The Fountainhead and Anthem Essay Anthem

At the age of five he advanced to home of the student, where he got scolded for learning faster then his brothers. Equality teachers told him that he had evil in his bones because he was taller then his brothers. Then at the age of fifteen when the house of v actions came Equality was guilty of the great transgression of preference because he wanted d to be a scholar, but his selected vocation was to be a street sweeper. Every day while he sweep t by the fields he would watch and smile at Liberty and she would smile back. Liberty was a woo man that worked in the home of the peasants.Making contact with a woman was prohibited buy t for when in the palace of the mating. The palace of the mating was where people were forced to breed. Equality thought touching a woman was shameful and ugly. The! En one day while he s wept the streets he found a grate that led to underground tunnel full of things from the unmeant enable times. For two years he went to the tunnel and discovered a new glowi ng light. Then one day while in the tunnel decided that he must share his secret with his brothers. He decided that he w loud bring his secret in front of the world council meeting.When Equality entered the world council I meeting the scholars got frightened and angry. They demanded that he tell them why he was there. He connected the wires and they glowed, the scholars backed up against the wall as they stared in horror. They told him that he they were going to punish for breaking so many laws. Equality trembled in fright he quickly grabbed the light and ran to the uncharted foresee t. No man followed because they feared the unknown. Those are all the ways in which Equality reek acted the view of society. The uncharted forest represented freedom.When Equality spent his first night in the rest when he woke up he laughed and rolled through the leaves and the MO as because he realized he was free which meant no more waking up to a bell, no more meal s prepared for him, and no more swe eping streets. Then as he walked through the forest he cam e too river he stopped and looked in the water for the first time in his whole life he saw ha t he looked like. When he saw his reflection it surprised him he did not look like his brothers h e looked stronger than his brothers who looked short and fragile.The next day in the forest he had heard footsteps behind him he turned around and it was Liberty. She had heard of what he did d and followed his path into the forest. While in the forest Equality hugged Liberty and realized t hat holding the body of a woman was not shameful. They walked for many days the farther t hey went from the city the safer they felt. â€Å"Everything which comes from the many is good. Every thing that come from one is evil. † Any Rand wrote this in the end of the ninth chapter when CEQ laity begins to doubt everything he has learned in the city. The mountains represented a en w beginning.In the mountains Equality and Liberty found a house le ft from the unmentionable it sees. In the house there are many things they have never seen before like mirrors, light bulbs, a library full of books, and nice clothes. They promise to never leave the house and they claim m it as theirs. They learn the word I while reading books from the huge library. Equality also name sees Liberty and himself, while reading through a book he learns of Prometheus who was a ma n who stole fire from the gods and taught men use the power of gods. Prometheus was punish heed as are all who bring light to men. He also reads of Gage who mother of the gods and of earth h.

Analysis of girl, interrupted

Film Synopsis Girl, Interrupted is a true memoir based on author Susanna Kaysen's nearly two-year stay in a mental institution during the late 1960s. Winona Ryder stars as Susanna, an unhappy, upper-middle-class girl who is uncertain about her life after graduating from high school. Her depression, confusion and promiscuity lead her to chase a bottle of aspirin with a bottle of vodka. She insists, however, that she was not trying to kill herself, but had a â€Å"headache.† Susanna’s parents take her to a psychiatrist, who asks her if she needs a rest, before suggesting she admit herself to Claymoore Mental Hospital. The psychiatrist diagnoses her with borderline personality disorder and depression. For the most part, the film flip-flops between Susanna’s memories of incidents that may have led to her disorder and her interactions with the other mental patients. Susanna soon realizes that the other patients are much worse off than her. Each character deals with various types of mental disorders caused by previous events in their lives. Polly is a burn victim trying to cope with her disfigurement; Daisy comes from an abnormal, abusive family. She has an odd obsession with chicken and refuses to eat in front of others; and Georgina, Susanna’s roommate, who has been diagnosed as a pathological liar. There is also another main character, Lisa – a veteran of the hospital. She is wild and seems to have sociopathic tendencies. She spends half of her time instigating fights, and embarrassing and scaring the other patients. The other half of her time is spent trying  to nurture them in a way. This is shown by the way childlike Polly looks up to Lisa and believes in everything Lisa says. Played by Angelina Jolie, Lisa constantly escapes from the hospital and makes sure everyone sees her as a leader. Lisa even convinces Susanna to slip out one night after Daisy is released. They visit Daisy in her new house and during the visit Daisy ends up committing suicide. Susanna seems calm throughout the movie, mainly watching and listening to the other patients, especially Lisa. Because of this, it seems Susanna grows stronger throughout the movie and learns from the other girls. Evaluation of disorders and symptoms Susanna’s symptoms are excellently portrayed as she is mostly confused, while dwelling on her past mistakes. She obviously has low self esteem and almost sees herself as invisible to the outside world. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) describes the symptoms of borderline personality disorder as experiencing the same mood for weeks, as well as having intense bouts of anger, depression and anxiety. NIMH indicates on its website, www.nimh.nih.gov, this mood may be associated with self-injury and drug or alcohol abuse problems. Susanna experiences bouts of depression and anxiety before and during the beginning of her hospital stay. The mood eventually leads to her failed suicide attempt. The institute also says that those with personality disorders view themselves as fundamentally bad or unworthy; they feel unfairly misunderstood, bored and empty, and have little idea of who they are. According to NIMH, sufferers often have unstable patterns of social relationships. Susanna portrays this with her promiscuity and stormy relationship with her parents. She also partakes in risky behavior, partying too much and sleeping with married men. The supporting characters’ symptoms are displayed accurately. Polly experiences extremely low self-esteem and looks for acceptance from everyone because she feels ashamed and devalued after her burn accident. Trauma usually causes deep feelings of sadness, anger and distress. Georgina, who is characterized as a pathological liar, seems the most â€Å"normal† of the bunch. Although, she spends her time telling stories which the others are not sure they should believe. Georgina is eventually discharged during Susanna’s stay. Daisy is a very disturbing character in the unit. She has been sexually abused which has caused her many problems including a possible eating disorder and various serious psychological problems. The effects of the sexual abuse have apparently taken a toll on Daisy. She portrays symptoms common to sexually abused children: Being overly controlling and angry, striving for perfection, fear of having close relationships with other people, obsessive compulsive disorder, as well as eating disorders. Daisy finds it hard to trust anyone, except Lisa, and is reclusive, staying in her room for most of the time. Reaction to film Overall, I thought Girl, Interrupted accurately depicted the disorders of which each girl suffered. The flashbacks to previous events in Susanna’s life leading up to her stay at Claymoore helped to explain why she developed the disorder. It almost seemed as though the borderline personality disorder affected her wanting to live in the â€Å"real world.† I thought she seemed to feel safer in the institution and was able to, at times, forget about her own problems and delve into the others’ problems. When she was ready to be released, though, she realized that she does not want to end up like most of the other girls – who will most likely spend the majority of their lives institutionalized. The film, especially because it is a true story, was educational, thoughtful and somewhat heartbreaking. It provided me with a better understanding of what people suffering from mental illnesses go though in their daily lives.      

NEW YORK STATE CONSTITUTIONAL RATIFICATION CONVENTION DEBATE Essay

NEW YORK STATE CONSTITUTIONAL RATIFICATION CONVENTION DEBATE - Essay Example I also believe that we, as proud citizens, must take pride in our inheritance of forging unity in diversity and ratification of the constitution would facilitate the platform where all American would be treated with equality. The colonial rulers exploited the local people and the local resources for their own and their country’s interests. Oppression and total disregard for the welfare of the locals were the dominant features of the colonial rulers. The freedom from the colonial rulers is therefore, a vital consideration to promote a united front so that no external power can ever exploit our people or its resources. Law, as we know is an important part of social construction and provides its people with the security from within and outside harm of any kind. The ratification of the constitution is therefore essential for the security of our people. I must also assert that the constitution encourages the people’s desire to restore their dignity through creation of channels for development and establishment of a government that would work for the cause of common man. Hence, ratification of the constitution must become the key factor in looking at the welfare of the people at large. The constitution would empower the citizens of America, with the legal rights to live with dignity and ensure every citizen with the security umbrella from the external threat. The ratification of the constitutions would help establish uniform democratic process. In the eighteenth and nineteenth century, racial discrimination was rampant and the whites maintained a racial divide within the society through deliberate use of powerful lobby of the whites and financial advantages that they enjoyed over their less privileged counterparts. Slavery was abolished by Abraham Lincoln when he issued ‘Emancipation Proclamation’ of slaves that

Week 4 discussion 1 and 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Week 4 discussion 1 and 2 - Essay Example Freud’s theory asserts that crime is an act that is affected by mental disorder, which causes a conflict between the id, ego and superego, or it may result from an incorrect recording in one of the stages in development. The mental disorder is usually manifested as behavioural problems like social passivity or full aggression. The theory believes that criminal activities committed by individuals are due to personality defect that were affected and disrupted by lack of progressions during childhood developmental stage. A pointing example is that, a boy who commit crime were twice more likely to have experienced severe punishments from their parents. Another study done on juvenile offenders showed that young offenders who were separated from their natural mothers were prone to delinquency in their adolescence stage. Such a study asserts that the association between a child in his/her tender age and their primary caregiver forms the baseline for personality and development in their moral behaviours in adulthood. Defence mechanism as discussed by Freud has an influence in the development of criminal behaviour. For example, in a defence mechanism like displacement; an individual who gets frustrations from their employer may displace the hunger back to children at home by beating or verbally abusive. In addition, his action can lead to misdemeanour like maim which is an offence. However, some defence mechanism like sublimation may prevent an individual from committing an offence. For example, an aggressive person who feels like killing people can go and work in an animal slaughterhouse and slaughter animals rather than kill human beings (Gedo, 2002). Freud theory has some pros and cons. On the pros, the theory provides an insight as to why an individual is involved in criminal activity, and this can be used by a defence counsel in court to seek for the reduction of charges against an accused. However, the

Vermont Teddy Bear Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Vermont Teddy Bear - Research Proposal Example Validation of Organizational Vision In specific, it is an understanding that vision and mission of a company plays the most crucial role in providing a fundamental basis to the organization, as well as a sense of strategic understanding to its employees and stakeholders. However, at the same time, it is essential that processes of the organization should be in line with the identified aims and value statements of the company as mission and values provide a virtual roadmap to achieve some target in the future. For this reason, the proposed research will include analysis of mission, objectives, and value statements of Vermont Teddy Bear (VTBC, 2011) along with their comparison analysis with existing strategic processes of the organization. In this regard, website of Vermont Teddy Bear (VTBC, 2011), as well as published brochures and reports will be an efficient way of getting hold of its mission, objectives, and values statements. At the same time, the same resources will be helpful in the evaluation of their implementation and effectiveness in different processes of the organization.

Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 163

Summary - Essay Example lves to handle the changes in the environment in a period or framework that is way shorter than that provided by the usual mechanisms involved in natural selection. This idea is what research on cancer is focusing on. The process of epigenetics involves chromatin remodeling, a process that involves the modification of the DNA methylation and histone (Burrggrreen, para 1). Burrggrreen adds that the process occurs alongside RNA-mediated modifications and involves self-sustenance loops and structural inheritance (Ho DH 3). There are particular reasons why the study of epigenetics is important today (Suter and Aagaard-Tillery, para 45). They add that pollution and global climate change in relation to global warming means that the human race needs to survive in the continually changing environment. This is in relation to what the two articles by Burrggrreen and Feero et al. have discussed- the body will need to alter its genetic sequence so that it can be able to handle the dangers that both our genetic makeup and environmental changes present. The process of epigenetics occurs without the modification of the gene sequence. The idea of epigenetics has not been fully embraced partly because it is not a part of physiological investigations (Feero et al., para 4). Any change in environment continually affects the subsequent generation since there is suppressing or expressing a certain character. This expressing or silencing of gene does not affect the gene sequence for at least some generations (Burrggrreen, para 1). The understanding of the role played by epigenetic changes in regulating the expression or silencing of genes has seen significant advancement over the past decade. These changes are simple chemical alterations in the DNA that do not affect the chief base-pair sequence of the DNA. In the aforementioned DNA methylation involves enzymatic methylation of the cytosine nucleotides that are found in some regions of the DNA. The transcription does not occur Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 93 Summary - Essay Example The author discusses about the Stone Age era by shedding light on Neanderthals that coexisted with each other at that time. Furthermore, the author explored the concepts of homosapiens. Homosapiens began to formulate a certain religious behaviour. The city of Mesopotamia contained pottery and other artifacts that were made of mud and belonged to temples. Unlike the solidity of the Egyptians tombs the houses seen in Mesopotamia were made from different materials, were shaped as a rectangular mud walls and were covered with a palm trunk roofs. Another ancient place that the book discusses is the Indus valley, Harapan, Mehrgarh and Mohenjo-Daro. These areas are considered some of the most ancient civilizations within Pakistan’s territory. The book then moves onto discusses a brief history from the old civilized Rome. Their comprehensive approach to urban architecture helped the empire construct hundreds of cities throughout the Mediterranean. Finally the book discusses the influe nce Islam had on the overall architectural design of the globe (Kostof and

Inter-annual Climatic Variability in Libya Essay

Inter-annual Climatic Variability in Libya - Essay Example Moreover, as suggested by Moron and Ward, the climate of the Mediterranean arena is exposed to the South Asian Monsoon, the Siberian High Pressure System along with the Southern Oscillation and the North Atlantic Oscillation, which give rise to a recent confirmation about the tele-connection of ENSO to have extended its reach into segments of the Mediterranean in current times (Moron et al, 1998). The chief physical as well as physio-geographical constraints that regulate the spatial dissemination of the climatic conditions over the Mediterranean, especially, the North African countries are the atmospheric circulation, latitude, altitude and, most importantly, the orography. Moreover, the land-sea interactions and surface temperature distribution are other forces which control the spatial dissemination of the climatic variability (Luterbacher and Xoplaki, 2003). ... The North African area is quite a climate-sensitive region which is climatically emphasized by restrained water reserves and acme of heat attributes, which help in creating or giving rise to the existent socio-political strain. Chiefly, high-frequency as well as the low-frequency variability of precipitation plays a critical part in the management of the regional ecosystem and socio-economics. Previous analyses on African climatic variability have concluded that the African continent, chiefly, the northern segment, is meticulously susceptible to the influences of climatic variations for the reason that it has some factors such as extensive poverty, persistent droughts, unbalanced land dissemination, and overdependence on the rain-fed agriculture (Hulme, 1996). Occasional response activities have been believed to be transcending the economic source of many countries. Worsening in terms of trade, improper policies, high populace growth rates, as well as lack of noticeable investment, all encompassed with a highly variable climate have made it hard for various countries of Africa to develop frames of livelihood which would deter pressure on the natural reserve base. Various reports fell short of assigning pertinent significance to these so many constraints in Africa's capability to adjust with the climate variability, and it is still not possible as it gives rise to new chall enges for analyses hereafter. The Mediterranean region, chiefly, the northern African

Final Exam Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 13

Final Exam - Essay Example To ensure that this become a success, FDR used radio as a mode of communication to convince American populace that the crisis had come to an end and that their deposits were safe following the introduction of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)1. The New Deal also created the Works Progress Administration (WPA), the Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA), and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The most eminent measure of the New Deal was the establishment of the 1935 Social Security Act, which resulted in the formation of Social Security Administration, employment compensation, as well as the national system of old-age pensions. According to a report, the Social Security provided federal financial assistance to the handicapped, orphans, and the blind. Additionally, the New Deal also gave way for the formation of a number of regulatory agencies, such as the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), which made homeownership affordable to millions of average Americans, the National Labor Relations Board, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), as well as the Federal Communications Commission and the Civil Aeronautics Authority2. Despite the fact that the New Deal initiative lessened the impacts of the Great Depression, it did not end the depression. Report indicates that unemployment remained extremely high throughout the 1930s despite the New Deal being in place. At the same time, the economic growth remained slow. According to a report, America’s economy only recovered during the third term of Roosevelt’s reign when the increased demands of mobilization for World War II restored the country to full employment. In fact, report indicates that Adolf Hitler did more to end the Great Depression that Roosevelt did3. There are those who consider the New Deal as a good initiative for the U.S. government policy today. However, research indicates that the New Deal program negatively affected the poor

Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) Vs. Arbitrage Pricing Theory (APT) Essay

Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) Vs. Arbitrage Pricing Theory (APT) - Essay Example The model derived rate of return will then be used to price the asset correctly - the asset price should equal the expected end of period price discounted at the rate implied by model. If the price diverges, arbitrage should bring it back into line. The theory was initiated by the economist Stephen Ross in 1976.(Ross,1976) If APT holds, then a risky asset can be described as satisfying the following relation: Some commonly accepted factors are Business Cycle, Time Horizon, Confidence, Inflation, Market Timing, oil prices, term structure of interest rates, industrial production, default premiums etc. It has been shown that the empirical specification of the APT need not be unique.( Otuteye,1991) In other words, no one set of economic factors constitutes "the factors" of the APT. Any set of factors that fulfills the requirements of the returns generating process and the resulting linear relationship between expected returns and factor sensitivities will be an equally valid set of APT factors. However, there is a gradual consensus towards the use of some common factors. (Brown, Weinstein, 1983) The CAPM does not appear to adequately explain the variation in stock returns. Empirical studies show that low beta stocks may offer higher returns than the model would predict. Some data to this effect was presented as early as a 1969 conference in Buffalo, New York in a paper by Fischer Black, Michael Jensen, and Myron Scholes(Black et.al,1972). Either that fact is itself rational (which saves the efficient markets hypothesis(EMH) but makes CAPM wrong), or it is irrational (which saves CAPM, but makes EMH wrong - indeed, this possibility makes volatility arbitrage a strategy for reliably beating the market). The CAPM assumes that investors demand higher returns in exchange for higher risk. It does not allow for investors who will accept lower returns for higher risk. The model also assumes that all investors agree about the risk and expected return of all assets(Homogeneous expectations assumption). The model assumes unrealistically that asset returns are lognormally distributed, random variables. As a result, large swings (3 to 6 standard deviations from the mean) occur in the market more frequently than the normal distribution assumption would expect. These swings can greatly impact an asset's

Worlds Ayurveda Tourism Essay Example for Free

Worlds Ayurveda Tourism Essay Ayurveda, considered to be the oldest system of medicine in the world, had its origin in India about five thousand years ago. A holistic method of healing using remedies offered by nature, Ayurveda which when followed can restore, rejuvenate and revitalize body, mind and soul. Mention of Ayurveda can be found in the Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavat Gitaand other ancient texts of wisdom. Of the four Vedas, namely Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and Adharva Veda, Ayurveda is said to be the Upaveda or the sub branch of Adharva Veda. The word Ayurveda is made up of two Sanskrit words: Ayu which means ‘life’ and Veda which means ‘the knowledge of’. According to Charaka, ayu consists of four essential parts- mind, body, senses and the soul. In short, Ayurveda is the knowledge of life. Ayurveda is said to have been created by Lord Brahma (the Creator of the Universe and one of the Trimurthis) himself and handed down to mankind through Gods and great sages who possessed extensive knowledge and extraordinary insight. Initially, this knowledge was taught and learnt orally and it was much later that it was documented in palm leaves and thaliolas. As the thirst for knowledge grew, extensive research and observations were made and Ayurveda developed swiftly. Two schools of Ayurveda emerged, namely the School of Medicine and the School of Surgery. With this amazing progress, India saw some of the greatest minds in history such as Charaka, sometimes referred to as the father of anatomy and Susrutha, the father of plastic surgery. Ayurveda is more than just a medical system. It is based on India’s culture and a profound philosophy which gives instructions for attaining health, both physically as well as spiritually and also discovering our unknown potential by following optimal lifestyle regimes. It is also a discipline  which tells us the proper way to do the simplest of day-to-day activities such as breathing, drinking, eating, working, exercising and even thinking. Ayurveda helps to maintain health in a person by using the inherent principles of nature. In essence Ayurveda has been in existence since the beginning of time because we have always been governed by nature’s laws. Ayurveda, the ancient Science of life, is believed to be the knowledge handed down from the Gods themselves. It was developed into what it is today by great sages and rishis of vast wisdom and knowledge. A lot of research followed with physicians studying the anatomy of the human body by dissection, examining the various conditions of patients as well as investigating the cause and cure for every malady. Consequently Ayurveda developed and the interest in this phenomenal way of healing grew exponentially. Ayurveda soon emerged into two- the school of medicine and the school of surgery. The school of medicine was propounded by the physician Charaka and of surgery by Susrutha. Susrutha who lived in the 6th century BC is considered to be the father of modern surgery. He is credited to be the author of ‘Susrutha Samhitha’, a treatise covering all aspects of Ayurveda and which is referred to by physicians even now. Evidence shows that Susrutha possessed deep and thorough knowledge of the functioning of the human body and complicated surgical procedures. He understood the causes behind ailments such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity etc. He is also known to have performed cataract surgeries, plastic surgeries and so on. Famed to be the ‘Father of Anatomy’, Charaka authored the Ayurvedic treatise Charaka Samhitha covering various aspects of physiology, embryology, pathology and etiology. He was well acquainted with the principles of anatomy, metabolism, immunity, genetics and so on. It was as per his scheme  that Ayurveda was divided into eight branches. Vaghbata, who is supposed to have lived in the 7th century AD, wrote the treatises named Ashtanga Sangraha and Ashtanga Hridaya Samhitha. Ashtanga Hridaya combined the teachings of Charaka and Susrutha and revised it with up-to-date observations in herbology, surgery and treatment methods. The three texts, Susrutha Samhitha, Charaka Samhitha and Ashtanga Sangraha, are considered to be the oldest texts in Ayurveda and which laid the foundation of medicine. The next notable contributor to Ayurveda is Madhavacharya who specialized in the diagnosis of diseases and came up with the book ‘Madhava Nidana’ in the 12th century. Sharangadhara, in the 14th century, became well-known as the authority on pharmacology and as the author of ‘Sharangadhara Samhitha’. Considered to be among the best physicians in the 16th century, Bhavamishra combined his learning and observations in the book ‘Bhava Prakasha’. These three books are regarded as the Laghu Traya or Junior Triad of Ayurveda classics. The benefits of Ayurveda are many: * The Ayurvedic approach to an illness is holistic and therefore after an Ayurvedic treatment a person will find an improvement in their physical, mental and psychological conditions. * The ingredients used in Ayurvedic medicines are mostly derived from herbs, plants, flowers, fruits etc. making it a remedy close to nature. * There are practically no side effects for Ayurvedic medicine. * Ayurveda has been found to be an effective cure for many chronic diseases. * An Ayurveda treatment can bring about wellness to the entire body and will be in effect for a longer time than Allopathic treatment. * Ayurveda not only helps in treating diseases but also in preventing the occurrence of diseases. * Ayurveda gives guidelines on how to keep away diseases by means of simple dietary and lifestyle changes. * Ayurvedic medicines are good even for healthy people since they are restorative in nature and helps in nourishing the body  and enhancing mental ability. * Ayurvedic treatment and medicines are comparatively cheaper than other systems of medicine. * Ayurveda recommends readily available herbs and spices for minor ailments. * Ayurvedic therapies can give relief from stress and rejuvenating the body. * Principles of Ayurveda Ayurveda Philosophy * Ayurveda, the Upaveda of Adharva Veda, is one of the most ancient and unique healing systems in the world. It is based on an innate philosophy explained in detail in the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Bhagavat Gita and other religious texts. The four main objectives of human life are Dharm (Duty), Arth (Wealth), Kaam (Desire) and Moksha (Salvation). Moksha, or the liberation from the cycle of births and rebirths is the ultimate goal of an individual. For attaining Moksha, one needs a sound body and mind, plus the instinct to preserve his health. It naturally paved way to a well-framed medical system in India. As per the principles of Ayurveda, every human being is a microcosm of the universe, that is, a universe within the universe. Everything in this universe is connected. Ayurveda advocates that the relationship and interaction between energy and matter, individual and consciousness determine the health of a person. Vaidya or physician is a bridge between the microcosm and macrocosm. In fact he is the dynamic system controller keeping the two complementary systems in equipoise. This concept of Man as an Epitome of universe is the hallmark of entire Ayurvedic philosophy. Cosmogony The origin of universe is explained in Indian philosophy by the concept of Mahabhutas. According to this concept every living and non-living being in this universe comprises five eternal elements called Pancha Mahabhuthas. In Ayurveda, contemplating beyond this concept is not the job of a physician or researcher. Concept of the Mahabhutas or the five aspects of the  Universe.

Effectiveness Of The Early Intervention Approach

Effectiveness Of The Early Intervention Approach Within this essay I am not going to list the reasons to believe in the effectiveness of the early intervention approach. The usefulness of early intervention itself is not in dispute. I will, however, be discussing the strengths and weaknesses of different types of early intervention. I will discuss the reasons to believe that some intervention schemes are better than others concerning ways to handle social issues. This essay will discuss the definitions of the terms used in the title. I will look at the motivations behind the schemes and discuss ways of analysing their effectiveness. In relation to the importance of child participation and the amplification of childrens voices, I would also like to look at childrens views on their own situations and why they feel like they should engage in acts that would qualify as a social issue. Defining the key words Using the term social issue in reference to children and families tends to suggest childhood delinquency, drug abuse, violence, teenage pregnancy, crime and etcetera. The word issue implies that there is a problem that should be dealt with; an issue is not an acceptable or desired means of behaviour and it opposes the social ideal. However, many questions arise concerning who has created the definition of this ideal. The language used in the title suggests that the ideal consists of the eradication of all social issues. (which the Government has highlighted.) Used in CTC Effectiveness is an expression that is used by the Government when evaluating early intervention. In the UK, The government drives forward the need for evaluation and assessment of early years practices (Lewis Utting, 2001). It is a commonly held assumption that to achieve the goals of evidence-based practice and cost-effectiveness, evaluation is a necessity, not a luxury (Ghate, 2001, p23). Preventative early intervention initiatives have become more common since the arrival of the New Labour government in the late 1990s (Ghate, 2001). Whether they are led by the government or by other organisations, an early intervention programme generally has the aim of reducing negative social outcomes the children may contribute to when they grow up. Within this essay, I will be using examples of two different types of early intervention scheme: government-led and community-led. Different types of intervention Government-led Throughout the 1990s, there was a growing recognition that wider social, political and economic factors were negatively influencing the families and communities that children grew up in (Hannon Fox, 2005; Glass, 2001). Shortly after New Labour was elected to power in 1997, Tony Blair stated that by 2010, the number of children living in poverty within the UK would be halved and by 2020 it would be eradicated ( ). As a result of this, the New Labour government introduced a number of early intervention initiatives with the aim of reducing social exclusion due to poverty (Clarke, 2007). The New Labour government has shown a serious commitment to the early intervention approach, having invested hundreds of millions of pounds into one initiative in particular: Sure Start (Hannon Fox, 2005). To begin with, Sure Start was targeted primarily at working with parents of young children from the most socio-economically deprived areas in the UK. By doing this, therefore, the government aimed to potentially tackle future issues that their children might create. One statement of Sure Starts intentions is described by Clarke (2007); (Sure Start aims to avoid) social exclusion in adulthood, primarily by enabling children to realise their potential within the education systemà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¸ (p.699). Sure Start reflects its aim by working both directly and indirectly with the child; directly by providing such things as pre-school childcare; and indirectly by providing services for parents and the wider community (Belsky Melhuish, 2007). Other government early intervention approaches that have been introduced since 1997 with the aim to break the cycle of poverty include: child tax credits, working tax credits and child benefits. Government policies and green papers such as Every Child Matters (2003) support the early intervention approaches by outlining the standards for child well-being and suggesting guidelines to help professionals reach these standards. The 2007 Childrens Plan recognises the importance of providing support for parents, in order to gain their enthusiasm for their childs education. Parental enthusiasm and involvement is a key factor when trying to initiate an intervention scheme ( ). Government programmes and large scale intervention programmes such as Communities That Care (CTC) are not the only types of early intervention. Communities themselves have long developed programmes that tackle issues important to them. Sure Start was to be focussed on relatively small areas of need, reflecting the desirability of action at the level of communities (Hannon Fox, 2005, p3) Community-led Non-government led organisations have been set up all over the country in response to different communities needs. One example is Kids Company, a charity which aims to provide practical, emotional and educational support to vulnerable inner-city children and young people (Kids Company Website, 2008). This statement seems very similar to the one Sure Start uses. Kids Companys methods of early intervention, however, differ significantly from those of Sure Start. Kids Companys effectiveness lies in its provision of innovative, flexible and child-centred services. Kids Company provides targeted therapeutic and social work interventions, and universal class and group access to the arts. (Gaskell, 2008, p4) Personal relationships with people they are reaching. Self-referal. Accessibility is an important factor for intervention schemes. If parents or children do not access intervention (whether it be through choice or lack of knowledge) The assumption is that behind every child is a responsible adult, who will navigate the path to services (Camilla Batmanghelidjh, 2006, p15). Sadly, the truth for many children who would benefit most from intervention services is that their main carers are not willing or cannot be bothered (uninterested?) to allow their child to attend (Batmanghelidjh, 2006). Motivations behind intervention schemes Politics Childrens welfare? Money The intention for the Sure Start initiative was that it should be based on the best evidence of what works (Glass, 2001, p14). Lack of funds can mean that some children get overlooked by local authorities and social services. In her book, Camilla Batmanghelidjh (2006) describes coming into contact with children who were suffering from lack of food and neglect, referring these children to social services, but discovering that they were not eligible for help due to lack of resources and too many cases of sexual and physical abuse. Many children drop out of the education system and are never pursued by the system because the behavioural and emotional difficulties of the children are too much of a burden to school staff (Batmanghelidjh, 2006). Many interrelated factors place children at risk of adopting behaviour that could be seen as a social issue. Many children who already practice such behaviour are likely to have been conditioned by their familys socio-economic circumstances. Socially unacceptable behaviours can lead to social exclusion, which can, in turn, result in the next generations social exclusion (Clarke, 2007). Childrens attitudes, achievements and behaviour are shown to be linked to the environment in which they grow up in. The largest influence is shown to be that of the family (Parton, 2007). Talk about EPPE. The key, when looking at dealing with social issues, lies in tackling the underlying factors. This could be by the means of providing services and/or resources. These factors include poverty, poor nutrition, emotional neglect and underachievement. There is an overall understanding that these factors cannot be isolated from one another (find evidence). Intervention is a term that suggests that an outside source will come in to intervene with whatever is going on and disappear again once too issue is fixed or eradicated. Analysing effectiveness (research) Evaluating larger scale early intervention programmes Early Effects of CTC (Hawkins et al, 2008) Reports positive effects, but the results are quantitative looking at if the children have taken drugs or shown signs of delinquent behaviour. Not looking at the childrens views of how the project may have changed their lives issues such as being listened to, valued and feeling part of the community. if services cannot specify what changes they expect to see for `successful users, evaluators certainly cannot measure them, let alone pass judgement on whether the service has proved effective. (Ghate, 2001, p25) Strengths of early intervention approaches imply that these are the reasons for perceived effectiveness. Contrary to the strengths of early intervention projects, their weaknesses reveal the space for improvement within the services. The New Labour government has introduced several interventions that aim to benefit families. Much research would support the idea that early intervention schemes such as Sure Start have a positive benefit on childrens well-being ( ), but how far can research reflect the true picture of what is happening to under-privileged children in this country? This pressure to measure a settings effectiveness can detract from the amount of time practitioners can spend with the children: Time and energy is, therefore, increasingly sapped from those providing services to fill in forms for external purposes, rather than supporting children. (Lewis and Utting, 2001, p4). Ironically, this could negatively affect the effectiveness of the intervention. Accessibility- If many people are accessing services, then the likelihood of them having an impact is increased. Alternatively, if there are not enough staff members to meet the needs of the attendees, then the likelihood of effectiveness is inevitably decreased. Before an educational outcome there needs to be an emotional one (Batmanghelidjh, 2006, p23). Successful outcomes or effectiveness of an intervention service are not instantly noticeable. It may take years for disturbed children to engage in behaviour they were previously unable to. Their outcomes are personal, and their successes are often individual and emotional first, before they become visible in the world of academia and work. (Batmanghelidjh, 2006, p 22) The problem with presenting outcomes in the way that they are being demanded is that clinicians try and exclude children from their services who are likely not to provide positive outcomes. p.23 This is not through cruelty, though, but because the clinician relies on the money they earn for doing their job effectively. Money is essentially the reason why so many children do not receive the services they should. Children are being dehumanised by being treated as statistics that keep adults in their jobs. So many of our current interventions with vulnerable children come from the perspective of the well-adjusted adult, needing to preserve our own sense of safety. (p 153) Short-term initiatives, where the practitioner enters the childs situation, offers a quick-fix cure and then disappears again, are merely cosmetic. This kind of intervention offers no real solution to the issues that disadvantaged children face. The government thrive on statistics that have been distorted to reflect their political goal (find some). The public want statistics to show them that issues are being resolved. It is to do with how committed people are to seeing change. Short-term initiatives are ineffective, due to the fact that people are complex beings. Effective early intervention programmes have recognised the need to build relationships with the people behind the issues. Conclusion Children who carry out anti-social behaviour are sometimes referred to as being delinquent (Hawkins, 2008). This reflects the medical model of disability, that which implies that the fault lies within the child and needs to be fixed. The aim of some early intervention programmes can be to benefit wider society rather than the child. Blair (2008) spoke of a new political initiative that would identify those most at risk of offending at birth. This kind of intervention would not be beneficial to the child. Being labelled from birth as a potential offender could produce a self-fulfilling prophesy. The most effective early intervention programmes are those that make a commitment to the children themselves; that aim to make them feel valued as members of society and offer them the best opportunities. Many of the early intervention programmes explored, such as Communities That Care (CTC) concentrate on notions of bringing the community together and building social capital from within the community. We cannot expect children to act as responsible members of the community unless they are treated as such. Not just gathering their views but involving them, involving them in planning and developing of programmes as will see constant criticism from the children is nothing actually happens Disenchantment The delinquent child (Hawkins, 2008) Looking at how the child is framed within early intervention programmes. Is it to make them feel valued, important and give them the best opportunities? Or is it to sort them out for the sake of wider society? Government initiatives: Identifying those at risk of offending at birth (Blair, 2008). Fits with governments crack-down on anti-social behaviour and ASBOs. More positive: Sure Start, parenting programmes. Want to prevent the problems before they start, but such approaches label the child before they have even offended. This is likely to alienate them further from society. Not helpful! Distribution of power CTC Programme is systematically applied from the outside Community driven and the community identifies problems they believe need addressing But, research by (Brown et al 2007) into the Community Youth Development Study: Leaders were those who already held leadership positions i.e. mayors, city managers, police chiefs, school superintendents. These were the people who were interviewed, alongside five referred leaders No effort to break down power relationships. Study itself is not representative. We do not hear the views of different community members. Older respondents and those from law enforcement were more likely to report higher baseline levels of collaboration than younger respondents or those from other community sectors (Brown et al 2007). So again criminal justice system taking the lead. Ultimately, people sacrificing their time and finances can do such impressive things for the need of their communities. And I think thats what our world is desperately in need of lovers, people who are building deep, genuine relationships with fellow strugglers along the way, and who actually know the faces of the people behind the issues they are concerned about. Shane Claiborne (The Irresistible Revolution, 2006) Define what can be meant by social issues in this essay. What does it mean to deal with social issues? What is effectiveness? How can we measure such a relative/ idiosyncratic thing? What types of early intervention are there? Government programs Surestart Voluntary sector- charity work/ people choosing to live in disadvantaged community to help change for the better. Education? Therapists? Health? NHS, midwives, health visitors etc. What reasons are there to believe that these methods work? CTC data (large no.s of opinion surveys do these fully reflect true picture?) Case studies? Government studies (truly reliable? Short term? Who are they financed by and for what purpose?) What alternative approaches are there to early intervention?! (What are we comparing early intervention to to make the assumption that it is the most effective approach to deal with social issues? Other countries (Norway and Sweden) Are families engaging with intervention projects? Non-engagement (Anning and Ball 2008) Intervention or need of resources Arnold et al (2003): Specific needs of communities and the individuals themselves within such communities need to be addressed. Great diversity of needs It is the environment that needs changing not the individual. Brown et al (2007) CTC organizes the adoption of a science-based approach to prevention into five stages that correspond to Rogers (1995) stages of innovation diffusion. Each stage is guided by a set of milestones and benchmarks that are used to monitor CTC implementation p181 Diffusion is the process through which (1) an innovation (2) is communicated through certain channels (3) over time (4) among the members of a social system (Rogers, 1995). Most individuals evaluate an innovation, not on the basis of scientific research by experts, but through the subjective evaluations of near-peers who have already adopted the innovation. Diffusion is essentially a social process through which people talking to people spread an innovation.