college education is becoming more of a requirement for Jobs. Every day more and more Jobs are becoming to where to get a job there you have to have at least a Bachelors or Associates degree. In my future my job requires a masters and a law degree but I would go for my Doctorate Just for the extra education. I believe you should go to college.
Monday, November 4, 2019
A Haunted House by Virginia Woolf Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
A Haunted House by Virginia Woolf - Essay Example Therefore, I became suspicious. Were their characters in the story, I could have understood from the beginning the characters, I had to figure out them myself. However, I had to read further into the story. I faced difficulties trying to connect the story’s stages with the object searched. The suspense increased when the narrator talked about trees swaying and darkening (A Haunted House Summary .com. np). Although I could figure out ghostly feelings, I wondered what could shake and searched. My thoughts lingered from human being to ghosts, but I could not conclude. On the either hand, with characterization, I could have easily understood the message of the story. I had to re-read it to bring out a slight meaning from the used pronouns. In fact, I kept on wondering how the ghost could search something I do not know in a house with occupants without harming them. The narrator says that she and her husband were asleep during that search. From downstairs to upstairs to the bedroom, they searched for ‘’it’’. In the last paragraph, the narrator speaks of a ‘’he’’ finding a treasured ‘’she’’ and saying the treasure to be safe. In surmise throughout the story, it was difficult to figure out the subject matter, the object and the possessions used (Woolf
Saturday, November 2, 2019
Biology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words
Biology - Essay Example (2) Why/How Creation Scientists Say Evolution Violates The Laws of Thermodynamics. (3) On Whether The Thermodynamics Laws Are Actually Violated or Not 5 Question 3- Making Both the Best Evolutionary/Biological and Logical/Rational Argument Relating to the Question: Which came first, the chicken or the egg? 7 Question 5- Common English Understanding of the First and Second Thermodynamics Laws. (2) Arguments For How The Theory of Natural Selection (a) Violates the Thermodynamics Laws and (b) Does Not Violate the Thermodynamic Laws . (3) Explaining How Life Works at the Chemical Level. 9 Question 7- (1) Similarities in the ideas of Lamarck and Darwin Relating to Gradual Evolution (2) Differences in the Ideas of Lamarck and Darwin (3) Reasons for Darwin's Hesitancy in Publishing His â€Å"Dangerous Idea†, Evidence Darwin Was Missing 11 Works Cited 13 Question 1- (1) Influence of 19th Century Worldviews on Charles Darwin. (2) How Darwin's Worldview Changed Between 1830 and 1860. (3 ) How My Worldview Has Been Changed/Affected by the Course There had been considerable intellectual and scientific ferment in the 19th century, around the time of Darwin's work and prior, that had considerable impact on the Charles Darwin and his theory with regard to evolution, natural selection, and the survival of the fittest. Those include changes in the scientific understanding of the age of the earth, which had previously been pegged at a few thousand years, and subsequently revised to be much older based on discovered and analyzed fossil records. This old age meant that Darwin's theory of natural selection over eons, millions of years, could hold water. Another was the worldview espoused by the theories of Malthus with regard to the economics of of population growth. Food supplies determined population growth and kept population numbers in check, or else, in the absence of such food supply restrictions, numbers would rise without pause. It is this insight that Darwin extended into all kinds of living populations, both plant life and animal life and species. He figured that checks in nature are abundant, and include disease, food restrictions, the weather, water, and other key resources that determine who in a population will survive and breed. This is the basics of his natural selection theory (Hayden; The Economist Newspaper Limited; Walmswell). Meanwhile, the changes in Darwin's worldview from 1830 to 1860 mimicked the evolution of his thinking and theory from the time he set out as a naturalist in 1831 to the time of the initial publication of his theory and findings in 1858, when he became convinced of the validity of his theory of natural selection, of the mutability of species and the role that natural selection plays in the way all creatures evolve through time (Hayden; The Economist Newspaper Limited; Walmswell). With regard to my own worldview, I had been exposed indirectly to the ideas of Darwin growing up, and had grown up hearing about terms like survival of the fittest as well as natural selection and the evolution of different species. It has shaped my early understanding of my own evolution as a kind of personal progress. This course, though made me aware that natural selection has more to do with how the different factors/forces around me determine whether me or someone else live a long time and prosper to the point of thriving/raising children. My new understanding includes an appreciation for human diversity, and the way that diversity as a whole allows the human race to adapt and move forward amid changing external circumstances (Hayden; The Economist Newspaper Limited; Walmswell). Question 2- (1) The Laws of Thermodynamics in My Own Words. (2) Why/How Creation Scientists Say Evolution Violates The Laws of
Thursday, October 31, 2019
Environmental lab Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2
Environmental lab - Assignment Example In order to collect relevant data for analysis, I accessed the MUSE lab where I studied the introduction of the Zebra and Quagga to North America’s fresh water lake by a ship. Through the observation of the animations in the lab, I was able to establish a trend of increase in Zebra and Quagga and decrease of other organisms’ population. This is achievable by clicking on the duration bar at the bottom and then reading changes in quantity of other ecosystem occupiers, and then I recorded. From the above results, it is seen that at 3, 7 and 10 the population of the Zebra and Quagga have been increasing since their introduction to a new ecosystem. It is because their main source of food is in abundant. The increase population overstretches Phytoplankton and this contributed to the decline in the population of Zebra and Quagga in the subsequent years. The implication is a common trend of the entire organism below the food chain decreasing. And, this indicates that there is instability in the ecosystem, as a result, of intruders, Zebra and
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
The Story of Amy Tan Essay Example for Free
The Story of Amy Tan Essay The story about Amy Tans mothers effort to converse in effective English with people in spite of her broken or fractured English is in fact very common. I think many immigrants face this problem. As they come from a different background their way of thinking results into different Englishes. America has the most number of Englishes of the world as you can find people from all over the world here. I have seen people who dont take other people seriously who speak Broken English or in a certain accent. People use different Englishes everywhere; Spanish people have Spanglish, which is a combination of Spanish and English, Indian people have Hinglish, which is combination of English with Hindi the native language of India and so on. English is a universal language it is spoken slightly different everywhere which causes people to have a tint of background in their English. Why shouldnt people have their own tint of background in their English? People from different countries have different culture, way of thinking and even accents which adds the tint of background in their English. There is no doubt English is going to be spoken differently around the world. English is not only spoken but also written in some cases differently around the world. Such as the word Color Asians and British would spell it as Colour. As a matter of fact, even the MS Word Spell Check has it highlighted it as this is an American Software and Americans dont spell it like that. The word Schedule is pronounced as Sheadule. If everyone was speaking the same English there wouldnt be any difference if you are from England, China or any other part of the world. Everyone would sound the same and would have the same ideology. The diversity in English is in fact a good thing it shows ones cultural background and adds uniqueness to every country. So its fine to have tint of background in your English. These tints in English develop different accents all over the world. Not only all over the world but also in America. There are different accents such as the people from Southern states have different accent than people from the Northern. Not matter the accent English is still communicable and can avoid language conflicts. Language conflicts occur when there is no common language of communication or in other words when there are people speaking different languages and not everyone is aware of each others language. My friends family is very secular it consists of Hindus, Muslims and Portuguese. There are about three different spoken languages. To avoid any language conflicts they use a common language such as English so that everyone can understand each other. There are some people who get affected by difference in English; they are usually students from other countries studying in American Schools. These students often struggle with grades in English in American Schools, which is due to different Englishes. Amy Tan talks about how she struggled with grades in English and got by easily in Math and Science. This is true in the case of Asians as they have natural inclination towards technical subjects. The worlds leading Electronic and IT companies are loaded with Asians due to their natural ability. Asians in American Schools are usually steered away from writing towards Math and Science, which is why there arent many Asians Americans representing American literature. Amy Tan was a victim of such steering towards math and science. Amy Tan was told by her former boss that English writing was not her best skill and she should hone her talents towards account management. But she took all of the disproving assumptions that people made of her in a rebellious way and she over came it and succeeded. Its very annoying when people judge you by your background. As in the case of Amy Tan having Chinese background she was steered towards math and science in spite of her liking towards English writing. My following story is similar in a sense that I was also judged by my background rather than my capabilities. I had just moved from India to Canada and was hit with some irrelevant judgments that people made of me due to my background. The first impression that I got from Canadians was that they werent aware that Indians were able to converse in fluent English as they can. I saw that people were trying to talk to me in a way that I would understand them as if I didnt know English. I immediately informed them I can very well converse in the same English that they speak. I was shocked due to peoples lack of knowledge about third world countries. Its just said that English is our second language, but as a matter of fact English was taught to us before than our own language. Although we lea rned our own language since birth, but we really started reading and writing our own language from grade 3. Whereas we started reading and writing English from Kindergarten level. My classmates in Canada used to ask me whether we do Computer Programming in our own language since English is not our first language to which I replied; Absolutely not, we use the same English as you do, it might be a little different the way we use it but its the same language. I was truly amazed by the lack of awareness that people have about countries where the first language is not English. I had to prove a point that people can be well acquainted with English even if their first language is not English. Like Amy Tan I didnt exactly have any kind of shame in my story, as she feels a sense of shame and pride in her story. She feels shame because of her mothers broken English and pride as its because of her she is a renowned writer; its because of her she became rebellious in her life, wanting to accomplish something, prove something! And she succeeded in her life she achieved what she wanted to achieve. Although, I did have some pride in my story as I managed to change lot of peoples opinion and made good friends for life and had one of the greatest time of my life in Canada. I would conclude by saying that although English is diversified around the world due to language attitudes, difference in accent, background, Englishes or even unawareness to some extent, Its still the most communicable or reachable language in the world. I feel English is more or less like cooking; the taste of the same food differs from region to region and every region adds its own flavor to it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)