A Synthesis of the Themes in Selected Poems about War Essay - 2

A Synthesis of the Themes in Selected Poems about War - Essay Example Richard Lovelace’s ‘To Lucasta, Going to the Wars’ is addressed to a soldier’s sweetheart at the point of his leaving for war, who he tries to convince of the importance of going to war. The soldier first admits that the war may be compared to having another ‘mistress’, as he will now be chasing the ‘foe’ with more ardor and embracing his weapons and horse with a ‘stronger faith’ than he has chased or embraced his lover but then goes on to justify this comparison. The narrator then says that the only reason he is capable of loving her so much is because he loves honor more. This love of honor is proved by his taking to war so eagerly. In the poem, the act of love and act of war are compared and war is considered a nobler activity. The poem goes so far as to assert that not only is war a greater love, it is the only reason that men are capable of loving women – they are both quests to prove their honor. This view of bringing up the question of honor in war and placing it over other lesser concerns like romantic love appears in this poem of the 17th century. England, at the time, was known for valorizing bravery and war and espousing values of strong patriotic feeling among its citizens. This trend of thought is again reflected in English poetry in a poem like Alfred Tennyson’s ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’, which was written in 1854. Nearly two hundred years after the appearance of Richard Lovelace’s poem. Tennyson’s famous poem also speaks of the ‘noble six hundred’ who were part of the Light Brigade that fought for England against Russian troops in the Crimean War. Most of the poem is a fervent exhortation to the cavalry but there is already a note of recognizing the futility of war. As Tennyson writes: ‘Not tho' the soldier knew / Someone had blunder’d’; the soldiers are themselves unaware of why they are to fight the war that they are being sent to fight and this is a crucial idea that changes the perception of war from something seen as honorable and brave to something that is later conceived as foolish, wasteful and cruelly absurd. Wilfred Owen was among the first poets to most poignantly write about the horrors of war. His poem ‘Futility’ reveals a pained voice that is bewildered by the continuance of something as dreadful as the war. ‘Was it for this the clay grew tall?’ the speaker asks, as he describes the death of a young soldier from France. Already the style has changed from being one of fervent exhortation and pride to one of tragic loss and dismay. There is no encouragement to the troops or mention of ‘honor’ or even praises for the sacrifices made during the war. The poem instead humanizes the soldiers who are compelled to lose their lives in pointless wars that they have not been responsible for starting. Owen’s other poem ‘Dulce et D ecorum est’ takes head on the older perceptions on war and debunks them. The title of his poem and the final line challenges Horace’s quote ‘Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori’, which roughly means that it is good to die for one’s country, and calls it an ‘old lie’. The language of this poem is harsh and unforgiving, describing the soldiers as ‘beggars’ and ‘hags’, who ‘all went lame, all blind’. The physical torture that the soldiers undergo at the front is described in all its horror, and there is no idealistic ‘

Mobile Telecommunications Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Mobile Telecommunications - Assignment Example As of March 1999, the Group had subsidiary mobile network operating companies in six countries - the UK, the Netherlands, Greece, Malta, Australia and New Zealand. Between 1999 and 2003, the Group furthered its transaction activities thereby transforming the company into the world's leading international mobile telecommunications company (Vodafone Annual Report, 2006). Vodafone Group provides a wide range of voice and data mobile telecommunications services, including text messages (SMS), picture messages (MMS), and other data services. The Group is continually expanding its product line and enhancing its service offerings, particularly through third generation (3G) mobile technology. In the wake of fierce competition and narrowing margins, Vodafone is continuously innovating to keep pace with the changing environment. Besides competition, the list of drivers changing the environment also comprises challenging regulatory environment, and continuous development in technology which means there is far more choice for customers. Historically, growth in Vodafone's portfolio has come from developed markets, particularly Europe. Due to high penetration rates (100%) in such markets, Vodafone is now concentrating on emerging markets which poses greater potential for growth due to low penetration rates (average 30%). 2. Strategic Analysis Vodafone has a strategy of expanding business through acquisitions, partnerships and joint ventures in the telecommunication industry. The Group cleanses its portfolio by disposing off underperforming assets that have an impact on its resources. Vodafone has invested only in those geographical regions where it has seen chances of superior returns for its shareholders. Key developments in the history of the Group are as follows: Timeline of Vodafone Group 1999 - Vodafone merged with Air Touch Communications which changed its name to Vodafone Air Touch. The Group had mobile operating subsidiaries in 10 countries and equity interests in an additional 12 countries. 2000 - Vodafone set its footprint in Germany and Italy through acquiring Mannesmann AG. Vodafone also increased its indirect holding in SFR, a French mobile telecommunications operator. Moreover, the Group's US mobile operations combined with Bell Atlantic and GTE Corporation to form Verizon Wireless. 2001 - Vodafone acquired Eircell Limited, a mobile operator in Ireland and set its footprint there. Moreover, the Group acquired 66.7% stake in a fixed line operator in Japan, Japan Telecom Co. Ltd. Since March 2003, Vodafone has undertaken multiple subsidiary acquisitions in Egypt, Greece, Hungary, Japan, Malta, Portugal, Sweden, Netherlands, and UK. Vodafone has had joint ventures in India, Fiji, Kenya, Poland and South Africa. Vodafone Group faces a high degree of competition in each of its geographic markets. It is subject to both indirect competition, from providers of other telecommunications services in the domestic markets and, direct competition from existing mobile telecommunications network operators. Many of Vodafone's key markets are highly penetrated due to a large number of customers having more than one subscriber identity module (SIM), the basis of customer identity for a mobile telecommun

Health Promotion Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Health Promotion - Research Paper Example Moreover, the consideration of the change programs and the various initiatives implemented to reduce these factors in a health promotion program. The health belief model (HBM) was developed in the 1950s by some social psychologists to explain why some individuals do not use health services such as screening and immunization. The theory has advanced to address newer concerns in detection and prevention (for instance influenza vaccines and mammography screening) as well as lifestyle mannerisms such as injury prevention and risk behaviors associated with sexual tendencies (Noar, Chabot & Zimmerman, 2008). The HBM hypothesizes that individuals beliefs on whether or not they are at risk for a health problem or disease, and their acumens on the benefits of taking action to avoid the risk, influences their willingness to take action. For instance, if an individual feels that their lifestyle may lead to diseases such as obesity, or diabetes, they may take the necessary actions such as eating healthier foods or becoming physically active to prevent those risks from occurring. The key concepts of the theory are: perceived severity and susceptibility, perceived benefits obtained from the action, perceived barriers to the action, cues to action and self-efficacy. HBM is often applied to asymptomatic and prevention-related health concerns such as the early detection of cancer and hypertension screening where opinions are as important as or more important than obvious symptoms. It is also relevant to interventions to lessen risk factors for cardiovascular disease. According to the theory therefore, people indulge in health programs only if the perceived risks and problems are severe. They then stop the health programs once the risks have reduced. The Trans-theoretical model (TTM) was developed from studies of the processes of change in psychotherapy and smoking cessation (De Vries & Mudde2008). The

Comparing international developments to New Zealands policies and Coursework

Comparing international developments to New Zealands policies and practices, in relation to disability and aging. Both groups are to be covered - Coursework Example They have emphasized the use of the term without any form of discriminatory tone or motive. Based on this argument, different scholars, governments and organizations have come up with varied definitions on disability. In china, for example, the term ‘disabled person’ is one who suffers from the abnormalities of loss of a certain organ or function, physiologically or physically, or in anatomical structure and has lost wholly or in part the ability to perform an activity in a way considered normal (Office of Leading Group of Poverty Alleviation in State Council, 2004). Moreover, the same provision defines a disabled person as one with visual, hearing, speech or physical disabilities, intellectual disabilities, psychiatric disabilities, multiple disabilities, and or other disabilities (National Bureau of Statistics, 2007). This definition is pegged on/ borrowed from that of the international community about the caring for people with various disabilities. Disabilities are inflicted o people through different ways depending on the prevailing circumstances under which people operate. These people, therefore, deserve respect and fair treatment on different aspects of the society just as the entire human folk is entitled to certain rights and privileges depending on their sincere contributions to the various developmental units in the society. People with disability are not able to perform certain tasks in a way deemed satisfactory to the society compared to those without any form of disability in them. In most cases, the disabled persons are disadvantaged on such grounds. The international community, therefore, found it necessary to enact laws in a bid to protect disabled persons from exploitation and manipulations by other members of the society. Each democratic nation today has elaborate laws governing the operations and movements of people with disability in

Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 178

Essay Example Media practices engross a course of communication between people, and such communicative processes shape societal behavior. This is evident in the materialistic role that cinema, as a form of technology, plays in the society. Larkin cites Nigeria as a country in which cinema creates a fantasy space that comprise the entire sensory experience of urban living and modernity (Larkin, 2002). Technological determinism changes the traditional structures of sociability. Michael Warner asserts that the cultural structure of a medium is a set of political conditions of discourse, such as practices and structured labor referred to as technology (Warner, 1990). News making in the digital era is guide by clicks and spins, as explained by Dominic Boyer (2013). The author explains the communicative process in the digital process from a perspective that sees the process as an unconscious way of reading the mood of the society, who is the object. Similarly, Amanda Weidman confirms that the association of class structures and technological media shape notions of power and realism by dictating which information circulates across the public (Weidman, 2010). Mediating technology and mediated content, which are the subject and object respectively, determine people’s listening practices and psychological

History 1311 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

History 1311 - Essay Example The French later came to the new world with the intention of tracing a new route to the pacific ocean but instead ended up colonizing territories such as Quebec where they planted a variety of crops such as wheat and sugar for the home market. However, other European nations most notably England also put a stake in the new world. Their interest, like the Spanish was also both economic and political but the settlers had a more comprehensive list of reasons for exploration. Many of them were escaping the collapsing feudal system that had resulted in rural-urban migration and consequently abject poverty. Others were escaping political instability and hoping to make a fresh start in the colonies. The British throne used the new world a place to dump their unwanted populations; it was common for criminals to be exiled to the new lands. However, with time as the mercantile culture spread in the British lord realized how important the new land could be as a colony where they could grow food for export back home and to their increasing territories around the world. They encouraged settlements and after a time they took over, eventually colonized, and occupied America until they were finally driven out in the 18th century when American seized her independence. In 1787, Delegates met in Philadelphia to write a new constitution, which was to replace the articles of the confederation; the delegates wanted to create a constitution that would provide both liberty and order for the chaotic government given the size and diversity of the United States. The new constitution was written with the objective of forging a strong union between the various states as well as create a structure of power that could be checked by the people. Their experience with the British government had taught them of the dangers or a tyrannical government and they ensured to put up checks and balances so that the executive, legislature and

Who Killed the Electric Car Essay Example for Free

Who Killed the Electric Car Essay In 1996, electric cars began to appear on roads all over California. They were quiet and fast, produced no exhaust and ran without gasoline.. Ten years later, these futuristic cars were almost completely gone. Who Killed the Electric Car is a documentary which unfolds a complex set of events around the development and demise of the modern electric car. The story stems from California from the early 1990s to 2006. Chris Paine, the film maker has woven together interviews and archival footage of over 65 people involved with the events. The narrative begins to unfold with a brief history of the first electric cars created in the early twentieth century. These electric vehicles were killed off nearly 100 years ago as gas/petroleum powered internal combustion engine (ICE) cars became cheaper. The worsening problems of gas/petrol cars are illustrated: smog, high child asthma rates, CO2 emissions and global warming. [Later we also see the use of the US Military in the Middle East. The loss of life and financial cost of war are not mentioned]. The film then commences the story of the modern EV in 1987 when General Motors and the SunRaycer, won the World Solar Challenge, a solar electric car race in Australia. General Motors CEO, Roger Smith challenged the same design team to build a prototype practical electric car which became known as the Impact when announced in 1990. The project expanded to small scale production vehicles with the aim that it would give GM several years lead over any competitor car companies. The Californian Air Resources Board (CARB) saw this as a way to solve their air quality problem and in 1990 passed the Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate. The ZEV Mandate specified increasing numbers of vehicles sold would have to be Zero Emission Vehicles. For the car companies, there was only two options: Comply with the law or fight it. In then end, they would do both. The movie continues to reveal what the various suspects did to kill the reality of the electric car, and the efforts of EV supporters to save them. Oil companies stood to lose enormous profits if EV sales took off and they colluded with others to kill the electric car. To comply with the ZEV Mandate, in 1996, GM started leasing small numbers of the production car, called the EV1. Other car companies also produced electric vehicles by converting existing production models and leased them to drivers. But the GM board of directors never really wanted the car to succeed as they didnt think they would make profit from the car. They saw losses from development costs and the virtual absence of maintenance and replacement parts which, for gas cars, bring ongoing profits. They were worried that the popularity of the car was growing and that other US states were considering ZEV Mandate laws which meant that they may have to convert all their cars to electric drives which represented even bigger losses.