Politics of the people Essay -- Analysis, South American Politics

Politics of the People touches on a multitude of topics discussed this term. The article brings to light the issues in South America. Specifically in the Amazon, surrounding big oil companies, the destruction of land and environment, and the destitution of the people of Ecuador and how the people and NGO's have taken action to fight it. In this territory of the Amazon according to Judith Kimerling, â€Å"the oil spills and contamination of this region of Ecuador equal or supersedes those of the 1989 Alaskan Exxon Valdez oil spill.†(81). What this means is that this area has been polluted greatly and since 1993 the inhabitants of this territory have been fighting big oil. The land is unusable with that level of pollution. This land has been taken over by OCP's which are large pipelines running through the land to transport oil, this is a fantastic example of the industrialization of a 3rd world country. An NGO by the name of Accion Ecologica was one of the groups that early on spoke out in recognition of the devastation happening to the land. The devastation of the land in Ecuador reminds me of a film about fracking I saw and how the people who lived on the land were the first to notice the problems with big companies taking over the natural resources. In the article they spoke of â€Å"large flames that soar through the sky, creating an immense heat and loud, searing noises.†(82). This is just one example of the inconvenience of the developing oil company in the Territory. Additionally the people live on this land have been speaking out and noting they are having health problems and that it is spreading to the animals, one man's home was destroyed by an explosion of a pipeline behind his home (82). Due to these extreme concerns ... ...with. Lastly the companies that go to these lesser countries to mass produce whether it be oil or denim do so because the laws are less strict and they see a loop-hole around taxes and fees and environmental laws. In the Texaco/Chevron case â€Å"Chevron's attorney argues that the local communities should blame their government†(90). I think that the people are already blaming their government but the at the end of the day the oil companies are to blame too. The goal of this whole ordeal was to â€Å"raise awareness among its partners about the struggles of other around the globe† (92). I would deem their goal as successful, and as oil companies continue to make mistakes whether it be bypassing human rights and environmental rights knowingly or just have neglected equipment and back up plans in case of a spill like in the gulf coast, the people of the world are aware now. Politics of the people Essay -- Analysis, South American Politics Politics of the People touches on a multitude of topics discussed this term. The article brings to light the issues in South America. Specifically in the Amazon, surrounding big oil companies, the destruction of land and environment, and the destitution of the people of Ecuador and how the people and NGO's have taken action to fight it. In this territory of the Amazon according to Judith Kimerling, â€Å"the oil spills and contamination of this region of Ecuador equal or supersedes those of the 1989 Alaskan Exxon Valdez oil spill.†(81). What this means is that this area has been polluted greatly and since 1993 the inhabitants of this territory have been fighting big oil. The land is unusable with that level of pollution. This land has been taken over by OCP's which are large pipelines running through the land to transport oil, this is a fantastic example of the industrialization of a 3rd world country. An NGO by the name of Accion Ecologica was one of the groups that early on spoke out in recognition of the devastation happening to the land. The devastation of the land in Ecuador reminds me of a film about fracking I saw and how the people who lived on the land were the first to notice the problems with big companies taking over the natural resources. In the article they spoke of â€Å"large flames that soar through the sky, creating an immense heat and loud, searing noises.†(82). This is just one example of the inconvenience of the developing oil company in the Territory. Additionally the people live on this land have been speaking out and noting they are having health problems and that it is spreading to the animals, one man's home was destroyed by an explosion of a pipeline behind his home (82). Due to these extreme concerns ... ...with. Lastly the companies that go to these lesser countries to mass produce whether it be oil or denim do so because the laws are less strict and they see a loop-hole around taxes and fees and environmental laws. In the Texaco/Chevron case â€Å"Chevron's attorney argues that the local communities should blame their government†(90). I think that the people are already blaming their government but the at the end of the day the oil companies are to blame too. The goal of this whole ordeal was to â€Å"raise awareness among its partners about the struggles of other around the globe† (92). I would deem their goal as successful, and as oil companies continue to make mistakes whether it be bypassing human rights and environmental rights knowingly or just have neglected equipment and back up plans in case of a spill like in the gulf coast, the people of the world are aware now.

Midsummer: Mind and Impulsiveness Physical Attraction Essay

The story’s plot (if there is any) was light. It was just about a guy (Manong) who took care of a bull and eventually met a girl (Aning) on the road. It was obvious that Manong was attracted to Aning mainly because of her figure, â€Å"The underpart of her arm is while and smooth†¦And her hair is thick and black.† The bull in the story served as a connection of the two persons. It was like in Chekhov’s â€Å"The Lady with the Pet Dog† (I just realized that I often cite this story in my commentaries. What can I do? I love this story). When Manong was having a meal with the bull on his side, he found the girl fetching water on the well and it was obvious that Manong grew â€Å"conscious† in her presence which leads to the idea that he likes the girl. But on my reading, he just likes the girl due to impulsiveness – physical attraction. His noticeable thoughts of the girl’s â€Å"breast† was the proof that he was just another normal guy who does this thing. Oh, I’m sounding crappy. Their conversation when they talked about their meals made their official connection toward each other (the one Aning confessed that her meal were just rice and salt), â€Å"They laughed and felt more at ease and regarded each other more openly† and â€Å"the while he gazed up at her and smiled for no reason.† And when the bucket of water fell they started teasingly blaming themselves. Manong volunteered to fill the empty buket with water because he thought that he was â€Å"stronger† than her (I found a sexist tone in this part though). Anyway, when Aning offered him to drink water from his fetched bucket he seemed to be more â€Å"conscious† than ever, â€Å"A chuckling sound persisted in forming inside his throat at every shallow. It made him self-conscious. He was breathless when though, and red in the face.† Aning also offered Manong to stay in their house foor some shade and to have some rest. Of course, Aning mentioned the â€Å"bull† to at least express a reason for the offer (a very common technique. Lol.) But I stopped when I read the line, â€Å"We have no neighbors.† I thought that the ending of the story was somewhat mysterious but it came to tme that maybe I was just over reacting about this one. Anyway, back to the issue, I think there was a great possibility of them being lovers. The closing lines though made me feel a creepy feeling, â€Å"He felt strong. He felt that he could follow the slender, lithe figure ahead of him to the ends of the world.† It felt awkward.

Roles & Responsibilities in Lifelong Learning

The roles and responsibilities of a teacher within in the lifelong learning sector have been shaped and developed by a range of factors. From cultural changes, greater understanding of learning styles and the laws which govern the education community as a whole. In this essay I will cover some of roles and responsibilities of a teacher and the relationships between teachers and the the various stakeholders in the LLS. I hope to illustrate the complex network of relationships between the individual and the professional bodies in this sector.Teach tiË tÊÆ'/Verb 1. impart knowledge to or instruct (someone) as to how to do something. The definition above doesn’t take into account the context of the information transaction itself. Teachers today are governed by a series of legislation, regulatory requirements and codes of practice which together underpin the professional boundaries which educators should operate within. The broad range of a teacher’s responsibilities begi ns with basic tasks such as recording attendance or complying with disciplinary procedures to understanding the complex needs of their learners.Every teacher is responsible for the health, safety and welfare of the learners in the classroom. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 is the legislation which underpins a teacher's duty of care to their students. Beyond the physical safety of a learner a teacher must also ensure they meet professional standards and observe the rules and guidance of awarding bodies. Equality & diversity in teaching is provided for by the Equality Act 2010 which covers nine protected characteristics.It is the responsibility of the teacher to promote and uphold the principles of fairness and inclusivity in the classroom. Disability is one of these protected characteristics; a teacher is required to make reasonable adjustments for learners with disabilities based on the impairment. e. g a reader for a blind learner or written materials for a deaf learner. Fur thermore where this is not practical or unavailable a teacher should locate additional support.My experience within the lifelong learning sector is very limited however I have adopted the role of a teacher whilst working in the youth employment sector – I coordinate the local authorities’ apprenticeship programme – and part of the role has required me to run sessions for young people searching for employment. I would facilitate workshops at the Jobcentre Plus – It was my role to arrange for a suitable learning environment and select an appropriate venue, and ensure handouts and resources are available for all participants.In my experience working within recruitment for a local authority the principles of equality and inclusivity are built into our processes ensuring all stakeholders are free from discrimination and exclusion. I would adapt my approach in the workshops by broadening the case studies used to reflect the cultural profile of the workshop part icipants. It is hugely important to detect and cater for differing learner needs. Dunn and Dunn, 1993 say matching teaching technique with learning styles significantly improves learning outcomes.The process of identifying learning styles and modifying of teaching techniques is known as differentiation. ‘Differentiation is†¦.. the process of identifying, with each learner, the most effective strategies for achieving agreed targets’. 1 (Weston 1992) The JCP sessions are stand-alone and in this context I am unable to understand prior to the session the individual learner needs. It was my responsibility to carefully plan the content of the workshop and the activities it contained to suit a variety of learner needs.To improve the sessions I could include powerpoint presentations, discuss the programme and set-up role play activities to cover the visual, audio & kinaesthetic learning styles. (VAK) To improve the JCP group’s engagement I would usually arrange for an existing apprentice to join the workshop to offer an insider perspective and act as a live case study which the young people can identify with. The apprentice can relate to the group with and this proves the most productive part of the session and is intended to elicit deep learning.‘Deep learning is fundamentally concerned with the creation of knowledge, which the learner is able to relate to their own experience and use to understand new experiences and contexts. ’ John West Bernhams,Understand Learning – Page 8 (Article) This inclusive approach is shown to improve motivation, and has always improved the value of the workshop and enhanced the session. There are many types of teaching role each with their own characteristics. From specialised teachers which tend to have particular knowledge and skill to trainers who use techniques to deliver information for a particular task.In the future I hope to adopt a different role; I plan to act as a mentor to an appre ntice. My role will be to provide guidance and support to an individual based on their needs. Mentoring is a 1-2-1 relationship which can mean I will either challenge or champion the mentee depending on the situation. In acting as a mentor I must observe my employers procedures and policies which may affect the frequency of the session or the protocols I should follow if difficulties arise. As I mentioned in the introduction a teacher is not just the conduit for learning – They are almost always part of a larger organisation.It was the responsibility of the teacher to adopt and implement their organisation's policies. A class teacher forms part of a chain and will report to year leaders a eadteacher, Governing body, local authority to the Department of Education. The Department of Education is the governing body responsible for the oversight of education in England. Teachers and the organisations they work within must meet professional standards. The Office for Standards in E ducation, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) is the non-ministerial government department which reports directly to parliament.Its remit is to inspect and regulate education and training for learners of all ages and for inspecting and regulating those services which care for children and young people. From performance to safeguarding, as a teacher it would be my responsibility to be scrutinised by Ofsted and ensure my activities meet the agreed standards. Like most professional fields there are boundaries which must be observed by teachers. These can range from the syllabus, timescales, resources, awarding bodies to government policies. Each of these factors may have layers of external contributing factors which influence them in turn.Ofqual, who regulate qualifications, examinations and assessments in England (http://ofqual. gov. uk), came to prominence last summer over GCSE re-grading decisions. Although it did not directly impact on teachers it illustrates the interaction be tween two stakeholders in the sector. An awarding body will have clear codes of practice which must be adhered to, in order tallow for accurate quality assurance and standardisation on results. It is important for teachers to understand where professional boundaries lie.For example in some cases where an individual learners needs requires the assistance of expert help it must be sought. Attempting to support the learner without seeking expert advice may have a negative effect on the individual as well as others. Often a teacher’s role is to signpost learners to the best resources. In a school context this may mean directing someone to a more specialised teacher in the organisation or an external support like a Local Authority service. Keeping abreast of the support available is an important part of navigating these boundaries.Joining a professional association such as the Institute for Learning or researching best practice using the Excellence Gateway are recommended ways to keep up good practice polished and fresh. The government publish Teacher Standards. These standards set the minimum requirements for teachers’ practice and conduct. They are devised by educators and are in part there to ensure positive learning environment is sustained. It is particularly important in the lifelong learning sector to foster a supportive and safe learning environment.For instance adult students may have had a negative experience of education so it is essential that from day one ground rules are agreed upon and the teacher plans activities that will allow students to build relationships. â€Å"without ground rules, disruption may occur and affect the learning of your group† Gravels. A, (PTLLS 2008 pg 7) An effective way of promoting consensus in ground rules and compliance is giving the learners the opportunity to devise the rulebook themselves. In this model a teacher’s role is to facilitate the decision-making process and respect the outcome.By c ontributing as a group they each take ownership of their individual responsibility to follow the rules. In handing over this decision-making process the teacher will begin to build a trusting relationship with the learners are more likely to follow the rules they have devised over rules they are forced to adopt The techniques and activities used by a teacher can help to build respect and promote appropriate behaviour in class. The use of pair work, and small group activities can help to forge relationships and engender respect amongst the learners.A great ice breaker activity which includes the entire group can be an effective way to begin this process. A teacher would set the task and ensure everyone is included. I’ve talked about some examples of the roles and responsibilities of teachers with the lifelong learning sector, but in reality these are limited to what I’ve described. Beyond the walls of the classroom there are a multitude of organisations, professional bo dies and resources which exist to develop and support Teachers. Each of them play a role in providing the appropriate checks and balances needed to ensure a healthy, evolving sector. Roles & Responsibilities in Lifelong Learning The roles and responsibilities of a teacher within in the lifelong learning sector have been shaped and developed by a range of factors. From cultural changes, greater understanding of learning styles and the laws which govern the education community as a whole. In this essay I will cover some of roles and responsibilities of a teacher and the relationships between teachers and the the various stakeholders in the LLS. I hope to illustrate the complex network of relationships between the individual and the professional bodies in this sector.Teach tiË tÊÆ'/ Verb 1. impart knowledge to or instruct (someone) as to how to do something.The definition above doesn’t take into account the context of the information transaction itself. Teachers today are governed by a series of legislation, regulatory requirements and codes of practice which together underpin the professional boundaries which educators should operate within.The broad range of a teacher’s responsibilities begin s with basic tasks such as recording attendance or complying with disciplinary procedures to understanding the complex needs of their learners. Every teacher is responsible for the health, safety and welfare of the learners in the classroom. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 is the legislation which underpins a teacher's duty of care to their students. Beyond the physical safety of a learner a teacher must also ensure they meet professional standards and observe the rules and guidance of awarding bodies.Equality & diversity in teaching is provided for by the Equality Act 2010 which covers nine protected characteristics. It is the responsibility of the teacher to promote and uphold the principles of fairness and inclusivity in the classroom. Disability is one of these protected characteristics; a teacher is required to make reasonable adjustments for learners with disabilities based on the impairment. e.g a reader for a blind learner or written materials for a deaf learner. Furt hermore where this is not practical or unavailable a teacher should locate additional support.My experience within the lifelong learning sector is very limited however I have adopted the role of a teacher whilst working in the youth employment sector – I coordinate the local authorities’ apprenticeship programme – and part of the role has required me to run sessions for young people searching for employment. I would facilitate workshops at the Jobcentre Plus – It was my role to arrange for a suitable learning environment and select an appropriate venue, and ensure handouts and resources are available for all participants.In my experience working within recruitment for a local authority the principles of equality and inclusivity are built into our processes ensuring all stakeholders are free from discrimination and exclusion. I would adapt my approach in the workshops by broadening the case studies used to reflect the cultural profile of the workshop parti cipants.It is hugely important to detect and cater for differing learner needs. Dunn and Dunn, 1993 say matching teaching technique with learning styles significantly improves learning outcomes. The process of identifying learning styles and modifying of teaching techniques is known as differentiation.‘Differentiation is†¦.. the process of identifying, with each learner, the most effective strategies for achieving agreed targets’.1 (Weston 1992)The JCP sessions are stand-alone and in this context I am unable to understand prior to the session the individual learner needs. It was my responsibility to carefully plan the content of the workshop and the activities it contained to suit a variety of learner needs. To improve the sessions I could include powerpoint presentations, discuss the programme and set-up role play activities to cover the visual, audio & kinaesthetic learning styles. (VAK)To improve the JCP group’s engagement I would usually arrange for an e xisting apprentice to join the workshop to offer an insider perspective and act as a live case study which the young people can identify with. The apprentice can relate to the group with and this proves the most productive part of the session and is intended to elicit deep learning.‘Deep learning is fundamentally concerned with the creation of knowledge, which the learner is able to relate to their own experience and use to understand new experiences and contexts.’John West Bernhams,Understand Learning – Page 8 (Article)This inclusive approach is shown to improve motivation, and has always improved the value of the workshop and enhanced the session.There are many types of teaching role each with their own characteristics. From specialised teachers which tend to have particular knowledge and skill to trainers who use techniques to deliver information for a particular task. In the future I hope to adopt a different role; I plan to act as a mentor to an apprentice. My role will be to provide guidance and support to an individual based on their needs. Mentoring is a 1-2-1 relationship which can mean I will either challenge or champion the mentee depending on the situation. In acting as a mentor I must observe my employers procedures and policies which may affect the frequency of the session or the protocols I should follow if difficulties arise.As I mentioned in the introduction a teacher is not just the conduit for learning – They are almost always part of a larger organisation. It was the responsibility of the teacher to adopt and implement their organisation's policies. A class teacher forms part of a chain and will report to year leaders a eadteacher, Governing body, local authority to the Department of Education. The Department of Education is the governing body responsible for the oversight of education in England.Teachers and the organisations they work within must meet professional standards. The Office for Standards in Education , Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) is the non-ministerial government department which reports directly to parliament. Its remit is to inspect and regulate education and training for learners of all ages and for inspecting and regulating those services which care for children and young people. From performance to safeguarding, as a teacher it would be my responsibility to be scrutinised by Ofsted and ensure my activities meet the agreed standards.Like most professional fields there are boundaries which must be observed by teachers. These can range from the syllabus, timescales, resources, awarding bodies to government policies. Each of these factors may have layers of external contributing factors which influence them in turn. Ofqual, who regulate qualifications, examinations and assessments in England (http://ofqual.gov.uk), came to prominence last summer over GCSE re-grading decisions. Although it did not directly impact on teachers it illustrates the interaction between two stakeholders in the sector. An awarding body will have clear codes of practice which must be adhered to, in order tallow for accurate quality assurance and standardisation on results.It is important for teachers to understand where professional boundaries lie. For example in some cases where an individual learners needs requires the assistance of expert help it must be sought. Attempting to support the learner without seeking expert advice may have a negative effect on the individual as well as others. Often a teacher’s role is to signpost learners to the best resources. In a school context this may mean directing someone to a more specialised teacher in the organisation or an external support like a Local Authority service.Keeping abreast of the support available is an important part of navigating these boundaries. Joining a professional association such as the Institute for Learning or researching best practice using the Excellence Gateway are recommended ways to keep up g ood practice polished and fresh. The government publish Teacher Standards. These standards set the minimum requirements for teachers’ practice and conduct. They are devised by educators and are in part there to ensure positive learning environment is sustained.It is particularly important in the lifelong learning sector to foster a supportive and safe learning environment. For instance adult students may have had a negative experience of education so it is essential that from day one ground rules are agreed upon and the teacher plans activities that will allow students to build relationships. â€Å"without ground rules, disruption may occur and affect the learning of your group† Gravels. A, (PTLLS 2008 pg 7)An effective way of promoting consensus in ground rules and compliance is giving the learners the opportunity to devise the rulebook themselves. In this model a teacher’s role is to facilitate the decision-making process and respect the outcome. By contributi ng as a group they each take ownership of their individual responsibility to follow the rules. In handing over this decision-making process the teacher will begin to build a trusting relationship with the learners are more likely to follow the rules they have devised over rules they are forced to adoptThe techniques and activities used by a teacher can help to build respect and promote appropriate behaviour in class. The use of pair work, and small group activities can help to forge relationships and engender respect amongst the learners. A great ice breaker activity which includes the entire group can be an effective way to begin this process. A teacher would set the task and ensure everyone is included.I’ve talked about some examples of the roles and responsibilities of teachers with the lifelong learning sector, but in reality these are limited to what I’ve described. Beyond the walls of the classroom there are a multitude of organisations, professional bodies and r esources which exist to develop and support Teachers. Each of them play a role in providing the appropriate checks and balances needed to ensure a healthy, evolving sector.

Plato’s Allegory of the Cave and Advertisements

Julian Figueroa (#30973127) 1 An Allegory of Advertisements How does Plato’s allegory influence the way we consume art today? Every minute of every day, millions of people are exposed to advertisements. They plague televisions, streets, radio waves, and all means of communication. These advertisements employ many methods of persuasion and their influence is irresistible. Just like prisoners in Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, we are told every day to invest our time and interest into the subject of these advertisements, and to accept the forms of reality they serve us.Whether it be a commercial for a must-have new car, to a spot featuring desirable fast food, or to magazines with photoshopped models; we are seduced to accept these false forms of reality. In actuality, the car is hardly distinguishable from models in the years past, the food is not near as glossy and fresh as the commercial depicts, and the bodies of models have unfeasible proportions. Like the prisoners in the cave, we still accept these forms to be reality, even though they are imitations and falsities of their actual subjects.Puppeteers, like prisoners, are still within the boundaries of the cave, and some believe in their imitations whilst others know the falsehood they are presenting; just like advertisers of today. Even philosopher-kings must be part of the cave in certain ways, as they contribute their own forms of imitation to the prisoners, akin to puppeteers. The Allegory of the Cave has an abundance of meaning to our generation and future generations to come, as the themes and elements it contains relate directly to our society’s consumption and production of promotional media.In Plato’s allegory, several metaphors are summoned to illustrate the effect of education on the soul. The allegory starts with the description of a cave; a place containing prisoners, shadows, puppeteers and fire. The prisoners are bound to look at the shadows, cast upon the wall by the fire and the objects utilized by the puppeteers. There is an exit to the cave, which is illuminated by the light from the sun outside. The outside represents true knowledge whereas the inside of the cave represents ignorance; a reality other than the truth.Plato considers the puppeteers to essentially be artists; using their creations to depict a false reality for the Julian Figueroa (#30973127) 2 prisoners. However, those who free themselves from the cave are the only ones who can realize true form. Those who do this are labeled as the philosophers. For the purposes of this essay, only the aspects of art and art interpretation in the allegory are important. What makes the allegory decisive in comparing it to our consumer-producer society is that the metaphors Plato uses directly correlate to the mantras of advertising.Notwithstanding, for any of this argument to be relatable to Plato’s allegory, which primarily focuses on artists and their creations, one must first know wha t makes promotional media a form of artistic expression. Let us assume Plato’s definition; that art is a poor imitation of reality. He views the creators of art, or as he sees them, imitators â€Å"by nature third from the king and the truth† (Republic, 597e). Artists in publicity take this notion and exaggerate it to the furthest degree. For instance, what makes us want a Burger King burger over any other local burger joint product?The answer to that is clear; advertising. Without its advertising in mass, one wouldn’t be able to distinguish a Burger King product over any other competitor’s. On the contrary, we are drawn towards their burgers because of their glorious depictions in media. From passing the giant billboards of lucious burgers, to seeing a family enjoy them on a television commercial; we are told to believe that these titillating combinations of veggies and protein are absolutely marvelous. These advertisements are nothing but mere deception s of reality.The billboards show us enlarged, crisp patties and fresh vegetables, when in reality, there is no guarantee of such a thing. Therefore they are what Plato defines as art; imitations of reality. Another example would be political commercials, which skew the truth in a variety of ways. From showing an out of context quote from their opponents, to showing themselves speak to a crowd with uplifting music in the background, politicians use the art of media to manipulate the public from seeing the truth. Advertising is a very sharp form of communication from puppeteer to prisoner; and it directly relates to Plato’s allegory.Most of us accept these false forms of reality regardless. Millions of people watch misleading commercials for a product, but they still purchase it in the end. Millions of people knowingly vote for politicians who offer false promises and deceptions, but they still return to vote for the same people in future elections. Like the repetitious cycle o f puppeteers feeding prisoners art in the allegory, Julian Figueroa (#30973127) 3 consumers of today lust for producers to fill their fair supply as well. So how do we exit this cycle? Through education and enlightenment.Plato believes that any ruler of men must pursue in â€Å"calculation, geometry, and all the preliminary education required for dialectic† (536d). He also believes that â€Å"no free person should learn anything like a slave. † (536e). Therefore, one must exercise in their own free will to truly become educated. Plato believes that to be truly educated, one must question and study the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence. By doing this, along with decades of physical training, mathematical science, dialectic training, and political discovery, one then becomes a philosopher-king; the third human element in the allegory of the Cave.However, unlike the puppeteers and the prisoners, the philosopher-kings reside outside the cave, and they harness the ability to see true forms, not mere shadows. So if we live in a society of art production and art consumption, who are the modern day philosopher-kings? There is no simple answer to that question, and this is where Plato’s allegory begins to cave in on itself (pun intended). Plato is a philosopher himself, and by channelling his ideas through Socrates in The Republic, he creates a forum. Socrates starts the allegory of the Cave with the word â€Å"imagine† (514a).The definition of the term â€Å"imagine† is to believe something unreal or untrue to exist. Therefore, Socrates is envisioning an imitation of reality with his allegory, making him an artist. Based on his definitions, Socrates (and therefore Plato) dips his feet back into the cave. If all philosophers followed the same methods of Plato, in terms of creating art forms of philosophy, doesn’t that mean that we are all either puppeteers and/or prisoners? If, in conclusion, philosophers subject their knowledge in an understandable format to puppeteers and prisoners, they are essentially creating art; which means nobody is truly free from the cave.Yet, to generalize philosophers exactly as puppeteers would also be incorrect, contrary to the Allegory. As discussed previously, philosophers only dabble in the art of imitation. This does not make them true puppeteers. Whereas philosophers are able to educate without false forms of reality, true puppeteers are only showing imitation. So what forms do puppeteers accept to be true? Imitation or reality? Relating back to the â€Å"Burger King Theory†, do the Julian Figueroa (#30973127) 4 puppeteers knowingly accept their imitations?Most likely not, as they are aware of the flaws in their advertisement. If a Burger King representative accepted their imitations as reality, they would probably be tempted to eat burgers everyday and eventually die from malnutrition or diabetes. Rather, these representatives are still tru e puppeteers and are therefore still in the dark among the prisoners. So what reality is accepted from the puppeteers? If we look at the representatives of, say Ford, for example’s sake, we find that they reject their own imitations of reality, or art, but that they still consume in similar ways to prisoners.A representative of Ford may make the commercials for the newest model of truck, but does that dictate that they necessarily drive one? Not at all. At the same time, it is not an impossibility either, and their experience as an advertiser, or artist, may even lead them into believing that it is necessary to buy the newest model every year. After all, they are surrounded with their advertisements constantly, influencing them even more so than a consumer, so couldn’t they eventually accept them to be correct?Unless one becomes a monk and sanctions themselves completely away from society, which Plato would most likely condemn, one will always be a target of advertisem ents. Therefore puppeteers must be partially prisoners in that regard, as they will fall target to other puppeteer’s or even their own shadow imagery. This concept works symbiotically with the notion that philosophers are partially puppeteers; as Plato concedes to enjoying the influence of children’s tales on youth, stating that mothers â€Å"will shape their children’s souls with stories much more than they shape their bodies by handling them. † (377c).He openly admits to enjoying some forms of art, and accepting them even if they â€Å"are false, on the whole, though they have some truth to them. † (377a). Hence, he is also as prisoner in that regard, akin to a puppeteer. This draws yet another parallel to art consumption in our modern day society; even a philosopher in our day and age must appreciate certain things to survive, and may be drawn towards imitation of reality through advertisement; car commercials, food spots, or anything. With the acceptance of this concept, the consequence is that everyone in our modern society still resides at least somewhat within the boundaries of the Cave.Is this not true? Can anyone truly claim in this era that they are free from advertisements? Julian Figueroa (#30973127) 5 Can we go one day without seeing a commercial and not remotely showing interest, even in our subconscious? In some countries around the world, it is not even an option to reject an imitation of reality. For example, citizens of Australia are forced by law to vote, and in that sense, it is impossible not to be persuaded by inevitably deceptive political advertisements. The relation of things such as politics, billboards for burgers, and car commercials to the allegory of the Cave is certainly an odd concept to comprehend.Nevertheless, it proves that many of forms of misleading advertising can harken back to the shadows created by the backlit fire and sculptures in Book VII of Plato’s Republic. Society has alwa ys revolved around art producers and art consumers, just like the puppeteers and prisoners in the cave. Advertising and its respective forms encompass many lessons that we have learned from Plato’s allegory, and perhaps one day humanity will recognize the seemingly inescapable cycle of art production and consumption we are all enveloped in.Only then can we fathom escaping the cave and becoming true philosophers, by having the ability to distinguish imitation from actuality. In conclusion, it is safe to say that there are major implications of the allegory of the Cave on advertisements in our modern society, and thus Plato’s piece will continue to be purposeful for such media centuries to come. Texts: Plato. Republic. Trans. G. M. A Grube. Indianapolis, USA: Hackett Publishing, 1992. Print.

Assess the impact of Edward Snowden's revelations on the public image Essay

Assess the impact of Edward Snowden's revelations on the public image of GCHQ and the wider intelligence community - Essay Example ons have made efforts directed towards improving the level of their national security intelligence with an aim of ensuring that proper investigations, surveillance as well as supervision of security issues is undertaken to prevent terrorism attacks. In addition, some countries have resorted to the use of spy and other intelligence agencies that basically monitor groups that might have been suspected of terrorism activities. The issue of military strength between countries has also compelled governments and concerned stakeholders to undertake certain sensitive measures that would ensure that they monitor the military strength of rival countries and their level of security intelligence. These measures have included the use of spies and intelligence agencies that are usually sent to the rival countries to perform such missions. However, the major challenge that has been identified with regard to the use of spies emanates from the tension that occurs in the case that the rival country becomes aware of the spying activities within their military operations. In some cases, intelligence organizations have also undertaken roles geared towards ensuring that the level of security within internet is kept under proper surveillance by monitoring the activities that are performed in the internet by their respective populations. However, this has raised the question regarding the privacy of information of the populat ion owing to the fact that national intelligence organizations are usually provided with the authority to access any activity performed in the internet and other sources of media by a specific population. Many people have complained that by accessing personal information of the activities that are performed by individuals within the internet is a violation or a sense of intruding personal privacy. A case of revelations of an employee of an intelligence agency occurred when Edward Joseph Snowden revealed the activities the United States National Intelligence Agency

Evidence based task1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Evidence based task1 - Essay Example This in turn tends to affect the overall efficiency of the hospital. Empirical evidence collected by the authors further indicates meager relevance provided towards the improvement of compliance degree when considering hand hygiene in hospitals. The method of data processing used in the article was based on an observational survey conducted by involving 7 hospitals from 1994 to 1997. The data was accordingly segregated on the basis of attack rates of Meticillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), nosocomial infection rates and consumption of handrub disinfectant. The data was further evaluated through Chi-Square analysis and two-tailed p-values besides taking into account the secondary findings available. As mentioned, data analysis in this article was conducted on the basis of Chi-Square and Two-Tailed statistical tools. Measured through the three indicators, i.e. (1) attack rates of Meticillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), (2) nosocomial infection rates and (3) consumption of handrub disinfectant, proportions of the data gathered was treated through logistic regression that rewarded a better insight of the trends in the hospitals concerning the compliance and the non-compliance rates. In alignment with the determined objective, the researchers concluded that their implemented campaign indicated a sustainable improvement in the rate of compliance. The researchers also concluded that along with an improvement in the compliance rate for hand hygiene, nosocomial infections propensity and the propensity of MRSA transmission also increased sustainably. 3. The statistical data provided by the researchers indicated that the compliance rate was increasing following their implementation of the campaign denoting a compliance rate of 47.6% in 1994 and 66.2% in 1997. On the individual quantitative terms, this variation was

Joe Salatino research paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Joe Salatino - Research Paper Example Every organization’s behavior is impacted by the customer’s perception. Perception refers to how an individual comprehends the world they live in and what is comprised in that environment. Personal perception is the kind that is pertinent to a salesperson when they approach a customer. The attribution theory proposes approaches to create vindications to assess people because people have different reactions in situations. Joe’s salespeople have to understand this theory so as to know, when approach an individual, if the cause of their behavior is internal or external. Internal behaviors are the ones that the individual can control while external behaviors are beyond a person’s capability to control. People have perceptions whose source can be positive or negative past experiences. A salesperson has to be patient and avoid making fast judgment and conclusions about a perspective customer. This will be denying the customers a fair chance in their decision mak ing. There are various ways that people form perceptions. The examples are the halo effect, stereotyping, the contrast effect and selective perception. Selective perception is when a trait or characteristic makes a product or situation stand out. The halo effect happens when conclusions are based on one characteristic. The contrast effect is based on past experiences. In order to acquire a customer, the salesperson has to identify potential customers. Telemarketing has been mentioned as a method of identifying the customers. Establishing a solid rapport is crucial for the salesperson for it helps them to know the needs and requirements of the prospect and know if the products offerings can match with these needs. It also helps know if there are other unmet needs and can therefore, be a source of information on possible changes or innovations to be made by the organization. Joe’s employees have seemingly done a superb job in maintaining customers. The challenge remains in unde rstanding how they form perceptions and attributions. A successful sales representative is an excellent listener to a prospect and gets to listen to their feelings and opinions on the products being offered. Customer perception is undoubtedly mandatory in customer retention. How customers form a perception on the business, will be determined about their past experiences. How the products they used turned out to be, how they were treated previously by the salespeople, the services and prices of the organization. To understand how they form their perception, it is essential to hear out their voice regarding the business. This can be done by conducting interviews, administering questionnaires and carrying out surveys to find out what they think about the company. In understanding how they form perceptions, the employees will be able to build relationships and trust effectively with customers. Joe Salatino as the president of the company has the responsibility of directing his employees so that they can work towards achieving the overall objectives of the firm. By the employees understanding how people make perceptions and attributions, they are able to know how people create a sense of the immediate world they live. Understanding them will help in providing products and services exactly how they want it, and these will guarantee profits which is one of the company’s most fundamental goals. By doing these, they are enabled to attain cognitive