Theater Review The Arabian Nights Essay Example For Students

Theater Review The Arabian Nights Essay On April 21st, 2015, the American University of Sharjahs’ College of Arts and Sciences Performing Arts Program presented Mary Zimmerman’s finest theatrical adaptation play â€Å"The Arabian Nights† in the Arts Rotunda. This play was edited and directed by Professor Anthony Tassa, who dedicated two months of rehearsals with the cast to make this performance as outstanding as it turned out to be. With the help of Professor Ted O. Rhyner, the lighting and Scenic Design coordinator and Technical Director, made the stage come to life. Zimmerman’s play first showcased in 2008 at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre, having the intensity in each of the character roles within the characters themselves put a lot of pressure and expectation upon watching the final production. Furthermore, this fascinating production consisted of two acts; within these acts, a lot of scenes with different themes took place on stage. The multiple scenes in the first act mainly consisted of stories that were voiced through Shahrezade and deep into each of the stories within the other characters in order to buy more time and survive Shahryars blade. We will write a custom essay on Theater Review The Arabian Nights specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Act two talked about the slow buildup and progression of Shahryar and Shahrezade’s relationship through the tales Shahrezade told and Shahryars reaction to them. The show concludes with Shahryar confessing his love to Shahrezade. Both Acts in the play entailed a lot of characters, which were played by the same actors within different characters. Other than being the main character that the play revolved around, Shahrezade played a huge role as she was the narrator and guide to the audience to follow throughout this play. During the play, I really came to enjoy the performance of every actor but of them all, I mostly enjoyed Noor Safieh’s performance which played multiple characters like Perfect love, Tortoise and little girl. Her deliverance of each roles playfulness and outbursts were on point. Since I have studied this play thoroughly in my Theatre 242 class this semester, I could relate all that I have done on the script analysis to a live performance which to me was perfected by the deliverance in some performances and crew. Starting with her facial expressions and up to the way she used her hand gestures when performing, all of the detailed movements with her costume and props also contributed to the depth of her character. Along with her performance, her hair, costume and the set added to the success of the character at that era. Everything really blended in and could be seen plainly through some of the characters. Moreover, her final role as little girl in Act two was superb, the pitch change in her voice, with each plea and line she stated were incredible. To be able to switch in character and personality from sultry and flirtatious self to an innocent little girl was outstandingly captivating. In addition to Noor Safieh’s performance, I would also like to discuss the performance of Julian Hedlund-Drumm who played Shahryar and the Mock Khalifa’s character. Starting with the moment he entered the stage in Act one, until the very last scene in Act two, Julian was right man for this role. No one could have done it better, with his arrogance and movements on stage. Likewise, while running his lines during the course of his performance, he had demanding presence, a strong voice and remarkable spot on facial expressions. An audience like myself would not buy confidence and superiority from a character if the actor himself did not perfect it. And that is indeed what happened with his performance, his never ending need to slit his one night stands to his complete transformation at the end of act two was wonderful. I was astonished as to how much the Theatre courses in AUS could do to one’s ability to perform in such a delicate, yet manly way. .u3cb624d58fd3f4d61ac76bbf06462ddb , .u3cb624d58fd3f4d61ac76bbf06462ddb .postImageUrl , .u3cb624d58fd3f4d61ac76bbf06462ddb .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u3cb624d58fd3f4d61ac76bbf06462ddb , .u3cb624d58fd3f4d61ac76bbf06462ddb:hover , .u3cb624d58fd3f4d61ac76bbf06462ddb:visited , .u3cb624d58fd3f4d61ac76bbf06462ddb:active { border:0!important; } .u3cb624d58fd3f4d61ac76bbf06462ddb .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u3cb624d58fd3f4d61ac76bbf06462ddb { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u3cb624d58fd3f4d61ac76bbf06462ddb:active , .u3cb624d58fd3f4d61ac76bbf06462ddb:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u3cb624d58fd3f4d61ac76bbf06462ddb .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u3cb624d58fd3f4d61ac76bbf06462ddb .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u3cb624d58fd3f4d61ac76bbf06462ddb .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u3cb624d58fd3f4d61ac76bbf06462ddb .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u3cb624d58fd3f4d61ac76bbf06462ddb:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u3cb624d58fd3f4d61ac76bbf06462ddb .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u3cb624d58fd3f4d61ac76bbf06462ddb .u3cb624d58fd3f4d61ac76bbf06462ddb-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u3cb624d58fd3f4d61ac76bbf06462ddb:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Arthur Miller In the Crucible EssayIn addition to Julian Hedlund-Drumm, Noor Safieh and the rest of the cast, the dancing scenes along with the Choir throughout the play gave the audience a sense of connection and converse with the marvelous performance. Moving on, the Technical crew did an outstanding job as well, having the stage set and built so that each scene of the play and acts fit together, really impressed me, because without them the whole play wouldn’t have had the same outcome as it did. In addition to that, the way the lights were set out and played with to satisfy the right effects for a specific scene captured the essence of both the characters and their surroundings. Special thanks and gratitude should be given the Technical Crew, Artistic team as well as the Costume and Wardrobe team for handling such a hard task in a professional manner, as it is not that easy to create a stage and whole scenery from scratch. In conclusion, being a member of the audience, while keeping in mind the notes I was taking throughout the performance, other members of the audience perception also helped me while I evaluated the play as a whole. Everyone seemed amused and interested at what came next, no yawning, no distractions and no talking took place as the performers were on stage. From what I have learnt about the story line and script, I thought to myself, something would go wrong during the show. But on the contrary, it was really entertaining and beautiful to watch. I would recommend everyone to take some time to watch this play, because it was played beautifully.

A personal response Thomas Kinsella Essay Example

A personal response Thomas Kinsella Essay Example A personal response Thomas Kinsella Paper A personal response Thomas Kinsella Paper Thomas Kinsella is a poet that is very aware of transience. He also shows me through his poetry that the things we remember as children take on a different meaning when we are older and also that when someone passes away, we also look at the memories of that person in a different way. His poetry has a harsh outlook on aging, getting old and even gaining knowledge to a degree, however he is not all doom and gloom (as we see in Model school, Inchichore and Dick King), he can also take a positive view on things, even death! My favourite aspect of his poetry is the way he can show you a new perspective while still using simple, everyday language for the most part. Sometimes, his poems can be read in a number of different ways! Kinsella is unique from other poets in the fact that he was influenced by theories of Carl Jung. No other poet I have studied on the leaving cert course that uses outside inspiration as strongly. He also writes a good deal about people in his life, or who were in his life, in his poetry and I think that stands to him as a person. It shows that even in his work, he thinks about those who mean a lot to him. A poem that has a very strong sense of transience is Mirror in February. The poet has an epiphany while shaving in the mirror one day. He realizes that he is the same age as Jesus when he died,reach the age of Christ, but yet the poet has not accomplished his lifes mission. To me, it seems as if the poet obsesses over his age and the fear of growing old for they are not made whole. Kinsella is jealous of the trees because they get hacked clean for better bearing and return again during the Spring, whereas Kinsella cannot just be renewed. When he ages, the years stay with him, how should the flesh not quail that span for span is mutilated more? . We can tell that Kinsella is not happy with the idea of himself growing old, while the trees stay seemingly ageless, In slow distaste. This poem gives me a good insight of the feelings that Im sure many of the adults in my life have experienced at some stage in their lives, and feelings that, I am sure, I will face in time. It has also shown me that although aging is inevitably a part of life, I can go about it in two ways. I can deny it for as long as I can before I have to accept the it, or I can do what Kinsella does in this poem, which I much prefer, and just accept it as part of life. I fold my towel. not young and not renewable, but man. Kinsella isnt happy about the fact that hes aging (and who is? ) but he can accept it and enjoy the time he has left with pride in being who he is, and I like that about him as a person. The main poem from kinsellas works that shows transience is His fathers Hands. This poem is too erratic and long for my liking but I can certainly relate to what he says and this is probably the poem I can relate to most out of all of Kinsellas poems that we have studied throughout the leaving cert course. Things like how his father destroys the point by prodding the air, remind me of my family as my father does the exact same his fingers prodded and prodded marring his point. When my father does it, I too, zone out and start thinking of other things. Kinsellas grandfather also reminds me of my own. My dad is the spitting image of him, so I often think of my grandfather when I see my dad. This is exactly what Kinsella does as well. I have watched his fathers hands before him. My grandfather is also very hard of hearing and near blind, as the grandfather in His fathers hands is. To his deaf, inclined head. This poem reminds me of my grandfather and for that reason alone, I really like this poem. However unlike this poem, my grandfather is not an isolated figure, that is looked upon with pity, my grandfather is the life and soul of a party at times and so I can never read this poem and feel the sadness and loneliness that others do, but that is a plus in my eyes. This poem actually inspired me to look back to my roots, and discover more about who my family was before me. And some years before that the Family came from somewhere around Tullow. Although the style of the poem isnt the type I normally like, this poem is very memorable to me and I dont think I will ever forget it because of the effect it has had on me.

Difference Between the Tax System - the United States vs Italy Case Study

Difference Between the Tax System - the United States vs Italy - Case Study Example The author notes that the assumption by the revenue authority is true as organizations understate their revenues in readiness for bargaining with the tax authority in the actual tax payable. The aim of the approach is to earn more tax from taxpayers, than the amount that the taxpayers would pay based on their returns. The approach has further been integrated in Italy’s corporate culture such that organizations would underestimate their income, while filing tax returns, in order to gain ground for negotiating the final payable amount (Brooks and Dunn, 2009). The revenue authority also expects higher tax payments than organizations’ reported values and final payable values establish benchmarks for future tax payable amounts. This approach, according to the writer, works well with Italian firms or foreign firms that can adjust to the Italian practice. Those that are rigid to follow legal and moral provisions of their native countries, however, find it hard to cope with tax demand in Italy. The author also notes that the revenue authority is willing to intimidate taxpayers to adjust to the system and embrace the negotiation approach. The example of an American general manager explains this as he receives intimidating notices following his failure to embrace the negotiation approach. When he finally visits the revenue authority’s office, they inform him of the need for dialogue (Brooks and Dunn, 2009). I agree with the writer’s proposition that the Italian culture of tax collection is different from approaches in jurisdictions, such as in the United States, and that such differences are likely to create challenges to stakeholders from the other jurisdictions. The existence of differences in other aspects of culture across nations informs my support for the author’s proposition. While some cultures value collectivism, other value individualism. Similarly, while culture in some nations allows for informal appreciations during or after contract formations, other cultures may consider such advances immoral.  

Tsotsi Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Tsotsi - Assignment Example At a young age, Tsotsi ran away from home because his mother was bedridden and dying, and his father was an alcoholic. His father even crippled the only friend and playmate he had ever known – his dog. He did not finish his studies because he had nobody to support him; he did not have much family values because he had to fend for himself at a young age. He lived on the streets and it was there that he learned how to survive. Thus his life of violence began, which resulted to his low regard for the value of life. On a mid-level, the social issues which affected the community in this movie were: poverty, violence, gangs, crime and guns. The movie depicted numerous signs of poverty especially in the community where Tsotsi lived. The small houses built side by side, the tiny, winding passageways, the shanties and unpaved roads are all indications of the destitution in the locality. The presence of gangs or groups which perpetrated criminal activities was high and this meant much violence, the use of guns, and merciless killings. At first, Tsotsi embodied everything which pertained to gangsters. Later on, however, when the baby came along and he experienced taking care of the child, it gave him a learning experience which transformed him into a different person altogether. The social issues affecting the nation at a macro-level are also reflected in this movie, which are as follows: juvenile delinquency, crime, class struggle, income and poverty. Young children on the streets who are left to survive on their own without sufficient nutrition, appropriate education and proper guidance will most likely result to juvenile delinquency in the near future. Poverty and income in Africa are connected too since there are very few income opportunities, hence the prevalence of poverty. Without any decent source of income, the poor become desperate in their struggle to survive, and while some still

Food Processing in Agricultural Regions

Food Processing in Agricultural Regions Agricultural regions in any country, including the United Kingdom, have historically been seen as poorer neighbours to the more industrialised areas of any particular country (Pierpont 1997). This position has been brought about mainly as a result of the fact that pay, employment opportunity and economic output tends to be lower than other areas of industry. The logistical problem in terms of transport and flexibility of workforce is also a contributory factor. Consequently, many agricultural regions have seen a significant decline in fortunes and employment during the course of the past three decades. In an effort to these problems, governments at local, national and regional levels have been seeking to produce a range of strategies that will support and regenerate agricultural, the results of which have met with mixed levels of success. Irrespective of the help afforded to them, many agricultural areas still remain relatively weak. Where improvements are achieved, often it is at the expense of the agricultural industry itself. For example, promotion of cultural tourism, whilst it may benefit some agricultural communities, does not address the core issues, namely improving the indigenous industry and food production chain. However, recent studies carried out have suggested that there may be another way to approach the issue. This research, as reported by Peter Pierpont (1997), suggests that if the development of food processing is encouraged within an agricultural area, it can result in an increased level of prosperity, producing subsequent improvements in employment, economic output and the GDP per head (Pierpont 1997). Aims and Objectives The aim of this paper is to evaluate the hypothesis set by Peter Pierpont (1997) and to ascertain if the development of food processing in agricultural areas can provide a route to prosperity. To assist with the analysis for this purpose the UK agricultural regions of Cornwall and Wales will be used as case studies, with other agricultural regions within the UK and Europe being used for comparative purposes. Concentrating on the UK in particular, to enable the goals of this research to be achieved it is intended to focus the paper upon the following objectives: Provide an analysis of the historical development of the agricultural industry, paying particular attention to this sector within the United Kingdom. To provide a detailed analysis of the two selected agricultural areas, which will include the past and present economic and employment positions. Analyse and evaluate the impact that the development of food processing has upon selected agricultural regions. Evaluate the synergy that is said to exist between the agricultural and food processing industries. Overview of the research Following this introduction, chapter two provides a brief background of the development of both the agricultural and food processing industries. This is followed by a critical literary review within chapter three. Chapter four provides details of the methods used for the research required for this paper, with the findings from resulted from the research are analysed and discussed in full in chapter five. The conclusion of this study, together with any recommendations that are considered appropriate, are outlined in chapter six. Chapter 2 Background Following the advances in technology over the course of the past three decades, there have been significant changes witnessed both within the agricultural and food processing, as they exist in the UK. UK Agricultural Industry Following WWII, the concentration upon the economic value of British agriculture came a poor last place to other industries as the UK sought to rebuild its economic position. Thus agriculture was basically left to fend for itself as it sought to compete with an increasing level of food products being imported from overseas markets (Greer 2005, p.86). In line with the general industry trends, in both of the selected areas there has been a decline in the agriculture economy during the course of the past three decades, despite the fact that the rural areas have historically relied upon this industry to maintain their local communities. In the UK the rural farming decline has been exacerbated by the concentration of farming methods undertaken by large corporations together with the increasing levels of imported produce, which can be purchased at prices that the UK farmers cannot compete. Similarly, the pressure from retailers for lower pricing has reduced the competitiveness of the local farms. Evidence of these events can be seen from the following (figure 1). This table shows how, during the past decade the agricultural industry contribution to the UK economy has fallen to nearly half of its 1996 value and the GDP by two thirds. Furthermore, whilst our exports in this area have remained relatively static, imports have increased by nearly 40%, which has affected the country’s self-sufficiency levels. Similarly, although net farm incomes have steadily increased since 1999, the total income from farming has halved, which indicates the size of the agricultural resources that have been lost since the turn of the century. The concentration of farming into bigger units has been more pronounced in the UK, with an average farm size of 66.7 hectares, than most other areas of Europe, as is evidenced from the following table(figure 2). Even in countries such as France and Germany farm sizes are significantly smaller. Figure 2 Farm Sizes At the same time as the above results were being witnessed, there was also a significant drop in employment within the industry. This was partially due to the economic position of Agriculture, but at the same time the historical tradition of offspring following their parents onto the farms was also being broken, with less enthusiasm being shown for taken over the role of farmers due to the long hours of work required for relatively low levels of return. Figure 2 shows how severe this decline was in the five years to 2000, with a loss of over sixty thousand employees in that period representing nearly ten present of the previous workforce. The loss of skilled workers resulting from persons leaving the industry served to exacerbated the economic problems that it was experiencing. Figure 3 Fall in workforce In the case of Cornwall, much of this decline has also been fuelled by the increasing concentration upon the tourism attraction of the area. For example, due to the economic benefits, many traditional farmers have transferred the usage of parts of their agricultural landform food production to activities that will capture a share of the tourist market, such as campsites and caravan parks. The position in Wales has become even more extreme than Cornwall. Central Wales is a more remote location than its Cornish counterpart, with a low internal level of infrastructure and a less developed transportation systems, which makes it less accessible for business and consumers alike. As a result, local businesses and services such as health care have closed or transferred their services to towns and cities, and much of the rural population has followed. This situation, together with the economic decline in agriculture as previously outlined, has led to many farms in the area becoming economically unviable. UK Food Processing Industry Food processing is defined as being any method or technique that issued to transform the raw product, being meat, vegetable, cereals another food products, to an edible dish for the average human. Without this part of the supply chain our diets would be more limited than they are today, with less variety to choose from and a more seasonal aspect to the food we purchase. Therefore any process, from the preparation of meat at the Butchers to the preparation of ready-made meals for consumer consumption on sale in supermarkets is a part of this process. Food processing also increases the durability of the product, increasing the shelf and use life, which has the effect of reducing waste whilst at the same time increasing the quantity of supply. Indeed, as the BNF (Factsheet 2000) rightly observe, â€Å"without food processing it would not be possible to sustain the needs of modern urban populations. Prior to the advent of new industrialisation methods, mass production and the new technology area, the majority of the food processing system was conducted at a local level. However, subsequent to these events, the food processing systems and organisations became centralised into the more industrialised areas of the country. The major contributory factors behind this evolution of the food processing industry away from local to a central location was partially dictated by the increased access to labour, which due to its proximity to the workplace was in plentiful supply at a lower cost, together with the advent of the mass production process. In addition, such areas of the country and region enjoyed easier access to the national and international transport network. All of these advantages meant that the businesses involved could reduce costs and increase the speed of the production process. The centralisation of the food-processing sector of the supply chain was also driven by changes in consumer demands and expectations. As supplies became more plentiful and the retail supermarket phenomena expanded throughout the country the consumer demanded lower prices in the food sector. To deliver this supermarkets needed to reduce their own costs, which could only be achieved by them having access to centralised purchasing outlets, rather than the previously diverse and expensive distribution network. One abnormality that has arisen from this development is that often products harvested locally are often transported out of their local area to be processed and then returned to the shops within the same locality for sale through stores. For example, the raw milk product could be collected from the dairy farmer, transported to a processing plant a distance away from that farm and then, once it has been processed into the carton that we see on supermarket shelves, re-transported back to the local supermarket in the same area. Chapter 3 Literature Review Agricultural industry Much has been written about the UK agricultural industry over the years and regarding the way it has developed, and there are a variety of views regarding the way it should develop in the future. Hector(1969) believes that in essence the industry has developed on the basis of an internal colony, with each area being a part of, but in essence operating as a separate unit from the whole. Indeed, if one looks at the UK just after the war, when â€Å"home gardens and allotments used to be vital sources of food† (Petty 2002, p.185), it is easy to see how this insular and separate attitude can develop. In the first half of the twentieth century the British people had a very independent manner and were set in their ways. This contributes to the reason why, despite advances that have been made in agriculture over the years, in earlier section of his research Petty (2002, p.72) discovered that, in the main, the processes used to produce food on modern farms is still very conventional. Despite the fact that the agricultural industry as an element of the National economy has become significantly less important over the years, there are still certain areas where it is considered to have an essential impact on the local community in terms of the revenue it contributes (Greer 2005, p.74 and p.77). These include such regions as Wales, with its unique hill farming industry, East Anglia for the cereal output and, to some extent, Cornwall for its wheat and grain. In Wales for example, over a wide area of the country agriculture is still the industry that is central to the regions community and economy. However, despite this fact the area has still witness a reduction in the number of people employed in agriculture (Jones 1999, p.185 andp.309). As has been noted earlier, most other agricultural regions, including Cornwall have experienced a similar decline in the employment base. Nevertheless, in terms of preserving the countryside and agricultural industry, there is still somewhere in the region of eighteen million hectares of land in the United Kingdom that is used for agricultural purpose (Petty 2002, p.30), for which an effective management strategy has needed to be developed over the years. Certainly, if the UK wishes to halt the decline in the levels of self-sufficiency However, as has been widely recorded, efforts to revitalise the industry have been thwarted by several events that have had an adverse effect upon the industry. For example, in early 2001, as noted by Agriculture (2007), the decline was exacerbated by a serious outbreak of foot and mouth within the animal population and this, followed by health risks from BSE and swine fever, severely curtailed the agricultural industry’s ability to expand within both the home and international market places. Following these events, and in an effort to reposition the importance of agriculture within the economy, the NFU , one of the most active representative bodies for the industry campaigned for the government and the EU to create an innovative plan in an effort â€Å"to restore public confidence in home produced food† (Greer 2005, p.40). Similarly, farmers in Wales in the late part of the last century engaged in a series of active protests, which were aimed mainly at reducing the effect that subsidised imports In response to these concerns and also as a result of the initiatives set in place by the European Union, DEFRA has produced and discussed a number of strategies over recent years. With the central focus of these being action required nationally to seek a restructure of the agricultural industry into a more efficient sector (Greer 2005, p.129),the organisation’s purpose is to restore the former prosperity of the regions. Whilst maintaining the unified approach, development plans have been set in place for â€Å"England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland† (Greer 2005, p.41). However, it has been recognised that to prosper, agriculture has to seek new and innovative ways to add value to its industry, which entailed a certain level of diversity from traditional methods and approaches if the industry was to achieve recovery and become competitive nationally and internationally. Initially some areas, such as Cornwall, have taken the â€Å"colonial â€Å"approach discussed within Hector (1969) and sought other ways of increasing their individual incomes and prosperity. As has already been mentioned, in this particular region, many turned to tourism for this result. However, with the advent of â€Å"cheap† flights and travel, even this opportunity is now in decline. Thus the industry needs to look for more sustainable options. To this end Peter Pierpont (1997) suggested research shows that combining the development of food processing within the agricultural regions may provide a positive option. Food Processing As with any are of industry, a range of supplementary operations has grown around agriculture. These indirectly include such organisations as financial institutions, equipment manufacturers and suppliers and the chemical and biotechnology organisations. However, the most directly linked ancillary industry to agriculture is food processing (Greer 2005, p.49). It is totally apparent that the two industries and inter-dependent. From the food producers to the processing and packaging operations and then on to the retailers, all of these areas are an integral part of the food supply chain. As has been previously noted, in the past the agricultural industry and regions have tended to remain separate from the rest of the food supply chain. The perceived advantage of this approach was seen to be that farmers felt comfortable and confident within their own business environment and, as long as they were producing the required levels of products, saw this as their main income generator. However, the disadvantage was that, as the retail industry became more organised and, with the development of supermarkets and other price conscious outlets, so they began to have more influence upon the agricultural industry, forcing down prices and demanding higher yields and quality, all of which added to the economic difficulties being experience within the agricultural regions. However, European Union regional data strongly suggests that agricultural regions that have taken it upon themselves to develop the food processing industry at a local level have seen increased value-added to the industry itself (Pierpont 1997) although, in his study he suggests that the structure of the French farming industry has given it an advantage in this area over their Cornish counterparts, despite the geographical and socio-economic similarities. Nevertheless, in Cornwall and other agricultural areas of the UK, those within the agricultural industry are beginning to take notice of the agro-food approach. For example, a group of growers and farmers from the southwest regions of Cornwall across to Hampshire have formed their own â€Å"organic marketing co-op,† (Petty 2002, p.112) which provides a better value basis for the sale of products to the retail market. Similarly, in Wales certain regions have created action plans for their agricultural industries which includes integrating more of the food processing and supply aspect of the food chain within their region, thus enabling them to benefit from the added-value of a resource that had previously not been available to them (Greer 2005, p.194). It is argued by researches that creating a more localised food processing sector within the agricultural regions, where farmers and producers can be more directly involved with other areas of the food chain, including preparation, distribution and marketing, will produce positive results in terms of the financial stability and growth within the farming and rural communities. Summary It is clear from the research that has been carried out into agriculture, that there is a need to address the decline within the industry, which as can be seen from figure 1 (page 7 of this report)has fallen by ten present in the last decade. The majority of this research shows that the last three decades have seen a consistent decline in the fortunes of the industry, both in terms of its economic value to the UK economy as a whole, and in relation to employment statistics. Some researchers see developing the food processing industry within the agricultural regions as the way forward and the route to prosperity. The question is whether this theory is supported by the facts within the areas being used as a case study in this paper. Chapter 4 Research Methodology Research objective Within the introduction section of this study, the four key objectives for the research were outlined. The research into how the agricultural industry has developed, particularly in relation to United Kingdom provides essential background information, which will assist in understanding why these areas have become of such concern to government and non-governmental organisations over recent decades. The choice of Cornwall and Wales for the case study is appropriate because in the case of the former, much attention over recent decades has been concentrated upon developing the tourism attraction, rather than agricultural needs of the area. Wales provides a much larger agricultural environment, which has to compete with small pockets of heavily industrialised regions, specifically on coastal areas. Food processing, up until the last decade, has been seen mainly as an industrial activity and therefore it is important to understand how the transfer of this activity to agricultural regions has both evolved and to what extent the case study areas have benefited from this latest development. Similarly, as an integral part of this area of research, the relevant synergies will provide a better understanding of the basis for accuracy of the hypothesis. Choice of research approach Due to the nature of the area being research, it is felt that the qualitative method or research, which uses primary data as its basis(Collis and Hussey 2003, p.53), would not have been appropriate. The questionnaire and research based approach, whilst useful, would not have provided the necessary detailed research information that is required for the purpose of adding to the understanding of the issue of food processing development in agricultural regions, apart from giving some indication as to how the various stakeholders, specifically those who operate within the respective industries, have reacted to this evolution. The significant level of research and statistical data required for this study led the author to believe that the quantitative research approach would be a more productive approach. In an endeavour to ensure the reliability of the data researched, a wide and diverse range of sources has been used for this study (Collis and Hussey 2003. p.71). This situation provided the author with the ability to cross-refer and check the accuracy, impartiality and validity of the information gathered, which enables the highest possible level of objectivity to be attached to the conclusions and recommendations reached. Industry Data With regards to the data relating to the agricultural and food processing industries, this has been acquired from a variety of sources, which includes UK and EU government departments and other industry associations and observers. Included within this data is the relevant statistical information from UK and EU surveys. Additional data was obtained from Internet sources, books, journals and other industry and economic sources. Wherever possible prime sources have been used for data gathering, particularly in relation to the strategies and policies that have been suggested and implemented by teak and EU governments. This data includes current and suggested policy documents. Selected areas case study In keeping with the advices given by researchers such as Collis and Hussey (2003), a substantial amount of time has been expended in digesting all of the material available in relation to the agriculture industry in Cornwall and Wales, to make sure that the chosen material was apposite to the objectives and questions being sought. Furthermore, data from organizations active within the two selected areas was also used. These sources, together with others, were used to obtain past and future strategic information as well as for outlining the current position of the agricultural and food processing industries in both of these regions of the country. To provide objectivity in regards to this data, industry reports and independent research carried out bother experts in the respective industries were also reviewed. The reason for the choice of these two areas is that, whilst there are similarities in terms of their agricultural heritage, they differ in terms of economic and political development and evolution. Politically Cornwall is still an integral part of the UK political structure, whereas Wales has a degree of devolved power. Economically Cornwall has attracted a wider diversity of activities and services, particularly within the tourism sector, whereas this has impacted upon Wales to lesser extent. In order to achieve a comparative benchmark for the case study, the areas selected have been assessed against similar regions within other member states of the European Union. In this instance, information from the EU itself and various sources within the selected nation states, have been used. Chapter 5 Findings, Analysis and Discussion To enable an analysis of the hypothesis that was set at the commencement of this paper, it was decided to use two distinct Agricultural regions, these being Cornwall and Wales for the reasons that have been outlined previously. Agricultural regions – Cornwall Cornwall is set in the South West of the UK. Although it is traditionally an agricultural region, it has perhaps become better known since the Second World War as a tourist area. Nevertheless, it still has a significant agricultural base within its economy, which is still seen as one of the primary industries for the county (Cornwall County Council 2007), with a growth in the number of holdings during the period from 1997 to 2001 (see figure 4), which compares favourably with the movement in England as a whole. However, the industry has seen significant reduction in the areas committed to the raising of cattle and sheep livestock, which reflects the overall difficulties that have been generally experienced in this area as a result of disease epidemics such as BSE and also the inroads being made by foreign imports. Despite recent declines, it is seen as one of the foundations for strong rural communities, but the industry can only retain this position by increasing employment, which through current agricultural methods and strategies is not happening. Figure 4 Farming in Cornwall However, despite the apparent improvement seen above, this has not translated itself into improvements on the employment issue. As can be seen from the following table (figure 5), the numbers of people employed within the agricultural industry are continuing to fall. Despite the fact that in comparison to England, Cornwall has suffered less, the Cornwall County Council (2007) do not see this downward trending their region being reversed in the immediate future, with the majority of the remaining workforce consisting of owners and tenants(Cornwall County Council 2007, 3.38). Figure 5 Agricultural employment Cornwall Agricultural regions – Wales Agriculture in Wales, because of the internal terrain, is most known for its Hill Farming element. It has a substantially higher level of holdings than Cornwall, spread over a greater land mass (see figure 6). Figure 6 Farms in Wales In terms of employment the region, like Cornwall, has seen a consistent decline in the numbers during the past decade, although as the following table shows, there was a slight improvement in the figures during 2004 (see figure 7). Figure 7 Agricultural employment in Wales Causes of Agricultural decline Some of the responsibility for the current position and trends has been levelled at the â€Å"cost-price squeeze† effect that is currently taking place within the food chain, with consumers consistently demanding lower retail prices. Whilst it is true that this has had significant impact on the industry, it is not the sole cause of the current position. Three other significant factors have also had an adverse effect. Æ’Â   Disease. The perceived lack of safety in British foods following the incidences of foot and mouth, BSE, swine fever and, more recently, outbreaks of avian flu (Haynes 2007) has also had a significant impact upon consumer’s and buyer’s both confidence in the UK and abroad. The fact that these have occurred within a relatively short period of each other has done little to improve the recovery position of the industry as a whole, the timescale of which has been extended as a result of these events. Æ’Â   Technology usage. Apart from the larger corporate farm holdings the use of modern technological advances within agriculture within the smaller holdings has not been taken advantage of to the extent that other industries have respond to this area of business to the same extent. This is presumably due to the older age demographics of the older owners and tenants, together with the time constraints that they experience as a result of low levels of employment. Based upon the lack of profitability of many small farms, another contributory factor tithe lack of new technology resources in use results from the limited financial resources available to purchase the equipment and training necessary for such innovations. Æ’Â   Finally, the local â€Å"colony† attitude as indicated by Hector (1969)is still in evidence in many rural and farming areas. The psychological position of a large element of the agricultural community is resistant to change, a situation that makes impr ovements for greater efficiency difficult to implement. National and Regional Strategies There have been a number of initiatives instigated with regard to the agricultural industry, particularly from the European Union, although these and those that have come from the UK authorities, have not been met with unanimous approval. In the case of the EU strategies there Isa body of opinion that this limits national action. As Alan Greer(2005) states in the introduction to his study on the agricultural industry, â€Å"there is a widespread assumption that the existence of a CAP across the European Union undermines the capacity of states to construct their own national policies.† To a certain extent the comment made by Greer is true. As will be seen within this section of the paper, a large proportion of the strategies and policies relating tithe UK agricultural industry have in fact come into existence as a result of EU discussions and directives. Irrespective of these comments, it is important to remember that the European Union as a whole commits in excess of forty-five billion dollars each year in support of farmers throughout the member states. Therefore it is fair to state, as Cardwell (2004, p.8) does that â€Å"Agriculture enjoys numerous advantages in the operation of the Legislative process and bureaucracy.† Whilst it may be true that the major part of these funds are utilised in the purchasing and storage of surplus products such as beef, wheat, milk and butter, before selling it to other nations, usually within the developing and third world(Gardner 1996, p.3), this still represents a significant level of state aid. The Common Agricultural Policy seeks to achieve fairness of competition within the EU, whilst at the same time providing aid. The potential drawbacks of this policy is that it still leaves farmers vulnerable to policy changes and increases in costs that are not fully reflected within the subsidies. For example in Wales, which benefits from CAP, the increases in prosperity that it has brought to the hill farmers in the area could disappear if policies change and the EU or local authorities felt that this was providing the area with an unfair advantage, or changed the conditions in relation to eligibility (Jones1999, p.320 and Cardwell 2004, p.227). In terms of cost increases, during the reform of the CAP system it has already been noted that these increases had an adverse effect upon the UK arable industry as awhile (Gardner 1996, p.148). Thus it would be true to say that such policies only remain appropriate should all other factors remain the same. In the UK in 2002, the government commissioned a report on the future of farming and food (Curry 2002) in an attempt to define strategy, which would led to a more sustainable for the future of agriculture and those who work within the industry. One of the main conclusions of this report (Curry 2002, p.109) was that farming had â€Å"become detached from the rest of the economy and the environment.† There port also suggests that this position has been reached partly as a result of the substantial subsidies, which its authors believed should be ended (Curry 2002, p.110). To address this position the report suggests that new research bodies, comprising of representatives from all the industry stakeholders, including the consumer, should be set, which will include within its remit, the setting up of â€Å"demonstration farms† to be used as models of economic success in farming. One comment within th

Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World :: Brave New World Essays

Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World London, the year is a.f. 632 . Your life consists of three things, sex, drugs and violence. Although an inconceivable thought, it is not far from our present culture. In 1932, Aldous Huxley finished a novel that can now be seen as a social foreshadowing that circulates in the bloodstream of contemporary American culture. Sex, drugs, and total social perversion; Brave New World is a racy novel that, for its time, was nothing short of a prophecy. When Huxley wrote this book, little did he know that his fictitious novel would become a desensitized reality. In our everyday lives we can see reflections of social conditions in Huxley’s novel. In 1932, teenagers weren’ t even discussing sex. Drugs were not a socially acceptable thing (prohibition made this even worse). And the moral values taught by families did not consist of excessive exposure to death. When did America begin to harbor this kind of social terrorism? How did American culture become so blind to the social cond itioning of premarital sex, excessive drug use, and the acceptance of everyday violence? The answer is Media. In this essay we will explore the similarities of Huxley’s dystopian society and our Culture, then we shall uncover how our society is being conditioned just as in 632 a.f. Today, media (specifically television) is America’s form of Huxley’s social conditioning. There have been countless studies published in hundreds of different magazines depicting the relationships between television and its influence on child development. In 1950, 18 years after the publication of Brave New World, only 9% of American households owned a television. By 1965, at least one TV was in 92.6% of American households. Today, at least one TV is in 98.2% of American households (Statistics from Television Bureau of Advertising, 2001). The media is all around us, nowhere is safe from Media’s mass influence. Media can be anything from magazines to political cartoons, as long as there is an idea presented to the viewer. Through these facts, can we conclude that the way to control people’s thoughts is by controlling the media? â€Å"The author’s mathematical treatment of the conception of purpose is novel and highly ingenious, but heretical and, so far as the present social order is concerned, dangerous and potentially subversive. NOT TO BE PUBLISHED.† (Page 180, â€Å"Brave New World") Socrates once said, â€Å"Evil is caused by lack of knowledge.† In the above quote, Mustapha Mond does not want to decondition the thoughts of his people, so he refuses to publish reports by a man named Bernard Marx.

Joseph Case Study

Case Study Chapter #3 Case Study: Chapter 3, Joseph’s Story A-H A. ) List Joseph’s risk factors and create a brief summary of the information you have so far. Identify how his risk factors would affect cellular function. * The risk factors that Joseph had were smoking, lack of exercise, excessive weight gain, stressing, fatty foods, and a family history of vascular disease. Joseph is middle age Caucasian male who has suffered a heart attack. This may have been caused by him not taking care of his body properly. Joseph is already at high risk for heart disease due to a family history if vascular disease.He has also been stressing, an increase in weight, not exercising, and unhealthy eating. These things could all play a role in how his heart is affected and functioning. His cellular functions are being affected because there is no oxygen flowing throughout the body getting to the heart, cells, organelles, or membranes that keep the body functioning properly. B. ) Assumin g Joseph’ heart has stopped, what cellular process and membrane functions are going to be affected by the loss of oxygen, blood glucose, and waste removal? If Joseph’s heart stopped, the cellular process and membrane functions that would be affected are the aerobic process and the mitochondria. Oxygen and glucose are used in glycolysis which is reacted in the mitochondria where ATP is produced. Carbon dioxide is the waste product in this process and needs to be released. With oxygen and glucose not being present ATP cannot be produced and carbon dioxide cannot be released out the body. Therefor the cells are beginning to rapidly die and the pumps are begging to shut down.Without the main energy source for all cells the body cannot function properly. C. ) Which intracellular organelles have membranes as part of their structures? How would the breakdown of the membranes of these structures affect the function of Joseph’s heart cells? * The intracellular organelles that have membranes as part of their structures are the Mitochondria which has two membranes, and the ER, Golgi which only have one, and the ribosomes do not have its own membrane but it attaches to them.Breaking down the mitochondria would affect Joseph heart because lysosome enzymes which are bound within the vesicles will digest the plasma membranes and the membranes of the other organelles. D. ) Two important pieces of information- the instructions Joseph’s body needs to repair itself and his predisposition for vascular disease- are both contained within the cell on what structures? – Joseph body is going to need its DNA to replicate itself, and also the growth and reproduction of his cells is going to be found on the Cytosol. E. Joseph’s heart attack has caused the function of his cells to change. What types of proteins in the cell membrane were involved in the homeostatic imbalances of his heart cells? * The type of proteins in the cell membrane that was involved in homeostatic imbalance of his heart cells were ATP. There was no ATP, so it affected the pumps in the membrane. The calcium levels rose, and it caused proteases to spill into the interior of the cell, attacking the cytoskeleton. This caused the lysosome enzymes to digest the plasma membranes and membranes of the organelles. F. Why was reestablishing oxygen flow to Joseph’s body so important? What processes would be affected by the lack of oxygen? * Reestablishing oxygen flow to Joseph’s body was important because the body was not functioning properly without oxygen and ATP which every living organelle and cells in the body needs. There are also major organs that need oxygen flowing to them such as the brain, heart, and lungs which require oxygen to maintain functioning. G. ) Consider once again Joseph’s health history and risk factors. What could you suggest to Joseph to reduce his risk for another heart attack? I would suggest that Joseph take care o f himself more by exercising more, maintaining a healthy diet, staying stress free, and looking into his family history of vascular disease and taking his health more serious. H. ) Explain why Joseph’s heart failed based on what you have learned so far about the function of cells in the human body? * Joseph was living an unhealthy life style which consists of unhealthy eating, lack of exercising, smoking, with a family history of vascular disease; I think that Joseph heart failed because his body could no longer function properly.Joseph heart was no longer receiving oxygen which made the cells work rapidly to try and give oxygen flow to the heart. The body was deprived of oxygen, glucose, and could not remove waste. There was no oxygen so the carbon dioxide levels in the body began to rise due to not being released, and caused a low pH. The cells and membranes lacked ATP the main source of energy in cells. The mitochondria could not produce ATP because there was no oxygen, so the cells began to die and the membrane pumps began to shut down. There was no oxygen flowing throughout the body which killed the cells and they were not able to be reproduced.