Leading Change by John P. Kotter

Introduction Leading Change is a book written by John Paul Kotter, a Harvard Business School professor and one of the leading scholars in the field of leadership and change, precisely, he talks about how best businesses can implement change. The book consists of 187 pages arranged into 15 chapters, these chapters are placed into three categories: Part I, Part II, and Part III. Each chapter handles a different stage towards implementing change. Leading Change was first published in the United States in1996 by the Harvard Business School Press.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Leading Change by John P. Kotter specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More I chose Leading Change since the book is an international bestseller written by one of the best authors in business management. Having read one of Kotter’s books: The Heart of Change (2002), I was amazed by the depth of knowledge he possesses in how best to manage busine sses towards change. Leading Change was a way of extending my understanding of the same subject. If the book’s title is a hint into the book’s contents, I expect to find useful information in managing and implementing change in an organization. With the ever-increasing need for businesses to effect change in order to remain relevant, I expect the author to give a methodical procedure for implementing change, and, in his trademark style, to provide numerous case studies of how businesses have succeeded by implementing change. Book Summary Kotter begins by informing us of the importance of change in every aspect of life, he mentions globalization as a major force pushing firms towards implementing change (Kotter, p. 10). He takes the long-established differentiation of management against leadership. From this comparison, we learn why Kotter chose Leading Change as his title rather than something like Managing Change for it takes leadership rather than merely management t o steer firms through times of great change. Kotter puts forward 8 steps that are vital to effect change in any firm as outlined below: Establishing a sense of urgency In Chapter 3, Kotter discusses the first stage of effecting change and states that this stage requires a great deal of teamwork, a well-laid out plan, and a readiness to make sacrifices for others. The author posits that a high level of satisfaction and a low level of urgency are the two greatest barriers to effecting change. He further states that a number of firms face satisfaction despite having a highly intelligent and positive-thinking staff. Kotter provides nine strategies of overcoming satisfaction and emphasizes that an effective leader is required to turn these strategies into reality.Advertising Looking for report on business communication? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Creating the Guiding Coalition Chapter 4 begins with an outline of the second sta ge of effecting change. Kotter states that in order to actuate change in any firm, strong guidelines are required. These include the right team of persons, high level of trust, and common vision are vital to the success of this process. Besides, a single leader cannot implement change by himself, it is his duty to pull together a strong team to assist him during the program. Kotter presents four stages needed to create an effective team and states that the most significant features to the success of the team are trust, a shared objective, and sincerity. Develop a vision and strategy Kotter mentions that there are three ways to persuade people into altering their behavior to bring the desired change in an organization, these methods are authoritarian, micromanagement, and vision. Vision clarifies the need for change and is a core element to all great leadership. He mentions the features of a viable vision and provides a method of implementing the vision successfully. Communicate the change vision Kottler stresses the importance of communication on the road towards change. Communication is key to the success of any change strategy adopted for it creates understanding among the team members implementing the change. He writes that important information must be passed over repeatedly in different ways. Most importantly, people’s daily communication requirements have to reflect the fresh way of thinking, he quotes Mahatma Gandhi that leaders must â€Å"be the change they wish to see† (Kotter, pp. 89). Empower employees for broad-based action This appears in chapter 8 and mainly dwells on the concept of staff empowerment. Kotter mentions eliminating obstacles that will impede the change efforts. Top-level management can get rid of these barriers by ensuring that the present framework does not hinder the vision of change. By aligning the present organizational framework with vision, the change process can be more successful. Kotter also mentions the impo rtance of workforce education relating to empowerment: education empowers the employees and increases the likelihood of success of the change program. Generate short-term wins The sixth stage in the implementation of change, which appears in chapter 9, calls on the generation of immediate successes to demonstrate the importance of change to the firm and to cheer on the team implementing change.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Leading Change by John P. Kotter specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Kotter says that these short-term wins increase the chances of completing the change process, however, they are only helpful if they are noticeable to many, the terms are straight, and the success is closely associated with the change process. A success generated to satisfy the requirements creates joy, belief, and drive. So how can this be done? Kotter states that the solution to achieving success is planning instead of dep ending on prayers, he differentiates between â€Å"gimmick wins† and tangible short-term successes (Kotter, pp. 191). Kotter states that even though short-term gimmicks can be helpful for a while, bosses must not harm the firm’s future by effecting short-term victories. In summary, short-term wins should not be given prominence to long-term change visions. Consolidate gains and produce more change In the seventh stage, Kotter outlines five phases to achieving victory in change programs. The first step is to initiate intricate and tough changes in the firm, then seek for more assistance to make sure the program succeeds. Thirdly, the senior managers must carry on providing a strong emphasis on the reason for the change program, next, decentralization of the programs is vital for it allows management to focus on the reason for the change program and increases their chances of success. The final step is to get rid of unnecessary credits or satisfaction. Anchor new approac hes in the culture The final step begins in chapter 10 and mainly deals with the dangers of failing to implement change programs, Kotter offers a formula for implementing change. Failing to adopt change programs can lead to a total failure in a company, and the key to a permanent change in an organization not only relies on changing vision or mission statements or even the instruction manuals, but in changing the company customs. Critical thinking Leading Change continues to be an accepted book on the methods of steering an organization towards change. Kotter offers numerous ideas and instructions for the leader to remember, and he presents these ideas in easy-to-understand stages. While there are no references to these ideas, much of what he presents corresponds to modern studies and theories in leadership and organizational behavior. Kotter also does an impressive job by giving us a distinction between leaders and managers, and the understanding that ICT has permanently changed so ciety by accelerating change, hence the urgent need for managers to learn how to lead their organizations towards change.Advertising Looking for report on business communication? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Clearly, this book is meant for senior managers trying to effect change in large organizations, however, I also found some information that can be applied in smaller firms. Leading Change is a must-read for business executives, especially in the 21st century where every aspect of the corporate world is continually undergoing change. The book has its downside too. It lacks detail, supporting data and research studies to compliment the ideas presented. Kotter talks about large tectonic changes in the marketplace, but does not include supporting evidence. Some of the recommendations that he presents are difficult to understand too, for example, he mentions that allowing a financial loss will help validate the urgency for change, this idea might herald the downfall of a stable business or organization. He also mentions that non-managerial employees have been trained to not be accountable, a statement many will dismiss as fallacy. The book appears to be a compilation of essays on managin g change in organizations rather that a complete book on leading change. Kotter discusses numerous examples of change programs that failed with less mention of practical strategies and positive examples. My concern while reading the book was that due to the lack of details and supporting evidence, it may be used by a mean or unethical manager to defend oppressive demands that may eventually damage an organization. Recommendation I would recommend the book to any manager trying to lead the firm through change as it gives a simplified procedure of going about this process. The author presents the change program in simple packets of ideas with stages, steps and error lists that are easy to remember. The eight stages of change put forward offer timely and valuable information by a man who has a 25-year experience working with corporations to create long-term changes. Conclusion I learnt a couple of ideas that could change my life immensely, especially in the corporate world. I saw the n eed to distinguish between management and leadership, and that management alone cannot run an organization effectively, rather, leadership is the most important trait a manager should possess. I also learnt of the importance of adopting change programs not only in the corporate world, but also in non-business environments. The world around us is undergoing constant change, and unless we adopt ourselves to it, we may find ourselves out of place, similar to a business that fails to implement change programs and finds itself unable to compete effectively with other firms on a number of platforms. Finally, I learnt the importance of sacrifice in the road to achieving a common goal. Works Cited Kotter, John Paul. Leading Change. Boston: Harvard Business School Press, 1996. This report on Leading Change by John P. Kotter was written and submitted by user Carmelo Y. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Russia and Seats Ii. Members Essay

Russia and Seats Ii. Members Essay Russia and Seats Ii. Members Essay 1. Russia History a. Emergence of Moscow b. Path to Revolution i. Lower Class Freedom ii. Nicholas II reign iii. Bolsheviks vs: Menshiviks c. The Soviet Era i. Lenins Death ii. Second World War d. Post Communism 2. Legal Issues a. Logging in Khimki Forest b. Russian NGO’s c. Russian Democratic Reform 1. Russian Government a. Notable dates i. Independence from Soviet Union- August 24, 1991 ii. Constitution adopted- December 12, 1993 b. The Executive Branch i. Presidential Powers 1. Determines basic direction of Russia’s domestic and foreign policy 2. Appoints ambassadors upon consultation with legislature 3. Conducts international talks 4. Signs international treaties 5. Issues decrees and directives that have the force of law without legislative review a. Constitution notes that they must not contravene that document or other laws 6. Schedules referendums 7. Submits draft laws to State Duma ii. Removal of President 1. Commits â€Å"grave crimes† or treason 2. State Duma files impeachment charges with the parliament upper house, Fed Council a. Must be confirmed by ruling of Supreme Court 3. Charges must be adopted by a special commission of the State Duma and confirmed by at least 2/3 of State Duma deputies a. 2/3 vote of Fed Council is required 4. If president is removed, prime minister is to temporarily assume duties a. President election must be held within three months b. Constitution does not provide for vice president iii. Presidential Elections 1. Constitution sets few requirements for presidential elections a. Term is 4 years b. May only serve 2 terms 2. Candidate requirements a. Russian citizen b. At least 35 years old c. Resident of the country for at least ten years 3. The Law on Presidential Elections: establishes legal basis for presidential elections a. Alterations included reduction in the number of signatures required to register a candidate from 2 million to 1 million i. Hailed by international analysts as a major step toward democratization b. Parties, blocs, and voters’ groups register with Central Electoral Commission (CEC) and designate their candidates c. 7% of signatures only to come from single federal jurisdiction d. The Legislative Branch i. Federal Assembly 1. Upper house a. The Federal Council i. 166 seats ii. members appointed by the top executive and legislative officials in each of the 83 federal administrative units iii. members serve four year terms 2. Lower house a. State Duma i. 450 seats ii. members elected by proportional representation from party lists winning at least 7% of the vote ii. members serve four year terms d. The Judicial Branch i. Constitutional Court; Supreme Court; Supreme Arbitration Court ii. judges for all courts are appointed for life by the Federation Council on the recommendation of the president 1. Marketing in Russia a. Melting pot of cultures- Slavic, Turkic, Finno-Ugric, etc. b. Markets are so dynamic that selling points that work today may not tomorrow c. No reliable national statistics i. Official data may be wildly inaccurate ii. Because there is so little reliable info to draw predictions from, marketing in Russia is mostly qualitative rather than quantitative d. Poor Advertising i. Most of Russian advertisers do not have an idea of what good advertising means ii. President of Russian chapter of International Advertising Association 2. â€Å"Want to start thinking in other ways but have not started† iii. Government is

Picasso at the Lapin Agile by Steve Martin

Picasso at the Lapin Agile by Steve Martin Picasso at the Lapin Agile is written by the iconic comedian/actor/screenwriter/banjo aficionado Steve Martin. Set in a Parisian bar at the beginning of the 20th century (1904 to be more precise), the play imagines a comical encounter between Pablo Picasso and Albert Einstein, both of whom are in their early twenties and fully aware of their amazing potential. In addition to the two historical figures, the play is also populated with an amusingly incontinent barfly (Gaston), a gullible yet lovable bartender (Freddy), a wise waitress (Germaine), along with a few surprises that trounce in and out of the Lapin Agile. The play takes place in one non-stop scene, lasting approximately 80 to 90 minutes. There isnt much plot or conflict; however, there is a satisfying combination of whimsical nonsense and philosophic conversation. The Meeting of the Minds: How to spark the interest of the audience: Bring two (or more) historical figures together for the first time. Plays such as Picasso at the Lapin Agile belong to a genre all their own. In some cases, the fictionalized dialogue is rooted in an actual event, such as (four music legends for the price of one Broadway show). More imaginative revisions of history include plays such as The Meeting, a fabricated yet fascinating discussion between Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. One could also compare Martins play to more serious fare, such as Michael Frayns Copenhagen (which focuses on science and morality) and John Logans Red (which focuses on art and identity). However, Martins play rarely takes itself as seriously as the aforementioned dramas. Audience members who dont want to be bogged down with overly-academic monologs and excruciating historical accuracy will be charmed when they discover that Steve Martins work just skims the surface of much deeper intellectual waters. (If you want more depth in your theater, visit Tom Stoppard.) Low Comedy Vs. High Comedy Steve Martins comic stylings cover a broad range. He isnt above a fart joke, as indicated by his performance in the adolescent-pandering remake of The Pink Panther. However, as a writer, he is also capable of lofty, high-brow material. For example, his 1980s film Roxanne, screenplay by Martin, wonderfully adapted Cyrano de Bergerac setting the love story in a small Colorado town, circa 1980s. The protagonist, a long-nosed firefighter, delivers a remarkable monolog, an extensive list of self-insults about his own nose. The speech is hysterical to contemporary audiences, yet it also harkens back to the source material in clever ways. Martins versatility is exemplified when one compares his classic comedy The Jerk to his novel, a very subtle blend of humor and angst. The opening moments of Picasso at the Lapin Agile inform the audience that this play will be making several detours into the land of silliness. Albert Einstein walks into the bar, and when he identifies himself, the fourth wall is broken: Einstein: My name is Albert Einstein.Freddy: You cant be. You just cant be.Einstein: Sorry, Im not myself today. (He fluffs his hair, making himself look like Einstein.) Better?Freddy: No, no, thats not what I mean. In order of appearance.Einstein: Come again?Freddy: In order of appearance. youre not third. (Taking playbill from audience member.) Youre fourth. It says so right here: Cast in order of appearance. So, from the beginning, the audience is asked not to take this play too seriously. Presumably, this is when snobby historians walk out of the theater in a huff, leaving the rest of us to enjoy the story. Meet Einstein: Einstein stops in for a drink while waiting to meet his date (who will be meeting him at a different bar). To pass the time, happily listens to the locals converse, occasionally weighing in his perspective. When a young woman enters the bar and asks if Picasso has arrived yet, Einstein becomes curious about the artist. When he looks at a small piece of paper with a doodle by Picasso he says, I never thought the twentieth century would be handed to me so casually. However, it is up to the reader (or the actor) to decide how sincere or sarcastic Einstein is about the importance of Picassos work. For the most part, Einstein exhibits amusement. While the supporting characters bicker about the beauty of painting, Einstein knows that his scientific equations have a beauty of their own, one that will change humanitys perception of its place in the universe. Yet, he is not too boastful or arrogant, merely playful and enthusiastic about the 20th century. Meet Picasso: Did someone say arrogant? Martins portrayal of the egotistical Spanish artist isnt too far removed from other depictions, Anthony Hopkins, in the film Surviving Picasso, fills his characterization with machismo, passion, and blatant selfishness. So too is Martins, Picasso. However, this younger portrayal is feisty and funny, and more than a bit insecure when his rival Matisse enters the conversation. Picasso is a ladys, man. He is blatant about his obsession with the opposite sex, and he is also unrepentant about casting women aside once he has used them physically and emotionally. One of the most insightful monologs is delivered by the waitress, Germaine. She chastises him thoroughly for his misogynist ways, but it seems that Picasso is happy to listen to the criticism. As long as the conversation is about m, he is happy! Dueling with Pencils: Each characters high level of self-confidence draws him to one another, and the most engaging scene of the play takes place when Picasso and Einstein challenge each other to an artistic duel. They both dramatically raise a pencil. Picasso begins to draw. Einstein writes a formula. Both creative products, they claim, are beautiful. Overall, the play is light-hearted with a few dashes of intellectual moments for the audience to contemplate afterward. As one would hope from a play by Steve Martin there are more than a few quirky surprises, one of the zaniest being an oddball character named Schmendiman who purports to be as great as Einstein and Picasso, but who instead is simply a wild and crazy guy.

Risk Managment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Risk Managment - Essay Example The purpose of risk management centres not in eliminating risk, but to comprehend risk so that the organization can take advantage of the upside and reduce the downside. Risk management cannot be considered as an end in and of itself, but rather forms part of sound organizational practices detailing planning, program appraisal, process improvement, preparedness, and budget priority development. The core principles guiding effective risk management entail transparency, effectiveness, urgency, flexibility, adaptability, practicality, customization, robustness, synergy, and transparency. The key areas in risk management include fund (governance risk); strategy (asset allocation risk); implementation (manager risk and Implementation risk), and review (monitoring risk). Given the uncertainties connected to estimating the costs and benefits, the function of risk management strongly connected to process rather than outcome. Cost benefit analysis is a useful tool for structuring, appraising, and presenting the cost and benefits, as well as the pros and cons on interventions. This demands a coherent methodological, especially in data-restricted environments. In the context of risk management, two prominent issues deserve close attention when undertaking risk management: assessment of risk, whereby the analysis should be undertaken in a â€Å"stochastic way so as to account for the nature of exposure impacts† (Moller 2011, p.2). Second, the assessment of averted risks, whereby benefits represent risks avoided. The core benefits derived from investment in risk management centres on the minimization of future impacts and losses. Risk management plans may detail set functions, areas, activities, projects or processes that are consistent with the organization’s risk management strategy. In order to manage risk, companies should first comprehend the risks that they may be

Geographical Implications in the Movie A River Runs Through It Review

Geographical Implications in the A River Runs Through It - Movie Review Example This paper illustrates that the movie ‘A River Runs Through It'set features a number of spectacular geographical backgrounds that would amaze even the hard-hearted. One of these spectacular scenes that I just have to begin with is the part where the two brothers are fly-fishing. The producers made the best out of these amazing geographical scenes by using a combination of effective camera positioning to capture the background and adjacent lighting. As included in the original novel written by Norman MacLean back in 1976, the film claims to have been acted on the Blackfoot River in Montana, a geographical feature stretching from the continental divide in Lewis all the way to Clark Fork covering an average of 120 kilometers. Though this is not necessarily included in the movie, the river draws its waters from both springs and snow water further up in western Montana. The setting of the movie particularly the fly fishing scene displays one of the geographical features that are com mon with rivers: erosion. We see that most of the riverbank is covered with smoothened rocks ranging from small rocks to large ones. This can be attributed to the rivers’ erosive nature during transportation be it due to hydraulic action, abrasion or corrosion, corrosion or attrition. The production team in this movie was probably motivated by the fact that other than the information received from the cast, the environment would also be in a position to ‘show off’ and reveal a beautiful nature vested in our country. Moving on to yet another spectacular scene chosen by the production team, we find geographical features like river rapids being applied when the boys get a little naughty with the boat. The dual in their teenage row down this rigorous river in such movements that depict that the riverbed is not regular; this is because of the rapids below. These geographical features are common in riverbeds as the flow moves downstream.

Assess the Ontological Argument Essay Example for Free

Assess the Ontological Argument Essay The ontological argument was first formulated by St. Anselm in the 11th century. It argues the existence of God from a deductive and a priori stance. God is a being than which none greater can be conceived. This is the response given by St Anselm to the fool in the psalm who believed there was no God. St Anselm the Archbishop of Canterbury and of the Benedictine Order explained that for God to exist in the mind he would not be the greatest being. However were God to exist in the mind and reality this would make a being ‘than which none greater can be conceived’, this means God must exist. This demonstration for the existence of God was immediately criticised by his contemporary Gaunilon. He argued that Anselm’s argument could easily be used to prove the existence of many different beings or even places. In Gaunilon’s ‘response on the behalf of the fool’, he argued that he could conceive of a perfect island ‘blessed with all manners of delight’, yet it did not mean it must exist. However, Anselm responded to this claim arguing that a perfect island contains contingency; it is dependent, whereas God possesses aseity, is self-sufficient. This means that God’s existence is therefore, necessary, independent. Descartes famously wrote his version of the ontological argument in the ‘Meditations’ in which he argued that God is an infinite being, perfect. For God to remain perfect he must then retain existence. He used the illustration of a triangle with three angles which all add up to 180 degrees. This quality of the triangle allows the triangle to be perfect and to be defined as a triangle. If the angles were taken away from the triangle it would no longer be a triangle. This is similar as to God; he could not be God if he did not exist. This proves according to Descartes that God’s existence is necessary. But, it can be argued that the ontological argument is using an analytic format to define God as existing. Immanuel Kant refutes this as he believes that existence as a predicate or property cannot define God. For instance, the analytic statement ‘a spinster is an unmarried woman’ is tautological and true by definition. But if you were to add the predicate existence it would have no direct effect on the statement, this means that existence cannot be a property of God. David Hume also went on to support this idea, as we cannot prove that existence is even a positive attribute, we know that ‘evil’ exists yet could this ‘existence’ be the same as the ‘existence’ of God? They would argue that the ontological argument failed to understand and make existence a meaning of God. However, there have been responses by other philosophers such as Frege who argues that existence is actually a first level predicate which is able to explain the second level predicate. For instance, the ‘greenness of the apple’ is known through our senses but by adding ‘the greenness exists’ we are able to understand that such a predicate exists in reality. This means that ‘God exists’ allows us to understand that such a being as powerful as God does exist in reality as well as the mind. However from an empirical view, Thomas Aquinas would argue that the flaw in the ontological arguments attempt to demonstrate God’s existence stems from the fact that Anselm wanted to argue that God’s existence can be proven from ‘de dicto’ instead of what is ‘real’, and this caused the argument to be weak. On the other hand, some will still argue that St Anselm and the ontological argument is still strong in the second half, ‘God is a necessary being’. This is due to the fact that only God’s existence can be either necessary or impossible and because it is possible, God is proven to exist. To evaluate the whole ontological arguments’ attempt to prove and demonstrate God’s existence, it is clear due to the deductive stance, it shouldn’t be argued as the conclusion drawn must be ‘God is a necessary being’, ‘God is a being than which none greater can be conceived’. But as soon as you understand that definition you will find that it could be used to prove the existence of many things and beings. The ontological argument proves the idea that if God exists he is going to be a necessary being, but it does not prove that he actually does exist. Therefore as Richard Dawkins would describe it ‘infinite, playground argument’ and does not demonstrate God’s existence.

Symbols and Symbolism in Hawthornes Scarlet Letter - The Symbol of Pearl :: Scarlet Letter essays

The Symbol of Pearl In Nathaniel Hawthorne's, The Scarlet Letter, Pearl, is the human symbol of the sin of adultery in the fact that she leads her mother, Hester Prynne, and Arthur Dimmesdale to accept and admit to their sin. Pearl is the beautiful daughter of Hester and Dimmesdale. She is the living symbol of the scarlet letter and has unique traits that make her sometimes appear as a demon. Her love for nature and freedom, her spirit, her wildness, her loneliness and separation from the world, her curiosity, and her innocent but symbolic comments reveal her distinct personality. Pearl senses and knows things she should not, making her a symbol. Pearl is also the living symbol of Hester and Dimmesdale's connection, as displayed in the following passage. "In her was visible the tie that united them. She had been offered to the world, these seven years past, as the living hieroglyphic, in which was revealed the secret they so darkly sought to hide, -- all written in this symbol, -- all plainly manifest, -- had there been a prophet or magician skilled to read the character of flame! And Pearl was the oneness of their being"(Hawthorne 141). Pearl is a beautiful, misbehaved child. The first thing that Pearl ever notices is her mother's 'A' across her chest. As a child, Pearl throws rocks at the scarlet letter, making a game out it. Growing up, Pearl is not accepted by anyone. She screams at other children, knowing that they do not accept her. Not knowing what a true friend is, she makes imaginary enemies to fight with. In The Scarlet Letter, Pearl is referred to as "one of those naughty elfs or fairies or...a little bird of scarlet plumage" (Hawthorne 97). The comparison of Pearl to an elf or fairies adds a sense of alienation and myster y to her personality. When she is compared to a red bird, the emphasis of color increases the visual sense of Pearl's character, and the comparison to a bird indicates that she is full of wild energy. (Chiquita) Initially Pearl symbolizes the shame of Hester's public punishment for adultery. Then as Pearl grew older, she symbolizes the wreck of Hester's life and mental state by harassing her mother over the scarlet 'A' which is embroidered on her dress (Yang). Pearl is a symbol for Hester's scarlet letter.

Smiling These Days

Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and How to Influence People is the veritable how-to guide of relationships, full of tips regarding interpersonal relationship ranging from how to appease the saleslady who has been on her feet all day into letting you see just one more box of shoes, to becoming a leader of your select group without raising any ire or offense, even the suspicion that you’re vying for that administrative spot. The book teaches the reader about handling people, to making them like you, and to swaying people to your thinking.Handed to me some years ago by a well-meaning adult, I thumbed through the book rather dubiously, nonetheless eager to get from it what I can. Dale Carnegie’s self-help book changed my life, in that it realized more than its promise of winning me friends and influencing people – the book allowed me to see, quite clearly, that people nowadays are not so open to your smiles and your and your interpersonal maneuvering, no ma tter how sincere and well-meaning you may be.Subliminal messages of kindness and camaraderie don’t go too well with people these days, compared to the in-text testimonials of people from fifty years before. To paraphrase a popular saying, the road to good intentions is paved with practiced smiles and the inevitable ire you’ll raise with all those smiles. Do not offend, says the book, be sincere about this. For example, the book encourages the reader to, well, smile, and do it with your heart and the purest of your intentions shining through.Take that saleslady for example: at the end of both your days, you give her a smile, and she forgets herself and scowls at you, perhaps thinking that you are another demanding customer, before she puts up the trained facade of fake cheerfulness and asks you, â€Å"What can I do for you, ma’am? † You attempt to finagle the cooperation of a colleague by underscoring his achievements, and then glossing over your own. Most ambitious individuals think of your praise as their right, and nod their acknowledgement, and move on, uninfluenced. It seems that any act of kindness will be misconstrued as one with dubious intentions.It becomes more apparent than ever before how cynical, jaded and world-weary human beings have become, until you smile at their direction for no apparent reason, with no agenda in mind. You are immediately treated with speculation and doubt, that with one smile, people see a wealth of malevolent planning and less-than-decent intentions behind it. And you can’t blame your skeptical audience. Practice the tenets of the book all you want, but then, you still end up following dictates regarding how to treat people better, mostly because you want something from them – be it friendship, agreement, respect or obedience.Ironically, in our desire to reach out to people with no malice, we do so motivated by our needs and demands from them. Basically, How to Win Friends and Influ ence People is the benevolent person’s guide to taking over the world, in his own way. And maybe therein lies the basic flaw in my character, and in all the other people I know who say that this book has â€Å"failed† them too, that perhaps I am not well-meaning enough for this, not considerate, not kind enough. And maybe, I, too, am far too cynical to believe that this book could actually work.But then the book can teach you to transcend this, as it claims to be a guide to making friends, to ensuring harmonious relationships between strangers, colleagues, friends and family. It enumerates and elaborates techniques and devices, from that sincere smile, to appreciation and praise, to downplaying your own merits in order to encourage the productivity of others – it is a self-help book about proper interaction with your fellow man. And perhaps that is the book’s ultimate failure, allowing us to see how cynical and jaded this world has become: that we actuall y need a self-help book to teach us how to be decent human beings.

Basic Kitchen Organization

Basic Kitchen Organization Food Processing Kitchen (Commissary Kitchen) -In large operations, it is a kitchen for the processing of all vegetables, salads and fruits -Purpose: to wash peel and sanitize and cut all raw products, increase hygienic and sanitary standards of a kitchen, reduce waste Cold/Pantry Kitchen (Garde Manger) -Produces all cold food items – salads, dressings, cold platters, terrines, pates, sushi/sashimi, cheese, fruits,etc. -If there is no in-house butchery, also responsible for processing and portioning all meat, fish and seafood items Butchery In charge of processing and portioning all meat, fish, and seafood -In large operations, it will also produce processed meats and seafood items such as sausages, smoked ham, cooked ham, smoked fish and seafood, etc. Main Kitchen -In charge of producing hot dishes for the various outlets, hot basic sauces for all operations -If there is no banquet kitchen, it will also produce the hot food for banquet and catering f unctions -May also provide the staff food in certain operations Banquet Kitchen -Generally, is a finishing kitchen – a satellite kitchen for garnishing, final sauces and service -Large operations may have this as a full kitchenRestaurant Kitchen -Generally, finishing kitchens, except specialty kitchens such as Western Fine Dining, Japanese, Chinese, etc. -Coffee Shop Classified here. Room Service Kitchen -Room service food is generally provided by individual restaurant kitchens -Larger operations have a separate room service kitchen -Offer a la carte items from all their restaurants Staff Canteen -Large operations generally have a small staff canteen -Partly supported by the main kitchen, cold kitchen, and butchery. Pastry and bakery provide desserts and breads.Pastry Kitchen -In charge of producing all types of cold, warm and frozen desserts (pralines, cookies, sugar work, marzipan work, etc. ) Bakery -In charge of all baking requirements such as breads, crusts and doughs. K itchen Organization Chart Kitchen Brigade Corporate Chef -Highest position for a chef in a hotel chain or chain of restaurants. -Responsible for overseeing standards in all hotels/restaurants in that chain -Creates new food concept ideas for all hotels or certain regions -Oversees new hotels and renovations Executive Chef (Chef de Cuisine) Administrative and operational responsibility for all daily kitchen operations on one hotel -Ensures that all supply requirements for all operations are in place -Develops and implements new menus, promotions and festivals -Evaluates based on recommendations, promotes or dismisses staff -Directly interacts with banquet and sales and marketing to produce special menus for functions or groups staying in the hotel -Updates the food and beverage director -Responsible for the monthly food cost of his/her department Executive Sous Chef (Working Chef) -Immediate assistant of the EC -Directly supervises all operational activities In charge of certain admi nistrative work such as duty rosters, evaluation of his/her immediate subordinates, coordination for function set ups, or special promotional setups. Sous Chef -Commonly in charge of an outlet kitchen or section -Run directly the day-to-day of outlet operations -Directly coordinate with the Executive Sous-Chef -Responsible for supplies, proper staffing, and food quality -Appraise and interview new staff and recommend promotions and dismissal of staff. Section Chef – Chef de Partie -Sauce Cook – Saucier oPrepares all meat, game, poultry, fish and warm appetizers w/ hot/warm sauces -Broiler Cook – Rotisseur All grilled dishes, roasts, and dishes that are oven roasted or deep-fat fried -A la Carte Cook – Restaurteur oPrepares al a carte dishes -Fish Cook – Poissonier oRelieves the sauce cook from the preparation of fish and seafood dishes -Vegetable Cook – Entremetier oPreparation of soups, vegetables, potatoes, pasta, warm cheese and egg dishe s -Pantry Cook – Garde Manger oSupervises all cold food preparations: Salads, cold appetizer, dressings cold sauces, buffet platters and decorations. oIf there is no butchery, bones and portions all meat, game, poultry, and fish oResponsible for monitoring all chillers and freezers Butcher – Boucher de Cuisine oHandles meat, fish and seafood, if they are professionally trained butchers, also prepare processed meats -Swing Chef – Chef Tournant oReliever for the Chefs de Partie and generally an experienced chef -Duty Cook – Chef de Garde oFor restaurants with a split shift – stays on duty during the lean afternoon hours or late evening hours -Dietitian – Dietetcien oAdvisory position – prepares special diet menus and calculates nutritional values for guests with special needs -Demi-Chef oPosition between rank and file and supervisor Stronger cook than a commis, but not experienced enough to be a chef de partie oTakes on supervisory func tions of chef de partie in their absence -Staff Cook – Cuisinier pour le personnel oPrepares the meals for the staff if there is a staff kitchen Pastry, Confisserie and Bakery -Pastry Chef – Patissier oPrepares cold, warm and frozen sweet dishes as well as baked items if there is no bakeshop in the operation oSupervises all necessary ingredient requisitions, evaluation, hiring and dismissal of the staff oReports directly to the executive chef, coordinates with the executive-sous chef -Confisseur Prepares all specialties with chocolate and special cookies (petit-fours) oSpecialist in sugar and marzipan work -Chief Baker – Boulanger oResponsible for all bread and dough preparation required by the pastry and kitchen Cooking Methods and Techniques 14 Cooking Methods MethodWhere it’s doneTemperature BlanchingStove Deep-Fat FryerWater: 100Â °C Oil: 130Â °C-150Â °C PoachingStove/OvenStove: 65Â °C-80Â °C Oven: 165Â °C Boiling or SimmeringStoveBoiling: 100Â °C Simmering: 95Â °C – 98Â °C SteamingStove/Steamer100Â °C – 120Â °C Deep Fat FryingDeep Fat Fryer170Â °C – 180Â °CSauteing or Pan-FryingStove165Â °C – 200Â °C GrillingGrill240Â °C – 190Â °C Gratinate or Au GratinOven/Salamander240Â °C – 280Â °C BakingOven130Â °C – 260Â °C RoastingOven200Â °C – 220Â °C Finishing: 180Â °C Butter RoastingOvenStart: 140Â °C Finish: 160Â °C Braising/GlazingOven Meat Oven Vegetables Start: 200Â °C Cook: 160Â °C – 180Â °C Start: 140Â °C Finish: 160Â °C Glazing VegetablesStoveCook: 95Â °C – 98Â °C StewingStove95Â °C – 98Â °C Blanching -Cooking method used to pre-cook, cook or sanitize an ingredient for another cooking method or for preservation oAlternative method for blanching in hot water is steaming Method – can either be starting with cold or hot water or in oil -Why do we blanch: oTo clean and sanitize oTo destroy enzymes oTo prevent ingred ients from sticking oTo improve the color of ingredients oTo pre-cook ingredients for another method oTo pre-cook an ingredient for preserving Poaching -For cooking tender ingredients which are high in protein at a low temperature (65Â °C – 80Â °C) -Where do we poach: oOn the stove, in liquid oOn the stove, in a water bath oIn the oven, in a water bath oIn a low/high pressure steamer in -How do we poach: oPoach, Floating in liquid oPoach in shallow Liquid Poach in a water bath with stirring oPoach in a water bath without stirring -To prevent tender meat parts, fish, egg and recipes containing egg from being over cooked and broken apart Boiling or Simmering -Boiling or simmering starting with cold water with a lid oFor Dried Vegetables, Potatoes and legumes oFor vegetable side dishes and soups (food items which are not delicate and do not change shape) oSo food can further absorb water and tenderize faster -Boiling and simmering without a lid oFor vegetables and starch based recipes, 98Â °C – 100Â °C oVegetable side dishes, rice dishes, pasta dishes and eggs To achieve rapid boiling point so that ingredients cook faster without excessive loss of nutrients and flavors -Simmering oFor stocks and soups, 95Â °C – 98Â °C oSimmer with out a lid to monitor liquids oStocks and clear soups become cloudy when boiled -Simmering starting with hot water with a lid oFor Meat, poultry, variety meats, fowl oStews, tongue, boiled beef, oThese ingredients don’t need to be monitored as they are stewed and contain sauce oSimmer with a lid to prevent excessive evaporation Steaming -For items that you usually poach, you can also steam Reduced cooking time with heat above 100Â °C retains flavor, color and nutrients better -Food stays drier and can immediately be used for further processing -Preserves ingredient shape very well as there is no agitation -Different kinds of ingredients can be cooked at the same time without absorbing each others flavor -Disadvantage: there is no liquid to prepare the sauce from Deep-Fat Frying -Meat, fish, poultry, vegetables, potato, fruits, mushrooms, pastries -Done in plant fat (shortening) at 170Â °C – 180Â °C -Basic rules in deep fat frying: oUse only heat-resistant and non-foamy oils Ensure proper temperature at 170Â °C – 180Â °C and never heat oil above 200Â °C oIf not in use, turn fryer temperature down to 90Â °C oNever season with salt or any other seasoning above the deep fat fryer oNever fry fish and pastry items in the same oil than other products oNever cover the deep fat fryer when in use oNever cover deep fat-fried foods as they become soggy oEveryday, filter fryer oil and clean deep fat fryer to remove frying particles which have settled on the bottom of the fryer oNever use oil that foams and causes eye and lung irritation smoke at 180Â °C Sauteing (Pan Frying) in a Stainless steel pan Use a stainless steel pan to produce pan drippings oSo you can deglaze the pan drippings oAdd flavor and color to the sauce Sauteing (Pan Frying) in a Non-Stick pan -Sauteing meat, vegetables, potatoes, mushrooms, eggs, etc. -Use a non-stick pan when sauteing ingredient that do not need a sauce to be made after. -Can also be done on a flat-top griddle, but like the non-stick pan, you cannot produce any sauce after Grilling and Broiling -For portioned and generally marinated meat, fish, seafood, poultry, vegetables, potato and mushrooms. Ingredients may be wrapped in aluminum oil -Healthy cooking method – fat-free – but it is important not to burn ingredients because this can produce carcinogens Gratinating or Au Gratin -Method used for finishing, food is already generally cooked. -Food is always covered with ingredients that brown well (ex. egg & cream, cheese, batters, sauces, etc. ) -After applying the coating or crust, ingredients are browned under the salamander or in the oven under high upper heat -Eggs, soups, sauces, cheese, fish, sea food, poultry, meat, pasta, vegetables, potatoes and desserts are commonly gratinated -Browning is done for flavor and presentationBaking -Mainly used in the hot kitchen to bake meat in a dough, crust or w/ savory souffles and savory starts -Mainly used in the pastry and bakery in the production Roasting in the oven -Done with tender and large pieces of meat which are only cut after cooking -Potatoes may also be roasted -Tender meat parts are roasted as the proteins are soft and do not require liquid to tenderize hem -Important that there is enough fat, to prevent drying out Braising in the oven -Food is cooked in a small amount of liquid in the oven or in a pressure cooker -Used for meat and fowl with high connective tissue Generally ingredients are braised whole and cut before serving -Slow cooking method where food is gently cooked in the oven over a long period of time where the product is tenderized Glazing of vegetables -Commonly for root, knob and fruit vegetables, also chest nuts and water chestnuts Glazing of White Meat -For white meat and poultry with low connective tissue -When glazing white meats, the product will have a shiny brown crust and moist, tender meats due to the slow cooking processStewing meat on the stove -Used for pre-cut meat or poultry with high connective tissue -Generally stewed with a large amount of liquid -Usually national recipes of countries, with many variations -Onions usually an ingredient, it is important to properly glaze them so they release the juices which become syrupy and eventually turn brownish Stewing of fruits and vegetables -Usually vegetables from the fruit vegetable family -Generally used to make compotes, fruit puree or fruit sauce

Conservation of Natural Resources Essays

Conservation of Natural Resources Essays Conservation of Natural Resources Essay Conservation of Natural Resources Essay Soils Conservation:Easier Soil is the loose top layer of our planets crust. It is dirt or earth in which plant life can grow. Harder Soil covers a major portion of the earths land surface. It is an important natural resource that either directly or indirectly supports most of the planets life. Life here depends upon soil for food. Plants are rooted in soil and obtain needed nutrients there. Animals get their nutrients from plants or from other animals that eat plants. Many animals make their homes or are sheltered in the soil. Microbes in the soil cause the breakdown and decay of dead organisms, a process that in turn adds more nutrients to the soil. Soil is a mixture of mineral and organic materials plus air and water. The contents of soil varies in different locations and is constantly changing. There are many different kinds and types of soils. Each has certain characteristics including a specific color and composition. Different kinds of soils support the growth of different types of plants and also determine how well that plant life grows. Soil is formed slowly, but can be easily destroyed. Therefore, soil conservation is important for continued support of life. Forest Conservation: CONSERVATION OF forest is certainly a necessity that requires to be addressed as a priority. For the survival of human beings, a holistic approach is required to be adopted as regards protection of the plant kingdom as well as the wildlife with regard to the peaceful and mutually beneficial co-existence of all. To prevent any kind of ecological imbalance a very pragmatic action plan has to be formulated. Towards achieving this many legislation have been enacted in India and elsewhere. At the international level also the world communities, being concerned with the deteriorating situation worldwide, have joined hands towards finding a lasting and sustainable solution by deliberating on the subject in various conventions like that in Rio-de Janeiro and the latest Doha round of talks. These are truly welcome moves taken by the world community. Coming back to India, there are legislations galore to deal with the situation by way of wildlife protection, forest conservation, environment protection laws etc. No doubt, the aims and object of such legislations are in tune with the call of the hour. Forests are being denuded haphazardly. Deforestation in a rampant manner by various elements has depleted the forest areas forcing the wild life to lesser domains and as a result of this rampage of human habitat by wild pachyderms and other animals have become a regular phenomenon in certain areas. Forests are being encroached by people who have been displaced from their original habitat for various reasons like construction of huge electricity generating dams, ethnic clashes, floods caused by breach of river embankments and dams etc. Being forced to the wall by making these people devoid of shelter, at a time when even the United Nations Organisation gives much priority to providing shelter to the homeless, they are compelled to establish their habitat by waging war with the nature by way of deforestation and environmental degradation. The Union of India has passed the Forest (conservation) Act making it mandatory to obtain prior approval of the Union government for using forest land for non-forest purposes. Even for cultivation of tea, rubber, spices, and medicinal plants among others. In this regard, there is bar imposed in de-reservation of any reserved forests. For grant of any approval for such acts of using forest areas for non-forest purposes, an Advisory Committee is constituted under the statute. It thus connotes that with prior approval of the Central government, forest areas may be utilized for other purposes. In Assam, India, in the not very remote past, the democratically established government demolished a great area of human habitation by engaging tuskers in the name of clearing reserved forest land from encroachment. Ironically enough, the area has been under human habitation for quite a long span of time of some decades. Many multi- storied buildings, school buildings, community halls, prayer halls, libraries and many more established gardens etc were razed to the ground causing loss of property worth several billions belonging to the citizens of the welfare state. It is also a point to be noted that there was no forest as such for about half a century in the area. It was an act of high handedness on the part of the government for some hidden political agenda. However, after a huge furore that erupted after the incident, the eviction operation was stalled in the long run; but the damage was already done. In referring to the incident, it needs to be asserted that laws are made for the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number of people and therefore, human considerations must receive precedence over everything else. In the name of protecting the forest, human lives can never be sacrificed. It needs reiteration that laws are for benefit of man and not vice versa. In a democratic country where welfare of the people is of paramount importance, the powers that be at the first instance must take recourse to explore the possibilities for providing protection to the people rather than giving primacy to preservation of forest over human beings. If human beings are sacrificed for protection of forest, only forests will remain and human beings will be extinct. This needs to be kept in mind by all the people at the helm of affairs – only when human beings exist they will be able to occupy the seats of power they are occupying now. Coal Oil Conservation:Perhaps in the near future, but there is much more to be considered. The cost of replacing batteries in 3 to 5 years offsets a lot of gasoline dollars. Current battery electric cars have limited range and carrying capacity. The hybrid electric cars have long range, but the great looking gas mileage figures on the window sticker are 12mpg lower in the hands of most drivers. Many gasoline and diesel powered economy cars get comparable real world fuel economy as the hybrid at $10,000 lower initial cost and are a lot more fun to drive. There is a lot of potential in battery electric cars for short-range commuters. (Especially if the vehicle size is small and range is less than 75 miles round trip). The battery electric car can be recharged during off peak hours, which makes the electric company happy. Solar panels generating electricity at your home and feeding power back into the grid may help power the community during the day without increased power plant construction and consumption of fuel oil at the power plants. The need to conserve petroleum is very real. Gasoline and diesel powered cars have about 100 years advantage in development over electric cars so catch up will take time. Fuel cell power is a lighter than battery method of storing electricity. I don’t see any advantage in carrying Hydrogen as a fuel unless you are traveling in the vacuum of space. The production of Hydrogen is going to consume a lot of fuel and it tends to explode when accidents happen. It is not a wise choice. Conservation of Wildlife: The Indian subcontinent boasts of serving as the natural habitat of a large and varied wildlife. We can find some of the most magnificent as well as the rarest wildlife species of the world in the country. The beauty and variety we see in the jungles of India is difficult to be expressed in words. However, the past few decades have seen the greed and negligence of human beings working to the detriment of this rich wildlife. Large-scale poaching, habitat destruction and conflict with humans have resulted in a rapid decline in the population of most of the wild animals and birds. Conservation of Indian wildlife was not given the requisite importance for a long time. However, the government as well as the people slowly and gradually understood their responsibility in this context. Today, efforts are being made towards wildlife conservation in India, to preserve this natural wealth. Numerous wildlife conservation projects have been undertaken in India, both at the government as well as the individual level, to protect the rich wildlife of the subcontinent. Threats to Wildlife The major threats being faced by the wildlife in India are: The problem of overcrowding is one of the major reasons for the depleting population of wild animals in India. The wildlife sanctuaries of India have become overcrowded and their capacity has decreased to quite an extent. Tourism in the national parks of the country is increasing day by day. One of the reasons for this is a rise in the popularity of eco-tourism and adventure tourism. This has led to a growth in vehicle pollution and wildlife road fatalities, apart from leading to a damage of the natural habitat of birds and animals. With the increase in tourism, the parks have witnessed an increase in wildfires also. Innocent campfires started by visitors have, more often than not, led to menacing wildfires. These fires not only kill animals, but also destroy their natural habitat. The wildlife of coastal areas is constantly disturbed by personal watercrafts, like jet skis or wave runners. These personal watercrafts enter shallow waters and expel nesting birds from their roosts. Such activities are disturbing the mating pattern of birds. Releasing of chemicals and other toxic effluents into the water bodies has led to poisoning of the water. The animals and birds drinking such water face a fatal threat. Even the population of fish, living in such water bodies, is declining at a fast pace. The climate changes taking place in the world today, are affecting not only humans, but also the wildlife. The natural habitat as well as migration patterns of the animals and birds is experiencing disturb patterns. Last but not the least, the threat of poaching has been haunting the wildlife of India since ages. Even after the establishment of wildlife sanctuaries and national parks, the threat of poac hing has not been totally eliminated. Project Tiger Indian government commenced the Project Tiger in 1973-74, with the objective of restraining as well as augmenting the declining population of tigers. Under the project, nine wildlife sanctuaries were taken over and developed into tiger reserves. These reserves were developed as exact replicas of the varied terrains of the country, with their core area being free of any human movement. With time, the number of sanctuaries under the ambit of Project Tiger was increased and by 2003, it had been increased to 27. Along with providing a natural habitat to the tiger, these reserves offer them protection against poaching also. The results are for all to see. After undertaking the project, the population of tigers in India has risen considerably. Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) The current WCS program in India was started in 1986, as a single tiger research project at Nagarhole National Park. From a single project, WCS has developed into a comprehensive portfolio of activities related to wildlife. The activities undertaken under the adage of WCS include scientific research, national capacity building, policy interventions, site-based conservation and developing new models of wildlife conservation. Conclusion: An Adaptive Conservation Strategy facilitates â€Å"learning by doing† and â€Å"learning by sharing information,† both of which are science-based. Adaptive management at the site-specific level constitutes â€Å"learning by doing. † The development of species, habitat, or ecosystem Adaptive Conservation Plans (ACPs) constitute â€Å"learning by sharing information. † The goals of an Adaptive Conservation Plan tend to be general and overarching (for example â€Å"promote self-sustaining, functioning riparian ecosystems†)- yet they can only be achieved through a multitude of individual on-the-ground projects that are monitored, assessed, and evaluated at the site-specific project level. An Adaptive Conservation Strategy constitutes a very large feedback loop between site-specific projects and many conservation practitioners with similar interests. Findings from individual projects inform ACPs, while recommendations contained in the ACPs inform management plans that guide the stewardship of natural areas. The crucial components of a successful Adaptive Conservation Strategy (ACS) are collaboration, team work at the project level, keeping data current, information sharing, effective communication, flexibility (from all sides, including funders), and a results-oriented applied focus in monitoring, research, and management. The ACS has, to date, been based on the use of birds as indicators. Continuing research is needed to evaluate and refine our understanding of which bird species are the most accurate indicators of which elements of ecosystem integrity. It is fair to ask, however, whether the ACS process might also be applied in the field using other taxa as indicators (for example, bats or invertebrates). This is an area ripe for future investigation. Natural resource management is an unpredictable process. For this very reason, conservation scientists have an unswerving belief in the power of objective scientific measurement to provide one of the best means for guiding conservation action. Yet managers are often overwhelmed by immediate problems: everything from controversies among conflicting user-groups to exotic species that threaten years of restoration investment to mysterious new plant and animal pathogens. It can be easy, at times, for managers to overlook the important role of science in achieving long-term conservation goals- whether through science partnerships or through participation in research themselves. For their part, conservation scientists must constantly make an effort to reach out to land and ocean managers to ensure that the results of monitoring and research efforts will be relevant and useful in addressing key resource management issues. Both conservation scientists and natural resource managers ultimately serve the same mission: facilitating and advancing successful, cost-effective conservation of our precious natural heritage. An Adaptive Conservation Strategy provides a win-win approach for achieving this mission.

Analysis Of Multiple Theories Of Human Evolution History Essay

Analysis Of Multiple Theories Of Human Evolution History Essay The study of evolution in and of itself can be controversial to some. However, within the scientific community it is regarded as the broadly accepted idea that every living thing is derived from what came before and the tiny gradual mutations that arose through millions of years. To that end, there is much debate on certain aspects of particular mutations. Specifically, the debate surrounding the circumstances of human evolution can certainly be seen as contentious. Notwithstanding those who disavow evolution in its entirety, within the scientific community itself, there are several different schools of thought. More notably, the differing theories challenge each other with regard to when homo sapiens first appeared. But while each idea of human progression may differ, they are each rooted in strong empirical, but still limited, evidence. In scientific terms, before establishing how homo sapiens have come to be, we must first examine where they have come from. According to Cynthia S tokes Brown, author of Big History, â€Å"Five to 7 million years ago some mutation occurred in an ape ancestor and survived, and from that single mutation other single mutations kept occurring in the branch called hominids, the bipedal apesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦These genetic changes took place repeatedly in the same place-eastern Africa.† All major scientific theories regarding human evolution begin with this accepted premise, as Brown states, â€Å"For at least 3 million years human development occurred only in Africa; hominids did not live anywhere else, although apes lived in Europe and Asia as well.† There is an important point to be made in saying that although apes lived in other continents, human development took place exclusively in eastern Africa. One must acknowledge the distinct characteristics of Africa that fostered bipedal evolution in the first place. Eastern Africa, with its abundance of animals and plant life, is significant because of how it became conduciv e to and instrumental in helping shape human evolution. Brown writes, Eastern Africa is tropical; our lack of hairiness indicates that we evolved from tropical animals. To become humans, tropical apes came down from trees to live on grasslands; we are creatures of grasslands, not forests. The geography that could mold human development is found in the Great Rift Valley of eastern Africa. This helps one to understand the origin of homo sapiens and what conditions helped bipeds thrive sometime between 1 and 1.8 million years ago. Additionally, in deriving all of this information one realizes the arduous work involved in documenting and compiling evidence that dates back millions of years. One can recognize the power of human thought and reason, a result of evolution itself. It is in the migration out of Africa where a sometimes contentious debate arises in the scientific community. The distinction is made just after the presence of homo erectus. Whereas one theory describes homo sapie ns in direct lineage to the groups of homo erectus which migrated out of the Great Rift Valley region, known as the Multiregional theory, the more widely accepted thought is described as the Noah’s Ark Theory. The inference made by that name is that we were all in the same boat, Africa, and then migrated out about 100,000 to 200,000 years ago, some million years after the first homo erectus left Africa. Essentially it boils down to the question of whether or not those who left Africa evolved along with those who remained into homo sapiens or that those who left died off as a different species entirely.

Is the concept of the rule of law, as defined by dicey, still relevant Essay

Is the concept of the rule of law, as defined by dicey, still relevant to the UK constitution and legal system today - Essay Example Professor A V Dicey popularized this concept, and was able to describe three major tenets of the rule of law. These tenets are (Macdonald, 2010), Nobody is above the law, and everybody should be treated equally before the laws that govern the country. This is an indication that the laws of the land apply equally, to everybody in the same manner. This is regardless of economic, social and political status. The emergence of the constitution or laws is as a result of former judicial decisions that determined the rights in which private people should enjoy. On this basis, the constitution is not the source upon which laws emerge. The sources of law are therefore a consequence of the inherent rights of individuals. The constitution is derived as a consequence of the rights of people. These principles and concepts are widely applicable in the United Kingdom. The first principle by Dicey concerns itself with discretionary powers and the rule of law. Any government action must be recognized and authorized by law. That is the reason as to why the government cannot arbitrarily arrest a person, and charge him or her for the crimes that are not recognized by law. This principle is established in the 1994 case of R vs. Horseferry Road Magistrates. This was a case that examined the jurisdiction of a magistrate to protect the process of the court from abuse. Under this case, the defendant was arrested illegally, and in a breach of the extradition laws of the United Kingdom. The court denoted that an individual, who is charged with a criminal offence, must receive a fair trial. If an individual cannot receive a fair trial for an offence that he is charged for, then he or she should not be tried at all. On this note, the court denoted that the authorities illegally detained and arrested the defendant, and on this basis, the entire prosecution process was illegal (Flores, 2013). Under this case, it is therefore possible to denote that the judiciary had the powers of