Walmart Socio-Cultural Environment Essay Example

Walmart Socio-Cultural Environment Paper Wall-Marts social-cultural values have worked well for them. When a company is looking at its beliefs, they must consider their employees and the customer. Wall-Mart took this seriously. They based their culture on three basic beliefs: service to their customer, respect for the individual, and striving for excellence. They built that from a foundation of personal and moral integrity, honesty, and fairness. Wall-Mart created a Statement of Ethics to guide its employees on how to provide the best customer service to the customers and to the company. Wall-Mart also created global ethics to abide by the local laws and regulations of that country. If their Statement of Ethics is too relaxed, the employee must adhere to the local laws. Wall-Mart provides a global ethics office for employees to consult with if in doubt. There are many areas in the social-cultural environment that need to be considered domestically and globally. When Wall-Mart decided to go global, it followed its model that works so well here in the states. Without evaluating the culture, Wall-Mart almost failed when it expanded into Mexico. Luckily, after reworking their business model to fit into Mexico environment, they turned around what could have been a business disaster. Thats not to say they didnt learn from their mistakes. Wall-Mart expanded into Germany, but success was not in their sights. They once again used what worked in the states and could not recover from the devastation of not evaluating the German culture. Unfortunately, Wall-Mart had to pull out of Germany, but earned a very powerful lesson. We will write a custom essay sample on Walmart Socio-Cultural Environment specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Walmart Socio-Cultural Environment specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Walmart Socio-Cultural Environment specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Wall-Mart is now very successful in several other countries just as they are here in the states. Wall-Mart was most likely relying on the fact that cultural convergence is becoming more prevalent globally. Meaning basic human needs are universal in nature. This type of model may work for companies such as Coca-Cola or McDonalds, but has not worked for Wall-Mart. When providing goods and services, a company must look at work relationships, food choices, leisure activities, the roles of each ender, life expectancy, concern for the environment and so on.

Heart of darkness 9

Heart of darkness 9 Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness relates to the reader through several narrational voices, the story of the Englishman Marlow traveling physically up an unnamed river in the wilderness of the Belgium Congo, and psychologically as a journey into one's self. The frame narrator is an Englishman upon the 'Nellie', a yawl on the river Thames, who relates the story as told to him by the separate narrator Marlow. Through the frame narrator, Conrad expresses to the reader the theme of the shifting nature of reality.Marlow's negative views on colonialism and racism (although contradictory) were the new ideologies taken into consideration during the time the novella was set. These views were expected to be adopted by the contemporary reader as evidenced by the frame narrator changing his view of London as "the biggest and the greatest town on earth" to being a "monstrous town marked ominously on the sky a broading gloom of sunshine" It is important to realize, however, that both the frame nar rator and Marlow absent information as affected by their own background and white, European upbringing and also personal experiences.MarlowHence negative views on women and (unconsciously) African natives and strong views on colonialism and to a lesser extent racism arise.Marlow quickly expresses his view on colonialism that "The conquest of the world which mostly means the taking it away from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves, is not a pretty thing when you look into it too much." When Marlow arrives at the station he is shocked and disgusted by the sight of wasted human life and ruined supplies . The manager's senseless cruelty and foolishness overwhelm him with anger and disgust. Also through dramatic scenes such as the 'Grove of Death' Marlow convinces the frame narrator and...

A Refugee Letter for Global Environmental Politics - myassignmenthelp

Refugee Review Tribunal file number: This letter to your office seeks to mediate for an asylum seeker who has applied for a Protection Visa from your department. The facts and information I present in this letter might play a part in making a decision on the asylum’s application. The asylum seeker is an Afghanistan woman named Azin who arrived here in Australia by plane. My client’s reason for fleeing the Taliban is because she gave birth out of wedlock. According to 1951 United Nations Convention, a refugee can seek asylum from other nations in case of persecution (Grahl-Madsen, 1972, pp 31). Persecution refers to the act of being ill-treated or victimized especially due to certain factors such as race, religion or gender. In this case, my client is being persecuted based on her gender and having committed a ‘moral crime’.. According to the United Nations Convention a refugee considered a person who is facing persecution on the basis of his/her religion, race, and nationality or having a particular political or social opinion (Zimmerman, Dà ¶rschner and Machts, 2011, pp 81). Owing to the fear of persecution, the person opts to leave the country and is unwilling to return (Grahl-Madsen, 1972, pp 31).   Afghanistan has no respect for women’s rights. Having born a child out of wedlock, my client is subject to persecution. She will have to serve time in jail for her ‘moral crimes’. What pains the most is that her child will also be imprisoned. The Afghanistan government is not only corrupt but also dictatorial. According to a recent report, billions of dollars meant for humanitarian aid have ended up in pockets of corrupt officials. For instance, 850 the Kabul Bank Scandal is one good example of corruption in the government. A whooping 850 million dollars was lost to corrupt governmen t officials (Phillips, 2011, pp 177). In fact, the United States officials described this scandal as the biggest in history. Shockingly, all these crimes go unpunished. This shows that the Afghanistan government is not committed to ending corruption in the country. Moreover, Afghanistan is constantly in war. The war between the government and the Taliban has claimed the lives of thousands of civilians (De Lauri, 2011, pp 47). Additionally, the Afghan government has often sought the services of illegal militias who were reported to have assaulted civilians. These brutal crimes by the government forces make the country even more inhabitable especially to a woman with a young child. Moreover, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has indicated that the number of refugees from Afghanistan has increased due to the war between the government and the Taliban (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 2002, pp 12) According to UNDP reports, Afghanistan has been listed among 23 of the least developed nations. More than 42 percent of the citizens live in abject poverty and the conditions in the hospitals poor. Most of the resources which could have been used for developing hospitals and other infrastructure have ended up in the pockets of few powerful individuals. Actually, there is only one doctor and two beds serving approximately 5,000 patients. This further indicates that the country lacks value for human health and life. Normally, women in Afghanistan are jailed for moral crimes including being raped (De Lauri, 2013, pp 261). Realistically, this is a brutal act. What makes things worse is that the women are sent to jail together with their children. The Afghan government has made efforts to deal with the persecution of women and recently ordered the release of the women who were jailed for ‘moral crimes’. However, the government has completely failed to end the persecution of the women who are accused of running away from the country. In short, this means that the women are required to persevere persecution and remain in the country. The Afghanistan Women Council (AWC) has played a huge role by improving the life of women. However, these efforts have been negatively affected by the lack of cooperation from the government (Afghanistan Women Council, 2012, pp 12)Some reporters have recently uncovered the gruesome acts against women that take place in the Taliban. For instance, a photograph er named Gabriela Maj in the company of her editor decided to investigate what the international media referred to as ‘moral crimes’ in the Taliban (Sinno, 2015, pp 51). They revealed that women convicted of moral crimes served time in jail together with their children. In fact, they explained that the women’s prisons sound more like kindergartens than prisons from a distance. This suggests that the number of children in the prisons is high. Immature and young, the children have to endure assault and inhumane conditions of the jails. This is contrary to what the Australian Human Rights Commission states regarding children’s rights. Because of their vulnerability, women and children command a right to special protection (McAdam and Chong, 2014, pp 441). Moreover, Maj took pictures of over one hundred women in different prisons around the Taliban. This is just one report that explains the inhumane acts. Other reports indicate that life for women in Afghanistan is becoming more difficult day by day and more deaths are being reported (Imam, 2010, pp 117). Therefore, the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection needs to consider my client’s case and give her a Protection Visa. Moreover, the woman arrived in Australia legally, by use of a plane and hence qualifies to be awarded a Protection Visa. Under the Refugee Council of Australia, refugees are entitled to several rights. Actually, there are some rights that were enacted to purposely serve the refugees. Also, other human rights treaties also acknowledge and respect these rights. To start with, refugees have the freedom of religion (McAdam and Chong, 2014, pp 441). This means that people have to respect each other’s religion so that there can be room fo r peaceful co-existence among different religions. Also, refugees have the right to education (Kirui and Mwaruvie, 2012, pp21). For instance, the Afghanistan woman should be allowed to seek for education in the Australian educational institutions. Also, the woman has the right to work anywhere in the country. Refugees should also share the same rights as the citizens. For instance, refugees should have the right to access legal assistance, own property, choose religion and own social security (Biermann and Boas, 2010, pp 60). In conclusion, I hope that the information provided above is satisfactory and will play a great role in your decision to grant the asylum a Protection Visa. Currently, Afghanistan has no respect for women’s rights. It is important for nations to respect the rights of vulnerable groups such as children and women. Given the fact that the Afghanistan government has completely failed to implement reforms which will protect the women against persecution, I hope that your department will seriously consider this woman’s case. At the moment, her well-being depends on the action your office will take. Moreover, her child’s future is at stake. Grahl-Madsen, A., 1972. The status of refugees in international law (Vol. 2). Leyden: AW Sijthoff. McAdam, J. and Chong, F., 2014. Complementary protection in Australia two years on: An emerging human rights jurisprudence. Fed. L. Rev., 42, p.441. Zimmermann, A., Dà ¶rschner, J. and Machts, F., 2011.  The 1951 Convention relating to the status of refugees and its 1967 protocol: A commentary. Oxford University Press. Biermann, F. and Boas, I., 2010. Preparing for a warmer world: Towards a global governance system to protect climate refugees.  Global environmental politics,  10(1), pp.60-88. Kirui, P. and Mwaruvie, J., 2012. The dilemma of hosting refugees: a focus on the insecurity in north-eastern Kenya.  International Journal of Business and Social Science,  3(8). Phillips, D., 2011. Wounded Memory of Hazara Refugees from Afghanistan Remembering and Forgetting Persecution.  History Australia,  8(2), pp.177-198. De Lauri, A., 2011. Afghanistan: corruption and injustice in the judicial system.  Journal of Law and Social Research,  2(1), pp.47-62. De Lauri, A., 2013. Access to justice and human rights in Afghanistan.  Crime, law and social change,  60(3), pp.261-285. Imam, H. (2010). Aftermath of U.S. Invasions: The Anguish of Women in Afghanistan and Iraq. Women, War, and Violence, 117-134. doi:10.1057/9780230111974_8 Afghanistan Women Council. (2012). Afghanistan Women Council (AWC)/Annual report / Afghanistan Women Council (AWC). The journal of Humanitarian Assistance. doi:10.2458/azu_acku_serial_hq1735_6_a392_v2002 Sinno, A. (2015). 10. The Organizational Theory beyond Afghanistan. Organizations at War in Afghanistan and Beyond. doi:10.7591/9780801459306-014 United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 2002: Note on the Applicability of Article 1D of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees to Palestinian refugees. Int J Refugee Law; 14 (2_and_3): 450-456. doi: 10.1093/ijrl/14.2_and_3.450

The News and Law Enforcement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The News and Law Enforcement - Essay Example Follow-up surveys completed by participants and their supervisors provide a method for determining whether participants have the opportunity to change behavior upon return to the work setting (Wilson, 2000). It is tailored to provide information that program administrators can use to determine the strengths of the program and make decisions about how the program should be modified for current students or be introduced to a different student population. It identifies information actually needed by program decision makers, collects and analyzes this information, and furnishes the information to them, using methods which will aid in decision making. "The majority of agencies are in compliance, but there are some that are not," said Arthur Ortiz, director of the Santa Fe-based Law Enforcement Academy" (Romo 2009). The news story is real as it reflects current state of police crime problems and methods followed by other law enforcement agencies. The results suggested that the Police department might benefit from curriculum revision in three areas. The program might be changed to provide police officers with more time to discuss and analyze personnel law, planning, interpersonal communication, and relationships with the manager and/or mayor.

CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS - Essay Example Conceptual Graphs (CG) were central versions of conceptual structures that were meant to be psychologically sensible, semantically triggered, logically solid, and computationally efficient (Sowa, 1984). Thus, conceptual graphs provided a visual representation of logic derived from linguistic networks of AI and other graphs. Sowa’s book provided a structure for future researchers to build upon in the scope cognitive science and the significance of reasoning laying down the foundations of AI. The CG provided a mathematical notation of knowledge helping to logically represent cognitive linguistics. Reasoning plays a significant role in weighing out different operators so as to manipulate it. The various principles of CG representation require the presence of psychologically sensible operations for perception, reasoning, and linguistic comprehension. Sowa (1984) has explained how reasoning works in computational systems as memory structures are organized in a way so as to employ the reasoning processes. CG again, visualize the graphic logical structure, in this case allowing for deductions to be made in a realistic manner. In trying to break down any cognitive issue, conceptual analysis lends itself to the inference of logical conclusions. Conceptual analysis and especially, cognitive graphs have helped process natural languages, where the mapping and visualization is done and in a systematic logical way thereby building the cognitive capacities of computational systems. Using the foundational structures of conceptual analysis along with other philosophical concepts, Sowa (1984) analyzes languages in terms of semantics, syntax, linguistics, and human language abilities. By delving deep into the development of linguistic capacities, he attempted to analyze the language perspective. Sowa (1984) also gives brief references to Augmented Transition Networks (ATNs) a graphical structure used in defining languages. However, no deep discussion is

Room And Board Essay Example for Free

Room And Board Essay As a Minnesota-based privately owned company, Room amp; Board has been known for offering products that combined classic, simple design with high quality handcrafted furniture and giving exceptional service to their customers. Approximately $50 million of revenue a year was generated through Room amp; Board fully integrated, multichannel sales approach, consisting of its eight national retail stores, an annual catalog and a web site. The purpose of this case analysis is to determine how to institutionalize its way of doing business beyond the life of its founder and how to strengthen its culture and high employees and customer engagement while growing at a rate that sustained its economic health. The situation analysis will examine four factors: the general environment, the industry, competitors, and Room amp; Board internal environment. The general environmental analysis consist of Technological Trends Room amp; Board does not really have any technological advantage over it’s competitors but two advantages it has is giving people a choice of materials used in the product like custom designs in wood and metal materials along with ordering these material ahead of time to cut down on time when a customer does order a product made with certain material in mind. Demographic Trends Room amp; Board demographic trends group is nation-wide which include suppliers and customers. More than 85% percent of its furniture is manufactured in America. Room amp; Board is proud of its commitment for supporting American manufacturers and small, family owned business. Economic Trends At Room amp; Board, quality was also about providing value. That value was inherent in the company’s products, which lasted and whose style and design were timeless. Providing furniture that customers could count on enjoying for many years. Political/Legal Trends Room amp; Board decided early on that it did not want to compete by the traditional rules associated with the retail furniture industry. They wanted to create its own supply chain of approximately 40 vendors, nearly all privately owned family businesses. Sociocultural Trends Room amp; Board was based on the principles of trust, respect, relationships, transparency, entrepreneurial ownership of one’s job and career, and the importance of a balanced life. They believed that individuals thrive in an environment where they are empowered to make decisions and everyone’s view is heard and respected. Global Trends Room amp; Board was looking to expand in other region of the United State but has not yet looked to go global. Industry Analysis Competitor Analysis The competitor analysis is to better understand Room amp; Board top competitors and their outlook on the industry. Room amp; Board made it impossible to have any direct competitors because their exclusive design, corporate structure, and long-lasting quality products. Room amp; Board has two indirect competitors which are Designs Within Reach and Crate and Barrel. Designs Within Reach was a public company. In fiscal 2006, it had $110 million in sales through its 63 stores, which ranged in size from 1,100 sq. to 11,000 sq. ft. Although Room amp; Board stores were fewer in number, they were much bigger, at 30,000 sq. ft. Crate and Barrel had grown from a small family business, to a chain of over 160 mall-based stores. More than 50 percent of Crate and Barrel products were imported from Europe. SWOT Analysis Strengths Room amp; Board has a great corporate structure. They have achieved the eniviable market position of managing its growth and avoiding the capital market pressures. Room amp; Board has created a consistent, seamless, self-reinforcing system that cut across culture, execution philosophy, employee hiring, and benefits. Weaknesses The two alternative strategies would be one to extend catalog and retail furniture business by adding E-Commerce to their website. The other would be to create a dynamic method of hosting web assets. Strategic Alternative Implementation Both alternatives should be implemented but the one that should be addresses first would be to create a dynamic method of hosting web assets. This would allow customers to purchase custom merchandise online, which is critical that they see a visual of the furniture that they have uniquely designed. Room amp; Board should hire an interactive agency to help design and develop a dynamic consumer facing configuration tool that would allow customers to design and purchase customized furniture with ease and confidence.

Essay --

Corporate level strategy is about creating value by coordinating resources across business units and finding new ways to develop and capitalise on the organisation’s capabilities over a long-term horizon. GE’s corporate strategy between 1981 and 2001 was all about performance and efficiency (Bucifal, 2009). Grand strategies adopted and implemented during the period are restructuring, retrenchment, divestment, acquisitions and mergers. Through his organisational restructure CEO Welch eliminated several layers of management and shed a large number of jobs. He led a sustained attack on bureaucratic processes and in its place he sought to instill a culture of candidness, confidence, direction and imaginative thinking at every level of the organisation. He implemented an important restructure of the GE business portfolio, spotlighting on a restricted number of sectors with promising performance and growth potential, whilst retaining a fairly diversified portfolio of business es. This was achieved through the sale of GE’s less profitable businesses and retention or acquisition of businesses identified as number one or number two in their industry (Grant 2008, p.304). The strategy led to several huge divestments and the shifting of emphasis towards GE’s technology-based businesses and service businesses (Bock 2001). A series of acquisitions that followed led to the phenomenal growth of GE Capital, which became one of the world’s leading diversified financial services companies (Grant 2008, p.304). He continuously stretched performance targets through planning strategically, controlling finance, and the management of human resource. Welch introduced periodic corporate initiatives which became known as GE’s Operating System. The major initi... ...eir strategy can yet still be improved, however. Currently, MobileMe - a service Apple offers on its iPhones to that keeps contacts, calendar, and email in sync across multiple devices over the air - is a premium service that costs $99 per year. This is the wrong approach. MobileMe should be free and integrated into Apple’s platforms rather than a premium service. MobileMe should act like the fastener that integrates the platforms and as an attraction for users. Apple’s objective should be to get maximum MobileMe clients. Users, who are happy using MobileMe across their various devices, are less likely to switch to a competitor’s product. This is what Google has done so well with the Android OS on smartphones and tablets. The iBook Store, too, which at the moment is like a book store, should instead become a print media platform for books, newspapers and magazines.

Good vs. Evil in King Lear Essay

Life will always bestow us with choices which we must wisely choose either a moral or immoral response to. Shakespeare exemplifies goodness and wickedness in King Lear. The play presents a powerful manifestation of loyalty, specifically through the characters Kent, Edgar, and Cordelia. Kent’s unrestricted loyalty to Lear remains stable throughout the play. He recognizes Lear’s tragic flaw and remains faithful, even after being banished. His reliability is further divulged when he attacks Oswald, Goneril’s loyal servant. Kent’s defensive actions result in him being placed in the stocks. This sacrifice adds to his loyal attitude of pursuing the King’s well-being and safety. Oswald is loyal to Goneril, and acts well as a contrasting character to Kent. They both share the attribute of loyalty; however Oswald’s loyalty is based on immoral decisions, while Kent’s is not. Following Lear’s death, Kent foreshadows that he too will pass on, reuniting himself with Lear. Furthermore, Edgar is betrayed by his evil, manipulative brother, and he is forced to disappear. Edgar’s goodness is displayed when he treats Gluocester with kindness, regardless of his father’s misjudgment. In addition, Edgar gives his father strength by saving his life making him believe a deity has saved him from jumping off a cliff. This renaissance causes Gluocester to think and act more wisely in future endeavors. Edgar and Kent’s morality and loyalty are not affected by their mistreatment provided by their superiors, which ultimately verifies them as accurate symbols of good. Cordelia is an exemplar for true virtue in her acts of forgiveness and loyalty towards her father. Lear, distressed by his beloved daughter’s response of â€Å"nothing† to his love test, banishes Cordelia and denies her any land and power. Lear turning his back on Cordelia foretells destruction, since she is one of the only people in Lear’s life that is loyal and express’s genuine feelings towards him. Furthermore, she foreshadows her death by returning to the kingdom to the aid of her father. She understands the dangers of returning, but despite these dangers she continues to emanate loyalty. Shakespeare delivers the existence of suffering through the presence of good and evil. Through Kent, Edgar, and Cordelia, Shakespeare has made it apparent that evil is unavoidable, yet virtue, loyalty, and forgiveness is rooted to everyone. It takes certain individuals to have the courage and power to be able to express these moral characteristics.

A Game of Thrones Chapter Seventy

Jon The mare whickered softly as Jon Snow tightened the cinch. â€Å"Easy, sweet lady,† he said in a soft voice, quieting her with a touch. Wind whispered through the stable, a cold dead breath on his face, but Jon paid it no mind. He strapped his roll to the saddle, his scarred fingers stiff and clumsy. â€Å"Ghost,† he called softly, â€Å"to me.† And the wolf was there, eyes like embers. â€Å"Jon, please. You must not do this.† He mounted, the reins in his hand, and wheeled the horse around to face the night. Samwell Tarly stood in the stable door, a full moon peering over his shoulder. He threw a giant's shadow, immense and black. â€Å"Get out of my way, Sam.† â€Å"Jon, you can't,† Sam said. â€Å"I won't let you.† â€Å"I would sooner not hurt you,† Jon told him. â€Å"Move aside, Sam, or I'll ride you down.† â€Å"You won't. You have to listen to me. Please . . . â€Å" Jon put his spurs to horseflesh, and the mare bolted for the door. For an instant Sam stood his ground, his face as round and pale as the moon behind him, his mouth a widening O of surprise. At the last moment, when they were almost on him, he jumped aside as Jon had known he would, stumbled, and fell. The mare leapt over him, out into the night. Jon raised the hood of his heavy cloak and gave the horse her head. Castle Black was silent and still as he rode out, with Ghost racing at his side. Men watched from the Wall behind him, he knew, but their eyes were turned north, not south. No one would see him go, no one but Sam Tarly, struggling back to his feet in the dust of the old stables. He hoped Sam hadn't hurt himself, falling like that. He was so heavy and so ungainly, it would be just like him to break a wrist or twist his ankle getting out of the way. â€Å"I warned him,† Jon said aloud. â€Å"It was nothing to do with him, anyway.† He flexed his burned hand as he rode, opening and closing the scarred fingers. They still pained him, but it felt good to have the wrappings off. Moonlight silvered the hills as he followed the twisting ribbon of the kingsroad. He needed to get as far from the Wall as he could before they realized he was gone. On the morrow he would leave the road and strike out overland through field and bush and stream to throw off pursuit, but for the moment speed was more important than deception. It was not as though they would not guess where he was going. The Old Bear was accustomed to rise at first light, so Jon had until dawn to put as many leagues as he could between him and the Wall . . . if Sam Tarly did not betray him. The fat boy was dutiful and easily frightened, but he loved Jon like a brother. If questioned, Sam would doubtless tell them the truth, but Jon could not imagine him braving the guards in front of the King's Tower to wake Mormont from sleep. When Jon did not appear to fetch the Old Bear's breakfast from the kitchen, they'd look in his cell and find Longclaw on the bed. It had been hard to abandon it, but Jon was not so lost to honor as to take it with him. Even Jorah Mormont had not done that, when he fled in disgrace. Doubtless Lord Mormont would find someone more worthy of the blade. Jon felt bad when he thought of the old man. He knew his desertion would be salt in the still-raw wound of his son's disgrace. That seemed a poor way to repay him for his trust, but it couldn't be helped. No matter what he did, Jon felt as though he were betraying someone. Even now, he did not know if he was doing the honorable thing. The southron had it easier. They had their septons to talk to, someone to tell them the gods' will and help sort out right from wrong. But the Starks worshiped the old gods, the nameless gods, and if the heart trees heard, they did not speak. When the last lights of Castle Black vanished behind him, Jon slowed his mare to a walk. He had a long journey ahead and only the one horse to see him through. There were holdfasts and farming villages along the road south where he might be able to trade the mare for a fresh mount when he needed one, but not if she were injured or blown. He would need to find new clothes soon; most like, he'd need to steal them. He was clad in black from head to heel; high leather riding boots, roughspun breeches and tunic, sleeveless leather jerkin, and heavy wool cloak. His longsword and dagger were sheathed in black moleskin, and the hauberk and coif in his saddlebag were black ringmail. Any bit of it could mean his death if he were taken. A stranger wearing black was viewed with cold suspicion in every village and holdfast north of the Neck, and men would soon be watching for him. Once Maester Aemon's ravens took flight, Jon knew he would find no safe haven. Not even at Winterfell. Bran might want to let him in, but Maester Luwin had better sense. He would bar the gates and send Jon away, as he should. Better not to call there at all. Yet he saw the castle clear in his mind's eye, as if he had left it only yesterday; the towering granite walls, the Great Hall with its smells of smoke and dog and roasting meat, his father's solar, the turret room where he had slept. Part of him wanted nothing so much as to hear Bran laugh again, to sup on one of Gage's beef-and-bacon pies, to listen to Old Nan tell her tales of the children of the forest and Florian the Fool. But he had not left the Wall for that; he had left because he was after all his father's son, and Robb's brother. The gift of a sword, even a sword as fine as Longclaw, did not make him a Mormont. Nor was he Aemon Targaryen. Three times the old man had chosen, and three times he had chosen honor, but that was him. Even now, Jon could not decide whether the maester had stayed because he was weak and craven, or because he was strong and true. Yet he understood what the old man had meant, about the pain of choosing; he understood that all too well. Tyrion Lannister had claimed that most men would rather deny a hard truth than face it, but Jon was done with denials. He was who he was; Jon Snow, bastard and oathbreaker, motherless, friendless, and damned. For the rest of his life—however long that might be—he would be condemned to be an outsider, the silent man standing in the shadows who dares not speak his true name. Wherever he might go throughout the Seven Kingdoms, he would need to live a lie, lest every man's hand be raised against him. But it made no matter, so long as he lived long enough to take his place by his brother's side and help avenge his father. He remembered Robb as he had last seen him, standing in the yard with snow melting in his auburn hair. Jon would have to come to him in secret, disguised. He tried to imagine the look on Robb's face when he revealed himself. His brother would shake his head and smile, and he'd say . . . he'd say . . . He could not see the smile. Hard as he tried, he could not see it. He found himself thinking of the deserter his father had beheaded the day they'd found the direwolves. â€Å"You said the words,† Lord Eddard had told him. â€Å"You took a vow, before your brothers, before the old gods and the new.† Desmond and Fat Tom had dragged the man to the stump. Bran's eyes had been wide as saucers, and Jon had to remind him to keep his pony in hand. He remembered the look on Father's face when Theon Greyjoy brought forth Ice, the spray of blood on the snow, the way Theon had kicked the head when it came rolling at his feet. He wondered what Lord Eddard might have done if the deserter had been his brother Benjen instead of that ragged stranger. Would it have been any different? It must, surely, surely . . . and Robb would welcome him, for a certainty. He had to, or else . . . It did not bear thinking about. Pain throbbed, deep in his fingers, as he clutched the reins. Jon put his heels into his horse and broke into a gallop, racing down the kingsroad, as if to outrun his doubts. Jon was not afraid of death, but he did not want to die like that, trussed and bound and beheaded like a common brigand. If he must perish, let it be with a sword in his hand, fighting his father's killers. He was no true Stark, had never been one . . . but he could die like one. Let them say that Eddard Stark had fathered four sons, not three. Ghost kept pace with them for almost half a mile, red tongue lolling from his mouth. Man and horse alike lowered their heads as he asked the mare for more speed. The wolf slowed, stopped, watching, his eyes glowing red in the moonlight. He vanished behind, but Jon knew he would follow, at his own pace. Scattered lights flickered through the trees ahead of him, on both sides of the road: Mole's Town. A dog barked as he rode through, and he heard a mule's raucous haw from the stable, but otherwise the village was still. Here and there the glow of hearth fires shone through shuttered windows, leaking between wooden slats, but only a few. Mole's Town was bigger than it seemed, but three quarters of it was under the ground, in deep warm cellars connected by a maze of tunnels. Even the whorehouse was down there, nothing on the surface but a wooden shack no bigger than a privy, with a red lantern hung over the door. On the Wall, he'd heard men call the whores â€Å"buried treasures.† He wondered whether any of his brothers in black were down there tonight, mining. That was oathbreaking too, yet no one seemed to care. Not until he was well beyond the village did Jon slow again. By then both he and the mare were damp with sweat. He dismounted, shivering, his burned hand aching. A bank of melting snow lay under the trees, bright in the moonlight, water trickling off to form small shallow pools. Jon squatted and brought his hands together, cupping the runoff between his fingers. The snowmelt was icy cold. He drank, and splashed some on his face, until his cheeks tingled. His fingers were throbbing worse than they had in days, and his head was pounding too. I am doing the right thing, he told himself, so why do I feel so bad? The horse was well lathered, so Jon took the lead and walked her for a while. The road was scarcely wide enough for two riders to pass abreast, its surface cut by tiny streams and littered with stone. That run had been truly stupid, an invitation to a broken neck. Jon wondered what had gotten into him. Was he in such a great rush to die? Off in the trees, the distant scream of some frightened animal made him look up. His mare whinnied nervously. Had his wolf found some prey? He cupped his hands around his mouth. â€Å"Ghost!† he shouted. â€Å"Ghost, to me.† The only answer was a rush of wings behind him as an owl took flight. Frowning, Jon continued on his way. He led the mare for half an hour, until she was dry. Ghost did not appear. Jon wanted to mount up and ride again, but he was concerned about his missing wolf. â€Å"Ghost,† he called again. â€Å"Where are you? To me! Ghost!† Nothing in these woods could trouble a direwolf, even a half-grown direwolf, unless . . . no, Ghost was too smart to attack a bear, and if there was a wolf pack anywhere close Jon would have surely heard them howling. He should eat, he decided. Food would settle his stomach and give Ghost the chance to catch up. There was no danger yet; Castle Black still slept. In his saddlebag, he found a biscuit, a piece of cheese, and a small withered brown apple. He'd brought salt beef as well, and a rasher of bacon he'd filched from the kitchens, but he would save the meat for the morrow. After it was gone he'd need to hunt, and that would slow him. Jon sat under the trees and ate his biscuit and cheese while his mare grazed along the kingsroad. He kept the apple for last. It had gone a little soft, but the flesh was still tart and juicy. He was down to the core when he heard the sounds: horses, and from the north. Quickly Jon leapt up and strode to his mare. Could he outrun them? No, they were too close, they'd hear him for a certainty, and if they were from Castle Black . . . He led the mare off the road, behind a thick stand of grey-green sentinels. â€Å"Ouiet now,† he said in a hushed voice, crouching down to peer through the branches. If the gods were kind, the riders would pass by. Likely as not, they were only smallfolk from Mole's Town, farmers on their way to their fields, although what they were doing out in the middle of the night . . . He listened to the sound of hooves growing steadily louder as they trotted briskly down the kingsroad. From the sound, there were five or six of them at the least. Their voices drifted through the trees. † . . . certain he came this way?† â€Å"We can't be certain.† â€Å"He could have ridden east, for all you know. Or left the road to cut through the woods. That's what I'd do.† â€Å"In the dark? Stupid. If you didn't fall off your horse and break your neck, you'd get lost and wind up back at the Wall when the sun came up.† â€Å"I would not.† Grenn sounded peeved. â€Å"I'd just ride south, you can tell south by the stars.† â€Å"What if the sky was cloudy?† Pyp asked. â€Å"Then I wouldn't go.† Another voice broke in. â€Å"You know where I'd be if it was me? I'd be in Mole's Town, digging for buried treasure.† Toad's shrill laughter boomed through the trees. Jon's mare snorted. â€Å"Keep quiet, all of you,† Haider said. â€Å"I thought I heard something.† â€Å"Where? I didn't hear anything.† The horses stopped. â€Å"You can't hear yourself fart.† â€Å"I can too,† Grenn insisted. â€Å"Quiet!† They all fell silent, listening. Jon found himself holding his breath. Sam, he thought. He hadn't gone to the Old Bear, but he hadn't gone to bed either, he'd woken the other boys. Damn them all. Come dawn, if they were not in their beds, they'd be named deserters too. What did they think they were doing? The hushed silence seemed to stretch on and on. From where Jon crouched, he could see the legs of their horses through the branches. Finally Pyp spoke up. â€Å"What did you hear?† â€Å"I don't know,† Haider admitted. â€Å"A sound, I thought it might have been a horse but . . . â€Å" â€Å"There's nothing here.† Out of the corner of his eye, Jon glimpsed a pale shape moving through the trees. Leaves rustled, and Ghost came bounding out of the shadows, so suddenly that Jon's mare started and gave a whinny. â€Å"There!† Halder shouted. â€Å"I heard it too!† â€Å"Traitor,† Jon told the direwolf as he swung up into the saddle. He turned the mare's head to slide off through the trees, but they were on him before he had gone ten feet. â€Å"Jon!† Pyp shouted after him. â€Å"Pull up,† Grenn said. â€Å"You can't outrun us all.† Jon wheeled around to face them, drawing his sword. â€Å"Get back. I don't wish to hurt you, but I will if I have to.† â€Å"One against seven?† Halder gave a signal. The boys spread out, surrounding him. â€Å"What do you want with me?† Jon demanded. â€Å"We want to take you back where you belong,† Pyp said. â€Å"I belong with my brother.† â€Å"We're your brothers now,† Grenn said. â€Å"They'll cut off your head if they catch you, you know,† Toad put in with a nervous laugh. â€Å"This is so stupid, it's like something the Aurochs would do.† â€Å"I would not,† Grenn said. â€Å"I'm no oathbreaker. I said the words and I meant them.† â€Å"So did I,† Jon told them. â€Å"Don't you understand? They murdered my father. It's war, my brother Robb is fighting in the riverlands—† â€Å"We know,† said Pyp solemnly. â€Å"Sam told us everything.† â€Å"We're sorry about your father,† Grenn said, â€Å"but it doesn't matter. Once you say the words, you can't leave, no matter what.† â€Å"I have to,† Jon said fervently. â€Å"You said the words,† Pyp reminded him. â€Å"Now my watch begins, you said it. It shall not end until my death.† â€Å"I shall live and die at my post,† Grenn added, nodding. â€Å"You don't have to tell me the words, I know them as well as you do.† He was angry now. Why couldn't they let him go in peace? They were only making it harder. â€Å"I am the sword in the darkness,† Halder intoned. â€Å"The watcher on the walls,† piped Toad. Jon cursed them all to their faces. They took no notice. Pyp spurred his horse closer, reciting, â€Å"I am the fire that burns against the cold, the light that brings the dawn, the horn that wakes the sleepers, the shield that guards the realms of men.† â€Å"Stay back,† Jon warned him, brandishing his sword. â€Å"I mean it, Pyp.† They weren't even wearing armor, he could cut them to pieces if he had to. Matthar had circled behind him. He joined the chorus. â€Å"I pledge my life and honor to the Night's Watch.† Jon kicked his mare, spinning her in a circle. The boys were all around him now, closing from every side. â€Å"For this night . . . † Halder trotted in from the left. † . . . and all the nights to come,† finished Pyp. He reached over for Jon's reins. â€Å"So here are your choices. Kill me, or come back with me.† Jon lifted his sword . . . and lowered it, helpless. â€Å"Damn you,† he said. â€Å"Damn you all.† â€Å"Do we have to bind your hands, or will you give us your word you'll ride back peaceful?† asked Halder. â€Å"I won't run, if that's what you mean.† Ghost moved out from under the trees and Jon glared at him. â€Å"Small help you were,† he said. The deep red eyes looked at him knowingly. â€Å"We had best hurry,† Pyp said. â€Å"If we're not back before first light, the Old Bear will have all our heads.† Of the ride back, Jon Snow remembered little. It seemed shorter than the journey south, perhaps because his mind was elsewhere. Pyp set the pace, galloping, walking, trotting, and then breaking into another gallop. Mole's Town came and went, the red lantern over the brothel long extinguished. They made good time. Dawn was still an hour off when Jon glimpsed the towers of Castle Black ahead of them, dark against the pale immensity of the Wall. It did not seem like home this time. They could take him back, Jon told himself, but they could not make him stay. The war would not end on the morrow, or the day after, and his friends could not watch him day and night. He would bide his time, make them think he was content to remain here . . . and then, when they had grown lax, he would be off again. Next time he would avoid the kingsroad. He could follow the Wall east, perhaps all the way to the sea, a longer route but a safer one. Or even west, to the mountains, and then south over the high passes. That was the wildling's way, hard and perilous, but at least no one wouid follow him. He wouldn't stray within a hundred leagues of Winterfell or the kingsroad. Samwell Tarly awaited them in the old stables, slumped on the ground against a bale of hay, too anxious to sleep. He rose and brushed himself off. â€Å"I . . . I'm glad they found you, Jon.† â€Å"I'm not,† Jon said, dismounting. Pyp hopped off his horse and looked at the lightening sky with disgust. â€Å"Give us a hand bedding down the horses, Sam,† the small boy said. â€Å"We have a long day before us, and no sleep to face it on, thanks to Lord Snow.† When day broke, Jon walked to the kitchens as he did every dawn. Three-Finger Hobb said nothing as he gave him the Old Bear's breakfast. Today it was three brown eggs boiled hard, with fried bread and ham steak and a bowl of wrinkled plums. Jon carried the food back to the King's Tower. He found Mormont at the window seat, writing. His raven was walking back and forth across his shoulders, muttering, â€Å"Corn, corn, corn.† The bird shrieked when Jon entered. â€Å"Put the food on the table,† the Old Bear said, glancing up. â€Å"I'll have some beer.† Jon opened a shuttered window, took the flagon of beer off the outside ledge, and filled a horn. Hobb had given him a lemon, still cold from the Wall. Jon crushed it in his fist. The juice trickled through his fingers. Mormont drank lemon in his beer every day, and claimed that was why he still had his own teeth. â€Å"Doubtless you loved your father,† Mormont said when Jon brought him his horn. â€Å"The things we love destroy us every time, lad. Remember when I told you that?† â€Å"I remember,† Jon said sullenly. He did not care to talk of his father's death, not even to Mormont. â€Å"See that you never forget it. The hard truths are the ones to hold tight. Fetch me my plate. Is it ham again? So be it. You look weary. Was your moonlight ride so tiring?† Jon's throat was dry. â€Å"You know?† â€Å"Know,† the raven echoed from Mormont's shoulder. â€Å"Know.† The Old Bear snorted. â€Å"Do you think they chose me Lord Commander of the Night's Watch because I'm dumb as a stump, Snow? Aemon told me you'd go. I told him you'd be back. I know my men . . . and my boys too. Honor set you on the kingsroad . . . and honor brought you back.† â€Å"My friends brought me back,† Jon said. â€Å"Did I say it was your honor?† Mormont inspected his plate. â€Å"They killed my father. Did you expect me to do nothing?† â€Å"If truth be told, we expected you to do just as you did.† Mormont tried a plum, spit out the pit. â€Å"I ordered a watch kept over you., You were seen leaving. If your brothers had not fetched you back, you would have been taken along the way, and not by friends. Unless you have a horse with wings like a raven. Do you?† â€Å"No.† Jon felt like a fool. â€Å"Pity, we could use a horse like that.† Jon stood tall. He told himself that he would die well; that much he could do, at the least. â€Å"I know the penalty for desertion, my lord. I'm not afraid to die.† â€Å"Die!† the raven cried. â€Å"Nor live, I hope,† Mormont said, cutting his ham with a dagger and feeding a bite to the bird. â€Å"You have not deserted—yet. Here you stand. If we beheaded every boy who rode to Mole's Town in the night, only ghosts would guard the Wall. Yet maybe you mean to flee again on the morrow, or a fortnight from now. Is that it? Is that your hope, boy?† Jon kept silent. â€Å"I thought so.† Mormont peeled the shell off a boiled egg. â€Å"Your father is dead, lad. Do you think you can bring him back?† â€Å"No,† he answered, sullen. â€Å"Good,† Mormont said. â€Å"We've seen the dead come back, you and me, and it's not something I care to see again.† He ate the egg in two bites and flicked a bit of shell out from between his teeth. â€Å"Your brother is in the field with all the power of the north behind him. Any one of his lords bannermen commands more swords than you'll find in all the Night's Watch. Why do you imagine that they need your help? Are you such a mighty warrior, or do you carry a grumkin in your pocket to magic up your sword?† Jon had no answer for him. The raven was pecking at an egg, breaking the shell. Pushing his beak through the hole, he pulled out morsels of white and yoke. The Old Bear sighed. â€Å"You are not the only one touched by this war. Like as not, my sister is marching in your brother's host, her and those daughters of hers, dressed in men's mail. Maege is a hoary old snark, stubborn, short-tempered, and willful. Truth be told, I can hardly stand to be around the wretched woman, but that does not mean my love for her is any less than the love you bear your half sisters.† Frowning, Mormont took his last egg and squeezed it in his fist until the shell crunched. â€Å"Or perhaps it does. Be that as it may, I'd still grieve if she were slain, yet you don't see me running off. I said the words, just as you did. My place is here . . . where is yours, boy?† I have no place, Jon wanted to say, I'm a bastard, I have no rights, no name, no mother, and now not even a father. The words would not come. â€Å"I don't know.† â€Å"I do,† said Lord Commander Mormont. â€Å"The cold winds are rising, Snow. Beyond the Wall, the shadows lengthen. Cotter Pyke writes of vast herds of elk, streaming south and east toward the sea, and mammoths as well. He says one of his men discovered huge, misshapen footprints not three leagues from Eastwatch. Rangers from the Shadow Tower have found whole villages abandoned, and at night Ser Denys says they see fires in the mountains, huge blazes that burn from dusk till dawn. Quorin Halfhand took a captive in the depths of the Gorge, and the man swears that Mance Rayder is massing all his people in some new, secret stronghold he's found, to what end the gods only know. Do you think your uncle Benjen was the only ranger we've lost this past year?† â€Å"Ben Jen,† the raven squawked, bobbing its head, bits of egg dribbling from its beak. â€Å"Ben Jen. Ben Jen.† â€Å"No,† Jon said. There had been others. Too many. â€Å"Do you think your brother's war is more important than ours?† the old man barked. Jon chewed his lip. The raven flapped its wings at him. â€Å"War, war, war, war,† it sang. â€Å"It's not,† Mormont told him. â€Å"Gods save us, boy, you're not blind and you're not stupid. When dead men come hunting in the night, do you think it matters who sits the Iron Throne?† â€Å"No.† Jon had not thought of it that way. â€Å"Your lord father sent you to us, Jon. Why, who can say?† â€Å"Why? Why? Why?† the raven called. â€Å"All I know is that the blood of the First Men flows in the veins of the Starks. The First Men built the Wall, and it's said they remember things otherwise forgotten. And that beast of yours . . . he led us to the wights, warned you of the dead man on the steps. Ser Jaremy would doubtless call that happenstance, yet Ser Jaremy is dead and I'm not.† Lord Mormont stabbed a chunk of ham with the point of his dagger. â€Å"I think you were meant to be here, and I want you and that wolf of yours with us when we go beyond the Wall.† His words sent a chill of excitement down Jon's back. â€Å"Beyond the Wall?† â€Å"You heard me. I mean to find Ben Stark, alive or dead.† He chewed and swallowed. â€Å"I will not sit here meekly and wait for the snows and the ice winds. We must know what is happening. This time the Night's Watch will ride in force, against the King-beyond-the-Wall, the Others, and anything else that may be out there. I mean to command them myself.† He pointed his dagger at Jon's chest. â€Å"By custom, the Lord Commander's steward is his squire as well . . . but I do not care to wake every dawn wondering if you've run off again. So I will have an answer from you, Lord Snow, and I will have it now. Are you a brother of the Night's Watch . . . or only a bastard boy who wants to play at war?† Jon Snow straightened himself and took a long deep breath. Forgive me, Father. Robb, Arya, Bran . . . forgive me, I cannot help you. He has the truth of it. This is my place. â€Å"I am . . . yours, my lord. Your man. I swear it. I will not run again.† The Old Bear snorted. â€Å"Good. Now go put on your sword.†

DESCRIBE THE WORKINGS OF THE ICJ AND AssESS ITS EF Essays

DESCRIBE THE WORKINGS OF THE ICJ AND AssESS ITS EF Essays DESCRIBE THE WORKINGS OF THE ICJ AND AssESS ITS EFFECTIVENESS. The International Court Of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, which succeeded the Permanent court of International Justice after World War Two. It gains its legitimacy from Article 92 of the UN Charter which allows it to function " in accordance with the annexed Statute, which is based upon the Statute of the Permanent Court of International Justice and forms an integral part of the present Charter". By Article 93 all members of the UN are ipso-facto members of the Statute and that states not members may become parties, on conditions to be determined in each case by the UN General Assembly on recommendation of the Security Council. Therefore allowing countries such as Switzerland and San Marino, though not members of the UN, to be parties to the Statute of the Court. The court consist of 15 judges, no two of whom may be Nationals of the same state, elected by the General assembly and the Security Council. They are elected for 9 years and are eligible for reelections. The seat of the court is in Hague, Holland, but it may hold sessions elsewhere whenever it considers desirable. It is a continuing body. The Statute provides that it is permanently in session except during judicial vacations. It is also an autonomous body. It elects its president and vice- president, appoints its registrar, and provides for the appointment of other officers and clerical staff. Its function is to pass judgement on disputes between states, as such only states may bring their cases before the court. It is open to all states that are party to the statute and those who agree to the conditions laid down by the SC. The proceedings of the court are carried out in French and English; either may be used by the parties. Written pleading and oral presentations presented in one language are translated into the other. The judgements and opinions are both in French and English. Cases are brought before the court either by the notification to it of a special agreement concluded by the parties or by the unilateral action of one of them through a written appeal to the registrar. Its proceedings are in two parts, written and oral. The Court may also hear witnesses and appoint commissions of experts to make investigations and reports when necessary. These procedures were used in the Corfu Channel, Temple of Preah Vihear and in South West Africa(1966). The deliberation of the court are held in private, but the judgements , which are by majority vote, are read in open court. In the case of a tie, the President may cast a deciding vote; this was done in the South West Africa Case where a 7-7 vote was cast. Any judge may file a separate opinion if he does not agree in whole or part with the judgement. The decision of the court is final and without appeal. Although the ICJ has no enforcement powers, Article 94 of the Charter incorporates an undertaking on the part of each member of the UN "to comply with the decision of the ... court...in any case to which it is a party" and a further provision that: IF any party to a case fails to perform the obligations incumbent upon it under a judgement rendered by the court, the other party may have recourse to the Security Council, which may, if it deem necessary, make recommendations or decide upon measures to be taken to give effect to the judgement. The court is authorised by Article 65 of the Statute to give advisory opinions on any legal questions at the request of whatever body may be authorised by or in accordance with the UN Charter to make such a request. Article 96 of the Charter provides that such opinions may be requested by the General Assembly or the SC and by other organs of the UN and specialized agencies, when authorised by the GA. Such requests must be made by means of a written request containing an exact statement of the questions, accompanied by all documents likely to shed light upon them. >From this point on, the procedure before the court is somewhat analogous to contentious cases. In its role as and advisory body, the court has given some important opinions with regard to the costs of peacekeeping, which could be reckoned as normal expenses. It also gave opinions concerning admissions into the UN. Because of the ICJ's limited powers,

History of Eastern United States Coast Barrier Islands Research Paper

History of Eastern United States Coast Barrier Islands - Research Paper Example The Native Americans first occupied these barrier islands. They were later taken over by the European settlers for their recreational and touristic pursuits. However, they have diminished in size and retreated in the past years due to rising sea level, diminishing sediment, storms, and human interference. Extensive human settlement in these areas has raised concerns regarding the loss of habitat. Although vulnerable, these barrier islands are very important economically, serving as areas for tourist development, the source of food, and employment. (Keywords: barrier islands, rising sea level, storms) Table of Contents Abstract 2 Table of Contents 3 Barrier Islands 4 Types of Barrier Systems 5 Formation of Barrier Islands 7 The Historical Changes in the Mississippi-Alabama Barrier Islands 9 Retreating and Diminishing In Size of the Gulf Coast Barrier Islands 9 Activities on Eastern United States Coast Barrier Islands 11 The Importance of the Eastern United States Coast Barrier Islands 12 References 15 History of Eastern United States Coast Barrier Islands Barrier Islands Barrier islands are defined as thin linear mobile strips of sand measuring up to around 10 – 15 metres (30 – 50 feet) above the sea level. They usually create chains situated a number of miles offshore alongside the many passive margins. The back barrier region separates the barrier island from the mainland and shallow bays, marshes, estuaries, or lagoons usually occupy it. Barriers are created by the vertical accumulation of the sand from wind and waves action. Barrier islands are called so because they signify the shoreline natural protection from the forces of tsunamis, tides, currents, and waves from the core ocean. However, the majority of the barrier islands have been turned into resort-type living and beautiful beaches (Kusky 2008, 5). The development of the barrier islands characterizes one of the most dangerous trends in the coastal zones. This is because barriers are jutt ed mobile strips of sand moving in response to the changing storms, tides, coastal currents, and sea levels. Storms are able to move the complete sandy substrate out from the underneath of the tall buildings. Kusky (2008, 6) states that â€Å"the size of barrier islands ranges from narrow and discontinuous strips of sand that may be only a few hundred feet wide, too large islands that extend many miles across and also in length.† The length and the width are calculated from the existing amount of sediment and the balance between the tidal and wave energy. Majority of the barriers are built from sand (sand from the eroded coastal cliffs, deposited by rivers along the delta systems or sand left from the glaciations). Barrier islands are supposed to be discontinuous to permit water from the tidal changes to get back to the sea along the tidal inlets systems (Kusky 2008, 6). The sub-environments of barrier islands are classified the same as those of beaches. These sub-environment s include barrier interior, landward interior, and the beach. The beach face of the barrier is the most vibrant section of the island. It absorbs energy from the tides and waves and responds much like the mainland beaches. The beach backside of many barrier islands are marked by a foredune ridge or along frontal, followed landward by the secondary dunes.

Patriot's Act Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Patriot's Act - Essay Example The Patriot’s Act has given more powers to security agents in the United States to conduct searches, gather intelligence without need of warrants. The Act also allowed the government to freeze monies meant for terror groups and online security has also been bolstered. All these provisions in the Patriot’ Act have increased security and thwarted terror attacks against the United States. However, some provisions of the Act have been ineffective in fighting terrorism and most of these acts are stem from foreign based provisions. Introduction The September 11, 2001 terror attack on the United States shocked the country and the world at large. Following the attacks, several security measures from different fronts were initiated to guard against more terror attacks on the Unites States. One of the measures that were initiated was the enactment of the Patriot’s Act, a law enacted a few weeks after the September 11, 2011 attacks. The Patriot’s act contains several provisions that were to safeguard the United States from terrorism. For instance, the act gives power to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other agencies to conduct random searches on an individual’s household. The Patriot act is still in operation till today and President Obama extended some of the provisions of the act that were to expire this year. ... Security agencies in the United States have been given more freedom to investigate or interrogate terrorists from all regions globally. The Patriot act has also led to increased security at border points and entry points into the United States including ports and airports. The Patriot Act had a profound effect on the definition of terrorism especially on the front of domestic terrorism where acts of terrors were taken seriously (Wong, 2007). The act reduced restrictions on security agencies and it gave them power to investigate any American citizen while at the same time, the act allowed American security forces to investigate any foreigner suspected of being a terrorist. The act also allowed American security forces to protect critical infrastructure and demand information concerning any individual in the United States (Smith, 2009). The Patriot Act also gave powers to the secretary of Finance to regulate funds of suspected foreign individuals or corporations involved in corruption. The act has however tightened the noose on money laundering and this has reduced terror activities in the United States. The Act contains provisions that gave power to authorities to detain or deport immigrants involved in terrorism. These provisions have been successful in reducing acts of terror in the United States (Citizen 68, 2010). Increased surveillance of the internet and online activity has enhanced security since it has been effective in curbing theft of sensitive information. In terms of general safety, the Patriot Act has been effective in ensuring that acts of terror against the United States are greatly reduced (Stefoff, 2010). The Patriot’s Act has