Contradictions of Character in George Bernard Shaws Pygmalion Essay

â€Å"Manners are the happy way of doing things† according to Ralph Waldo Emerson.   According to Emerson people use manners as a front to make themselves look better.   Inherently, this will lead to a contradiction of the front and the reality.   One such man who is most concerned with manners is the protagonist of Shaw’s Pygmalion, Professor Henry Higgins.   Higgins is a man who displays contradictions within his character.   He is in the business of teaching proper manners, although lacks them himself.   In addition, Higgins is an intelligent man, and yet he is ignorant of the feelings of those around him.   Another apparent contradiction is that Higgins’ outer charm serves to hide his bullying nature. He manipulates Eliza and others around him to serve his own purposes, without any regard for her feelings.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Higgins, a teacher of proprietary manners, lacks those very manners which others pay to learn from him.   Ironically, Higgins believes that he is the greatest teacher of manners.   He announces that in â€Å"three months [he] could pass [Eliza] off as a duchess.†Ã‚   Higgins thinks that he can take any lower class girl and pass her off as a duchess.   He truly believes that he is capable of transforming Eliza.   Once the teaching begins, Higgins shows no respect for others in his life.   When he goes to see his mother, she reminds him that â€Å"[he] promised not to come on† her days when she is having guests.   He ignores this promise to his mother because he believes that his newest experiment is more important than his mother’s insignificant visitors are.  Ã‚  Ã‚   This behavior continues throughout the ... ...ulative experiments on life.   Higgins tries to use his charm to manipulate people into giving him what he wants, but when this tactic fails he resorts to brute force and abuse.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It is amazing that a man with such great qualities and characteristics can also have the bad qualities that are opposite of those great ones.   How these traits can coexist in one person does not make sense.   One of the traits must be a false front.   This is the nature of the world.   When two opposites come together in the same place and do not alter each other, then one of them is kept up as a faà §ade.   At any moment in time this faà §ade can move or crack and the true nature of the person will come to light.   People who display too many contradictions in character are usually true hypocrites.

Climate Change Essay

Once, I visited a hospital for my health checkup,there I saw a man with shattered skin,rashes all over the body;clearcut it was the case of allergy.Doctors are rushing and making report on it.After a week I again visited that hospital for my scheduled checkup,then I came to know a shocking news-that allergy case was the case of Ganga bath!! Alas! Holy river Ganga, ancient river Ganga ,that Ganga which takes away all the sins from mankind, today causing allergy,irritation,skin rashes!!! that man has to pay price for his religious belief†¦ Also scientists got some samples from Ganga from specific places having disease causing microbes. This small case itself indicate the change we have made in our nature. Change is the law of nature,change is inevitable and change is evergoing process,but Climate Change is one of the most complex,multifaceted and serious threat that the World face. Whether you are adding your bit to the heap of garbage piling up in your locality or not become meaningless when the garbage begins to rot-the stench will reach your nose too,Climate Change induced by global warming works much the same way. World famous scientists all over the country had evaluated climate change and came to conclusion that Greenhouse Gases ,CFC, Carbondieoxide and many other toxic gases are the cause of environment degradation.Though it is true scientifically,the root lies elsewhere;that is in the greed of human being.Our greed led to adavancement of technology and led us farther from peace and prosperity of all. Increasing consumption of electricity due to intiation of several new industries,disposal of garbage without treatment to maximize profit,use of environment hazardious substances like polythene in our daily life are concrete examples of human greed. People have been influencing the Biosphere for at least 8000 years,since the invention of Agriculture,but Climate Change has proposed a threat over our Agriculture.The most affected area of Climate Change will be Agriculture and its biodiversity. The first and foremost impact of climate change is in biodiversity specially Islands biodiversity.nearly one –fourth of the worlds countries are Island and they are treasure trove of biodiversity.Also they provide food,fresh water ,wood,fibre,medicine,fuel and other raw materials. But increasing sea level has given a alarm threat to them,The New Moore Island of India in Sunderbans has been consumed recently by rising sea,many other Pacific atoll nation Island of Kiribati,Islands of Vanuatu also submerged in early history.we are loosing huge . biodiversity;these are initial cases†¦ Rather IPCC has warned that a rise in sea levels of between 18 and 59cm by 2100 would be enough to submerge many other big islands, including Maldives and make them unhabitable,also of the 724 recorded animal extinctions in 400 years about half were Island species .also climate change will bring degradation of coastal environment and natural resources on which poor rural people depend.Higher rates of erosion and coastal land loss may vanish our islands In context of Agriculture,sea level rise will also cause increased salinity due to encroachment of the sea and saltwater intrusion into freshwater lenses,contributing to an increasing shortage of water supply and loss of agriculture land.The most vulnerable section will be the poor and marginal farmers with small landholdings because ‘extreme weather events’will specially occur in tropics,fundamental changes in rainfall pattern together with rising temperature will shorten growing season and reduce crop productivity . Acco.to World Bank 75% of 1.2 billion people are trapped in extreme poverty,so they will fail to adopt new rotation practices and thus most vulnerable to climate change. World wide farming is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions accouting for 20% of total emissions.Atmospheric concentration of methane has more than doubled during the past 200 years.Natural wetlands,fossil fuels related to natural gas,coal mines coal industry,electric fermentation,rice fields,biomass burning,landfills accont for 75% of methane production in our environment. thus major source of greenhouse gases is agriculture itself. Rice fields are the most significant contributors of atmospheric methane accounting for 11-13% of the world’s total methane production. Also, rice production will need to expand by around 70% over the next 25 years to meet the demands of fast growing human population whose food demand is expected to double in developing world in next 40 years. Thus if we increase our crop area specially staple crop area in near future then the problem of global warming is likely to increase. Already in today’s era 800 million people are unnourished, in India only 30 million people suffer hunger,46% children are underweight and 17000 people are dying per day due to hunger on an average. Thus in near future we are going to face a great threat not only of climate change but also of food security†¦. However, Not all effects of climate change on agriculture are expected to be negative, most of the major food crops are C-3 plants including staple food like rice ,wheat, oat, barley will show increase in yield ranging from 25% to 64% due to increased CO2 level, also most of the noxious weed are C4 plants and their growth will be checked. But this is only one side of the coin ,increased temperature due to increase in CO2 level may rise the pest attack up to 25% and fungal disease attack up to 20% and also disturb our monsoon pattern.In an overview it can be said that it will create more and new problem rather than benefits because the worst sufferers would be farmers of Rainfed agriculture which cover 60% of all cultivable lands. Today humanbeings have become dependent on technologies which are dependent on non -renewable resources and produce illeffects in long run.nowdays we say that glaciers are shrinking;may be shrinking but more that the heart of the people and their philosophy is shrinking too.while the drastic effects of global warming has been discussed in many scientific circles,had their run on T.V. and even had well meaning Hollywood films but the need of the hour is to change ourselves,to reduce our luxurious wants. The need of the hour is to develop a) True sustainability,there should be synergies between climate mitigation strategies and development policies in areas of energy efficiency,fuel substitution,renewable ,afforestration,and land and waste management. b) The planning should not be for temporary economic gains and support,but for sustainability in future as well.There should be partnerships with communities,individuals,and private sector to frame effective measures to reduce the impact the effect of climate change. Today we all peoples of the world need to change our habbits ,not only in Agricultural practices but also in our daily life practicices†¦ Switching of fans and light before leaving room ,efficient use of water at home , proper garbage disposal at micro level, though seems to be a very minute step but the huge building of true sustainability will only form above these basic steps because this will be the 1st step against our greed, so step ahead and realize your own responsibility ,because it is not the time to curse the darkness but to light a small lamp. References: 1. â€Å"Know climate change† by Tanya Agarwal 2. â€Å"Global climate change† by Arnold J.Bloom 3. Science Reporter (CSIR) 4. IPCC website

Witches in Macbeth by William Shakespeare Essay - 730 Words

The title figure in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a classic example of a tragic hero. There are many factors that contribute to the main character, Macbeth, to degenerate; three of them will be discussed. These three are the prophecy, which was told him by the witches, Lady Macbeth’s influence and control over Macbeth’s judgment, and finally Macbeth’s ambitions that drove his desire to be king. Macbeth degenerates from a noble man to violent individual and this leads to his death. The prophecies that were told by the witches were one of the factors that contributed to the degeneration of his character. Typically, a tragic hero is a figure of high stature, often of noble background. In the beginning of the play, Macbeth and Banquo are†¦show more content†¦ii. 12). This shows that Lady Macbeth has a heart deep inside her. Lady Macbeth plays an important role in Macbeth’s degeneration because she knows that she has a strong and dominant power over her husband using her power, she encourages Macbeth to do what he has to do to get rid of King Duncan. He thinks that Duncan is a great King and considers him to be a good friend. Macbeth is lost in his thoughts, his â€Å"good† side and â€Å"bad† side are in a fight â€Å"But Macbeth is not a merely a cold- blooded†¦ he nearly persuades himself to reject the plan,† (Principal Topics, 238). Finally, Macbeth gives in to Lady Macbeth and decided to kill Duncan while he is visitin g Macbeth’s castle the same night. After Macbeth had killed Duncan, he regrets what he had done â€Å"†¦I am afraid to think what I have done; Look on’t again I dare not.†(Shakespeare, II. ii. 51). Following the format of a tragic hero, Macbeth suffers from a tragic flaw. At this point of the play, the audience can note the change in Macbeth’s character. Macbeth’s blind ambition also influenced his declining character. His ambitions alone had not been strong enough to carry King Duncan’s death. However, his ambitions along with the provoking of his wife lead him to take a violent and bloody path to the throne. Macbeth’s ambitions influenced the cause of his new character. This new character contained violence and power hunger. Macbeth was crowned King of Scotland, which led to extremeShow MoreRelatedWitches in Macbeth by William Shakespeare Essay1766 Words   |  8 PagesWitches in Macbeth by William Shakespeare People that lived during the Elizabethan period were very superstitious. They feared the power of witches the most. The hate stemmed mostly from the . . . supposed satanic beliefs of the witches and their heretical partnership with the Devil (Papp and Kirkland 43). Others thought of witches only when something of value had been damaged. They automatically assumed that a witch or one of her familiars must have done it, and the one thing everyoneRead MoreThe Role of the Witches in Macbeth by William Shakespeare Essay1108 Words   |  5 PagesThe Role of the Witches in Macbeth by William Shakespeare Macbeth is a play written by William Shakespeare some time between 1603 and 1606 and is set in Scotland around 1040. The time it was written coincides with the reign of King James the First of England. King James showed a great interest in witches and powers of the supernatural and Macbeth was arguably written to impress the king in what were violent times. Shakespeare used witches as pivotal characters to createRead MoreWitches ´Prophecies in William Shakespeare ´s Macbeth1413 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves† William Shakespeare. In the play, Macbeth, three witches tell Macbeth a handful of prophecies that later come true. These prophecies mean nothing if Macbeth is not influenced to do something about it. Macbeth shows bravery and honor in a battle which gives victory to Scotland, making the witch’s first prophecy correct. Lady Macbeth’s ambitious to be queen after hearing about the witch’s second prophecy. This influences Macbeth’s actionsRead MoreEssay The Role of Witches in Macbeth by William Shakespeare1007 Words   |  5 PagesThe Role of Witches in Macbeth by William Shakespeare The witches present modern directors with great difficulties. Consider the role of the witches and suggest how they can be made as successful for a modern audience as they would have been for a contemporary audience. In Shakespeare’s day, the thought of the witches scared people as they thought that they had witches living among them, casting spells on them and trying to do them harm. This fear was fuelled by theRead MoreAnalysis of the Three Witches in Macbeth by William Shakespeare1776 Words   |  8 PagesAnalysis of the Three Witches in Macbeth by William Shakespeare In this essay, I am going to look at and explore the three witches in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. I will look at the way they are presented in each of their four scenes; how audiences might react to them and the part they play in his downfall. The witches don’t appear much in the play but bring about the idea of both evil and ambition. In Act 1 Scene 1 the mood is set. We first hear of the witches and the play beginsRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Macbeth And The Witches1277 Words   |  6 PagesOne of the most noteworthy reasons Shakespeare s plays are still so popular to this very day is because of their timeless themes. Similarly to modern day, the women of Shakespeare’s time were typically regarded as feeble and inferior to men. Compared to men, women weren’t thought of as important or competent, let alone capable of power. Shakespeare’s Macbeth declares this stigma wrong. In the play, the most prominent female characters, Lady Macbeth and the Witches, are domineering and mighty, whileRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Macbeth 1363 Words   |  6 PagesMacbeth is without a doubt one of the most captivating plays, in my opinion written by William Shakespeare. Throughout this play there is definitely a numerous amount of things that can catch your attention, whether it is a trio of witches appearing, committing murder, or keeping secrets. However, what really c atches my attention is the way Shakespeare uses language and unique style to create a distinct mood, and reveal characters’ inner thoughts. In the play Macbeth written by William ShakespeareRead MoreThe Tragic Hero Of Macbeth By William Shakespeare1724 Words   |  7 Pages His definition of tragedy applies to William Shakespeare s play Macbeth. The play is about a hero who reaches a high position in the play and then falls because of his choices. Macbeth is a tragic hero according to Aristotle s aspects that make a tragedy. Macbeth is neither a villain nor a perfect character, he appears in the play in a high stature, he starts to make multiple mistakes and due to his actions, he causes his downfall. First of all, Macbeth is neither a villain nor a perfect heroRead More What is drama? The Collins dictionary describes drama as a serious1360 Words   |  6 Pageshave to purchase tickets and go to the theatre for all their entertainment needs. Today technology has helped drama mature. The public is able to view their favourite soap opera or comedy program on the television or on the Internet. William Shakespeare was and still today is believed to be the greatest playwright of all time. He had the ability to pack the theatre every night when he was performing in one of his 37 plays of comedies, histories and tragedies. Baz Ulhrman described himRead MoreThe Fall Of A King893 Words   |  4 PagesThe Fall of a King (An Analysis of why Macbeth became Mad and Corrupt) In life there are many things that influence the lives of people on a day to day basis. This can be anything from a small incident that happens on the daily.Or one rather large incident that has an enormous impact on them and influenced them to make further irrational decisions. It also doesn’t have to be a large event, but a sequence of events done by them, but influenced by others words and judgement. An excellent example

The Sociological Examination Of Crime - 862 Words

According to Gavin, in the text Criminological and Forensic Psychology, many psychologists have attempted to explain crime by coming up with multiple social theories. Gavin states that psychologist suggest that those who commit crimes have â€Å"individual differences† that â€Å"make it more likely than some people to commit crimes†¦Ã¢â‚¬  and that these social theories say that these crimes are a result of â€Å"the breakdown in social structures†. One of the first social theories that was introduced came about in 1938 by Merton, his theory is known as Strain Theory. Gavin goes on to define Strain Theory as the â€Å"social structures exert pressures which may lead an individual to commit crime†. His theory was a result of determining the â€Å"relationship between society and the values and behavior of members of that society was pivotal in the sociological examination of crime† (Gavin, 54). What strain theory attempts to explain is that crime is a result of instability or problems; for example, pressures of society and societal goals can influence an individual to commit a crime (Gavin, 54). Additional factors that contribute to trying to explain crime and delinquency are provided by psychological theories that suggest and â€Å"try to take account of the group and societal processes that impinge upon the person, but are naturally individualistic, at either the biological, personal or social level† (Gavin 56). However, some actually believe that determining individual traits and trying to link them withShow MoreRelatedSociology : Sociology And Sociological Thinking978 Words   |  4 PagesSociology and sociological thinking are a vital part of society, and through examining both society and individuals, sociology is able to make changes to areas such as policies, and attitudes that may have usually negatively affected them, and instead gained a positive result through the careful research, and applied knowledge. Sociology is the study of groups and individuals and the cause and effects of each, to each other, and overall society. ‘Sociology is a technical and difficult subject andRead MoreTo what Extent Are Prostitution and Drug Use Associated with Sociological Variables?1214 Words   |  5 PagesTo what extent are prostitution and drug use associated with sociological variables and are they truly victimless? Prostitution and illicit drug use are contentious topics, not only in North America but around the world. The issues of how to police, as well as whether or not to decriminalize prostitution and drug use are multifaceted and encompass sociological, economic, and health factors. Although there is a general understanding amongst the public concerning the definitions of prostitution andRead MoreAnalysis Of Raffaele Garofalo s The Father Of Criminology865 Words   |  4 Pagesprinciple of the Classical School, and upheld the position that wrongdoing can be seen just on the off chance that it is examined by experimental strategies. He endeavored to detail a sociological meaning of wrongdoing that would assign those demonstrations which can be subdued by discipline. These constituted Normal Crime and were considered offenses disregarding the two essential unselfish opinions regular to all individuals, to be specific, honor and devotion. Since it’s an ethical believe that wrongdoingRead MoreA Sociological Aspect of Gang Activity1743 Words   |  7 Pagesmembership. (Covey, 2003). Covey (2003) indicated that the more underprivileged a youth was, the more likely the chances would be of them joining a gang, which is a major concern. Throughout these two pieces of academic literature, two key sociological theories have helped to provide different answers to the research question. Covey (2003) introduced the similarity between underprivileged youth and Karl Marx’s Marxian theory. On the other hand, Esbensen, Winfree, He, and Taylor predicted thatRead MoreCriminology And Sociology : Criminology1296 Words   |  6 PagesSummary of Criminology and Sociology: Criminology is concerned with examining the complex issues of crime and criminality to find its underlying causes. To do this criminology primarily aims to achieve answers as to why crime occurs; who is committing said crimes and how society as a whole will respond to crime with regards to policy changes and its place in the media (Australian Institute of Criminology: 2015). Sociology is the scientific study of human social interactions in a societal contextRead MoreConflict Theory1445 Words   |  6 Pagesresources. Beliefs about inequality and the imbalance of power become institutionalized and become accepted and unquestioned by both the privileged and the discriminated against; thus the patterns become self-perpetuating and repeating without the re-examination or reorganization that a just society would require. For example, when social placement operates through patriarchal and patrilineal systems, wealth becomes further concentrated in male hands, and further promotes female subservience, neglect, andRead MoreNew Deviancy and Labeling Theory1108 Words   |  5 Pagestheory emerged in the 1960s and early 1970s. It was primarily a radical response to positivist domination of criminology (that crime is the result of individual, physical, and social conditions). The new deviancy theorists believed in free will and creativity. According to this theory, crime is that behaviour which violates the interests of the powerful. The definition of crime or deviance depends upon two activities: one, an act of an individual or a group, and second, another individual or group withRead MoreCriminology: The Evolution of Crime Essay1003 Words   |  5 PagesCriminology has evolved over history into becoming a discipline all its own, along the way it grew and developed from a multiple sources of disciplines to become an integration of various theories. Reasons that seek to explain crime and deviant behaviors has mirrored the time in which research was being conducted and as time continues to change it is to be expected more theories will arise to incorporate past theories to become ever more inclusive. It is important to understand this development fromRead MoreDeviance And Crime Within Various Sociological Frameworks992 Words   |  4 Pages Deviance is a social construct that is often observed in society as, â€Å"everyone is a deviant in one social context or the other (Brym and Lie 2015:95). For that reason, sociologists have come up with theories to explain deviance and crime within various sociological frameworks. While some theorists â€Å"focus on the learning and labelling of deviant behaviour, social functionalists direct their attention to the social dysfunctions that lead to deviant and criminal behaviour† (Brym and Lie 2015:102).Read MoreThe Article â€Å"Editorial Defunding Planned Parenthood Hurts1642 Words   |  7 Pagesproposed removal of funds is due to the fact that Planned Parenthood is associated with abortions, which are not highly supported but also ostracized by Republicans. However, Planned Parenthood provides many other reproductive services: â€Å"breast examinations, cervical cancer screenings, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases and infections, contraception and family pla nning, urinary tract infection treatments, and other primary care services† other than abortions. Moreover, abortions

Carbon Pollution as a Major Threat to Humanity and the IMC Plan to Ach Case Study

Essays on Carbon Pollution as a Major Threat to Humanity and the IMC Plan to Achieve Societal Support in Formulating the Carbon Tax Case Study The paper â€Å"Carbon Pollution as a Major Threat to Humanity and the IMC Plan to Achieve Societal Support in Formulating the Carbon Tax" is a pathetic example of a case study on environmental studies. Governments impose a tax as a means to manage the country’s resources. They use the collected revenue to cater to national budgets, projects and wages to its employees. Taxes ensure that the government acquires stability in terms of financial resources. Taxes are useful because they assist the government to support the society in the form of public investments, such as internal security, hospitals, and schools. Environmental protection is fundamental since all form of humankind relies on natural resources for survival. Carbon pollution from industries, burning of fossil fuels and aerosols threatens the existence of natural resources. A country has to ensure that sustainable development occurs so as to protect the future generation’s interests. Carbon emittance degrades the atmosphere by depleting the ozone layer, thus, creating a greenhouse effect. The carbon tax charged by the government is a form of penalty to activities that result in negative effects in society. This means that the carbon tax caters to the social cost involved to clear up the mess created by the pollutants. The political factors of a country influence the impact of tax levied on carbon. Practices of influential organizations such as lobbying with government officials may lead to a reduction in the tax imposed. This makes it difficult for the laid out objectives to be accomplished due to a reduction of funds. It may also lead to a tax increment if the influential organizations argue out a negative utility on the clean-up cost. These factors make the level of production fluctuate, thus, emphasizing the necessity to create a uniform carbon tax.A target audience segment analysis;The target countries on which these carbon taxes should be implemented are those that utilize and emit carbon. This means that the whole world at large is a potential member state to the tax regulatory body. Countries with large carbon usage and emission fight against carbon taxation. They include the United States of America, China, and Russia, since they widely use carbon to produce electricity. The regulatory bodies implement the taxes indirectly through common user practices such as motor vehicles. This is because it is challenging to identify the amount of carbon harm caused by individuals with regards to global warming, once the carbon is in the atmosphere. The countries involved paying taxes in accordance with carbon content. The countries which refute carbon taxes view it as a form of reducing production and job opportunities. The body in charge of carbon and energy taxes is the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.Global warmingGlobal warming occurs due to ozone layer depletion by several gases. Carbon dioxide released through human activities creates a significant cont ributor too ozone layer depletion. The ozone layer protects the earth from harmful ultraviolet rays. Once the ozone layer erupts, the harmful UV-rays penetrate the earth, thus destroying crops and human health. There occurs global warming due to the increment in waves. This causes the climate to change in the long run. The drivers to climate change include decreased water levels, which in turn leads to poor sanitation levels. This will, in the long run, ensures that human health degrades. Global warming statistics record an increase in temperature by 0.8 degrees Celsius since the beginning of the 20th century. Assessment reports on increment in the ocean and atmospheric temperatures record a double effect for the 21st Century. Events such as a rise in sea levels and global temperature follow due to the greenhouse effect. This mostly affects the arctic region where glaciers and permafrost melting occurs. All these events lead to the global warming controversy which exists in society by the media. This is because the issue of increased rates of temperatures in the future by humans or otherwise has to be accounted for. A cost-benefit analysis, of the most suitable method of controlling carbon emissions, has to occur to enable the government to choose a  method that will not hinder production but will ensure that carbon pollution decreases.

Right to Check Employees’ Backgrounds Free Essays

In my opinion, employers should have the right to check applicants’ backgrounds whether or not suspicion of misbehavior, security threats, credit histories, driving offenses etcetera exist. This will ensure employers or companies that they won’t have any ‘problematic employees’ in within the organization. However, even if this should be a right held by the employers, companies, organizations, etcetera, the law states that the they â€Å"do not have unlimited rights to dig into an applicant’s background and personal life† (US Small Business Administration, 2008, n. We will write a custom essay sample on Right to Check Employees’ Backgrounds or any similar topic only for you Order Now . ). This means that there are certain ‘checks’ that these employers, companies, organizations, etcetera cannot pursue simply because it is forbidden by the law and they can be charged in court if they push through with unlimited ‘checks’ (US Small Business Administration, 2008, n. p. ). The following are the background checks that may be done including the limitations set by the law: First is with regards to â€Å"credit reports† (US Small Business Administration, 2008, n. . ). The restriction set by the law for this is known as â€Å"the Fair Credit Reporting Act† wherein employers, companies, organizations, etcetera are obliged to obtain a formal â€Å"written consent† coming from the employee/applicant before the former could see the latter’s â€Å"credit report† (US Small Business Administration, 2008, n. p. ). The second entails â€Å"criminal records† (US Small Business Administration, 2008, n. p. ). Employers, organizations, companies, etcetera may look into an applicant’s criminal records but this should be done through their lawyer or they should consult the â€Å"Federal Bureau of Investigation† especially if they need an â€Å"employee background investigation† to be carried out or if they wanted to make sure that the applicant has not been involved in violation of the following: â€Å"antitrust laws, trade secret laws, intellectual property laws, economic sabotage, as well as, anti-terrorism laws† (US Small Business Administration, 2008, n. p. ). The third involves â€Å"lie detector tests† (US Small Business Administration, 2008, n. . ). The use of the aforementioned may be allowed only by employers whose businesses involve: â€Å"armored car services, alarm/guard services, pharmaceutical manufacturing distribution, etc† (US Small Business Administration, 2008, n. p. ). Employers, therefore cannot just make an employee/applicant undergo â€Å"lie detector tests† because the latter is protected by the â€Å"Employee Polygraph Protection Act† (US Small Business Administration, 2008, n. p. ). The fourth is with regards to ‘health check’ (US Small Business Administration, 2008, n. p. ). Here, an employer, organization, company, etcetera can always ask the health expert or the health institution if an employee can carry out a certain task; however one cannot ask for the entire medical record of an employee or applicant because doing so is a violation of the â€Å"Americans with Disabilities Act† (US Small Business Administration, 2008, n. p. ). In addition to that, health institutions would not give in to such an employer’s request because â€Å"confidentiality of medical records† is a part of the â€Å"American Medical Association’s Code of Ethics†; legal issues will emerge if they violate this (US Small Business Administration, 2008, n. . ). Last but not least pertains to the school records of an applicant (US Small Business Administration, 2008, n. p. ). Fortunately, these may be scrutinized by employers however they should be able to get the applicant’s approval before they carry that out (US Small Business Administration, 2008, n. p. ). Applicants are protected because of the â€Å"Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act† (US Small Business Administration, 2008, n. p. ). Employers then should have the right to check on applicants’ backgrounds but only to a certain extent and only those which the law allows. How to cite Right to Check Employees’ Backgrounds, Papers

Overview of Agricultural Sector Samples †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Overview of Agricultural Sector. Answer: Introduction The agricultural sector is an inevitable part of the economy that contributes towards the overall development of the country. As argued by Nakamura and James (2015), agriculture has already contributed effectively towards the economic prosperity of different advanced countries. The role of agriculture in employment opportunity creation and economic development of the underdeveloped countries is also undeniable. However, a group of researchers have always argued that though agriculture plays a crucial role in the economic and sociological development of the developed as well as underdeveloped countries, the policy frameworks do not focus much on agriculture. This assignment will emphasise over the fact that most of the time agriculture remains neglected in the development policies while it can play a crucial role through providing food security and creating employment opportunity (Bassino et al 2017). In order to substantiate the aforesaid statement primarily a conceptual overview of the agricultural sector along with its evolution in the context of Japan will be discussed. Later on the contribution of agriculture towards the societal and economic developments of Japan will also be emphasized. Overview of Agricultural Sector of Japan In Japan, agriculture has always played a major role in the country specific culture and traditions since ages. Presently, Japan has turned into a gigantic economy and market its presence as the second largest economy in the world. Highest standard of living which is supported by the continuous and sustained growth of the manufacturing, export and technology (Saito, Osamu, and Masanori Takashima 2016). Nowadays, the role of agriculture has been observed to be reducing by a few percent compared to the total. The growth rate of the agriculture is also lagging behind that of the radical growth rates of the other sectors. However, it can be stated that agriculture in Japan bears a cultural significance as most of the people are now urban and only remain connected to farming, rural life and agriculture for a generation or two. As of now, efforts have been put forwards to protect and secure the traditional agriculture of Japan. However, these efforts gave rise to mixed results meaning it has not affected the specific sector either positively or negatively. Japan as a country has obtained the lions share of its wealth from trading and by exploiting the opportunities of comparative advantage, higher rate of tariff that protects some of the agricultural products can be considered as an exception. The efforts put forward to reserve the resources like land and agricultural labour despite the draw from the various other portions of the economy have helped to maintain the level of domestic production (Lockwood, William Wirt 2015). However, these efforts have also been held responsible for distorted markets, giving rise to unexpected outcomes such as land abandonment, overproduction and speculation. Preserving the production of rice ensures the loss of opportunities for other products, for instance the products lik e fruit, vegetables, specialty meat which in turn can be profitable in a country where land is a scarce factor of production. As per the statistics provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, forestry and Fisheries during the year 2014, the total agricultural, fisheries and forestry production of japan was JPY 8.36 trillion which was equivalent to USD 81 billion. This level of production was below the historical peak value JPY 11.72 trillion which was attained in 1984 (Schandl et al 2016). On a summative note it can be stated that the most important categories in this specific sector where livestock which contributed 35.5% in the total production value as well as vegetables and rice which accounted for 26.6% and 17.1% respectively in the total production value. Role of Agriculture in enhancing economic and social aspects of Japan The role of agriculture in enhancing the economic development and afterwards identifying the methods through which this specific role can be enhanced has been the key issue of discussion in development economics. In other words the countries which are willing to industrialise agriculture is the most common source of resources to them which can be used for serving the investment purposes in the emerging sectors. As it has been stated earlier that agriculture in Japan is amalgamated within its sociological and cultural framework. However, agriculture acts as the cornerstone of any economy it provides the basic requirements and now it also supplies raw materials required for industrialization. The agricultural sector of Japan contributed significantly in fostering its economic prosperity. It is also quite evident that Japan one of the leading industrialized economy of the world was once agriculture based. However, presently the contribution of agriculture in the GDP of Japan is depicting a lowering trend. In 2016, agricultures share was 1.07% of GDP (Reganold and Jonathan 2016). Agriculture also acts as the basic source of food supply for developing, underdeveloped or developed economy. Due to the rapid increase in population the demand for food is also increasing over time and in such a case agriculture provides certain food security. Evolution of Agriculture The prime development of the Japanese agricultural sector took place during the time period of 1880 to 1940 and this is because at this point the agricultural productivity of the country increased significantly (Katz 2014). The magnitude of this increase in the level of productivity and the factors which were contributing towards this gain in productivity could be easily explained with a fair degree of confidence. The physical quantity of output of the six major crops of the country nearly doubled during 1881 to 1940. Similarly the estimated value of the net real incomes produced in the agricultural sector also depicted an analogical expansion pattern (Shankland and Euclides Gonalves 2016). This was quite evident to take place because of the dominant position of the six identified staple crops-barley, rice, wheat, naked barley and white and sweet potato. The table above depicts the output of cocoons as it is considered significantly important for sericulture in Japan which contributed largely in the economic development of the country. However, it is also quite important to note that the radical increase in the output level of cocoons it is noteworthy that the percentage share of cocoons in the gross value of the agricultural products was rather low. During the decades prior to 1910 cocoons contributed to nearly 9 to 10 percent in the gross value of agricultural output. During the decade of 1911 to 1920 the contribution rose to 12 percent and further reached its highest value 16 percent in the year 1920. It again lowered to 12 percent in the 1930s (Watkins et al 2015). However, agriculture is still now considered as a major industry in Japan and it has grown modestly since the past few decades. Japanese agricultural sector grew to $41 billion in 1985 from 12$12 billion in 1970. Further as per the recent statistics available it has reached $58 billion by the end of the year 2013 and thereby made the Japanese agriculture sector ninth largest in the world. Hence it can be stated that since the past few years the agricultural sector though faced a few problems it has managed to achieve and maintain a significant growth rate (Shively 2015). Current problems faced by Japanese agriculture sector The key problem of agriculture in Japan is the unavailability of land particularly because of the higher population density. Farmers are now terracing the hillsides and cultivating the river beds. Though, they are putting extensive efforts only 17 percent of total land area or 16 million acres of land is now available for agricultural purposes. Approximately 46% of this land is used for cultivating paddy and rice while 37% field is used for barley, wheat and other crops. The Japanese people have put significant effort to cope with these issues both before and after the war but the labour productivity remained at a comparatively lower level (Shiva 2016). While the output of the agricultural sector crossed the prewar level of output, the labour productivity increased only by 8% and 5% during 1955 and 1956 respectively. As opined by Moyer, Wayne, and Tim (2017) the key problem associated with the Japanese agriculture is the farmland system. The main issues associated with this matter is that japan needs to design its strategy in such a way that farmland becomes concentrated only among those who are willing and are ready to get involved in the agricultural activities. The International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) pointed out that despite putting drastic effort in the scientific and technological aspects and its implementation to increase the agricultural productivity people are barely concerned about the environmental consequences of these activities. Presently, IAASTD have focused on utilizing the knowledge, research, technological and scientific achievements for reducing hunger and thereby providing food security. However, as of now an industrialized country like Japan is more focused on nurturing the service sector and no such effective measures have been taken to improve the present agricultural scenario (Havens 2015). Strategies to cope with the current problems In order to cope with the prevailing problems in an efficient manner during July, 1999 the New Basic Law on Food, Agriculture and Rural Areas replaced the Basic law on Agriculture (Miyazaki 2018). This decision was taken on the basis of the recommendations provided by an advisory committee to mitigate the problems associated with food, agriculture and rural areas. The key focus of the Basic Law of 1961 was to eradicate the inequality of productivity and income between the agricultural sector and service sector. However, the New Basic Law broadened the scope of agricultural policies that included food security, agricultural multi-functionality as well as rural development. The key principles of the new agricultural policy can be summarized as follows, Ensuring stable supply of food: This would be done by enhancing the domestic level of production as a basis along with a suitable combination of stockholdings and imports (Ohkawa et al 2015). Substantiating the multi-functional role of agriculture: Considering the safeguarding of water resources, land as well as natural environment and at the same time conserving the cultural traditions. Developing agriculture in a sustainable manner: Maintaining the level of agricultural production and at the same point of time ensuring appropriate drainage, irrigation system and maintaining the natural cycle will help to maintain the sustainability of the agriculture (Lockwood 2015). Rural development: Through improving the agricultural production and increasing the level of welfare in the rural areas will help to ensure development in those areas. Discussion On the basis of the segments stated before it can be observed that agriculture in Japan lost its importance since ages. As the country started developing through industrialization more importance were given to the service sector and agriculture sector became less important. However, it is also quite evident that agriculture can significantly play a role in the process of development of a country. It can easily assist a country to ensure sufficient scope of employment and at the same time ascertain a constant supply of food. In the development policies designed by the country agriculture remained neglected but the researchers are now stressing on redesigning strategies which will ensure that the agriculture sector gets the importance it needed. Previously the Basic Plan for Food, Agriculture and Rural Areas included a few basic legal framework as well as provided the government with a set of suggestions so that it can improve the agricultural sector. Presently it is highly recommended that the government of Japan should try to redesign the previous strategy in an efficient manner so that the agricultural sector gets developed. Conclusion On a concluding note, it can be sated that the essay has focused on the agricultural sector of Japan. At certain point of time Japans agricultural sector ranked the ninth in the world in terms of production. 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