Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Biography of Lord Byron, English Poet and Aristocrat

Lord Byron is considered to be one of the greatest British writers and poets of his time. He became a leader in the Romantic Period, alongside contemporaries like William Wordsworth, John Keats, and Percy Bysshe and Mary Shelley. Fast Facts: Lord Byron Occupation: English poet, romanticistBorn: 22 January 1788 in London, EnglandDied: 19 April 1824 in Missolonghi, Ottoman EmpireParents: Captain John â€Å"Mad Jack† Byron and Catherine GordonEducation: Trinity College, CambridgePublish Works: Hours of Idleness; Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage, She Walks in Beauty, Don JuanSpouse: Anne Isabella MilbankeChildren: Ada Lovelace and Allegra ByronFamous Quote: There is pleasure in the pathless woods, there is rapture in the lonely shore, there is society where none intrudes, by the deep sea, and music in its roar; I love not Man the less but Nature more. Lord Byron’s personal life was marked by tumultuous love affairs and inappropriate sexual relationships, unpaid debts, and illegitimate children. Lady Caroline Lamb, with whom Byron had an affair, famously labeled him â€Å"mad, bad, and dangerous to know.† He died in 1824 at the age of 36 from a fever he contracted during his travels in Greece. His most notable works include Don Juan, She Walks in Beauty, and Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage. Early Life Lord Byron was born in 1788 in London under the full name George Gordon Noel, sixth Baron Byron. He was raised in Aberdeen, Scotland, by his mother after his father fled the family and died in 1791 in France. Byron inherited his title at the age of 10, though he later adopted his mother-in-law’s family name, Noel, in order to inherit half of her estate. Imagno/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Byron’s mother was prone to mood swings and heavy drinking. Due to mistreatment by his mother coupled with a deformed foot and an uneven temper, Byron lacked discipline and structure in his formative years. He was educated at Harrow School in London, followed by Trinity College at Cambridge, though he spent most of his time at the latter engaging in sexual relationships and sporting activities. It was during this time that he began writing and publishing works.   Marriage, Affairs, and Children Lord Byron first showed his affections for a distant cousin who indulged him for a while before rejecting his affections. In subsequent years, Byron had promiscuous affairs with many women, including Lady Caroline Lamb, Lady Oxford, and his half-sister, Augusta Leigh, who later gave birth to a daughter widely considered to be Byron’s. Lord Byron married Anne Isabella Milbanke in January 1815, and the following year she gave birth to a daughter, Augusta Ada (later Ada Lovelace). Shortly after the birth of their daughter, Lord and Lady Byron separated, with Anne Isabella indicating the cause to be his incestual relations with his half-sister. During this time, Lord Byron developed a close relationship with Percy and Mary Shelley and Mary’s sister Claire Clairmont, who also had a daughter with Byron called Allegra.   Travels After completing his education at Cambridge, Lord Byron embarked on a two-year journey across Spain, Portugal, Malta, Albania, and Greece, from which he drew inspiration for Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage. After Byron finalized the separation from his wife, he left England permanently for Switzerland, where he spent time with the Shelleys. He went on to travel across Italy engaging in promiscuous affairs, writing and publishing work along the way. He spent six years in Italy, where he wrote and released Don Juan. Newstead Abbey, Nottinghamshire, 18th century. The abbey was formerly an Augustinian priory but was converted into a domestic home following the Dissolution of the Monasteries. It is the ancestral home of Lord Byron. Hulton Archive / Getty Images In 1823, Lord Byron was asked to assist in the Greek War of Independence from the Ottoman Empire. He sold his estate in England to raise money for the Greek cause, part of which he used to enable a fleet of ships to sail to Missolonghi, where he planned to help attack the Turks. Death While in Missolonghi, Lord Byron contracted a fever and died at the age of 36. His heart was removed and buried in Missolonghi, and his body was returned to England. His burial at Westminster Abbey was denied, so Byron was buried in his family tomb in Newstead. He was deeply mourned in England and in Greece.   Legacy After spurning his initial affections, Lady Caroline Lamb labeled Lord Byron â€Å"mad, bad, and dangerous to know,† a statement that stuck with him for life and beyond. Because of his generous financial support and acts of bravery in the Greek Wars of Independence, Lord Byron is widely considered to be a Greek national hero. However, his true legacy is the collection of work he left behind. Don Juan Don Juan is a satirical epic poem written by Lord Byron during the last years of his life. It is based on the legendary womanizer Don Juan, though Lord Byron reversed these character traits to make Don Juan easily susceptible to seduction. The poem is considered to be a reflection of Byron’s personal character and the disappointment with which he felt constantly burdened. Don Juan is comprised of 16 completed sections, called cantos and a final, 17th canto that remained unfinished at the time of Byron’s death in 1824. Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage Written and released between 1812 and 1818, Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage tells the story of a young man who travels the world to fill the void left by disillusionment and sadness he feels as a result of the revolutionary wars on the European continent. Much of the content in Childe is derived from Byron’s personal travels from Portugal to Constantinople. Sources Byron, George Gordon.  Don Juan. Pantianos Classics, 2016.Byron, George Gordon, and Jerome J. McGann.  Lord Byron, the Major Works. Oxford University Press, 2008.Eisler, Benita.  Byron: Child of Passion, Fool of Fame. Vintage Books, 2000.Galt, John.  The Life of Lord Byron. Kindle ed., 1832.MacCarthy, Fiona.  Byron: Life and Legend. John Murray, 2014.

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Customs Union Free Essays

string(89) " could become a platform for negotiations and decision making over regional integration\." Outline I. Introduction Thesis statement: The Customs Union for Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus is a purposeful union, which serves to meet several aims. II. We will write a custom essay sample on Customs Union or any similar topic only for you Order Now Body A. In the light of common aspiration to the WTO accession, it is worth of examining why preference of states was given to multilateral over preferential trade. B. The idea of the multilateral cooperation and creation of a common economic space, elimination of borders and regional integration is not new in the post-Soviet space. 1. â€Å"Putinomics† an attempt of Putin to bring back Soviet Union and Russian supremacy; 2. â€Å"Eurasian Union† similar to â€Å"ASEAN†; C. In theory, customs unions are created to eliminate the trade barriers and decrease customs obligations between several states. 1. It requires confidence in partners and share of responsibilities; 2. single economic region; D. There are many different assumptions why Customs Union was created. 1. supremacy of Russia over the territory of the former Soviet states; 2. a strategic step in the WTO accession; 3. reduction of Chinese influence and prevent massive imports of Chinese goods; 4. beneficial for entrepreneurs and domestic production enterprises; 5. fair competition; 6. ffective legal protection against corrupt schemes and fraud mechanisms; E. Several other post-Soviet neighboring states were also invited to join the club. 1. The Ukraine; 2. Tajikistan; 3. Kyrgyzstan; F. It is noteworthy of saying that pre-existing Customs Union trade relations and economic ties cannot be described as dynamic ones. 1. statistical numbers; G. An interesting observation is that â€Å"with few ex ceptions, all the countries bordering the Western fringes of the former Soviet Union have intensified their trade relations with the European Union as well as with China, whose importance in Central Asian trade has been growing. . statistical data; H. Official Astana firmly defended its position on the Customs Union accession, and denied any political motivations behind the membership of the alliance with Russia and Belarus. 1. a unified customs territory would make Kazakhstan even more attractive for foreign investors; 2. geopolitical position, as the largest land-locked country; 3. access to global markets; 4. expand trade with Russia and China; 5. diversity of economy through technological and service advances; I. Belarusian position toward the Customs Union brought many obstacles. 1. â€Å"arm-twisting† politics of the Kremlin; 2. Russian pressure; J. At first it seemed that Russia benefited from creation of the Customs Union more than others, as it has the largest market and biggest production industries. 1. diversification of opinions; K. What does the World Trade Organization is? 1. a network of agreements; 2. a single system, which regulates trade relations of members; 3. advantages and requirements; L. The decision to create the Customs Union between three states could signal willingness to engage in deeper cooperation and integration, and thus, the WTO accession provides access to more states willing to cooperate and a platform for finding new â€Å"friends†. . advantages and disadvantages of being a member of WTO; M. Russia was the only Security Council and G8 member not on the WTO, thus its accession was a requirement to be fully admitted as one of the superpowers. 1. further policy of Russia toward Kazakhstan and Belarus; III. Conclusion Creation of the Customs Union between Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan caused a lot of debates about why these countries are forming the union, what are the benefits that they get and why exactly these states? First of all, I would like to define the meaning of â€Å"Customs Union†. According to Business Dictionary â€Å"Customs Union is an agreement  between two or more (usually neighboring)  countries to remove  trade barriers, and reduce or eliminate  customs duty on  mutual trade. A customs union (unlike a  free trade area) generally imposes a  common external-tariff (CTF) on  imports from non-member countries and (unlike a  common market) generally does not allow  free  movement of  capital and  labor among member countries† (Business Dictionary. com, n. d. ). In part, debates were around preference of regional over multilateral trade, as for many years Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan aspired to join the World Trade Organization (WTO); therefore, creation of the Customs Union was at first seen as an alternative to the WTO accession. However, just after the ratification of the Customs Union charter and all relevant agreements, Russia joins WTO club and leaves the rest to wonder what is going to happen to the Customs Union. The Customs Union for Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus is a purposeful union, which serves to meet several aims. In the light of common aspiration to the WTO accession, it is worth of examining why preference of states was given to multilateral over preferential trade. In particular what pre-conditions existed prior to the Customs Union creation that inspired Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan to create the Union and what benefits it provided that three states could not obtain by joining the WTO only? The idea of the multilateral cooperation and creation of a common economic space, elimination of borders and regional integration is not new in the post-Soviet space. Adelaja (2012) asserts that a number of political scientists and former Soviet Republics believe in so called â€Å"Putinomics† – an attempt of Putin to bring back Soviet Union and Russian supremacy (p. 1). It is difficult to label the Customs Union creation an attempt to bring back the Soviet Union and expansion of the Russian authority over the territory of the former Soviet states. However, the countries are clearly bound by the common past that unlike others (Ukraine, Turkmenistan) makes Kazakhstan and Belarus seek for cooperation with Russia. According to Eurasian Union (n. d. , another regional cooperation the idea of â€Å"Eurasian Union† belongs to Nursultan Nazarbaev, the idea is to create a union similar to ASEAN (p. 3). After collapse of the Soviet Union, states tend to isolate themselves from their post-Soviet neighbors and especially from Russia. In part, it happens due to unwillingness to cooperate with possibly depending neighbors and also due to t he aspiration to get rid of rudiments of the Soviet centralized economy that intentionally established mutual dependence of the Union states. Thus, existing regional organizations are not effective in terms of policy implementation. CIS and EurAsEC could become a platform for negotiations and decision making over regional integration. You read "Customs Union" in category "Papers" However, states are reluctant to give up their sovereignty and create supranational body authorized to decide on behalf of its member states. Instead, states were defining their foreign policies depending on national interest and regional integration was not one of them. Thus, Customs Union between Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan could become first real and effectively operating regional cooperation body, where states would indeed execute provisions of signed agreements and declarations. In theory, customs unions are created to eliminate the trade barriers and decrease customs obligations between several states. It requires confidence in partners and share of responsibilities. Initially, the Customs Union was created and signed by Kazakhstan and Russia. Belarus was negotiating its interests with Russia and postponed ratification of the agreement until July 2011. To illustrate the advantages of the union, official media was speculating with huge market that the Customs Union opens for three states. The union has a population of 167 million, a total GDP of USD 2 trillion and goods turnover of USD 900 billion. The aim of the Customs Union is to create a single economic region and eliminate the state borders and to facilitate the freedom of movement† (Krotov, 2010, p. 1). According to Prajakti and Varadzhakov (2012), further to demonstrate that the Customs Union brings advantages not only to Russia, official media reported Kazakhstan agriculture and steel sectors w ill benefit from newly introduced import duties for non-Customs Union member states (p. ). In addition, Kazakh and Belarus obtained access to Russian labor market. In general, the Customs Union agreements should have improved quality of goods, increase competition and help diversify economies of three states. There are many different assumptions why Customs Union was created. Some see hidden agenda and conspiracy behind creation of the union. Opponents of the Customs Union claim that it only benefits Russia and establishes its supremacy over the territory of the former Soviet states. Zlatkin (2012) comments that opponents also interpret Belarus unwillingness to join the union as a rebellion against Russia, and say that in the end Belarus was forced to join the union. Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus (2012) Russian supporters say that the creation of the Customs Union was a strategic step in the WTO accession, as it was obvious that Russia will become a member first and then it will promote its partners in the WTO accession (p. 1). In the end, they add that Russia needs reliable partners and friends in the WTO and promotion of Kazakhstan and Belarus interests still benefits Russia. Russia, Belarus, Kazakh (2012) claim that the Customs Union was created to reduce Chinese influence and prevent massive imports of Chinese goods (p. 1). Other reasons are less sophisticated and mostly indicate economic benefits that three states obtain from participation in the union. â€Å"Eurasian Development Bank study released, that the effects of economic integration of 2011 – 2030 will reach 14% of gross domestic product of Belarus, 3. 5% in Kazakhstan, and Russia (2%)† (Russia, Belarus, Kazakh, 2012, p. ). The Customs Union was also said to be beneficial for entrepreneurs and domestic production enterprises, as they got greater market access, fair competition and effective legal protection against corrupt schemes and fraud mechanisms. Decreased trade barriers should have contributed to the free movement of goods and services between three countries, and improved quality of products. Russia, Belarus, Kazakh (2012) states that in total, Customs Union opened access to about 170 million consumers (p. ). Several other post-Soviet neighboring states were also invited to join the club. In particular they were Tajikistan, Ukraine, and Kyrgyzstan. None of three Central Asian countries have fully considered and started the Customs Union accession negotiations. Ukraine was assessing and comparing its benefits from the Customs Union versus WTO accession, as well as waiting for the decision on Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) with the European Union. Adilaja (2012) asserts that in a while, official Kiev preferred to abandon its plans on the Customs Union accession negotiations, saying that this will destroy its ongoing negotiations with the European Union. According to Russia’s Inevitable (2012) asserts that for Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, membership in the Custom Union would have brought access to the labor market and increase cooperation in the field of the energy resources supply with Russia and Kazakhstan (p. 2). Although, Kyrgyzstan is currently a member of the WTO, its historical ties and economic dependency on Russian energy resources contributed to its willingness to join another union with Russia. It is noteworthy of saying that pre-existing Customs Union trade relations and economic ties cannot be described as dynamic ones. â€Å"European Union Institute for Security Studies describes trade relations between Customs Union member states prior to the Customs Union creation. In particular, share of intra-CU trade to the total amount of trade of CU-member states within three years prior to CU creation. Thus, 48. 1% of Belarusian the total amount of trade in 2008 accounts for Russia and Kazakhstan. While only 7. 3% of Russian trade turnover in 2008 accounts for Belarus and Kazakhstan. And 18. 8% of the total volume of Kazakhstan trade turnover accounted for Russia and Belarus in the same period. 2009 indicators did not change significantly, but in 2010, the year of establishment of the Customs Union, the share of intra-customs union trade of Russia dropped† (Zagorski, 2012, p. 5). An interesting observation is that â€Å"with few exceptions, all the countries bordering the Western fringes of the former Soviet Union have intensified their trade relations with the European Union as well as with China, whose importance in Central Asian trade has been growing. There is a trend that between 41 and 45% of Russian exports to former Soviet states are currently comprised of energy resources, while 39 percent of its imports consist of machines and equipment† (Adelaja, 2012, p. ). These facts makes many experts doubt trade relations of the Customs Union states; while others suggest that the Customs Union could become a fundamental change in relations between former Soviet states and that become a push to growth in trade. The figures mentioned above, as well as the fact that post-Soviet states were reluctant to form another union, made the decision to establish the Customs Union look spontaneous and unjustified. However, throughout the whole process of negotiations and ratification of the Customs Union policies and implementation of the necessary procedures, official governments were justifying their decision to create a union and finding new benefits of the participation in the regional cooperation between three states. Although not all of them played in a concert, all three were citing economic benefits that countries obtain from the participation in the regional union. Official Astana firmly defended its position on the Customs Union accession, and denied any political motivations behind the membership of the alliance with Russia and Belarus. Kazakhstan officials were speculating that â€Å"a unified customs territory would make Kazakhstan even more attractive for foreign investors who have considered Kazakhstan as one of the most attractive markets in our part of the world† (Accession to the WTO, n. d. , p. 1). Kazakhstan also speculated over its geopolitical position, as the largest land-locked country and the state with the most number of transit routes that will ensure large income from transit tariffs. For Kazakhstan the membership in the Customs Union will increase access to global markets, expand trade with Russia and China, and diversity of economy through technological and service advances. Belarusian position toward the Customs Union brought many obstacles. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has openly complained about the â€Å"arm-twisting† politics of the Kremlin, saying that his country had been under pressure to cede control of some of its juiciest companies like Belarusian potassium company (Belkali) and Belarus’ state-run Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ) unless the country joined the union. â€Å"Given the importance of ‘champion enterprises’ such as MAZ and Belkali for Belarus or Gazprom for Russia, it is still unclear how the states can agree on regulating these enterprises with supranational institutions, especially when they are governed not by economic, but by political logic,† said George Plaschinsky, an associate analyst at th e Center for European Transformation in Minsk. â€Å"Previously the Russian authorities had an experience of imposing different decisions on gas and oil companies in order to achieve some political aims and assert them as the ‘energy superpower. † (Russia’s Customs Union, 2012, p. 2). At first it seemed that Russia benefited from creation of the Customs Union more than others, as it has the largest market and biggest production industries. Experts suggested that some competition from Kazakh and Belarusian producers will be beneficial, but not risky for Russian producers and entrepreneurs. In addition, it will create positive conditions for transition from Soviet centralized to market economy. Russia would also benefit from the labor market of its neighbors, as Russia’s own demographic situation is worse than in Kazakhstan and its population is aging. It is also working on North and South stream gas pipelines to bypass such transit countries, such as Ukraine. Thus, a union with some of its neighbors would ensure protection of Russia’s interests and concessional conditions for pipelines placement. In addition to traditional argument on competition for the regional dominance in the Central Asia, a union would solve some tensions between Russia and neighboring states regarding debt payment for gas supply, political influence and alliances creation. However, some experts were more skeptical. â€Å"Some businesses are likely to move to the neighboring states, like Kazakhstan, where the investment climate is more favorable,† said Alexei Devyatov, the chief economist at Ural Sib Capital (Adelaja, 2012, p. 2). Russia might also lose from the opening of it market to the labor from Kazakhstan and Belarus, as Russia also has a huge population of unskilled and unqualified population hat will be left out from participation in the marked taken over by foreign nationals. Considering positions of the Customs Union member states expressed above, it is crucial to consider what regulations or conditions influenced Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan in their decision to access WTO. What does the World Trade Organization is? The WTO is a network of agreements. It unites states around the world into a single system and regulates their trade relations. The WTO member states may chose the degree if integration, but should aspire to opening of deeper and wider access to domestic markets. The WTO member states are allowed to create the regional agreements and unions within the organization. General goal of the organization is free trade and liberalization of the economies. As it was mentioned above, the Customs Union between Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan was also created to facilitate liberalization and decrease trade barriers without fully abolishing tariffs. The WTO does not require elimination of borders, unlike the customs union that stipulates common border and single economic space. Thus, the Customs Union requires deeper integration of its member states than primary WTO accession documents. The decision to create the Customs Union between three states could signal willingness to engage in deeper cooperation and integration, and thus, the WTO accession provides access to more states willing to cooperate and a platform for finding new â€Å"friends†. Creation of the Customs union with outside WTO partners can also be a sign that the state relies on partners who do not necessarily share the idea of free trade on global level. Interestingly, with the creation of the Customs Union, Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus enhanced WTO accession process. In this case, the creation of the trade liberalization institution could be an illustration of states’ readiness to access the WTO and negotiate conditions. The main reason of the WTO accession for many states is said to be a wide access to foreign markets and integration into a global club of â€Å"advanced† nations. Some of the advantages are improved competition that ensures supply of qualified products, attraction of more foreign investors to the country, securing their interests and protection by legislation common in the WTO space, as well as lowering the costs of running business. According to General benefits from WTO (n. d. , however, there are also some disadvantages of being a WTO member, such as limited abilities to protect infant industries, inability to compete with advanced economies, prohibition of governmental subsidies and elimination of fixed currency rates (p. 1). Economies of state applicants for the WTO accession should be ready for a drastic chang e and shock therapies. Even with the transitional period, the changes brought by the WTO accession and commitments made by states are significant. Russia was the only Security Council and G8 member not on the WTO, thus its accession was a requirement to be fully admitted as one of the superpowers. Putin and other Russian governmental officials assured other Customs Union member states that with the accession of Russia to the WTO, it is still going to preserve the Customs Union and keep close relations with Belarus and Kazakhstan. Furthermore, Russia has promised promotion of two countries in their accession to the WTO. Experts believe that Russia will not abandon its partners, as it is still interested in integration of the post-Soviet states, and will not give up on the struggle for domination in the region. Therefore, even after the WTO accession it is not efficient for Russia to exclude Kazakhstan and Belarus from its foreign policy. In case Kazakhstan is left outside of the WTO, it will become a reliable partner of Russia outside of the organization. While Belarus can be more reluctant in implementation of the agreement reached before the WTO accession. Thus, Russia will probably use more force to get Belarus remain in the union. Since Russia dominates in the union, in case all member states access the WTO, Russia will be established as a single power in the region that decides on economic and political processes. Other states will be bound by obligations under the agreements, and since their accession comes after Russia, it is most likely that they will negotiate similar if not the same tariffs as Russia did. Considering unequal political positions of the Customs Union member states, and economic ties prior to the creation of the Union that did not directly contributed to the establishment of the union, it can be assumed that the Customs Union was created as a demonstration of the commitment to the trade liberalization and aspiration to be a part of the globalized world. It is also important to mention that it is a Russian-led union and neither economies of its partner states or their political leadership are sufficiently competitive to challenge Russian industries, market and politics. Russia played very important role in the promotion of the idea of the union, and the Customs Union could become the first effectively working regional integration mechanism on the post-Soviet space. However, since Russia aspired to join the WTO, Customs Union member states have to catch up and also join the club, although they might be less interested in it than Russia. Bibliography Adelaja, T. (2012). Putinomics Abroad. Russia Profile, Section: Politics. Retrieved November 16, 2012 http://russiaprofile. org/politics/57118/print_edition/ Krotov, I. (2010). Customs Union between the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Community. World Customs Journal, 5 (2). Retrieved November 16, 2012, from http://www. worldcustomsjournal. org/media/wcj/-2011/2/Krotov. pdf Prajakti, K. , Varadzhakov, S. (2012). The Customs Union between Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus: First Steps Towards the Rivaval of the Silk Road, Academia, 894. Retrieved November 18, 2012, from http://cambridge-centralasia. academia. edu/PrajaktiKalra/Papers/472081/The_Customs_Union_between_Russia_Kazakhstan_and_Belarus_First_Steps_towards_the_Revival_of_the_Silk_Road Zagorski, A. (2012). Russia’s neighbourhood policy. European Union Institute for Security Studies. Retrieved November 16, 2012, from http://www. iss. europa. eu/publications/detail/article/russias-neighbourhood-policy/ Zlatkin, I. (2012). A Sovereign Surge, Not a Soviet Resurgence: The Mutualism of Eurasian Reintegration. SRAS, The Journal of Russia and Asian Studies. Retrieved November 17, 2012, from http://www. sras. org/a_sovereign_surge_not_a_soviet_resurgence_the_mutualism_of_eurasian_reintegration IXGV, Financial News, â€Å"Russia, Belarus, Kazakh customs union will benefit enterprises in Asia†. (2012). p. 1. Retrieved November 17, 2012, from http://www. ixgw. com/2012/05/russia-belarus-kazakh-customs-union-will-benefit-enterprises-in-asia/ Astana Economic Forum, News, â€Å"Nursultan Nazarbayev  «Eurasian Union: from idea to the history of the future »Ã¢â‚¬ , (n. d. ), pp. 1 – 10. Retrieved November 16, 2012, from http://aef. kz/upload/news/statya%20Nazarbayeva. pdf Belarus Digest, Economy, â€Å"WTO v. Customs Union: Russia Decides†. (n. d. ). Retrieved November 17, 2012, from http://belarusdigest. com/story/wto-v-customs-union-russia-decides-7434 Business Dictionary. com. (n. d. ). Retrieved November 16, 2012, from http://www. businessdictionary. com/definition/customs-union. html Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Discover Kazakhstan, Economy, â€Å"Accession to the WTO†, (n. d. ). Retrieved November 18, 2012, from http://www. kazakhembus. com/page/wto-accession The Fish Site, News and Analysis, â€Å"Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus Keep Customs Union†, (2012). p. 1. Retrieved November 18, 2012, from http://www. thefishsite. com/fishnews/17679/russia-kazakhstan-belarus-keep-customs-union U. S. A. Poultry and Eggs Export Council, News, Analysis, â€Å"Russia’s Inevitable Customs Union in Central Asia†. (2012). pp. 1 – 3. Retrieved November 17, 2012, from http://www. usapeec. kz/en/news/10204/ How to cite Customs Union, Papers

Friday, May 1, 2020

The House On Mango Street Essay Example For Students

The House On Mango Street Essay The House On Mango Street Essay The House on Mango Street In The House On Mango Street Esperanza reveals personal experiences through which the reader is able to determine what kind of person she is; her views on life, how she views herself, as well as how her poverty affects her view of life, her view of her future, and how her poverty currently affects her place in the world. The vignettes show different aspects of Esperanzas identity as it evolves and changes progressively throughout The House On Mango Street. Esperanzas identity, as divulged in the vignettes, is multifaceted. Her shyness is evident when she is around people who are unfamiliar to her. This is most likely due to the intimidation these people pose. Esperanza says in the chapter We never agree on what she looks like(pg.71). Another example of characterization can be found in the chapter calledSally. In the chapter Esperanza saysThe boys at school think shes beautiful (pg.81) Characterization is explained in this chapter in the way that Sally wears make-up to school and skirts that she pulls up, but when she goes home she washes off the make-up and pulls down her skirt so her father wont notice anything. Tone is explained in the chapter called Darius and the Clouds because a lot of people in Esperanzas school think of him as a fool. Then when one day he says something wise, something smart, people dont think of him as such a fool. In the chapter Darius says,You can fall asleep and wake up drunk on sky, and sky can keep you safe when you are sad.(pg. 33) He also says,Here there is too much sadness and not enough sky.(pg.33) Tone is also explained in the chapter calledRed Clowns.Esperanza becomes very mad with Sally because Sally left her alone and some guys come and have their way with her. Esperanza saysSally, you lied. It wasnt what you said at all. What he did. Where he touched me. I didnt want it, Sally.(pg.99) Esperanza get very emotional about what happens to her. She becomes very mad and changes her tone in the way that she isnt the cheerful happy girl. Style is explained in the chapter called The Monkey Garden in the way that the Monkey Garden stands for the Edenic Bower. Esperanza and her friends love to play in the garden. Esperanza says,This was a garden, a wonderful thing to look at in the spring.(pg.94) The The Monkey Garden stands for the Garden of Eden.Another example of Style can be found in the chapter calledChanclas. Esperanza says, The old saddle shoes I wear to school, brown and white, the kind I get every September because they last long and they do.(pg.47) Esperanza really hates getting the same shoes every September because they dont look good and because it makes her feet look scuffed and round. The affect of an unreliable narrator in The House on Mango Street affects different things. Three of them are the tone, characterization, and the style. There are many examples of the affects in The House on Mango Street. .

Saturday, March 21, 2020

Importance of military in Othello Essay Example

Importance of military in Othello Paper During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, global confrontation between Turk and Christian worried military theorists. Turks were renowned for their courage, skill and cruelty on the battlefield. European warfare was also passing through a transitional stage between feudal hosts of the Middle Ages and permanent professional rmies of modern times. Othello is a condottiere fighting by contract for Venetian Republic, reflecting what European warfare would become. Yet, his self-fashioned image of a romantic and chivalric hero defeating the infidel in order to win a fair damsel is remnant of a medieval idea. Thus, confusion behind the two constructs and thus in Othello himself is inevitable. Othello takes place in a military background almost exclusively, and this is important to the tragedy, as it affects Othellos understanding of love, the importance of honour and reputation to the male protagonists and furthermore enables the audience to perceive both the external conflict between the Turks and Venetians, but also the internal conflict in Othello. This dimension allows the pay to be defined as both a public and domestic tragedy. Throughout the play, Othello makes statements such as Tis better to be much but to knowt a little. This conveys Othellos surprise, suggesting he has only learned things many take for granted. His occupation is also crucial to the tragedy, as it is his stories of the battlefield that initially woo Desdemona: she loved me for the dangers I had passed. However, we as an audience become aware of the fragility of their loves foundation as the play progresses through the symbol of the handkerchief. Othello weaves an intriguing and romantic story describing its history (further emphasizing that Othellos heroic narratives were an important factor in winning Desdemona), yet throughout the play, the handkerchief is stolen (showing their loves vulnerability) and proceeding the temptation scene when Desdemona tries to bind Othellos aching head with it, he states it is too little, indicating that their love cannot rid Othello of the suspicion of being cuckolded in his mind. We will write a custom essay sample on Importance of military in Othello specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Importance of military in Othello specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Importance of military in Othello specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer It is Othellos occupation, then, that initiates the tragic process. Furthermore, Othellos naivety in matters concerning love makes him vulnerable to Iagos verbal predation. He is quick to believe what Iago tells him, even to Iagos surprise who states that the Moor already changes with my poison. It is Othellos occupation as a soldier that causes this, as the milieu of soldiers was virile and male-dominated. The soldiers life in Shakespearean times was lacking in female contact as long durations of time were spent in the company of soldiers alone. Iagos occupation as a soldier also contributes to the readiness at which Othello believes him. A Venetian, Iago states he knows the women of Venice well. Venice was infamous for its courtesans, and Iago easily convinces Othello that Desdemona is no different than the untrustworthy and seductive women of Venice. This knowledge inevitably arises from his career, as soldiers were infamous for womanizing. Another important aspect to a soldier that is important to the tragedy is honour and reputation, reputation reputation! The significance of honour to Othellos central characters mobilizes the tragic outcome as Renaissance soldiers lives were dominated by it, especially since it was still the age when chivalry majorly contributed to the rules and discipline of the army. Othello demonstrates the desire to preserve his honour when he dismisses Cassio after his drunken brawl. Othello rather solemnly states he is no more his lieutenant, suggesting that those that lose their honour must be dismissed as a customary practice. Othello states he will make Cassio an example, despite the close relationship the two formerly shared. Cassios drunkenness is not without significance, as there was rules against drunkenness on duty, and Thomas Digges Stratioticos clearly states that dronkennes doth turn men into beasts. Othello aligns himself with this view as he enters in the barrack room, declaring his soldiers have turned Turk Turks being associated with brutal and animalistic behaviour. It is Cassios lost honour as a soldier that causes his dismissal and continues to mobilize the plot. Othellos brutal sense of honour is also demonstrated in a scene crucial to the tragedy when Othello decides to murder Desdemona. He says the justice of it pleases me, chillingly suggesting that strangling her is the moral and honourable thing to do. Othello constructs himself as a romantic and chivalric knight, and a characteristic of this identity was winning a damsel of a higher social station. If this woman was to lose her status, Othellos self-fashioned status was also in jeopardy. Thus when Edmund Spensers Red Crosse Knight discovers the fair Fidelia is really the foul whore Duessa, he is emasculated. When Othello becomes convinced that Desdemona is equally foul, his occupation is gone. The chivalric ideal upon which he has built his military vocation is destroyed and his reputation gone, and thus he decides that it is just to destroy her. Iago also plays upon this ontological insecurity when he says He that filches makes me poor indeed, suggesting that wronging someones name is the worst offence of all. A soldiers propensity to seek revenge is also crucial to the tragic plot. It is this that plays a large part in Othellos decision to kill Desdemona. This is due to vengeance being a principal element in a soldiers life, as many wars are fought on the basis of vengeance; a soldier learns to retaliate subsequent to being wronged, and thus Othello sees this as a natural medium of correcting Desdemonas apparent transgression, causing it to be somewhat explanatory of Othellos merciless killing of her, the woman he loves. When discussing the murder with Iago, Othello speaks in prose showing the systematic approach to revenge, as would be common in the devising of military plans. Yet, his speech is also punctuated with short sharp utterances to reflect how his passion is beginning to prevail over his military reasoning: O tis foul in her with mine officer! Thats fouler. Elizabethan military treatises agree that the careful selection of subordinates was a Generals most important duty. For Othello, that Desdemona would be topped by his handpicked is ignominious and degrading, and far more subversive than Desdemona being unfaithful with another. Thus Othellos quest for revenge is rooted in the desire to uphold his reputation as a great general: a way of being a black man in a white mans world. It is also essential to the development of the plays tragic situation that the male protagonists are soldiers as it allows the incorporation of professional jealousy one of Iagos apparent motivations. Although Coleridge stated that Iago was a motive-hunting malignity, there are instances in the play that signal a tension between those in different military positions. Iagos initial complaint against Othello is regarding his selection of officers. As Giles Clayton in 1591 stated, a lieutenant must be a man of great experience and knowledge in service. It is on this basis that Iago deems Cassio, a bookish theoric as unfit for the position. Another of Iagos grievances regarding Cassios appointment is that letter and affection obtained it. However, the audience learns that Iago has also tried to attain the office by persuading three great ones of the city to make personal requests to Othello, showing that Iago is just as guilty of trying to attain this office by letter and affection. It is also clear that Cassio was also chosen a more legitimate basis as he knew Othello well enough to serve as a go-between during his courtship of Desdemona and also knew of their love, a shock even to Desdemonas father. Furthermore, he is trusted enough by the Senate to be made governor of Cyprus. However, although Cassio is a valid choice for lieutenant, he does remind Iago rather snidely of his position, saying the lieutenant is to be savd before the ancient. In regard to Iago, his position as an ensign allows the audience to see the duplicity of his character and increases the irony surrounding his falseness. Readers of Othello have noted the verbal irony in the noun phrase honest Iago that reverberates throughout the play. However, the Ensign, as Elizabethan military treatises agree, must have been selected because of his upright and honest character. This is because the Ensign carried the flag, an emblem of the nobility of war and a representation of the country. Therefore, he must have been trustworthy enough for the soldiers to follow into battle. Garrard insisted that the Ensign must be a man of good account. Iago is hardly honest, however. He professes his lack of loyalty to his superior officer: not I for love and duty / But seeming so for my peculiar end I am not what I am. This supposed honesty that Iago should possess as the Ensign perhaps accounts for Othellos propensity to trust him. This is also due to the close relationship the Ensign and General were intended to hold. This proclivity to have confidence in Iago mobilizes the tragic situation, as Othello disregards pleas from his innocent wife even on her deathbed. Lastly, global struggle between West and East, Venice and Turkey is dramatized in the final act in the psychological battle within Othello. His last speech is central, as when he kills himself, it is in the same manner as he once killed the Turk who had beaten the Venetian in Aleppo. Therefore, Othello is reasserting the myth of Venice as a rational and ordered place on the outside, but having a corrupt internal structure; his rational and virtuous self destroys the irrational and cruel Turk within. Through this suicide, he is also acknowledging that he is both Venetian and Turk. Thus, the plays domestic conflicts also dramatize the conflict between places and cultures, as the West felt itself to be in contact with the barbarous East. The precarious ness of a nations identity is expressed through the tragedy of Othello. In conclusion, without the Othello being firmly founded on a military basis, the tragic plot could not be effectively mobilized. The milieu of the soldiers also allows the attitudes and relationships in the play to unfold, and also show how the desired characteristics of a soldier are in direct opposition to acting in a civilized and rational way in situations away from the battlefield.

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Do You Know Your Student Rights

Do You Know Your Student Rights Did you know that college students have more freedoms than high schoolers? And, not just access to better parties and more free food. While you have the same rights to equality and non-discrimination that you had in high school, you have more protections for what you say, what you keep in your dorm, and who can arrest you. In honor of Human Rights Day, here are some of the lesser-known legal protections that you have as a college student. It might just inspire you to go out and take advantage of your newfound freedom. Your College Is Obliged to Keep Its Word Whatever a college prints or says is true, is really so. In the case of Andrà © v. Pace University (1996), the court found in favor of the complainant since she did not receive the advertised level of instruction as stated in the course catalog. The right to college integrity isn’t limited to written publications. Any person with the authority to make a verbal contract (such as a dean, admissions officer, recruiter, or academic counselor), is required to fulfill the terms. Such was the case in Healy vs. Larsson (1974). The complainant was awarded a degree based on a track of courses laid out verbally by his academic advisor, even though they didn’t meet the degree requirements. Protection From Search and Seizure The next time someone demands to see what’s in your dorm room, tell them they don’t have the right – because they don’t. In the 1971 case of Piazzola v. Watkins, the court found that college students don’t give up their right to unlawful search as seizure simply by signing a dorm room contract. In addition, only evidence found by a police officer with a legal warrant to search is admissible in court – and that doesn’t include campus cops. So, unless it’s a city or state police officer with a warrant, you don’t have to let anyone search your room. Control of Your Privacy Under the Family Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), you have the same general privacy protections as any other citizen. However, if you are dependent on your parents’ taxes, your college has the right to send your grades directly to them. In addition, colleges have the right to publish information like your name, phone number, and address in a school directory (without your express permission) unless you specifically request for them not to publish that information. Right to Safety As a student, you have the right to be kept safe from campus injuries caused by facilities, other students, or foreseeable crime circumstances. For example, in the case of Miller v. State (1984), a college student was raped at knife point in her dorm because the school had failed to lock the doors for the night. She won her case, showing that the college has a special duty to protect its students, especially in areas where they make a claim that a student should be safe. Freedom of Speech and Demonstration Under the First Amendment, students are free to share their opinions through physical demonstrations, online activities, or through student groups. Papish v. University of Missouri (1973) clarified this language to include any speech that doesn’t interfere with the rights of other students or the school operation. This right especially protects students who are making statements on the school’s public message boards, intranet, or group publications. In Rosenberger v. University of Virginia(1995) the school was found at fault for refusing to distribute student group funds to a group that created a pro-Christian publication. Due Process If you are involved in a disciplinary action, you have the right to due process. That means you have the right to legal counsel, to view evidence against you, and to have a fair trial. The case of Texas Lightsey v. King (1983) showed that it is unconstitutional, for example, to expel a student for cheating when a disciplinary council finds him or her innocent of the act. So, if you get in trouble, make sure you get the fair trial you deserve. Summary From safety to scheduling, you have way more freedom than you think. Make sure you know your rights before you let your college take any away from you. It’s up to you to stand up and fight for your freedom to share your opinions, protect your privacy, and ensure that your college is everything you think it should be. Have your student rights ever been violated? Please share your stories and opinions in the comments below

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Banking on a Beard Award Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Banking on a Beard Award - Assignment Example Decision making process I have used a decision tree as a support tool to show possible consequences and also chance outcomes, resources costs and losses. I have used the decision identify a most likely strategy to reach a goal (Goetz T 2011). In addition, it is used to calculate the conditional probabilities. Before making any conclusion, I have looked at the scenario at hand and have realized that there are different points that my friend has not synthesized. It is also noticeable that the starting of the restaurant may be due to vague opinions. This is so because research has to be carried out before undertaking any business venture. It emerges that Jennifer, enjoys her current career and her drive are to manage her own business. She is also inclined towards entrepreneur ventures and adds that it is a way of improving her personal value. Her justification and judgment depends on her desire to manage her business. During my analysis, I have realized that sixty percent of business ve ntures into restaurants fail within their first three birthdays. It is also noticeable that if Jennifer starts the restaurant business she will use her saving worth 250 dollars. If Jennifer remains in her current job, she will be eligible for a promotion whereby she will be entitled to fifty percent increase in price. Conclusion According to the decision tree the probability of Jennifer retaining her current job as a banker is 0.333. The probability also of getting a promotion and termination is also 0.333. If Jennifer get a promotion after a year, the amount of money she will get, will be greater than any other option. It is also likely that if she retains her job, she may also retain her current position as a banker. This means, she will not get promotion but, this is not a dreadful thing since she will earn slightly lower, than the restaurant business. She will also retain her savings unlike when she starts the business since she will top up the bank loan. There is a 0.333 chance that Jennifer may also loose her job meaning that she will have no earnings. The other option with Jennifer is to start her restaurant business; this may be risk taking since more than half businesses fail before their 3rd birthday. The probability that the restaurant business will flourish with a huge success is 0.1 or ten percent chance. It is a pretty low chance to act on but if the business succeeds Jennifer will earn a large profit. The profit is greater than her current career job even if she does not get a promotion. The moderate success probability is 0.3; this is thirty in percentage scale. The probability is below the average or half. There is a large probability that the business will close. This accounts to sixty percent. Jennifer should take caution when analyzing or rather making a decision whether or not to start the restaurant business. In order to break even, the restaurant should be big enough to produce sales exceeding $ 200,000 so that she manages to pay the ban k loan, and return the money lent to the business and also get a substantial profit. Recommendations The recommendation that I would give Jennifer regarding her desire to quit her job, and start her restaurant is to remain in her job, and not to start her restaurant. This is because in the banking job, the money she would get annually when promoted much greater than what she would get from the

Monday, February 3, 2020

Operation Management techniques in service organisation Essay

Operation Management techniques in service organisation - Essay Example A few of the theories that have been included in this study include Schmenner’s theory. In his theory he has classified the types of service industries as well. The main argument of this study has been the importance to customer relationship and how this forms the base of success of service industry as a whole. The study has shown the most essential aspect of the success of the business is mainly customer contact and a low degree of differentiation. The major finding also indicate that companies that are innovative but do not have a good relationship and contact with the customers are relatively not as successful as that of companies with better contact with customers. It is essential to understand and as has been discussed by the author as well, there is a vast difference between the manufacturing industry and the service industry and the tactics of one cannot always be useful for the other. Also the lack of knowledge of what would work on retaining customers could cost the companies a great deal of the market as well. The research that has been conducted has been based on a few of the authors. The various other researches which have also been mentioned like Verma (2000), Wright & Mechling (2002) are also very reliable and well designed researches. The research has been strong with a strong link to the literature review and the theories of operations management. The one theory which is acceptable in this research is Schmenner’s typology. The choice of authors is appreciated due to the strong research and contributions that these authors have made to the field of operational management. The main positive aspect of the writing of these authors is the simple and straight forward application and explanation that they provide. Also although they do deal with some extremely important elements of the subject, it is clear that they understand the needs of students